Our Anniversary!!

Four years ago a simple question was asked and so began our story :)  Last night Manny and I celebrated our anniversary, and he surprised me with a limo!!!  I was so excited...I've never riden in one before, and it was such a fun experience :)  He also kept the dinner place a secret, and he took us to Paris :)  It was such a wonderful evening, and I really couldn't ask for more...I'm sure that this will be our last fancy dinner for awhile, and I'm glad that it was so special.
I truly feel that I am one of the luckiest people in the world because I met the man who completely captured my heart and we are truly meant for one another.  I know that we've had our ups and downs, and honestly, who hasn't...but that is what makes us stronger, and our relationship grow.  Adrian is going to have an awesome dad and will be/ is exponentially loved by us both...I am so happy that I get to raise my child with such a great, sweet, caring, honest, and down to earth guy. 
One more chapter in life closed...thousands more waiting to be lived :)

Our limo in front of Paris

The view from our table :)

34 Weeks!!!

How far along: 34 weeks today (going by 9/27 edd)
Weight gain: I don't want to talk about it...lol  umm 37lbs now I think
Stretch marks: I have one on my side about 1/2 an inch long, but I have been putting ointment on it and hopefully it will disappear once baby comes...
Symptoms: Fatigue...I am exhausted by the end of the day (I fell asleep at 8:30pm one day last week) lol...a little bit of swelling in my feet and yesterday some in my hands, so I'm trying to lower my sodium intake...
Sleep: Some nights are better than others...I've been doing a lot of tossing and turning lately...it's just really hard to get comfortable now (I would love to be able to sleep on my stomach again!!!) :)...the other day I discovered I have a spot on each elbow that looks like I have rug burns, and so I paid attention to how I was sleeping that night, and I have been using my elbows to help turn over and get up out of bed...I'm glad they don't hurt, but it was a strange discovery lol
Best Moment this Week: Weekend trip to Utah...it was so nice being able to get out of town and out of the heat...I was actually able to enjoy sitting outside without getting over-heated in 2 minutes :)  It was fun being with our friends who had their 1 month old, so I got to hold her a lot and see the ins and outs of a day in the life of a new mommy :)  It actually didn't look as exhausting as I thought, and pretty routine too...sleep, eat, burp, poop, change diaper, cuddle... :)
Food Cravings: Nothing...sorry, still boring!
Labor Signs: Just Braxton Hicks contractions (I assume)  maybe once or twice every other day
Belly Button in or out?: Still in!
Rings on or off?: Ring still on, although yesterday I thought I might not be able to wear it much longer...but since we were on vacation, I was snacking on chips and other yummy salty treats, so that didn't help...today my hands aren't really swolen, and I've been making sure to drink lots of water
Movement: Non-stop yesterday...guess he couldn't get comfortable with me moving around the cabin a lot, then holding Gradee and then the drive home...I love the movements, but more frequently he's been kicking areas where it hurts...I think he is kicking my left ovary, and that is pretty painful
Milestones: According to my pregnancy journal, it says that today is the last day of my 8th month...so technically I will be 9 months tomorrow woo hoo (FYI: pregnancy is actually 10 months)...We're getting so close to the end and I have been dealing with a rollercoaster of emotions...I have waited for this for so long, and sometimes it doesn't seem real...then other days I realize that it is really soon, and I need to finish "getting ready" eventhough there isn't really much left to do BUT wait...I need to pick up a couple items from the store like the boppy covers and some nursing stuff for me...we need to put together the stroller, car seat, bouncy chair...and we're pretty much set.

This is all so new and exciting, but I am still feeling overwhelmed with everything...the "nesting stage" has definately set in, and some days I feel so unprepared but then I try and think of things I need to finish, and come up with nothing...waiting is the hardest part for sure!

Baby Shower for Adrian :)

So it's 3:20am the day after the baby shower, and I am having trouble getting back to sleep.  I can't help but feel overwhelmed with so many emotions right now...I am SO SO SO thankful for everyone that came yesterday...it was such a wonderful and special day, and I am so happy that everyone came to share this moment with Manny and I.  I want everyone to know how much I really do appreciate everything and hope everyone had a good time (minus the little ac situation) :)  Words or thank you cards cannot even begin to express how very very appreciative I am for everything!

I feel so relieved with all the great gifts we received, and it makes me feel so much more prepared...but at the same time, I think reality has really settled in, and I can't help but feel extremely nervous, excited, anxious, and happy all of a sudden at once.  I have been looking forward to this day my whole life, and now that it is almost here, I am frankly scared...I think it's a completely normal feeling, but nevertheless, it it keeping me from sleeping at the moment.  I hope that I can give my son the world because he truly deserves the best life possible...and that he grows up to be as kind, warm-hearted and hard-working as his daddy...that he loves his family as much as I love mine (and Manny his)...and I hope that he makes life-long friendships with great people as I have.

I can't believe that it is already August, and next month I will finally be meeting the little boy who has 100% captured my heart...although a little frightened at the moment, I think, in fact I know, that it will be the best moment in my life, and the single best thing I have and will ever do.

Thank you again everyone from the bottom of my heart.  I am truly blessed to have each and every one of you in my life.

I'm in my 8th month!!

How far along: 31 weeks, 2 days (going by 9/27 edd)...although now I'm beginning to think that the 1st ultrasound was off and I like the edd of 9/21 from the other dr...either way, it's only 1 weeks difference, and babies come when they want to, so we'll just keep the 9/27 due date for consistency LOL
Weight gain: 28-30lbs depending on day and time :)
Stretch marks: none so far still (knock on wood)...the other night I got up to go to the bathroom (for the billionth time that day), and in my half-asleep state I swore that I saw some forming on my stomach, so I slathered on the lotion before I jumped into bed again lol
Symptoms: Tiredness, hungry, feel like I'm being stretched, pain you know where, and I think a little heartburn or indigestion around dinner and bed time...But I still feel pretty good...oh I forgot to mention waddling and slow walking too hahaha
Sleep: After dinner I usually crash on the couch watching TV, then some time around 9:30 or 10 I wake up and crawl into bed, at which point I will wake up again at 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, and 6:20 to use the bathroom before my alarm goes off at 6:45am...guess my body is preparing, but it makes for a long afternoon at work
Best Moment this Week: Just watching my belly move around...it makes me laugh because it looks so funny...but it's the best feeling in the world as well...oh how I can't wait till he's squirming in my arms :)
Food Cravings: Sour and sweet things again...but I'm trying to make sure to eat my veggies and healthy stuff instead of gummy worms and ice cream ;)
Labor Signs: I have felt a couple braxton hicks contractions so far, but nothing regular
Belly Button in or out?: Still in! I'm still wearing my belly ring...I am thinking about going to the mall to find a retainer bar sometime soon because it doesn't look like it had too far to go now...maybe a couple more weeks or so
Rings on or off?: Ring still on :)
Movement: He is getting BIG!!  I can feel and see every movement now...a couple times he's pushed into my ribs...but he's still small so I'm sure those rib kicks are nothing yet!  Also, I find his hiccups so endearing :)
Milestones: I'm in my 8th month now!!  Woo Hoo!!  Baby shower is on Saturday, and I am sooooo excited for that too!!! 

I can't wait for him to get here already (on time though)...everyone I know who was pregnant, except Tonya who is due in Sept, has now had their baby and it makes me a tad bit anxious for these weeks to go by faster now so that I can hold, hug, and kiss my baby all I want!  I know he will be here soon enough, and I want him to continue to grow bigger and stronger, but the anticipation is getting to me...especially with the baby shower in a couple days!

Pictures :)

29 Weeks & 4 days :)

All Baby!!! :)

2 more art projects finished...so happy how they turned out :)  A Couple more projects to go!

Sounds Like Life to Me...

I thought the chorus to this song fit perfectly at the moment..."Sounds like life to me, aint no destiny, Yeah, the only thing for certain is uncertainty, You gotta hold on tight, just enjoy the ride, Get used to all this unpredictability, sounds like life...Man, I know its tough but you gotta suck it up, To hear you talk you're caught up in some tragedy, Sounds like life to me!"

What a whirlwind we've gone through in the past couple of weeks...I know there's a purpose for everything, but I wish that I could just see where all of this is leading to and when we will be able to get back to some kind of normalcy. 

So when we saw the doctor for the follow up ultrasound on Tuesday June 29th to see how everything was going with the brain, placenta and his growth.  He said some things in the office to us that caused us some concern, but he kept reiterating that he was not concerned with anything and that at the moment we were discharged from his care unless I start measuring small, and then they will see me again for another ultrasound to make sure things are still okay.  We finally saw Margie on Tuesday and got the results that the doctor faxed over to her...we were supposed to meet her last Wednesday, but she double booked and accidentally fell back to sleep too...oops.  So we went over the results and everything looks good.  He is measuring on track.  At that appointment he was measuing about 2lbs 4oz which is average.  The doctor said given Manny's and my height, he will probably be a smaller baby.  The problem the doctor had seen with the brain was "unremarkable" this time but that the lateral ventricle was measuring 11mm, just above the normal 10mm (probably an insignificant finding considering how ultrasounds are not 100% accurate due to the human aspect of it...plus 1mm is very very tiny).  The placental cysts have grown some, one is 12mm the other 17mm, but still small in the grand scheme of things, and at this point all you can do is keep monitoring his growth and if there is any slow down, then I would be checked again.  Margie measured me and I'm still measuring 5cm big...@ 29 weeks, my belly is measuring 34cm...so obviously he is still growing well and there is no concern that he is being restricted in any way :) Yay!  His heart rate was 129, but started going up at the end, so he must have been sleeing and she woke him up :)

Other than that, we have a completely healthy baby, praise the Lord!  So as long as the doctor is giving us the okay, and he continues to grow without any problems, I still plan on having a home birth.  We have spent many sleepless nights, and shed many tears about our options, but in the end, I still feel that this is what is best for the baby and myself.  He will be seen by a pediatrician within 24-48 hours after birth (depending on if he's born on the weekend or week day) which has always been Margie's policy, but is also a reccommendation from the doctor as well.  I know that not everyone agrees with the decision we have made, but it is ours to make, and I hope that everyone can respect it. 

Our current dilemma is regarding our housing situation.  I am extemely upset with the Obama administration's idea of bailing out the banks because they were the problem to begin with and they're still not helping out people (anyway that's for another forum)...so, we are in the process of trying to short sale our home because otherwise, the bank will be selling our house on July 29th and we will be forced to move out shortly after that...being 7 months pregnant and having to move is not what I had in mind, but that's where we're at, so we must deal with it.  At the moment, it looks like we will be moving in with his parents temporarilly while we get some financial things straightened out so I can qualify for a better loan to be able to close faster on a house...so that'll be about 2 months from now (right around my due date, joy joy)  If it's not one thing, it's another, but at least we all have our health and we will have a place to live, but for Manny's sake, I hope everything goes smoothly one way or the other because it is really starting to wear on him (me too), but I don't like seeing him upset and stressed.  I am so grateful for his parents and all the help they've provided so far, but it does make you feel in a way that you've failed in some one to be able to provide your child a house of his own...but as Manny's dad reminded us, it's not like we are having to live on the streets and in a couple months we should be back on our feet again and all of this is just temporary.

I can't wait for this to all be behind us and finally be able to relax with our little baby boy and enjoy our little family in our own home!   

That's it in a nutshell!  What a crazy, flipped around life we have right now...but that's life!

The Third Trimester Already!!!

How far along: 28 weeks, 5 days (going by 9/27 edd)

Weight gain: 25lbs

Stretch marks: none so far still...yay! But I hear they like to show up after baby is here too, so we'll see lol

Symptoms: I am still feeling really good, just the usual tiredness...no complaints here :)

Sleep: I haven't been sleeping too well lately...tossing and turning...when I do finally start getting some deep sleep, it's time to wake up :P

Best Moment this Week: Tomorrow Karla is going to come over and we're going to do a little pregnancy photoshoot session...she's going to do my makeup and everything!  Should be so fun and I'll post the pictures asap :)

Food Cravings: Still no cravings :)  Must mean whatever I'm eating must be what I need :)

Labor Signs: None, and we'll keep it that way until September :)

Belly Button in or out?: Still in!  I'm still wearing my belly ring

Rings on or off?: Ring still on :)

Movement: He was a busy bee in there this week...moving all around.  It's really cool because his movements feel coordinated now and I can feel body parts moving across my stomach instead of wild kicks liek before (although he throws in a couple crazy kicks every now and then still)

Milestones: Hiccups! It's so funny because I didn't know what they were at first until we had the ultrasound and he got them while she was doing the exam :)  They are different than ours because they come closer together, but they don't last too long...maybe 5 mins or so

So that's it for now...more updates with pictures in a couple days :)