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37 week update

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Well, I wasn’t going to write anything today but we had another doctor’s appointment. They measured me the same as I was 2 weeks ago (maybe because baby dropped lower) and sent me to get an ultrasound again. Little lady is estimated to be 5 lbs 13 oz, which is still a little small. It still makes me kind of nervous to hear. I guess there is a lot of security in being the average. Her growth is steady though, which is all I can hope for I suppose! I’m sure this is just the beginning of me worrying about her! My doctor isn’t telling me to do anything differently, so all I can do is continue to pray over her. On a happier note, my rocker came in last weekend, I finished painting a few things for her room, hung *almost* all the art and organized just about everything. The nursery is finally getting close to being finished! It makes me incredibly happy. My rocker is my favorite thing right now. I’m probably crazy for buying a white chair, but it’s getting about a million Scotch Guard baths. It’s just so pretty and comfortable. All her newborn clothes are washed, as are most of her blankets, sheets and things. I finally started packing my hospital bag too. I know we’ll be those people that look like they’re going on a 2 week vacation! You know you’re not off to a good start when you pack 4 different baby outfits…I mean, who knows what she’ll fit into right? Each of those outfits has a different blanket too…ridiculous, I know. It’s obviously our first baby. Ha! Overall, I feel a lot of peace about her arrival. There are a lot of complicated dates for all the people close to us, but I’m not worried at all. Still, that may be due to the fact that I still have SO MUCH to do. Everyday I try to act like it’s the day she could come, so that keeps me motivated.

How big is baby: The size of a watermelon | 37 weeks 6 days

How I’m feeling: Well, I’m feeling very pregnant! Ha! Currently I have two little feet pressing up behind my stomach. It feels so comfortable…kidding! Other than that I’m good. I feel less energy and yet I have more motivation to get things done at the same time.

Weight gain/ Loss: 20-23 lbs (Depends on the day)

Maternity clothes: Basically, I’m living in some shorts a size up (secured with a hairband), stretchy shirts, maxi skirts and the 2 maternity dresses I have. 

Stretch Marks: Nothing but a faint line right down my middle.

Sleep: I feel like I could sleep all day, but sometimes sleep eludes me. That seems to depend on how late I ate something before bed.

Diet/ Cravings/ Aversions: Same. I feel full all the time, but I’m basically trying to eat as much as I can.  

Movement:  The bigger she gets, the more uncomfortable her movements seem to be. Her fist is pretty active…and feels so sharp! At least I don’t have to count her movements! That’s a blessing.

What I’m loving: It’s been so fun to finish up her nursery. 

Symptoms: I have a LOT more pelvic pressure. Little lady dropped a lot this week. My joints and surrounding muscles feel different. More loose? I’m not sure.  My walks have become less enjoyable, but that’s to be expected. I get sharp back pain sometimes, but over all it still feels fine. Nothing is too bad unless I eat anything unhealthy after 7 or so…my tummy doesn’t like that at all!  

Exercise: I’ve slowed down quite a bit. I have too many things on my to-do list to expend a ton of my energy on working out. I wish I could do it all, but I can’t be superwoman AND 9 months pregnant.

What I’m looking forward to: Being DONE with my to-do lists! I have extensive office work that still needs to get done, but it would be pushing it to get done in my time frame even under normal circumstances. I’ll just have to be ok if it doesn’t happen like I hope. Of course, I’m also looking forward to our baby being on the outside! 

Best moment of the week: It was definitely when my parents and little siblings came to help us last week. This week, my sweet friend Ashley is coming to stay for a few days! I cannot wait!!!

Mood: Starting to get a little antsy!

Christian maddox - July 17, 2014 - 2:30 pm

You’re doing great.. almost to the finish line 🙂

jenniferblairphoto@gmail.com - July 17, 2014 - 2:35 pm

Thanks Christian!

Pam Jackson - July 18, 2014 - 1:54 am

So excited for you and Jonathan. Very special time for you two. Enjoy. Nothing like it!

Sherri Hall Wiggins - July 18, 2014 - 2:05 am

All normal feelings! You can take as many outfits as you want to the hospital-you are the Mommy & she IS a Girl;) Enjoy all of these wonderful moments…even the little fist in your side. My kids still love to hear how I could see their little foot or feel their hand when they would kick or move.

Christy Congleton West - July 19, 2014 - 5:53 pm

David and I got a good laugh, reminiscing about having the twins (only 3 1/2 years ago!) I came home from the hospital wearing the same ugly sweatpants and Gators hoodie I was wearing four days before, when they were delivered. They wore hospital blankets and caps. It was Christmas Eve when we went home, and it was cold!
At their two-week check-up, the doctor asked me about a rash on Ryan’s back. Well, I didn’t know! Then she asked, “Have you bathed the babies yet?” I said, no, that it was too cold to take their clothes off! We took care of the business end, and covered them right back up!
In my defense, they were premature and low-birth weight, and for the first 2 weeks, we had been in and out of the hospital with my pre-eclampsia, but really!
I hope your experience is prettier!

Emily Wright - July 22, 2014 - 4:34 pm

Girl!

I’ve enjoyed the ride reading your blog! What a wondrous thing the Lord is doing! May the Lord enable you to get what you need to done, for His glory and your good.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Not long now…

 

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Photo taken at 36 weeks

Tomorrow marks 37 weeks, which is officially full term! Time is flying by and I can’t believe there will be a little one in our lives very soon! A lot of people told us that the 3rd trimester can feel very slow, but it has gone by so incredibly fast to me! I feel like we blinked and this pregnancy is just about over. (Of course, we could have up to 3 weeks and a few days left to go!) Summer is a crazy time for both of our jobs, so that has probably made getting to this point seem to get here so quickly. There hasn’t been much time for a breath! I have actually liked being pregnant in the Summer, but it has been a little crazy! As we get ready for the final stretch, I’m so thankful for all the many ways our family and friends have blessed us. My parents were here a few days ago to help us fix up the nursery and help with projects on my to-do list. It was such a huge blessing to have them here with us. Now we are so close to being ready for little E to come into the world! I feel overwhelmed when I look at my lists and see that we have almost everything we need for our little girl. Grateful doesn’t quite cover it…especially since we managed to buy a house, a car and have a baby all at the same time!

It hasn’t really hit me that this new season is almost here. I doubt it will until we have her in our arms. Sometimes I even forget that I’m pregnant. It’s as if this huge growth attached to me isn’t real or something…that is, until she kicks me. Then it’s very real! Ha! Even though I’m so ready to be “done” sometimes, I’m trying to savor these final days. It will be quite a while (hopefully) before it’s just the two of us again, so I want to soak in every moment. It can be difficult at times to find contentment in the present, especially when you’re sad to leave a season of life or long for another. It’s easy to look at other people and want whatever we perceive that they have in life, but in reality we all struggle no matter where we are or what we have. Even when we are surrounded by blessing, our depraved hearts can easily find something that isn’t perfect to fixate on instead of all the good things around us. I’ve been learning the lesson of being content and present where I am a lot lately. It’s amazing how our attitude changes from discontent to joy when we change our perspective!

Our home isn’t perfect. The baby won’t have the most beautiful nursery or outfits. I’ll probably struggle to find balance between my family, friends, ministry and job that I love. I’m going to mess up. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared of being a mama and how our little girl will change our lives. Still, my heart finds peace because I know I don’t have to depend on myself. It’s true today and it will be true after she comes. I have a constant hope in Christ, and in Him I find more than enough grace for every day of life. I can rest in that fact! There is still so much unknown. We aren’t really ready, but we are completely ready at the same time because we know and trust the One who has perfect timing. For today, there is grace upon grace. For the day she comes, grace upon grace…and every day after that as well.

This is getting rather long and I’m rambling on, but I wanted to write at least one more time before our Eleanora arrives. Who knows, I may write a lot more! We will see! Regardless of what transpires, we choose to rest in the One who quells all fears and choose joy in Him. One thing we know for sure is that it’s not long now. Here we go!

 

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Emily - July 14, 2014 - 4:57 pm

Thank you for posting this. I’m one week behind you and am so excited and nervous to be a mama to a little girl! There’s so much responsibility, so many ways I will influence her life, and yet with Christ there is also so much grace.
You are in my prayers as you prepare for sweet baby E to come! <3

~Emily

35 week update

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I can’t believe this journey is getting close to the end! I finished up my last wedding on Saturday and have my last session Tuesday night. Last week was pretty crazy with WIRED missions camp going on, 4 leaders staying at our house, plus back to back weddings with another 4 extra people staying with us those nights! I wouldn’t trade any of it, but I am glad to be done and get back to a clean house! I’m also starting to get a little nervous about finishing everything before little E arrives. We still have so many things left to get for her, I *still* need to finish the nursery, wash all her clothes, pack a hospital bag (figure out what to put in it too!), organize her closet and soooooooo many other things! I definitely won’t be sitting around just waiting for her! I also started a few charts for the guest we’ll have staying with us, so that while they’re here people know how to help. It’s things like a sample list of all the things we like stocked in the fridge, brands and where to find them. I hope it will be helpful! I’m also making a bunch of lists of things we still need, stuff I need to get done, pack, etc…We had her 35 week check up today too. They sent us to get an ultrasound because she’s measuring a little small, but they said everything looks good. We couldn’t see her face because she’s already turned the way she needs to be for birth. (Good girl!) She’s stayed that way for the past 3 weeks, so that’s encouraging! We also saw that she has a full head of hair! I hoped for a baby with lots of hair so that made me so giddy! I hope she continues to grow like she’s supposed to. Right now she’s 4 lbs 13 oz and in the 16th percentile…or something. She still moves almost non-stop, which is a good sign and my fluid levels are good! Besides being a little small, everything looks great and they aren’t worried, so I just have to trust the Lord and do everything I need to for baby to grow! I’ve been small my whole life, so it’s not surprising she is too. It’s just hard not to worry a little bit when they say, “she’s a little smaller than average.” She’s probably just on the petite (but tall) side like her mama!

How big is baby: The size of a coconut | 35 weeks 3 days

How I’m feeling: I’m feeling good for the most part! My back is fine and sleep is still going pretty well, depending on the night. I’m much less comfortable sitting now and my feet have been tired. However, I know that’s due to the fact I’ve been on them a lot for the past 2 weeks! That will be remedied starting tomorrow though. There is a whole lot less on the calendar now and that makes me happy! I get indigestion if I eat right before bed and I feel like I’m in a constant state of being hungry yet full at the same time. I can’t really complain though…at least that’s what I tell myself! I feel so thankful to feel as good as I do, so I try not to focus on anything that’s not-so-fun. I do have to admit that I’m constantly whining, “I feel like whale” to Jonathan and my sister, especially when I’m trying to get dressed! Ha! 

Weight gain/ Loss: 20 lbs…I’m really happy with that number these days! I feel like my body is doing exactly what it needs to do.

Maternity clothes: Not really. I have the one black dress I wear. I squeezed my pregnant tush into some of my super stretchy black skinnies. They weren’t comfy, but I’m not comfortable these days anyway…and I wanted to wear pants! Ha! I definitely feel like my hips are a little wider than they used to be though. Or maybe it’s the big ‘ole belly that makes them feel different. At least they stayed up. My one pair of maternity jeans are saggy-central. 

Stretch Marks: Not that I can see. I do have a faint line down the center of my stomach, but I’m not sure what it is really.

Sleep: Sleep becoming more evasive, depending on the night. Sometimes I’m out like a light and other nights I can’t seem to be comfy. 

Diet/ Cravings/ Aversions: Any food is wonderful to me! Lately I love to snack on dark chocolate covered almonds. Yum! I can’t seem to get enough spinach salads…especially ones that have some tangy fruit on top! I had lots of sugar last week during WIRED because I didn’t eat at home most days…and it was there. I’m glad to get back to healthy and wholesome meals this week. 

Movement: Sadly, even though little lady has her head down she’s not being comfortable for me anymore. I think she has gotten a TON bigger in the past few weeks! Now her little booty and feet press out all the time. She’ll push her feet out into my side and move them up and down like she’s stretching. It seems like it’s every 5 minutes…or less. It’s good she moves though…so again, I shouldn’t complain. Jonathan does talk to her quite frequently, telling her to chill out for just a little while for mama. It’s cute. 

What I’m loving: I love thinking about what it will be like when she’s here! I started a journal for her, so that’s been fun too. It’s starting to get a little nerve-wrecking to think we’ll be parents soon though! I’m somewhere in between excited and freaked out.

Symptoms: Still thirsty all the time. I’m a bit more easily tired. Minor aches. The most uncomfortable thing to deal with is her movements. Again, I don’t have anything much to complain about. (Even though I do! I need to try harder not to though!)

Exercise: I spent so much energy on other things besides working out last week. I knew I didn’t need to do anything extra on top of our WIRED camp and my weddings. They were exercise enough! I probably won’t do much this next week either besides going for some walks and a little bit of strength exercises here and there. 

What I’m looking forward to: I’m SO EXCITED about going on a mini getaway for a few days this week. Then it’s go time when we get back, but I’m going to try not to stress about my to-do list.

Best moment of the week: It was a great week in general. I can’t pick one moment. I LOVED being a part of WIRED in the small ways I could and also coming home from my last wedding before E comes. It went so well and I’m so thankful to focus more on baby things…and wrapping up my office work! 

Mood: A little tired but excited!

Paige Leverette Knudsen - June 30, 2014 - 7:23 pm

so tickled for you little mommy! you look marvelous!

Emily Wright - July 2, 2014 - 3:06 pm

Time flies! I can’t believe it, I’m so excited for you guys! Maybe one day we’ll be able to meet up, haha, one day! I’ll be praying for this final leg before her debut!

Katkat - February 13, 2016 - 1:51 pm

Royaa joon man montazer budam begi ke kobihoe shomare yekesh inke be esme viyar mishe har chi delet khast har saati delet khast o gir biario bokhori:)

Getting Ready for Baby

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These days I feel a mixture of readiness for this little one, mingled with some slight panic because there is still so much more to do before we’re really ready for her. It’s amazing that a such a tiny person creates so much change. My tummy at least feels ready to have her on the outside. The rest of me wonders what it’s going to be like once she’s here and how I’m going to handle suddenly becoming a mama. It seems so wonderful, yet incredibly humbling. There is so much to parenthood that is not glamourous. Sure, I know there are great joys that accompany the toil, but I know it will be tiresome nonetheless. In reality, we have no idea what we’re getting into. Our daughter is completely unique. We’ll have to learn how to meet her needs together. We’ll have to trust that God will teach us along the way, because only He will give us strength for the task ahead. One thing is for sure: we are getting so close! I’m looking forward to the final preparations for the arrival of this precious gift.

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Here’s a nursery sneak peek! Yes, I’m using seafoam in a girl’s room! We love it.

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We can’t wait to meet you little one! As Jonathan says, “Be nice to your mommy until you get here!”

Pregnancy Uniform

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This past week is seems as if my belly has doubled in size every time I get out of bed in the morning. I know, I’m exaggerating a bit! Even still there isn’t much these days that is cool enough for Summer AND will fit over my ever-growing bump. Lately these items have become my pregnancy uniform: boyfriend shorts (a size up from normal, secured with a rubber band), long tees, comfy shoes and lots of fun accessories. Oh, and we can’t forget a really big bag too! (You know…for all the food and water I carry around!) With less than 5 weeks left, I hope these will last me the rest of the time! Although, I may be stealing more of Jonathan’s shirts as little E’s arrival gets closer and closer. I have definitely reached the “please-get-this-wiggle-worm-out-of-me” phase. While I’m still so thankful to be pregnant, I can’t help but hope these last few weeks will go by quickly. I’m so ready to hold her on the outside…and sleep on my stomach again!

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