Stay-cation & Maternity Shoot

One advantage to knowing we'll be having a c-section on March 1st is we now know how much time we have left just the two of us.  Trey and I threw around the idea awhile back about doing a last minute little stay-cation in Atlanta and decided this week, why not.  We might not have many chances to do things like that soon enough.  So we packed up a bag and headed to Buckhead to start off the night.

It was so much fun and reminded me of what a fun city we live in.  We started the night off with a delicious belated Valentine's dinner at Pricci in Buckhead.  From there we headed to the Westin downtown to get some drinks at the Sun Dial Lounge.  We'd always wanted to go there and never made it so I'm glad we finally made time to do it.  It was so neat to sit in the lounge area and have the floor spin us around while we took in the beautiful views of the city from the top.  We felt like we were in another city and we'll definitely have to get back there one day with a group of friends. 

On top of the city at the Westin Sun Dial Lounge

Then we headed back toward Midtown for our stay at the Marriott Residence Inn across from the Woodruff Arts Center.  Trey had some Marriott points to burn and we figured that was a good location for our plans today- which were to head to Piedmont Park for some maternity shots.

We got up, had a yummy breakfast at the hotel then headed to the park.  It was a very cold and windy shoot but given the conditions I think we got a couple good shots (especially considering we took them ourselves).

We ended our stay-cation with lunch at Atlantic Station and headed home from there.  So glad we planned this last minute little "trip."  Now, the count down begins.  13 days until we can hold our baby girl (unless of course she turns before then)!

 

Breech like her Mama

partial 3D view of her face

I learned last week that when my mom was pregnant with me she found out I was laying sideways in her belly breech and that's the reason I was a C-Section baby.  I always assumed that because my brother Ryan was C-section, so was I.  I had no clue.  But like they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and unfortunately today Trey and I learned during my prenatal visit and ultrasound that Sophia is in the Frank Breech position in my belly (butt down, head and legs up like a jack knife).

So... looks like she'll be making a scheduled debut after all.  March 1st at 8 am is the date and time unless she turns herself around.  My doctor says there's about a 5 percent chance of that and he doesn't recommend versioning (a procedure to turn her that could lead to placental displacement, cord strangling, and an emergency c-section), so I'm not holding my breath.  Because I'm almost 37 weeks the protocol is to schedule a C-section and that's what the plan is now.  :(

To say I've been bummed all day would be an understatement.  I really really REALLY didn't want a C-section.  Sure, it sounds nice to avoid the fear and pain of labor but the risks to a C-section combined with the added recovery time and intense surgery I'm going to undergo (and the scar) all combine into a recipe for no fun at all.  I imagined having the baby and being able to hold her right away and just recover like most people do in a few weeks but now that plan has gone out the window and I'm having to adjust to this news.

I must say, I kinda had a feeling when the doctor at my last appointment scheduled the ultrasound because she couldn't tell which position the baby was in that this might be the case.  Over the last two weeks or so I've felt what seemed like a rock up above my belly button and was thinking it had to be the head, and sure enough it was.  Guess mom's intuition is always right. 

The doctor also said they schedule C-sections when they know you're breech at 39 weeks to try to avoid you going into labor naturally because of all the complications that can happen during delivery. So it's just crazy to think that now she'll be here in 17 days!!!

I guess the important thing is to make sure she comes out healthy and I always said I'd do whatever was necessary for a healthy delivery.  So if I needed a C-section, I was prepared for it.  I suppose it's better to know now, then to labor and then find out I need one.  God has a plan in mind so all I can do is trust everything will be ok.

In the meantime, because my doctor said my fluid level is normal but on the low end I'm supposed to be resting up and drinking plenty of water.  Bye Bye gym and swimming laps at the pool for now (though I was was lucky to make it once a week these days anyway).  But it also got me out of a training at the IRS next week (not too bad).

Too bad Trey and I just spent our entire day Saturday at a childbirth class to prepare for labor and delivery.  Just goes to show with a baby on the way, despite your best intentions to plan and prepare you can never know what's coming.   

I guess the positive is she'll be here even sooner than we thought and after seeing her cute little face in the 3D ultrasound today, I'm even more excited for her upcoming arrival!

36 weeks

Neighborhood & Family Baby Showers

Little Sophia is one lucky girl and so am I to have such loving friends and family who want to shower us with love and gifts to get ready for her arrival.  Last weekend some of my closet friends in the neighborhood threw me a baby shower and this past Sunday my godmother Miriam threw me a family shower.  Both were great and the food, decor and prep everyone put in made me feel so loved.  I got so many great things to welcome our baby into the world and I definitely feel so ready and prepared now that I'm all stocked up from all my amazing showers.  Only a few weeks left and she'll be here!

Neighborhood shower - the girls decorated everything so pretty and I loved the giraffe theme to match my nursery!

The food was delicious!

Love everything giraffe

My wonderful hostesses- Katie, Stephanie, Laura and Lisa

Family Shower - Miriam truly outdid herself!  The food was delicious and the details in everything she did were amazing!

Abuela and Nana

Games and Favors.  Miriam embroidered the cutest washcloths inside each box (along with other goodies)

Sophia's godmother- my cousin Ali

We always love Miriam's spread for Thanksgiving every year and this spread was no different.  She's an amazing chef.

Loved this nautical outfit from Aunt Debbie and Mackenzie

The cute outfits and matching shoes didn't stop coming.  She is going to be one stylish little girl.

Miriam had us all crafting to decorate little bibs for Sophia. 

36.5 weeks!!!

Reflections & Perspective from a Pregnant Mama

7 1/2 weeks

35 weeks

I just have to laugh looking at these two pictures side by side.  For those of you who keep telling me how great I look - thank you and I love you, but I must say there's no denying I've gained weight since my first pregnancy shot and there's definitely a little someone inside of me.  I have had this obvious realization hit me lately that somehow or another this rock solid little thing I feel in my stomach has to exit somehow and I must say - when I think of the HOW, I get slightly scared :)

It kinda puts everything in perspective when I look back at a stomach I never even appreciated I had, to the one I have now that's round and jiggles at times like a "bowl full of jelly" to quote the Night Before Christmas.  But, it's also one of the most amazing feelings I've ever had to look down at my full belly and see Sophia inside squirming around and making all kinds of shapes on my little basketball stomach.  I guess the gist is, for the trade off of what's coming I'll take the belly and added pounds and I just can't wait to meet her and see what she'll look like.

It's crazy as I stare down the finish line of this pregnancy how mixed my emotions have become.  Some days I'm just so excited to be done with this and have my baby in my arms.  The discomfort level keeps creeping up and I suppose I am growing more and more tired of the frequent bathroom runs and added aches and pains in my hips and back (especially when I sleep at night) and yes, sadly the back-acne (throw me a bone why don't ya?).

I'd love to have my body back so I don't have to worry about what position I'm sleeping in, what kind of cheese I'm consuming that might hurt the baby, or whether that special sauce in my meal at a restaurant has something I'm not supposed to be eating.  There are so many rules and things to think about when you're pregnant and it honestly just boggles the mind and becomes overwhelming at times.

Yet, the other side of me is slightly panicked and anxious at the thought of becoming a mom in a few weeks.  I know I'll be "ready" because I've always wanted this and shoot - I'll have to be, but I find myself running through checklists trying to make sure I'm as ready as I can and there just never seems to be enough time to juggle everything on my list and keep up with my day job.  My brain just feels clogged at times and I find my stamina waning by the end of most days.

Trey and I made up a list of things to do before she gets here - like dates we want to take before we can't and I hate feeling like the life as we we know it - which is so fun and great - is about to end.

So then I go back and forth between feeling guilty about not being completely "ready" and excited about the changes coming our way.  I guess this flip floppy mind is somewhat normal when you go into having your first child.  I suppose overall the excitement at holding our little girl and getting to know her far exceeds any reservations I have and I just pray she's a healthy and happy little baby.

Something tells me it will be love at first sight and nothing else will matter on her birth day.  So pounds, pack 'em on if you will.  Bathroom runs do your worst.  If every other mom out there could handle it, I feel confident I can too.  And Sophia, hurry up and grow to healthy size because I can't wait to meet you!

A New Car!

Too much info for one post so here's part 3.  On top of the jammed packed weekend of getting the nursery ready and having my second baby shower, Trey and I bought a new car!  We'd been debating on the new Nissan Pathfinder, Lexus RX 350 and the Acura MDX for a few weeks now but Trey found an amazing deal on a 2011 MDX down at the Mercedes Dealership in Columbus, GA so Friday afternoon we decided to bite the bullet and head down there to buy it.  

We worked out all the details before we got there and knew that if it looked good we'd drive it home.  It didn't disappoint and an hour after we got there we were heading home in a new car.  I can tell it's going to take some getting used to for me to drive an SUV but I love it already and know it'll be a better option for me when I'm driving little Sophia around town soon enough.

Belly Bump update & Nursery Sneak Peak

First an update on belly shots.  I'm now at 33 1/2 weeks so another shot to come...

29 weeks                                                                                                       32 weeks

I've been trying to hold off on posting any shots of the nursery until I was completely done but since it's almost there I thought I'd share a few.  I couldn't resist after getting my bedding - which was made by my sister in law Carrie Beth.  She did such an amazing job on all the bedding and the skirt and even made a cute pillow with Sophia's initial on it.  Thanks Carrie Beth!!!  I love how it all came together so perfectly and the pattern really matches well with the colors in the room.  

My mom is making me curtains with the same pattern as the crib skirt and I can't wait to see the final look!  All that's left after that is a changing pad, crystal chandelier (waiting on Trey to hang it - you can see it in the closet), and putting up the baby mobile.  I love going into her room and just taking it all in and can't wait until she's here to use it!  

Love this bedding!

Hand made frame

Inspiration - sold at Precious Cargo for $98!  That's insane!

Had so much fun paining this!

I made the letters with scrapbook paper and mod podge paint.  Topped them off with some decorative flowers.

Thanks to all the clothes friends and family (especially Carrie Beth!)  have gifted and passed down this girl is going to be one stylish little chick!