37 Weeks

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How far along? 37 Weeks 

Total weight gain? Up 33 lbs. I am going in weekly so we will see how the weight gain continues until Little Coraline decides to make her debut.

Maternity Clothes? ASOS is my top #1 choice! The tops/tunics run true to your pre-pregnancy size. (Given you didn't let yourself go and blow up like a balloon - boob growth is accommodated for). I found that the pants are true to your current pregnant size. So if you measure your hips properly, use their size chart to order the proper pregnancy size. Yes this means you may order a 10/12/14. Grieve for a bit, then get over it.
My next choices are The Gap/Old Navy. I have really only ordered tank tops from there and again, true to pre-pregnancy size. However, for 3rd trimester I recommend going up one size, the belly region can get tight. :-) 

Stretch Marks?  The red marks are still on my butt! What is amazing is no stretch marks on my belly, none what-so-ever! I know they say it is mostly genetics, but I will just let you know that I refuse to scratch my belly at all. On top of not scratching, I use Jergens lotion with Vitamin E oil and Aloe religiously. Anything with Vitamin E oil is suppose to be great for your skin regardless, so why not? So far so good. Just wish I would've considered butt stretch marks, or "red marks". 

Sleep: Sleep is better this week, I am still tired, but definitely got a "second wind" to help get all those baby gifts un-packed and put away.  The only thing is she is really getting up in my ribs. It gives me anxiety because I am afraid she is going to dislocate a rib or something. haha

Best moment this week: Getting the nursery 90% finished!!! Just waiting on the crib bedding to be delivered :-)

Miss Anything? Wearing my cowgirl boots! It is August, my favorite time of year is just around the corner and I miss wearing my cowgirl boots and cute fall clothes more than anything. It really sucks being prego in the summer (excluding this summer. I was extremely blessed with a mild Texas summer, but I know I wouldn't get this lucky a second time.) The only bonus with being prego in the summer, come fall you don't have to worry about fitting into pre-pregnancy cute shorts and pants right away - It is totally fashionable to rock the leggings, tunics and boots to give you more room while you drop the mommy weight. :-]

Movement: Her movements are up in my ribs now. Before they would be close to my ribs and I could push her little feet away, now they actually glide up UNDER my ribs where I can't reach, for obvious reasons. She has dropped a bit lower this week. I went to work out for the first time since week 28 and she dropped painfully low afterward. I have woken up feeling crampy from her in the middle of the night. I can feel her little hands move around my belly button and hip bones too. 

Food cravings: Watermelon. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Textures are still making me sick. 

Gender RESULTS: BABY GIRL!!! My gut feeling was right all along! I absolutely can't wait to meet her!

Labor Signs: More and more contractions! 

Symptoms: 
Hands and Feet hurt REALLY bad. Especially my knuckles. They ache and almost feel like bruises to open and close my fingers. It is worse when I wake up first thing, but they get better during the day. I don't know if I am just clenching my fists or something in my sleep, but regardless. THEY HURT!
Ligament spasms? They are super loose in my groin area and sometimes spasm or cramp as I am walking. It feels hella weird and kind of unpleasant.
Braxton Hicks! Yay.
Very small bladder...very. small.
Baby hiccups
If I don't take my prenatal vitamin at night, my legs get extremely antsy! It feels like I need to go running they get so antsy. However, if I take my pre-natal within 30 minutes they chill out. I read that it has to do with the iron. Either way, it works.
Movements have changed from individual movements to feeling simultaneous movements in two different spots. Like I will feel something toward my right side up by my ribs, and at the same time another movement on the left side of my belly button. It's the weirdest, yet most wonderful feeling in the world.
Disappearing belly button, baby bump, nails and hair growing like weeds, baby movements (the best!) and my boobs have drastically increased.
Occasional swelling of my feet and hands. Especially my right foot. 

Belly Button in or out? My belly button is officially FLAT. No innie, no outtie. 

Wedding rings on or off? I have moved my wedding ring to my right pinkie and taken my Aggie Ring off for safe keeping. We went out to dinner with friends, I was talking with my hands, as usual, and my Aggie Ring went flying! I almost had a heart attack. It is too tight to fit on the correct finger, but too heavy to properly hold on my pinkie. It makes me sad not to wear it. :-[

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, Happy!

Looking forward to: Meeting our Little Lady!!! We absolutely love her so much and both of us can not wait to hold her!

Baby Name? Coraline! I love the name!! See WEEK 21 for name details. <3

Thoughts: This week Taylor and I went on the hunt for a china cabinet or entertainment stand for tax free weekend. We didn't find either that Henry and I both would love, but we did find an amazing chair for the nursery! We were suppose to receive one, but it hasn't been delivered and with Coraline only 3 weeks away - the doctor saying she could be here any day, we really need a chair for those late nights and just can't keep waiting around. [I kept the 90 day return policy receipt though, just in case!]  We were wondering around and then stumbled upon this lovely reclining chair that matches her room beautifully. It doesn't glide or rock, which is a bummer, but it is super comfy and reclines! If anything, it would be a great accent piece to add to our living room set later down the road.

We were also able to use our gift cards from the showers and coupons from the mail to buy Coraline the baby monitor and swing. :-] All the big ticket items are officially DONE! 

About the Board:

I read this on a picture from somewhere, it didn't say who the quote was by, but I snapped a photo of the quote and had to use it! It is quite fitting, don't you think?

Pregnancy/Maternity Fashion: 

The top is a Long and Lean tank from Target. I am wearing a high/low skirt from a local boutique.

36 Weeks

How far along? 36 Weeks 

Total weight gain? Up 32 lbs. 

Maternity Clothes? ASOS is my top #1 choice! The tops/tunics run true to your pre-pregnancy size. (Given you didn't let yourself go and blow up like a balloon - boob growth is accommodated for). I found that the pants are true to your current pregnant size. So if you measure your hips properly, use their size chart to order the proper pregnancy size. Yes this means you may order a 10/12/14. Grieve for a bit, then get over it. My next choices are The Gap/Old Navy. I have really only ordered tank tops from there and again, true to pre-pregnancy size. However, for 3rd trimester I recommend going up one size, the belly region can get tight. :-) 

Stretch Marks?  The red marks are still on my butt! Good news, the red marks on my boob have vanished! Gone! Not even a slight sign that they were once even there. WHOOP! What is amazing is no stretch marks on my belly, none what-so-ever! 

Sleep: Sleep was terrible only two nights this week, I tossed and turned and had to go to the restroom all the time. What is so frustrating is I would pee juuuuuuust a little. Like really!? I woke up, rolled out of bed, waddled to the restroom...for THAT??? 

Best moment this week: Learning Coralines weight! We had a sono Monday where they did the regular measurements. We didn't get to learn her length or head size, but the sono tech did say she was about 6 lbs 12 oz. Holy cow!!! We had read though that the sono can be off by about a 1 lb each way. That night at Birth Boot Camp we decided to ask the midwives to see if they could tell us her weight. They are pretty darn accurate at guessing the weight by just feeling with their hands. We didn't tell them what the sono had said and we had them feel individually. At first Melody went to feel and noted how firm my uterus and abdomen was. It was so firm it felt like I was having a contraction - which I was, but once the contraction passed she still noted it was extremely tight. She also noted how low Coraline was. I explained the incident from the night before and she showed me an inversion to help get her to move up a bit and relieve the pressure. RoseAnne then came in to guess the weight. They both guessed 6.5 lbs!! We have 4 weeks left people!! At least!
Plus side, they said it is actually easier to deliver a big baby than a small baby. Sounds counter-intuitive, just like MOST smaller frames/skinny girls tend to show later than bigger girls because the skin and everything isn't as pre-stretched out [I am sure there are more scientific reasons, but that is what the books say]. It just sounds like it should be the other way around, right? That is no joke either. I have a friend who is 26 weeks and she seriously looks like me when I was 21 weeks. I think most women use their "gut"/bloating as their initial growing bump. lol No judgement though, each to their own. 

Miss Anything? Wearing cute clothes.

Movement: Her movements are all over the place! Sometimes it feels like her little bottom is right up under my diaphragm and I can't lean over at all. She is growing so big!

Food cravings: Watermelon. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Textures are still making me sick. 

Gender RESULTS: BABY GIRL!!! My gut feeling was right all along! I absolutely can't wait to meet her!

Labor Signs: Labor scare this week. It was almost 11 pm at night when I felt like there was literally a knife going up in my Hoo-Ha into my cervix. It hurt! When I stood up, it felt worse. I was also having mild contractions. Que being extremely grateful for having a Doula! She informed me the pain I was having was "dilation pain" - aka my cervix stretching. Coraline's head on my cervix - aka standing up - was adding pressure and going to help me dilate more so I needed to lie down. She suggested taking a warm relaxing bath, using Lavender essential oils to calm uterine activity and drinking chamomile tea if I had any on hand. She also suggested Henry doing a thing we learned called, "Rebozo" or "Sifting" to help take the weight off. I was walking into the bedroom to take a bath and was hit with such hard contractions and knife pain that I went straight to my hands and knees, rocking through the pain in tears. Without even having to ask, Henry jumped right into action and started Sifting. I hadn't even had a chance to tell him that was what the Doula had recommended. I was so proud of him. He did listen in the baby classes! :-] It helped relieve the pain and contractions, and Henry wrapped his arms around me as I stayed there a few minutes more on the floor. I then eased into the bathtub. Unfortunately, the knife pain continued all night long, so sleep was terrible that night. We discovered the next day I was indeed dilated to a 2 and needed to take it easy to prevent any further dilation. 

Symptoms: 
Labor scare above
Dilation
Her sitting painfully low.
Ligament spasms? They are super loose in my groin area and sometimes spasm or cramp as I am walking. It feels hella weird and kind of unpleasant.
Braxton Hicks! Yay.
Very small bladder...very. small.
Baby hiccups
If I don't take my prenatal vitamin at night, my legs get extremely antsy! It feels like I need to go running they get so antsy. However, if I take my pre-natal within 30 minutes they chill out. I read that it has to do with the iron. Either way, it works.
Movements have changed from individual movements to feeling simultaneous movements in two different spots. Like I will feel something toward my right side up by my ribs, and at the same time another movement on the left side of my belly button. It's the weirdest, yet most wonderful feeling in the world.
Disappearing belly button, baby bump, nails and hair growing like weeds, baby movements (the best!) and my boobs have drastically increased.
Occasional swelling of my feet and hands. Especially my right foot. 

Belly Button in or out? My belly button is officially FLAT. No innie, no outtie. 

Wedding rings on or off? Both rings have moved to my pinkie fingers. I had a scare with my Aggie ring and just decided to keep them both there. Juuuust in case. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, Happy!

Looking forward to: Finishing out the nursery and getting back into our house from the tornado!

Baby Name? Coraline! I love the name!! See WEEK 21 for name details. <3

Thoughts: My doula gave me a pre-natal massage this week. (Again, highly recommend getting a Doula!) She said my uterus was very strong and defined, she could tell right where it began and where it ended. Good??? She also noted my groin muscles and ligaments were extremely tight. She worked on them for a bit - it burnt like fire, but that was a good sign. She recommended I start really stretching to help loosen them up. The problem is I danced and did yoga for so long, so taking a 10 week break really tightened them up. Nightly stretches it is.
This week was way too chaotic for me! The labor scare, learning her weight, pre-natal massage...I need a nap just writing about it all.

Real World, Real Problems

This post really has no purpose other than to feel sorry for myself and rant a bit, so just hear me out. haha

When I met Henry I had a whole different life planned out for myself. They always say though, "Life happens when you're making plans". That sure did happen with me! I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world, but it definitely has not turned out one bit the way I envisioned. 

I ended up leaving my entire family in Houston to move to Henry's hometown near Fort Worth. I opted out of pursuing my ideal career to get married and take a month long honeymoon. Such a terrible trade, right? haha. Now yes my alternate plans included becoming a successful business woman. Instead I have become a wife, a soon-to-be mom, and world traveler. haha. I have done things with Henry I didn't really prioritize doing in my "ideal" previous life. We have travelled to Colorado numerous times (love it there!), Vegas numerous times, Tennessee, Michigan, Greece, Italy, England, USVI, then countless roadtrips. I can't say I have much to complain about. 

I ended up giving up my amazing job to work in the "family" business as Henry's Finance Manager. The ironic part of this, I use to help Space Center Houston/NASA in their finance department. I remember them asking me on numerous occasions to switch my Biology major to a Finance major so I could work for them after graduation. I always told them no, that I didn't see myself doing finance for the rest of my life....and here I am....doing finance. HA! 

With a baby on the way it has even made finance work for the company difficult, especially with an office assistant that recently has become extremely unreliable on her ability to show up on time or stay an entire day, or get anything done without an error. We have about 3 weeks until Coraline is due and we have been kind of rushing around figuring out what we are going to do to ensure I don't have to tote a newborn back and forth to that dusty, dirty, hazardous construction office. Most pregnant women around this time are getting ready to take their maternity leave. You don't get maternity leave when you own your own business. 

Either way we are making due and have had a few wonderful people help us figure out remote log ins and various things to help out. But like I said before, I don't see myself doing finance for the rest of my life either. I don't mind help managing the office from a distance to ensure no one is stealing from us (happened with the last two secretaries) and that things run smoothly. No one cares about your business more than you. I also didn't ever picture myself being a stay at home mom. However, with Henry inconsistently working in town, I do not want a stranger raising our kids either. 

I mentioned to Henry a local business that was hiring part-time. This is a company I adore and love going in their shop to browse. I mentioned the possibility of me working for them part-time after Coraline is born. It would be such a fun job, doing something I love, giving me some "me time", and allowing me to make a little of my own on the side to do with what I want. Henry's sister even volunteered to babysit Coraline for me so I could go off and enjoy the part-time job without worrying about a stranger watching our baby. I mean I have given up A LOT to go with Henry's plans and dreams, so I figured he would be supportive of this one little tiny "me" request. When he laughed at me and said no I couldn't do it, that was a hobby and not a job, I about had a pregnancy meltdown on a whole different level. Instead I took a deep breath, bit my tongue and dropped the whole conversation. Hell, I will do it regardless of his support or not. He is rarely in town anyway. It wasn't worth the fight, but it was heartbreaking that he dismissed it just because it didn't sound interesting to him.

I can honestly say I feel extremely trapped and limited in this small town. I am not use to the lack of amenities Houston had to offer. I love the connections that come with a small town, but sometimes I feel like I can't breath living here. 

I absolutely can't wait until Coraline is born because it will give me a legitimate excuse to go into the "city" haha. I look forward to ballet recitals or volleyball tournaments or track meets - doing fund-raisers, bake sales, etc. I look forward to being that pro-active mom that helps her daughter out wherever she will allow me without being smothering (I mean I will try not to smother her). I know I will always continue to help Henry out in the company as much as possible, I just don't trust anyone else to handle the finances and accounts. People see these large checks come in and see dollar signs and their own problems. They don't see the bills, invoices and payroll that those checks have to go toward. I don't mind telling people no and being the bad person for Henry, but other people won't care. So to have a small part-time job aside from helping Henry's company and raising kids would be amazing to me. It would make me feel like I truly had something for ME.

 I would finally be doing something for me, myself and no one else. 

I just wish Henry would be more supportive. :-/ Hopefully he will come around.

Weeks 30 & 31

How far along? 31 Weeks 

Total weight gain? Still up 23 lbs, will have another check up Week 32. Really trying to maintain a total weight gain less than 30 lbs. We will see how that goes!

Maternity Clothes? ASOS is my top #1 choice! The tops/tunics run true to your pre-pregnancy size. (Given you didn't let yourself go and blow up like a balloon - boob growth is accommodated for). I found that the pants are true to your current pregnant size. So if you measure your hips properly, use their size chart to order the proper pregnancy size. Yes this means you may order a 10/12/14. Grieve for a bit, then get over it. My next choices are The Gap/Old Navy. I have really only ordered tank tops from there and again, true to pre-pregnancy size. However, for 3rd trimester I recommend going up one size, the belly region can get tight. :-)

Stretch Marks?  The red marks are still on my butt! Good news, the red marks on my boob have vanished! Gone! Not even a slight sign that they were once even there. WHOOP!

Sleep:  Sleep has been pleasant this week. Except when she kicks my ribs. It is a weird sensation I am not use to and it wakes me up the moment it happens.

Best moment this week: Started Birth Boot Camp and almost finished painting all of the nursery! One stencil left!

Miss Anything? My cousin and alcohol. I could definitely dive into a large mojito.

Movement: She LOVES to move!! She has begun to kick under my ribs. The sensation of her tiny feet gliding under my ribs is SO. FREAKING. WEIRD. It almost takes my breath away. Plus I have heard crazy stories of ribs being dislocated and broken, so I am on pins and needles afraid she's going to give me one of those donkey kicks and there goes a rib. I have had 3 ribs fractured before and it is NOT pleasant. Since she is gliding UNDER the rib, I can't push on her foot to move it like when she hits my hip bone or pushes too hard on my side. The lack of control makes me more uneasy. 

Food cravings: Watermelon. Henry picks the best ones too. Each time before he leaves town I make sure he picks a watermelon first so I can snack on it while he is gone. :-)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Textures are still making me sick. 

Gender RESULTS: BABY GIRL!!! My gut feeling was right all along! I absolutely can't wait to meet her!

Labor Signs: Woke up to another set of contractions this week. I was sound asleep and woke up delirious from the pain. Couldn't wrap my mind around what was happening and when the fog finally cleared and I realized what was happening I was able to roll off the bed and get on all fours to ease and rock through them. 

Symptoms: 
Braxton Hicks! Yay.
Learned I am allergic to cocoa butter.
Hips hurt. Especially my right hip.
If I don't take my prenatal vitamin at night, my legs get extremely antsy! It feels like I need to go running they get so antsy. However, if I take my pre-natal within 30 minutes they chill out. I read that it has to do with the iron. Either way, it works.
Movements have changed from individual movements to feeling simultaneous movements in two different spots. Like I will feel something toward my right side up by my ribs, and at the same time another movement on the left side of my belly button. It's the weirdest, yet most wonderful feeling in the world.
Disappearing belly button, baby bump, nails and hair growing like weeds, baby movements (the best!) and my boobs have drastically increased.
Frequent bathroom visits
Occasional swelling of my feet and hands.

Belly Button in or out? Innie - barely.

Wedding rings on or off? My left hand randomly swells now with the fluctuating heat waves, so for safe measure I have moved my wedding ring to my pinkie. :-]

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, Happy!

Looking forward to: Finishing out the nursery and getting back into our house from the tornado!

Baby Name? Coraline! I love the name!! See WEEK 21 for name details. <3

Thoughts: None this week really. Most was in the Labor Signs part. Talk about fun! lol

About the Board:

Inspiration was from 4th of July this week!
Fonts were free handed. 

Pregnancy/Maternity Fashion: 

Top and skirt is from Old Navy maternity

There was no board for 30 weeks, but we did get a wonderful shot together at the wedding. <3

How far along? 30 Weeks

Total weight gain? Still up 23 lbs, will have another check up Week 32. Really trying to maintain a total weight gain less than 30 lbs. We will see how that goes!

Maternity Clothes? ASOS is my top #1 choice! The tops/tunics run true to your pre-pregnancy size. (Given you didn't let yourself go and blow up like a balloon - boob growth is accommodated for). I found that the pants are true to your current pregnant size. So if you measure your hips properly, use their size chart to order the proper pregnancy size. Yes this means you may order a 10/12/14. Grieve for a bit, then get over it. My next choices are The Gap/Old Navy. I have really only ordered tank tops from there and again, true to pre-pregnancy size. However, for 3rd trimester I recommend going up one size, the belly region can get tight. :-)

Stretch Marks?  The red mark has officially popped up on my hiney! First my boob, now my butt!! Come on! Good news, the red marks on my boob have vanished! Gone! Not even a slight sign that they were once even there. WHOOP!

Sleep:  Sleep has been tough this week. Tough due to the fact that I have been dealing with the awful news of my cousin's murder. It's tough having pregnancy hormones. It's tough dealing with the loss of a loved one. But MURDER is on a whole different level without throwing the pregnancy hormones in the mix!

Best moment this week: I can't say this has been a good week at all. :-(

Miss Anything? My cousin. 

Movement: She LOVES to move!!

Food cravings: Coconuts and watermelon!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Textures are still making me sick. 

Gender RESULTS: BABY GIRL!!! My gut feeling was right all along! I absolutely can't wait to meet her!

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks! I had my first set of Braxton Hicks contractions. Talk about scary for me. I had to drive 5 hours to Houston to attend my cousin's viewing and funeral alone. Henry was in a wedding and although he could have made it back in plenty of time to still be in the wedding, he would have been an hour late to take the groomsmen photos. So off to Houston I went, alone. I cried so hard Friday night and Saturday that I triggered my first contractions! I was half-way back home when my stomach started oddly tightening. It felt like my muscles all around my stomach tightened and you could physically see my stomach raising toward my diaphragm and tightening up. There was no pain in my abdomen, but there was a shooting pain that started at the base of my ribs on either side and shot down my back. It felt like "back labor". I began talking to my sister-in-law since she had back labor to confirm it was what she felt and she confirmed it. She googled Braxton Hicks, ordered me to pull over drink water, take deep breaths and chill out. It took about 30 minutes, but they finally stopped and I drove the rest of the way home, changed quickly and headed over to the wedding in time for the reception to begin. Whew! 

Symptoms: 
If I don't take my prenatal vitamin at night, my legs get extremely antsy! It feels like I need to go running they get so antsy. However, if I take my pre-natal within 30 minutes they chill out. I read that it has to do with the iron. Either way, it works.
Movements have changed from individual movements to feeling simultaneous movements in two different spots. Like I will feel something toward my right side up by my ribs, and at the same time another movement on the left side of my belly button. It's the weirdest, yet most wonderful feeling in the world.
Disappearing belly button, baby bump, nails and hair growing like weeds, baby movements (the best!) and my boobs have drastically increased.
Frequent bathroom visits
Occasional swelling of my feet and hands.

Belly Button in or out? Innie - barely.

Wedding rings on or off? My left hand randomly swells now with the fluctuating heat waves, so for safe measure I have moved my wedding ring to my pinkie. :-]

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, Happy!

Looking forward to: Finishing out the nursery and getting back into our house!

Baby Name? Coraline! I love the name!! See WEEK 21 for name details. <3

Thoughts: None this week really. Most was in the Labor Signs part. Talk about fun! lol

About the Board:

No board this week. :-( With the funeral and murder of my cousin, I am just a wreck this week.

Pregnancy/Maternity Fashion: 

Dress is from ASOS and the nude belt is from a boutique around our town.

Lovely friend Kristi

Prepping For Baby Coraline

Preparing for this baby has not been easy by any means. They say you will never be fully prepared for a baby, and that is no joke. What makes it harder for us is we have been temporarily displaced from the tornado that hit our home back on May 15th!! The insurance is just being so incredibly difficult.  National Lloyd is great when they are taking your money, but when it comes time for them to do their job and help you out, GOOD LUCK!!

Needless to say, we are slowly chipping away at all the items we need to do and trying to complete the nursery bit by bit in a house that can't get below 80 degrees. 

We had two fabulous baby showers back to back weekends,  detailed blog posts about those to come, so our house looks like Babies r Us threw up in it at this point.  My aunt warned me that baby items would take over your house, but this is a bit ridiculous.  Haha
Once we get the nursery in better shape I know we can get things in there better organized, but right now our living room is one giant storage room. 

We were blessed to get almost all our big ticket items from very generous family members and friends, such as our car seat, extra car seat base, pack & play,  baby bath tub, stroller, bouncer & breast pump. The only things remaining are the crib bedding, baby monitor and swing. 

The crib bedding is going to be a dual sided dedign which I absolutely can't wait to share! A friend recommended a local lady to sew it all for us and she really came up with a great idea.

Our to-do list still entails:
Getting our A/C repaired!! D*** insurance!
Packing hospital bag
Washing all baby items/clothes
Touching up nursery fishscale wall
Hanging nursery decor
Getting the remaining big ticket items
Cleaning my car out to put the carseat in for the hospital
Finalizing our birth plan
Registering with the hospital
Catching up on chalkboard pregnancy posts!

I think that covers it?

Feeling pretty overwhelmed.  Haha

24 WEEKS & A Tornado. WHAT?!

Gotta love being displaced, greasy, pregnant and tired
from "experiene"ing a tornado. 

How far along? 24 Weeks

Total weight gain? As of the last doctor's appointment I have officially gained 17 lbs. HOLY GUACAMOLE!!! The doctor however says it's fine, that I look great and have a big baby so it's no big deal. Given my boobs have grown drastically, but the baby being 2 lbs now and given the boobs probably 2 lbs MAX - that's TOO much weight by my standards. I don't care what my doctor says. Cue depression. LOL I shouldn't gain more than 30 lbs over the course of the pregnancy and Coraline still has her biggest growth spurts ahead of us. Next appointment is June 3rd so hopefully the weight gain will have slowed down. 

Maternity Clothes? ASOS in the UK is my go-to maternity store! Free shipping, plus free return shipping if it doesn't fit or I don't like it. Sign me up. Not to mention, GREAT prices. All outfits can be worn post maternity too. I am obsessed. I will forever rave about them. I also recently found some cute ones at Old Navy online as well.

Stretch Marks?  Still have the red mark I freaked about on Week 21 & 22. Other than that, looks like I am clear for now. Been applying lotion with Vitamin E and Cocoa Butter religiously every day.

Sleep:  Sleep has been much better since the amazing body pillow as arrived. Coraline seems to be on a regular sleep pattern. She squirms like crazy before bed, then settles down for the night, then around 7 am is up and squirming and rolling around. 

Best moment this week: First Mother's Day! 

Miss Anything? Sushi and Rum - Although I have finally started eating smoked salmon. I have to admit it felt SO GOOD and I don't regret it one bit. Everyone has their opinions on it, but I went for it. Coraline has been fine so far. 

Movement: Yea buddy. I actually felt a ROLL for the first time! Not just a kick or twitch. I felt like something pointy on my upper left side so I set my hand on it, then felt it roooooll down my side to my lower left side. CRAZY FEELING DUDE!! SO CRAZY! It was definitely a knee or elbow. 

Food cravings: Fruit (watermelon) and finally gave up on whole watermelons and settled for getting halves. Haven't had a bad one yet! Go me!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Textures are still making me sick, like couscous, as well as red meat. 

Gender RESULTS: BABY GIRL!!! My gut feeling was right all along! I absolutely can't wait to meet her!

Labor Signs: Too soon

Symptoms: Disappearing belly button, baby bump, nails and hair growing like weeds, baby movements (the best!) and my boobs have drastically increased, which has lead to the dreaded red-mark, and frequent bathroom visits. I am starting to wake up at least twice a night, and it's like I wake up and have to RUN to the bathroom! Bending over is beginning to get difficult, especially to tie my shoes or take my boots off. Then my back has begun to break out like a highschool boy going through puberty on steroids. That bad. Luckily, it is on my upper back and my long hair covers it, but I am praying it goes away before our beach maternity shoot in St. John. 

Belly Button in or out? Innie - barely.

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, Happy!

Looking forward to: Finishing out the nursery!

Baby Name? Coraline! I love the name!! See WEEK 21 for name details. <3

Thoughts: Henry has been out of town a lot so getting someone to take a picture of the board has been hard. I really don't like calling someone over just to take a photo of me. This week we experienced our first twister! So that only made it more difficult. I am from Houston originally so I have dealt with a hurricane before, but tornados are a whole foreign subject for me. Needless to say, I don't like them one bit. We are currently staying at our in-laws farm. Our ceiling has water damage, needing a new roof, master bedroom windows busted, and we have a community backyard. For the dogs sake, I am worried about nails and broken glass, not to mention the no fence thing, so being at their farm has been heaven for them. However, this called for the board to be in a bit of disarray. It wasn't even until after we had finished the photos that we realized I had completely mis-spelled "Experience" and NO ONE noticed! Henry's sister had come over a few days later and pointed it out to us. Womp Womp. Oh and don't you love the background decor? Deer head, guns on the wall, cedar staircase with christmas garland still on there - LOL City girl really did meet a country boy - or country family. :-P

About the Board:
*This board was inspired by our twister experience. How ironic that Coraline is the size of an ear of corn this week and tornados are always portrayed as going through corn fields??
*Fonts: Harrington
*Due to dim lighting it was hard to tell how bold the board actually was. Wetting the board with a damp cloth (not soaking wet, just damp) helps the chalk go on smoother and bolder.
*Using word to pre-type what you want in fun fonts is a great way to eye-ball what to write, unless you are just freaking amazing at free-style all around. I need something to look at though. :-P

Pregnancy/Maternity Fashion: 
This weeks outfit is rather blah and simple. The flowing top is from ASOS Maternity Line. Leggings are from Motherhood Maternity, and the belt is from a local boutique. I was originally going to wear a black version of the belt, but as I grabbed it off the hook in my closet both clasps literally fell off!! So the nude was what I had to wear, but black was much better. I guess that's what you get when you pay $5. Boo.

Board close-up. 

BOARD BLOOPER

Henry's mom trying to take a photo of us with Henry's iPhone. lol