Thursday, January 26, 2012

38 weeks!

Seriously feeling uberly pregnant at this point, and definitely ready for Landon to be here. I was pretty much ready a few weeks ago! So I have been trying to keep myself busy and sane until he arrives. I hung out with my friend Erica who has 3 kids, and her youngest is 6 months. It was really nice to talk to someone about everything I am going through who really understands. Not that I cant talk to my friends (no offense), but they just dont know how it feels... yet! I know they will be grateful to have someone to talk to when they are pregnant as well. Anyway, it was comforting and made me feel normal. We talked about everything and its nice to have someone who is open and whom I can share everything with, and who doesnt gross out... Some things are not blog-appropriate! Symptoms continue to stay the same... I have increased pressure in my lower abdomen and pevlic area, leg cramps, insomnia, frequent peeing, fatigue, sore breasts, and just overall anxiousness about he big day! I go to the doctor tomorrow and he will do fetal monitoring as well as check my cervix to see if I have dialated yet. So far no contractions, no loss of mucus plug and no breakage of my water. I am hoping something has changed and I am hoping even more that he will want to schedule me for next week since I will be 39 weeks by then. Landon is definitely still breeched and I am comfortable with the fact that I will have a C-Section. I've been watching A Baby Story, Baby's First Day and like shows on TLC. Just makes me want him to be here even more. Its nice to see a variety of different pregnancies and labor stories. Some women have natural others have to have c-sections. I feel well informed about both. One woman was trying to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and it wasnt working out. SO, I was thinking I might not even get to experience vaginal birth and real labor pains if I just do cesarean with all of my kids. I guess I am okay with that. I mean, I might not even have a choice and the good thing is that I can at least get pregnant with my wacko uterus.

Well everything has been good... and like Dr. Serrano says, we are just marking time and waiting. Landon is about 6 and a half pounds now, maybe more. I definitely can feel that with his movements! I still feel huge but everyone tells me I am small for being so far along. People who have had kids mostly tell me that, my friends think I am big haha. Which is okay because I think I am big, but normal I guess. I cant wait until all of my friends get pregnant to see how everyone changes and grows. It will be interesting. I am already trying to plan my next child with Bailey so we can be pregnant together. Maybe in 3 years or so. We will see!

In other non-baby-related news, Taylor got a job interview and will go for a second one that entails training this Friday! Yay! I am really hoping that this is a good, fun job for him that will hire him when he graduates. I know he will be successful. So prayer for him and this job opportunity! We are also doing really well in our relationship. Its amazing how much communication helps, so that little cliche phrase "communication is key" really is true. I am thankful to have someone who listens and understands, and even if he doesnt understand 100% he still tries. He massages my feet and helps me off the couch, which is all that I need right now. Just for someone to be there for me. Anyway, I am really happy still :)

So I am not going to post a picture today. I will tomorrow and I will give an update on what the doctor says... Hopefully he will schedule me for next week!!! That is what I am praying for. YAY!!!


Love,
Alyssa, Taylor and Landypants!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

37 weeks 3 days

FULL TERM!!!!! Yay!!! Well what a great milestone to be at! I am now considered to be full term in my pregnancy and D-Day is only 10 days away, unless he comes early on his own. Boy am I ready. Not only because I feel worse everyday, but because I am ready to see him and hold him. The baby room is now complete (pictures below!), and its just a waiting game now. Everyone is just waiting. After my doctor appointments, everyone is wondering if today will be the day. What if he comes today? or right now? or tonight? or tomorrow?? He could! Any moment now. So, sleeping has been really difficult for me lately. I have pregnant insomnia and it sucks. Last night I was awake for like an hour or so and I toss and turn like no bodys business. My legs cramp up and its hard to get out of bed. I remember praying that my water would just break so I could get this over with, but I know the longer he stays in the better it is for him. Ive ben trying to get "exercise" by walking around the mall. Sadly thats the most I can really do right now and it takes a lot for me to walk the mall. I cant wait until I can walk and run and really work out again. I miss it. I was looking at pictures from last summer and hoping that I will be skinny and tan once again. Its hard to have a huge belly weighing me down. I also had my first case of swollen feet this past week! It wasnt too bad but they were definitely swollen. Ive tried to prop them up and it helps. I feel lazy sometimes because I will spend hours sitting on the couch. I try to be productive throughout the day though. Doing chores around the house helps.

Other than swollen feet and insomnia, everything is good. I went to the dr twice last week and Landon is passing all of his tests (stress tests) and it looks like there is less fluid in his kidneys that dr originally thought. We will keep monitoring it though. If anything changes they will schedule me. I havent dialated yet, but I feel abdominal cramps a lot more frequent now. I get contractions occasionally too. Sometimes they hurt but mostly they dont. I dont have any stretch marks on my belly, thank God! So in essence, everything is really really good. Landon is growing sooo much. He was 6.2 pounds last thursday so hes growing about an ounce a day which is normal. I am still eating alot and get hungry a lot. Speaking of which, I am hungry right now! Its funny how much I eat actually. Some days I feel like a bottomless pit, and Taylor seems to be amazed that I can be hungry after we just ate! Cravings are still for ice-cream and cereal. Not highly unusual and nothing I wouldnt eat before. Like Ive said, Taylor has been the pickle, ice-cream, cheese and crackers eater, not me! We celebrated our one-week of being engaged by going on a double date with our fun engaged couple friends Bailey and Andy! We ate pizza at Fralo's. It was super yummy and fun! Its nice to have an engaged couple to hang out with, especially since Bailey has been my bestie for over 4 years now!

Anyway, everything else is good and moving along. Taylor has applied for some jobs. I am just waiting to take on mom-duties. And we are all just waiting. My mom and Taylors mom have bags packed just in case we call at anytime they can hurry over. Everyone keeps asking if hes here and what the status is.... but we are still waiting!! Its so hard to be patient! I am 100% ready... Ah! So my belly picture is outrageous. People look at my belly, smile, make comments all the time now when I am in public. I still waddle around. The room is finally complete with decor and book shelves!! I absolutely love his room and cant wait to spend all my time in there. Its my new favorite room of the house! Ok, well its time for me to eat now.

Thanks for reading everyone.. (Hey Julia :)

Love,

Alyssa, Taylor and Landon!






Monday, January 16, 2012

36 weeks and 4 days!

Almost full term!!!! Wow.. I cant believe I have made it this far! I am definitely feeling like the end is near. Walking, or should I say waddling, is getting more difficult. I feel like I am carrying a ball between my legs. My lower abdomen cramps up sometimes. And I have to constantly stretch my legs. Even with that, it definitely could be worse. I can still walk and move around. Thank God I am not on bed rest!! So, some exciting news for the week.... TAYLOR AND I ARE ENGAGED!!! He proposed to me on Friday morning before our dr appt. It was soooo sweet! He made me breakfast in bed and told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Then he got down on one knee and asked "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" and I said "YES!" I am so happy :) We then took engagement pictures, which I had originally thought were going to be more maternity pictures, downtown SA where we first met. It was an overall great day. Saturday was my baby shower here that my wonderful friends hosted for me. It was small and simple but really really nice. I am so blessed to have such amazing friends. During a time like this is when you find out who your truest friends are and I am thankful I know who mine are. So friends if you are reading this, just know that I love you and am extremely grateful to have you all in my life!

As my pregnancy comes to an end, all I can think about is how my life is going to be with Landon around. I have learned so much about birthing and child care and baby stuff its unreal. Preparing for a baby does take a long time... I guess thats why God gives you nine months! Today we are putting up book shelves and the room is almost complete. I feel like I am ready for him at any time now. We go to the doctor tomorrow, but I am not having any labor symptoms. My back is achy and I get period like cramps sometimes but thats pretty much it. No contractions, no bloody show, and no water breakage. Ah, I feel like I am so ready! I know he will come out when he is ready but I am super impatient! Everyone is on their toes and ready for him to be here as well, but we just have to wait! I would actually like to wait until I am full term (37 weeks) just so I can say I have carried a full term baby. He will be a little more developed and fatter. I want him to be at least 6 pounds. That still sounds so small though! I am sure he will be. He was 5.3 over a week ago and supposedly they grow an ounce a day. I can definitely feel it! As you can see, my belly is humongous! Its even more difficult to get out of bed and off the couch and out of bed to pee. I have to stretch everytime I get up. Taylor has been sooo good by helping me with stretching and giving me back massages and foot rubs. He is so good to me!!! I am so lucky and Gods grace has poured over my life... Its been amazing! And soon we will have a bundle of joy that fills our life and our hearts. Last night we were talking about how easy it has been to be together and live together and how grateful we are that everything has run so smoothly. (knock on wood!) A lot of people said that living together would be soooo difficult but we havent really had any problems. I love living with Taylor and cant wait to spend forever with him... My fiance :) :) :)


Ok so here are some pictures... My belly, my ring, Landons baby mobile and his shoe collection!





Wednesday, January 11, 2012

BLUE!

If anyone knew me before I was pregnant, my life was about color. Pink, specifically. Everything I owned has been pink, magenta, fuschia, or some other form of that rose colored happiness. My first apartment was equipped with a pink stripped rug, pink flowered pictures, a pink bedspread and pink curtains in my room... Obsessed much? When I didnt know the sex of my baby, I was constantly drawn to the girl section of the store. Bows and ribbons and ruffles, oh my! It was all so cute. I remember the first time I went into Baby Gap with Tara, she pulled me away from the girls section and said, "what if you have a boy?". My response was, theres no way! Well, 8 and a half months later, here I am waiting on my baby boy.

Blue.

The walls, the crib sheets, the stroller and car seat, clothes, toys, everything. Its all blue. Now when I go to stores I dont even glance at the girl section. My mom and I had to buy a gift for my cousins little girl and it was weird looking at bows and ribbons!! Very cute, yes, yes, yes, but weird. I have grown accustomed to boy things. My life will soon consist of dirt, mud, bikes, bugs, sports, playing swords, knee scrapes, and trucks. Seriously? God has jokes... I cried when I got stung by a bee when I was 19 years old. I wouldnt necessarily consider myself "tough" or "tomboy" by any means whatsoever. But I am about to go through one of the craziest, painful, and life changing events of my life. Its almost a guarantee that I will have a c-section. We talked to the RN who taught our birthing class, what an awesome lady! She told us everything we needed to know and then some. So we are now fully prepared and know exactly what to expect when we walk in the hospital. Its about a 6 week total recovery process. I wont be in pain all 6 weeks but my body will have taken a beating. She told me not to do anything other than care for the baby. No traveling, unless its to see doctors, no cooking, no cleaning, nothing! And Taylor is so sweet. He has learned so much about this whole parenting thing and is ready to take on the role and help me to recover. Thankfully, we will also have the help of our parents who have lovingly cleared their schedules just for us. How blessed we are...

I still cant believe its so close now... Really any day. I am 36 weeks tomorrow. I would like to make it to 37 just so hes considered full term. I see the doctor on Friday and again on Tuesday. He checked my level of amniotic fluid and the flow of blood through the umbilical (still dont think I'm spelling that right) cord and it was normal. He has a slightly bigger stomach than normal... Meaning he is going to have a big appetite like his momma! JK, Dr is just going to keep an eye on it and also let the pediatricians know. Tomorrow we meet with a new pediatrician so hopefully we can make a decision by then and let the hospital know right when we check in. Everyhting is coming together now. I am as prepared as I can be at this point. I just really have no clue how to raise a boy. That is why I am so thankful for Taylor. I know hes going to be a great dad and teach Landon the things I cant. We are about to be a real family... I will have a family of my own, and a son who is half of me. Its so crazy to think that. Its crazy to think that I grew a person in my belly and hes been living in there and then soon hes gonna be here and I will have to take care of him.

I still dont think my mind has fully wrapped around that thought... but boy am I excited!!!

Keep it blue,

Alyssa, Taylor and Landon

Monday, January 9, 2012

35 weeks and 5 days

It is exactly one month until my due date. I cant imagine being pregnant for another entire month! I am really hoping I can last until 37 weeks and then I hope he gets here fast! I will be 36 weeks this thursday, then by next week I will be 37. And I am ready for him to be out. I think in my last post I had mentioned everything I wanted to do this week before baby arrives. So if I get everything done, I will be a happy camper. Last night I was really uncomfortable. My back was hurting, my legs were really hurting and I just could not get comfortable. Since all my weight is in my belly its really heavy and is throwing off my equilibrium. Still no stretch marks and still no weight gain anywhere but my belly! I really cant wait to get more energy, work out, and be able to not run out of breath by walking up 3 stairs. If I have a C-Section, which is highly likely now, recovery will be longer and more painful. Since I have never recovered from giving birth, I am not really sure what that means. It is major surgery and I will have stitches and not be able to walk for a while after. Yesterday, Taylor and I went to our birthing class all day long. She talked mostly about vaginal birth and covered c-sections only a little bit. I think I am going to meet with her tomorrow to discuss it more because its likely thats whats gonna happen to me. In the class she made it sound like it was the absolute last resort you wanna go to when giving birth, so that kind of upset me a little. I guess I have just been preparing myself that this is what is going to have to happen because of my situation. I know I cant help it and if it were my way I would want to have a natural birth but it doesnt seem like thats in the cards right now. I am glad I will be informed about both ways just in case. The nurse who taught the class is also a certified car seat specialist. I had no clue you could even be one of those but I guess you can! So when I meet up with her tomorrow I am going to take the car seat to make sure I install it properly.

So other than being super ready to be unpregnant, everything has been well. This week will keep be pretty busy so thats good. I also want to clean up the house and get some groceries before Landon is born. Taylor starts classes next week. He is also going to be looking for a job, so we will both have our hands extremely full! In a good way though.. I feel as ready as I'll ever be. I've done everything I can to prepare for Landon and now all I can do is hope for the best! I am trying not to worry about anything. Taylor says I worry too much, but sometimes I cant help it. I know that everything will be okay but my mind just wanders. I know that I can take every class, read every book and listen to ever piece of advise and still have no clue what its going to be like. I know I will be tired, and get frustrated, and be confused.... I just dont know what that will really feel like. All I can do is trust that I have the skills and ability to do this. God wouldnt have given me a child unless he thought I was equipped with what it takes to take care of him. Only a few more weeks and he will be in my arms!


Love,
Alyssa, Taylor and Landon

Friday, January 6, 2012

35 weeks and 1 day

Well I officially made it to 8 months and boy am I ready! It has been a great journey so far but I am anxiously waiting the day I go into labor! New Years was really fun. We went to Area 31 and met up with Ashley and her bf. It was weird being pregnant at a bar but I figured it was out last outting before baby. Technically tonight is because Taylor has a show and I am going. This past week has been really good. I have gotten a lot of sleep and have been taking it easy. At first I was trying to get a lot of stuff done everyday because I was bored but now I am doing a little at a time to enjoy these last few weeks of not being a mom. I mean I know I am already a mom but he's not here yet. This past week we met with the first pediatrician. Her name is Dr. Sneed and she was really nice. She has a smaller practice in Stone Oak and seemed to have a good connection with her patients. I liked her fine but Taylor and I decided to meet with at least one other doctor to make sure we have a choice. So I made an appointment for next week with Dr. Fischer who is at ABCD Pediatrics, also in Stone Oak. I know we will find a good doctor, so I am not worried. Yesterday I went to Dr. Serrano's office for a check up. I weight a whopping 147 pounds!! Its only 14 pounds more than my pre-pregnancy weight, but its still 147 pounds... And I know I am supposed to gain weight, and I havent gained anywhere else, and I know its all in my belly... but still, its really hard to be okay with gaining so much weight. And for my height, its even harder to be in the late 140s, because that means I could possibly reach 150! I have definitely noticed an increase in my appetite. I eat a lot more and a lot more frequently. Taylor has noticed too. Hes been getting more craving that I have though! Its weird because I havent had a steady craving.. Maybe like dairy prodicts.. Milk, Ice-cream, cheese, COOKIES... I have a big sweet tooth but thats not much different than before I was pregnant. I guess now I just dont feel as guilty because my pants are always stretchy, oh yeah!

Anyway, we were at the doctor for a really long time yesterday. I had a sonogram with the technician and Tara was able to go and see the baby which was really neat. He has big lips like Jenna and Taylors nose I think. We tried to do a 3D sono but he looked weird and like he was black in some of the pictures. I am posting the best one she got but it still makes him look funky. The 2 D one is of his face. Its kinda shadowy but you can still tell. Right now he weighs 5 pounds and 3 ounces which, according to the books, is right on target for this week. The technician also measured his legs and said they were short like his mommas. I hope he grows more! I dont want him to be short like me! There is still some fluid in his kidneys and they also saw that his has a shorter small intestine. These things will just be monitored and they said they will let the pediatrician know. Dr. Serrano said there is nothing to worry about unless things change, like the amount of fluid in the kidneys or the amount of amniotic fluid because thats an indicator that its a more serious problem. Right now my fluid levels are good so everything seems to be running smoothly. Baby is still breeched. Most have turned by now but it is no surprise that he hasnt yet. He still has time and some babies dont turn until the last minute, but Dr and I have already discussed the liklihood of him being breeched. This just means I have a more chance of c-section if he doesnt turn. I also got checked to see if I was dialated, which I am not. It kind of hurt actually and I started bleeding a little bit, which really really freaked me out. They said it was okay because some women bleed. I have still been getting irregular BH contractions. In fact, I am having one now as I am writing. It just feels tight in my belly. Sometimes I get period like cramps and bad back pain but it usually goes away. If I were in real labor if would not go away. I really hope that when I go to the hospital I am in real labor because I dont wanna be the girl who cried baby and have to be sent home a zillion times. I was put on a fetal monitoring system while at the doctor as well (like I said, we were there pretty much all day!). They strap these two things around your belly and listen to heart beating, and monitor changes. Not sure how long its really supposed to be but I was being monitored for like 30 minutes. They had me drink some water and change positions a few times. He said it all looked good so I didnt worry about anything. I think they were checking for contractions but I dont think I had any while I was there. I will be seeing him every week now. I think just for an exam and fetal monitoring. I wonder if anything will change by next week.

I am 36 weeks on Thursday... Its so close now! I have started to pack my bag. I still need a few things in there, which I will get done this week. Ive sent directions to the hospital to all my friends and everyone is prepared to come see me when I am in labor! I would really like to be 37 weeks when I have him so I am considered full term. And I have a baby shower that my awesome BFFs are putting on for me this next weekend. So I dont want to have to cancel that! I am still having dreams about Landon. Most of them are about me not remembering giving birth and I am confused as to what has happened. Last night, I woke up (in my dream) and went to Landons room and he was standing in his crib and saying hi to me. He was only supposed to be 10 days old but I couldnt remember giving birth! Then I was trying to feed him but he kept saying he wasnt hungry. Weird!

So this week I want to get my hair done and get a massage. Taylor and I are taking some pictures with his friend on Friday, then its the baby shower on Saturday. I need to pick up my contacts and meet with the pediatrician. And another Dr. Serrano appt, finish packing for the hospital, get the diapers ready and the book shelves up in Landons room. Just a few things... then I will be ready!!! I mean I am already ready, Ill just be more ready! I am so excited!

Love,
A, T, and L