Prenatal Yoga

I am obsessed. I can not believe I didn't try this with my first pregnancy with Jack. I find that I'm having a harder time this pregnancy. My pregnancy with Jack was amazing compared to this time around. I am 2 years older and apparently I'm geriatric in the eyes of my doctors. I am 36 and I feel every bit of that 36 this time around.

I've felt extremely sore all the time. A lot of it is caused by an old back injury but I have also felt incredible round ligament pain as well as pain through out my pelvis. These pains are completely different this time around. I also find the cause is because I'm growing much quicker than I did with Jack. Looking at my comparison pictures I'm humongous compared to the last time around. There is definite truth to being bigger the second time around.

To combat my my aging and my ultra sore body I decided to try prenatal yoga. I initially wanted to go to a prenatal chiropractor but couldn't find anyone in my area that was recommended and I really didn't want to just pick some one. I just started with a bunch of short 20 minute sessions and will be moving up. I have been doing it in the morning and the evening. I'm hoping it will continue to impact the issues I've been having.

Has anyone else had issues with round ligament pain, back pain and pelvis pain during pregnancy?
If so what did you find was the most helpful?

Thoughts on Expanding Your Family

As Jack gets older and closer to 2 the thoughts of having another baby become stronger.  Almost all of our mom's group friends are currently pregnant with number 2 or just had baby #2.  The struggle that comes with the decision to have #2 becomes a little harder. Now I am completely content with the life the 3 of us have now. The more I see birth announcements and the ever fun bump dates that baby fever gets a little stronger.

How could I not want another one of these to snuggle on???

The path to conceive wasn't easy for us. I often think about the baby I lost during my ectopic.  My ectopic pregnancy could have taken my life. It was misdiagnosed for 2 weeks and with each day that went by the baby grew in my tube causing massive internal bleeding. It cut off some circulation to the left side of my body causing nerve issues. At 9 weeks I had surgery to remove the baby from my tube. My surgeon was pretty fantastic and was able to save my left tube. Six months after I had healed from the ectopic surgery I had a miscarriage. This was one cycle before I got pregnant with Jack. Both were extremely tough on me our marriage. I only told my husband and best friend about my miscarriage. I was so traumatized after the ectopic I was very ashamed. I know that conceiving Jack helped save our marriage. If we didn't conceive Jack when we did I feel like the path I was going down was not a good one.

In addition to losing 2 pregnancies there is the constant fear of Cystic Fibrosis. As most of you know both Brian and I are carriers of Cystic Fibrosis genes. Jack was diagnosed with CF at 2 weeks old. I tested positive for the mutation during my pre natal bloodwork. Brian tested negative but the labs only test for 30 panels instead of 90 when testing for CF. Last year at this time I would have never even thought of having another child and subjecting them to this illness. During the last year of testing and information I've realized that medical science is so close to a cure, Jack is doing so well, actually BEYOND WELL and his CF is A-typical meaning due to the 2 mutations we have effects Jack differently than most cases. During Jack's last appointment we were informed of some pretty amazing medical advancements for Jack and others like him. In January Jack can begin medications that could potentially "fix" some of the genetic mutation. If your interested in reading more the medication is called Kalydeco.

I recently brought up the idea to Brian and his thoughts are to wait. There are several factors on why I agree with him. Being a parent, although so worth it, is exhausting and stress filled. Jack has gone through a phase where he hits, kicks, yells and melts down. It is not easy being a parent. We still don't sleep well and adding a pregnancy and new baby to the mix seems a bit crazy. Now although I completely agree with Brian there is a little part of me that realizes I'm 35 already!!! Ugh, I can't believe I'm getting so old. This old gal's clock is tick tocking away!


For moms out there; Was your decision to have one based on one thing or many? or did you stick to one child? What were the bases for your decisions???

Reflecting...

Reflecting back on there last 4 weeks I am still shocked at what has happened in our lives. Don't get me wrong we prepared the best we could for 9 months but no matter how much you prepare I don't you could ever be ready for bringing home baby and all that it comes with. I remember thinking to myself on our release day from the hospital "Are they just going to let us leave with him?" I cried when we left the hospital having no idea what was next. Plus, I had found myself feeling so connected with our nurses. They basically saw me at my worst, nearly delivered my son, helped me in the bathroom, served my husband coffee and all around cared so well for our family of 3. I would have never thought I could feel so connected with people I only knew for 3 days. There are a lot of things I had never thought I'd feel but emotions and hormones are a crazy thing. So many things have surprised me since Jack had entered our lives. These are just a few of the unexpected things I've felt in the last 4 weeks.

First off, the love for my little nugget is so immense. It has taken over my body, mind and soul. I love him so much I cry about it almost daily. When his eyes well up with tears because he has gas or he's hungry I feel his pain. The joy I feel makes my heart so happy. I am so overjoyed and overcome with love, hope, dreams and even lots of fears too.

I didn't have a clue I would have such an emotional connection to labor and delivery. If you read Jack's birth story you know that I was not as prepared as I should have been. I just thought I'd go in, get an epidural and POOF BABY! That did not happen. Every time I think of my labor, my coaches, and how it all happened I get so emotional. I always felt as if labor was means to an end. I was so wrong. Labor and delivery were truly so much more amazing than originally thought.

I was very surprised that I felt so great after delivery. I was up and moving not long after Jack was born. The next day I was doing laps around the labor and delivery wing. I was showering and even put on some make up.  About an hour after Jack was born I was even asking if my husband would get me a bagel.

I'm amazed at how well I function on such little sleep. I must say Jack is a great baby. He sleeps well and at night and usually wakes up only 2 times a night around 3:30 and 5:30. When I was pregnant I would always wake up between 3-4am too. I tend to get about 5 hours of sleep each night. Which is what I would get towards the end of my pregnancy too. I've decided not to pump religiously every 2 hours at night. I do during the day but I've made the choice that the extra sleep is much more important for me. I take the nights during the week and Brian takes the weekend nights when he is off so I am left with most of the overnight duty.  

Breastfeeding...Ugh, I never really knew how hard it would be. So much harder and more stressful than expected.

Most of all I am surprised that I miss wing pregnant so much. I love having my little man so close to me and holding him in my arms but I really miss being pregnant. Even in those final months and weeks of heartburn and discomfort I really miss being pregnant. I enjoy being Jack's mommy so very much but I'm not ashamed to admit I'd love to continue to build our little family some time soon!

The Things They Don't Tell Ya...

I must preface this with this statement...

I love being pregnant. I thank my lucky stars that my husband and I have been blessed with this baby.  The miracle growing in my tummy is beyond joyous for us!

With that being said; Holy crap!

The stuff people don't tell you about being pregnant! Let's just say here are just a few things I wish people had told me so I would be prepared for the strange things to come. This is meant to be light hearted. As I type these things I giggle because sometimes you just have to laugh off the discomfort and the not so great things. Obviously, everyone is different, feels different and reacts different to pregnancy!

- This shit people say. I think people get hit with the stupid stick before speaking to a pregnant woman. I have heard some real winners, "Are you sure you aren't having twins?", "You are huge.", "How much weight have you gained?", "You are so small, are you sure the baby is healthy", "Are you eating enough?"
I have an idea... Just tell a pregnant woman she looks beautiful! A simple "Congrats" is also pretty great too!

- The feeling like you have been riding a horse cross country. A girl at work did warn me of this! It is crazy. I would say from month 7 and even now I feel like I've taken a spin class for hours on end. I just hurts in crazy places!

- HOLY BOOBS! I'm sure if any of you have seen my pictures I have been blessed in the boob category. I would say more like burdened. I got ta-tas for days! I always expected to get a little bigger. Mostly when baby arrives but boy was I wrong. Let me tell you; NOTHING fits anymore!

- Mood Swings- I am like a crying, jealous monster these days! I cry at just about everything and in a second I become a angry monster! I swear I have cried at a commercial and with in a mila second I am asking if my husband is cheating. Freaking lunatic!

- Snoring- It is so bad I wake myself up doing it! I have always snored a tiny bit. It usually happens when I'm sick or laying on my back but now a days it happens whether I'm out for the night or during a simple nap in every and all positions.

- Sleeping- Well, some one should have told me it just does not exist past the 3rd trimester. It's more like tiny naps all night long!

- Sex- Yeah right Baby Center. Both me and husband find me uber sexy these days. Give me a break. That's all I have to say about that.

- The fear your husband will never find you attractive or sexy again.- I guess I am feeling hard on myself these last few weeks. In the early stages of pregnancy I felt beautiful and sexy with my growing bump. These days I just kind of feel like a lump of coal.

- Reflux- I thought it was heartburn and that is easy enough to deal with...Oh no. waking up vomitting in your mouth on a nightly basis is the not greatest. Tip- Sleep with Tums while you sit up. Mine are often propped up on my mega boobs.


What about you? Have you experienced anything ridiculous that you never thought you would when you were pregnant?

Anyways....
Happy 37 weeks to us! Baby is still holding strong 100% effaced. Not dilated just yet.

Freaking Out Just A Bit

Last Thursday I met with my doctor for my 35th week appointment. After my appointment a week earlier I started feeling a bit nervous. My exam showed I was thinning out last week so I was anxious to hear what my doctor would Thursday. It turns out I am 80% effaced. (At my appointment I just pretended I knew what that meant and as soon as I got to the car I looked that shit up on my IPhone.) For a new mom/ know nothing to be mom like myself I was clueless. Here is basically what I found:

Effacement is the term obstetricians use to describe certain changes in the cervix prior to childbirth. As delivery approaches, your baby will drop toward the cervix, or lower uterus. In response to this change in position, the walls of the cervix begin to efface, or thin out, to make room for the baby's passage. 80 percent effacement in combination with advancing cervical dilation---or opening---is typically a sign that active labor and childbirth are close at hand.

I'm trying not to get myself all worked up about progresing so fast but it's hard not to when your doctor preps you for your labor at your 35 week appointment. He did my strep test a week early just in case. I feel like there is still so much to do and not enough time to do it! Add in the holiday season I may be headed for panic mode

Here are some of the things that keep me worried at night:

- Most importantly will the baby be healthy enough for delivery before 40 weeks? Will the baby be born a healthy weight? Will his or her lungs be strong and completely developed?

Honestly the above is the only important thing I need to think about but there are frivolous things that I can't help to think about.

- Am I working myself up over nothing? Just because the I progressed so quickly the last 2 weeks doesn't mean I can stop all together and the baby will be born on time!

-Will my pump arrive in time? Insurance regulations only allow you to order it 30 days before your due date. It takes 2+ weeks to ship it.

- Did I pack all the right stuff for our baby bag? Enough stuff? Too much stuff? I still haven't packed the camera and video camera! I still need batteries and I need to charge the video cameraWho will take pictures?

- I didn't get my Christmas shopping done yet. I worry I won't have time to get everything for everyone! Will all the stuff I ordered on line get here in enough time for Christmas?

-Are those cramps real contractions. Am I over reacting or should I start monitoring them? I did download I iBirth calculator just in case.

- I don't even have our car seats in the cars yet. I don't even know how to install them.

- My husband's car is in the shop today. I'm so freaked I will go into labor today and he will have trouble geting to the hospital.

- I have so much stuff to be done at work too. I'm feeling overwhelmed just prepping for everything and everyone.

I can worry myself to the point of sickness.

Any suggestions from moms out there would be greatly appreciated.

Oh well, until then happy 36 weeks to us.

BUMPDATE- 32 Weeks!

What I'm wearing:
Sweater: Hopes Collection, last year, non maternity
Top: Motherhood Maternity
Jeans: Although not shown are Old Navy, non maternity with a belly band

How Far Along: 32 weeks and 4 days.

Baby is the size of: Baby G is the size of a

Total Weight Gain: Ugh, I'm up 30.

Sleep: Is still not good. I'm basically on the couch every night. I tried the bed for the first time in 2 weeks and it was a disaster. I hurt a lot in the bed and my snoring kept my husband awake. It is back to couch sleeping. It has it's upside. I get to watch Hallmark Christmas movies at 3am when I can't sleep.

Best Moment of the week:

* We found a girls name.If you missed it yesterday here it is. 

* The girls at work surprised me with a baby shower on Friday! They did such a lovely job! They got all the children to color favors and  write me little messages on diapers! 

* We finished putting the cradle together.It's the cradle Brian's mom got when she had his older sister. All of Brian's cousins and even our nephews slept in it. Lots of generations of babies have slept here. 

* Baby moves so much. I'm loving every minute of it. It wakes me up at night and most nights I sit up and talk to baby as he or she moves! It's our special time together. 

* My best friend and I had a great girl's day on Saturday. We took time for ourselves and got a pedi. My feet feel so much better than they did. 

Worst Moment of the Week:
* I really can't complain. The sleep stinks and I'm tired a lot but I'm realizing there isn't much time left in this pregnancy and I need to savor it.

Miss Anything:

* I have had a strong craving for a dirty martini with blue cheese olives lately. That has been my go to drink for years and I'm missing the salty, yummy vodka this week.

Food Cravings:

*I'm craving food in general. Last week I ate so much at lunch. A personal pizza, english muffin and 3 cookies. I was a beast! It was ridiculous! 
*Oh and I can't get enough chocolate almond milk.

Anything make you queasy:

I have woken up several times this last week with a horrible reflux. I feel like I'm vomitting in my mouth. So gross. So sorry for the overshare. At first it was only when I would eat ice cream. It happens all the time now.

Have you started to show? Oh yes!

Gender: Surprise baby!!!

Symptoms: 
*Swelling has come back with a vengence!!! My feet were actually swollen around the tops of my socks the other night. It was pretty funny to look at! The nurse at work thinks I'm not drinking enough water in combination with wearing the belly band or jeans that cut into my tummy. (Baby is so low I can't find pants that fit low enough with out falling off my butt and showing off crack)
*NESTING like a nut case! 

Workouts: Just walking and moving. The more I move the less stiff I get and the less I hurt.

Mood: I'm still really hormonal. I have noticed it's less crying and a little more yelling. Oops!  

Looking forward to:
* Meeting baby! We are getting so close!
* Thanksgiving with family, turkey and all the fixings! 

Maternity Clothes: A good mix of maternity pants. I've been really lucky to still wear non maternity shirts and not have to invest in a lot of new pieces. I'm actually wearing my belly band with non maternity jeans as well.

Stretchmarks: Nothing yet. Thank goodness!

Rings on or off? Depends on the day.

Bellybutton in or out? Still holding strong as an in!

This week I:
* Went to a charity event with my husband. It was nice getting out.
* Treated myself to a pedi!
* Finished our thank you cards.
* Finished our Christmas cards. We won't be sending them out till after Thanksgiving.

Baby Update:

* Baby's head is still very low but we are monitoring closely. I have an appointment on Thursday to see if anything has changed.  

* Baby has fingernails, toenails, and hair is forming on his or her head.

* Baby moves around all the time and especially late at night while I sleep. It usually wakes me up because my tummy shakes so much! 
* I've noticed baby moves more when music plays or when I lay on my left side. We have played lots Pandora Lullaby station for baby. Baby loves it!!! So does mommy. I fell asleep singing "Rainbow Connection" the other night.  

Bumpdate- 31 Weeks

How Far Along: 31 weeks and 4 days. 

Baby is the size of: Baby G is the size of a pineapple. That just seems sooooo big.

Total Weight Gain: Ugh, I'm up 30. 

Sleep:  Is still not good. I'm basically on the couch every night. It's much easier for me to maneuver myself on the couch than it is in bed. I've also been snoring like crazy due to the extra weight and congestion. 

Best Moment of the week:

* Everything is feeling better these days. The last few weeks were tough but i'm feeling so much better these days. 

* Spending time and savoring my time spent with my husband this weekend. 

Worst Moment of the Week: 
* I really can't complain. The sleep stinks and I'm tired a lot but I'm realizing there isn't much time left in this pregnancy and I need to savor it. 

Miss Anything:

* Not really. 

Food Cravings: For the first time in my life I craved a steak over the weekend and it was DELICIOUS. 

Anything make you queasy: Nothing.

Have you started to show? Oh yes! 

Gender: Surprise baby!!! 

Symptoms: Swelling has come back, trouble sleeping, soreness. 

Workouts: Not a thing. 

Mood: I'm still really hormonal. 

Looking forward to: 

* Meeting baby! We are getting so close! 

Maternity Clothes: A good mix of maternity pants. I'm still loving non maternity dresses over leggings. My best friend gave me her maternity jeans from Old Navy. Since baby is riding so low all my maternity jeans were cutting into my belly and it was so uncomfortable. Her jeans are amazing and I can't stop wearing them. 

Stretchmarks: Nothing yet. Thank goodness! 

Rings on or off? Depends on the day. 

Bellybutton in or out? Still holding strong as an in!

This week I: 
* Returned our MamaRoo and we have been playing with it since. We love the iPhone adapter and we have already started playing lullabies on Pandora. 

* Put our hospital bags together. 

* We purchased our first batch of reusable diapers. We are excited to try them out. I've read a lot of great articles on all the benefits of using them. 

* Unrelated to pregnancy I'm already addicted to Hallmark movies. I'm already in the Christmas spirit. 

Baby Update:

* Baby's head is still very low but at my appointment last week he is happy that the baby hasn't dropped any more. 

* Baby's senses are all working together. 

* Lots of brain and nerve growth. 

* Baby moves around all the time and especially late at night while I sleep. It usually wakes me up because my tummy shakes. 
* I've noticed baby moves more when music plays or when I lay on my left side. 

Bump Date- 30 Weeks

How Far Along: 30 weeks and 4 days. 

Baby is the size of: Baby G is the size of a cucumber. Baby is about  15 to 16 inches and weighs around 3.8 pounds. 

Total Weight Gain: Ugh, I'm up 20ish. I'm sure I'll know if it went up much more at my appointment Thursday. 

Sleep:  Is just terrible. Most days I get less than 5 hours of sleep. Every time I move during sleep it wakes me up. Plus, this dumb cough just won't go away. I feel like I'm just walking around in a fog. I keep thinking I'm forgetting things and honestly can't remember simple stuff any longer.  

Best Moment of the week:

* We finished all the big things in the baby's room. All we have to do is decorate. I have to find some prints on Etsy that go with are theme and then find some gender specific ones for when baby comes. 

* Getting to spend the weekend with my parents for my dad's birthday! 

Worst Moment of the Week: 
* I spent almost half the night on the maternity floor for monitoring last Wednesday due to some severe back pains.  Apparently this baby is a low rider and sits very low. We are keeping a close eye on it but it's making me such a nervous mess. I wrote more in depth about it here.  

* I am generally feeling defeated. I worry about so much all the time. I know it isn't good for the baby and I try to relax but I'm always second guessing myself and thinking I'm not good enough or won't be good enough. 

Miss Anything:

* It sounds simple but I miss shopping for clothes. I've always been a shop-o-holic. Can't wait to really shop for the baby! 

Food Cravings: Anything sweet!!!

Anything make you queasy: Nothing.

Have you started to show? Oh yes! Got home from work last night and my husband says "Wow, you're getting big" Thanks for the support!!! 

Gender: Surprise baby!!! 

Symptoms: Pressure, well you know where, back pain. 

Workouts: Not a thing. 

Mood: I'm a hormonal mess. If you read the post I referred to up above you probably know why.

Looking forward to: 

* Meeting baby! We are getting so close! 

Maternity Clothes: A good mix of maternity pants. I'm still loving non maternity dresses over leggings. Leggings are my BEST FRIEND!

Stretchmarks: Nothing yet. Thank goodness! I'm starting to itch though so I feel them coming. 

Rings on or off? Depends on the day. 

Bellybutton in or out? Still holding strong as an in but I have a feeling that will be changing very soon. 

This week I: 
* Finished up on the nursery. 
* Got the MamaRoo from my parents. The darn thing is defective and I have to bring it back. 

Baby Update:

* Baby's head is very low but not causing any other issues besides back pain. 

* Baby's skin is getting smoother. 

* Baby is strong enough to grasp a finger. 

2nd Trimester Essentials

Now that I'm engulfed by my 3rd trimester I thought I would share some of the goodies that truly got me through the last several month. My 2nd trimester was fantastic. There really aren't many complaints. I felt so great until I was diagnosed with a hernia at 24 weeks. Besides the hernia I really had minimal problem or complaints. I was lucky to move into my 2nd trimester in mid summer so the discomfort of pregnancy and heat didn't bother me very much. I have also been lucky to be carrying small. I'm tall, 5'7 and I've got good hips so I have concealed this pregnancy very well. Many people still have a hard time believing I'm 7 months along (My primary doctor being one of them. He swore I was 7 weeks instead of 7 month this week) Not many people knew I was pregnant until I was about 24 weeks along.

Here are just a few of the goodies that got me through :

2nd trimester essential by kj2380 featuring so moccasins

HOT WATER BOTTLE- The old fashioned kind- After the hernia arrived I picked one of these up. I also use them when my back is acting up.
Heating pads are not recommended during pregnancy.

PILLOWS- I currently sleep with 6! I often steal my husband's when he gets up for work too. I opted to skip the body pillow and instead just adjust my many pillows as needed. Some nights I lay them under my tummy, other nights at my back or between my knees. I've noticed that in pregnancy nothing works for more than a few days at a time.

LEGGINGS- I have purchased a few from Motherhood and a pair from Target. The Motherhood are far more comfortable. I will probably go back for a few more pair. My maternity jeans seem to slide down all day long and yanking them up all day gets really annoying.

TUMS- Holy heartburn towards the end of my 2nd trimester. I've noticed if I eat anything with spice or anything after 8pm I wake up in the middle of the night with the burning my throat kind of heartburn. Some nights even waking up with verps...TMI??? Sorry!

WATER- I can't stay hydrated enough! I feel like I do better with straws too. My nurse told me that even though we think we drink enough we really don't.

BURT'S BEES' MAMA BEE- I have yet to get any stretch marks....Knock on wood. I hope it's because I use this stuff like it's my job!

SLIPPERS- I purchased a pair of Minnetonka's and they are for indoor and outdoor use. Yes they look like slippers BUT since my feet when from a girly size 8 to a beastly size 10 I barely care what people think of my feet. Just a suggestion; purchase a pair of heel or foot insoles for them or any shoes. They have really made a difference

BABY NAMES... HELP!!!!

Via

My usual bump date will be here soon. I'm so sick. I have had a raging fever for a few days. I went to the doctor yesterday and I'm infected with strep throat. YUCK! My fever has finally reduced down to 99.5. It's kinda hard to take cute bump pictures when your in your pj's! 

Brian and I have been having some trouble thinking of baby names. A few days after we found out we were having a baby I asked Brian to give me some names he might like for Baby G. With in a second we had a name for our baby boy, if baby is a boy, of course.

So if Baby G is a boy his name will be:

JACK JORDAN

Jack is the nickname of my grandpa. His given name was John but everyone knew him as Jack. Jordan is my maiden name and I have always thought to incorporate it into our baby's name. 

Girls names, on the other hand, has been a bit more difficult. I have the feeling that baby G is a girl as does Brian and most of our family. If our feeling is right we better get to thinking. Brian's choices were Brianna or Shannon. Both are pretty but not the way I'd like to go. We have decided if we have a baby girl her middle name will be Susan or Sue after my aunt who passed away last year. I know she would have been so honored! Our baby is due just 5 days short of my Aunt Susan's birthday. 

The difficult part for us is coming up with a first name.

So here are a few of my favorites:

- HARPER

- PEYTON

- NORA

- PAIGE

- MIA

- ELLA

- EMMERSON

So what do you think? 

I'm up for suggestions too!

Actually, we NEED suggestions

AND GO.....

Baby Shower- Part 2

Last week I shared some shots of our baby shower. Click HERE if you'd like to see the decor and games. It was such a great day. I feel so lucky that so many great people love us and Baby G so very much. So many people worked so hard to make this day perfect of us. We feel so very blessed in so many ways. 

Holding the diaper cake my sister in law made. 

The diaper cake is filled with health and wellness goodies for baby. 

My amazing little gift opener! 

My mother in law gave us a blanket she handmade along with a blanket (pictured above) from Baby Gargano's late, great grandma as well as Brian's baby blanket. 

So many goodies. 

Grandma's to be. 

Great Grandma to be. 

To top off a fantastic shower we had the most delicious desert bar. 

Sugar cookies made by my friend Jessica. 

Look how amazing they are! 

She just started doing this little side business. 

They not only looked good they tasted even better. 

My brother's fiancé picked up fresh cider donuts (my favorite) at a local farm. 

My sister in law knows I LOVE pumpkin spice lattes so she made the most delicious pumpkin, cappuccino cupcakes! 

The favor bags my future sister in law picked up for the shower. 

They were adorable and fit take home goodies. 

Mommy and Daddy!