Galva Shower

A couple ladies from Derek's hometown threw me a baby shower last Sunday. I think it's so sweet that the ladies in the town take turns throwing wedding/baby/etc showers for other people. I had a wedding shower there too. People that I have hardly met take time from their day to come and I think it's the sweetest thing.

 

Collins was spoiled with many things including some adorable outfits, bows, a tutu, diapers, wipes, shampoo, lotion, money, gift cards, toys, blankets, etc. 1 of the hostesses said she reads my blog (hi Susan!) and saw that I had been craving butterfingers so she got me the biggest bag of butterfingers I have ever seen. I thought that was so nice of her. I can thank her for my weight gain.

 

Derek's sister was nice enough to take pictures for me even though she had her 3 girls to look after. Thanks Jaime!

 

 Thank you Amber for telling me that this shirts makes you look like an elephant AFTER my shower. I will never wear this shirt again. But anyways...here are the pics. I made Derek go because I don't know everyone that well so he had to help me out.

 

 

 

 

Derek's mom made that bear she is holding. His aunt found it when they were moving and wanted to give it to me for Collins to have. Derek used to play with it and now Collins will.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much everyone who came to the shower and especially to the ladies who put it together for me. Collins can't wait to get to Galva and meet everyone!

Nesting already?!

It hit me last week that Collins is going to be here SOON. Yes, I am only 32 weeks (tomorrow) but I'm thinking she's free to come anytime after 36 weeks. She probably won't but my head has been spinning lately on things I need to get done!

Must finish nursery!! I felt like I started it super early and here I am, 8 weeks from my due date and her walls are bare and I don't have a glider yet. I have been on the look out for frames and things I want to do above her dresser and Derek's cousin is making a big canvas for above her crib. Must shop this weekend for frames and order a glider (why do those things have to be so expensive)?!

I have officially started my list for things to pack for the hospital and have been doing some research online for what people suggest packing. If anyone has any recommendations on things to pack or not to pack, please share. Some things on my list include nursing bras, comfy clothes and granny panties Yep, called my sister Amy today and she says the bigger the underwear, the better. That should be a fun shopping trip..not!

Hospital pre-registration form has been mailed in, pre-admission appointment has been set up and birthing classes start the 17th.

Get some Christmas/birthday shopping done. Since 6 of our 7  nieces and nephews are born in Nov. and Dec. I am wanting to get some shopping done since I won't be working in Dec. (no paychecks) and I don't want to have to do crazy amounts of shopping with a newborn and maybe (hopefully) snow. I have 1 thing for Harper ordered so that leaves many many more gifts to get. Sisters, send me lists for the kids!!!

Speaking of Christmas, I can't stop thinking about it! I love the holiday in general but I think because it will be our first holiday with Collins (unless she graces us with her presence before Thanksgiving) it's making it extra special. I can't stop buying her Christmas clothes, bows and researching stockings and mantle ideas. Crazy I know. I'm thinking I need to get the tree up the weekend before Thanksgiving since I hope to have newborn in my arms the weekend after Thanksgiving. Now I gotta talk Derek into putting lights on the house this year...

So those are the things that have been on my mind lately. I am getting sssooo anxious to meet Collins but clearly, I have plenty of things I need to do before she makes her debut.

31 Weeks (9/21/12)

How far along? 31 weeks

Size of baby: 3.3 pounds and 16.2 inches. About the size of a bunch of asparagus. It's so crazy to me how long she is now.  Derek and I are both short so I'm not expecting her to be over 20 in. which means she is almost full grown (length wise).

Weight gain: 21 pounds. I had A LOT of desserts this weekend so I was scared to get on the scale this morning at the doctors office. Wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be though. Doc said it looked like I had a bowling ball in my belly. Yeah, a 50 pound one!

Maternity clothes: Yes. Been wearing maternity jeans, tanks and shirts. I still wear regular clothes in bigger sizes too.

Stretch marks: Not any new ones

Sleep: I only woke up to pee once last night! That's huge! Besides last night though I have been waking 2-4 times to go to the bathroom and if I wake up after 4am, I can almost guarantee my nose starts running after I go to the bathroom. The allergy medicine wears off in the middle of the night which has meant lots of sleepless nights lately.

Symptoms: Been feeling great! Lose my breath quite a bit but I am hoping she drops soon and I can breath again.  

Best moment this week: My first baby shower! I plan to do a whole post on it but a couple ladies from Derek's hometown threw me a baby shower yesterday and I had a great time. Collins was spoiled with outfits, her first tutu (yay!!!!), bows and lots of necessities (diapers, wipes, shampoo, etc).  There was also really yummy cake and cupcakes. They know how to win me over.
I also had a doctors appointment this morning. Everything looks great and she felt the baby for the first time and was pretty sure she was head down. Let's hope she stays like that. She also checked my ankles for swelling and said they looked great. Heart rate has dropped to upper 130s/lowers 140s now that she is bigger but doc said 120-150 is normal so all is good.

Movement: Yes. She didn't move a ton yesterday but has made up for it today. I think the cheering from the k-state game kept her up late Saturday night and she was sleepy yesterday.  

Food cravings: Fruit. I ate a bag of grapes in like 2 days and have really been liking apples. I got caramel at the store tonight and had it with my apple for dinner. Ah-mazing. Still on an apricot kick too but didn't want dried apricots and couldn't find them in the produce section at wal-mart. Are they not in season?

Gender: GIRL!!!! Collins Cate Lorson

What I miss: Basic movements like turning over, getting up and bending over. I don't know what I am going to do when it gets cold and I actually have to wear shoes. Guess I better be getting some shoes with no shoe laces!

Milestones: Getting closer and close to my due date!

11, 20 and 30 weeks

I meant to do this on my 30 week update but forgot so here is a comparison of my belly shots at 11w, 20w and now at 30 weeks. 11 weeks was the first week I took pictures. Kicking myself for not taking pics earlier. I mean I was 3.5 weeks along when I found out I was pregnant. Why did I take so long to take pictures?!

 11 weeks

                                      20 weeks                                                                      30 weeks

30 Weeks (9/14/12)

How far along? 30 weeks

Size of baby: 3 pounds and 15.7 inches. About the size of a large cabbage 

Weight gain: 20 pounds. Going to try and only gain a pound a week from here on out. Less I gain, less I have to lose after baby.

Maternity clothes: Yes. Been wearing maternity jeans, tanks and shirts. I still wear regular clothes in bigger sizes too. In the beginning, I was so excited to wear maternity jeans because of how comfortable they are...wrong!! Am I the only 1 who doesn't find these things comfortable? The ones with the elastic are near impossible to get on and I can hardly breath when I sit down and the ones with the bands are just annoying. I hate pulling the band over my belly cause it leaves a line but if I leave the band low, their hard to keep on. I guess I might just need to go shopping since all my jeans are hand-me-downs but I have Gap, Old Navy and Motherhood maternity ones and I don't like any.

Stretch marks: This is embarrassing but I have a some tiny ones on my butt. Really? My butt? That is the last thing that I needed to grow!  

Sleep: Some nights are pretty good and some nights I wake up to use the bathroom and then my nose starts running and I can't fall back asleep for like an hour. This always happens around 5am so by the time I fall back asleep, I only get 30-45 more minutes of sleep. Rolling over is getting super hard so usually I only switch sides when I wake up to go to the bathroom.  

Symptoms: Hard time breathing sometimes but other then that, feeling good!

Best moment this week: Learning to make bows, and getting stuff for the nursery.

Movement: So much movement. Poor girl is getting crammed in there! Sometimes I wonder what in the world she is doing in there with all the movement she does. I am constantly putting my hand on my stomach feeling her move and feeling what I think is her head or foot (super hard spots). Derek yells at me because he think I am damaging her brain. Ha!  

Food cravings: Not many cravings this week. I might have had Pizza Hut, leftover Pizza Hut or pizza rolls almost every day this week but who's keeping track :)

Gender: GIRL!!!! Collins Cate Lorson

What I miss: Tanning!!! I don't do it a lot but now would be a time that I would definitely go.

Milestones: FINALLY reached my last 10 weeks! It's crazy that in a few weeks I will be packing my hospital bags just in case she comes early. We have our first baby shower this weekend so Derek will be assembling baby things and then we will be set for her to arrive! I'm scared to death of labor but I know the end result will be all worth it. I am sssooo anxious to see her face and hold her in my arms. And now I am crying. Dang hormones :)

29 Weeks (9/7/12)

How far along? 29 weeks

Size of baby: 2.5 lbs and 15.2 inches. About the size of a butternut squash

Weight gain: Went to the doctor today and I am up 19 lbs. So much for only gaining 20-25 lbs this whole pregnancy. Measuring 1 cm (1 week) ahead.

Maternity clothes: Yes. Been wearing maternity jeans, tanks and shirts. I still wear regular clothes in bigger sizes too.

Stretch marks: Not that I can see

Sleep: Not too bad. Usual 2-3 bathroom trips and I am starting to cramp easily and have to switch positions more frequently. Allergies haven't kept me awake in the middle of the night but sometimes I wake up early with them and can't fall back asleep. Doctor recommended I take Zyrtec in the mornings and Benadryl at night to knock me out so I am going to try that tonight.

Symptoms: Little heartburn, 1 headache and a couple mornings I have gotten really hot, short of breath and nausea's 1 time. Doctor said it was normal, just a growing baby pushing on my organs.

Best moment this week: Going to the doctor today. Felt like I hadn't been in forever so and I didn't get to see my doctor the last time I went so I was anxious to see what she had to say. Everything looked great, Collins heartbeat was right at 150 and I will start going to the doctor every 2 weeks now! Only bad news, this was the first time I had been to the doctor since my 2nd glucose test and since a nurse just called with the results, my doctor actually talked to me about it all today. You have to fail 2 of the 4 tests to be considered diabetic and I only failed 1. So although I don't have diabetes, I am at a greater risk for having a big baby. Awesome. NOT!!!! She just said to go easy on the sugar and everything should be fine. So Collins is probably going to be 10 pounds. Lovely.

 Movement: Oh yeah. I loved the little kicks but now that she is getting big, some of the movements feel weird and sometimes tickle. I still love feeling her kick and watching my stomach move but it can be weird at times.

Food cravings: Well I just got back from the grocery store so here are a few things that made it into the cart that normally don't. Granted, I went before dinner so I was hungry and wanted everything. 1. Dried apricots. Never have I ever bought apricots but they sounded delicious. Even ate some on my way home. 2. Pizza rolls. I haven't had these since freshmen year of college. 3. Butterfingers. These are a weekly occurrence. Derek probably won't let me go alone again.

Gender: GIRL!!!! Collins Cate Lorson

What I miss: Not waking up 1000 times a night. I think those days are long gone though.

Milestones: Last week in the 20s. I feel like the 20s have been the longest 10 weeks and I am anxious to start the last 10 weeks of pregnancy. Start going to the doctor every 2 weeks now until end of October and then I start going every week.

Elsie and Collins are best friends already

Maternity Slideshow

Here is a slideshow of the maternity pictures Amy took for me this past weekend. I think they turned out really good even if it was 100 degrees, we were sweating like crazy and had Paxton and Harper with us who were bored and hot as well. These were very last minute so please excuse my white as a ghost body. We're going to take a few more in a couple weeks (hopefully I can talk Derek into getting in a few of them) and I think I will be investing in self tanner.

Ok, on with the show. If you don't want to bawl your eyes out like me, you might want to turn off the volume. Some real tear jerker music on this bad boy.

Click Here for Slideshow

Thank you Amy ssoo much for doing this for me.

28 Weeks (8/31/12)

How far along? 28 weeks

Size of baby: Around 2 and a quarter pounds and 14.8 in. About the size of a Chinese cabbage.

Weight gain: I would say around 15 lbs but I feel like I haven't been to the doctor in forever (it's only been 3 weeks though). My scale never matches up to what the doctors says so I'll get an accurate weight a week from tomorrow.

Maternity clothes: Yes. Been wearing maternity jeans, tanks and shirts. I still wear regular clothes in bigger sizes too. My friend Brandi gave me some maternity clothes this weekend which I am so thankful for. I don't think I have bought a single piece of maternity clothing.

Stretch marks: Not that I can see

Sleep: Not so good again. Allergy medicine is not working and I am constantly having to get up and blow my nose.

Symptoms: Heartburn, back, allergies and couple headaches this week.

Best moment this week: Having Amy take my maternity pics! We weren't going to do them for a couple more weeks but she texted me Thursday and said to bring something to wear and she would do some this weekend (we went to El Dorado) as well. She got some really good ones so I'll post a few after she edits them. I am still going to take some more in a couple weeks too. I'll probably be a lot bigger then.

Movement: Yep. It's not just kicks anymore. I can feel her move all around. I can usually tell where she's at  because my stomach gets really hard. My belly button isn't sticking out but the other day she was right under it and had it pushed out.

Food cravings: Sweets, sweets, sweets. And pizza.

Gender: GIRL!!!! Collins Cate Lorson

What I miss: Sleeping on my back and stomach. I had been doing good on not sleeping on my back and now I keep waking up on my back again.

Milestones: In the home stretch!!! I am finally in my last trimester and I feel like the last few weeks are going to fly by. Between football games, weddings and baby showers, we are busy almost every weekend until she is due. Derek is in a wedding the first weekend in November  so I am going to ask my doctor at my next appointment if I can go. It's in Oklahoma and I don't think they like you traveling the last month but we'll see what she says.