31 weeks

You know you are on the home stretch when the milk in your fridge expires (02/28/10) after your due date (02/26/10).
This week was very overwhelming. As time marches on - I'm moving away from the fantasy and cushy feeling of having a baby and getting realistic about birthing and how life is going to inevitably change. Don't get me wrong - I am the most blessed fortunate woman in the world - I have everything most people can only dream for, but that still doesn't change the simple fact that life changes when you have a child.

I am attempting to get organized.

1. Excitement of the week - we have our nanny!
After fretting all last week about who we would select to spend their days with my precious child, she was literally under our noses the entire time. Lynn Kelly is a mother of two of the most wonderful, fun, loving, kind and creative children I've had the pleasure of meeting, she lives about 1.5 miles away from us and has had life long experience with infants and older children. She fits our budget and what's more she is family (sort of) We feel very privileged to have her schedule and care for our little one.

2. Achievement of the week - get NB-3 month clothes arranged
I had no idea how many onesies and outfits we had received from gifts and hand me downs - between Jessica Flores, mom and Andrea she has more clothes than Nate and I put together. Since she will be in our room for the first two months I bought baskets to better arrange the items we would need at a moments notice. As you can tell the crib is a mess we still need a mattress and our bedding which I can't wait to see - but just arranging her clothes already has made me feel a bit more ready. I am certain after the baby shower I will feel even more confident.


Franki is approximately 3.3 pounds, she can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's moves non stop sometimes it even hurts a little but not to the point of keeping me awake at night. I comforted in knowing my baby is active and healthy.

I have not had any soreness with my contractions this week - I definitely feel a tightening at times but it doesn't hurt at all. I'm measuring 40" around the belly. She has grown substantially in the last month.

30 weeks

I can't believe I have just 8 to 10 weeks to go! What a miracle life is, how quickly a human can form and develop. I am amazed and stand in awe of my God.

I have been extremely tired but I am convinced it has nothing to do with pregnancy and everything to do with the fact that I don't sit still until I get in bed, combined with all the Christmas sugar I have consumed and lack of excercise. Franki is a very active and fun child - I just love her so much she constantly has me talking to her and laughing to myself. We got the new Rihanna cd in a gift exchange so I play it in my car ad I really think she likes it - she moves even more to that cd!

I can't believe its the eve - of Christmas eve, this is our first Christmas as a married couple and last Christmas being "DINK's" (Double income no kids), next year Franki will be 10 months old enjoying the festivities along side us! I so look forward to that, sharing the meaning of Christmas with children is what its all about.

In the midst of all the excitment of the holidays, our fast approaching birth and finding out two more very special friends are pregnant (yay you guys!), I am going through guilt and sadness of having to hand Franki over to day care at just 6 weeks old when I have to return to work. I am losing my mind over finding a place thats not only the best of the best, but affordable and close to home/work too...the search continues...

I am pleased to announce so far - the oils, lotions and potions I've been using (or could be hereditary) have prevented stretch marks on my tummy (so far) Alas though I see signs of them on my legs a bit - but worse things can happen, I have been the picture of health the whole way through so am not going to start complaining now.

29 weeks

I am starting to feel a bit tired at work these days around 1pm, but since I have an insaciable craving for citrus this week, I eat a grapefruit or several baby oranges and that seems to pep me up to get through the remainder of the day.

We had our doctor checkup Friday December 11, which went really well. I'm up to 20lb in weight gain which they said is okay. They talked to us about Braxton Hicks and what's to be expected in the third trimester. My vitals were all spot on and her heart rate is as it should be. We passed the glucose test with flying colors and shouldnt need any further testing for the remainder of the pregnancy.

Best part of my weekend, is my darling husband and father in law spent their precious time tearing up the nasty carpet in our bedroom and instead laid down some laminate that matches the rest of our house. Now, no more worries of grossness with the baby and if the dogs throw up...Or worse - its no longer an added stress. :-) Thanks guys!

I am pleased to announce the groin pain I mentioned last week has subsided, which is a great relief and I feel really comfortable again. They estimate Franki to be about 2.5 lbs in weight and her bones are getting stronger which explains the harder kicks. The nurse practioner; Jennifer was telling us to start doing "kick counts" That means if she doesn't have 10 obvious movements in an hour we need to go to triage. Well we've tested that out several times thus far and the little girl moves more like 20 times in 2 minutes :-)

Merry flat stomach Christmas to me!

I have 4 months after birth to get back into bikini shape so Franki and my love can enjoy the sun and sand California style! Hopefully I would have gained no more than 25lb's by the end but even that seems a daunting task. Excercise combined with breastfeeding good eating and my latest purchase I know I can do it!

My sister in law told me about the Belly Bandit. Typical...I did a mass load of research and come to find out it works almost as well as a tummy tuck! So with the raving reviews it was a no brainer. I purchased the bamboo wrap from the super site www.bestbabyorganics.com and saved myself money - not only was the shipping free but I received a 10% discount!

28 weeks

All I can say is Pressure!
I wonder if this feeling will last the rest of the pregnancy? My bones in my groin and lower abdomen makes me feel like Franki is ready! Its not painful, just really uncomfortable but I am relieved for a bit more sleep this week.

I am excited about entering into my third trimester - this is where my bbody is done preparing for pregnancy and starts preparing for birth. Franki can now blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through my womb, we tested this with a small torch and she responded with small movements. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

She wriggles all the time and also pushes hard up against my belly button, I keep telling her thats not where she will make her exit but I don't think she believes me!

I was fortunate that my sister in law is only a month ahead of me and we have similar names, I was able to go and get a prenatal massage with her account at the spa. It felt so good even though it was odd layinmg on my side instead of my tummy. I look forward to getting another one somewheer down the line.

27 weeks

Its nearly Christmas time!!! This year I have spent allot of time reflecting, to think next year we will be celebrating the holidays with our 11 month old! I was so overjoyed when my love said we could go get a tree, we have slowly been collecting ornaments that are indicative of us...pizza, wine, robots, snowflakes and snowboarding...and I bought a few more basics but when we picked up our short and stubby tree I didn't care about the size I was just so happy to enjoy the smell and decorate!!! Having Danielle with us makes it that much more special to be able to share.

I have not had much time to read of late, in fact I have not had time to do anything. I have been blessed this week with a few more small freelance jobs that will hopefully be able to go straight to savings and cover bills when I am not working to stay home with the growing bean.

I am really big now, in the last 5 days I have billowed and now practically nothing fits anymore, so as a result exercise has been at the top of my mind. I figure like a triathlon, manageable labors happen to women who have prepared by means of resting, learning and taking care of general health. I have been doing yoga about once a week with a friend Belinda from Soul Fusion, so far it has offered me comfort mentally, and physically but the biggest challenge of all is finding the time to do it everyday because that's where I will really see results.