Category: Pregnancy

How far along? 30 Weeks
Baby is the size of a:  Zuchinni,

Total weight gain: Still at 6lbs

Stretch marks? All the stretch marks, just across my belly. They’ve also come with these lovely purple dots that make me look like a character from Dr. Seuss. Some of them are painful, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end.

Baby Development: Daphne Grace is just getting fatter and fatter! She should be gaining about half a pound each week now. Her neck has full range of motion now and she is practicing turning her head. She is continuing to steal my protein to help her muscles functions properly! She is getting hiccups now as she practices breathing and swallowing. “They” say, babies at 30 weeks can now recognize mom’s voice and I hope that is true! Her Lanugo, layer of hair that keeps her warm, should be falling off this week.

Movement:  Daphne Grace is still kicking like crazy. This week, a few of her kicks stole my breath. She is sitting right on my lungs, making it really hard to take a deep breath. She gets shy when I try to let someone feel her kick. She’ll be kicking like crazy then stop as soon as I put their hand on my belly. I still can’t tell if she is in position or not. We’ll know at our 34 week ultrasound.

Food cravings: Nothing out of the ordinary. Still have to have something sweet before I go to sleep. Anything chocolate will do.

Miss Anything? Sleeping on my stomach and being able to roll over in bed. This has become quite the task and is getting a little painful.

Symptoms:  My sciatic nerve is in constant pain. I don’t know if it’s from sitting on the floor with WJ all day. Nesting is in full swing and I’m cleaning or sleeping 24/7. I can’t go to sleep unless the house is tidy. I’m getting the urge to purge again and I LOVE this part! I love decluttering and organizing alllll the things.

Wedding rings on or off?  Still holding on.

Mood?  Either frustrated or elated. I mainly slip back and forth between those two. I get frustrated that I physically can’t do all the things I would like to as well as I would like to. I move slower than I’d like and that get super annoying. At the same time, I couldn’t be happier. Winifred is doing wonderful, Daphne is growing and kicking, Will is healthy, and life is good. It’s a confusing mix of emotions and I’m just sitting in it.

This Week: This week was B-A-N-A-N-A-S. WJ had so many play dates and we had so much to do! In an effort to get her sleeping better, I tried to get us out of the house as much as possible and keep us busy! I did a deep clean of the house and that was honestly the greatest thing ever. We got to go to Dallas this weekend and attend the most beautiful wedding. Karissa was my Texas Tech Orientation roommate and we ended up in the same Education block and becoming extremely close. It was an honor to see her marry the man of her dreams this weekend.

Winifred Update: We have quite the little organizer on our hands! Winnie J has learned to put things back where she got them or on top of things and she is obsessed. She will put all her toys in then out of a box or on top of the couch, then take them off. She likes having things all together, and it makes my heart happy. I thought Winnie J was mobile but BOY was I wrong. This girl is on the move! She is crawling all over the house and getting into everything she can find! She wants more than anything to be besties with the dogs but Layla runs away from her and Zeus is just nonreactive. Its tragic and adorable. She crawls into the dog bed and waits for them to snuggle with her. Winnie J had a stomach bug this week and it was heartbreaking. It’s hard to see your baby hurting and you can’t do anything to take it away. She bounced back after 24 hours and was her bouncy self once again. The “cold front” was good to us and we spend ample time outside reading books together. She has started to show preference for certain books. This week it was Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. She loves turning the pages and cuddling with her fluffy stuff while we read. I’ve never met a baby more obsessed with fluffy things.

How far along? 29 weeks
Baby is the size of a:  Cotton Tail Rabbit, Small Pineapple, Barbie Convertible

Total weight gain:  6Lbs total

Stretch marks? Yup. Any creams you could recommend would be awesome, folks. My stomach feels like it’s ripping open.

Baby Development: This week, Daphne Grace weighs in at almost 3lbs! She is packing on the fat and getting ready to enter the world. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to develop and mature as she practices breathing. She is pretty much at her birth length now!

Movement:  This girl is strong. I know I said that last week but WOW. She takes my breath away my breath. Fun fact: She moves the most when I’m holding Winnie J. When I’m rocking her to sleep at night or during playtime. Daphne Grace can’t wait to come and meet her sister!

Food cravings: The chocolate cravings are so real. Every night, I have one of those mug cake things and WOOOOOOOOOOW. Also, had the weirdest craving for frozen yogurt this week. Haven’t had that since college.

Miss Anything?  Weird, but I miss being able to do the dishes without turning sideways. My belly gets in the way! Takes a tool on your back after a while.

Symptoms:  the nesting has begun. Personally, I love this part of pregnancy. My house is super clean and I’m organizing everything I can see. This stage in the pregnancy with Winnie, I was nesting in my classroom and preparing form my long-term sub. This time around, I’m channeling all my energy into Winnie J’s room makeover!

Wedding rings on or off? Still on! Minimal swelling, which is a relief in this heat.

Mood?  This one changes day to day. One day I’m stressed/irritable; next I’m excited/productive, then exhausted/passive. Poor Will.

This Week: Anxiety hit this week HARD. The reality of what our lives will look like in a few months is scary. Financially, bringing home a new baby and me not working is going to be a new adventure for us. I’ve come to love budgeting though, and we’re a good team. We also realized that we have done NOTHING to prepare for Daphne Grace’s arrival. We decided to move Winnie J to her own room so we can have the nursery ready for DG. I also had a minor anxiety attack when I realized I was going to have to give birth again. That might sound weird given that I’ve been pregnant for 30 weeks now, but it’s true. I’m honestly terrified to give birth again. I haven’t had time to forget what birth means for my body and mind. So, I’ll be spending the next 10 weeks prepping my body and mind for the most peaceful birth this baby can have.

Winifred Update: STILL. NO. TEETH. This week with WJ was adorably frustrating (parenting in a nutshell). Since we got back from the beach, Winnie has been on a night time sleep strike or waking up at 5AM ready for the day. She is always in a good mood when she wakes up, so that makes it 10 times easier to not be the grumpiest parent of all time. Other than being sleep deprived, she is growing leaps and bounds. She is attempting to stand up on her own! She’s doing lots of “downward dog” pose to get herself ready to stand. She is scooting around on all the furniture and babbling NONSTOP. For someone so tiny, she has a lifetime of stories to tell us. She is FINALLY eating more solid food. She is no longer accepting purees and is dying to feed herself! This makes me so happy for her development and makes meal time incredibly messy! WINNIE J also got baptized this weekend! It was so emotional to her be welcomed into the Church. She loved having her Uncle Thomas and Aunt Christy in town for a couple of days. It’s always nice when family comes! We’ve decided to start moving WJ into a “big girl” room instead of the nursery so Daphne Grace can have the nursery when she’s ready. WJ was very interested in picking out her paint color.

How far along? 28 Weeks HELLOOOOOO THIRD TRIMESTER
Baby is the size of a:  Coconut, Small Roller-skate

Total weight gain:  staying steady at 5lbs only even with allllll the Peanut M&Ms

Stretch marks? Just a few more, I’ve surrendered them at this point.

Baby Development: Daphne Grace weighs about 2.5 lbs and will continue to gain weight quickly during the last trimester! Her adrenal glands are now producing their own hormones to signal mama to start producing milk! She is becoming less wrinkly as she packs on the fat. As she sleeps she dreams and even has REM cycles! I’m continually amazed at how God is weaving her together.

Movement:  I’m pretty sure I’m giving birth to the hulk. Daphne Grace is STRONG and is moving most of the day, especially after sunset. She is rolling around in there and seems to still be in the breech position if I’m feeling right. I’m anxious for my next sonogram to see if she is. Currently researching ways to rotate her.

Food cravings: It’s still chocolate haha.

Miss Anything?  I miss our families. We definitely got spoiled this past week, being surrounded by all our loved ones.

Symptoms:  Sciatic pain, peeing every 10 minutes, hard to breathe, swelling if I sit for too long, etc. I call it the third trimester PARTY.

Wedding rings on or off? Still on!

Mood?  Productive! I’m back on my cleaning schedule and scheduling play dates for Winnie J. Planning lots of blogs, too!

Positive Moments This Week: Will and I went through our finances to prepare for the arrival of Daphne Grace and the exiting of my paycheck. It’s an uncomfortable topic sometimes but it is necessary to discuss in a marriage. It makes us both feel better to have the exact idea of where we’re at and decide things together. It’s good for our relationship to be a team and I love being on his team.

Winifred Update: Oh, the cuddles I got this week. I’m soaking in my time with WJ before there is another little one to snuggle with. She plays by herself for a little, then comes back for a quick cuddle. Also, SHE IS CRAWLING ON HANDS AND KNEES AND TAKING SOLID FOODS! The week at the beach was so good for her. Her big cousins worked with her to crawl on her hands and knees! She cannot get enough books and fluffy things. We read the same 5 books allll day long and she loves it. She has recently attached herself to this tiny little lamb and its the most adorable thing.

 

 

How far along? 27 Weeks
Baby is the size of a:  Head of Lettuce, Cauliflower

Total weight gain:  staying steady at 5lbs only.

Stretch marks? OH YES. They alllllll came out to play. It’s a really good thing that one pieces are back in style. I hope it stays that way.

Baby Development: Daphne Grace’s eyebrows and eyelashes are in full swing this week! Her brain is now beginning to show electrical activity and she’s on a sleeping schedule. She is a night owl and sleeps in. She reaches the second viability milestone this week, as her lungs are developed enough to survive in the outside world. Cochleae have developed in her ears, aiding in her hearing development.

Movement:  Daphne Grace’s movements became much more pronounced this week. Will got to finally feel her kick. I could make out an elbow every now and then. My belly looks like its doing the wave, especially at night!

Food cravings: CHOCOLATE. I’m pretty sure I ate an entire Costco sized bucket of Peanut M&Ms by myself at the beach.

Miss Anything?  Being able to stand up without making grunting noises like Serena Williams.

Symptoms:  Lots of sciatic pain this week. I think it was from all the siting on the floor and in the sand. Lots of stretching in my future.

Wedding rings on or off? Still on. Although, the heat and salt water definitely had me swelling.

Mood?  insanely grateful

Positive Moments This Week: I love that we got to see both sides of the family this week and Winnie J got to meet all her cousins! My parents put on a get together and the whole family came out! It was a blessing to be surrounded by so much love.

Winifred Update: Winnie J lived her best life here at the beach! She LOVES the water so much. If she had it her way, she’d swim off into the waves. The sand is her happy place and she loves when the water splashes her face. This is the first time she’s met her two cousins and she is in love! They are teaching her how to be a big kid. She’s learning how to share, play nice, and crawl on her hands a knees. I’m so grateful for this family time we’re getting! She is getting lots of sugar from Granny and Pop too!

How far along? 26 Weeks
Baby is the size of a:  VHS tape, acorn squash, zucchini

Total weight gain:  still only 5 lbs!

Stretch marks? Starting to develop more across the top of my belly. Winifred gave me some right at my belly button but Daphne Grace has gifted me with another layer right on top. Tiger stripes, right?

Baby Development: Daphne Grace has gained enough fat to be able to regulate her own body temperature! She is soaking in all of mama’s protein to keep growing that big ole brain. She is a busy bee in there. She is coughing, breathing, and even dreaming!

Movement:  Movement is getting stronger but I still can’t see it on the outside yet! She moves the most when I’m holding Winifred, which I’m just obsessed with.

Food cravings: Chocolate. I legit cannot go to bed without having SOMETHING chocolate. I’m not proud.

Miss Anything?  Being able to breath without a tiny human on my lungs.

Symptoms: It’s weird dream time, y’all! I actually enjoy this pregnancy symptom because the dreams are just so outrageous.  

Wedding rings on or off? Still on

Mood?  Anxious. I’m so ready to get out of Midland for a while!

Winifred Update: I’m now calling her Winifred the Giggler. She finds joy in the littlest thing and it makes my heart swell. She is pulling up on everything and scooting around all the furniture. It’s time to hide all the hazardous knick knacks. Her current favorite activity is pulling off all the DVDs and sliding them under the entertainment center. She is a book worm and will sit in my lap and read 5 or 6 books at a time. I love watching her brain grow with her personality.

Looking forward to:  THE BEACH! We are off to Houston/Galveston to spend some much-needed time away from Midland and with our families.

My dad has always worked so hard to make sure that we got the most out of life, but he made darn sure that nothing was handed to us on a silver platter. He taught us to work  for things that we wanted and that the “easy way out” would get us no where. My parents gave us a place where we were free to make mistakes. When things went wrong, we knew we had a place to go, even if it mean facing very harsh realities. We knew we would be held accountable for our actions, but loved and supported while doing so.

I’ve leaned on both my parents my whole life. They’ve been there for every soccer game, award ceremony, breakup, graduation, my wedding, miscarriages, and everything in between. So, when it came time for me to give birth to my first baby, having my parents in the room wasn’t even a question. It’s common for mothers to have their moms in the delivery room, but I wanted my dad to be there too (if he wanted to be). He was there for everything else, why would I make him wait in the waiting room alone??

If you know anything about my dad, you know he has a heart of gold. He will go a hundred miles out of his way to help a complete stranger. He has such a servant’s heart and he is tremedously reliable under pressure. He is the life of any party and can make anyone feel at ease in any situation. Why wouldn’t I want that energy in the room when I bring my child into the world?

The second I went into labor the first words out of my mouth were “I need pineapple and watermelon, RIGHT NOW”! “Got it”, my dad said. He grabbed his keys and headed straight to the store, no questions asked. As I labored at home, my dad was there, ready to help. He stayed quiet and in the background, but ready for anything we would need.

As we left for the hospital with my parents right behind us. My poor dad, like a pack mule, bringing the snacks and my yoga ball! They stayed outside the room as we got settled and I had my first pelvic exam. A huge part of me is so sorry they had to hear me scream like that, oops. Anyway, as the labor continued, my parents were there with Will. Words cannot describe how thankful I was the they were there.

My labor intensified and Will needed a break from my crippling contractions and holding me up. My mom and dad took turns holding my hand and telling me to breathe. My dad got Will some food and brought some more snacks for the nurses, in true hero fashion. I watched his face twist in pain as I lie in labor, unable to handle the pain of my contractions any more. I could tell he wanted me to get the epidural. I could tell he wanted to take away the pain for me, but he kept his mouth closed and let me fight my fight.  I finally had to get the epidural and the room relaxed, especially Will and my dad.

When It came time to push my dad stood back, sealing himself behind the my bed against a window in the back of the room. He stayed quiet while my mom took pictures and Will coached me through the pushing. Full disclosure, I forgot he was there. For hours, it was just Will and I bringing our child into the world.

The end of the story comes from my mom because I was too focused on Winnie. My mom says, when they placed Winnie on my chest she looked up at my dad. He was standing behind the chair with tears rolling down his face. For some reason, that surprised me. I knew it would be emotional for me, Will, and probably my mom, but I never thought my dad would cry! Then again, he has the biggest heart in the world.

Winnie’s birth story would have been incomplete without my dad in the delivery room. Her paw-paw got to see her enter this world and that is not a moment that could be replicated. I’m so thankful for everything my dad has done for me, and I’m even more thankful for the grandfather that he is to my daughter.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad! You are truly one of a kind.

 

 

How far along? 21 weeks
Baby is the size of a:  Baby Bok Choy, Small Baseball Hat, and Pomegranate

Total weight gain: Back to beginning of pregnancy weight. Feeling super swollen, so I’m feeling way larger.

Stretch marks? No new ones

Baby Development: Daphne Grace is finishing up her fingerprints this week! Her skin is wrinkly and see-through as she prepares for her fat build up. She continues to practice her breathing by swallowing her amniotic fluid. Her senses are developing rapidly! She has a fully formed inner ear, giving her balance, and her nerves are giving her a strong sense of touch. Her eyes are fully formed, but they do not have their pigment yet. Any guesses on eye color? She is a perfect tiny human.

Movement:  DG turned into hulk baby over night! Her movements are much more noticeable and she makes me super nauseous when she rolls or flips over.
Food cravings: Salads this week! I can’t get enough romaine and ranch.

Miss Anything? Sleeping on my back! Every time I end up asleep on my back, I wake up with a headache in the middle of the night. Apparently, it has to do with blood flow to and from the baby.

Symptoms: EMOTIONS. I’m crying one minute, laughing the next, or cranky, or elated. Poor Will has had to deal with quite a few emotional spells from me this week.

Belly Button in or out? So out there, it isn’t even funny.
Wedding rings on or off? Still on

Mood? all of them.

Best Moment this Week: SEEING WINNIE GRADUATE FROM PHYSICAL THERAPY! I’m so proud I could burst. It was also my last week of school. Although it had some sad moments, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to spend so much time with Winnie and Daphne while they’re little. My parents also came into town to help me pack up my classroom! I love having them here and bonding with WJ.

Winifred Update: Winnie turned 9 months this week! This chick is determined. When she wants something, she will find a way to get there. She pulled up for the first time by herself and was SO proud of herself. When she graduated therapy, her PT said she was right where she needed to be for a 9 month old. I’m not gonna lie, those were beautiful words for a mama to here.

Looking forward to: Being free! I can’t wait to spend time with my parents and WJ!

How far along? 20 weeks! HALFWAY WHOOOO HOOOOO!
Baby is the size of a:  Banana, Paper Airplane

Total weight gain: lost half a pound

Stretch marks? No new ones! Itchy belly after a shower.

Baby Development: We had Daphne Grace’s 20-week anatomy scan this week! She was an absolute pinball! It took the sonographer almost an hour to get all of her measurements because of how much she was moving. Everything is looking good and she weighs about 14 oz.! All of her bones are strong and her anatomy is as it should be. Doc said the constant movement is a good sign of a healthy placenta! She is measuring about a week ahead (Winnie did too), so we’ll see how that goes. Daphne Grace is beginning to practice her breathing on the amniotic fluid and starting to produce meconium (the first poop)! She is also sprouting teeth buds underneath her gums. Her lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are almost all there! We can’t wait to kiss her face!

Movement:  Right now, she is in a breech position, which is pretty normal. Lucky for me, her feet are using my bladder as a trampoline! The sonographer said, “Oh poor mama, she’s all up in that bladder!” Boy, do I feel it. However, I’m so grateful for the movement.
Food cravings: Ramen Noodles haha can’t get enough of that carby goodness.

Miss Anything? I miss not having to pee every 5 minutes!!!

Symptoms: I’m nesting BIG TIME. This weekend, I cleaned the house from top to bottom and began organizing all the clutter from Winnie’s room.

Belly Button in or out? OUT! Double belly button lookin gooooooood.
Wedding rings on or off? Still on!

Mood? I wish there was a simpler answer to this question.

Best Moment this Week: Seeing Daphne Grace on the sonogram. It brings my heart so much comfort. She already has so much of her own personality; I cannot wait to see who she becomes. She might give Winnie J a run for her money. Field day was also a blast with my kiddos!

Winifred Update: Winnie J got to swim in her kid pool for the first time this weekend! She THRIVES in the water and had the time of her life. She is crawling (pulling herself) everywhere and she discovered the DVD collection this week! Her babbling has become more consistent and she looks you in the eye when she talks, which is hilarious and adorable.

Looking forward to: The last week of school! I can’t wait to soak in all the last moments with my babes.  Such a bittersweet week.

How far along? 19 weeks
Baby is the size of a:  Mango, Old Fashioned Game Boy, Hedgehog

Total weight gain: 1 lb.! Whoop whoop!

Stretch marks? No new ones! But my belly is getting itchy.

Baby Development: Daphne Grace is developing her waxy coating, called vernix, to protect her skin from the amniotic fluid. She is starting to grow hair on her head and her brain is making connections to her muscles!

Movement:  Her movement is becoming way stronger, especially in my lower abdomen! She is the most active at night. I love this period of pregnancy. Feeling baby moves brings so much comfort, but it isn’t strong enough to send lightening down my spine yet.
Food cravings: I’ve eaten sonic twice this week….not my proudest moment but its DELICIOUS so I have no regrets. Pretty sure that is to blame for the weight gain.

Miss Anything? I really miss sleeping on my belly this week. I’ve been able to squeeze by the last few weeks, but DG has other plans for our sleeping position.

Symptoms: Way more energy this week! Which is super helpful, because the insomnia is kicking in. I can fall asleep fine but most nights, Winnie and I get up at the same time to eat. If I get up in the middle of the night, it takes me about 2 hours to fall back asleep. Not ideal but we’re getting by. My appetite has also ramped up big time! I cannot eat enough. Will is doing a great job of filling our house with nutrient dense snacks for me.

Belly Button in or out? OUT! I have a weird double belly button now. One under the skin, and one over the skin. If anyone has experienced this please help me out, should I be worried??
Wedding rings on or off? Still on!

Mood? Grateful. I’ve cried countless times this week because I’ve felt so grateful for everything and everyone I have in my life.

Best Moment this Week: I GOT A NEW MOM CAR!! Best mother’s day gift I could have ever asked for. I’m really upset to be getting rid of Ginger (my good old 2009 Corolla), but she couldn’t fit two car seats in her back seat. Pearl (my 2018 Ford Explorer), will be a great addition to out family. My first mother’s day was also so relaxing and full of WJ snuggles!

Winifred Update: She started this cool new thing where she stopped sleeping through the night. She wakes up between 12-2 every night to drink a bottle, and then continues to have a rave in her crib for the next hour. Super fun. She is very hard to stay mad at though, because when she wakes up, she is the happiest/cuddliest baby in the whole wide world. WE ARE ALSO CHEWING!! Winnie had a very hard time with her gag reflex and needed to gain weight so we went right to purees instead of baby led weaning, like we’d hoped. She really struggles to get solid food down. So, that is what we are working on right now!

Looking forward to: Our sonogram on Monday to see Little Miss Daphne Grace!