C-section Hospital Bag.

I am getting excited about Mr. Man coming but lately have had a few complications that have definitely made me worry... I want him to hold on for 8 more weeks... then if he needs too, he can come :)

Until then my doctor wants me to be prepared now that I am in my third trimester. Since I had complications with my first pregnancy they are going to schedule my c-section for me this time around. So I have gathered a list of must-haves for myself now that I know what I need to be prepared.... I may be over prepared but I hate hospitals and I want to be 'at home' as possible during my stay.

Must Have Packing List:

1. Slippers (Socks and also flip flops for the shower)

2. Robe (I went with a light cotton robe)

3. Toiletries (including makeup, lotion, hair care, tooth care, etc)

4. Night gowns, something that will fit you at 6/7 months (after your c-section you will still have a bump be prepared for that, and stay away from pj sets that have bottoms with elastic around your incision)

5. Maxi dress to go home in (a size larger than my pre-pregnancy size)

6. Magazines; you're going to be exhausted so reading a book is out of the question for me....

7. Snacks; you don't really want to rely on the hospital for quality food. I am bringing healthy items (Higher in fiber... trust me)

8. My own blankets and pillows, lots of pillows.... you are going to need them to be able to sleep comfortably, for your incision on the way home, and in case anyone makes you laugh while you are enjoying your stay.

9. Camera, Phone, chargers for both, an extra memory card, and laptop (and make sure you have Netflix ready to go just in case you can't sleep when you're angel is :))

10. Your ID and insurance for both you and your partner

11. A gift for the older sibling(s), something that is from both you and their new sibling.

12. A carseat (and make sure you have your base already set up in your 'going home' vehicle.

13. Post c-section belly binder, I am ordering a Squeem but I know that there are many options out there. I did my research and for me (and my long torso) the Squeem seemed like the best option for me.

14. I am bringing a 'well wishes' book for any/all of our visitors to leave a special message to Mr. after his delivery that he can read when he is older.

I also am packing my Diaper bag with all of Mr.'s starting items we will need during our stay and for our drive home:

1. Two outfits, I am bringing a sleeper and a gown

2. Mittens, socks, and a hat

3. receiving blankets and burp clothes

4. Toiletries of your choice (and wet wipes if you do not prefer the ones that the hospital supplies)

5. First aid kit, just in case someone is born with long nails :)

And you can't forget your partners... since they probably won't be thinking about packing until it's time to leave:

1. My husband is packing a fold out cot for himself along with blankets and pillows from home

2. Slippers and two changes of clothes (air on the side of comfort)

3. Toiletries

4. A new daddy gift (my version of a push present for daddy)

5. Moscato... okay that is more for me, but it's going in his bag

Happy packing fellow mama's to be!

Maxi Dresses have been a lifesaver these days!!

27 weeks + 3 days.... not that I'm counting.

I am officially in my third trimester, and I am feeling all sorts of wonderful swollen-ness, exhaustion, and hunger these days. 

The heat makes me forget to eat, and then the dizziness and kicking always remind me to stuff my face... food has been my vice... and my passion as of late.

I try to find outfits that don't make me feel huge but we are to the point where everything is making me feel huge... it really hasn't been that fun. I keep telling myself 13 more weeks... 13 more weeks (or less if I'm lucky) and then I will be back on track to my pre-pre-baby weight. 

I am still trying to maintain my workouts, and even if I don't have the endurance like I used too, I try to get something in 5 times a week. 

Right now I am trying to curb my cravings with Special K pastry crisps and Fiber One lemon bars... It's working... for the moment.

It has been hitting me a lot more lately how soon this all is going to happen... I am excited and shocked all at the same time. This week I am working on my hospital bag... because of my blood pressure mr. man could be here anytime after August 15th.... (less than 9 weeks away now) and that is crazy to me! 

I'll be sharing my 'must haves' for my hospital bag (c-section version) later this month with all of you. 

Now that I have my bags out... It's just a matter of packing. Which in my sleepy state these days, is easier said than done!

Workout clothes are officially my best friends in this last wonderful trimester... I have a feeling that will probably be my wardrobe for the next few weeks, and in no way am I upset about it.

Hope you guys are having a great Monday, it's nap time for me!

27.

I am stuffing my face with a chocolate sour cream cake filled with chocolate mousse covered in chocolate ganache. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it. Why am I doing this, you may ask?

I'm turning 27 tomorrow, I will also be 27 weeks pregnant and officially in my third trimester. So, I deserve the cake. The cake deserves me. The fact that it made me swell up so much I had to take my bra off to finish it means nothing to me at this time.

Pregnancy.... it's a lot of kicks.

Man this cake is good.

Things I've learned over my second trimester now that it finally is coming to a close:

1. Sodium is not my friend, but I have an unhealthy love for it all the same.

2. Sometimes getting dressed is just too much work.

3. I'm pretty much a super hero.... and I should get way more high fives than I have been getting....

4. The belly band is a sufficating life saver... you must choose: back relief without the ability to breathe or a low belly and back pain....

5. If you aren't nice to me during my pregnancy... you don't get to hold my baby... I don't care who you are.

6. Pregnancy is magical and all that crap but I swear I may cry the first night I don't feel something kicking me at night, even if it is only for an hour.

7. I love bikinis though it may be unsightly for those around me, it's the only thing that doesn't constrict me.... hence the kiddy pool I just bought. No one needs to see this in all it's glory.

8. After my first trimester the emotions have subsided. Thank God. Wanting to cry all the time was a little much. Now I just cry when people hurt my feelings or call me thick. Both logical things to cry about.

9. I have lost my passion... for shopping. It's really devistating (not for my husband, I'm sure) but my growing waste line has really limited my joy for clothes these days. I keep trying to remind myself I only have 13 weeks till I can start enjoying it again... but it seems so long from now!

10. Finally, I can't tie my shoes anymore without sitting down first. I am almost 27 and I can't bend over. I am now going finish this cake... because I can.

Yesterday was a better day food wise... tomorrow will be too. Some days you just need to embrace the bump... and indulge.

Enjoying out Summer Break so far :)

23 Weeks Pregnant.

I'll be 6 months this Friday and I really can't believe how fast it has gone... It obviously hasn't been easy but I am so excited I'm over halfway done. I cannot wait to meet our little man! 

We have been planning our Summer and I can't wait to get started. Here is my 23 week update:

23 Weeks:

How far along am I: 23 weeks

Gender: Boy

Weight Gain: Two Pounds

What I'm wearing: Officially wore my last pair of jeans last Friday

Stretch Marks: None 

Belly Button, in or out: In, partly

Sleep: Horrible, but with my mountain of strategic pillows I am managing

Missing Something? I am missing the feeling of not being kicked constantly

Movement: Nonstop, the ultrasound tech said she had never seen such an active baby

Cravings: Change every two seconds

Sick? No

Looking Forward To: Sitting up without help... in four months :)

Favorites Last Week: Spending time with my family this weekend

 

We are all so excited about this journey, and we are even more excited about meeting our new addition! 

Happy Monday!

The Truth About Pregnancy after 25: The First Trimester

I LOVE the fact that in a few short (long) months I will be able to hold a new bundle of joy, someone that is part me and 100 % awesome. But the process of getting them here is not the easiest at this point in my life. I really feel like the game changes in pregnancy after you hit that 25 year old mark (or older in my case). Youth gives you the ability to bounce back in ways that it never will again after 25. Even if you aren't pregnant, let's be honest.

I am rounding the end of my first trimester this week and getting ready to enter my second trimester.... exciting stuff, but I thought I would share my tidbit on what happens to your body in the first trimester after 25:

1. Cellulite. Sorry you didn't have it before.... now you have it everywhere... didn't think you could get it in your pit? Your face? Your elbow? Surprise!

2. Back pain. Partly you feel this shooting pain because your body is punishing you... and partly it's because your boobs will become the size of a small aircraft carrier and they will weigh twice that. Trust me... I weighed them.

3. Wanna poop? Not going to happen. Sorry. It's just not. You will see your next normal bowel movement in 9 months.

4. Your hair. It's going to change. And not in a pretty, luscious way... in a kinky, falling out sort of a way. Super special.

5. Shut Eye. You start sleeping around. Not in slutty way. In a 'I'm so exhausted, I just walked from the bed to couch I think I'll just sit on the couch for a......" And you fall asleep sitting up... for two hours. Exhausted.

6. Bloat. Everything on you swells. My toes look like little sausages. My face looks like a swollen china doll. I look like I have a beer gut. It's just all sorts of sexy. Thank goodness for tenting clothes.

7. Food. You think about it. You have to have it. Every meal, every snack, is a constant battle between cravings and logic. Cravings win, just warning you.

8. Annoyances. Everyone will annoy you. Keep it inside. Trust me. In ten minutes you'll love them again... unless it's someone you didn't like to start out with.... then let it fly. Later you can blame it on hormones.

9. Everyone will eventually give you advice. Ignore it. Especially if this isn't your first and every time someone does, mark it in a note book. In 9 months count it up and have a HUGE glass of wine for each one of those times you wished you could drink.... and couldn't.

10. Reminder. Every week in your first trimester is a nagging reminder you have at least 27 more weeks of this... and you are ONLY at the beginning. This is what meditation is for. If you are smart you'll start meditating a lot. Trust me. Do it. For your sake and the babies.... And remember, this is the only time in life you can force people to be nice to you and do stuff for you with no reasoning except for the fact that your fat. And you don't want to do anything.

Happy Tuesday (and pregnancy.... if you're knocked up too!)

PS. Look! I have a little baby arm muscle! Yeah!