37 Weeks

I've been on maternity leave for the past week! It hasn't hit me yet that I will be out until May! I feel like I'll be going back to work in a week and it's just a vacation. I've been enjoying my time but I have to admit I get bored easily at home. Especially when I've done most baby preparing after I get off work. Can never be too prepared! We've been to the movies a few times and doing things here and there around the house. Nesting! I swept and mopped our room. We have 2 dogs at home and my patients with them is getting shorter and shorter. Could be because I'm with them more or because my hormones. Maybe both. But I'm worried about the constant barking at each other and at the window! I hope Violet can sleep through that! 

 I am trying not to go too far from home because at this point, anything could happen. My farthest drives now are my doctor's appointments every week and that is probably a 25-30 minute drive.

What I made my first morning off. :) 2 ingredient pancakes. 

Hormones, Symptoms, Cravings?

I am getting to the point where I am annoyed with people asking me the same questions. My last week at work, I avoided a whole area in my department just so I didn't have to answer questions. Some with comments like "Wow you're big!" or "You're about to pop any moment!" and my personal fav, " Are you sure you're not having twins?" I think I heard that one once but that one's never nice to say to a pregnant woman. Also followed by "when are you do?, What are you having? Do you have a name?" Friends just ask how I'm feeling and that's nice. I want to get out of the house, but don't want to answer questions, but I do anyway LOL. The good thing though is that people are nicer or smile at you in a certain way when they look at your belly.

 It is definitely getting harder to get out of bed and I know I've said that a lot but it does. My feet and hands got a little more swollen. When your hands are swollen they hurt. It feels like when you just wake up, and your hands are weak. That's how it feels all day. Now when I wake up, it's hard to even make a fist because it hurts at first. I don't wear my wedding ring right now so I replaced it with a ring that was too big.  I still can sleep through the night but wake up only 1 or 2 times to go to the bathroom. Sleeping on one side for a long time hurts so I have to switch sides... Now that I mention it, I guess I don't sleep through the night LOL. But I don't feel like I didn't get any rest. My belly has dropped and when I sit, I can feel my stomach touch my thighs. I don't like to sit too long either because that will start to hurt. I know I'm suppose to take it easy but when I sit or clean or lay for too long it get's sore! So I've been stretching a lot more. Oh yeah, I have stretch marks! Aaah!! Right by my belly button (that is flat by the way). But all in all it is worth it for this little blessing. 

Ultrasound at 37 weeks.

I thought I would get myself another pedicure before Violet's arrival since I can't really reach my feet and won't have the time to do that for a while. 

Pampering is nice ALL the time.

   

Cravings? I still LOVE pineapple and bought 2 of them since I went through it really fast. Also I still want Cinnabon. So I got the Pillsbury store one to satisfy my craving. 

Mmmm.. Pineapple

 

Oliver has been good through all of this. He makes sure I am happy and I have what I want. He has forgotten a few times to pick up something I was craving but I won't let that bug me too much LOL. He's been very helpful and I can't wait for his maternity leave at work to start so we can spend more time together especially with help and his time to bond with our baby. <3

36 Weeks

I finally met my OBGYN this week. He was very informative and nice but he was fast. He said the baby is about 6-7 pounds. OMG that seems huge to me! Is that normal at 36 weeks? Also the heart beat is still good. He also told me at 37 weeks I will be full term which means I could give birth next week if the baby wants to come out! I'm hoping she bakes a little longer! My hands and feet are still swollen and I'm sure they will be or get even more swollen until birth. I do try to avoid a certain area at work in our department because I just don't feel like answering questions. Only a few pants fit me right now and I wish I had more leggings. I am starting to wear more maxi skirts.

Swollen feet and a little bit of "kankle"?

 

 



Oliver told me while I was sleeping, (we spoon and he holds my stomach.) I was snoring and Violet was dancing. Hehe! That just tickled me. I was thinking maybe she thinks my snoring is music OR my snoring is keeping her up! I'm starting to get deeper compelling feelings, just thinking about meeting our daughter. We're so excited to hold her!

Cravings? Hmm.. Probably Cinnabon. I usually have one of those once a year and it is shared! But they are soooo delicious! And red vines. I also want to go to a tea house and have traditional tea LOL.

It feels like it's been forever since we didn't have any plans during the weekend and it felt weird but we were looking forward to a weekend like that. Our plan was to get everything organized for baby's arrival. So we finally took all our diapers and gifts that was taking over the dining room into the garage. I only have 2 days left of work and I'm off on maternity leave! Now it is just the waiting game. I still cannot believe it has come this soon!

I am actually finishing this blog up on my last day of work! My maternity leave starts Jan. 21st. and won't be back to work until May. I think people are more excited for me because when they ask me if I'm excited about being off, I don't feel like it and I think that's because it hasn't hit me yet. I am looking forward to the time off but I feel very calm which I'm glad I feel like that! I think a part of me is just a little worried about work but I can't let that bother me and it seems like things will be under control. I think I'm just a control freak over my stuff LOL. But meeting Violet definitely makes me excited. I'm not even really that worried about labor. I just feel like things could go smoothly as it possibly can with out knowing when it will come and I feel very blessed for that. Now it's just waiting!

35 Weeks & Yes... Another Wedding!

I can't believe the time is going by so quickly. I only have about 4 weeks to go. I still remember when I was updating my first trimester morning sickness!

So I figured out when I'll be on maternity leave and that is January 21st and coming back probably May 1st. I will be 37 weeks then. Oliver is trying to take 2 months off and that will be great for both of us to bond with Violet.

I know you can never be all prepared for a baby arriving but I am trying to prepare as much as I can. I washed her clothes and her blankets and put them away. Now I'm on to bottles and even organizing her diaper bag. Also finishing up my hospital bag.

Symptoms? I think my feet are starting to swell up a little bit because my sandals are starting to feel a little more snug than usual. My hands to! Looks like I'll have to take my ring off soon! I only felt that acid reflux a few times but not right now. I don't have trouble sleeping which is good but getting up from bed is getting harder. If I sit for too long my body starts to ache so I need to get up from my desk at work to walk around.

Cravings? Fruit. Especially pineapple. No wonder I've been going to Jamba Juice often. I never bought snack packs of mixed fruit just for myself to snack on but I bought this a few times and it just tasted heavenly to me and I make sure there is pineapple in it. We even went to the store to buy pineapple and I don't do that. I love meals that are light and refreshing or filling and light especially for lunch. Dinner? That's a different story LOL.

                                             Day 1                                                          Day 2

              

 Day 3
Made my own

Saturday was our friend Jeff and Dana's wedding. Jeff was actually there when Oliver and I danced with each other when we first met. I was dancing with him and Oliver told him he wanted to dance with me. So he was there when everything started! We didn't make it to the ceremony but made it to the reception which was actually in an art gallery. Very modern and different but it looked very nice.

You know how people tap their drinking glasses so the bride and groom will kiss? Well they did it different this time. The game was, when ever people did that, the DJ would pull couple names from a hat and that couple had to go in front of everyone to kiss and the bride and groom had to copy! Lucky us.. we got picked. I knew it would happen. Sorry no pictures of that!

Congrats to Jeff and Dana!

Reception at Chuck Jones Center of Creativity in Costa Mesa

 Handsome husband

 Next day, I got to spend time with a few of my best gals! It was so nice and I was spoiled! Did not expect that! I was supposed to go to my friend Dianne's to pick up a bassinet and it turned out to be a group thing minus Oliver since he had to work. I wanted to check out a popular Chinese restaurant so we all went. I was treated to that and ice cream and later went back to Dianne's place and she gave me a baby shower gift and a cute bassinet. Which I'm thankful for because guess what? Crib is STILL not here! I cannot believe it is taking this long! I'm almost convinced it got lost and am tempted to just get a new one.
But this was a great day. Got to spend time with my best friends and their kids. Dianne and her husband just got back from Ireland so it's nice to spend time with them again and their beautiful baby Isabella. 

We came for the chicken obviously haha!

Ice cream at Hammond's. The sampler.

 

How cute is this bassinet? 

 

34 Weeks, New Year, Birthday & Our Baby Shower.

 

 

Like my previous blog, happy new year again! 2014 has been such a great year and we have done so much! Extra special also because of our little squishy popped into our lives. I actually didn't want 2015 to come yet because I wanted to cherish the time and because of being prepared for Violet.

I had my first doctor's appointment with our new health provider the day after new years. I was looking forward to this because I needed things to be set with a new OB/GYN and knowing my next step. It's not easy not knowing where you'll deliver or who will deliver and not being set when you are far a long in your pregnancy. We met our primary doctor and we like him! He made us feel very comfortable and was very informative. We had to go through him to get a referral for an OB and turns out I can deliver where I originally wanted to deliver when I was with my other insurance company. So that made me feel better.

 

I called the OB office I was referred to instead of waiting for them to call me. Not wasting time! Luckily I got an appointment the next day. I didn't see my OB because they weren't available until the next week but I had to see a nurse practitioner and they want to start seeing me every week since I'm far a long. Everything went well. I got to pre-register at the hospital and they said I could leave when ever I wanted for maternity leave. That's the part I'm stuck on right now! Should I leave early? Should I leave later? I'll have to decide soon!

 

Symptoms? I think I have acid reflux and totally forgot to mention to my doctor. It's not really bad but I definitely feel something in my throat. I have gagged a few times like I wanted to throw up but haven't. Not that again! Cravings? Jamba Juice. I actually prefer this more over Starbucks right now. I went to Jamba Juice 3 times this past week.

 

Frozen Birthday

My good friend's daughter Khloe turned 3. I still remember when she was born! But she is such a pretty little girl. She had a Frozen themed birthday and it was so cute I had to share.

 

 

Birthday Girl!

 

Proud Parents

 

   We had a family get together afterwards but didn't get pictures of those! It was with my step dad's family at his moms house with the Norwegian dinner. :)

 

Our Baby Shower

 

 

The next day was our baby shower. Ginger organized it and some of my good friends helped with decorations and favors. I really got to hand it to the girls who helped put this all together. They did such a great job! We had it at a clubhouse because our parent's house would have been too small since we were combining our friends and family. But it was perfect. Everyone seemed to have fun and so did we. We loved it and it turned out better than I thought it would. Thank you so much girls!

 

The Clubhouse (Still has a Christmas Tree)

 

 All for Violet

 

 Mom and Step Dad. Grandparents to be!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33 Weeks & A Merry Christmas

First off let me start by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR! If you haven't noticed already, my weekly updates are 1 week behind so I can cover everything for that week. Today is New Years and can't believe 2015 is here! 2014 was a great year. I'll post more about that next week hehe. 

I have to admit, as the weeks get closer to Violet arriving, I am more worried than excited. I worry if we'll be prepared enough, is she OK? Will she come before my health insurance takes effect? I need to pre register to a hospital! What if she comes and I'm not registered anywhere? How will I know when I'm in labor? Who will be around to take me to the hospital? Work! Will my maternity leave be filed OK? Will people at work be OK with out me? etc. So you can see my worries. My grandpa is sending my old crib that I used when I was a baby and that's not even here yet. So I don't feel very prepared. I just pray and hope everything falls into place before Violet decides to arrive. I may be worried more than excited. Of course I'm excited to meet our little squishy, I just want things to be set.

What I have to keep telling myself though, is how blessed I am to not have any complications with this pregnancy and enjoying it. Also and especially that she is healthy. That is the most important thing to me.

I can't say I had any bad symptoms. No swollen feet yet! No stretch marks that I can see. I can't wait until I can sleep on my back again. If I stay on one side for too long it starts to get sore so I have to switch sides. Not just role over. Sit up and then switch sides. I always grunt to LOL.When ever I get into the car and getting out and getting comfy in bed. My lower back starts to hurt if I push myself too much like doing chores around the house. I need to take it easy.

Christmas

 

Christmas Eve was nice. We celebrated with family friends. They came over that night and we all had dinner and opened presents. All of them! The only thing I wish we did differently was open one and leave the rest for the morning. Something to look forward to. So Christmas morning wasn't how I usually celebrated and I was a little disappointed LOL. But at least we had a great Christmas Eve! I noticed a lot of Filipino customs wait until midnight on Christmas Eve and do everything. I grew up opening one present and had get together's. The next day we'd wake up in the morning, and open the rest. Something to look forward to. When Violet is here, that's how we're doing it. Christmas will be a lot more special when she's here.

Oliver had to work Christmas day and we all stayed in our PJ's all day.

Christmas Eve

Thank you Aunt Brenda for the Edible Arrangements!

 Even the dogs got presents.

What else did we do this week? We visited friends to do our own Christmas gift exchange and I decided to pamper my feet. It's been a while since I got my toes done. Thank you Michelle for the free pedicure!

Purple for Violet