::Baby G:: One Year Ago...

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Today is a very special day to me and my husband. A year ago today I woke up nervous and excited. A year ago today was the first day we could know if “this month was it”. We would find out if all of our planning, thoughts, prayers, excitement, and trying worked or if it would be another “maybe next month”. We tried for a little over six months to get pregnant. During that time, there were months that I thought that it definitely wasn't going to be THE month but then there were months were I was certain we were pregnant, I just felt different. Every month when the time would come around I would pray---I prayed for this month to be it, I prayed for our unborn baby, and I prayed that if it wasn't the case that I be okay with it.

The worse month was January of last year. It was one of those months that I just knew. I was sure! I woke up on the day and took another test, sure that the test I took the day before was a false negative taken too soon. I had had a horrible day at work the day before, I was stressed and irritable and I needed this. Looking back I put way too much importance on that test, maybe I wasn't ready. I took the test and not only was it negative, my period started before I left the house---definitely a negative for the month! I was upset. Realistically I knew it wasn't the end of the world but in that moment, I was extremely bummed out. I got in my car to head to work, pulled out of our parking garage (crying of course) and I hit a car that was pulling into our building. I was looking but I didn't even see her. I couldn't hold any more in, I just started crying. This woman was what I needed at that moment. She looked at her car, then looked up at me and said “It’s ok, there are worse things in the world” and she gave me the biggest hug. It was exactly what I needed. Before she walked away she said “Whatever it is, things will get better. They always do”. While I was still upset after this, she made me feel so much better. Whoever she was I am grateful to have run into her at the perfect time in my life.


After that moment, I tried not putting so much pressure on myself as I knew it would happen when it was meant to happen, I had little control over it. A year ago today my life was forever changed. I’ll never forget being on the floor of my bathroom looking at that test, I’ll never forget the huge hug from my husband, and I’ll never forget the big smile on his face when we realized we are starting a family! What a year!

Mere :-)

::Henley:: What I'm Loving!

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One of our friends is pregnant and when I was pregnant, I got some really great advice and tips from some friends that are new moms. I thought I'd pass this gift along to her because I remember being so overwhelmed and their advice helped me so much.

Since there are tons of prego's out there right now, I thought I'd just share what I sent to her in case any of you are looking for suggestions too!

My Favorites and Tips & Tricks:

Rock n' Play: This is a sleeper that you can move around the house. Up until this week, Henley wouldn't sleep anywhere but here. It's at an incline so she loved it if she had any gas or reflux. She hates being flat on her back so this helps immensely. Plus I can move it all around the house and it fits perfectly by my bed.

Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets: These are bigger than receiving blankets so she doesn't kick her feet out of them and they are made from a really light material, muslin I think, so its not too hot or suffocating which will be nice when it gets hotter. Target sells some that are just Aden and they are the same material (which is great) but they are a smidge smaller, just fyi.

Snuza: This is a baby breathing monitor that clips on their diaper and beeps if they stop breathing. This is a good thing for peace of mind with SIDS. I got it as a gift, not sure if Babies r us sells it. There is also a monitor like this that lays under the crib mattress call the Angle Care. This one has a receiver and beeps if it doesn't sense movement. I like the Snuza better since she can have it clipped on her diaper in the pack n' play, the rock n' play, or even in bed with us. (I never thought I'd be one to sleep with her but sometimes if she'll sleep with me but no where else, I'll take it).

Lily Pads: If you are breastfeeding, these are great. Instead of using pads that catch whatever you leak, these prevent leaking. I haven't worn mine out yet but they are really comfortable and my friend loves them.

Wubbanub Pacifier: Search this on Amazon, there are tons of different animals. At first when I gave her a paci, she would spit it out and it would fall down in her seat or fall away from her. With this, if she spits out the paci, it stays right near her and she is able to get it back in her mouth most of the time, plus it's SO adorable!

All of the Aveeno baby stuff is amazing (lotion and bath washes). Desitin diaper rash medicine works great but it smells like fish (there is cod liver oil in it). Since I discovered that, we have been using Burt Bee's as a barrier cream when she has diaper rash since it has zinc oxide in it. For everyday use, we have been using Earth Mama Angle Baby Bottom Balm and I absolutely love it, plus it's cloth diaper friends---bonus!

Puj Tub: This is nice because it's made from a soft material and it stores flat, unlike most tubs. I really love this one. Fits perfectly in my sink and she loves it.

When you register for a swing, make sure it has a plug and not just batteries.

Buy Gripe Water and Gas Drops: The minute she gets hiccups we give her a little Gripe Water (way less than the package recommends for a dosage) and they stop immediately. She gets them a lot and they wake her up---no good! Also the gas drops are pretty quick at calming her if she's having tummy troubles.

Wipe Warmer: Some say this is a complete waste but if we use cold wipes on her in the middle of the night she wakes right up, the warmer we use is for cloth wipes but the same company has one for normal disposable wipes also. Love this.

We have the Skip Hop Bento diaper bag and really love it. There are tons of great bags out there, this is just a side note.

For carriers, I got the Moby Wrap which has tons of great reviews. When I get it wrapped correctly, she loves it but its difficult to wrap and takes a while. By the time she was fussing and I got it wrapped, she was in full on screaming mode. Plus I wasn't confident I could wrap it well enough to keep her safe. I just ordered the Moby Go which is brand new and their version of the Bjorn, not sure how it is just yet. We got the Bjorn as a hand-me-down from a friend but it places all of the weight on your shoulder and starts hurting your back after a while, plus I've heard it can cause hip displaysia in the babies since their legs hang, their legs should be supported all of the way to the knees. I've had a bunch of my friends really love the Ergo Carrier and it can be used from birth (with an infant insert) to like 45 lbs.

Lanolin: Get this, get a few of these! I had no idea that when I breastfed, even if she has the best latch ever, that my nipples would hurt. They hurt SO bad for 2 weeks that I dreaded feeding her and this lanolin was the best stuff. I put it on after every time she nursed and it helped heal any cracks or pains. I'm telling you this because I was blindsided lol. I always heard it shouldn't hurt if you are doing it right----not! :-)

We have the Baby Jogger City Micro (Target's version of the City Mini) and we really love it. We ordered the car seat adapter for it and our Maxi Cosi Mico Car Seat fits perfectly.

Of course get a boppy pillow, this frees up your hands while nursing and she lays on it on the couch next to me sometimes.

Make sure to get a play gym for the floor. At about 4 weeks she started doing tummy time and really loving it, plus it gives you are moment to breathe and not hold her continuously.

Baby Bargains is a great reference for checking safety ratings of the big purchases. Also don't read What to Expect---they use scare tactics. One of the best resources for me was thebump.com. They have message boards by month of your due date so everyone on there is going through the same things. I still go on there for questions for her now that she's here. I highly recommend that.

These are just my thoughts and opinions and things I have learned in the short six weeks of being a mom. I'm sure I'll look back at these soon and have learned new and better things that work but for now this is what I love.

Any of you agree or disagree? Anything to add? Thanks for stopping by!!

Mere :-)

::Pregnancy:: What Do I Miss?

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It's been 6 weeks since Henley came into our world, early and unexpected. While the time with her has flown by and it doesn't feel like it's already been six weeks, it feels like I was pregnant months ago. All of the discomforts (or physiological discomforts of pregnancy as my doctor called them) and nuisances of being pregnant are a long, lost memory.

The other day as I was soaking in the bath shaving my legs, it occurred to me that not too long ago I was totally winded and sweating after shaving one leg. Oh how quickly we forget! I thought it would be interesting to do a post of things I miss (and don't miss) about being pregnant. It's true that by the end, I was uncomfortable and so excited to meet Henley that I was ready for it all to be over but there are a few things I miss.

I have to say one of the best things about being pregnant is being comfortable with the overall appearance of my body. I wouldn't say I have body confidence issues but like most women, pre-pregnancy I was self conscious about this bump or that bulge and I may or may not have photoshopped a beach photo here or there before posting (shameful I know!). With the pregnancy however, the bigger the better! There's no need to suck it in or look thin. Everyone expects you to gain weight and get bigger. I really loved tracking my bump and wearing form fitting clothes that showed off the bump. 

Now that she is here, I already am finding myself worrying about getting rid of the baby weight and planning my workouts once I get clearance from the doctor (hopefully tomorrow!). I wear clothes that hide my mid-section and I am constantly plastering on as much stretch mark cream as possible to help minimize and fade these marks. (For those that following my pregnancy, you know I didn't get many stretch marks however, it turns out that breast feeding was the little gem that would create all of my stretch marks---well that and the fact that I had some under my belly but I obviously had no idea until about two weeks post-partum.)

Something I obviously miss is Henley being inside of me. Her bumps and wiggles, no matter how uncomfortable, were simply amazing. I loved trying to figure out what she was doing and how she was positioned. I loved dreaming of what she would look like and how she would act. Wondering would she have Teddy's passion for life? My creativity? Would she be tall or short? Have blue eyes or hazel eyes? The ambiguity of everything was amazing! On the flip side obviously, it's the best thing in the world having her here. Seeing her and getting to know her is awesome. She is changing every day, just like she was when she was inside, and I love that and I love learning about her and how to take care of her.

Lastly I miss maternity clothes. I miss the comfort of the elastic bands and I miss maternity leggings (best purchase ever). I also bought some really cute maternity clothes and I'm bummed I won't get to wear these again (or at least for a while!) All of these got packed up yesterday, hopefully I'll be blessed and get to wear them again someday.

Now onto things I don't miss---these are going to be shorter and more to the point as they are pretty obvious.

  • Not being able to paint my toes, shave my legs, pee into a cup without peeing on my hands
  • Bumping my stomach into the grocery cart, my desk at work, the sliding glass doors (since I never opened them wide enough)
  • HEARTBURN! I do not miss this at all. I should let you all know that I had heartburn the whole.entire.time. I had it from the first trimester all of the way to while I was actually pushing. That's right---I had heartburn while I was actually pushing her out!
  • Not being able to have caffeine, sushi, lunch meat, Excedrin
  • Not being able to run long distances and outside
  • Not being able to hug my husband comfortably! (I have been loving the ability to hug Teddy lately!)

Having Henley has been the most exciting, scary, rewarding, and amazing thing I have ever done. I am in awe at what the human body is capable of. I'm so thankful everything went well and we are all healthy and doing great. I'm grateful for friends and family that have been so great about checking in on us, bringing us yummy food, and just being there when I needed a nap, especially in the beginning when I was too stubborn to call for help. I feel I am back to normal and into a solid routine with her which is exciting. 

I'm excited to see where this journey takes us and at the same time, I just want her to stay this little forever. I am already noticing changes in her, she's growing so fast!

Happy Monday, have a great week!!

Mere :-)

::Henley:: Birth Story

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It's been a little over a week and I have been dying to write how Henley joined our world before I forgot any of the details, no matter how small. Over the last nine months, I have read birth story after birth story of different labors and to be honest, most of them sounded pretty traumatic and were intimidating. I feel I heard way more negative stories than positive ones so I hope my story gives someone a little light at the end of the tunnel and some faith that all births aren't so bad.

Looking back now I think my labor started around 4am on December 18th. As typical of a nine month pregnant woman, I was going to the restroom almost hourly overnight. When I went to the bathroom at 4am, I felt some pressure down below but didn't really think much about it and I definitely didn't think enough to turn on the light to check out the situation  I had the same feeling around 5am, just slightly more intense. I turned the light on and noticed  some blood when I wiped. I had heard this may happen towards the end of the pregnancy but that it's not a definite on the time frame, could mean one day or 3 weeks.

By the time I was awake and up and moving around I had slight period cramps which I assumed were Braxton Hicks contractions. I hadn't felt any of these before so I wasn't totally sure but I promised Teddy I would call the doctor's office as soon as they opened just to make sure. Around 8:30, I called the on-call nurse and she said since they were so mild, they were probably just Braxton Hicks and to continue to monitor them and if they got more intense or came with blood to call back.

Lately at work I have been bombarded with meetings trying to catch everyone up to speed on what's been going on and just trying to get things in a good spot before maternity leave. Tuesday was no exception. I started out the day with my weekly meeting with my team to catch up on anything that is going on. We mostly spent this time making sure all was in line. I had a few other meetings including one in a different building. As we were driving the golf cart to that meeting, I felt the contractions were getting stronger and stronger. After we got back from that meeting, I had about 30 minutes before the next meeting so I decided to start timing them. (I used an app called Sprout--I loved this app and highly recommend it throughout the pregnancy) At this point the contractions were 30-45 seconds long and about 9 minutes apart. I still wasn't convinced this was labor.

My 10am "meeting" actually turned out to be a surprise baby shower thrown by the Finance department for myself and two others that are due in January (perfect timing eh?). During this time, the contractions were getting more and more intense. Someone actually asked how I was feeling and I responded that I may be having contractions right now :-)



During lunch the contractions got worse and after lunch I actually had to stand through the contractions because they were so uncomfortable. Up until this point, they felt mostly like period cramps but around noon they shifted to my back and were pretty painful. At around 2:00pm, Ted told me to email him the contractions I had been logging on the app so I sent them over. He immediately called me back and told me to call the nurse. (I should note he had been telling me to call the nurse since about 11:30 but I didn't think things were that intense just yet). My contractions were still 30-45 seconds long but were every 5-6 minutes apart.

I called the nurse and told her the frequency of the contractions. She said she was going to talk to my doctor and get back with me to let me know if I should come into the office or if I should go to OB triage at the hospital. She called me back almost immediately to let me know Dr. J wanted me to come to the office asap. To say a little panic ensued is an understatement. I still had a meeting at 3 that I was to lead to transition something to my team and I had a sticky note of to-do's. In the 15 minutes after I got off of the phone, I was running around bringing my team up to speed on the meeting and the to-do lists. 

Finally I was on the way to the doctor. I checked in and sat in the waiting room for a good 20 minutes, contracting the whole time. I finally got back to see Dr. J and after a quick check he said "Yep you're in labor, 4 cm. I'll meet you at the hospital in a few minutes to break your water and then we are going to have a baby!"

If I thought I was nervous before when he told me to come into the office, I had no idea the flood of emotion that was to come. It was so overwhelming to think that my little girl was finally on her way but at the same time there were so many emotions that I could not comprehend. Would it be a fast or slow labor? Could I handle the pain? Will she be healthy? I didn't have much time to think about these things thankfully but these thoughts definitely crossed my mind.

At this point, I had not yet told any of my family that I was even having contractions, (I didn't want anyone to get their hopes up) so in the short two minute ride to the hospital (and five wrong turns later) we called and texted everyone that Baby Henley was coming soon.

We arrived at the hospital at 4:30pm. We were admitted and checked-in, hospital gown on, and all vitals checked and ready to go.


Dr. J came in around 5:00pm to check on my progress and to break my water, I was 5cm. He proceeded to break my water which felt totally weird by the way! It was the strangest feeling ever. He wanted me up and walking around the labor floor to get things moving along. Once my water broke, the contractions were very intense and I couldn't continue to walk through them any longer. I had to stop walking, hold the rail on the wall and clench onto Teddy to work through them. After one walk around the floor, I decided to move around our room instead and just try to labor in the room as best I could. I tried to sit on the birthing ball but squishing my stomach was very painful. 

At around 6:30pm, the nurse came back in to check on me. I told her I needed something for the pain. The contractions were so painful that I could no longer concentrate to breathe or count through them. I had been doing pretty well with counting through them but it was getting to be too much. Mentally I told myself that if I were only 6 cm dilated at this point, I would asked for the epidural but if I was any more, I would just get some pain medication that would take the edge off. With these meds, you can still feel everything and it's still pretty painful, just not debilitating. Good news---when they checked I was already 8cm!! 

Another check at 7:00pm showed I was 9.5cm and about ready to start pushing. The nurse said that sometimes the contractions feel better if you let yourself push through them and she was right. I started pushing lightly at this point and around 7:30, I was full on pushing. I personally liked pushing on my side way more than on my back, I felt like I could really make some progress in that position. I pushed on both sides for a little while before Dr. J came back in the room. He positioned me on my back and started getting suited up for Operation Baby Henley! She was on her way!

I pushed for about an hour, at 8:27pm Henley Nicole was born. It wasn't pain-free and it wasn't a "feel good" moment physically but I really feel blessed that I progressed so quickly. There were moments during the labor where I was crying and begging someone to just get her out! I was screaming at times and grunting at other times and there may have been some colorful language but I wouldn't trade any part of my experience for anything else in the world. I am thrilled I didn't need the epidural.

When she was born, she was alert and immediately placed on my chest for an hour of skin to skin contact and breastfeeding. She latched immediately and I got to see her awake and alert. She nursed for a full 30 minutes. I love that my hospital has the "Golden Hour" of skin to skin contact for baby and family to bond. I love that she was so willing to nurse right away and I think the Golden Hour really contributes to that bonding time.

My husband and I were there in awe of this little life. We made this little human and she is perfect!






I think that's everything---let's hope I didn't miss anything (unlikely, this post is massive!) :-)

Mere :-)

::Baby G:: Week 37 Full Term

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How far along? 37 weeks --- Full TERM!

Total weight gain/loss: 29 lbs --- as of last appointment. Heading to the doctor tomorrow.

Maternity clothes? Yep of course. They are getting to be uncomfortable. Can I just go without pants from now on?

Stretch marks? Just the same ones as always.

Symptoms: Heartburn is still out of control! Baby is sitting on my bladder most days, making me have to pee often. Just this week my feet have swelled and my tailbone has been sore. Really random symptoms.

Sleep: This is totally hit or miss --- two nights ago I slept wonderfully (Teddy even said I was snoring) but last night was terrible. I was up at least 6 times and everything hurt all night long.

Best moment this week: Cleaning out the closets! We finally made room for all of Henley's stuff and got the office closet cleaned out and packed up nicely. That was the last thing that was really bothering me that I wanted done prior to her arrival.

Have you told family and friends: Yep

Miss anything? Being comfortable still.

Movement: Henley loves the space to the right of my belly button. Her little butt and feet are there almost all day long and she even makes my belly a funny shape. I think she is going to be feisty because every time someone touches her she moves away--just like mom, doesn't like to be bothered.

Food cravings: Holiday anything---cookies, chocolate peppermint, cupcakes. I did some baking this week.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope, I've definitely been blessed in this area.

Have you started to show yet: Yes and that is a total understatement!

Gender: Girl, Henley Nicole!

Labor Signs: None. I haven't had any braxton hicks and I am a little nervous I won't know when labor actually starts.

Belly Button in or out? It's almost out---I think I am one sneeze away from an outtie.

 Wedding Rings On or Off? Off and on a chain on my necklace. They fit in the mornings but are way too snug for me to attempt to wear them all day long.

Happy or Moody: I'm happy the majority of the time but I have been pretty cranky when I am tired. Moments like these I just go to bed!

Exercise: Hubs and I have had tons of great walks downtown. They created this whole area around the river with fountains and benches for seating. It's so pretty and relaxing. We have been walking there and hanging out for a bit before walking back. I'll get some pictures next time we go. We went two nights in a row which I think was a bit too much since my feet were killing me the whole next day.

 Looking forward to: My doctor's appointment tomorrow. I am so curious if she has dropped or progressed at all. I am totally aware that even if I am dilated 1 cm that it doesn't necessarily mean anything but I'd still like to know.

 Tonight was the Christmas party for my husband's work so here is a picture we took there.

Have a great rest of the week!

Mere :-)

::Baby G:: A Little Shopping

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Yesterday at work I was just in a funk---I didn't sleep well the night before and I didn't really feel great so I decided on lunch to step out and walk around some shops just to get out of the office. I ended up at the Baby Gap, that place is the mecca of cuteness. I found some really great things and thought I'd share!

I got this outfit in a 0-3 size. I have quite a few 0-3 month sized clothing but I just want her to wear this as soon as possible! This hat is too cute for words and the little drawstring pants are so perfect---it even has pockets!


I also got this little mini jean skirt and striped onesie (I'm a sucker for stripes). I got this in a 3-6 months so come spring, she will be sporting this adorable little outfit!

The best part was everything was 30% off this weekend! Score!

I hope are having a great weekend---I got a facial and a prenatal massage and both were amazing! Enjoy the rest of it---they go so quickly!

Mere :-)

::Baby G:: Our bags are PACKED!

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The last "big thing" to check off of our Henley's Coming Checklist is complete! The diaper bag, labor bag, and hospital bag are all packed, excluding items that I will be using over the next few weeks that we will need to grab last minute.

As many of you know, I am Type A and love being organized. I have an Excel spreadsheet with all of the items I wanted to pack and used that as a guide while packing tonight. I pinned tons of various sites on Pinterest for suggested hospital bags but none were perfect for what I was thinking I'll need. The other day while slow at work, I went through them all and compiled my "perfect list" for the diaper bag, labor bag, postpartum bag, and the dad's bag based on what others had packed. I have it printed out and everything is not yet packed that I need to grab before we leave the house is highlighted, that way Teddy can grab these items in case I am not quite up to it.

Diaper bag first!



Maybe she will get a chance to wear these?!



Skip Hop Diaper Bag

I am packing for a two-day stay in the hospital since that seems to be the norm therefore I packed clothing for Henley for two days. Since I am not sure how big she will be (my family has healthy babies), I packed both newborn and 0-3. Here is what I packed:

2 - newborn sleepers (one sleep sack and one footie)
2 - newborn onesies or outfit
2 - 0-3 sized sleepers (one sleep sack and one footie)
2 - 0-3 sized onesies or outfit
3 - socks
3 - mittens
1 - receiving blanket
1 - swaddle blanket
2 - burp clothes
3 - hats
coconut oil
pacifiers
pacifier holder

When I was packing this bag the other day, I realized I had no newborn knit hats for her so the hubs and I went to Target last night and picked up a 5 pack from Gerber. There was a two pack of Christmas hats that were so adorable. I was telling Teddy how I wish we knew if she was going to be here at Christmas and he said, let's buy them just in case---they weren't pricey so why not. Depending on when I go into labor, these may be grabbed and put in the diaper bag too. :-)

We are planning to use coconut oil on Henley with the cloth diapers to moisturize and prevent diaper rash. In our Baby Care class, the nurse teaching it said how the first baby poop is like tar and sticks to the baby's bums (merconium it's called). She suggested bringing olive oil to prevent it from sticking and therefore avoiding the process of rubbing hard to get it off. I decided to bring coconut oil since we will be using that on her anyways.

We aren't planning to use pacifiers within the first month but we are packing them just in case we end up needing them. 

I didn't pack any diapers or wipes because we are planning to use cloth at home and actually have zero disposables at home. We will just use what the hospital provides while we are there and start the cloth when she gets home.

Lastly, if it's cold out, I may grab a thicker blanket for when we bring her home. 

Next up is my labor bag:



Bag all packed

What I packed for labor:
Robe - hopefully I'll be able to be up and moving around while laboring
iPhone
iPad - we are going to load a movie or two and some books on this just in case I have a long labor
Speakers and plug - I plan on listening to music
Headphones - for the music in case I want everything else tuned out
Camera charger
Camera (being used, not pictured)
Hair ties
Comb
Carmex Lip Balm
Gum
Throat Lozenges
Lotion
Massage ball
Socks
Notebook
Pen
Wallet - make sure ID and Insurance cards are in there
Cash - for the vending machine

Lastly, the postpartum bag:

Clothing I packed:
2 nursing tanks
Yoga pants
Tank top
2 sleep shirts
Panties
Socks
Flip flops for the shower


Toiletries and other things (I got minis and travel size for both the hubs and myself that way it can stay packed the next few weeks and we don't have to worry about forgetting anything last minute):

Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Deodorants
Shampoo and conditioners
Soap and container for the soap
Q-tips
Floss
Pain reliever
Lanolin cream
Contact solution
Spare pair of contacts
Glasses
Face wipes
Hand sanitizer
Prenatal vitamins
Colace
Tucks
Makeup bag with minimal makeup
Phone charger

I also packed a towel for us to share in the hospital. We bought black pillow cases for our pillows to use in the hospital to make them easily distinguishable from the hospitals. Hubs will add his flip flops and clothing change to this bag.

In addition to these bags, we will be bringing the car seat and the boppy.

Ok I think that's it! Bags are packed and ready to go. I have some things around the house that we need to clean up and organize over the next few days/weeks. It feels so great to have everything ready for her!

I hope you all enjoy the weekend, it's finally here!

Mere :-)

::Baby G:: Week 36

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How far along? 36 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 29 lbs --- yay for no weigh gain this week!

Maternity clothes? Yep of course. Shirts are getting a little too short thought :-\

Stretch marks? No new ones, just got a new bottle of Bio-Oil---going strong with that.

Symptoms: Ok so this week has been the hardest thus far. My heartburn is the same as always and the back pain is actually better but everything else hurts. I have shooting pains in a pelvic area, my belly feels so heavy and it's just getting harder to move around. My belly is actually rest on my lap now.

Sleep: Sleep is getting a little worse also---for the most part I get up 4-5 times a night. This isn't totally different from before but now it's just way harder and more painful to get out of bed. It's also hard to turn over without pain.

Best moment this week: Seeing our little girl on the ultrasound, learning that the placenta previa is totally cleared and everything looks great and healthy! Just need to grow and bake a little longer.

Have you told family and friends: Yep

Miss anything? Being comfortable and being able to reach my toes---oh and I miss the ability to get off of the couch quickly.

Movement: She is moving a ton still, kicking mama in the ribs but at least I know she is ok. She even kicks Teddy when we snuggle. I love it even if it it's getting a little uncomfy here and there.

Food cravings: Can't really think of any although I feel like I need something sweet often :-)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope, I've definitely been blessed in this area.

Have you started to show yet: Yes, especially considering the comments I have received this week consist of "are you having twins?", "you look like you have a basketball under your shirt", and "you look like you're ready to pop".

Gender: Girl, Henley Nicole!

Labor Signs: None.

Belly Button in or out? Not an outie yet but it's even more flat than before, did not think that was possible.
Wedding Rings On or Off? Off unfortunately :-( Boo!

Happy or Moody: Last week at work was rough and I was pretty crabby there but at home I think I did a good job of being in a good mood.

 Exercise: We have walked around downtown quite a bit! It's a great time to get some exercise in and to chat with hubs.

Looking forward to: Meeting Henley! It's getting close! I can't wait!!!

 Have a great week!

 Mere :-)