35 Weeks

Gender: Anxious Girl!

Movement: We've really felt her A LOT this week. She's making the most interesting "wave" feeling movements and loves to show me her feet and limbs in the morning. One morning her leg really protuded from my belly and felt her whole limb! I feel like she likes me playing with her feet that's why she keeps showing them to us! This morning I really felt an extreme amount of Braxton Hicks.

Sleep: I've graduated to waking up once during the middle of the night to go potty. Not too bad I think! She likes to wake me up around 5ish to start playing and poke her feet at me (which I don't mind!). We've been getting great sleep so no complaints in this department!

What I miss: The option to pick up and go to Vegas!

Cravings: nothing special this week!

Symptoms: Same pelvic pressure feeling, Braxton Hicks: tightening of the stomach and upper abdominal cramping. Back is feeling great! I had a dream of her last night that my stomach was translucent and I could see her with her eyes open and crying...BTW she was really cute!

Current Mood:  I'm feeling a little paranoid and ansy at every 'feeling' I get. I think the false alarm over the weekend is making me pay more attention to what's going on. I feel like we're "prepared" but feel like we're not. We still have a small laundry list to do before the hospital but it still stays on the list: like packing our hospital bags, washing her crib sheets, etc...I don't like the feeling of not knowing our plans and that at a drop of second we could be rushing to the hospital.

Random Updates: 

We have our childbirth class this Saturday and it makes me feel relieved that we'll be somewhat more prepped than last weekend. Work has been getting harder and harder to make it throughout the day. I only have 2 weeks left but am paranoid that I'll go into labor at work. I finally picked a person to take over and we have to go into overhaul mode of training and downloading him everything in my head in the next 2 weeks. It's getting harder for me to sit for such a long period of time...she has no more room in my belly! Add on Braxton Hicks and its just so uncomfortable!

My cousin found out she's having a boy so we're getting an awesome donation this weekend of clothes and toys!!! YAY! It's better than shopping...I feel the rush of being at Ross or Marshalls and finding cool different outfits...only you get to keep it all for FREE! Though the occassional super cute outfit at a store once in awhile won't hurt!

On Saturday was Maggie's 22nd Birthday and we had such amazing food (maybe that's why Savannah wanted to come out early...so she could experience all the food herself!) I brought over all my supplies for Savannah's flower headbands and of course Lola was super intrigued and interested. It's really sweet she has stopped calling Savannah "Our Baby" and has moved onto "Savi". Lola is such a character and comedic that she told us she wanted to be the model. So we stuck a headband on her and showered her with flowers...

She LOVED our craziness and mostly how everyone started taking pictures of her modeling the 20 flowers on her head! She wore it for a good half hour...what a silly Lola!

Savannah's (Almost) Early Appearance!

On Sunday morning Savannah all made us running like frantic crazy people! I woke up around 6 feeling something weird. I felt my bed and it was soaked! I immediate got up and saw the lower half of my bed drenched. My first thought was…Did Socks just pee? But the puddle was so huge I knew it was impossible. I then thought…Did I just pee? But when I took off all the sheets the fluids were clear and didn’t smell like urine. My heart was racing like crazy and I went to the bathroom and more clear fluid started leaking down my leg. I immediate called Neal…who was unfortunately in Lake Tahoe in his workshop. It was 6 in the morning and felt so bad waking him up but I was freaking out! I told him I thought my water broke…he immediately instructed me to call the doctor and of course my doctors office was closed and got rerouted to the on-call doctor. She told me to go to the hospital right away! I was terrified at this point…looking at Socks as if she was suppose to give me an answer!

Crazy enough I calmed myself down to drive myself to the hospital since I was in no pain. The whole car ride there I kept telling Neal, “It’s too early”, “I don’t even have a hospital bag”, “This isn’t how it was suppose to happen”, “I know it’s embarrassing but I really wish I just peed on myself!”, “We haven’t even done our childbirth classes” and my favorite “I DON’T EVEN HAVE A CAMERA!”

I finally made it to the hospital and was annoyed that the free Valet Service was closed on the weekends…I thought “WHAT? People don’t go into labor on the weekends???” I was so spazzed out that I told Neal…in case I forget with all this craziness happening I parked our car on level 3!!! LOL! That would be the last thing we needed this weekend was spending hours trying to find our car!

Grandpa Emery captured this ugly moment of me in bed :)

I got to the Labor and Delivery floor and everyone was super nice. They led me into a room immediately and it was huge! I got dressed in those ugly gowns and for the next few hours that room was my home. They hooked me up to a heart and contraction monitor and I was relieved to hear her sweet little heartbeat! By the time I was checked in Neal was at the airport already on his way! And 10 mins later Grandpa Emery showed up!!! I was so relieved to see a familiar face in such a big lonely hospital! He had to leave the room though after 20 mins so they could start doing examinations and tests. Her heartbeat was really high but it was due to all the excitement. I also felt my stomach getting REALLY hard and have never felt so much movement from her in the hours we were there! My parents finally made it…I’m actually surprised they made it cause my mom kept looking for the hospital named “HOG”! J

The nurses just kept monitoring us…her heart rate was still in the high 180-205 and I was having ‘contractions’ but the nurse called it ‘irritable contractions’. The first test came back negative and thankfully my water did not break. So that was good news, cause if it did we were having a baby that day! They then sent me down to get an ultrasound to really check out what was going on in there. The tech did her thing…I didn’t like her very much! I would ask her what it was she was looking for and it was like I was inconveniencing her. When I got back up to the room the nurse said that Savannah looked great, active and healthy and that I didn’t loose enough fluids for them to be concerned. I was relieved but still didn’t like that there was no definite answer to what happened that morning!

This is my favorite picture that Grandpa Emery took...I don't think he knew what it was but he was so excited about capturing the moments that he even took a picture of the speculum for the vaginal exam!!! hahahahaha it makes me laugh every time!

They kept me for another hour and at this time Neal was halfway home. He said during his layover the first thing he saw was a lady with a little girl and a stroller…was Savannah telling Daddy to hurry up? Hahah! After reviewing the monitors and tests they concluded that these things just happen sometimes and though I was having ‘irritable contractions’ I wasn’t in labor. So they sent me home! I looked at them like they were crazy cause by then I mentally prepared myself that I was going to give birth that day!

Our awesome view!

My mom and I went home while my dad picked up Neal at the airport. The first thing my mom did was wash all of Savannah’s clothes and our little mess on our bed and start cleaning the house! I was so relieved to see Neal come home! The rest of the day though my stomach was rock hard and felt a lot of cramping. Grandpa Emery and Grandma Sylvia came over and brought dinner. It was delicious and Savannah was loving all the food! Socks was in heaven cause she saw all her favorite people and to top it off…her Daddy was FINALLY home!

So as of now...I'm holding on real tight to her and am going to try to keep her inside me as long as I can! She's just so excited to meet everyone...but not just yet Savannah!!!

34 Weeks

Gender: Dancing, Boxing, Hiccuping Girl!

Movement: She's giving me some good jabs and kicks all week. Earlier in the week I really got a good feel for her foot. It was kind of weird! Neal and I have had a blast watching her night...really making big movements across my stomach! I told Neal that I think she is now fully headdown cause I can't feel her really kicking on my right top side but a lot on my top center. I felt bad for her yesterday cause it seemed like she had the hiccups for 10 minutes! Neal just got home in time to feel her hiccups...she soon stopped after he started rubbing...she just wanted her Daddy! We were also playing with Socks in bed last night and Savannah wanted to come out and play too!

Sleep: I know I'm not suppose to sleep on my back but it's really the only position that is comfortable for me! I really try to lay on my left side but my stomach is so heavy that it just feels weird. Sometimes I force myself to sleep on my side but wake up finding myself on my back! Ooops!

What I miss: walking like a normal person.

Cravings: nothing special this week!

Symptoms: Same pelvic pressure feeling but of course doctor says it's all normal! I can start to feel once in a while my belly get really hard. I can even feel her back sometimes!

Current Mood:  I was a little concerned earlier in the week when I found out one of our friends who was due 3 days after us gave birth last Thursday at 32 weeks! I was freaked out for a few days just cause I didn't think something like that could happen! I've learned though that I do need to slow down and go around for 4 hours walking and not resting. Savannah has a little more growing to do and I have to do my best to keep her inside!

Random Updates:  We finally made a huge dent into organizing all her presents from the shower. Her closet is pretty much organized...now we just have to wash her clothes. Unfortunately every time we fix her clothes...Socks seems to think they're hers and puts her two paws up as if she wants us to put it on her!

We've left the stroller out and we think she's gotten used to it...now we just have to practice walking with her!

We had an appointment on Tuesday and the Dr. said she is totally head down now. I was right! Her heart beat was in the mid 150s and is measuring exactly at 33/34 weeks. In 2 weeks we get to do an ultrasound to see how much she officially weighs and talk about our birthing plans.

I only have 3 more weeks at work...and I'm furiously interviewing people to take over! It feels weird picking someone to replace you!

Now that I've run out of crafty things to make for the baby shower...my attention has come to a full swing to making baby headbands.

Aren't they sooo cute? I was ready to buy some from Etsy.com but realized they all ranged from $9-15!!! So, I researched all t he materials and now we're ready to make baby headbands at home! But now I'm kind of hesistant to make so many with not knowing what size Savannah's head will be but it makes me feel happy seeing all my supplies laid out! I'm guessing she's going to have a lot of hair since I did and the technician said she does have a good head of hair already! Hopefully the headbands come out okay!

Neal is at his workshop in Tahoe this week...and so Socks and I are hanging out in Long Beach and Cypress this weekend. It's also Maggie's 22nd birthday! Can't wait to eat some filipino food! :)

33 Weeks

Gender: Girl on Vacation!

Movement: She took a vacation one night of moving which scared us a little...but she is back in full energy! I find it funny that she can wake me up sometimes during the night from her moving so much.

Sleep: Starting to experience the discomfort of some positions...I practically build a fort every night with pillows to get the perfect angles for the perfect comfortable positions.

What I miss: a glass of white wine sounds so good right now...even though I don't really drink!

Cravings: nothing special this week!

Symptoms: I have the waddle down pretty good :)

Current Mood:  Had a realization this morning that we will be having a baby NEXT MONTH! I called Neal on the way to work to just tell him that...and we were both pretty much in awe! I also feel like I have to go to Babies R Us everyday...is nesting kicking in?

Random Updates:  I conducted my first interview this afternoon who will replace me while I'm on leave...I was a little nervous as I have never been on the other side of an interview. I had lots of fun and a good learning experience. I get to do more next week so hopefully I get better!

Neal is prepping to go on his work trip workshop...I'm so excited for him...it's such a great opportunity! This weekend he's going on a "Baby Bachelor Golf Weekend" with his Daddy...I think it's cute! :)

We've also started putting more things together...we finally decided on a crib bedding (after changing them 4-5 times!) I'm not sure why but it was a really big ordeal for Neal...we started with purple and butterflies, then to ladybugs, then monkeys and animals and ended with pink and butterflies! Though pink wasn't on my top list...it was really important for him...so the other night we assembled the sheets and accessories...I think it's beautiful :)

 I'm proud of my basket of things for her changing supplies...I got it for 6 bucks! It was really fun going downstairs with a grocery bag and grabbing all these things...it's like I have my own Babies R Us in our house!

Here's Socks checking out her sister's bed...she really wanted to play with the mobile!

Another big piece we put together (well, Neal put together) was our stroller. I'm not sure why but it seems like EVERYTHING we've opened needs assembling! Though they're pretty self explanatory...we still read the instructions very carefully for safety reasons. It only took about 20-30 mins to put this thing together but it took me about the same amount of time to learn how to use everything properly!

We really haven't made a dent into organizing the baby's room...if anything I just made neater-messier piles! I'm still in the mode of feeling I need to get everything first before I can organize. What's crazier is that I only have a few things left on our list like a thermometer and more diapers but I feel like I'm missing things...but in reality if she came now she would have everything she needs. I keep thinking there's enough time but then realize that I only have 4 weeks left at work! and technically in a couple weeks she could come any time after that! We really need to just start washing her clothes and I think nesting will come into full gear...now...it's only finding the time and energy to do all these things!

Until then...Babies R Us, Target and Carters will be seeing more of us in the next coming weeks!

Babymoon - Monterey, CA

This past memorial weekend we packed up our little family and headed to Monterey for our Babymoon! :)

We tried to make Socks sit in the back but ever since she had her seizure...she has the shakes in the car and pants like she's sufficating! :(  So, I had to sit in the back with her and she knocked out like there was no tomorrow! Poor little thing...we don't know how to fix her anxiety over car rides!

But she always loves the windows down...unfortunately we couldn't ride the whole way like that! But she appreciated every open window opportunity we could give her! Our first stop was Solvang.

Here's our family picture attempt in Solvang...Socks didn't want anything to do with it.

We strolled around their unique streets...it was sooooooo windy!

And stopped in one of their cute restaurants for lunch...

I think she was cold! but isn't she so cute?

Neal had a tuna melt and Socks and I shared a Philly steak sandwich

We loved the architecture and the whole theme in Solvang!

We meant to travel the rest of the way along the coast but unfortunately got detoured :(...we lost practically an hour or so trying to get back on the 101. BUT...Socks came in contact with her first Horse! She thought it was a Big Dog cause she kept barking at it like crazy...as if she was in charge! Crazy enough...the horse thought she was crazy and walked away! Socks was probably thinking "that's what I thought...walk away big doggy!"

We finally arrived in our cute boutique hotel in Monterey and was welcomed with all these goodies!

At first Socks didn't know what to do...but then started doing sprints around the whole room sniffing every corner and jumping on the bed! she loved it!

For dinner we went to the Fisherman's Wharf...again it was freezing!

Here's our wonderful driver!

We got free calamari appetizers..YUM

A well deserved wine for Neal!

Our DELICIOUS fresh seafood dinner!

Watching the sunset :)

She KNOCKED out as soon as we got back to the hotel....of course smack in the middle of our king sized bed :)

The next morning after having complimentary breakfast at our hotel...we started the day off with doing the famous 17-Mile Drive. We didn't know this 'drive' cost $9.50!!! Thankfully there were filipinos at the gate and Neal felt no shame to ask for a filipino discount...FREE!!! I couldn't believe it actually worked! I was in shock that we have literally taken in the "Extreme Couponing" attitude all the way to Monterey!

Socks enjoyed seeing the ocean...but hated it every time we got near waves...she's just like us...we just like to look at the ocean!

Our second attempt for a family photo...

They had so many golf courses...this was Neal's "heavenly" dream drive!

They had so many beautiful spots to stop and take pictures!

Socks taking the picture for us :)

Neal practically had a heart attack when we finally entered Pebble Beach area...he literally wanted to run over golfers so he could take their places!

Pebble Beach Golf Course...we went off course on the 17-mile drive and drove around the resort...one day we will stay there!

We then headed over to Carmel...which is a beautiful little town but so expensive! It was past lunch time and I was getting grouchy cause there weren't any good places to eat...I had to settle for a very expensive cookie and decided that Carmel wasn't for us and went back to Fisherman's Wharf.

They had such AMAZING fresh clam chowder! It felt so nice to be outside, eating fresh food by the ocean and listen to seals!

Towards the end of lunch we were all pretty pooped out...Socks couldn't even keep her head up! We all went back to the hotel and knocked out for an awesome nap...

At our hotel they had complimentary cheese and wine every afternoon...I got to enjoy a yummy lemonade :)

Later that evening we walked through Canary Row...sadly it was drizzling and made it quite hard to enjoy everything around us...but we did get to go shopping!

We ended up at Bubba Gump for dinner...it started raining but surprisingly there were crazy people like us who still ate outside.

Apparently, Socks didn't get enough sleep during nap time!

We got a free clam chowder for appetizer! (we were all about free things on this trip)

I had a delicious shrimps and broth dinner...

And Neal had an amazing crab legs bucket!

We tried to walk around a bit more and enjoyed Canary Row in the rain...

We had a very warm coffee and hot chocolate...

and we found a shop dedicated to Socks :)

We went back to the hotel and watched movies the rest of the night.

Savannah gaves a little scare though...I didn't feel her move for hours! We tried to belly massage her, I ate an orange, drank a pepsi and NOTHING! I even called the doctors and got voicemail until finally around 10:30 I raided the mini bar and got an apple juice and she finally moved! We think she was just thrown off schedule with everything going on and was on vacation herself! Everythings been good since then...I guess babies need vacations too!

The next morning we packed up our family again and spent the afternoon in Santa Barbara...It's always an amazing little town!

We had a fun, relaxing Babymoon...and Socks had a great time as well! I can't wait til we try to travel with the new little ladybug! Crazy enough...we still had enough energy when we got home to go to Babies R Us and shop for the rest of Savannah's things...slowly but surely we're getting there :)