32 Weeks

I am 32weeks pregnant now, and have begun to enter into the "nesting" phase of pregnancy. I have been cleaning a lot more and have gotten some books about post delivery, versus just pregnancy. I went to target today and bought some newborn diapers, some "thank you" notes, and dreft, so that I can start washing and putting away some of her clothes. We got our crib this week, and Steven immediately put it together. It is so wonderful to finally have it because I will be able to arrange the nursery the way I want it and begin putting things up on the walls. When we get the nursery all put together, I will take some pictures so you can see what it looks like. I can't wait for it all to come together!!

I am still working full time, meaning 3 12hr shifts a week, and I plan to continue to do so until I am 39weeks (or earlier if she decides to make her arrival sooner than that). Work is still going well, but it is getting harder to be on my feet for the full 12 hours. My feet tend to be swollen by the end of the day, and my back definitely gets more sore because of the extra weight. For the most part, though, I am doing just fine. I am sure if it gets too hard as I get further along I will be able to cut back my hours.

My doctors appointment this week went well. Little Lucky is growing well and her heart beat sounds great. My only concern at this point is that she is laying transverse, meaning her head is on my right side and her back on my left. She really needs to turn to be vertex, or head down. She is small enough that she still could move, but if she doesn't, I have no other option than to schedule a c-section. A c-section would not be so horrible, but I would be much happier if she would go head down and I could have the option of having a normal delivery. If you think about it, say a prayer for her to turn.

She is still moving a lot, and I love watching my stomach change shapes as she wiggles and kicks. She has been getting hiccups frequently, which is a funny feeling. It is like she is tapping me over and over again in the same spot. I also have been having several braxton hicks contractions a day, which are not so painful, but just uncomfortable. If only labor were the same :).

On a little different note, the big news from Daddy Luck (Steven) is that he just got a soft top for his jeep and spent most of the afternoon removing the hard top and putting the soft top on. I have to say that I am quite proud of myself because I helped him do both. I think Steven is feeling much more content and ready for Spring and the arrival of his new baby girl!!

I hope you all are doing well and have been enjoying the first week of Spring. I can't wait for the warm weather to come!!

New Hair Style

Recently, Steven had been giving me subtle. or sometimes not so subtle, hints that he thought I should get my hair cut short. Any time he would see someone with short hair, he would say, "I think that hair cut looks nice, Emily". Well, at first, I didn't pay much attention to him. I mean, I had spent the last 4 years trying to grow my hair out after it was butcherred in college by a well intentioned hairstylist (my hair cut really made me look like a boy). Before we got married, Steven had told my he wanted to see my hair long again, so being the good fiance that I was, I grew my hair out. I was loving my long hair, and really enjoying how easy it was to throw it back into a ponytail. But, the more he suggested that I cut it, the more the idea grew on me. I new I was about to become a mom, and the hairstyle I had was beginning to take more and more time and effort to maintain. Knowing that it was time to get it cut (and highlighted of course) anyway, I decided to take my chances and try something new. I printed of some pictures of a few of my favorite celebrity hairstlyes and took them to Reflections, where I entrusted my hair in the hands of Virginia, the hairsylist who had done my hair for my wedding. She had deliverred exactly what I wanted for my wedding, so I was hoping she would do the same for my brand new hair cut. So here is the final product:


Steven didn't recognize me when he saw me for the first time after I got it cut.
What do you think?

On Sunday I had my very first baby shower. It felt surreal as I walked up the stairs and prepared to open gifts for this little girl on the way. I felt like I was going to a wedding shower because certainly there is no way I am old enough to be going to a baby shower, right? Well, there I was, surrounded by some of my best friends, feeling so incredibly blessed to think of how many wonderful women my daughter is going to have in her life. The shower was a blast. Between the fabulous guests, wonderful food, gorgeous presents, and Mariah Carey's "You'll Always Be My Baby" playing in the background, I don't think I could have asked for anything more perfect. I brought home lots of wonderful new clothes and goodies to fill the nursery, and just can't wait to set everything up and dress this little girl. She certainly is going to be one well dressed and well loved child! Thank you Abbie, Megan, Anna Kate, and Jen for throwing such a wonderful shower for me!!
Look at all these gorgeous girls!

I was so blessed to have both my mother and mother-in-law come up from Charlottesville to attend the shower. Aren't they the most beautiful Grandmothers-to-be you ever have seen?!? Sandra was practicing for grandmotherhood already...she looks perfect with that precious Noah in her arms. (By the way, he was one lucky man. The only guy in a room full of gorgeous women who all wanted his attention. Watch out Mama Rathbone!)

Look at that gorgeous table!! Megan Rathbone made the diaper cake. It is absolutely incredible and is currently functioning as the center piece to our dining room table. If I didn't know she made it, I definitely would have assumed it came from a boutique baby store! I have found your calling Megan!

Not only was the table beautiful, but the food tasted wonderful! The fastest way to a pregnant woman's heart is definitely through her stomach.

28 Weeks

I am 28weeks now and happy to hit another milestone in the babies development. Now that I am 28weeks it means that I am in my 3rd TRIMESTER!! She is still moving a lot, which makes me happy because it assures me that she is doing well. I went to my doctors appointment on Friday and everything looks good. I got the rhogam shot because my blood type is A-, and on Tuesday, I have to do my 1 hour glucola test to be sure I don't have gestational diabetes. Also, I will be going to my doctors appointments now every 2 weeks versus every 4 weeks. It is amazing how fast it is going by!
If you read my previous post, you will appreciate the dress I am wearing in this picture because it is from Forever 21 and is not a maternity dress, although it functions beautifully as one. Something you might be able to notice in this picture is that my belly button is starting to pop. I am hopping it doesn't pop out too much, but I it just might! No stretch marks at this point, but that is also something that will probably come with time. Oh, the joys of pregnancy.
I entered my 28th week with a bang because I either got food poisoning or a bug on Friday. I started throwing up at work around 5 and then kept throwing up on and off until 9 the next morning. It was pretty miserable. I called my doctor Saturday morning because I was worried about getting too dehydrated and was starting to have some mild contractions. She called in some Zofran for me, and after I took that, I felt much better. I continued to contract on and off all weekend, but I knew I just needed to drink lots of water and try to catch up from all the fluids I lost. I am feeling much better today, and know that if there any problems tomorrow, I am in the right place (as I will be working).
All in all, things are going well and I am happy to be in my 3rd trimester. I hope you all are doing well!!