Our little Miss is SIX whole pounds.
36 Weeks + 3 Days (Growth Scan, NST, BLOOD THINNER CHANGE)
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
I don't think I've felt this excited or confident about Tatum's arrival like I did yesterday morning.
Friday, July 31, 2020
Friends, I cannot believe I am writing a pregnancy announcement for the last time. Once again, Justin and I have managed to beat our infertility and conceive another sweet baby.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
And just like that, we have reached my final pregnancy update for baby #3. I keep thinking back on last July and how long ago it seems that was.
How far Along: 39 weeks
Nicknames for baby: Our little pickle, baby Liam, sweet boy, peanut
Size of baby: About the size of a mini watermelon (over 7 pounds)
Gender Prediction: It's a boy! Confirmed blood test at 12 weeks AND gender scan at 15 weeks.
Symptoms: Pelvic pressure, hip pain, back pain... and I feel SO DANG TIRED. Oh, I almost forgot - charley horses are becoming far too frequent as well. In the last two weeks I've had three and they are PAINFUL!
Best moment this week: Justin and I had a little hoorah.. our first date night in over two years. Liam kicked almost the entire night! That time was so, so needed. It felt like a sliver of a baby moon.
Movement: He's most active in the afternoon and night (and right after breakfast). I feel like his little toes are extending much higher near the breasts than the girls ever moved! Lots of kicking, rolling, and the normal jabbing.
Food Cravings: None. Which is frustrating. I'll be staring off into space, thinking, "Hmm.. I could really go for something right now" ... and that something is never discovered. Worst feeling ever!
Food Aversions: I am in the clear!
What I Miss: I miss not having insomnia so frequently. I miss being able to sleep on my stomach/back/comfortably - i'd take any one of those three. I also miss not waking up and feeling like my entire body just fell down on top of my pelvic bones. Getting out of bed has required help from Justin - that is a definite first for me.
Sleep: This current sleep cycle is killing me. So most nights I can't sleep due to insomnia and spend way too much time watching reruns of SVU. As a result I am so dang tired when I wake up and making it through the day without a nap is impossible. Repeat sleep cycle.
Justin: Justin mapped out his work schedule so now we know how long he'll be home after baby is born. It's close to a full month and I know this man is so excited to soak in our life as a family of five. If you know my husband, you know that he is likely the least (outwardly) emotional person. He definitely reserves most of his vulnerable feelings for me and the kids. I'm totally fine with that because, well... not everyone should be able to reach us on deeper levels. Watching him prepare for our son has brought out a side of him that I didn't expect. I watch him turn to emotion a lot more when responding to certain situations. Not totally sure if its because we are become more seasoned in life, we are on our third kiddo, or simply because having a baby is emotional. Whatever the reason, it makes me wonder what type of emotion Justin will have meeting Liam for the first time.
Nicknames for baby: Our little pickle, baby Liam, sweet boy, peanut
Size of baby: About the size of a mini watermelon (over 7 pounds)
Gender Prediction: It's a boy! Confirmed blood test at 12 weeks AND gender scan at 15 weeks.
Symptoms: Pelvic pressure, hip pain, back pain... and I feel SO DANG TIRED. Oh, I almost forgot - charley horses are becoming far too frequent as well. In the last two weeks I've had three and they are PAINFUL!
Best moment this week: Justin and I had a little hoorah.. our first date night in over two years. Liam kicked almost the entire night! That time was so, so needed. It felt like a sliver of a baby moon.
Movement: He's most active in the afternoon and night (and right after breakfast). I feel like his little toes are extending much higher near the breasts than the girls ever moved! Lots of kicking, rolling, and the normal jabbing.
Food Cravings: None. Which is frustrating. I'll be staring off into space, thinking, "Hmm.. I could really go for something right now" ... and that something is never discovered. Worst feeling ever!
Food Aversions: I am in the clear!
What I Miss: I miss not having insomnia so frequently. I miss being able to sleep on my stomach/back/comfortably - i'd take any one of those three. I also miss not waking up and feeling like my entire body just fell down on top of my pelvic bones. Getting out of bed has required help from Justin - that is a definite first for me.
Sleep: This current sleep cycle is killing me. So most nights I can't sleep due to insomnia and spend way too much time watching reruns of SVU. As a result I am so dang tired when I wake up and making it through the day without a nap is impossible. Repeat sleep cycle.
Justin: Justin mapped out his work schedule so now we know how long he'll be home after baby is born. It's close to a full month and I know this man is so excited to soak in our life as a family of five. If you know my husband, you know that he is likely the least (outwardly) emotional person. He definitely reserves most of his vulnerable feelings for me and the kids. I'm totally fine with that because, well... not everyone should be able to reach us on deeper levels. Watching him prepare for our son has brought out a side of him that I didn't expect. I watch him turn to emotion a lot more when responding to certain situations. Not totally sure if its because we are become more seasoned in life, we are on our third kiddo, or simply because having a baby is emotional. Whatever the reason, it makes me wonder what type of emotion Justin will have meeting Liam for the first time.
Ava: We just don't deserve this child. Seriously. Reflecting on my first born and talking with her about her baby brother coming has been so incredibly enlightening. After all, Ava is the reason we decided to try for more children in the first place. At a playdate earlier today, Ava was asked if she was excited for her baby brother to arrive and what she planned on doing to help with baby brother. Her response? "I'm excited for my baby brother and I'm going to help mommy clean and help dress him." Like seriously? She is perfection and I CANNOT stress to you how truly blessed we are to have this little girl. Ava continues to show the makings of an excellent role model - I couldn't be more proud of her.
Olivia: We don't give this babe enough credit when it comes to understanding that our family dynamic will be changing here soon. Anytime she sees something blue, a baby purchase, or just smaller diapers - she shrieks and says, "For baby brother?!" and we nod our heads and she gets the biggest smile on her face. She still loves to have "bump" matches with her little brother and she'll put her head on my belly for a long while feeling him kick.
What I am looking forward to this week: My OB appointment this week. I know my midwife will likely check my cervix again and I also have a ton of questions regarding delivery at the hospital we chose. More than that, I'm excited to be one week closer to meeting my son.
Happy or moody most of the time: I feel happy, but I also feel incredibly anxious. I have been waiting months to meet my boy and I feel like all of these emotions and thoughts are hitting me full force all at one time. Sometimes the processing aspect gets the best of me, but I don't feel any less happy. I feel incredible - you know, physical pains aside.
Happy or moody most of the time: I feel happy, but I also feel incredibly anxious. I have been waiting months to meet my boy and I feel like all of these emotions and thoughts are hitting me full force all at one time. Sometimes the processing aspect gets the best of me, but I don't feel any less happy. I feel incredible - you know, physical pains aside.
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Liam's baby book arrived this week and I've been sorting through photos like crazy! I really want to get his first few pages started before my energy level plummets (or before I go into labor). I came across my nine week ultrasound scan last night - normally those earlier scans make me super sad, but not so much anymore. I smiled as I looked down at my "peanut" looking little boy. Funny enough, he was suppose to resemble a grape according to my baby center app... all I seem to see is this peanut shaped baby that was always meant to be ours.
I wrapped my arms around myself and I whispered, "I love you peanut" to my growing boy... wouldn't you know this baby starting moving ALL OVER THE PLACE. The rest of the night. I kid you not, ask his daddy. I don't think Justin's ever felt Liam kick SO many times with such force. Even when Justin tried talking to him (placing his head on my belly) Liam still kicked away. We have never experienced so much movement all at once like that. It lasted almost a full 20 minutes or so? One thing is for absolute sure: We love connecting with our boy.
Seriously. I wish you guys could see me as of late. I just feel so dang ready. Liam is getting bigger, I can feel that. We talk about him every single day as if he's been a part of our lives for years and I find myself touching all of his little baby things because somehow that makes me feel like I'll be meeting him real soon. Though four weeks may not seem like a long time, I know it's going to feel like forever for our family. Aside from rearranging our car seat setup with the kids, all we really have left to do is laundry for the rest of the 0-3 month clothing and placing an order for the Chicco stroller. I still can't believe we are in the home stretch.
Side note, a musical fun fact for this pregnancy? Whenever I play "Canon In D" by Pachelbel Liam moves quite a bit. It's funny because Ava did the exact same thing. I don't remember playing very much classical music with Olivia though. I wonder if this somehow contributed to her larger than life personality? Is it obvious that I could gab for hours about my little Howland babies?
On that note, enjoy your Wednesday, all! ALSO. Baby gear, boy mom tips, and anything parenthood related that you want to share?
EMAIL ME. Comment below, or comment on the platform where you found this link.
I love hearing from you guys and the information I've received during my pregnancy has been more helpful than you can imagine- so keep it coming!
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Someone asked me the other day what the most embarrassing part of pregnancy was this time around... and now I'm exposing myself! If you guessed by the title that this post is in regards to some sort of fluid, you would be correct. It seems the more babies I have, the worse my bladder control has become. When I cough, sneeze, or laugh too hard... yep, "spritzing" occurs. Apparently, the term for this is urinary incontinence. 50% of women will not have this issue resolve even five years after having a child. Considering in the last five years I'll have had three babies... I'm assuming my body just hasn't had the time to recover. My pregnancy will Liam has definitely made this "spritzing" even more obvious than ever before. I've even cried about it because it's just embarrassing, unsanitary, and I personally have to shower every time something like this happens. Even though I know this is common, it's still a pain the rear to deal with.
The good news? After talking with my birth photographer and doing a little research, apparently, there is a natural method to try and resolve this after the baby comes. Womb massages! Have any of my readers personally had one? This external massage actually moves and lifts your uterus (gently) into an optimal position in your pelvis. I have read and also heard great feedback from other women who have had a womb massage before. I'm thinking about seriously giving this a go if I don't notice a difference with my situation after Liam arrives.
Something really sweet just happened while writing this; growing up I can distinctly recall my mom laughing or coughing too hard and having some of the same issues I'm writing about. Back then, I'd just look at her and be so put off by the fact that my mother was peeing on herself... and that it had become a normal occurrence since her childbearing days. Oh, how the tables have turned. I wish she was here to see this happening to me. Though I could go without, it is kind of neat to piece together this connection with mom, even now that she's gone.
Something else I wanted to share is how I manage to leak on a daily basis. I tend to use mama cloth pads more than anything, but in a bind, I gravitate towards the huge Always overnight pads. If you are a mama with this same issue and walking around without any coverage... you are a brave soul, my friend. I myself have had a couple of good days and thought, " I totally got this" and I was totally wrong! Better to be safe than sorry. If anyone else has any other methods or advice about this lovely pregnancy leakage, shoot me an email or leave a comment below.
P.S. Yes, the picture in this thumbnail is our sweet Liam. I had a 4d ultrasound performed and those are one of the (few) clearer images we were able to get of his sweet face.
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
We lost one of the twins. I had an ultrasound done this morning with my reproductive endocrinologist and he confirmed one of my worst fears. One of the babies stopped growing two weeks prior. I was thankful in the moments following that Justin had decided to stay home with the girls. I was alone. I was able to process, cry, and grieve by myself. I imagine it was better that way. Knowing I'd shortly have to break the bad news to my husband and our oldest... I needed time to compose myself. I also needed time to process what this meant for my pregnancy. We still have a perfect, healthy baby growing inside of me. I felt like I was on a teeter totter. So much sad, but also so much happy in my heart. On that ultrasound screen, I saw a strong heartbeat. I saw a baby measuring perfectly to date. I cried at the sight because.. because, thank you god. Thank you that we still have a baby on the way. It is so hard to manage your emotions in a situation like this. Another loss is another loss. This will be the second baby that Justin and I have had to say goodbye to before we ever knew what they could be.
In the back of my mind I knew that this could happen. When we saw one baby's heartbeat beating so perfectly at six weeks and we couldn't see the other.. I started the worry wheels then. My husband, always so positive and reassuring.. he'd say, "Leilani, don't worry. Everything is going to be fine babe, Don't stress or worry," I would cling to his words like somehow those words alone would indeed make everything alright. The truth is, this pregnancy has brought out the worry warts right from the start. I've been so scared, terrified even. Things have been so different than my pregnancy with the girls... I didn't know what to make of it.
And now this. We told a handful of our closest family members and friends about the twins. We also had to tell those handful about the loss of one of our twins. It hurt. I think it hurt more because I didn't want anyone to be sad for us. I just wanted to focus on the good news we still have. Justin took the bad news much harder than I anticipated. Harder than I'd openly expressed myself. That was tough for me. My husband is always my strong side. He's the person that holds everything together. Not this time. To be honest, that was much harder than the loss itself in so many ways. Watching your husband hurt is the worst feeling in the world. I felt responsible.
♥- Leilani
In the back of my mind I knew that this could happen. When we saw one baby's heartbeat beating so perfectly at six weeks and we couldn't see the other.. I started the worry wheels then. My husband, always so positive and reassuring.. he'd say, "Leilani, don't worry. Everything is going to be fine babe, Don't stress or worry," I would cling to his words like somehow those words alone would indeed make everything alright. The truth is, this pregnancy has brought out the worry warts right from the start. I've been so scared, terrified even. Things have been so different than my pregnancy with the girls... I didn't know what to make of it.
And now this. We told a handful of our closest family members and friends about the twins. We also had to tell those handful about the loss of one of our twins. It hurt. I think it hurt more because I didn't want anyone to be sad for us. I just wanted to focus on the good news we still have. Justin took the bad news much harder than I anticipated. Harder than I'd openly expressed myself. That was tough for me. My husband is always my strong side. He's the person that holds everything together. Not this time. To be honest, that was much harder than the loss itself in so many ways. Watching your husband hurt is the worst feeling in the world. I felt responsible.
♥- Leilani
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
I walked into my OB appointment shaking, scared, and expecting the absolute worst news of my life. The last two weeks have been hell and saturated with worry and fear - I was just there to confirm that my suspicions were correct. Sitting in the waiting room was the longest wait of my life. It felt like time was going by so slowly and I was just left to sit and continue to rack my brain of all the reasons why this pregnancy failed. When they called my name back I started shaking again. I love Debbie, the ultrasound tech. She ushered me back and started some casual conversation like always. She had no idea that I was there for a scan pertaining to pregnancy. Apparently she thought it was just a gyno visit. I made sure to rush and get prepped so she could start the ultrasound immediately.
About a minute into the transvaginal ultrasound - Debbie shows me the screen. There was a BABY in my uterus! I immediately started bawling. Thank you JESUS! Debbie continued the scan and no more than a minute later she turned the screen to me again and says, "Oh, Mama! Here's another baby!" WOAH. At this point I cannot control the amount of tears running down my face. One healthy baby was a dream... two babies in my uterus was... it was just.. more than we could have ever hoped for! I could not contain my shaking, tears, or loud sobs of joy. Everything after that moment was a little blurry. I remember Debbie going over the measurements of Baby A and Baby B and they were measuring about three days apart - but also exactly right on based on my ovulation date.
Debbie printed out photos for me and a sheet of the measurements from the ultrasound. I had a hard time walking back to the waiting room. In fact, Debbie was holding my arm and sat me down in the waiting room. I was in complete shock. She got me some water and I sat there and waited to be called back to see the midwife. I remember calling Justin almost immediately and then sending him the picture while we were on the phone. I asked him to look at his phone and when he did:
Justin: Baby A and Baby B? Twins? We are having twins?!
ME: Yes, babe. Twins!
He was over the moon. I could not believe it.
♥- Leilani
About a minute into the transvaginal ultrasound - Debbie shows me the screen. There was a BABY in my uterus! I immediately started bawling. Thank you JESUS! Debbie continued the scan and no more than a minute later she turned the screen to me again and says, "Oh, Mama! Here's another baby!" WOAH. At this point I cannot control the amount of tears running down my face. One healthy baby was a dream... two babies in my uterus was... it was just.. more than we could have ever hoped for! I could not contain my shaking, tears, or loud sobs of joy. Everything after that moment was a little blurry. I remember Debbie going over the measurements of Baby A and Baby B and they were measuring about three days apart - but also exactly right on based on my ovulation date.
Debbie printed out photos for me and a sheet of the measurements from the ultrasound. I had a hard time walking back to the waiting room. In fact, Debbie was holding my arm and sat me down in the waiting room. I was in complete shock. She got me some water and I sat there and waited to be called back to see the midwife. I remember calling Justin almost immediately and then sending him the picture while we were on the phone. I asked him to look at his phone and when he did:
Justin: Baby A and Baby B? Twins? We are having twins?!
ME: Yes, babe. Twins!
He was over the moon. I could not believe it.
♥- Leilani
Thursday, June 29, 2017
This experience has been unlike any other pregnancy experience I have ever had. On the 27th of June I used the restroom and discovered I had a very light pink tint on the toilet paper after I wiped. Long behold - implantation bleeding! I had this occur with Olivia and I was more than positive that we had conceived at this point. I was FULL of bliss over the next couple of days until something terrifying happened. I noticed that when I wiped, there was still blood. It was alarming because I'd never had bleeding when I wipe last more than just a day and a half. I was optimistic because the blood wasn't even on the pad, let alone a heavy flow but still... It has never happened to me before and it scared me.
Worried and stuck in my own worry wart thoughts, I decided to go to the emergency room. I had already taken over twenty pregnancy tests at this point and I kept getting positive results. I knew I was pregnant, I just didn't know what was happening with my body. I was in the emergency room for four whole hours and thankfully by the end of my visit, I felt better. I had to give a urine sample, my blood was taken, and I was hooked on an IV to receive fluids. An ultrasound was performed on me and they were able to see that I had a 9cm cyst on my right ovary. The doctor said this could likely be the cause of my bleeding and the cramping as well.
Because there are no guarantees in conception, there was no sure way for them to say that my pregnancy would be just fine. I did receive my HCG levels and those levels confirmed that I was indeed pregnant. After I left the ER I felt better knowing that we had beaten our fertility again and for now... I could let small thoughts of baby # 3 completely consume my dreams. It's like a teeter totter of emotions so far. I am OVER THE MOON that we have conceived again.. but I'm scared. The bleeding has really put me off and I don't want to get myself extremely worked up just to find out it is bad news.
♥- Leilani
Worried and stuck in my own worry wart thoughts, I decided to go to the emergency room. I had already taken over twenty pregnancy tests at this point and I kept getting positive results. I knew I was pregnant, I just didn't know what was happening with my body. I was in the emergency room for four whole hours and thankfully by the end of my visit, I felt better. I had to give a urine sample, my blood was taken, and I was hooked on an IV to receive fluids. An ultrasound was performed on me and they were able to see that I had a 9cm cyst on my right ovary. The doctor said this could likely be the cause of my bleeding and the cramping as well.
Because there are no guarantees in conception, there was no sure way for them to say that my pregnancy would be just fine. I did receive my HCG levels and those levels confirmed that I was indeed pregnant. After I left the ER I felt better knowing that we had beaten our fertility again and for now... I could let small thoughts of baby # 3 completely consume my dreams. It's like a teeter totter of emotions so far. I am OVER THE MOON that we have conceived again.. but I'm scared. The bleeding has really put me off and I don't want to get myself extremely worked up just to find out it is bad news.
♥- Leilani
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
It is now 10 days after ovulation and I experienced implantation bleeding (I'm 95% positive). When I used the restroom in the last afternoon I wiped and noticed a swipe of light pink blood. I started to panic just a little bit because my menstrual has been starting out with light pink blood the last few cycles, but when I wiped again - nothing was on the toilet paper. This isn't heavy bleeding and there isn't any blood on my pad. Seeing the light pink swipe of blood made me feel like this could quite possibly be the real deal for us. This could be implantation bleeding.
June 27th, 2017.
♥- Leilani
June 27th, 2017.
♥- Leilani
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Yesterday was the day that my little Livy bean was due to arrive. That's the funny thing about predicted due dates though, they can definitely be wrong. I feel like I've got a million emotions surging at this point, and they all lead back to one thought... Envisioning my sweet girl in my arms. I had an OB appointment yesterday, and it went exactly how I expected... talks of medical induction yet again. I was checked again, I actually allowed the OB to do a membrane sweep (in hopes it would jump start something), and she went over the risks of allowing myself to be pregnant for longer. Stillbirth was mentioned and that put me in such a scary place. No one wants to hear that their completely healthy baby could die for no good reason. I know it scared Justin to pieces and it actually had him bringing up the possibility of me being induced. I won't lie, even I have been worried about my decisions potentially harming my baby. The goal is to get her here safely, even if that means I lose out on some of the things I sought after with birth. I made a horrible decision to take castor oil (in a moment of desperation), and I am regretting that without a doubt. Intense contractions, cramping (shooting) stomach pains.... only to have them lead to nothing but discomfort. I won't be trying to do any other "natural" form of induction on my own, as it is clear that this child isn't coming out until she is ready. I'm really hoping this is my last pregnancy highlight, so here it is!
How far Along: 40 weeks 1 day
Nicknames for baby: Livy Bean, Olivia
Size of baby: An estimated 8 pounds (the size of a jack fruit)
Gender: It's a girl!
Symptoms: Breast tenderness, pelvic straining, itchy belly, and contractions.
Best moment this week: Knowing that my body is slowly but surely prepping itself for labor. Being so dilated, being almost completely thinned out, etc.
Movement: Her movement has actually changed in this last week or so, and apparently it's the new norm for how far along I am.
Food Cravings: Cranberry juice.
Food Aversions: WE ARE FINALLY IN THE CLEAR HERE.
What I Miss: At this point I miss being able to actively move the way I want. I cannot bend over, I wake up with back aches, I can't shave my own legs... I am just ready to be able to do things on my own and obviously meet my little one.
Sleep: I get extremely good sleep, once I am out, I am out! Except, I started drooling (yuck). BUT I do get interrupted if a Charlie horse comes about in the middle of the night.
Justin: Supportive just doesn't do him justice. This week has been scary for both of us and I know with this being his first time having to process some of these feelings up close and in person... it hasn't been easy for him. I've woken him up on more than one occasion because my contractions have been so strong. I've woken him up for comfort or to phone labor and delivery. He rolls with the punches and i truly believe that will be my saving grace in this experience.
How far Along: 40 weeks 1 day
Nicknames for baby: Livy Bean, Olivia
Size of baby: An estimated 8 pounds (the size of a jack fruit)
Gender: It's a girl!
Symptoms: Breast tenderness, pelvic straining, itchy belly, and contractions.
Best moment this week: Knowing that my body is slowly but surely prepping itself for labor. Being so dilated, being almost completely thinned out, etc.
Movement: Her movement has actually changed in this last week or so, and apparently it's the new norm for how far along I am.
Food Cravings: Cranberry juice.
Food Aversions: WE ARE FINALLY IN THE CLEAR HERE.
What I Miss: At this point I miss being able to actively move the way I want. I cannot bend over, I wake up with back aches, I can't shave my own legs... I am just ready to be able to do things on my own and obviously meet my little one.
Sleep: I get extremely good sleep, once I am out, I am out! Except, I started drooling (yuck). BUT I do get interrupted if a Charlie horse comes about in the middle of the night.
Justin: Supportive just doesn't do him justice. This week has been scary for both of us and I know with this being his first time having to process some of these feelings up close and in person... it hasn't been easy for him. I've woken him up on more than one occasion because my contractions have been so strong. I've woken him up for comfort or to phone labor and delivery. He rolls with the punches and i truly believe that will be my saving grace in this experience.
Ava: My trooper! Here lately a good chunk of the attentions she gets from mama is gone. I have been napping more, doing less, and just trying to physically gain the strength I need for potentially going into labor each day. She has been completely understanding and clinging to her daddy a bit more in my absence.
What I am looking forward to this week: I am truthfully looking forward to meeting Olivia. I really hope that happens in the next week. This little girl has been swooned over for the last 9 months and I'm ready to meet her.
Happy or moody most of the time: I'm happy, but also very anxious. My mind is all over the place but the one thing I want/need is very clear. Do whatever I have to do in order to deliver a healthy babe. No matter the route, that's the end goal. I need to remind myself of this daily. As a mother, everything gets puts aside (including my own pride) when it comes to the well being of my babes.
Happy or moody most of the time: I'm happy, but also very anxious. My mind is all over the place but the one thing I want/need is very clear. Do whatever I have to do in order to deliver a healthy babe. No matter the route, that's the end goal. I need to remind myself of this daily. As a mother, everything gets puts aside (including my own pride) when it comes to the well being of my babes.
39 weeks 6 days pregnant in this photo.
♥- Leilani
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Well, here we are. Sitting at just 7 days until my predicted due date. I had an OB appointment this morning and it was most definitely more hectic than I anticipated. I went into this appointment knowing that the OB would want to check my progression (again) to see if I had progressed at all from last week. I did not know that I would end up with an involuntary membrane sweep... Yeah, that was pretty unexpected. I'm actually pretty upset about the fact that she just did it without my consent and I am filing an ICE complaint against the OB that decided to just take matters into her own hands. My goal this pregnancy was simple. I just wanted nature to take it's course and to have things occur on their own. This pregnancy is uncomplicated without risks, and all I heard this morning was how "dangerous" it is to go to 40 weeks.. or even past my due date. This was the first time that I had even heard that in my pregnancy with Olivia, so you could imagine my bewilderment... but onto better news! As of today, I am 3-4 centimeters dilated, I am 90% effaced, and measuring at 40 weeks. Olivia's heart rate was in the mid 140's, and she's doing perfectly! This very well may be the last pregnancy update I have.. so here it is!
How far Along: 39 Weeks
Nicknames for baby: Livy Bean, Olivia
How far Along: 39 Weeks
Nicknames for baby: Livy Bean, Olivia
Size of baby: An estimated 7 and 1/2 pounds (the size of a mini watermelon)
Gender: It's a girl!
Symptoms: Charlie horse leg cramps (OUCH, OUCH), breast tenderness, pelvic straining, itchy belly, and contractions.
Best moment this week: Being seven days away from my due date is really amazing. If I don't go into labor in the next day, I'll have officially been more pregnant with Olivia than I was with Ava bug. Feeling ready and prepped for the arrival of this baby girl just feels so incredibly wonderful. Everything in this house is ready, including her big sister and parents!
Movement: Whenever I lay still, she is moving. I love it so, so much.
Food Cravings: Fish sticks (surprisingly, my second round in this pregnancy). Cranberry juice.
Food Aversions: WE ARE FINALLY IN THE CLEAR HERE.
What I Miss: This is ironic, but I already miss this pregnancy. I can't believe how quickly it went by and I know with her arrival just hours/days away, things are going to go by even faster with a newborn. I didn't rush things this time around, I wasn't impatient. It's very bitter sweet to have experienced.
Sleep: I get extremely good sleep, once I am out, I am out! Except, I started drooling (yuck). BUT I do get interrupted if a Charlie horse comes about in the middle of the night.
Justin: There isn't anything I can say that I haven't already said about this man. Pregnancy with him being in garrison was a complete game changer for us. Having to deal with the skyrocketed emotions from one another, the irritations, the new found "norm" for intimacy... it was most certainly a lot to take in and establish common ground. I know Justin is more than ready to meet Olivia and to see his wife go back to being "normal" if that's even what I'd call it? Ultimately, I am grateful his support has been so abundant and available to me.
Gender: It's a girl!
Symptoms: Charlie horse leg cramps (OUCH, OUCH), breast tenderness, pelvic straining, itchy belly, and contractions.
Best moment this week: Being seven days away from my due date is really amazing. If I don't go into labor in the next day, I'll have officially been more pregnant with Olivia than I was with Ava bug. Feeling ready and prepped for the arrival of this baby girl just feels so incredibly wonderful. Everything in this house is ready, including her big sister and parents!
Movement: Whenever I lay still, she is moving. I love it so, so much.
Food Cravings: Fish sticks (surprisingly, my second round in this pregnancy). Cranberry juice.
Food Aversions: WE ARE FINALLY IN THE CLEAR HERE.
What I Miss: This is ironic, but I already miss this pregnancy. I can't believe how quickly it went by and I know with her arrival just hours/days away, things are going to go by even faster with a newborn. I didn't rush things this time around, I wasn't impatient. It's very bitter sweet to have experienced.
Sleep: I get extremely good sleep, once I am out, I am out! Except, I started drooling (yuck). BUT I do get interrupted if a Charlie horse comes about in the middle of the night.
Justin: There isn't anything I can say that I haven't already said about this man. Pregnancy with him being in garrison was a complete game changer for us. Having to deal with the skyrocketed emotions from one another, the irritations, the new found "norm" for intimacy... it was most certainly a lot to take in and establish common ground. I know Justin is more than ready to meet Olivia and to see his wife go back to being "normal" if that's even what I'd call it? Ultimately, I am grateful his support has been so abundant and available to me.
Ava: I love my sweet bug so, so, so, so, so MUCH. Seriously there were so many bleak days during this pregnancy with her baby sister... having Ava's loving spirit and warm demeanor helped on more occasions than one. I have never felt more confident that she is going to make an exceptional big sister, and I know she can't wait to see the baby we've been talking about for months. Having Ava was the reason we knew we wanted more kiddos, so in large part this is happening because of the little person she is.
What I am looking forward to this week: I am looking forward to seeing if the membrane sweep actually puts me into labor, or if i'll be writing up a 40 week pregnancy update for all of you.
Happy or moody most of the time: I am definitely happy, but I've also been very stressed. Having gone through being sick, now a cold sore, and this icky Washington weather... I literally just threw my hands up and just decided to roll with the punches... I mean I don't really have a choice anyways, why not just learn to dance in the rain? I'm trying to keep myself in the best spirits possible and stay focused on the fact that I am going to be experiencing childbirth again very soon.
Here's a short video I made so you can see the nasty that is my cold sore, ha!
P.S. excuse the eyebrows.. totally had a malfunction.
♥- Leilani
Happy or moody most of the time: I am definitely happy, but I've also been very stressed. Having gone through being sick, now a cold sore, and this icky Washington weather... I literally just threw my hands up and just decided to roll with the punches... I mean I don't really have a choice anyways, why not just learn to dance in the rain? I'm trying to keep myself in the best spirits possible and stay focused on the fact that I am going to be experiencing childbirth again very soon.
Here's a short video I made so you can see the nasty that is my cold sore, ha!
P.S. excuse the eyebrows.. totally had a malfunction.
♥- Leilani
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Where has the time gone? Seriously. Where? I've been back home for three full days and I've been non-stop ever since... even while battling a cold I managed to pick up from our travels. I thought being sick in general was not ideal, but being sick while 38 weeks pregnant is absolute torture. I've got this MEAN case of nasal congestion, my throat hurt (up until yesterday), and the mucus cough...it's just not been fun. I have been sleeping a lot more, going to bed a lot earlier, and allowing Justin to graciously assist with tasks around the house. I *think* I may be on the mend, so I'm hoping that's the case. In other news at around 130 am this past Saturday (just an hour after we landed in Seattle), I went into labor and delivery to get myself and Livy bean checked out. Flying wasn't nearly as terrible as I expected, but I always caution on the side of safety. I'm happy to report that this mama bear and baby girl # 2 are doing excellent, with the exception of my cold. Olivia had one day this past week where she wasn't as active, and that was actually the day we were heading home from New York. Other than that, she's been moving up a storm! My sister, Ava bug, and Justin got to feel some pretty intense kicks and rolls on Sunday, that was a lot of fun to watch my family bonding with this baby already.
How far Along: 38 Weeks
Nicknames for baby: Livy Bean, Olivia
Ava: Ahh, my baby girl. She has found herself and has been acting so much more like our bug since the moment we got home. I can't even begin to tell you how happy and elated this has made us. Vacation was nice, but it was so stressful and involved a lot of changes for my toddler. Although she was visiting her family, they are also people she doesn't know. Justin and I didn't really take this into consideration prior to the trip, so I think that had a lot to do with the changes we saw in her while in New York.
What I am looking forward to this week: I am SO excited for my OB appointment on Thursday. I can't wait to see how far along I'm measuring, and go over some of the details of being 38 weeks pregnant. It's crazy to think that at this time with Ava bug, I literally only had 8 days until I met her. I'm anxious to see if I'll make it to my due date with Olivia.
Happy or moody most of the time: Since being home, I have been a happy camper. Aside from having a cold, I'm so in the baby mood. Justin and I assembled and put the car seat in on Saturday, and it feels so surreal seeing two Chicco seats when I turn around. 9 months flew by so much quicker in this pregnancy then I ever imagined. Now it's just a waiting game. We've lined up a babysitter for Ava bug, my hospital bag is almost ready, and Justin's company is tracking as well. So yes, I'm a happy mama.
♥- Leilani
How far Along: 38 Weeks
Nicknames for baby: Livy Bean, Olivia
Size of baby: An estimated 7 pounds (the size of a pumpkin)
Gender: It's a girl!
Symptoms: Charlie horse leg cramps (OUCH, OUCH), breast tenderness, pelvic straining, itchy belly, and Braxton hicks.
Best moment this week: The best moment this week was actually just making it home safely, getting a bill of health for the baby in my womb after flying on an airplane so late in pregnancy, and finally getting the house prepped for baby. Yes, bassinets are a go, organizing Olivia's hospital bag is a go, and getting her baby clothes washed is a go!
Movement: Whenever I lay still, she is moving. I love it so, so much.
Food Cravings: Fish sticks (surprisingly, my second round in this pregnancy). Cranberry juice.
Food Aversions: WE ARE FINALLY IN THE CLEAR HERE.
What I Miss: I do miss not waking up in the middle of the night because of severe Charlie horses in both my legs. I also miss being able to get out of bed myself without the assistance of my husband. Overall, I miss my body feeling good, even while pregnant.
Sleep: I get extremely good sleep, once I am out, I am out! Except, I started drooling (yuck). BUT I do get interrupted if a Charlie horse comes about in the middle of the night.
Justin: Thankful for this man for always. He has been pretty great with allowing me to tear our house apart to get things done for Baby O. We still haven't taken down our Christmas decorations because of all the chaos, and I wonder if that's driving him nuts at all? He's allowed me to be bossy with all my glory and sass at 38 weeks pregnant, and that has been appreciated more than he knows. He's offered up foot rubs and leg rubs for the Charlie horse pains, he's been making almost every single meal since we've been home, and I really appreciate being able to sleep, even when Ava is LIVE and ready to play.
Gender: It's a girl!
Symptoms: Charlie horse leg cramps (OUCH, OUCH), breast tenderness, pelvic straining, itchy belly, and Braxton hicks.
Best moment this week: The best moment this week was actually just making it home safely, getting a bill of health for the baby in my womb after flying on an airplane so late in pregnancy, and finally getting the house prepped for baby. Yes, bassinets are a go, organizing Olivia's hospital bag is a go, and getting her baby clothes washed is a go!
Movement: Whenever I lay still, she is moving. I love it so, so much.
Food Cravings: Fish sticks (surprisingly, my second round in this pregnancy). Cranberry juice.
Food Aversions: WE ARE FINALLY IN THE CLEAR HERE.
What I Miss: I do miss not waking up in the middle of the night because of severe Charlie horses in both my legs. I also miss being able to get out of bed myself without the assistance of my husband. Overall, I miss my body feeling good, even while pregnant.
Sleep: I get extremely good sleep, once I am out, I am out! Except, I started drooling (yuck). BUT I do get interrupted if a Charlie horse comes about in the middle of the night.
Justin: Thankful for this man for always. He has been pretty great with allowing me to tear our house apart to get things done for Baby O. We still haven't taken down our Christmas decorations because of all the chaos, and I wonder if that's driving him nuts at all? He's allowed me to be bossy with all my glory and sass at 38 weeks pregnant, and that has been appreciated more than he knows. He's offered up foot rubs and leg rubs for the Charlie horse pains, he's been making almost every single meal since we've been home, and I really appreciate being able to sleep, even when Ava is LIVE and ready to play.
Ava: Ahh, my baby girl. She has found herself and has been acting so much more like our bug since the moment we got home. I can't even begin to tell you how happy and elated this has made us. Vacation was nice, but it was so stressful and involved a lot of changes for my toddler. Although she was visiting her family, they are also people she doesn't know. Justin and I didn't really take this into consideration prior to the trip, so I think that had a lot to do with the changes we saw in her while in New York.
What I am looking forward to this week: I am SO excited for my OB appointment on Thursday. I can't wait to see how far along I'm measuring, and go over some of the details of being 38 weeks pregnant. It's crazy to think that at this time with Ava bug, I literally only had 8 days until I met her. I'm anxious to see if I'll make it to my due date with Olivia.
Happy or moody most of the time: Since being home, I have been a happy camper. Aside from having a cold, I'm so in the baby mood. Justin and I assembled and put the car seat in on Saturday, and it feels so surreal seeing two Chicco seats when I turn around. 9 months flew by so much quicker in this pregnancy then I ever imagined. Now it's just a waiting game. We've lined up a babysitter for Ava bug, my hospital bag is almost ready, and Justin's company is tracking as well. So yes, I'm a happy mama.
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