Maternity Pictures/ 34 Weeks/ Thanksgiving

   We have an incredibly talented, amazing family friend that did our maternity pictures for us last weekend and we couldn't be happier with the pictures.  She is so reasonably priced and makes taking pictures really comfortable and relaxing!  Check her out: Lauren Campbell at www.laurencampbellphotography.com

  Here are a few of the pictures that I just love.  Now I can't wait to see what she does for newborn pictures for Baby Taylor.  I know they will be perfect!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Hope you had a day filled with family and good food.  We were able to spend the day with my step-mom De's side of the family, also stopped by my mom's side as well, and ended the day at Doug's side at The General Store.  They were all so conveniently located within just a few miles of each other and our house, which is kind of nice.

Wednesday, I rode with Kyle, Jamie, and Jaxson up to Story City for Lizz and Jordan's gender reveal party.  I am so excited for their big news!!  Now to wait and see what we will be adding to the bunch as well! It was so nice to get to catch up with friends and talk "baby."

Usually my mom and I do some Black Friday shopping, but this year we didn't really need much.  I couldn't resist and did go out about 8:00 this morning to the mall and Kohl's.  I bought myself a few things.  We have decided that this baby is everyone's Christmas present (so don't be disappointed when you don't get a present from us!), so there isn't much that I need to go buy!  Just a few more baby things needed and we will be ready!

We had our 34 week appointment this week and everything is looking good.  Baby Taylor is definitely head down which is a good sign, although we aren't quite ready to meet him/her yet.

How far along: 34 weeks
Sleep: Some nights are better than others.  I think I am actually sleeping better than I did in my first or second trimester, although some nights I get up 5 or 6 times to go to the bathroom.  I have a lot (I mean a lot) of pillows that I sleep with. Sorry Doug :-)
Best Moment this week: Lots of things: getting to see our amazing maternity pictures, Thanksgiving, Jordan and Lizz's gender reveal, great 34 week midwife appointment, having a few days off from school and getting to cuddle with my puppy dog Carly Moe!
Miss Anything: I currently am only able to wear about 3 different pairs of shoes, because my feet are swelling, which is so sad!  I have been wearing some compression socks which REALLY seems to be helping! I highly recommend them!
Movement: I don't officially do the "count the kicks," because he/she moves so much that I don't need to count them :-)
Food Cravings:  Nope
Anything making you sick or queasy: I don't know why I don't just take this one off of here; just the grilled chicken breast (which has been the same since I got pregnant).
Gender:  I still don't feel that motherly instinct that just knows one way or the other.  I go back and forth depending on the day.  For today, I'll pick girl.
Labor Signs: nothing so far
Symptoms: Swollen feet and hands (especially if I get hot), big belly :-), a little more crying (although not a freakout)-thanks mom for listening and trying to hide your giggles (I did hear one!)
Wedding Rind on or off?:  I officially went and bought another ring (just a small silver band from Pandora) to wear in place of my wedding ring on some days.  At school when I am up and moving around my fingers get hot and so I was taking my ring off and setting it on my desk. I decided to get another ring to wear so that I didn't lose my real one.  I can still wear my wedding ring for certain things, but it is definitely getting a little snug.
Belly Button in or out: still in-I am wondering if I can make it the whole time without it popping out.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Haven't had any more all-out-pregnancy-freakouts so I would say happy!
Looking forward to: Getting the final touches put on the nursery and winter break :-) Only three weeks away (winter break that is)-crazy how time flies!

All-out-pregnancy-freakouts: They are real :-)

   This time of year is so busy with parent-teacher conferences and the holidays coming up.  It is hard not to get a little stressed with just those things, and then the added element that we are going to be bringing another little human being to the world (the coolest human being I might add), can put you over the edge.  This week I had one of those all-out-pregnancy-freakouts.  The kind where you are crying, almost completely out of the blue, with no end in sight.
    Looking back on it, I can laugh but at the time there was no laughing.  I had just got done working out and was pretty hungry.  I was starting dinner and was going to broil some pork chops in the oven.  Doug had put the broiler pan in the drawer under the over (it doesn't go there) and because the drawer was so full it slid down under the oven. I pulled the drawer all the way out and grabbed the pan, but couldn't get the drawer back in and totally lost it.
   By lost it, I mean sat in the middle of the kitchen floor surrounded by pans and that damn drawer and just cried; I bawled.  Carly Moe, who usually wants to snuggle up and lick tears if you are crying just stared at me wondering what in the world was going on.  To make matters worse (actually he made it much better), Doug walks in from work.
    This is the reason I can now laugh about it, because I picture myself walking in from Doug's perspective: Lights are all on, the dog is staring at something in the kitchen, as he walks around the corner he see the kitchen covered with pans and his wife rolled in a ball crying.
    At first his face was,  "OMG what happened? Are you hurt?" (sorry honey if I gave you mild heart attack), and he instantly asks, "What happened?" to which I responded through sobs and tears, "I can't get the drawer back in and I am so stressed!"  I sat there and listed about thirty things that I was stressed about-all of which started with "I can't get the drawer back in."  After a few more minutes of crying (sobbing really), not being able to breathe, and all of my mascara running down my face I pulled it together enough to explain what had happened (as best as I even knew).
   Doug took over making dinner and everything seems to be ok since then; I am still a little stressed, but with the help of Doug we were able to get a lot of things taken care of: I did some more research on my maternity leave, we have a consult scheduled with a pediatrician, and I am completely ready for parent-teacher conferences.  Thank God for my amazing, understanding husband; I have no idea what I would do without him, and can't even imagine what life would be like without him!
    As I shared my story with my team at school the next day it appears that most women have one of these all-out-pregnancy-freakouts at some point in their pregnancy, so I don't feel quite so crazy! Do you remember yours? Do you wonder what yours will be when you're pregnant?
 
   Other than that, I am just getting some holiday shopping done.  Doug let me put up the Christmas decorations last night (he was probably afraid I would start crying if he didn't give in) and so our house is a magical, winter wonderland.  We finished our basement last winter/spring so one of the things I wanted was a Christmas tree for downstairs, which I also got my way on (again probably because Doug was scared of more all-out-pregnancy-freakouts= see above).  Every floor of our house now celebrates the Holiday Season!

   Only two more things for the nursery are needed (decoration related at least) and then I will be posting pictures.  Maybe at the 34 week post I can show off our little baby room :-)  It is perfect and I am so happy with how it turned out!

How far along: 32 Weeks

Maternity clothes? Yes, but even those are getting a little tighter now.
Best moment this week: Had my 32 week appointment, which was nothing out of the ordinary, but I am measuring right on track for a change and everything looks/sounds good!
Miss Anything? Shopping like I used to.  My mom and I went shopping both weekends that the boys were in Vegas and I just can't do more than a couple of hours without my feet completely killing me.  Doug and I ran errands yesterday and today and my feet were swollen and aching.  I still have a lot of shopping to do before this baby comes, so I guess it will be in lots of mini-trips instead of one big shopping trip. Movement: He (or she) doesn't just kick anymore-he pushes.  We are getting close to figuring out which body part is pushing out, but are still guessing at this point)
Food cravings: I haven't really had many "cravings" with this pregnancy.  I thought some Monkey Bread sounded amazing, but the last time I attempted to make monkey bread was a couple of years ago on Christmas morning and I started a fire in the oven (not just a little burnt smoke, I am talking a real fire-flames and all). So if you know how to make Monkey Bread I would love some :-)
Anything making you queasy or sick: Still can't stand plain chicken breast (or the smell of it!)

Gender:  If only we knew :-)  I can't wait for that moment
Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: Swollen and achy feet after a day of shopping-haven't gotten them yet from school, as I try to sit as much as I can, but I am sure they are on their way.
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On for now-when I get hot it gets pretty tight.  I just don't want to take it off until I absolutely can't wear it anymore. 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Except for my all-out-pregnancy-freakout (see above) pretty excited. 
Looking forward to: Thanksgiving Break

30 weeks, only 10 (or less) more to go

Oh my goodness.  Week 30!  This is the week that always seemed like the "end" to me.  I know that I obviously have over two months to go, but I always said around 30 weeks I would have most things done. Ha! Yea Right!  I have a to do list with at least 23 things on it (just baby related things).  On the top of my list is finding a pediatrician, sending our registration to the hospital, and checking with our insurance about a breast pump.  All really fun stuff :-) I have at least typed up a to-do list and hospital packing list.  I won't pack a bag for a few weeks still, but I have a list ready to go.

We have had a busy couple of weeks, Doug left for Las Vegas for the SEMA car show.  He has to take his truck out there as it is a featured vehicle for a couple of companies.  My stepdad, Mark rode out their with him and they will fly back to Iowa on Sunday.  Then they will go back out on Thursday next week and drive the truck back next Saturday/Sunday.  I sure miss him on the weekends, but know that he enjoys the car show!

Yesterday I took a personal day and went shopping with my mom for her birthday.  We met with Doug's insurance agent to get insurance for the baby. We didn't buy much on our shopping day, but I did get a couple of people crossed off my Christmas list.

On Thursday night Doug and I celebrated Halloween by going to see Wicked. I had seen it a couple of years ago, but wanted to go again.  Doug and I really enjoyed it!!

We got our chair for the nursery! It takes up a lot of room, but it looks amazing and I love sitting in it; I can't wait for the baby to sit there with me :-)

I had been so nervous for my glucose test, because since week 12 they have been saying our baby has been measuring a little big and I didn't want that to be related to gestational diabetes.  I passed my glucose test so nothing to worry about!! Just a little bit bigger baby.

How far along: 30 Weeks

Maternity clothes? Yes, but it's funny because I have been wearing a bunch of sweaters that aren't maternity. When I was 12-16 weeks I couldn't wait to wear maternity clothes, and now that I need them I can't find much that I like :-)
Best moment this week: So many things: shopping with my mom, passing my glucose test, and getting our chair.
Miss Anything? I can't really think of anything
Movement: Lots :-) It's so fun!
Food cravings: Nothing this week
Anything making you queasy or sick: Still can't stand plain chicken breast

Gender:  I'm back to "I don't know"
Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: I have had some heartburn lately (no fun!)
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Excited!
Looking forward to: Getting lots of things crossed off my to-do list

30 Weeks

Carly getting used to the carseat.  She will sniff it a lot. 

Doug and I at Wicked!