I’ve said it before – it’s nice to save money on maternity clothes since they aren’t worn for a long time. Sure, we’re pregnant for nearly ten months (whoever tried to convince the world it’s only nine months is a liar!!), but our bellies don’t expand on day one. Starting to show varies from woman to woman based on things like her build, size and position of baby, what number baby and more. It’s not uncommon to go half the pregnancy without showing.

That means we spend too much to wear clothes for only a few months! This also means a lot of our maternity clothes are still in good shape – they’re just taking up closet and drawer space.  So what if you could sell some of your gently used maternity items and/or buy gently used items for less than retail?  Then you should check out Bump to Bump Maternity!
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A year ago today I had an ultrasound that told us we were having a little girl.  It’s incredible how much our lives have changed since that discovery.

Do I regret finding out ahead of time?

Heck no.

I liked knowing, though I was somewhat paranoid that they were wrong.  One benefit of having lots of ultrasounds due to gestational diabetes is that we were able to look at her frequently.

And be reassured that I didn’t need to return the pink dresses.
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Bonding with baby starts well before baby is born.  I started bonding with Rissa once I could feel her move around.  It felt more real at that point.  As my pregnancy progressed, I talked out loud to her and listened to music.  We love music, so it’s a normal part of my daily life.  I often wondered how well Rissa could hear the music I played, so I often turned the car stereo up just a bit louder.

Knowing that a lot of pregnant moms want to share music with their babies while in utero, there have been some different pregnancy music solutions developed.  I received the opportunity to review the Lullabelly prenatal music belt.  I checked it out wondering if I would have used it, if I’d use it during my next pregnancy, and if it would make a good baby shower gift.

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I decided to try something a little different this week in honor of it being a year since we found out I was pregnant with Rissa.  Enjoy!

(I made this video, yet I tear up while watching it.  I’m such a softy now!)

A year ago today, my life changed forever.  Our life changed forever.

My husband and I tried to conceive for three years.  The details of that journey may appear in another post sometime.  Suffice it to say, it was an emotional three years, especially for me.

My cycle had been irregular for several years, contributing to our conception difficulties.  At the end of 2009, I really started to think I couldn’t get pregnant without some sort of medical intervention.  In fact, I was shopping around for a new OBGYN.

I received a recommendation for a high risk doctor.  The woman who referred me liked this doctor and this woman was struggling with her own conception difficulties… something we discussed with each other… a point of connection we each could relate to…

That doctor’s office number sat in my purse for at least a month.  I kept meaning to call, but I constantly put it off.  Was it fear? Embarrassment? Laziness? I don’t know, to be honest.
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Fair warning: This post will be long and may include some less than flowery descriptions of the disgustingly beautiful process that is childbirth.  It also may seem disorganized as it is being written stream of consciousness style.

Another side note: I originally intended for her birth story to be a single post.  However, it is not something I’m capable of telling in few words since I want a thoroughly detailed account recorded.  Something I can share with her when she is older.  So, it will be told in more than one post… here is part one.

Part One

My last OB appointment was on October 28th.  At that time, I was scheduled to be induced on November 5th.  Actually, at the beginning of that doctor appointment, I was scheduled to go into the hospital the night of November 4th to be given something to help my cervix dilate prior to the induction.

At that time, I was scheduled to begin my FMLA leave from work on November 3rd.

At that time, I thought I’d be coming home with a beautiful baby on November 7th.  However, Miss Aerissa had other plans.

Let me back up a moment.  I know posting slowed down here.  Nearing the end of my pregnancy, I was feeling more exhausted and trying to prepare as much as possible for my daughter’s arrival.  I never felt the nesting experience the way I’ve heard so many women describe it.  I didn’t go crazy with cleaning the house and kept questioning my perceived lack of motivation.  My focus was on my daughter’s laundry and her room.  It was also on groceries – making sure we had what we’d need for a few weeks (other than minor basics like milk), knowing that once babygirl arrived, we wouldn’t be going out too much for the next month.

There were still preparations I was planning to make… including posts I was going to write/schedule.
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We saw my belly start to pop in the second trimester.  Now here’s how it’s been growing in the third trimester!

(Warning – I didn’t know Brian was getting my face in these pictures too – I look a mess! Before he was only focusing on the belly.  Dang him! lol)

August 29th – 29 weeks 4 days

September 13th – 31 weeks 5 days

September 26th – 33 weeks 4 days

*(This last one is not the most up-to-date, since today I am 36 weeks 4 days)

At this point, time feels fast yet slow all at the same time.  I can hardly believe our little one will be here in less than a month.  The weeks seem to go by quickly.  Yet… it doesn’t seem fast enough.  Work days drag on.  Having medical monitoring appointments twice a week (due to the diabetes) does help the weeks go by a bit faster.

I just can’t wait until she is here.  I want to snuggle her!

It’s really like my husband said the other day:

Waiting for her to be born is like waiting for Christmas morning.

The anticipation and excitement continue to grow!

Looking around the nursery, it really looks like a little girl lives here.  Brian put together the swing, stroller, and pack ‘n play.  This weekend I washed all of her sheets, blankets, bibs, towels, washcloths, hats, mittens, socks and 0-3 clothes.  At first, I was only going to wash a few things.  I had this moment of panic what if she isn’t a she but a he? And then it passed.  We’ve gotten more ultrasounds than most people.  I don’t think they were wrong.  Yet, there’s still that tiny bit of fear… not that I wouldn’t be happy with a little boy – just he wouldn’t be happy with all the pink and purple stuff.
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