34 Weeks

Non-Maternity Sweater Kohl's // Maternity Leggings HERE

How far along? 34 Weeks 

Fruit Size: Butternut Squash

Nickname this week: Little Buddy

Total weight gain/loss: No Comment

Maternity clothes? Yes (minus that super comfy sweater above)

Stretch marks? Until this week I was blessed to only have one stretch mark, but now there's a mini family of them springing up.  Throughout my pregnancy I've used a combination of Suave Revitalizing with Vitamin E Body Lotion & JOHNSON’S baby oil with shea & cocoa butter, but this week added Deep Steep Body Butter - Grapefruit Bergamot & Mederma® Stretch Marks Therapy to my routine.  Side note- the body butter is amazing for fast itch relief & I plan to gift it at every baby shower I attend for the rest of my life.
Belly button in or out? Out

Wedding ring on or off? Off

Sleep: Good & not so good nights.

Favorite thing this week: The most wonderful surprise baby shower <3

Miss anything? My pre-baby waistline.  Yesterday I was daydreaming about sleeping on my stomach & being able to roll over.

Movement: Baby is doing the wave in there & pushing up on the right side a ton.

Food Cravings: Ice Cream

Pregnancy Symptoms: Swollen Ankles/Feet, Sciatic Nerve Pain

Have you started to show? Yes

Gender: Boy

Happy or moody? Sleepy
Looking forward to: Finishing baby's room this weekend & packing those hospital bags.

Meeting the Pediatrician

Before the visit:

I am super nervous about meeting the right pediatrician.  A Doctor that's in sync with what we're looking for, friendly & nearby.  As first time parents Eric & I both know there will be lots of questions, anxiety & nervousness on our end; especially during the first couple months after baby is born.  So someone who understands this is our first go round with an infant is also key.

Our OB, family & a few others in between all suggested one place which made choosing who to set up our first interview with super easy.  Plus two locations, one less than five minutes from our home & the second no more than fifteen, was a huge bonus.

So to get ready I scheduled a prenatal visit which includes a tour, meeting one of the Doctors & a chance to ask any questions we might have.  Then I started researching what others looked for during their interviews & found this amazing article by Fit Mama 4 Life.  In addition to her suggested questions, I'm also adding:

- Is a lactation consultant in house or suggested one nearby.

- Are same day sick appointments offered.

- What medications (i.e. Infant Tylenol) should we always have on hand at home.

- Are all visits handled by a Doctor or are well baby visits typically done with a Nurse Practitioner?

After the visit:

Looking back I have no idea why I was so nervous about this because we couldn't have asked for a better first interview (& last because I don't even want to look anywhere else).  The Doctor answered nearly all of my questions before I even asked, which was a huge check mark in their favor.  The entire office was spotless & organized, a second plus.  And turns out we were visiting with the same pediatrician Eric went to, just in a newly remodeled space (what are the odds of that one??).

This visit was our last scheduled tour or class which is making me reflect back on everything we've done to prepare for baby L & what I still need to feel ready to bring that little guy home next month (squeal!!).

Which led me to the conclusion that everything will never be 100% ready.  There will be frantic last minute emails before being away from my business, all of our current family photos will not be organized (sniff sniff), there will probably be dirty dishes in the sink & the dogs will not be fully trained but that's okay.  All of it is okay & will be perfect in it's imperfection.  Now on to finish painting that dresser from our Nursery Inspiration post...

32 Weeks

Fuchsia Maternity Maxi HERE

How far along? 32 Weeks 

Fruit Size: Squash

Nickname this week: Little Buddy

Total weight gain/loss: +28 lbs (meep)

Maternity clothes? Yes, I had a couple non-maternity loose fitting tanks that I'd rotate in but the bump put a stop to that this week.

Stretch marks? Yes
Belly button in or out? Out

Wedding ring on or off? Off

Sleep: Mix of good & bad.

Favorite thing this week: When baby got the hiccups while we were listening to his heartbeat at the last check-up.  That may have been favorite thing of the month <3

Miss anything? Ankles & feet that aren't swollen!  I've never seen such a thing, I'll start the day out great but by dinnertime they're so puffy.  Any tips to help with that one?  I'm already wearing compression socks as often as possible & elevating a few times throughout the day (one of the perks of being your own boss & working from home).

Movement: Lots & Lots

Food Cravings: Still Sweets

Pregnancy Symptoms: Swollen Ankles/Feet, Sciatic Nerve Pain

Have you started to show? Yes

Gender: Boy

Happy or moody? Happy (& sometimes whiny)
Looking forward to: The pregnancy massage/pedicure hubs surprised me with for week 33 (#onehappymama) & trying out prenatal yoga.

PinkBlush Maternity & My Dream Maxi

I had no idea how difficult it is to find a maternity dress until this month.  We have three things lined up in the next 8 weeks & I was determined to find a maxi that would cover spider veins & swollen ankles while still giving me a feminine shape.  Tall order, right??  

It's hit me more & more over the past couple weeks that my body is no longer just my own; which leaves me longing for styles like what I'd worn pre-pregnancy.  Khakis & tanks to garden in (or try to with that belly), skinny jeans & flowy tops for date night, sundresses to lounge around the house.  It's the simple things like that which leave me feeling my best. 

So after searching high & low, & briefly considering sewing my own, I came across PinkBlush Maternity.  As someone who is all about comfort & casual when it comes to clothes, this breezy maxi is perfect for grilling on the weekend or to wear to one of those events I mentioned before.  Plus it's something I will totally throw on after baby L makes his appearance in June.

Special Note: This post was written in collaboration with PinkBlush Maternity, but all opinions are my own.

Nursery Inspiration

I am all about nursery DIYs, not only to save money (which is a huge bonus) but also because it adds a bit of us into baby's room.  Working in such an artsy industry with Painted by the Shore it's sometimes hard for me to channel my inner creative for home projects.  Sounds crazy, right?  It almost feels like bringing work home, something I'm sure tons of you can relate to.

But I'm determined to create a bit of canvas wall art, give baby's hand me down dresser a face lift, create a gorgeous mobile & of course that library/photo wall you see below which may be my favorite inspiration of the bunch.  Can you tell I'm an avid book reader?  Right now my book list consists of pregnancy magazines from our Doctor's office, What to Expect When You're Expecting, What to Expect the First Year & a few new children's favorites I read to the bump (& the dogs who always end up resting their heads on my stomach to listen).

(from left) Color Palette by magnetStreet // Navy Dresser by involving COLOR
// Hot Air Balloon Mobile by Lia Griffith

Library Wall by Project Nursery

We're t-minus 2 months (squeal) to the due date so stay tuned this month to see how each DIY comes out!  Plus I'm going to share my own instructions on that canvas art <3

30 Weeks

Maternity Top HERE // Maternity Capri Pants SIMILAR HERE

How far along? 30 Weeks 

Fruit Size: Cucumber

Nickname this week: The Cuc

Total weight gain/loss: No comment, I think I'm still in shock after seeing those numbers on the scale at our last appointment.

Maternity clothes? Yes, minus a few of hubby's tops (his grey tees are just beyond comfy right now).

Stretch marks? Yes
Belly button in or out? Out

Wedding ring on or off? Off

Sleep: Okay but my back pain seems to get worse at night which makes getting comfortable enough to fall asleep harder.

Favorite thing this week: How sweet & protective our pups are of me & the bump.

Miss anything? Having an entire closet that fit.  This week I thought I'd try on a few pre-preggie maxi dresses figuring they're so long and only fitted at the bust, meaning there was no reason they wouldn't work at 30 weeks pregnant.  I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, oh my goodness. 

Movement: Less this week which is strange but after checking our midwife suspects The Cuc is just settling into sleep patterns.

Food Cravings: Sweets

Pregnancy Symptoms: Acid Reflex

Have you started to show? Yes

Gender: Boy

Happy or moody? Happy :)
Looking forward to: Practicing the things we learned in birthing class until we memorize those breathing & pregnancy massage techniques.

Summer Baby Boy Wishlist

The past 2 weeks have been baby crazy!  We did our hospital tour which was super helpful, took an infant/child CPR class & did a childbirth class (check out Jan Ferraro if you're in CT, she was AMAZING).  

I will be the first to admit the hospital tour made me queasy.  It felt like this crazy dose of reality, you'd think the giant stomach or nursery prep would have done it by now but apparently not, that in ~2 months it will no longer be just us two & I'll be in labor.  WOW.  But the childbirth class the following week was a huge nerve calmer with the labor part.  Hubs & I had no idea that there are so many options when giving birth, plus ways to make me more comfortable (#yay) & positions that can actually shorten the labor process (#doubleyay).

All that's left is a meet the pediatrician appointment later this month, getting that nursery done & some serious stocking up of all the essentials.  Turns out I am a total sucker for rompers & bandana bibs (who wouldn't be with a summertime babe??).  Here are a few things currently on my wish list (& a few from our registry).

(clockwise from top left) Carter's Gingham Romper // H&M Polo-shirt Jumpsuit // Carter's Striped Top & Overall Set
// aden by aden + anais Bandana Bib 2 Pack // H&M Hooded Jacket // H&M Hat and Bandana Bib Set