Friday Flashback

I found a couple photos on my phone that I wanted to post so that they aren't forgotten.  A little Friday Flashback if you will.

 (pregnancy confirmed!)

 (a picture of the amniotic sac at our first dr. visit.... there is a teeny tiny baby in there!)

 (10 weeks old)

(10 weeks on in 3D... mind-blowing)

Pregnancy Update (18 weeks)

 (17 weeks, 6 days)

How far along: 18 weeks today!

Baby's size: Baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and weighs almost 7 ounces.

Boy or girl: We find out in just 2 weeks.

How am I feeling: Baby is definitely growing in there because I have been more tired than usual.  I had to take a nap last Sunday because I could hardly keep my eyes open (I never take naps).  Other than that I am feeling really good these days.

Maternity clothes: The time has come to retire all my pants.  I can still wear my jeans with the zipper unzipped and held together with a hair elastic but that still isn't very comfortable.  I have one pair of dress pants I can still squeeze in but I fear they are squishing baby too much.  I officially need to shop for maternity pants.  

Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty well until last night.  I am going to order myself a pregnancy pillow to sleep with because my tummy definitely needs the extra support.

Baby movement: I've thought I felt some movement the past couple nights while lying in bed but I can't be sure if it was the baby or just my imagination.  I think I will be feeling more definite movement really soon.

Food cravings: None. 

Food aversions: None.

What I miss: Wine... wine... wine.  I did have a small glass a couple weeks ago and while it was nice I didn't feel too sad about not being able to drink more of it (thank goodness).

Best moment: Feeling possible baby movement and having my belly pop out a little bit more.  Also checking out baby gear with Kev... shopping for baby stuff is really fun!

What I am looking forward to: Finding out if little Baby Fournie is a boy or a girl.

(17 weeks, 6 days)

For a New Mama... Skincare

During pregnancy and after your skin has to be a lot of stretching and shrinking.  As our tummies (and other more unfortunate body parts) expand I think it is extremely important to take care of your skin.  While a healthy/nutrient-dense pregnancy diet can seriously increase the elasticity of your skin (I'll do a post on this at some point) there are also plenty on skincare products out there to pamper yourself with.  Even before getting pregnant I made it a priority to use skincare products that were free of all the nasty chemicals such as phthalates, parabens and synthetic fragrances.  I will admit I am not always the best at dissecting ingredient lists but I do my best.  Now that I am pregnant it has become even more critical to watch what I put on my skin.  I really want to keep my chemical exposure to a minimum especially when it comes to something I slather all over myself every day.

(Pregnancy Essentials)

So, have you ever heard of Mama Mio?  This incredible company creates rich skincare products free from all nasty chemicals.  So far I have been using the Boob Tube and the Tummy Rub Butter.  The Boob Tube helps fight the affects of gravity on the girls and the Tummy Rub Butter increases the elasticity and suppleness of your skin to help prevent the dreaded stretch marks.  I am completely in love with both products. I also have the Pregnancy Essentials pictured above to take along traveling with me.  While these products are a little pricier than I would like I think they are worth the investment (you also don't have to use them every day).  I would highly recommend these product to any woman, pregnant or not.

 

(Left, Right) 

Another company that has caught my eye is Earth Mama Angel Baby.  I am very interested in trying out their postpartum products.  Wouldn't this Postpartum Recovery Essentials Bundle make the perfect gift for a new mama?  You could also go ahead and get this Birth & Baby Kit to cover all the essentials for the new mama and baby.  

(Bee Essentials Take Me Home Striped Basket - also comes in blue)

I have to mention Burt's Bees because I have been using their products for years.  I was just looking through the Burt's Bees Baby website and spotted many items I think would be lovely to use on this new baby of mine.  The lovely thing about Burt's Bees products is that they are available in most drugstores so there is no need to order them online, convenience is key. 

Lastly... coconut oil... the nectar of the gods, haha.  I use it as makeup remover and face moisturizer in the evenings.  It can be slathered all over your skin.  With its moisturizing and antimicrobial properties it truly has endless uses.  I would highly recommend that everyone have some in their bathroom and kitchen.  Just check out these 101 used for coconut oil and try and tell me it isn't the greatest thing ever.  Here is a great link breaking down how to choose what kind of coconut oil to buy.

The Most Precious Sound

At my midwife appointment on Monday I recorded the heartbeat so that Kevin could hear it when I got home.  Little Baby Fournie was doing quite a lot of back flips so it took us a little while to nail down a consistent heartbeat to record.  We definitely have an acrobat in there which the midwife says is a very good thing.  I just wish I could feel all the movement.... soon though, it will happen soon.  The big "flub" noise at the end of the video is baby acrobatics.   

Finally a Bump Photo!

(16 weeks, 2 days)

This photo was taken at Aubrey and Rob's wedding in Cleveland, OH this past weekend.  There is definitely some baby in that bump but it's also possible that it is mostly bread rolls and wedding cake. 

Dear Baby (15 weeks, 6 days)

Dear Baby,

This weekend your daddy and I traveled to Ithaca, NY for your Great Grandmother's memorial service.  It was such an incredible weekend filled with family and a whole lotta love.  Your great grandmother's whole family was there.  It was the first time in a couple years that we have had the whole gang in one place.  We will be getting together for Thanksgiving this year (a family tradition) and everyone simply cannot wait to see you and hold you.  I wonder if I will be able to get my hands on you the whole weekend.  I'm sure your daddy and I will get some much needed naptime.

Being with family is one of the best things in the whole wide world.  I want you to grow up knowing how important family is.  It is the most important thing in the world to me.  I am blessed with the the most incredible family I would have ever asked for.  Just wait till you meet your uncles.  They are hilarious and so full of energy and love.  I think you are just going to love them to death.  Having two brothers has been such a blessing for me.  Hopefully down the road your daddy and I will be able to bless you with a couple siblings.

Do you have enough room in there?  I know you are busy growing but I still don't have much of a baby bump.  I just want to make sure you aren't too squished because there is plenty of room to expand whenever you are ready.

Love,
Mom  

Feeling pregnant... or not...

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have dreamed about being a mom for as long as I can remember.  I am pretty sure it is exactly what I am meant to be.  As you can imagine I have spent countless hours imaging what it would feel like to finally be pregnant for the first time, to finally be a mom.  I've pictured myself with a growing belly, imagined how sweet it would be to feel my baby kick, imagined how connected I would feel with this new life growing inside me.  Now I am where I have waited so long to be.  I am pregnant and I feel... normal.  HA.  Sure in the beginning I had really sore boobs and there were a couple weeks where I felt pretty nauseous but now the only symptoms I notice are shortness of breath when walking up hills or stairs and increased exhaustion at the end of each day.  Being easily winded and tired doesn't make me feel pregnant. 

Don't get me wrong, I am SO HAPPY about being pregnant.  There are so many things I am looking forward to.  I simply cannot wait to meet this little baby and watch Kevin become the best dad ever.  I feel so blessed to be able to carry this child (I know many people are not as lucky).  I just wish I felt more connected to the baby in this moment.  I still look at sonogram photos and have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that that little baby in the picture is inside me.  I think what I am craving so badly right now is a physical connection.  I want to be able to put my hand on my stomach and feel the bump the baby has created.  I want to feel all the little punches and kicks.  All of this will come soon I know and of course I will can wait as long as it takes (with as much patience as I can muster).  Maybe I will wake up tomorrow morning and my belly will have popped.  Maybe I will feel those first little flutters of movement in the next couple weeks.  I know I have to be patient but in this moment I just want it to be happening now.  Sigh...   

I am going to look back and feel really silly for writing this, aren't I?  I hope that no mothers who have had really rough pregnancies feel offended that I am complaining about feeling so good.  I just want to get be able to look back and remember how I was feeling at this time... to laugh at how stupid this will sound in the future.  This even sounds silly now as I read it back to myself.  I sure sound whiny.  I almost don't actually want to post it... but this is supposed to be an honest journey so post it I will.

For a New Mama... Robes

I spend a lot of time these days day dreaming about what is to come.  A majority of that time is spent thinking about all the things we will need for this new baby.  I think soon-to-be-mamas spend a lot of time thinking about what is needed to care for a new baby but I think we shouldn't ignore our own needs.  I've decided to start a little series about things I think new mamas might want/need.  Some of these things are purely for comfort, some will be more focused on how to take care of your new body.  This is just meant to be fun and having never been a mama before this is all just my speculation of what I will possibly want/would find useful.

First up... robes!  I have never bought myself a robe before.  Is that strange?  I got a white one as a wedding present but find I don't wear it as often as I thought I would.  In imaging the first few weeks of new babyness I keep thinking how nice it would be to have a colorful robe or two to throw on over the leggings/pajama pants + tank top I will most likely be living in.  Just a little something to add a color and life into my wardrobe (and to draw everyone's attention away from the bags under my eyes and my unwashed hair).  Here are a few robes I have come across that are simply beautiful:

Left: Rikshaw Design Mughal Robe

Top Right: Plum Pretty Sugar (ankle length) Kimono Robe in lilac
 Bottom Right: Love Ophelia Serendipity Robe in coral

Pregnancy Update (15 weeks)

I thought I would start doing a little pregnancy update every couple weeks so here goes...

How far along: 15 weeks today!

Baby's size: Approximately 4 inches long and 2.5 ounces... apparently that's the size of an apple (according the BabyCenter)

Boy or girl: Don't know yet but counting down the days till our June 13 appointment when we will find out.

How am I feeling: Very good and normal these days.  I get pretty tired at the end of each day and I get out of breath quite easily.

Maternity clothes:  None yet but my wearable wardrobe is shrinking in size, uh oh.

Sleep: Great because I get so tired toward the end of every day.  I do get up to pee at least 3 times a night which is inconvenient. 

Baby movement:  Nothing yet, hopefully soon (please baby!).

Food cravings: Nothing really besides sweets but that is nothing new so I don't think I would consider that a craving.

Food aversions: None.

What I miss: A nice glass of wine... or 3.

Best moment: Celebrating mother's day early last night with Kevin... I still can't believe I am a mom!

What I am looking forward to: Seeing my mom's side of the family this weekend and our next midwife appointment so we can hear the heartbeat again.

Next update I will add a baby bump picture!

Dear Baby (14 weeks, 5 days)

Dear Baby,

How are you doing in there?  Today I was telling your dad how sometimes I just feel too normal to be pregnant and it worries me a little.  I know that is such a silly worry and really I should be overjoyed that I feel so good these days.  We could be feeling so much worse, couldn't we?  I am just anxious to feel you move.  Just a little jab to let me know you are okay.  I am hoping that any day now my belly will pop.  Your silly dad thought that something actually "popped" when I told him that, haha.  I am looking forward to having a little baby bump (instead of this fat roll... wahhhhh).  So when you decide you need a little extra room just go for it... I won't mind the bump.

I love you so much already!

Love,
Mom

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Dear Baby (14 weeks)

Dear Baby,

We had a rough day yesterday didn't we?  I told the midwife at our appointment on Monday that I had been feeling great... then I wake up Tuesday and feel sick to my stomach with a pounding headache all day.  I thought we were over the not feeling good part... let's keep the feeling sick to a minimum, okay?

Today we enter the 2nd trimester!  One down, two to go.  When are you gonna really start to show yourself?  I keep joking with your dad that I am just looking fat these days.  I asked my midwife if I had a baby bump yet and she (sadly) informed me that the bump I have is just my stomach fat that you are pushing up... not cool baby, not cool.  I'm only kidding.  I don't mind looking kinda chubby as long as you are growing big and strong in there.  We heard your little heart beat beating away like crazy.  You must be working very hard.  Feel free to show yourself anytime soon (in my belly of course, don't you dare try to enter this world yet)!

Love,
Mom