The Mailhes Project

I am getting slower at posting these! I am 1 day away from being 37 weeks, but the picture was taken at 36 weeks so we’ll go with that.

So many things are coming together
– nursery is done! (hopefully pictures coming soon)
– My dad made an awesome toy box for baby girl- it turned out exactly how I wanted and looks great in her room!
– I THINK we have everything needed for baby’s arrival
– hospital bag is packed- so weird!
– I have 1 week left of work- then off for the holidays and maternity leave. I have NEVER not worked for this long so its going to be so strange! But I am excited to be able to focus on our new little family for a while with little distractions.

Although she has always been such a mover, her movements are definitely feeling different- they feel VERY LOW and bigger more purposeful movements, but less overall. I’m pretty sure she is running out of room in there! We got another sonogram a few weeks ago. I met with another doctor in my doctor’s practice and she was worried I was measuring too small so ordered a sonogram- although I figured it was unnecessary I will never say no to another chance to baby girl. Sonogram showed she was about 5.5 pounds, heartbeat was strong and exactly where it should be and she is in the 42% growth rate. Other than that we didn’t get much else. The sonographer (is that what they are called?) was so surprised by how stubborn baby girl was. She has BOTH hands covering her face and as we tried to have me lay on my side, push my belly and adjust her so we could get better views, she would NOT budge! We saw her move, but it was always on her own time and she would never react to us trying to get her to move. The sonographer asked who she got her stubbornness from. Trey is adamant that trait is from me! No way! 🙂 Out of pity we got a print out of baby girl’s foot because that is literally the only thing she would show us enough of to take a picture. So we’ll just have to wait until she actually arrives to see her. I am perfectly fine with that and just glad to see she is healthy and growing great. Side note: later meeting with MY doctor- she is very happy with my measurements and where everything is- she does believe that sonogram was unnecessary.

This past Saturday we had a FULL day of performances for the studio. We had Christmas performances lots of our classes during the day and then a performance for our competitive teams that night. This was the first day I started feeling… weird. I couldn’t describe it very well, but I just had to sit down more often (which I have not really had to do yet), couldn’t always catch my breath and I swear my belly weight is starting to pull me forward. Not sure if I overdid it that day or I am just so close that this is just what I am going to feel like for the last few weeks. But I am definitely feeling like that cliche pregnant woman- waddling around when I walk, holding my belly or my back when standing around and having to sit down as well as run to the bathroom very frequently!

I am actually 37 weeks tomorrow with only 22 more days on the countdown. Woo hoo!

I have been more busy in these past few weeks than I think I ever have before in my life! Still enjoying life and trying to not over do it (although I’m not sure I know what that means exactly), but hoping this little girl is not feeling my stress in there. Lots of exciting things are happening though.

Most exciting and at the top of the list is that we had a sonogram to check baby’s position. She was head down and I now know that the large lump on my right side near my belly button that keeps poking out is her little booty. She is constantly sticking that thing out. We are so happy to know she is in a good position. Of course she can still move, but I feel good that because she is there now she’ll know how to be there again when the time comes for her to grace us with her presence. We tried to see her face, but yet again she was covering it. Only this time she was using both hands and an arm to hide her face. Seriously girlfriend? No peeks? I didn’t even care though because I was practically crying knowing that she was head down. They are estimating that she was 3 lbs. 11 ounces (this was now 2 weeks ago), her heart rate was 122 and she was showing to be in 49% for growth, so just right at average. As much as my family (and myself included) is convinced I am going to have a HUGE baby I would just like to say no monster size baby in here yet! I was a 10 lb. baby and Trey was just under 10 lbs. so we shall see…

My wonderful friends, Erika, Lauren, Liz & Roxie, who I love so so much, threw me such a cute baby shower. So many family and friends came to celebrate and we feel so lucky to be loved so much! Guests brought books instead of cards so we have started a nice library for baby girl. I can’t wait to start reading with her! And we took home quite a haul of some great stuff for bath time, bedtime, many outfit changes and more.

I am starting to feel the imminent deadline at work as I try to get things SUPER organized and all lined out for when I am out. Luckily I have the best staff in the world so I know that whatever I look over or do not get wonderfully organized before January they will be more than capable of taking care of. We are also getting much further along regarding our studio building. It finally looks like we really will be breaking ground in January and most of the paperwork, meetings and planning is largely done now. That is also feeling more real and exciting, I just can’t believe its all happening at once.

Other things that have happened these past few weeks
– breast feeding class (I feel better about it and more overwhelmed about it all at the same time)
– birthing class- I am actually feeling very confident about this and not scared at all… yet!
– met with a Doula- we are not sure yet if we are going to use one. I loved her and we are just so torn on whether or not we should have one with us
– the Nursery is almost TOTALLY done- I can’t wait to post pictures of it. I have worked so hard on this room and am pretty proud of it- lots of help from the hubby & my mom has definitely helped
– shopping spree! I bought just about everything else we didnt get from our showers and I feel like we are pretty set
– regarding the emotional roller coaster- there were a few days that both Trey & I agreed I was much more irritable than my normal self, then it passed. Some days I just feel stressed, some days I am so happy and feel like I am on Cloud 9 and then the past day or 2 the tears have been much easier to come by (including a dramatic breakdown because I spilled my entire plate of bunless burgers before I even got to eat- all over the white rug).

Regardless of what is going on I really am loving this journey. Only a few more posts to go and then we will get to meet this little girl, see what she looks like, see what her name is going to be and start that whole new world.

We are at the 30 week mark, which means that after this week we are in single digits for the countdown. I am so excited that it is getting closer, but feeling like I need to cherish every last minute of being pregnant. I have so enjoyed being pregnant (minus those first 12-13 weeks of being SO SICK!) and feel a little sad to see it coming to an end. Ok, so I know I still have 10 weeks, I just know those 10 weeks are going to go very very fast. So here’s to enjoying every day, no matter what! (Will you remind me of that when I’m so big and fat that I can barely walk around at the end?)

New updates for the past few weeks
– my last appointment dr. was unable to say for sure if she had moved head down yet or not. She was previously breech, which FREAKS me out. The thought of not getting the chance to have a natural birth is crushingly devastating- dramatic, I know, but that’s how I currently feel. She thinks she is diagonal with head on the lower end, but we will have to wait and find out
– I have recently found out I am anemic, which apparently is very common for the average pregnant woman and with me already being iron deficient before it was bound to happen. No big deal, just taking supplements and realizing THAT may be why I have been SOOO tired.
– My terrible pain in my hips/pelvic/ahem…other parts has miraculously gone away. I have been feeling BETTER as I go along, which is strange and awesome! I’ll take it.
– It feels like it takes an act of God to wake up in the morning because I am so tired. Then, midnight rolls around and as I try to go to bed and I super happy to be awake and stay that way. Trey on the other hand most likely does not like the new nocturnal me. He already had a hard time getting me to stop talking before going to bed before now. Now that I know I will be up until at LEAST 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning I would love to keep talking all night long. But some people do have to wake up at the crack of dawn for work, thank goodness not me.
– Her movements are so dramatic (which is apparently the word of the week for me). She moves so much it is hard to focus on what I am doing sometimes. She has started this new thing when I cross my arms and rest them on my belly she will slowly and deliberately (or so I think) push my arms off my belly. What a stinker!

Coming Up
– Next week I get another sonogram to check baby’s position. I am praying (and would totally take any other prayers people are willing to give out) that she is head down at this check. If not, I have a plan (as always). I have got some good advice from both my dr. and several friends about the benefits of chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy, one of which is helping baby to be able to naturally flip over. Either way, I am excited about the sonogram- I can’t WAIT to see her and see what her little body looks like now.
– I have another shower coming up that a few of my sweet friends are throwing me. So excited to celebrate with everyone!

Week 27!? Time is flying by! A few weeks ago I couldn’t wait for her to get here so we could meet her and name her (yes- we are keeping the name a secret and in fact do not know her name ourselves. Trey & I have decided on a few names and are waiting to meet her before naming her). But lately I have been loving being pregnant- despite the complaints and whines I have for my husband and my best friends when I feel huge and am hurting- and I feel like I will miss having her in my belly! I love having her with me all day and being so close. I also am starting to feel like things are so much easier right now and she is so much safer right where she is. So I am perfectly happy with where we are and have no desire to rush things along. 🙂

She is still moving a lot, but her movements are definitely feeling different. I don’t know if its because she is getting bigger or because there is less room in there for her to move, but her movements are not as jarring as they used to be. They are feeling stranger and like more controlled movement than random pokes and bursts of movement. I had a doctor’s appointment today and was told she is very very low and is currently breech (yikes!), but there is plenty of time for her to flip head down first so no need to worry. So if you see me standing on my head frequently you will know its not from going completely insane (only partially)- I am just so hoping she will flip herself over. My doctor is also completely on board with our unmedicated birth plan and was very encouraging when I talked through it with her which makes me feel SO good to have her on my side! Everything was on track at the doctor- waiting to hear back about my glucose test- hoping no gestational diabetes here! But really that orange sugar drink was not so bad- not great, but totally fine. From here on out its dr. appointments every 2 weeks!

One of my very close friends, Liz, had her baby this week and he is such a cute baby! It is so strange that we have been pregnant together for so long and now she is a mommy and I will be following in her footsteps in not too long. I love getting to hear her stories and journey before I get there myself. I am so happy for Liz, Brent and Baby Briggs! What a blessing! Really! This whole giving life thing is seriously a MIRACLE. Before getting pregnant I thought of babies and the miracle of life so differently. It is so amazing to see God’s work and see his blessings. I feel amazing blessed to be a part of it and to bring another one of his children to this world.

This has been the 2 weeks of GROWTH for me (and baby). I feel like I have just expanded overnight! My belly is so obviously noticeable to complete strangers and I just feel pretty huge! It is weird how quickly things are changing, but also how quickly I get accustomed to these changes.
The biggest ‘symptom’ I am having right now is major pain in my whole tailbone/groin/inner thigh area. Other than that, I am feeling great and even taking that into consideration I am really loving being pregnant right now!
Baby Mailhes is now moving ALL the time and I am completely loving it. I feel like its our first form of interaction. She likes to move a lot more at night (or maybe since its the only time I’m siting still I notice it more?) and I think when I drink a lot of really cold water it seems to perk her up a bit too.

We had another sonogram so they could get a look at her face among a few other things and although she was still giving the dr a little trouble (I guess she is a little shy) they were able to give us some pictures of her face! This has made it 100 times more real to me seeing a picture of something that looks like a real baby. I have to admit I have the pictures on my nightstand and I look at them every single night before I go to bed. She is just so stinkin’ cute! So here I am- I’m already a mom that wants to show everyone the latest picture of what I think is the cutest baby in existence.
Its a picture of a picture so its very blurry, but I am loving those chubby cheeks!
She weighed in a 1 lb. 5 ounces and everything else is looking good and on track.

In a few weeks I have my last monthly appointment and from there we go to appointments every 2 weeks which just makes it seem like we are getting so close!

Other highlights of these past 2 weeks- we have been getting A LOT done at our house and especially in the nursery. I will try to post pictures soon. I have just had the best time decorating this room. Getting some fun DIY projects in which I always love and its been a great creative outlet lately.

I’m afraid to even think about how big my belly will be at my next post! Seems unreal, but such a fun time too!

Well I obviously missed the 22 week update so we are going with a 23 week update. Weird things are happening lately with my body and how I feel day to day, but overall I still have tons of energy and feel great most of the time. It is starting to feel like time is going by faster and faster and we just have more and more to do between baby stuff, house stuff and work, but I get bored easily so I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I have another sonogram tomorrow! Can’t wait to see baby girl again. This time we are hoping she will show her face more.

The all important nursery decor! I started out by putting a little too much pressure on creating a beautiful room for my little girl that I hadn’t made any decisions or done anything resembling progress with the room. I finally have a vision in mind and have started working on things to make it start coming together. Now that I have started it has been so fun to create this room for her and know that we are going to love this little girl so much in this room, laugh with her, possibly cry with her (maybe on those nights we can’t get her to sleep?) and create a life for her in our home.

Still lots to do, but here’s the very beginnings of our progress:

Wall color: Dinner Mint (Behr paint)

Dresser: found at High Street Antiques in Plano, repainted it with Annie Sloan chalk paint, sprayed the bottom and the hardware gold and clear coat(still in progress). This surprisingly came out exactly how I envisioned it in my head!

Accessories: metallic pouf to be used as ottoman was a must for me- bought from Land of Nod online. Other accessories from Hobby Lobby and not totally sure how or if we will work them all in.

Crib: Was the hardest decision, but has been ordered! The Parisian Crib by Bratt Decor in distressed black. Should have it in a few weeks! 

Glider: Ok this was also the hardest decision for Trey and I to agree on comfort and looks. The Kersey Glider from Babies R Us, but we ordered in in a lighter grey fabric that has some texture to it. Hopefully we like it when it comes in. Probably won’t get it until late November.

Possible accent color: Coral Dune by Behr. Not sure yet how we are incorporating this yet 

Still on the list of things to do or get:

– a black and white chevron rug? Maybe. 

– our very cool $15 side table from a thrift store that will be painted and redone

– hanging our gold chandelier (once we figure out where glider and other furniture are going- so this may be one of the last things we do)

I am posting this a little late (only 1 week and 1 day!) so actually baby is already now the size of a BANANA! That goes to show how fast this little girl is growing and how fast time is flying by. I have been in a whirlwind with work stuff, house stuff and nursery stuff before I realized I was even late on this post.

Things we have done the past 2 weeks:
-got new carpet in our guest room, office & nursery (thank goodness! it was gross before)
-got concrete poured for our backyard remodel
-painted the nursery, painted the guest room and repainted ALL baseboards in our guest rooms.
-Trey installed 2 new fans that look great!
-COMPLETELY cleaned out 3 closets in our house (I am most excited about this one)
-we ordered a glider for the nursery and since I made this picture we have now ordered the crib- so the big things for the nursery are done! (I am hoping to make a nursery post soon to show off all our goodies for the room and show progress of how it looks!)
-And not to mention my busiest time of the year has begun. Our fall classes start NEXT WEEK!

We are feeling very accomplished though and feel good about all the progress we have made on everything. My next big task to conquer is registering for all things baby, which I know nothing about, but we’ll leave that for another day.

Baby Mailhes has been moving a lot more lately. Movements are much less unusual feeling than how I originally thought it would feel to have a human being moving around inside you. I love feeling her move, but most movements are still very subtle and only felt when I am sitting very still or laying down at night.

At our appointment 2 Fridays ago we got our anatomy sonogram which was so great! We saw arms, legs, heart, brain, and lots more and yes she was still jumping! She was in such a position that they couldn’t get a good look at her face which just means I get another sonogram in 2 more weeks. I am happy to see her anytime. So hoping we will get to see more of her face next time. (Although most sonograms still all look fairly blob-ish to me, even when it is my own)

I have definitely been getting more “omg you are pregnant” comments lately, so I must be really showing now. Funny how you just get used to it and don’t even realize how much bigger you are until you have 5 people in 1 day tell you how much she is popping out! I have gotten much more comfortable with getting bigger and enjoy it now that people can tell I am actually pregnant. So fun! (We’ll see if I still say that 3 months down the road).

Can’t wait to continue to watch and track the changes on this crazy journey!

August 7, 2014

So these past 2 weeks I have apparently POPPED! And I know, I know I have a lot more belly growing to do, but I went from barely showing to being much more obviously prego. I can still get a way with hiding it in looser clothing, but with my typical dance class attire it is pretty obvious now! 

The strangest thing is happening with my belly button. I don’t know if this is uncomfortable news to share with you, but in the true spirit of pregnancy blogging I am going to anyways. My belly button is very flat. I am used to having a canyon of a belly button and all of the sudden there is no depth. When I lean back it even will pop out a bit. Seriously? 18 Weeks!? When googling the phenomenon of outie belly buttons I read many sagas about how its very normal for a pregnant woman’s belly button to pop out late in her 3rd trimester. Um, hello! I am still very much in my 2nd trimester. I guess this is just the start of funny, weird things to happen to my body a long the way. 

Another noteworthy milestone to mention is feeling her move. I still can’t decide if I am making it up in my head or if it is really her I am feeling. While its happening I’m sure its her because it feels so deliberate. Very purposeful movement as opposed to gurgly gas or tummy rumbles (I know enough with the gas and the body parts, but we’re only 18 weeks in- we’ve got lots more gas and body parts to talk about). So the first time I THINK I felt her move Trey & I were talking before bed and I was lamenting the fact that I hadn’t felt her move yet and since it has been a while in between doctor’s appointments I haven’t got to see her or hear a heartbeat in a while. In a final burst of my temper tantrum I fell back on the bed with my hands on my stomach with a “Please just let me feel you move in there!”. Within 5 seconds I felt a very small but distinct poke. That was it for that night, but since then I have felt the same movements much more. Most people describe their first feelings as a fluttering sensation, but so far mine are always pokes. I swear she most only move in sudden bursts of movement. If our last sonogram was any indication she is such a jumping bean! We watched her jump for about 15 minutes straight, no breaks (you go girl!). I think we are in for a very energetic Baby Girl Mailhes, unless she’s getting all that bouncy energy out now for her calm entry into the world. Although, if I am to get the appropriate payback for what I put my mom through when I was a little one, calm will not one of Baby Girls Mailhes’ many strengths- love you Mom! 

July 25, 2014

Just in the past week I have finally realized I AM HAVING A BABY! I keep telling Trey as if 1. he didn’t already know and 2. it’s something new I just found out. It has taken a while to sink in, but it is feeling real now! Now that the secret is out is has been fun getting to talk with friends more openly about it and celebrate with everyone in our lives.

This week I have finally started working on making a few decisions- the really important ones like what color should we paint the nursery and which crib do we want. (I’ll leave the actual important decisions for later.) Once I have something to show for all these decisions I will post our nursery progress! I have lots of DIY projects in mind so this could go either way- super cute and save lots of money, or a disaster that I end up hating so I go out and buy something new. Hoping for the first option.

Our last Dr. appointment was Friday and we heard Baby Mailhes’ heartbeat. It sounded so much stronger and louder than the 1st one I heard at only 10 weeks! Dr. measured my belly and everything is right on track.

We feel so blessed!