31-33 Weeks and Our GA Baby Shower Highlights!

33 Weeks, Baby is the size of a pineapple. Sorry my belly cut off the "P" in the one picture haha

How Far Along:  At 31 Weeks, baby girl was ranging from 3.5 - 4 lbs and 16 inches long. Also during week our baby girl's all five senses are fully developed and in working order. At 32 Weeks, she's increased in length and weight a good bit this week at 4.2 and 19 inches long. (Which is showing on momma too.) and This week at 33 weeks, starts her gaining phase, gaining a 1/2 pound each week from now until her debut. 

32 Weeks Photo : No chalkboard because of traveling
My wonderful husband took this photo.
 

How I'm Feeling: Mentally and Emotionally, I am feeling great for the most part! I've had some very emotional days last 2 weeks due to being exhausted. Oh and remember that thing called pregnancy brain? Well it has come back into my life full swing hahaha!

Physically, No serious complaints, but I'll share what I'm experiencing...

• Braxton hicks (painless and spontaneous).
• Itchy abdomen (Due to a growing baby but I am using lots of coconut oil as moisturizer)
• Midnight and 3AM bathroom runs.(Which I think is preparing me for feeding times)
• Heartburn, I've had the entire time. (Hopefully she is born with hair, according to an old wives tale)
• Her movements are much more noticeable, to the point my whole belly shakes depending on what she's doing in there, haha.

A few things that have become rather difficult to do lately...

• Bending over and tie my shoes or basically do anything... so lets just say if I drop something its gone forever or at least until Charlotte arrives haha.
• Getting up from lounging on the couch, Andrew usually has to help me up.
• Rolling over to get out of bed.
• Crossing my legs while sitting is over for now.

33 Weeks, More round each day! :)

Weight Gain/Loss: I've gained a total of 15lbs so far. As my co-workers and patients at work say "Hunny are you sure you 8 months along, you are so small but you look amazing!"  I guess that's a good thing but I always reply with "yes I am sure, and don't worry I am gaining more by the day now! :) "

Cravings: Watermelon (this kid LOVES fruit).

Gender: Baby girl! FINALLY found her hospital attire, I was going to buy her these sweet flower headbands for the hospital but instead I found these super adorable knit/cotton flower hats on esty instead :) I cant wait to get them in the mail. (Yes, I must have her looking stylish).

What I Miss: I miss my body, I honestly and sincerely enjoyed pregnancy fully and I am not rushing the next few weeks however I am ready to meet our little girl and get my body back to myself.

What I Am Looking Forward Too: Our baby shower here in PA, our sonogram on the 9th ( I just love being able to see her and knowing she is doing well), and oh yes.... her debut into the world (4 weeks until FULL TERM)!!

OUR GEORGIA BABY SHOWER :: Was absolutely LOVELY and BEAUTIFUL, all thanks to my sweet Mother in law! Charlotte is LOVED and ADORED by so many already!! We also stopped in NC to visit with my husbands step mom and dad (my other mother in law and father in law) since they were unable to attend the shower due to health problems which are on there way to getting better THANK GOODNESS!!! I am just so glad we were able to see them both on our travels.


My husband, Father in Law, and Myself in NC visiting. Super sad Linda (Andrew's step mom
and my other mother in law) was unable to join us in this photo.

Andrew and I before the shower :)



Meet my sister in law (Katie or Aunt K) who is SUPER duper excited to meet her niece!

Becca and I, I am so thankful this wonderful lady could make it to the shower. I feel like we've been friends for years!

My Mother in Law and I <3

"Papa Bear" and I (Yes he made his cup himself, haha



Shower Highlights :) WELCOME CHARLOTTE!!!

30 Weeks

How Far Along: 30 weeks. Our baby is girl is 3lbs and between 16 - 18 inches. However she is still has a lot of growing to do until she makes her entrance into the world. The vegetable/fruit comparison this week is to a head of cabbage which I literally held up at the grocery store this week and giggled.

30 Weeks, Only 10 Weeks to Go! Daddy turned 26 this week.

How I'm Feeling: Emotionally, I am feeling good minus the days where I wake up in this horrible moody mood  (We are definitely having a girl ;) ). I honestly feel so out of control of my emotions and mood sometimes, my poor hubby (who has been so wonderful during this whole pregnancy!)

I am feeling mentally more prepared this week, maybe because we have made huge strides with her nursery plus we bought her stroller and infant car seat (so we can bring her home) :)

Physically, The exhaustion is definitely back in full swing, some days my energy levels go from "I could take on the world" to "UGH! I could sleep all day and still wouldn't have enough energy! " Its so weird, but I've heard its pretty normal.



Taken Sunday April 6th

She "dropped" a bit this week or I guess is making her move to the ready position, which surprised me  A LOT considering I didn't know when this would happen, but on Saturday evening I could feel her moving more than usual but wasn't really sure what she was doing I honestly just thought she was being her normal dancer in there... well when I woke up Sunday morning and looked in the mirror.. I looked at Andrew and said "Babe my belly looks much smaller than yesterday!" and when he agreed I decided to send my mom and a friend a picture to get their input, lol. Sure enough I wasn't going crazy like I thought I was... because they both agreed as well saying "its ok she is just getting ready, which can take a few weeks." Oh and the reason I "thought" my belly was smaller was because she moved from laying stretched out across my belly to starting to move into head down vertical position.  :)

I've started experiencing leg cramps at night this week, which are very uncomfortable and painful at times, there is really no rhyme or reason for them or when they will occur.  And the braxton hicks have been continuing as normal.

I've been using A LOT more coconut oil this week as moisturizer applying it 3 to 4 daily because my skin is SUPER DRY and ITCHY, but the coconut oil is helping a lot, plus you can't beat the benefits of it. I am highly considering using it as Charlottes moisturizer too!



Weight gain/Loss: I will find out on Monday at our 32 week appointment, however I fairly sure I am gaining, at least I feel that way!

Cravings:  My "cravings" this week fruit, popsicles, chocolate, peanut butter, cinnamon.... Easter candy is the devil... dang peanut butter melt away eggs!!

Gender: Girl, Andrew and I are getting very excited to meet our daughter.

What I Miss: Nada! I'm very content!

What I Am Looking Forward To: Our trip to Georgia next week to see our family and friends, have our first baby shower, and enjoy some beautiful sunny weather! :)

Made with love... First Look at Charlotte's Nursery

As many of you know, I love DIY projects. So it shouldn't come to a surprise that almost everything in her room was made by Andrew and I. Which I feel makes her nursery that much more special and unique. Its coming together so nicely and thankfully Andrew is more than happy to help me tackle any project I say I want to do!

My goal was to make her room exactly what I envisioned but on budget and so far its been a huge success! Total cost of her room so far is less than 70.00 dollars, including furniture. We still have a few things left to do but I am sincerely beyond happy with how its coming along.

"Charlotte's room is starting to look nicer than ours." - Andrew

 

 

 

Room View 1

 

Room View 2

Flower Letter DIY Project.

Her DIY shelf (Andrew put together and I designed) & Her DIY Flower C :)

Mavey likes to test our everything, who better than our furbaby right?! ;) Plus I like to include him in this process.  

Andrew and Mavey playing with Charlotte's elephant.


More pictures to come later...

XO - Andrea

29 Weeks

How Far Along: 29 weeks! Baby girl is roughly around the size of a butternut squash. She is busy packing on fat (and Mommy feels the same way!) however according to my doctor this week she doesn't think mommy is packing on fat from her statement... "Wow, you really are ALL baby!"

How I'm Feeling: Mentally & emotionally, this week I am feeling great (well more so after the my husband and I had the heart to heart about Charlotte's arrival) and now that we finally figured out her full name. I've also made a to do list of what needs to be done before she arrives such as... picking out a pediatrician, finding a babysitter/day care for when I go back to work, ect. 

Physically, I can definitely feel myself much more exhausted similar to the first trimester which makes doing anything a lot more difficult. Other than that I have no complaints. Charlotte sure has been moving A LOT more this week, like she has her own little party in there each night (which I love watching). Plus the doctor told me this week she is just "lounging" in there, all stretched out from one side to the other... I guess she is pretty comfortable, haha



Before work : 25 weeks and 5 days

Weight gain/Loss:  I gained 1lb in the past 2 weeks... however I don't believe that I will have a problem hitting my 1lb/ per week gain since my appetite has increased so much all of a sudden!

Cravings: Hmmm... lets see does FOOD count, hahaha! Honestly though, I am just hungry for everything! I still really love fruit and I am still trying my best to eat as healthy as possible.

Gender: Girl, We finally decided on her full name... see the story of her name below.

What I Miss: I don't miss much and haven't my entire pregnancy, however I could go for a glass of sweet red wine.

What I Am Looking Forward To: Oh my goodness, where to begin! Our maternity photos,  traveling to Georgia for our baby shower and seeing friends and family, my baby shower here in Pennsylvania where I get to see more friends and family (super exciting!),  doctors appointments since I have scheduled out the next 3 and 1 being our last ultrasound at 35 weeks ... AHH!!!  And finally putting the finishing touches on Charlotte's nursery.

Charlotte Lillian Smith

 

 

On one of our many trips to/from PA to GA, one day we got the topic of baby names (prior to being married) just for fun we started talking about what names we really liked and ones we didn't. We both really seemed to like more vintage, unique, and classy names. And we both really loved the name Charlotte but that was as far as it went until.... FAST FORWARD: To the day we found out we were having a baby girl, Andrew looked at me and said lets name her Charlotte, and I agreed it was perfect!  

Her middle name wasn't as easy for me to decide on though (yes me, Andrew said since he had picked her first name he wanted me to pick out her middle name), I really wanted it to have meaning and something special about it... I was going between two names (Ann or Grace) before even considering Lillian. Ann - would represent my husband and I since we both have "An" at the beginning of our names and Grace - would have been for my mom.

 So WHY Lillian?

The name has special meaning to me:  Lillian Mae Miller - Loving, Hard-working, Stubborn, Always forgiving, Sweet, Caring, and Determined are just some of her traits that I remember most. She was my great grandmother (on my mom's side) who I spent a lot of the first 5 years of life and every summer with when school let out. She retired the year I was born so she could help my mom and dad take care of me and my sister on occasion (when she wasn't in school) while they went back to work. I was blessed to have spent 17 years getting to know, learn, and grow with her. I miss her everyday and there are so many things I wish I could pick up the phone to call and tell her about.

So needless to say, when I finally stopped thinking so much about what sounded better, what flowed the best, or just being stuck on those two names... it finally came to me... neither Ann or Grace were right fit. One night soon after deciding this... I had a dream about my great grandma (Lillian) I don't remember much about it but I recalled seeing her. That evening at dinner I brought up the idea of using Lillian for not only my great grandmother but for his too as her middle name, he smiled and said "It sounds great!"  That's how our daughter became : Charlotte Lillian Smith




29 Weeks and 6 Days (Last Day of the 20's) I can't believe it! Don't mind the crazy hair, it was rainy here today!