Things I'll miss about being pregnant (and a few I won't)

With about a week to go until our due date, I figured I should get this post out. I know not everyone enjoys being pregnant, but I have and there will be some things I'll miss.
The biggest part of pregnancy I will miss is feeling baby move. While you have to wait a while to feel baby move, it is amazing and only gets better. From small little movements, to kicks and punches, to what I call butt bumps, feeling a little person inside of you is like no other experience I've ever had.
I'll also miss Mark's reactions to baby moving. I think it's hard for husbands because they aren't experience all of the lovely pregnancy symptoms, but I try and include Mark in as much as I can. He loves to feel baby move and is amazed at how strong baby's movements are.
This next one isn't something I'll miss, but that I'm thankful for. While Mark and I have been together for six years, I feel this baby has brought us even closer. I can't put my finger on it, but our relationship has grown since learning of our +1 on the way. I am excited for what will happen next.
I know its silly, but I'll also miss the weird looks at the gym every time someone saw me in lifting class. I'm sure there are some people who don't think I should be there, but I go and I feel great afterwards.  Plus I'm hoping it helps with the birth and recovery afterwards. And I'll miss going for a few weeks while my body heals, but I will make it back!

I won't miss not knowing baby's gender! It has been so much fun anticipating who the little one is, but we are so excited to meet him/her.
I also won't miss feeling like a beached whale trying to get out of bed. While our bed is memory foam and has aided greatly in my sleep this pregnancy, its is becoming harder to get out of bed. 

There are normal things I am looking forward to like being able to see my feet, having my body back (or at least not a watermelon sticking out of it) and being able to indulge in an adult libation every once in a while. Otherwise, I am extremely thankful for having such a healthy and great pregnancy. I have felt good the entire time, a little more fatigue has set in but I was expecting that towards the end, and I have enjoyed being pregnant. I can say that Mark and I are ready for this little one to arrive!

A quick update

I have a couple of posts to catch up on, but for now here is a quick update:

As of today we are 38 weeks along! It's hard for me to imagine we are only two weeks away from baby's due date. I've changed the saying, "time flies when you're having fun", to "time flies when you are busy and feeling good". So far baby's head is down, butt still likes to hang out on top of mom's ribs and baby is just getting bigger. I'm really curious to see how big baby is at birth, while its hard to estimate size, we seem to be a bit smaller than the averages listed in the books.

I graduated with my Master's in Science at the beginning of this month!! Yeah!! Four years in the making, an RN license and BSN degree later, I am finished. It has sunk in, but still feels a little weird to not have to worry about school work. You won't find me complaining though!

The baby's room is coming together. Mark has some touch up painting to do, then we can move baby's furniture back in and I can start putting things away. Otherwise, we are pretty much ready for baby. Of course, we could use an extra week or so!

Other than that, life is good. I am completing a few sewing projects for baby's room and getting ready for his/her arrival. My suitcase is only sort of packed (think, open suitcase with about 3 things in it) but I have a list of what we need to bring. I am still working out, weights class twice a week and walking. I do find myself slowing down a little and taking more naps, but otherwise am feeling good! And if you were to ask me, I don't think I'm waddling yet, so that is always a good too!

Here is a picture we took last night and the end of 37 weeks!

Eve of 38 weeks!

Showered with Love!

The weekend after Easter, my sisters threw an amazing baby shower to welcome Baby Moyes into the world. I was so impressed with all of the creativity that was behind the shower. There was a lovely buffet with fruit pizza, quiche and our great grandmother's coffee cake, along with some sweets of course! They set up stations for activities, which was a great idea because it allowed people to mingle while going around doing activities. I loved this because I could go talk to everyone and we weren't just sitting down playing games. Everyone decorated a onesie with iron-on fabric cut outs the girls put together. I was so impressed with the creativity and fun people had in designing their onesies. Another fun activity was "find the babies". Michelle had gone around and hid small little babies around the living and dining room in Shannon's house. I thought I did well when I counted 14 babies, little did I know there were actually 23 babies hidden around the two rooms. I think everyone had a wonderful time and Baby Moyes was showered with love. Everyone was so thoughtful in their gifts and we received some wonderful books to add to Baby's library. We are so lucky to have such amazing friends and family, and are lucky to welcome our little one into such a loving community. And now, on to the pictures!

Baby Notes Box for Motherly Advice and the mini Babies that were hidden around the room

Yummy Food!

Couldn't resist putting this picture up. My nephew Jack getting love and crazy faces courtesy of Michelle!

How big is the belly??

Beautiful blanket my mom made for baby!

Jack and Kaile saying hello!

Wonderful Gonzaga friends and their two adorable children, Kaile and Charlie (We were missing 3 of us,  but everyone sent their love!!)

My sisters were all about holding the babies! Shannon with Charlie

Some of the onesies, people were so creative! Can't wait to dress Baby Moyes!

"Made in Oregon" onesie....my aunt had to question if this was true, HaHa!

Apparently we were all thinking Pink! With my Grandma and Mom.

My amazing sisters and hostesses! 

Pregnancy Photo Shoot

The weekend of Easter was gorgeous here in Portland. With all of my sisters being home for the holiday, I thought it was the perfect time to have a little pregnancy photo shoot. And we couldn't pass up the sunshine and 70+ degree weather. There is a spot in downtown PDX along the waterfront where we had our engagement and also some of our wedding photos taken. I couldn't think of a better spot to document the next big occasion in our lives. My sisters did a great job taking the pictures and helping with poses and lighting and we finished up in no time! Here are some of my favorite shots from the day! (These were taken at 30 weeks!)

Megan made me this adorable shirt for Christmas!

This shot is very similar to one of my favorite wedding photos!

Mark's shirt is a definition of a Dad, that Megan made!

Belly Photo Update!

I realized its been a while since I uploaded any belly pics, so here are some from the last month or so. 

26 Weeks

27 Weeks (realizing some days I don't look so pretty at the end of the day)

29 Weeks (eve of 30 weeks)

31 weeks!

This last pic is of our nephew Jack. We watched him one night so mom and dad could go out to dinner with friends. At one point while sitting on my lap he started touching my belly. He was so engrossed and seemed to be thinking "it so hard, I can't grab it". This went on for a good 5 minutes, its almost like he knew something, rather someONE was in there!

Thanking the Pregnancy Gods!

Everyday I wake up feeling good, I send up a little prayer to the pregnancy gods (although I'm pretty sure it all goes through God anyways). Overall this whole pregnancy I have felt really good, sometimes great! Of course there have been a few things like fatigue, the constant trips to the bathroom (subsided for now, but I know will be back), and a hightened gag reflex for a few months. But other than that, there wasn't any morning sickness (I thank my Mom for passing on those genes), I am still attending a weights class 2x a week, walking and generally feeling good. Looking over the last 7 months, it truly has been a blessing to be feeling so well. I think Mark is probably thankful that his wife hasn't had but a few hormone induced cry fests or anger outbursts and is feeling good. Otherwise, he would be hearing about it everyday!
I know as we get closer to this little one's arrival, I will become more and more uncomfortable, but I hope that by staying active it will help some.
I also have to give props to Mark for being the most supportive husband during this new adventure so far. He reminds me everyday how beautiful I am, despite some days where I don't feel so pretty, encourages me to keep working out and has been doing a wonderful job taking care of the three of us. He has been a blessing and I know this will only continue once the little munchkin arrives.
So, I'm thanking the pregnancy gods for what has been a good experience so far. While I wouldn't say I love being pregnant (although I love feeling the baby move and hearing his/her heartbeat), for me, its been a pretty easy road so far and everyday I continue to feel good, I am thankful.

Hello 3rd Trimester!

It's hard to believe that we are already into the 3rd trimester. I am thankful that I'm still feeling great and we can't wait to meet this little munchkin! We have attended child birth class, the nursery furniture is put together (with the exception of a chair and bookshelf/shelves), and baby is growing like a weed (at least that's what it seems like to me). Baby's movements have been getting stronger over the past week and sometimes I am left to wonder what exactly baby is doing inside mom! Here's to a good 3rd trimester!