My Love, My Bump, and Me

Weeks before our daughter surprised us with her early arrival, Handsome Husband and I headed to Old Towne Orange to get some maternity photos done.  I was on the fence as to whether or not I felt the need to get maternity photos done, but I am so glad we decided to do them.  I love looking back at these, especially now that we've met the little blessing that was inside my belly during these pictures.

Our photographer for these photos, Jen from Simple Smiles Photography, was great and very reasonably priced if you're located in Orange County, California and looking for a family photographer!

And Then There Were Three

For those of you wondering why I fell off the face of the blogosphere, there is one big (6 pounds, 4 ounces to be exact) reason:

Emma Katherine

was born December 19, 2013 at 6:52 pm

at 38 weeks, due to an unexpected induction

weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces

measuring 19 1/2 inches

Somehow a month has both flown by and felt incredibly long at the same time.  One thing that's for sure is that this little girl has added so much joy and love to our life, and I can't wait to share more with my readers here at Stress Case.  I was not planning on taking a leave from the blog (I also wasn't planning on having her 2 weeks early, though!), but my intention is to come back full-force in the next weeks!  I will be sharing a detailed birth story, a one month (already!) update, the ugly truth about my baby blues, and much more about this little princess.  I promise not to let this blog completely become a "mommy blog", tough though it may be!  

Pregnancy Faux Pas I'm Totally Cool With

Little did I know the world of pregnant ladies could be so judgey.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as let's be honest, the world of ladies can be pretty judgey - why would we expect any less from some extra hormonal ladies?  Anywho, throughout my pregnancy I have spent lots of time on TheBump.com, as it has been a great way to connect with woman due around the same time as me and get advice on everything from registries to recovery from moms who have Been There Done That (BTDT is the acronym for that on TheBump, incaseyouwerewondering).

There are quite a few Pregnancy Faux Pas that are apparently frowned upon in this round-bellied world, and today I'm coming out and saying this pregnant chick right here?  Totally cool with them.

Counting Months 4 Weeks at a Time

Lots of pregnant ladies are outraged at people who count their months 4 weeks at a time.  For example, if you say you are six months pregnant when you're 24 weeks, you're in for an earfull.  Here's the thing, though.  In every other estimate of time, I always count my months by 4 weeks.  If someone says something is in 8 weeks, my brain automatically thinks 2 months - is that really all that abnormal?  Andplusalso, lots of people don't know pregnancy is usually counted in weeks, so when they ask you how far along you are, they want to hear an answer in months.  Granted, this does become a little awkward now as I am 9+ months pregnant (if you divide my weeks by 4, of course), but there is still no baby.  Little does society know that you're really pregnant for 40 weeks...or 10 months!  We've been tricked for our whole lives.

Gender Reveal Parties

This one really gets me.  Many many ladies on TheBump and throughout Cyber Land are appalled by even the thought of a Gender Reveal Party.  These ladies see it is as completely self-involved (it might be a little, I can see that), and over the top.  I have read things as nasty as "no one but you cares about the sex of your baby" and "the correct term is sex, so gender reveal party doesn't even make sense" and "why subject people to a party all about your baby's genitals" and the ever popular "why does everything have to be a party these days?".  We proudly had a Gender Reveal Party and here's why.  We were excited, and so were our friends and families.  Were they as excited as us?  Probably not, as this little one is ours and not theirs (though my Mother-in-Law may say differently).  But they were excited, and we wanted to share a fun moment with them.  I also don't see the problem with turning things into a party.  Why not celebrate the big and even the little moments in life?  If someone didn't want to attend our party, they certainly didn't have to, but who turns up their nose at free food, booze, a good time with some friends, and a little surprise via cake cut?  Not me!

Push Presents
For those of you unfamiliar, a "push present" is a gift given from the New Dad to the New Mom after the birth of their New Baby.  They have gotten increasingly popular over the years, and range from housewares and appliances, to sweet and thoughtful jewelry, and some people are lucky enough to be gifted diamonds and extravagant gifts like that!  While by no means do I think anyone should expect a present for delivering a baby, why is it a problem if one might be lucky enough to receive one?  I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that the ladies who have such a problem with push presents are just a wee bit jealous.  Of course the baby is the present, of course that is what it's about, but you know what, a little present never hurt anyone!

Sip and See's/Sprinkles

A sip and see is a small get together, sometimes female only sometimes co-ed, hosted after baby's arrival, and the focus is on (maybe I should say, the focus should be on) meeting the new baby and congratulating Mom (and Dad, should be there also!).  A "baby sprinkle" is a small shower, thrown in lieu of a traditional larger baby shower, often to celebrate a baby of the opposite gender of their older sibling - the gifts are usually very gender-centric, focusing on girl or boy clothes often times.  There are many many people who feel the issue of anything even remotely resembling a baby shower for a second or third (or fourth or fifth, for that matter) baby is black and white - showers are for first babies only.  While I tend to agree, a traditional baby shower is to welcome a mother into motherhood, and is a little tacky done for second and certainly third babies, I think there is something to celebrate about each baby on the way, and sip and sees and sprinkles are wonderful tasteful ways to do that!  Plus, if you don't agree with it, don't have one and don't go.

 

Bumpdates/Weekly Blogging
Clearly I have no objections to Bumpdates, as I've been posting them here for months now!  These weekly updates are truly more for myself and family and friends who care to keep updated than readers, as I know they can be a little repetitive at times.  However, as a blog reader, I love reading weekly pregnancy updates and have since before I was a pregnant blogger myself!


New Years Baby Bumpdate: Week 36

36w3d

What's up with Baby this week? Little girl is rehearsing for her big debut - inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, sucking her thumb, blinking and turning from side to side!

Symptoms? This week hasn't been too bad, but there was one night (36w2d) that had me tossing and turning because my hips were killing me throughout the night!  Heartburn is still a killer, also - I literally felt like I drank acid the other day at work, coughing up a storm and struggling to make it through the afternoon.

Gender? Baby girl.

Excited For? My final ultrasound (today!) to see how big this little lady is looking.

Maternity Clothes? Have switched over to casual tops with scrub bottoms almost exclusively, and the only non-maternity I can get away with outside of work is some sweaters, yoga pants, sweats, and big t-shirts to sleep in.

Sleep? The hip pain was a killer for my sleep, but luckily it only started waking me up early morning and wasn't keeping me up all night.

Movement? This past weekend was one of her most active.  She was moving and grooving all weekend long.

Belly Button Status? I don't know that I'd call it in anymore, it's more...flush with the belly at this point.  I don't think it's going to be popping.

Missing Anything? My own clothes and shoes!!  I knew your feet could swell during pregnancy, and even grow, but I didn't expect to not be able to wear my favorite boots (or any of my boots, for that matter) this winter.  I had a minor meltdown (maybe I cried about it, whatever) when I realized there was no way they were getting on these feet.  It's strange because my feet don't really look swollen, but apparently they are.

Milestones?

36w2d Handsome Husband spent some time playing with Baby M through my belly.  They were poking at each other for nearly 30 minutes, and it was so fun to watch his face light up.  That night made HH more excited than ever, and he's been mentioning how much he can't wait for our little doll's arrival ever since.

Cravings? All types of fruit!

Weight Gain? My doctor says up 30 pounds, which officially makes me scared.  30 was what I was hoping not to pass, but with four weeks left until my due date, that is going to be impossible (obviously).

My, how I've grown!

C'est Une Fille: Another Shower for Baby M

In mid-November, on a gorgeous Southern California day, I was treated to another baby shower, this time at Cute Apartment's brand new place (yes, she moved and hosted a shower a week later - she's a superhero!), surrounded by my closest girlfriends, and hosted by one of the best hosts I know. 

 

Cute Apartment, the great hostesss

 

I am overwhelmed by the amount of love and excitement I can feel radiating from my friends about this Baby Girl.  That is to be expected from family (though still greatly appreciated!), but there is something special about the feeling you get when a friend seems like family by how much they truly care.

 

I'll let the photos do most of the talking, as I managed to remember to take some this time around!

 

I was happily surprised to see a headband making station for my little girly girl (okay okay, I know she could be a total tomboy, but until she can object, this little lady will be rocking a lot of headbands and bows).

 

Lovely ladies I've met through HH's journey so far in Law School

With the host herself, Cute Apartment

Me and Ms. Art Teacher

Twin Beauty School and myself

Giggling with Best Friend Swagger

Me and Ms. Smiles

A group shot we waited a little too long to take, as there are some pretty girls missing - but I love it all the same!

 

Sister Swimmer, myself and Gardening Mom - unfortunately Sister Singer had to work!

The love of my life, and my favorite Daddy-to-be, Handsome Husband

 

I am so grateful to Cute Apartment for throwing this gorgeous shower, and to all of my friends and family who made it to this shower (and my first one, as well, of course), and have been so generous with their gifts and kind words for our growing family.



New Years Baby Bumpdate: Week 35

 
35 weeks on Thanksgiving Day

What's up with Baby this week? Baby is six pounds this week, and up to 20 inches long!  She has formed all her soft bones and cartilage, to protect her through the journey she's gearing up to make her way out of there!

Symptoms? General aches and pains that make it hard to move, and are much much worse at night is all I've really been dealing with this week.  Also, I'm not sure that I've mentioned it, but I completely fell victim to tiger stripes (awful stretch marks).  It's embarassing and incredibly ugly, and something I had really hoped to avoid.  Unfortunately, there is not much (read: nothing) I can do about it, and I'll have to live with them forever.  Hoping my baby girl will make me forget about how ugly they look by how pretty she is!

Gender? Lady.

Excited For? Hitting full-term next week (remember these Bumpdates are a week behind) and my final ultrasound to try and get a peak at how big this baby might be!

Maternity Clothes? Have switched over to casual tops with scrub bottoms almost exclusively, and the only non-maternity I can get away with outside of work is some sweaters, yoga pants, sweats, and big t-shirts to sleep in.

Sleep? Sleep is okay, my bathroom breaks have actually decreased, but I think that has more to do with my water intake decreasing a bit recently (shame on me) than anything else.

Movement? She definitely feels a little more cramped in there, as big kicks are few and far between nowadays, but she wiggles and squirms all the time, still.

Belly Button Status? I don't know that I'd call it in anymore, it's more...flush with the belly at this point.  I don't think it's going to be popping.

Missing Anything? Beer.  And also, not feeling like I got hit by a truck by 7pm every day.

Milestones?

35w Baby's first Thanksgiving (in utero)!  If this little girl wants to surprise me and make her first Christmas in 2013 instead of 2014, I will be more than happy!

Cravings? Apples are back.

Weight Gain? My doctor says up 30 pounds, which officially makes me scared.  30 was what I was hoping not to pass, but with four weeks left until my due date, that is going to be impossible (obviously).

My, how I've grown!

Wow, I miss feeling like I felt in my Week 15 picture - sexy and confident!

It's December!

In November...

 

Handsome Husband spent a few days in Portland, Oregon at a Negotiation competition, and found out he would be traveling to a few competitions in 2014 also!

I got to spend the morning catching up with Cousin Snapshot and Best Cousin during Cousin S' visit to So Cal. 

L-R: Cousin Snapshot, Me, Best Cousin

 

We hosted a fun birthday dinner at our house for birthday girl, Mother-in-Law Red!

 

Gardening Mom, Sisters Singer and Swimmer and their friends and BF YOLO, Handsome Husband and I kicked off the holiday season with the Tree Lighting Ceremony we attend every year!

HH and I at Tree Lighting

 

HH and I commemorated this pregnancy with some maternity photos (that I've yet to share on the blog...coming soon, promise!) in Old Towne Orange.

 

Sneak peak - I'll share more soon!

 

Handsome Husband kicked his studying into gear for finals - and we started getting really excited that once he is done with finals, little Baby M will be making her grand debut any day!  (And because I'm neurotic, I started worrying about what I would do if I went in to labor during one of his 3+ hour long finals.)

 

Cousin Study Buddy and Mr. UNC accompanied HH and myself to a USC basketball game when we were lucky enough to get courtside seats from Gardening Momma's boss.  The game was exciting, but I was a little nervous the entire time shielding my basketball (aka my baby belly) from stray balls and players.  Luckily we stayed out of the action.

 

Best Friend Cute Apartment hosted a lovely baby shower for me to celebrate Baby M's upcoming arrival with all of my closest girlfriends.  It was gorgeous, and I will be sharing details soon!

Me and the hostess with the mostess, Cute Apartment

 

The family got together to celebrate the birthday of Tutor Girl - she's getting close to the big 3-0, and I admire her for loving that instead of loathing it as I do!

 

We attended the wedding reception of a good friend of HH's from law school, and were happy to celebrate their recent nuptuals with them.

 

Aunt Fancy Chef treated the ladies in HH's family to a day of yummy food!  First we had a lovely breakfast, followed by a super fun cooking class!  I can't wait to go back, the cooking class was so much fun!

 

Thanksgiving was full of family and great food and as usual, we were feeling blessed to be able to see both my side and HH's side of the family on the holiday.

 

I opted out of Black Friday shopping, and instead chose to do some Black Friday crafting and wrapping with Gardening Mom and Sister Swimmer.  Gardening Mom and I managed to crank out some adorable burp cloths which will be making their way to the blog very soon!

 

We wrapped up the month with a lovely Hannukah Dinner at Gardening Mom and Hat Dad's house - and I got my annual fix of potato latkes!  I can never get enough, especially leftovers!

 

In December?  I'm crossing my fingers for a slightly early arrival of little miss Baby M, and we've got lots of fun holiday events to attend!



New Years Baby Bumpdate: Week 34

Happy Thanksgiving, Stress Case readers!  Hope you're having a lovely day filled with family, friends, and lots of good food!

Would you believe it if I told you I managed to forget to take a bumpdate picture this week?  Not proud, let me tell you!  This really not great photo of me at a cooking class with the ladies from HH's family last weekend will have to suffice.  As you can see, the bump is really getting large and in charge.

with MIL Red and Cousin Study Buddy

What's up with Baby this week? Baby girl is about 20 inches tall, and is pretty maxed out on height.  She will still steadily gain weight until she arrives, and currently weighs as much as 5.5 pounds!

Symptoms? My lovely new groin pain is alive and well, especially at night.

Gender? Girl.

Excited For? More progress on Baby M's nursery!  I've also started washing her clothes, and am looking forward to finishing those up and looking at drawers full (okay okay, like half way full, baby girl isn't that much of a diva).  I am also looking forward to a little crafting and present wrapping day at my Gardening Mom's house over the holiday weekend! 

Maternity Clothes? Have switched over to casual tops with scrub bottoms almost exclusively, and the only non-maternity I can get away with outside of work is some sweaters, yoga pants, sweats, and big t-shirts to sleep in.

Sleep? Sleeping okay, but lots of waking up for bathroom breaks and some pains in the middle of the night that are waking me up.

Movement? I think she has moved positions recently, because I feel her pushing very far over to the side, whereas before it was mainly in the middle.  Who knows how this little girl is hanging out in there!

Belly Button Status? I don't know that I'd call it in anymore, it's more...flush with the belly at this point.

Missing Anything? Easily being able to pick things up from the floor, and sleeping on my stomach and back.

Milestones?

34w2d Started doing baby laundry for the first time!  It is way more fun to wash these teeny pink and frilly clothes and blankets than it is to wash my own!

Cravings? Nothing special this week.

Weight Gain? My doctor says up 26 pounds. Which isn't so bad except for that I am terrified that I am going to be gaining a pound a week at this rate and I've still got 7 weeks left!

New Years Baby: Week 33

33w2d

 

What's up with Baby this week? Little one is 5 pounds, and could be as long as 20 inches!  Her fingernails are full grown now, and will be ready for a trim almost as soon as she makes her appearance!

Symptoms? I've been having a new mysterious pain in the ... groin area?  My OB says it's from the baby pushing down, and that it's completely normal.  But it is rough, especially at night.  Heartburn is still a nightmare.

Gender? Little lady.

Excited For? Thanksgiving!  I'm not a huge Thanksgiving dinner fan, but I love the warm fuzzy feeling that the holiday brings!  I am also attending a fun cooking class with some ladies in HH's family on Sunday I am looking forward to.

Maternity Clothes? Have switched over to casual tops with scrub bottoms about 50% of the time at work, because my tops are getting a little too snug.

Sleep? Not getting great sleep the past week.  It is incredibly painful every time I turn over, and I get up at least twice a night to hit the little girls' room.

Movement? Little miss has active days and slower days, but I feel her every day and I can't wait to meet this little kicker.

Belly Button Status? I don't know that I'd call it in anymore, it's more...flush with the belly at this point.

Missing Anything? My clothes, high heels and being able to bend over at the waist.

Milestones?

33w2d My second and final lovely baby shower thrown by Best Friend Cute Apartment!

Cravings? Craving water all the time, and ice!  I'd still eat a few apples a day if I ever bought enough.

Weight Gain? My doctor says up 26 pounds. Which isn't so bad except for that I am terrified that I am going to be gaining a pound a week at this rate and I've still got 7 weeks left!

My how I've grown!

New Years Baby: Week 32

32w2d

What's up with Baby this week? Baby is gaining weight at the rate of almost a half a pound per week, and could gain an inch in length this week alone!  With so much baby in there, amniotic fluid is maxed out, so her pokes and jabs can feel pretty sharp these days.

Symptoms? Back pain seems to start nearly every day around lunch time, and lasts until the next morning.  The belly has felt a little sore all week, too.

Gender? Girly girl.

Excited For? Seeing how our maternity photos turned out, and my second baby shower with some fabulous girls this weekend!

Maternity Clothes? Have switched over to casual tops with scrub bottoms about 50% of the time at work, because my tops are getting a little too snug.  Rocked a pre-pregnancy dress (in the 32 week photo above!) and felt pretty good about it!

Sleep? Getting comfortable is way harder than staying asleep, but the 2-3 bathroom breaks a night are not doing wonders for my REM sleep, I'll tell you that.

Movement? Little miss has active days and slower days, but I feel her every day and I can't wait to meet this little kicker.

Belly Button Status? I don't know that I'd call it in anymore, it's more...flush with the belly at this point.

Missing Anything? Cocktails, and not dreading walking up and down stairs.

Milestones?

32w1d The first person other than Handsome Husband was able to feel baby girl kick from the outside - lucky Mother-in-Law Red.

32w4d We spent some time with a photographer capturing this happy time in our life - maternity photos done!

Cravings? Still loving apples.

Weight Gain? My doctor says up 24 pounds. Which isn't so bad except for that I am terrified that I am going to be gaining a pound a week at this rate and I've still got 7 weeks left!

My how I've grown!

On Complaining During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is not all fun all the time.  If you've been pregnant, you know from experience, and if not - you've heard all the complaints in books, movies, and from people you know.  The heartburn, the back aches, how you can barely move as you get close to the end without struggling, the sore boobs, the sore tummy, the swollen hands and feets - there's lots of pieces of pregnancy that are not only not fun, but they actually blow.

While usually complaining is something I think of myself as a master of, I really hate complaining about pregnancy.  Or really, I try to avoid complaining about pregnancy to anyone outside of my husband, my mother, and my best girl friend. 

Why?  Because I remember when I wanted so badly to get pregnant and how much it stung to see and hear women bitch about being pregnant.  There was one girl in particular I am friends with on Facebook that did nothing but complain about being pregnant, though she did note that her pregnancy was planned and that she was delighted about it.  Each nasty complaint on Facebook drove me crazier and crazier, to the point I actually had her "hidden" from my Newsfeed for some time to avoid seeing her bitching.

Look, I get it.  I'm currently sweating my ass off even though my thermostat says it's 69 degrees in here, and I've already taken two acetaminophen for back pain today.  I get it. 

But the thing is - when you hear people say they feel blessed to have gotten pregnant, to have stayed pregnant, and to be closer and closer to welcoming their new family member into their lives, they should mean it*.  And with good things come some trade-offs.  I really do feel blessed and honored nd grateful for the opportunity to carry a child, and to welcome a child into our family.  And sometimes I feel paralyzed with fear that something could go wrong, and how terribly I would regret the complaints.

So pregnant ladies, the next time you update your status, or complain to a friend that may or may not be suffering from the invisible pain of struggling to get pregnant, or tweet a little complaint about pregnancy - remember how blessed you truly are.  And take a moment and decide whether you really want to complain.

32w2d

*This is not to say people who complain do not, in fact, feel blessed.  However, perception is everything, and constant complaints make it hard to view someone as truly feeling grateful.

New Years Baby: Week 31

 
31w3d

What's up with Baby this week? Baby is doing lots of practicing this week - from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking!

Symptoms? What am I not feeling this week?  I'm exhausted, my back is killing me by noon every day and doesn't let up until I wake up the next morning, and sitting up in bed is getting to be a whole production.

Gender? Lady.

Excited For? Getting lots of baby items last weekend, and taking our maternity photos this weekend!

Maternity Clothes? Almost exclusively maternity outside of work, though I do still wear some pre-pregnancy jeans with a belly band because I never managed to find a good pair of maternity skinny jeans.

Sleep? Sleep is going okay, but lying in bed is not nearly as comfortable as it used to be.  Often times my Handsome Husband is wondering what all the commotion is when I'm simply trying to move positions in bed.

Movement? More movement some days than other, but she is most active in the evenings.  She has taken to what feels like pushing from the inside.  Not kicking, not adjusting, but pushing.  Maybe she's trying to make more room!

Belly Button Status? I don't know that I'd call it in anymore, it's more...flush with the belly at this point.

Missing Anything? Lying on my stomach in bed, and not feeling like a whale.

Milestones?

31w2d Did a lot of baby shopping, much to the unhappiness of my bank account (and maybe my husband).  I picked up the swing I'd been longing for, some cute swaddles for little miss, and my first nursing bra!

Cravings? Nothing really this week.  There was one night I would have killed for a bagel.

Weight Gain? My doctor says up 24 pounds. Which isn't so bad except for that I am terrified that I am going to be gaining a pound a week at this rate and I've still got 8 weeks left!

My how I've grown!

Goodbye, October!

In October...

 

Handsome Husband and I were lucky enough to be invited to the new beautiful home of The Esquire and Baker Girl.  We enjoyed seeing their brand new place, and an amazing dinner prepared by BG!

 

I had the dreaded 1-hour glucose test, failed, freaked the eff out, took the 3-hour test, and passed!  Very typical Stress Casey behavior to have a meltdown before the problem entirely presents itself.

 

I had a lovely time catching up with an old high school teacher of mine over coffee (well, decaf tea for me).  It was so nice to hear about a program I was heavily involved with in high school (Model United Nations, for those wondering), how it's changed, and to get Mr. T updated on many of his former students and the awesome things they are doing nowadays.

 

HH and I got to head to San Diego for a soccer game on the field I spent so many days and nights watching him play on!  This season will be the last that there are players on the team HH played with, so it is a little sad for him, the end of an era, if you will.

 

We had one busy Saturday in mid-October!  We started the day off with a kickball game (okay, I watched a kickball game) with some of HH's newer friends from law school, were hosted to a lovely BBQ at Best Cousin's new place, and ended the evening with a viewing of Captain Phillips after being invited by Aunt Fancy Chef to join her and some family at the luxury movie theater!

 

 

We got to support some fundraising Kindergarten Teacher was doing for her chosen charity by attending an evening at a local wine bar.  Though my glass was longing for wine instead of water, the conversation with some of my favorite ladies made up that.

 

Handsome Husband and I set sail on a Tiki Cruise around Newport Harbor with some law school students. 

 

Gardening Mom and I got a start on our Christmas Shopping at Citadel Outlets' annual Shopping Extravaganza!  This year, MIL Red and Grandma Beach Bum decided to join also, so it was fun to meet up for lunch and a break from the shops.

 

Aunt Fancy Chef invited us to a lovely charity event for South County Outreach called Empty Bowls, where we got to try lots of yummy soups from local restaurants, bid on some silent auction items (though we didn't win, boo!) and listen to some lovely speakers.

HH and I at Empty Bowls

 

Handsome Husband attended a Boot Camp for New Dads!  Though he said he didn't find it all that informative, I still think it's cute!

 

I was showered with love and some pretty awesome gifts for our little New Years Baby at my family baby shower!

 



 

We celebrated Cousin Halloween's 7th (he's getting way too old these days!) with pizza and cupcakes during a mid-week birthday party!

 

Halloween ended the month, and we were content with eating fajitas and handing out candy to our whopping two trick-or-treaters!  We also spent some time thinking about how fun it will be when our baby girl is here for next Halloween!

 

In November ... We've got a lot going on!  There's a few birthdays coming up, some holiday events, our maternity photos, a second baby shower for this little lady, and lots and lots of prepping for her impending arrival!