It Seems Like Only Yesterday…

...I Started this Crazy Adventure. (My Blog and Pregnancy.) 

I. Made. It. 

Chase, barely. I think he has had about 7-10 "last hoorah's"...well, mine was November 5th, so Mommy is LONG OVERDUE. You are warned Gibson. May the odds be ever in your favor. 

Chase and I sat on the couch yesterday after the Doctor called with my schedule for Sunday and Monday just in awe. I told him I honestly thought this day would never come and I would just be pregnant forever! 

We head in at 9pm Sunday night (My Birthday!) and start the fun stuff early Monday morning, which will hopefully be Norah’s birthday! It’s our last night at home with just me, the hubs and pup. Crazy.

Here is a little trip down Belly Lane. We will post a final tomorrow night before we check in! The steroids I have been on have made me look a little "puffy", so I've been camera shy...I'm sure being 9 months prego in this Texas heatwave have nothing to do with it, right? 

Saturday, November 5th, 2011

"Um...babe...sisters...anyone!" 

 13 weeks...look at that little bump! 

15 weeks...total teenage FB picture...I was home alone. 

20ish weeks 

There are a few more floating around out there from more recent showers, parties, etc and I will get around to posting sometime...I'm sure the hubs and sisters have some on their FB too! 

So, here we go...

The FINAL Prego Update (Hopefully!):

How Far Along: 39 weeks on Monday!

Maternity Clothes: dresses, maternity tops, leggings (You know you are due when your leggings are too tight on your belly!)

Sleep: up every 1-2 hours and sleeping on the couch, which feels amazing even though I miss the hubs and pup! The pup is back and forth all night checking on me.

Best Moments: Getting to spend time with my Mom, sisters and their kids almost everyday, our final Guls dinner before the newest baby gul arrives (Missed you Hillary!), the call from my Doctor that my blood work came back great and we are ready to rock!

Miss Anything: a smaller stomach because...The other morning when I was letting the pup out, the door knob swept right over my belly button and left a lovely bruise! (Yes, I know my tummy will still be “big” after she is here, but I am so clumsy and it’s so big right now!) Also, a cold beer.

Movement: She is pretty crowded in there!  

Food Cravings: Food, Frequently. Just picked up 6 cupcakes from a sweet bakery in town for my birthday…and Norah’s! (I love a good sampler!)

Anything making me sick or nauseas: We have been making homemade fruit smoothie’s for breakfast (trying to get the hubs to eat anything healthy!), and then I will just forget to eat actual food. My schedule is so different when I am off school, so I start to feel a little woozy, then find the nearest snack and water! (or Starbucks Passion Tea!) 

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: pressure and tightness in pretty good waves

Symptoms: Sleepy. Hungry. Thirsty. Waddling. Just BIG and Ready!

Belly Button: It’s out and bruised. 

Wedding Rings: Have been wearing my band for the past month...not sure when that sucker will be able to come off! Maybe August...

Happy or Moody: Anxious, Nervous, Excited, Glowing…well, sweaty.

Looking Forward To: The newest member of our Funny Farm and more Outstanding Adventures to come! 

Mama Molly, Mama Molly

(sing it like “mama mia mama mia”) Thanks Emmy ;)

Good Golly Miss Molly…the nurturing one of our group. I remember the day she told me she was pregnant, well, she didn’t exactly tell me…

(This picture was at her wedding and no, she didn't tell me she was pregnant on her wedding day-it was over a year later!)

Picture it. Rockwall, Summer of 2010. Three days before we left on our road trip to Savannah. Sitting at her kitchen table.

Molly: “Well, I need to tell you something. It’s unexpected….” (while pushing food around on her plate and making no eye contact with me.) 

Me: “Oh what…are you pregnant?”

Molly: “Yes.”

Me: Hysterical. Screaming. Tears. “AHHHHH!!!!!”

We always knew the first babe had to come from Molly. Court and I have always said she would probably end up raising our kids anyway. (Hence: The child leash-but Molly it’s Coach!) 

I, of course, told her the minute my stick turned pink and my adventure began...

A letter from Molls, one of the most WONDERFUL and LOVING Mothers I know:

To Sarah: New mom advice

While I sit here writing this post, I have to admit that I have forgotten a lot about the first few months of being a new mom.  I suppose this lapse in memory has contributed to mothers having multiple children for ages.   While being a new mom has been the hardest job I’ve ever had to do, the fact that most, if not every, mom forgets the hard parts so quickly should give you some peace. You will get through it, and you will feel pretty damn proud of yourself.  You are going to grow so much as a person in the next year.  As cliché as it sounds, it’s totally true.  Now, onto some advice to help you through it:

·    Sleep when Norah sleeps – as obvious as this sounds, it is sometimes hard.  When you first get home, you are going to feel that you should accomplish something while she sleeps, ie load the dishwasher, do some laundry, pick up the kitchen, etc.  You are a bigger neat freak than I am, so I bet you will have these feelings too.  It takes a little getting used to the fact that for the first few weeks, your sole job is taking care of your new baby.  Let others do everything else for you.  When she sleeps during the day, you sleep during the day.  It won’t take but a couple of nights to really get into this sleeping during the day bit.  And I know how you love your naps, so think of it as getting to take several great naps a day.  How awesome!

Let others help you – as I mentioned above, let your family and friends do everything else short of feeding Norah for the first few weeks.  At first I felt this weird sense of guilt, like hey, you don’t need to go out of your way to do everything, I can do some of it too.  But the fact is that you will have been through so much the first few weeks of her life, that you need all the rest you can get.  Don’t feel guilty that others are doing everything for you; feel thankful.  You have an amazing family that is going to be there for you and help you out.

Ask other moms for advice – You will have a million questions throughout the first month, or throughout her whole life most likely.  You are lucky to have sisters and friends who have just been in your shoes.  Ask them anything, they are the best resource.

I could go on and on with this list (or maybe not..since I can’t remember most of the first month).   I just remember being surprised by the emotions I mentioned above (am I useless around the house?, why do I feel guilty?, etc).  So just know that you are about to experience emotions out the WAZOO and it’s completely NORMAL.   

The Usual Prego Update:

How Far Along: rounding up 36 weeks, hers about 6lbs (give or take a pound-so we really don’t know)

Maternity Clothes: dresses, maternity tops and leggings/stretchy pants

Sleep: up every 1-2 hour, but can sleep solid from about 7:15am-9:15am

Best Moments: My nephew Cole has been taking swim lessons and telling me/showing me everything-it’s precious; getting Norah’s crib; seeing her sweet face on my last sonogram; knowing that 1 month from each day that goes by she will be here with me at home.

Miss Anything: ehhh…not really…

Movement: Hiccups and some kung-fu.

Food Cravings: Food…Frequently.

Anything making me sick or nauseas: too much sugar (I just ate a cookie too fast and not feeling great!)

 Gender: Doc checked Tuesday…still nice girl!  

Labor Signs: “pressure down there” and Braxton Hicks getting more frequent…crushed ice is my friend daily and like a miracle drug. I can't get enough of it. 

Symptoms: Sleepy. Hungry. Thirsty.

Belly Button: It’s out and still weird.

Wedding Rings: On

Happy or Moody: Anxious  

Looking Forward To: meeting our sweet baby girl and starting our new life together as bigger family! 

Obsessed

Thinking about it, I couldn't put Chase's Man Shower invite up without showing you how precious my baby shower invitation was. I am obsessed with paisley,  any kind of invitation, monogram or stationary. *No, there is not a secret language written on there-I am new to picture editing and wanted to blur any personal info!*

Thanks to Court, Hill, Emmy, Molls, Meg & Kate for a wonderful shower! 

It was PERFECT. 

Now, need to get started on the rest of those Thank You's...

We are Men. We Make Fire. And Bring Diapers.

This past weekend I threw Chase a little “Diapers for Dad Man Shower” and from picking him up around 1am with not-a-lot of beer or tequila left, I think it was a success! Thanks to Dean for the booze, Em, Kate & Court for helping with the set up, the Man crew for coming and for the DIAPERS! Chase’s shirt was a gift from my good friend and old boss Chrie (Trimesters Maternity) and he finally got his camo Diaper Dude Bag. We can all sleep well! 

*Pop Pop wanted to put the toddler seat on the back of the bike for a photo. Cute picture BUT this is the ONLY time the toddler seat will be on the back of the bike. Yes, I am "one of those" Mothers*

 *Diaper/Beer Cake made by Stephanie Kennedy*

While the guys played hangover golf the next day, Christi and I went to an open house/baby shower at the hospital where we will both deliver. I knew without the guys going with us what people would think…and they did.

In the elevator there were 2 other couples (husbands/wives) and us. The nurse/tour guide looked around and said “So, we have 3 couples joining us today on the tour!”

AWKWARD, but we cleared that up fast! Christi is barely showing and I am about to pop, so we were not surprised for people to think we were the hip 2012 knocked up couple. We explained that we were friends, neighbors, BOTH pregnant, but not “together” and husbands were not with us today.

All in all, great tour, met some precious nurses, good cookies and freebies!        


Last but NOT LEAST, my little seester Lindsey Kay graduated high school! You may remember her from a previous blog when I seriously thought this day would never come. Lindsey is headed to Baylor in the Fall, and I picture myself holding Norah in the driveway, waving goodbye as Lin drives away...brings tears to my eyes every time. I am not ready. But she is and will be amazing. We are so proud of you little and know you are meant to do GREAT THINGS! 

The Usual Prego Update:

How Far Along: 35 weeks; she is about 5 lbs and 18ish inches long

Maternity Clothes: maternity tops and leggings/stretchy pants...breezy. 

Sleep: up 4 times per night every 2 hours like clockwork…getting ready!  

Best Moments: A few weeks ago I ran myself down…fever, aches, high heart rate and blood pressure. I had not been resting enough and was overwhelmed with the end of school and all of the new baby goodies. Well, that ended up with me on bed rest for 2 days and Katie coming over to unpack EVERYTHING. Thank the good Lord Baby Jesus for my Mom and sisters. Emmy was out of commission for her tonsils, so it was Katie and Marmee to the rescue! They are amazing. I keep asking if they are all moving in after Norah Boo gets here…I’m not sure if they think I DEAD SERIOUS or kidding. I am serious. 
Miss Anything: Frozen Margaritas

Movement: Hiccups and some kung-fu action

Food Cravings: Food…Frequently.

Anything making me sick or nauseas: the “birthing” process…still in the fetal position crying with a mix of my crazy/nervous laugh

Gender: Norah Boo Fancy Gul  

Labor Signs: “pressure down there” and I really feel like her hand is about to come out and wave. (Sorry for being graphic, but that is what is feels like!)

Symptoms: Sleepy. Hungry. Thirsty. SWOLLEN FEET. I started crying at the nail shop because I did not recognize my own ankle. Chase will only let me run 1-2 errands a day now. Love him for it, but I am BORED.

Belly Button: It’s out and proud.

Wedding Rings: On

Happy or Moody: School’s out for the Summer, Babay.

Looking Forward To: Katie’s wedding tomorrow night in VEGAS! I will be watching online with my parents and some family friends. I know her and Emmy will look beautiful and bring me back awesome Vegas swag…right, sistas?!! Hehe.