35 weeks

Yeah, you can go ahead and ignore the last date on my blog.  That, by no means, is true.  At all.  Blogger had hiccups recently, right? ;)

Well, here I am at 35 weeks.  Much of a difference from 31?  I honestly just feel like I am bloated; I don't even feel pregnant.  I am sure that once baby girl arrives, I will look back at these pictures and see exactly how big I actually am.  Or how big I choose to admit.

How have I been feeling?  Other than the occasional (and pretty bad) indigestion, pretty bad pelvic pain, and horrible hip pain while sleeping, I have no other complaints.  I don't feel like she's "going to fall out" like  I've heard many others describe.  I don't have any other complaints.  If this is as "bad" as it gets, this has been an awesome, smooth, ideal pregnancy (with the exception of the weight gain).  I know that my weight gain is within healthy range, and I sound vain when I express concern, but it's my heart.  I am just being real.  I have my last bi-weekly doctor's appointment tomorrow, then I'm graduating to weekly (which means cervix checks, which means she'll be here so, very soon!).
Last night, I had 3 different dreams about her coming now.  I thought it'd be awesome if she came now, but the way I felt in those dreams proved me to be wrong.  I was freaking out because she was too early.  I am just getting soooo eager to see her, hold her, smell her, and just cuddle up 24/7 with her.  I want to see how daddy will be with her and just be googley-eyed over how cute they are.  :)  But, for her safety, I think I can wait at least 2 more weeks; then I'll have her for a lifetime. :)

On another note, I'm still trying to get ready for her.  My hospital bag needs to be packed; I hope to have that done by next weekend.  Daddy still has to put together the dresser (which I've been asking him about for the last month!).  We are still waiting for little things to be purchased.  But, that will all happen in due time and even when it does, I'll still feel unprepared.  Whatever.  :)

I guess it's off to begin wrangling up things to toss into that hospital bag that awaits me! :)

A side you didn't know

I don't think I've ever mentioned it on this blog, but I'm also a photographer.  By all means, not a successful, magazine-worthy, confident photographer, either.  I'm the kind of photographer that gets lazy and doesn't take things to my fullest potential.  The kind of photographer that, every once in a while, gets a fire under her butt and wants to put all that she is into making it work.  I'll admit, I don't pick up my camera every single day.  I could use some more practice.  But, at the end of the day, this is a passion that I have and I want to be able to enjoy it, love it, and be confident enough to say I am a photographer and not wait for someone to chuckle (because yes, I do).
I have been serious about photography for about a good year and a half, but have never put 100% into it.  I want to legitimize myself in all aspects and make it known that I'm not playin' around.  When I got married and moved, I googled 'lifestyle photographers' in my new area and found one who I just loved.  I reached waaay out of my comfort zone, contacted her, and met her and one of her photographer friends at Starbucks.  And, of course, now we are all friends.  We have continued to add more photographer friends to the group and I have learned sooo much from these gals.  The only catch is that, remember, I'm a coward?  An insecure photographer?  They are very supportive and answer any questions that I have, but I still feel like I'm not giving it my all.  I want to, but I think it's fear that's stopping me from diving in.
After the baby, Josh and I decided that I will only work one day a week, so I'm going to be a whole lot more dependent on getting things off the ground.  I just wish that I had the encouragement, the patience, and the guts to give it my all!  Josh can only be my cheerleader so much, then I know that I have to pull the old cheerleader out of myself and put her to work.

Anyway, just felt that I needed to vent and be vulnerable for a minute.  In case you're interested, my site is www.leilaninicolephotography.com and I'm on Facebook under the same name as well.  Hopefully you'll be seeing some serious change in it all soon!

31 weeks

I really thought that I would be posting more this week since I have taken the whole week off, but as you can see, that hasn't necessarily been the case.  I have been doing everything around the house and stuck in the so-called nesting mode.  My baby shower was this past Sunday and what a blessing!  We had the shower at a historic home that was totally decked out in Christmas decorations.  It was so beautiful, full of faces I love, happiness, love, and food!  I felt so blessed by everyone's generosity!  After the shower, I was dying to get home and let Josh re-open it all and see it all again.  :)

When Josh returned the work the next day, I opened, organized, and washed everything!  I have never been more excited about laundry in my life!  Folding tiny clothes are so much more fun. :)  I was hoping that perhaps we would have the nursery done by the time I go back to work on Tuesday, but I'm not sure if that is going to happen.  There are a few more things that we need to finish off the room (glider and ottoman, pictures/frames, the bedding, shelves for the walls, and that cute little scentsy elephant) that will really fill it and make it perfect!  :)  

Tonight we are scheduled to go for the maternity center tour and I cannot wait!  It's going to make it feel realer than ever!  That reminds me that I want to have to the birth plan finished, my hospital bag started, and be pre-registered for the hospital before returning to work!  Man, it's all happening so quickly! :)  Can't believe I'll be full-term in 39 days.  Eeep!

Well, I am half way through my 31st week, but obviously I wasn't keeping this blog totally updated.  The only thing I can say has changed is that my body is so. Sore.  My pelvis is feeling achy, my lower back keeps getting a shooting pain (sciatic pain?), my upper back just feels so very tense, and my hips are sorer than ever.  I guess it's just the growing pains!  I can't say that I'm ready for it all to be over with, though!  I am definitely going to miss the big ol' rolls and kicks and hiccups, but I would rather be cuddling her in my arms. I cannot believe that she is 19 inches long and nearly 4 pounds!!  It's so crazy that I feel movements that are at least 10 inches apart (feeling from the outside).  I remember when I was only feeling those tiny little "pops" in the beginning and I would have to be touching the exact spot to feel it on the outside; now, there is definitely no missing it!  Josh and I can have all four hands on my stomach and be feeling something different in each area!  It's really an amazing thing.