Firsts

Charlotte his now 12 days old and has been home for over a week, and as expected she has had lots of firsts. 

On July 7th, Charlotte had her first blow out diaper followed by her first bath (sponge bath of corse). She enjoyed the bath as long as she didn't get too cold. She has received many baths, one every other day, because her hair seems to get oily. She still seems to like the bath, especially listening to the water run and having her hair washed and dried. She doesn't like being cold or Mommy spraying her hair with water. 

Also, on this day she had her first ride in her swing. She loves her swing and her mobile, although we don't put them both on at the same time right now, it might be a little much! 

On July 8th, Charlotte had her first doctor's appointment. She enjoyed the car ride into Dallas. We stopped on the way and ate at Wendys and she slept the whole time. She slept while we waited for the doctor and then when the doctor saw her she just stared at her and didn't make a sound. She was such a good girl. We also saw a lactation consultant, and she is a good eater! The reports from the doctor were great, she was doing so well they didn't have to run anymore tests. We go back Friday the 17th. 

On July 15th, she had her first stroller ride/walk around the block. Mommy and Daddy got all ready and before we were out the door she was already asleep. But, she slept soundly. This event occurred after her first fussy period. Charlotte has been a very content baby. She basically only cries when Mommy doesn't feed her quick enough. We will think she is sleeping and will look in her crib and she is just laying there looking around. However, this day we got a little off schedule because Mommy and Daddy took a nap, and then she got fussy. I think she was gassy (a common problem for her, poor baby) and overtired. But, after the stroller ride and a tight swaddle she calmed down and went right to bed. 

Today, July 16th, we had our first trip to Walmart. She did well. We ate lunch at the Subway inside Walmart and she slept (as she was immediately asleep when she got in her car seat). She woke up three times and was a little fussy so Mommy held her for a second while she calmed down. Overall, it wasn't bad, and we were gone from the house for about 1 1/2 hours. Then, tonight we went out to eat for the first time at our favorite local pizza joint, Jimmys. She slept the entire time. The workers at Jimmys were excited to see her as we eat there weekly, and they were anticipating her birth. 

I don't remember what night this was, but this was her first time sitting in her boppy. We put on her Pooh Bear nightgown, although it was a little big on her. She loves to sit in her boppy and look around. And, if you haven't noticed she loves her pacifier too. 

Our 4th of July Sparkler

At 1:35 am on July 4th Charlotte Leigh Moore made her arrival. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long. 

It's been a while... too long, sorry. I have many posts lined up to catch everyone up with what has been going on the last month. I will post her birth story and explain why she spent 3 days in the NICU. We are just getting into our routine and catching up on our sleep. Check back as I plan on posting several times in the coming days to catch up. 

Thank you to everyone for all your sweet comments, blessings, and prayers!

Week 35 and 36

Week 35
Our baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in the womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. She definitely still squirms around in there all the time! Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Dr. Appointment
I started going for weekly doctor's appointments this week. The doctor does the same check up as always... blood pressure, measures me, weighs me, measures the baby... He didn't really give us much information other than he still thinks she is going to be early. I dropped last week and he confirmed that I had. Then, he predicted that throughout his many years of practice the baby comes 2 weeks after she drops. That means the baby could come the end of next week. He doesn't seem at all worried that it would be too soon. I guess he knows what he is doing. He did some preparations for the labor and tested me for some different viruses. He told us to take it easy and rest.

Week 36
Our baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. At the end of this week, our baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position, which we are pretty sure she is. 

Doctor's Appointment
I went back for the doctor's appointment by myself this week because they moved me up from Friday to Thursday. Mark has Fridays off but has to be at work in Ft. Worth on Thursdays. He did all the normal stuff. I actually lost weight, which is funny because I have been eating lots of junk food lately and just knew I had gained. He said all the tests he ran the previous week came back normal, which is great. He says that the baby is in position and we are just waiting still. I was slightly disappointed when I left the doctor's office. I don't know what I wanted them to say, congratulations lets induce you at 36 and half weeks? But, it is nice to know that the baby and I are healthy and we just have to wait and rest. 

Walking

I have been walking at least once everyday for about a week now. It feels so nice to just get out and exercise. Don't worry I'm not going very fast; in fact, Mark says I can't even call it walking, it is more like waddling. I really enjoy walking except for when the weather is really humid or hot, which makes me sweat (a lot!). 

Practice Makes Perfect!

I know practice makes perfect but I think I've practiced enough now. I have had so many braxton hicks contractions. They started a few months ago with just a few a day, then when the baby dropped it was more like 4 or so an hour, every hour. They aren't painful just really uncomfortable. It feels like this tightening across my stomach, almost like a Charlie Horse in my abdomen. Sometimes they will come every 7 minutes consistently for hours and then just stop. I know its not real labor because they don't progress even if they are consistent. It's to the point that I wake up about every 15 minutes all night long with them. They are annoying but I know that soon enough it will be the real thing. 

Watch Us Grow!

I put together a slideshow of my belly shots from week 13 through week 34...watch baby Charlotte grow!

Week 33 and 34

Week 33

This week our baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (half a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. 

Changes

I have had a much harder time breathing lately. It feels like there is a brick on my chest. Also, I can barely eat because it is getting so crowded inside that my stomach is so small and squished. Charlotte is running out of room, but she is still super active. The difference is that she is rolling and protruding rather than kicking. I actually saw her foot sticking out of my upper belly the other night. The rolling and protruding is much more pressure than the short quick kicks. 

Nesting

I have been nesting lately. Nesting is quite controlling and has taken over my life really. I get these urges and have to do them. Mark says I will say I "need" to do something and within minutes be up doing it and can't stop tell it is done. The other day I spent 14 straight hours purging the house and put 18 garbage bags and countless boxes at the curb. It was about 2:30am when Mark made me go to bed. It is random things each day, for instance: reorganizing closets and cabinets or cleaning the baseboards. So, my life has been consumed by random urges, but it has been really comical. I tell Mark I am losing my mind. 

Dr. Appointment

We went to the doctor this past Monday. We were able to hear her heartbeat. Everything came in great. And, I am right on track with my weight and blood pressure. The one thing I am doing that is concerning is swelling a lot. They told me to watch my sodium intake and drink lots of water. So, I have been looking at the labels on what I eat and I apparently eat quite a few mg of sodium. I am going to pay more attention to my sodium intake, which is weird because I never really pay attention to labels when I eat. We go back in 2 and half weeks because Mark's day off is changing from Mondays to Fridays with his new job. 

Houston

We made a trip to Houston this week for our nephew's second birthday. The trip was nice. Mark's parents drove Mark and I in their brand new Ford Fusion. The party was nice, it rained some during it, but the kids didn't care too much. It was good to see our brother- and sister-in-law. Next year will be fun because Charlotte will be almost one at Colton's third birthday party. 

Week 34

Our baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (an average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies. So, baby Charlotte can arrive anytime now :)

Speaking of....

baby Charlotte's arrival. This past Thursday night I had a hard time sleeping. After being up almost all night I noticed that when I got out of bed early Friday morning there was much more pressure on my pelvic bone. I already carried the baby low and had a lot of pelvic pressure, but I could definitely tell there was more. I put on my maternity belt for support and got ready to go out to Canton. (Mark took our friend Annie and me to Canton) In the car on the way I started to have (Braxton Hicks) contractions. I was having contractions about every ten minutes, if not closer together, but I wasn't quite sure what was going on. Surprisingly, when we got there and were walking around they seemed to go away, or I just couldn't really feel them. But, when we got back in the car to go home they started up again. I realized that night that the baby had dropped and I was in fact having Braxton Hicks Contractions. 

My skin has been stretching and I feel like at any moment, my bellybutton will burst open. Since the baby dropped I have had much more room in my upper stomach. So, I can eat more and bigger meals because my stomach isn't so squished. Although, now I probably eat too much, because I am constantly hungry! 

Saturday Night we went to our friends wedding. I could feel the baby almost the whole time. By the time we left I had contractions in my back as well. When we got home that night I was so uncomfortable. I was up until 5:30 am with contractions. From 2:45 until 5:00 am I had contractions every 13 minutes for about 40 seconds. I was debating on calling the doctor, but the contractions weren't painful really. I probably would have called to see if there was something I should or could do to stop them, but it was the middle of the night. I tried drinking 3 full glasses of water, emptying my bladder, laying on the left side, taking a bath... everything I could think to try. 

Nursery

I have made quite a few advances in the nursery. I finished her quilt and her valance. Also, we picked up a few more items in Canton (a small table and chair set). I have been acquiring little trinkets and decor for her room the past few months. I found a few things this past week on clearance at Hobby Lobby. I will have to post a full post of the final nursery but her are a few more sneak peaks. 

Still Growing

Maternity Pics

Mark and I had some maternity pictures taken this morning. One of our biggest regrets is that we never take pictures together. We really want to change that and capture every moment of Charlotte's life and of our new family. I really wanted to find a photographer that we loved because the only other time we worked with a photographer was for our wedding, and we loved him as a person, but his work was more traditional than what our (or I should say my) style is. 

So, I saw some photos online of an old friend of mine, and I found her photographer on the internet. I looked through her work and immediately fell in love with it. I contacted her online and set up a photo shoot for maternity pictures for this morning. Mark and I aren't very artistic and left the whole thing in her hands. She suggested to do the shoot in Las Colinas down by the Canal. We had never been there but it was so pretty (and we saw the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning Show Studio during the show which was neat because Mark and I really enjoy their show...). We had such a fun and relaxing time, and Mark even enjoyed it (he thought it was going to be cheesy). The photographer is really nice and natural and before we knew we were finished. 

I'm sure you will agree with me when I say that Angie (the photographer) is very talented. She put up a preview of some of our pictures on her blog www.onelifephoto.com/blog and on facebook (tagged to my profile). Here in a few weeks we will have 30-50 photos to show, and we can't wait. I love the ones she has put up so far. We can't wait for her to take pictures of our baby Charlotte! 

Week 31 and 32

First, I apologize that it has been so long since I posted. The good news though is that I am done with the semester and I am done with finals forever! A lot has been going on, so hang in there this is going to be a long post!

Week 31

This week, our baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (about the size of four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so I have had trouble sleeping because our baby's kicks and somersaults keep me up and sometimes make it hard for me to keep down my meals. However, all this moving is good because it is a sign that our baby is active and healthy. I started heartburn prescription medication and have been feeling much better. And, I have been able to eat. 

Week 32

By now, our baby weighs 3.75 pounds (a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in the womb. I'm gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to our baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Doctor's Appointment

We went to the doctor on Monday the 4th. He said that I look healthy. They also told me that I lost 7 lbs which was a little concerning. But, later that day I started thinking about it and I really think I gained 3 lbs rather than lost 7, and that the nurse was ten lbs off in her calculations. If I did gain 3 lbs, then that puts me right at 21 total lbs gained which is right where I should be. He wants me to gain 1 lb a week from now on and about 30 lbs total, and with 9 weeks left that would put me right where I should be. I haven't really worried about my weight and have just continued eating the same way I always have. 

One thing we discussed is the baby's due date. Mark and I have always thought the due date might be a little off. Since we changed doctors after the first trimester, it is hard to tell. Although, our baby has measured a little big every time we had a sonogram. The doctor basically said that she is a little big, but nothing to worry about. Because she is big and I carry her so low, he did predict her not staying in the womb until July 7th. He is thinking about two weeks earlier, around June 23rd. But, we will just have to wait and see. It doesn't really matter when it comes down to it because when she is ready and when my body is ready she will come. I am already starting to get anxious waiting for her, so I wouldn't mind if she came early. But, Mark has a competition June 28-30 and he is working through the end of June. So, he would like her to wait until July. 

We Graduated

We had our last LaMaze Class. We learned quite a bit at this class and are definitely glad we took it. I do feel better prepared for childbirth, but I'm terrified of it now. Not really, but birth just doesn't seem all that wonderful to me. At our last class we talked about interventions and instrumental births, which basically tells you everything that could go wrong with birth. At the end of the class we were told to make up our ideal birth plan. Mark got mad at me because I was insisting upon c-section at this point. I was half-way kidding, but at the same time really scared of all the things that could go wrong and I have been through so many surgeries and nothing has ever gone wrong. So, we were kind of upset with each other. Then, we had to spend the last 30 minutes of class doing relaxation techniques, which meant Mark had to hold me and rub my back. By the end of class we weren't mad at each other anymore. Then, when we went to the doctor the next day we discussed our concerns with him. I love our doctor; he was so great with us. He was really reassuring and said that whatever we decide about our birth plan he will stick to. So, we are going to plan on going into labor whenever it happens, and if something happens, rather than using forceps or a vacuum or some kind of intervention we will just do a c-section. Both of us and our doctor are all comfortable with this and on board. And, I am not scared of anything anymore, especially since I am completely confident in my doctor and in Mark as my labor coach. 

We are so Blessed!

We have been blessed by so many friends, family, and loved ones. Mark and I are so appreciative of all who have blessed us. These past few weeks we have had two more showers and spent some special time with our loved ones who have been so supportive and encouraging to us. I am going to save the last two showers for a separate post. 

Canton

Mark and his mom and I all went to Canton. It was so fun to walk around and see all the unique items. It wasn't bad and was overcast so we really weren't hot. However, I did get a little swollen from the humidity. We saw so many cute baby items. We got a cute pacifier holder and nursing blanket clip. Mark's mom bought Charlotte the cutest wooden rocking horse. It is unfinished so Mark is going to finish it to match the nursery. We also found a super cute picture frame.

Update: We're not moving...

Many of you have asked how Mark and I's house search in Dallas is going. Thank you for asking, but after weighing many things we decided we are not moving. We spent many hours searching and even found a few places that would work, but when it came down to it, we were going to have to make too many sacrifices to be in Dallas. So, we will be here in our nice big wonderful house for another year. Then, we will have to see where graduation takes us. 

Pack n Play

Mark's parents bought us a pack n play this past weekend. It was one of the only things left that we need for Charlotte. We really appreciate their generosity! We have a pack n play that has a newborn napper and changing table. If you aren't familiar with a pack n play basically it is a necessity for any baby because it can be a playpen, portable crib, bassinet, and changing table. So, on Monday Mark put it together. When we were in Target buying the pack n play Mark, being funny, asked Charlotte, "If I build it will you come?" He was joking because we were saying it was the last thing we need before she arrives. Well, Mark finished putting it together early Monday evening and then he moved it into the bedroom that night when I was going to bed. 

I was only asleep for a little bit, when I woke up at midnight nauseous. I spent the net two hours in and out of sleep propped up on four pillows and not feeling well. Then, all of a sudden I had a strong back pain, which was weird because I haven't actually had any back pain. It was this strong dull, almost numbing, pain in my lower back. After about 30 seconds I decided to stand up. As soon as I stood up, I doubled over on the floor beside the bed as the pain was now in my lower abdomen/uterus. I called for Mark and he brought me my birth ball and a pillow. I spent a few minutes laying over the ball on all fours because Mark insisted upon it. I kind of thought he was being silly, as he was really wanting me to get in the bathtub too. After about 5 minutes or so, what felt like 20 minutes to me, the pain went away. Mark was on top of everything. I was just confused and knew it wasn't an emergency because it wasn't a stabbing pain, although it was a strong pain. Well, after processing what happen the next day, it was a strong contraction. 

Mark was the best help and remembered everything we were taught in our class. He is going to be the best birth coach. And, I probably should listen to him next time. I probably should have got in the bathtub, which is what you are suppose to do if you go into preterm labor. And, I probably should have called someone, but I wouldn't let him because it was 2 am. So, Mark is just going to have to take the pack n play apart because now Charlotte thinks we are ready for her to come. 

It's Getting a Little Crowded

I am continuing to grow. Most people who see me make some kind of comment along the lines of "wow! You're big!" I think its funny, and I do have to agree I am big. I can say that Charlotte is getting a little more cramp inside the womb as she continues to grow. And, her movements are getting much stronger. She is still just as active as ever. It's such a weird feeling when she rolls across my stomach and stick out a body part. You can just look down and see her sticking out of my stomach. Also, as of last Friday, I have started to really swell. My feet and hands get real puffy at random times. I probably need to drink more water. Here are some updated belly pics.