40 weeks concluded....

I can't believe that I left this blog with no update for 3 months. I was so sure that I would be updating it all through labor and everyday at home. Needless to say, he is here...

After all the drama and exciting 39 weeks and 6 days, our newest addition came into the world. He is perfect!

38 weeks, beginning of the end!

The end is slowly approaching and my hormones are really all over the place. On some days I wake up feeling like my pelvis is not attached to my body and on other days I feel like I could be running a marathon. I am still walking, squats and rolls on the exercise ball. It has helped getting him a little more engaged but I dont think that it has done anything for dilation. Its just as well, I am sure I am one of those women who will carry until a few days before or after 40 weeks.

37 weeks...Full Term, YAY!!!

We have made it to the magical 37 weeks. At 37 weeks most of the physiological developments in the baby are now complete and most babies do not require mandatory NICU time. Most babies born at 37 weeks have no complications and go home with no issues. So we are celebrating this milestone because it means that the baby is done cooking (I wish). Other sources cite 39 weeks as being full term and based on the doctor's appointment this week, looks like we will be making it to 39 weeks at the very least regardless of how miserable I am.

36 weeks.

4 more weeks to go,

I was so pre-occupied this week I forgot to take pictures of my 36 week bump with the camera. I did get one with my phone and I feel as if the bump is at a stand still. It must be really cramped in there as there is way more movement that shakes my belly. Its a shame that he has an anterior placenta so all these movements are only becoming more apparent because he is a lot bigger.

35 weeks.



Oh baby, our days are numbered. We are down to the last 5 weeks of baking our new lil munchkin and the anxiety is starting to mount. There have been more and more growing pains, nothing like I felt with Jr and I can't help but wonder if we will make it until mid-March. At this point I am just hoping that we make it into March, maybe I am just being squeamish but I couldn't take this pain for another 5 weeks.

My Baby Shower...

Feb 10th was the day of the baby shower my coworkers threw for me. Thanks to Jenny who hosted the event, it was so beautiful and seamless. I could not believe the generosity of my coworkers, no one outside my family had ever done something like that for me. I did invite  some people outside of work but none of them showed, which was okay. It was a beautiful day nonetheless.

34 weeks

42 days to go...

This week I found myself obsessing over my looks. Maternity clothes are not flattering and I am even more self conscious than ever before. Around this time with Jr my look started to changes, my nose got puffy, lips got big and my complexion even changed.

33 weeks

7 weeks to go....

Typing this countdown greatly undermines the anxiety I am feeling. while 7 weeks seems like a short period, I live it 24 hours a day. I remember the terrible anxiety I experienced while awaiting Jr's arrival and I really hope it does not get that bad. The other thing about 33 weeks is the beginning of February. Now I can say the baby is due 'next month' which does nothing to alleviate the stress. We really dont have anything ready for the baby and it is starting to hit me that he will be here soon.

I have gotten around to getting the carseat ready and thats about it. I keep wondering if we will have enough diapers and other basics for the baby. With the shower coming up, maybe I will have more focus after that. Jr is starting to get more excited for the baby, he keeps running around the house screaming "Baby Ishe", this big brother thing suits him very well.

32 weeks!

8 more weeks to go.

As the pictures show, the belly is getting bigger and rounder. I am definitely a lot bigger than I was with Jr and I am a lot less functional. My energy level is a lot better though and I have figured out how to align 2 body pillows, a regular pillow and the pregnancy pillow to get more sleep.  Hopefully nothing changes and
I can still get 8 hours of sleep up until the end.

This week I had an appointment with Diane who told me that I was measuring  at 34 weeks. She also checked my legs for fluid retention. blood pressure is a little high but not yet something of concern which is great. I have a few things to look forward to, the baby shower is in 2 weeks and I cant wait.

31 weeks.

I finally got the cohones to take a bare belly picture. I really look like I did at 38 weeks with Jr, its really bad. I can't imagine how much bigger I am going to get before this over. On the upside, the weight gain looks good. I have been gaining 1 pound every 2 weeks so that is not as bad. I am already feeling like I am about to pop but with 9 weeks to go, I know I should just kick back and enjoy the weeks before our lives get thrown into chaos...again.

I am having a really hard time preparing for baby. I know what I need to do and yet my body is often too tired to do anything at all. I also had to deal with a cold that kept me grounded for a whole week. There is nothing more miserable than having a cold or flu and having no way to make yourself comfortable. I am so glad its over and I can start to feel somewhat human again.

This week I also made the first official prep purchase: Diapers. I am so glad Jenny is throwing me a shower on February 10, I really hope that there is a good turn-out and I get a few things to help us along. I can't wait!

30 weeks..

This week I had the follow up ultrasound to check on the location of the placenta. Amazingly it had moved all the way up to about 2 inches above the belly button which means we are definitely a-go for the VBAC attempt. Lil man is measuring at 3 pound 3 ounces which is amazing, puts him in the 50th percentile. I hope it really stays that way. It may mean a 7 pound baby. He was very feisty at the ultrasound today, whenever the tech pushed on my belly, he would push right back...with both hands. It was amazing to watch. He is going to be a feisty one. IJ couldn't make it to this u/s and he was quite jealous that I got to see him and he didn't, lol.

I have been debating the scheduled c-section and the VBAC. I was so sure that I wanted to try the VBAC but now I am terrified of it. Both have their pros and cons but now I just hope that the baby makes the decision for me and I won't have to decide what to do.

29 weeks, Happy 2013!

Happy New Year!

It is 2013, the year we get to meet the newest member of our family. It makes it seem just that much closer. I have put off getting ready for baby until the new year and now that it's here, I am in panic mode. The belly is growing bigger and bigger, I had to buy some more clothes for work. I am back at work and now I have to sit in that uncomfortable chair. I keep counting down the days, a couple more months and I will be at home with my 2 boys.

I am starting to worry more about Jr's adjustment to the new baby. I hope he has a smooth transition and I am looking up all the resources on information about coping with the changes. I am praying he will not be as bad as I was when Kudzi was born. I was a danger to the welfare of the child and had to be removed from our home. I am hoping because this will be another boy, we won't have that problem.

28 weeks, 3rd trimester!

Happy holidays from the Nyarota family.

Now that my birthday has passed with no drama and we are celebrating the end of the year, I can rest easy knowing that the first 2 thirds of the pregnancy are over. I am also enjoying the rest of the year at home, laying on the couch and watching Christmas rom-coms. Its amazing how much better I feel at home, there is no added pressure on pelvis from that chair at work. Now I really understand how bed rest can make all the difference.

The 3rd trimester marks some big changes for the baby. Now it is all about getting fat and developing the lungs. I had a doctor's appointment that showed the baby measuring one week ahead. I am pretty sure this lil peanut will be the same size as his brother, around 6 pounds. I have also gained about 6 pounds from the lowest during the pregnancy which is great. The goal will be to lose all the weight gained plus another 30 before the year is over. We will see how that goes!

26 weeks

After the CPC scare I am starting to relax and trying to enjoy this pregnancy. It has not been as easy as this one certainly has been harder than Jr. I am starting to feel my weight shifting, find myself getting off-balance easily and feeling that extra pressure on my hips. There is that nagging nerve pain that runs from the bottom of my foot to my hip. Add the other joys of pregnancy, trips to the bathroom every hour. It really has been fun.

The baby is growing and his kicks are getting stronger and stronger. IJ gets to feel him move after dinner all the time. On the other hand, big brother cannot be bothered. He is convinced the baby is always sleeping so there is no point in bothering him. He may be right. He is however obsessed with my belly, he thinks blowing into it will make the baby bigger!