Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right. ~Henry Ford

The mind is a powerful thing!  I really love this quote, because it is so true.  You have to believe in yourself and trust that you can do what you set your mind on.  Just some food for thought.
Another day; another dollar. Or in this case, another week; another dollar. Hehe.  Really can’t believe August is almost over, but am really happy that it’s starting to cool down.  Makes a big difference with my energy level and comfort. Bring on my favorite time of the year: Fall/Winter!  It’s kinda silly, but when Rob and I talk about baby Sofia being here…I get really excited thinking about how she will arrive at the best time. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Can’t wait to get in the holiday spirit and dress her all cute-like. Ohemgeeee!

It’s been a great week. I finally got the nursery organized and looking good.  I’m sure it will change when she is actually here, but I needed some sort of order in there. It was crazy overwhelming. Rob and I had an awesome time on our mini staycation.  Nice change of scenery, prenatal massage, and pool time. Oh man, you better believe our next house will have a pool when we decide to have baby #2.  It was so nice to take the pressure off my back and other achy parts of my body.
Sooo the other day when I was talking to Rob about his “pregnancy craving” of bean & cheese burritos, he says, “At this rate, I’ll be gaining a pound per week!”  I guess we are truly in this together, since I’m supposed to also gain a pound per week.  Let me just say that, not only is pregnancy challenging for the mother, but it can take a toll on the father too!  I have to give Rob a lot of credit for rolling with the punches these last 6 months (when symptoms began).  From the 94 days of all day nausea every.single.day, where he encouraged me on a daily basis and made sure I was eating when I couldn’t or bringing me water when I was unable to stumble out of bed, most recently, making sure I’m always comfortable, giving me massages, and brewing my pregnancy tea.  He has truly been whatever was needed of him: a cook, nurse, maid, therapist, husband, best friend, and advocate.  I feel so honored and blessed that he will be by my side when D-day comes. I could go on about this man, really. But all the sentimental, mushy stuff will probably make you gag (or cry)! Hehe. Aaaand I need to save some for later, of course.

Just a quick note:  Wrist guards really do help the numbness and stiffness in my fingers at night, whodathunkit?! Baby is really adjusting her position.  Her butt has been backing up under my ribs, so it’s a little uncomfortable sitting up straight.  I think her entire body is on my right side; it looks crazy!  Lastly, this is the 2^nd week I’ve been drinking a pregnancy tea (from my OB and highly recommended by my doula) about 3x per day.  Just preparing my body and giving it an extra boost to take on this med-free birth. I’ll talk more deets (details) on another post.  Time for the fun preggers facts!
How far along: 33 weeks 3 days
Baby is the size of a: pineapple! (17 inches and approx 4.25 lbs)
Total weight gain: 38 lbs
Maternity clothes: non-maternity comfy skirts and comfy tank tops.
Stretch marks? Just a few, I’ve been lucky considering!
Sleep: Not bad. Many potty breaks and I’ve broken in the wrist guards and they really help the carpal tunnel. Hallelujah
Best moment this week: Hangin in the wave pool/lazy river @ AZ Grand Resort. felt soo nice!
Miss Anything? Just feeling like myself, hard to explain unless you’ve been there. Am I right ladies?
Movement: Yes! It’s different lately. Instead of hard mini kicks, I feel bigger movements, like she is trying to get comfy and adjust herself. Her butt gets backed up into my ribs sometimes, yowza!
Food cravings: Pizza (duh) Nature Valley Granola Bars. Does Pita Jungle count?
Anything making you queasy or sick: not in particular, some mornings I feel icky. Not as bad lately
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nope, but a really full bladder feels like a damn Braxton Hick (WTH?!)
Symptoms: the usual: back aches, arm/leg cramps, pelvic pressure(ow!), carpal tunnel, a little tummy ickiness, burps and fatigue. More and more fatigue. zzzz
Belly Button in or out? Kinda flat, almost out?
Wedding rings on or off? Off. don't remind me! hehe
Happy or Moody most of the time: happy!
Looking forward to: cooler weather, pretty please? Rob coming home from his man trip on Sunday. getting through the home stretch and holding our little babe!
Here's to hoping this week goes by quick! Even though Beyonce would be proud of this independent woman, I still know I'm gonna miss my mans. Hmmph!

Until next week,
lex

PS
I almost forgot! Baby girl got the hiccups for the 1st time (that I could feel) this week.  They are way below my belly button, which is a good sign. It is the oddest, but coolest feeling. A little distracting when you're trying to fall asleep though, hehe.  Rob was able to feel them too, even though they are pretty faint. le sigh, i'm gonna miss her being in my belly.

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"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." ~Cynthia Ozick

Oooh weeee, what a week it has been! And look at me, updating a day earlier than last week :::pat myself on the back::: don't mind if i do. So to all you Monday-Friday'ers: Happy Happy Hump Day!
I have to be honest, I'm still trying to figure out how to use this website.  I kinda wish i would have put more thought into which blog website to use. I see a lot of bloggers (via pinterest) that use blogspot, which is through google/gmail.  I just may hafta transition over one day.  Especially since I have gotten some feedback that comments are not working. Hmmph.  Any recommendations from any bloggers? Eh, whatev

So this weekend was pretty awesome.  The baby shower was a success and Michelle did an amazing job.  A HUGE shout out to her and anyone who helped her put it together.  We feel so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives.  I had so much fun celebrating Sofia's upcoming arrival with so many great people.  We were spoiled with lotsa baby stuff and so many cute outfits! I can't wait to play dress up, that's why we have girls right? Hehe. Sunday, we had our maternity photo shoot with Monique Hessler Photography (check her out!). For realsies: best. photo. session. ever.  I really don't like taking professional pics, I feel like a dork and awkward 95% of the time.  This was the first time I actually relaxed and had fun! That means a lot to me when I'm already feeling like the 7 month pregnant lady that I am (uncomfortable and swollen! haha)  I made a gallery on here, but have no clue how to display it.  It's a work in progress, so until then here are a few of my faves:




I can't even express how happy I am that we did these professionally, and especially with Monique. It makes me that much more stoked about the hospital shoot and even more so for newborn pics!
So far this week, my time has been consumed with how to organize all the baby stuff. Boy oh boy, it is overwhelming! Especially when I'm so tired, blah...can someone give me some extra energy? mmkthanks! I really need to up my yoga, haha.  I need to up my "A" game in general.  We just got done with our first prenatal appointment with our doula, Amanda and it went awesome!  I wasn't sure how we were gonna make 2 hours go by, but it just flew by talking about so many things.  It's amazing that just by feeling more knowledgeable, it can instill this confidence and empowerment.  I get really excited talking about D-day because no matter what happens; we get to finally see, hold, and love on our baby Sofia Rose!

Ok, so just like any other challenge in life, I decided to set some mini goals in order to achieve my ultimate goal.
1. Yoga or stretching every day (even if it's for 15 min)
2. Drink pregnancy tea (from my doc's office) 2-3 times a day
3. Drink 1 juice a day
4. Read positive affirmations every day (maybe stick on the mirror?)

I think that's a good start, we shall see how it goes!  It's time for some belly stats. I didn't do a picture with my handy, dandy dry erase board.  The maternity pics were taken at exactly 32 weeks 1 day.

How far along: 32 weeks 1 day
Baby is the size of a: large jicama (dang, now i want some jicama with chamoy)
Total weight gain: 37 lbs (major growth spurt the last 2 weeks-ish)
Maternity clothes: non-maternity comfy skirts and comfy tank tops.
Stretch marks? still the same duo
Sleep: seriously, this carpal tunnel is messing with my zzz's. luckily, i started to wear those wrist thingy-majiggy's
Best moment this week: Baby Shower & Maternity pics! Such a great weekend ♥
Miss Anything? having energy, it's depleting. help!

Movement: Yes, yes, yes! love it
Food cravings: Pizza, i swear every commercial or show on TV is featuring pizza...haha
Anything making you queasy or sick: still can't figure it out, but in the morning i feel a little icky after breakfast
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nope, we need more cookin' time!
Symptoms: the usual: back aches, leg cramps, pelvic pressure, carpal tunnel, a little tummy ickiness, burps and fatigue. did i mention fatigue? oh geeez
Belly Button in or out? in
Wedding rings on or off? off. tried to put it on for maternity pics...that was funny and pathetic at the same time. SMH, haha
Happy or Moody most of the time: happy happy! a little emotional, but i kinda blame the fatigue making me a little cranky
Looking forward to: Besides the obvious: our little love finally arriving. looking forward to some R&R this weekend on our staycation, a prenatal massage (Thanks again Scott & Jess!), and lounging by the pool with Rob. only 2 more days!

"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be." ~Grandma Moses

TGIT! Another week is flying by, and even though i didn't update on Tuesday or Wednesday...at least it's a day earlier than normal. Hehe, gotta give me some credit.

This week has been so great! Rob and I decided to hire Amanda, the doula we met with on Sunday, to be a part of our birth experience.  We meshed with her really well and are so happy we chose her.  I'm excited about our first prenatal appointment. I've been trying to make time for friends before my energy source is almost depleted and I become the dreaded grumpy-pregnant-lady-about-ready-to-pop-and-so-ready-to-get-this-baby-out! Haha.  I recently found out my good ol' friend Huy is moving across the world! (well the country), so we hung out like old times.  Had ourselves a raspado (i don't think i've ever had one, and apparently was deducted some mexican points). Talk about delicious! It's shaved ice with icecream and real fruit.  Thanks Claudia Cisneros for recommending Oasis Raspados. Can't wait to take Robbie. Had me some much needed shanlex time and got my pizza fix. Treated myself to a mani/pedi for this weekend's festivities and squeezed in some AH squared time with Ashleigh.  Can't believe how big Ellie is getting, she is such a little doll face! Finally baked some cookies today and brought some to my LBS (Latina Booty Sista) Paulina. Poor thing is recovering from getting her appendix removed. Phew! And now it's almost the weekend.
Ohhh aand todayyyyy, after I got my yoga on with Tanicka, i met up with Rob for what i thought was a typical lunch date.  I was surprised with a mini baby shower! Must do a shoutout to Christine, Kristina(& Becca), Krista, Ben, Chad(& Pamela), & Luke for making me feel special, even if I looked like a hot mess in my gym clothes sans makeup (yikes!) Hehe.  Rob and I are truly blessed to have such awesome people.  Not even considering today, I am so thankful that Rob has a core group of genuine people to work with.  It makes all the difference!

So the dreaded day has come...dun dun dun. I earned my first two "tiger stripes" aka stretch marks on my belly.  I personally think one looks like harry potter's lightning scar, which is way cool.  I have been doing my best to rub bio oil and lotion on a daily basis, and I think it has made a huge difference. But alas, it was inevitable.  I'm actually really surprised that getting stretch marks and gaining more weight that anticipated hasn't bummed me out (i have my moments!).  I guess because 1. It's all worth it to have this miracle baby and 2. I'm pretty motivated and know I will get back in shape.  More like, get back to my lifestyle. Boy do I miss it, but am enjoying the ride.  It also doesn't hurt having a sweet husband that loves me no matter what, and doesn't forget to tell me.  Le sigh, how did i get so lucky? How bout some baby stats?!
Total weight gain: 35 lbs

Maternity clothes: not as much lately. the tank tops I wear are from target or nordstrom rack and just a few sizes bigger. most skirts I wear are also non-maternity. whatever is comfy!
Stretch marks? it's an epic moment. i have earned not only 1, but 2 on my lower belly. i think i had a growth spurt in the last 2 weeks.
Sleep: Can't complain. That dang "carpal tunnel" is really annoying though!
Best moment this week: Feeling Sofia kick when she hears Rob's voice, it's so awesome! Aaaaand offically picking our doula
Miss Anything? Having more energy, blahhhhhh

Movement: Yes, getting stronger.
Food cravings: Pizzaaaaa. Shaved Ice.  Greek yogurt with Blue Agave, strawberries, and granola. Nature Valley Granola Bars
Anything making you queasy or sick: like last week, a few days I have felt a little icky after eating. not sure what foods, it's random!
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nope, some tightness here and there. I’m guessing those are Braxton Hicks
Symptoms: the usual: back aches, leg cramps, pelvic pressure, carpal tunnel, a little tummy ickiness, burps and fatigue
Belly Button in or out? somehow I missed this detail in the last few posts. mostly in, still.
Wedding rings on or off? off.
Happy or Moody most of the time: ecstatic! I only got emotional once this week. I'm really surprised I haven't been as emotional throughout it all (i think Rob is thanking the Gods, haha)
Looking forward to: This weekend! Baby Shower on Saturday and Maternity Pics on Sunday, gonna be busy..but fun! And of course, meeting my little love Sofia Rose! I'm getting ancy and can't wait!
Less than 60 days to go, woo hoo! Can't wait for it to cool down, this week has been rough....throw me a freakin bone here.

Way past my bed time, until next week!

la la lexxxxx


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"The road leading to a goal does not separate you from the destination; it is essentially a part of it." ~Charles DeLint

Happy Friday friends and family! Hokayyy, so I'm slacking a bit on updating on Mondays as I initially intended. Pregnancy brain is a b*tch! haha.  I kept myself pretty busy this week, which is always a blessing and makes the time go by quick! The Childbirth Education and Breathwork classes we took were really awesome.  Both Rob & I feel even more confident about our med-free birth plan and are really excited for D-day!  We officially decided to include a doula in our birth plan.  The easiest way to explain a doula (though, i don't think they prefer the description) would be: birth coach.  They provide the knowledge we will need to make the best decision(s) for our family. Most importantly, they provide emotional & physical support. I think this will allow us to better enjoy our experience & focus on having a calm, positive environment to bring our little love into. We both felt relieved after making this decision.  I researched many a doula, and found one we like.  We meet with her on Sunday to make sure she is a good fit. Keeping my fingers crossed!

We also decided to have Monique Hessler Photography do a "hospital photo shoot" and ultimately, a maternity photo session.  We already wanted her to do our newborn pictures & have been trying to be frugal with our baby purchases (aka do our own maternity and hospital pics) But, I don't think you can put a price on memories. So so excited!
Man oh man, am I glad this week is over.  Rob came back with a vengeance and exceeded his quota, phew! It was a pretty rough month for all the infusionites. Onto bigger and better things.  I've also noticed this week that I'm feeling a wee bit icky after eating. I really hope that the nausea monster has laid it's ugly head to rest this pregnancy. 94 days of all day sickness will suffice, thank you very much. Wait, I stand corrected. I don't feel icky after visiting Bahama Bucks, hehe.  Cheers for a refreshing treat as a craving. On the right is half Mango/Sour Watermelon with creme AND 1 scoop of vanilla icecream. o.m.g.so.delish.
Le sigh.


Alrighty then, time for some belly stats:

How far along: 30 weeks 5 days
Baby is the size of a: head of a cabbage
Total weight gain: 34 lbs (spoke to soon!)
Maternity clothes: yup. same ol, same ol. gotta stay comfy! except the shirt in this picture is not maternity, i think it's time to put it with my other clothes in storage. haha
Stretch marks? belly is free and clear still, keeping my fingers crossed!
Sleep: Sleeping pretty decent. Starting to really get annoyed with my hands cramping up and falling asleep so easily. Is this what arthritis feels like??
Best moment this week: At my OB appointment, baby girl was moving around and kicking while we tried to get the heartbeat. It was the cutest thing. She really is a stinker!
Miss Anything? My abs of steel! Haha jk
Movement: Yes, and it's still the best feeling. ever. le sigh
Food cravings: Bahama Bucks! I have not been there in years (I'm talking like, 8 years.) and I went 2 days in a row. Thank you Bre for taking a detour with me yesterday! hehe. Oh. And pizza; that's a given.
Anything making you queasy or sick: this week was a little rough. my tummy has been sensitive and I'm getting flashbacks from the nausea monster. Please don't ever come back! I'm seriously traumatized. haha
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nope, some tightness here and there. I'm guessing those are Braxton Hicks? oy vey
Symptoms: same ol shtufff: back aches, leg cramps, stupid hands get stiff and fall asleep. wth! oh, and tummy ickiness.
Wedding rings on or off? off.
Happy or Moody most of the time: happy, happy, happy! can't wait til she is here ♥
Looking forward to: Baby shower next Saturday and maternity photo session on Sunday. Staycation the weekend after. August is a busy month!

I just can't believe we are 2 months away. Is it weird that it feels like it has gone by fast, but also slow at the same time? I just knew 2o12 was going to be a great year.  I feel so blessed.
Time to spend time with Roberto. We are watching UP and lounging around with our pups, c'est la vie.

Until next time (hopefully Monday-ish, possibly Tuesday-ish)

Baby Mama Lex!

"Giving birth should be your greatest achievement not your greatest fear." ~Jane Weideman

This quote could not have come across my computer at a more opportune time.  Ever since I made the bold decision to prepare myself for natural birth, I have been making some changes to get ready!  Recommended to me by my OB, I bought a book called "Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method" by Marie F. Mongan (foreword by Lorne R. Campbell).  I really like it so far, and the quote in my title is very fitting.  One of the first questions I get asked about being pregnant is "Are you scared/nervous?!"  I automatically widen my eyes and say "Well, hell yeah!"  Now I can honestly say "Nope, not really.  I'm excited!"  It may sound crazy to some, but with some knowledge and confidence, I know I can do what my body was created to do.  Conceiving a child is a miracle.  Creating an embryo and having that slowly evolve into a fetus and into a tiny little baby; is a miracle.  The fact that your body knows it needs to create an entire organ (the placenta) for the purpose of nourishing this little baby: is a miracle.  Your body knowing when it's time for said baby to enter the world by preparing your body: water breaking, contractions, dilation, etc: is a freaking miracle.  So why is giving birth any different? It's the final miracle that will bring a child into the world. It shouldn't be any scarier than watching your belly grow.  It should be fascinating and exciting!

Anyway, as you can tell, I'm pretty passionate about this.  Don't worry, I have not let my hair turn into dreads, exchanged my OB for a hippy midwife(they get a bad wrap) and a bathtub, and I'm not going to cloth diaper! The tree outside my house is too hot to hug, thanks a lot AZ summer heat.  I'm sticking with my awesome OB and feel safe knowing I'll be in a hospital.  I will be signing off to receive an epidural/medication, if deemed medically necessary. I am not ignorant to the reality of giving birth and it not going as planned.  All that I am 100% sure of, is that I will be doing what I can to achieve a goal I have set for myself.  Like Tony Horton says "Do your best. Forget the rest".  Gotta love it.

Time for some belly stats:
How far along: 29 weeks 5 days
Baby is the size of a: butternut squash (2.5 lbs/15 inches) **this is according to my baby app. Per my ultrasound: she weighs 3lbs 7 oz and is measuring a week ahead.

Total weight gain: 32 lbs, still. i guess my body packed it on and now I'm in hibernation? haha, who knows!
Maternity clothes: yesss. and i think i wanna buy one more skirt from Nordstrom Rack. they are SO comfy.
Stretch marks? belly is free and clear still
Sleep: Pretty good still. I had a dream the tips of my fingers were blue because the "tissue died" haha, whaaaa? my dang arms & hands keep falling asleep. boo
Best moment this week: Hands down, one of the best moments of this pregnancy was the ultrasound that I posted about. I have her "thumbs up" pic on my phone and just love her sweet face!
Miss Anything? I really missed going for a long/hard run to blow off some steam. and the usual: sleeping on belly, having more energy, moving faster than a slug, etc. haha
Movement: Yes, and i love it! I think she really knows when her daddy is near. she will be still, and when he puts his hand on my belly and talks to her she starts to move.
Food cravings: this is random, but thousand island dressing! salads have paved their way back into my eating regimen. hehe. oh and chocolate + pb candies (but, that's what i normally love) mmm reeses and pb m&m's
Anything making you queasy or sick: ginger, of course
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nope
Symptoms: same ol: back aches, fatigue, the burps, and arms/hands falling asleep.
Wedding rings on or off? off.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! A little moody, but it's what I signed up for..
Looking forward to: Childbirth Education classes with Rob tomorrow, bring it! Baby shower and staycation next month, woo hoo!


Ok, so instead of making a new post or trying to figure out the widgets on this blog (i'm feeling particularly lazy at the moment) I wanted to share one of my favorite juices. Rob and I have consistently juiced everyday since we got back from vaycay. (there i go; easily impressed with myself...hehe). It's a  Mean Green Juice
 Ingredients:
handful spinach
3 stalks of kale
2 golden delicious apples (any apples, really)
small handful parsley
1 lemon*
1 cucumber
*A few quick/personal notes: 1. Start by using half a lemon and do a taste test once you juice it all and stir.  The first time Rob and I did this with a whole lemon, it made our mouths water. It was very tart.  (and if you know me, I love anything sour. Sour patch kids, sour skittles, sour punch straws; you name it. I've been known to eat lemons with salt. just like that.)
2. Peel or slice off lemon rind leaving some of the white pith
3. To juice small leaves such as parsley/cilantro, roll them up into a ball to compact the leaves. I also do this with spinach.
4. I like to add green grapes
What I love about juicing is trying new things.  Lately I have been mixing it up and it tastes delish, but looks pretty gnarly. Oh well. That happens a lot with my cooking/baking. All that matters is how it tastes! I will work on my presentation later.

Speaking of, I better go make our juices for tomorrow before this laziness consumes me.  TGIF and to all the sales peeps out there: best of luck on your end-of-the-month push.  Go team, go!

Besos,

Lex

Sweet baby girl!

Ok, so I just can't wait til next week to update about our ultrasound today. I'm too giddy!  First things first, this ultrasound was order by my doc to check my placenta (it was lying low) and the GREAT news is that it is sittin' nice and high; where it should be. Yay! Operation: Natural Birth is still a go. ♥  After our awesome tech (whom, btw, did our very 1st ultrasound when we found out we were preggers with baby Sofie) got all the necessary measurements, we had some fun in our attempts to get some good pictures of her sweet face.  As per usual, our little babe has her own agenda and apparently was in the middle of a somersault-position for her afternoon nap.  Her feet were up by her face blocking our vision, even her hands would go up there and add to our challenge. After turning from side to side and using this vibrating buzzer (funniest thing EVER! it definitely woke her little booty up) we managed to get some awesome face shots.  It was obvious we woke her up, because she kept yawning and we even got to see her eyes flutter open for a second. So cute! Rob and I are just head over heels in love with her!


Isn't technology great?! Such coool pictures.  We also found out that she is measuring about a week ahead of schedule (I think 9/28) and weighs 3lbs and 7 oz already.  WHOA MAMA! My baby iPhone apps says she should weigh about 2.5 lbs. Yay for a happy and healthy baby, that's what we want.  I'm not sure if this means she will come early, or if she will just be a little chunky monkey. Either way, as long as she is healthy; we are blessed!

I love my baby. I love myself. I am blessed.

Speaking of,  (loving myself, yeah i know...) I had my first experience with a stranger commenting on how HUGE my belly is.  Some lady said "Ooh girl, you look like you're about ready to pop!!!"  I replied "Wow, really? I still have at least 2 months to go, haha"  Anyway, it was kind of an awkward exchange and I thought maybe it would annoy me. But guess what? I love my belly! Sure, it gives me pretty bad aches and pains and I move slower than molasses...but my baby and I are both healthy and that is what matters. So hmmmph!  Haha, just thought I'd share. Oh man, the things people say to pregnant ladies....too funny.  That is a whole other post in itself. Am I right ladies?

Mmk, well I'm ready to start the weekend with handsome hubby.  Real quick: I wanted to take a moment of silence and pray for the victims and loved ones that were affected by the senseless tragedy that occurred in Aurora, CO.  And even though most will wish harm on the shooter, he needs our prayers too. He is twisted and could have used some professional help to avoid such a tragedy.

Peace & Love,

Lex

♫With peace in my mind. I got peace in my heart. Got peace in my soul.♫

So, I'm pretty sure I spend just as much time thinking about the title of the blog as I do on actually writing the post. Haha! I'm not sure why, I just feel like it sets the mood...or something.  This week is a lyric from a song called "Living in the Moment" by Jason Mraz.  It's such a happy go lucky song with an awesome message. I'm a sucker for lyrics, it's true. I find that I always find an album that I listen to incessantly and it creates a special memory.  I've been pretty obsessed with Jason Mraz's most recent album called "Love is a four letter word".  I just know it will remind me of being pregnant, I'm just that predictable.

Anyway, I picked this particular part of the song because it helps me put things in perspective.  No matter what happens to you in this precious life, you need to find peace within yourself.  It's a lesson I've recently learned , or maybe I've just been given a refresher course on(probably the latter).  I guess what I ultimately want to say is: Everything happens for a reason.  As cliché as that can sound, I truly believe this.  You may not see the reason why for a long while, but in retrospect, it will make sense to you. one day.  As long as you have made peace with it (the situation) and yourself.

For me? It was accepting God's plan for Rob and I to start a family.  It has been a challenging and heartbreaking journey, but I now know that this is our time and this is how it was meant to be. 07/13/12 would have been our Angel Baby #1's birthday and I was overcome with emotion. Words can't express having feelings of grief and gratitude at the same time; it's surreal.  Maybe that's why I turn to music to help express myself. I'm emo like that.

On a less emo note, this week has been pretty great! Rob and I have been religiously juicing and we can both feel/see the difference.  3rd trimester fatigue is starting to set in, but I think it would be worse if I didn't start eating better and doing some exercise/yoga. We have been loving this new "mean green" juice I found online. I will hafta share the recipe (still trying to figure out this blog-thingy-majig). Ahhh, it feels good to be healthy.  Oh, and now that we watched the documentary "Food Matters" (thank you Jason & Bre for the recommendation & hook up), Rob and I are pretty gung-ho about getting back to being consistent with our health. We also watched "The Business of Being Born" and it really pumped us up about D-day.  It was really interesting and just confirmed my decision to do everything I possibly can to have a med-free birth. Yikes!
Last week we got our bedding from Stacie with Lil Lainey Bug and it all turned out soo cute!  The collage shows the custom window valance, matching bed skirt, fitted sheet, quilt, pillow cover, and burp cloth. Can't wait to have Sofie in there to complete the room! Hehe. Oh yeah! (sorry, pregnancy brain at it's finest) I had my glucose testing yesterday. My drink was fruit punch flavored and it just reminded me of really sweet Kool-Aid (my favorite...the blue packet! hahaha) It kind of gave me a little headache, but it was NBD(no big deal, i love acronyms).  After an hour, they took some blood and hopefully that's the last I hear about that! No call=normal results. Now that we are in the home stretch, I'll have OB appointments every 2 weeks. And soon it will be weekly, whoa! I love that I get to see my actual OB every other appointment.  A special shout-out to Christine for referring me to True Harmony. I love their office and feel 100% confident with Dr. Brass. It makes a huge difference, especially as a FTM (first time mom, keep up people!) I have an ultrasound scheduled for Friday to check on my placenta. It was lying a little low on my last ultrasound appointment (2 months ago).  Hopefully it's in a spot that is considered safe and normal. I'm not worried about it, since I try not to worry about things out of my control. Just keeping my fingers crossed!

Ok, time for a belly pic and continued update..
How far along: 28 weeks 4 days
Baby is the size of a: chinese cabbage (baby apps are funny) 14.8 in and 2.25 lbs!

Total weight gain: 32, still.
Maternity clothes: Yup, Rob bought me 2 new skirts. THE most comfy thing to wear, hallelujah
Stretch marks? none on my belly, my doc even noticed
Sleep: Sleeping pretty decent still. My hands keep falling asleep and I hafta switch sides often, haha
Best moment this week: Last week was getting all the custom bedding and goodies for Sofie's room. I'm so happy with how it all turned out! This week was getting to hear her little heart beating at my OB appointment. 156 BPM!
Miss Anything? Having more energy. I'm starting to get pretty tired these days
Movement: Yup! I think I confuse Rob when he hears me giggle in the middle of the night (one of her favorite times to play)
Food cravings: Still pizza. Really love my muscle milk. Apple Pie with caramel drizzle (mmm!) Ooh and seasoned potatoes.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Don't say the word ginger to me (barf!) Oooh, I was brave enough to eat Chipotle and it didn't make me sick. phew!
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: Nope
Symptoms: Can't complain (too much, haha) Nothing new, just feeling overly tired all the time. Props to the women who deal with this when they have other children and/or a full-time job/school to attend to.
Wedding rings on or off? off.
Happy or Moody most of the time: This week was emotional for me. Angel Baby #1's bday. Lots of tears, but most were happy ones!
Looking forward to: Ultrasound on friday! We get to see our little love. I wonder how big she really is! And of course to make sure all is well. OH! And watching "The Dark Knight Rises" in iPic Theater on Saturday!!! boom

Mmk, it's time to get off my booty and be a good housewife.  Gonna be creative and make up a new juice, it shall be glorious!

Until next time. I'll see ya then, or I'll see ya on another time! (gotta love movie quotes)

Lex ♥

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