Browsing Tag

pregnancy

Adding “Mom” To My Repertoire

May 18, 2016

Pre-read: this one has been a hard blog post to write. I don’t feel like I am still fully explaining myself in the below brain dump. Either way, it’s what I’ve been feeling the last month and I thought I’d share.

via Brit + Co.

Soon, like really soon, I get to add a new title to my name. Mom. And, wow, is that a big responsibility! One of the biggest struggles I’ve had as of late, is the idea that I could lose myself in this new “mom phase” of my life.

For some time now, I have just been Amanda, ______:

  • Girlfriend
  • Wife
  • Daughter
  • Sister
  • Designer
  • Business Owner
  • Sen’s mama
  • Coffee lover
  • Idea master
  • Travel obsessed

Throughout this pregnancy the one thing that has scared me the most is the idea of giving up my life and everything I love. Moms do everything for their kids and family. They sacrifice who they used to be for who they need and should become. Or at least that is what I thought.

I will love my kids with all my heart but I want to TRY (keyword) to remain true to myself. I totally get that I’ll change but I don’t want to lose any of the words above.

I Can’t Contain My Excitement

msgiggles-mom

via pinterest

Don’t get me wrong, I am so excited to become a mommy. I have always wanted a family. One that will grow and become a bigger purpose for living. To raise fun, active, and respectful children that grow to be their own unique and weird individuals. But that’s not all I want to accomplish.

I recently read an article that opened my eyes to the idea of being an individual who is also a mom. And you should’ve seen the comments, why are other mom’s so judge-y? And I also read the book, Bringing Up Bebe. In that book, you see middle class french women who care for and love their children and family but also believe that they are people too who have hopes, dreams and desires in life. My goal is to emulate those women.

But the Guilt!

But then there is the idea of guilt. Already I’m starting to feel guilty for saying all these things. Shouldn’t I want to be a mom above all else? Shouldn’t giving up everything for my kids be a noble idea? Why do I feel bad for wanting to return to work? I already feel society judging me.

There Is Still So Much I Want To Do

I still want many things from life and I need to remember that having a family doesn’t mean that I give all of that up.

I still want to travel alone with my husband and grow our marriage. I still want to work and grow my career. I still want to have “adult time” with my friends. I want to grow my business and start new ones.

So, in my opinion, becoming a mom will only add to my other life titles. And it’s a big responsibility and a huge life change. One that I won’t understand until it’s actually here. But I have to remember to stay true to me.

via Pinterest

I’m sure I’ll look back on this and laugh hysterically at my naiveness. Or maybe I will thank myself for remembering how important it is to stay true. Either way, I’m excited for this new adventure we are on and I can’t wait to see what comes.

And please don’t take this article as selfish or ungrateful. I am so grateful that I get to be a mom. But you can’t blame me for being a bit scared. Or maybe you can. That’s your prerogative.

Holy crap, you guys. Baby is coming.

Week 28-29 // Pregnancy Update

March 21, 2016

Holy crap, you guys! 71 days until May 30 arrives. She is moving all about and loving life in there. I’m doing well and getting bigger by the week.

  • Length: 16 inches
  • Weight: ~3 pounds
  • Fruit Size: Pineapple
  • Geek Size: Barbie Convertible

*Based on 29 weeks.

  • Grace still has to chub out a bit in the next few weeks to get up to birth weight.
  • Meaning Mom will be getting bigger. Ugh.
  • The buds for permanent teeth are forming in her gums!

Week 28 – 29

Feeling: Relieved!! Last week I had the 3-hour glucose test and passed. I was really worried the night before but luckily it went well.

Health: Week 28 was super warm so I did some walking at night with Sen and during the day at work. It was nice on my birthday so I spent the day outside and walked with my mom for a bit. It’s week 30 tomorrow so the goal is to walk 3 times this week and do some leg exercises.

Nursery: Breon has painted the trim, walls and doors. He has a few areas to touch up and the closet doors (eww) to finish up but then the room is ready. He has also set up the crib which is so pretty and sturdy. I highly recommend the Babyletto Hudson Crib… as of right now….with no baby in it. 😉A few weekends ago, I painted a watermelon in watercolor, scanned that, and made a pattern and had it printed on fabric. It came out a little bigger than I anticipated but I love it nonetheless.

Maternity Clothes: After celebrating my step-dads birthday at Savoy’s Pizza, we drove to his sister’s house where my two cousins (who are also pregnant) were all hanging out. Aunt Mary decided to gift us with a super cute tees since we are all preggers. Aren’t they cute?

Pinning:

Sleep: As long as I have numerous pillows around me, I sleep great. I’ve been snuggling around one for the past week. If I don’t put one between my legs, my hips usually hurt in the morning. I am going to take a second to appreciate the good sleep I’m getting, as I know that later on in the third trimester I’ll start getting uncomfortable. Ahhh… sleep.

Symptoms: My ring finger is swollen so I don’t know if I’ll be wearing my ring anymore… which is a bummer. Otherwise, I’m good. Blood pressure is spot on. Glucose test was good. Weight gain is generally normal though I wish it were less.

Movement: She is kicking and moving all around. I love it. The other night I was watching TV and breon and I both saw her move my entire stomach. It’s very cool and weird at the same time. There is a baby in there!

Best of the Week:

  • Week 28: My birthday was fun. I did all the things I wanted. Shopping, eating, walking, and relaxing.
  • Week 29: Passing the glucose test was everything! I needed that.

Goals: Walk at least 3 times this week for at least 20 minutes per. Bonus points for a weekend swim.

Other ongoings: This week, I purchased a coffee table and console table for the living room and B put them all together. He has been a rock star with the stuff around the house and it’s great for my nesting OCD! At work, we move out on April 1 so these will be my last few weeks of driving to Hastings. That is WEIRD. One day (April 4) we’ll be working out of the new corporate office in Woodbury. YAY!

Week 21 – 23 // Pregnancy Update

February 10, 2016

I knew I wasn’t going to be able to make it back here weekly and as much as I would like to blame the excuse “I’m just too darn busy…” I can’t. I have time, it’s just that these days I am really really lazy. I hope you understand. And I didn’t take a picture. I will work on that for the next update.

  • Length: 11 inches
  • Weight: 1 pound
  • Fruit Size: Romaine Lettuce
  • Geek Size: Barbie Doll
  • Bebe may start hiccuping, causing jerking motions.
  • Fingers and toes are full formed – with fingerprints!
  • Pain in mom’s back and hips may increase (YUP).
enjoying a chocolate croissant and latte at rustica bakery; sen napping; adorable baby books; my new office building (moving in April)

Week 21 – 23

Feeling: I’m feeling great. A little tired here and there but generally still feeling good.

Health: I worked out last weekend and it felt good. It’s easy to push it aside with everything else going on, so I know I need to make it more of a priority. Had an OB appointment on Monday where my blood pressure was up… wasn’t happy about that. I have been checking it every morning and night this week and it’s been pretty good. Hoping that it’s nothing.

Maternity Clothes: Ugh. My coat doesn’t fit anymore but I REALLY don’t want to get another. A co-worker suggested checking out Burlington Coat Factory, so I might try that. I’m going to stop in at H&M tonight and see if they have any thing cute and cheap-ish for maternity.

Pinning: All the baby nursery things I can find. We are getting some great ideas from Pinterest. Isn’t this adorable?

Sleep: Excellent. Puppy woke up with a stomach ache last night but other than that generally good. Sleeping with an added pillow between legs for added support. I’m tempted to get one of those body pillow things. Just trying to save up right now.

Symptoms: Everything is stretching (round ligament pain) so it can be painful at times no matter what I do.

Movement: Felt movement exactly at week 21 while watching a Doctor Who episode. 🙂 Very exciting. She has been moving a bit but dad (B) still hasn’t felt her. So hopefully she’ll really get going once she gets bigger so he can feel her. AWW…she just kicked as I was typing this. Cutie.

Best of the Week:

  • Week 21: Feeling her move
  • Week 22: Getting paint samples to start testing on the nursery
  • Week 23: Registering for all the necessary baby things

Goals: Watch my sugar intake. Only get (decalf) latte’s once or twice a week, you know, instead of every day. Damn you, Salted Vanilla Latte’s at Caribou.

Worries: High blood pressure. Gestational diabetes test in a month.

Dreaming: I’m craving a trip somewhere warm, go figure. It’s about this time every year that I want to get the hell out of the tundra for at least a few days and soak up some sun. Oh well. Next year maybe!

Week 20

January 18, 2016

This was a week full of amazing, fun surprises as we found out the gender on Monday. And some surprises that were kind of scary. Sen wasn’t feeling well at all on Thursday night and we brought her to the doggy ER. More on that below.

Bebe Details

  • Length: 10 inches
  • Weight: 10.6 ounces
  • Fruit Size: Banana
  • Geek Size: Swingline Stapler
  • Bebe has a visibly straight spine now.
  • Tooth buds are forming.
  • Mama is producing extra red blood cells for both of us.
Week 20

Week 20

There is a lot to update you on since this is my first update on being pregnant. I don’t feel though that you need to know it all (nor do you really care all that much) so I’ll try to simplify as much as possible.

The first trimester kind of sucked… obviously I was ecstatic that we got pregnant and I know that others have difficulty with it. But for me the first part was hard. I was constantly exhausted, constipated (TMI?), didn’t “feel good,” and in general ate like terrible, really really terrible. But I kept telling myself if I can just keep it down, who cares if I eat McDonalds a couple of times during this pregnancy. I only got sick a couple of times so that was good. There was fun stuff that accompanied. The first and second ultrasound. We were lucky and got to see bebe at week 12 too.

Going into the second trimester, all of my symptoms started to go away but now without those issues constantly around I didn’t really feel pregnant. I didn’t look pregnant, just bloated. I didn’t have those symptoms annoying me and telling me everything is kinda normal so I tried to let it go. In general, this second part has been awesome. I’m trying to remain calm when faced with weird body stuff that happens but sometimes it’s hard not to turn to the internet. I will continue to practice just going with the flow. So that about catches you up to now…

Week 20

Feeling: I’m grateful that I’m finally at a place where I feel GOOD. Plus we got to find out the gender this week so I was feeling on cloud nine.

Health: I’m not super happy with weight gain. I feel I have gained too much. I need to reign in the eating habits as well as kick start my exercising again. I worked out this week and did a prenatal strength workout.

week20workout

Maternity Clothes: Yes. Leggings and leggings. I love them. I have one pair of maternity jeans I also love from Tarjay.

Pinning: Baby nursery ideas. I have no clue yet what I want because mostly I want it all. I love the idea of going simple but I also LOVE the idea of going BRIGHT colors. ACK.

Sleep: Excellent. The midnight potty trips have slowed unless I’m doing those in my sleep!

toms

Symptoms: Appetite increase (which doesn’t help the health thing) and some minor hip and pelvic pain but that’s normal since everything is still growing.

Movement: Not yet (#bummed). It turns out that I have a front (anterior) placenta which means that I won’t get to feel too much movement. Doc says I should feel something by week 24. Fingers crossing.

What I Miss: A good cold beer. But it’s not a big deal, it just always sounds good. Generally though, this stage has been fun and I don’t miss much.

week20painting

Best of the Week: Finding out we’re having a girl. I thought for sure it was a little boy but guess I was wrong. This little girl is going to be so loved and I can’t wait to meet her … in 20 weeks… you stay put little girl!

Fail: I haven’t been taking weekly pictures. I know this sounds dumb but I really hate the way I look. NOT ideal and so I have shied away from cameras. I should just do it so I can look back.

Goals: Eat healthier meals this week. Watch my sugar intake. Exercise at least 2 times.

sen

In Other News: We had to take the Sen Puppy Dog to the doggy ER on late Thursday night because she had thrown up all her food and wasn’t acting normal. She wouldn’t lay down, she was yelping if we touched her in certain spots, and was swollen. She ended up being okay and they gave her meds. She seems to be fine now so we’re just glad she was okay.