Daddy Daycare

Stella,

I know I spend a lot of time on this blog talking about your Daddy but one day you will like to talk about him too, because he's awesome. I can't help it, he's my best friend. This week Daddy has been on daycare duty. Not for you, for me. You remember Mommy's friend Braxton Hicks mentioned in my previous post? Well if you remember, he's not a friend at all and he's been overstaying his welcome. Most of this week has been spent laying on my left side, drinking ice water like a camel, and snuggling with my two friends that have replaced Daddy this week, Mr. Pregnancy Pillow and Mr. Heating Pad.

Your Daddy is really good about surprising me exactly when I need it the most. Last night he showed up with this...

The contents of this care package include Diet Mt. Dew (always been a favorite), a slice of cake with buttercream icing (he truly knows the way to my heart), and a card from you. It's funny and a little odd that you were able to write the card but I'm just glad to have some communication from you. ;) You said "Thank you for growing me", it was sweet.

This is why your Daddy truly is the BEST.

30 Whole Weeks

Baby Stella,

 Being 30 weeks pregnant has given me some funny insight to what it is actually like to have a belly. A big belly. For instance, I never have a meal anymore that doesn't end up in a pile of crumbs right in the middle of my tummy. I get upset with Daddy when he parks too closely to another car in the parking lot because it's somewhat impossible to waddle through at times. Getting out of bed in the middle of the night these days has become a chore in itself. I've thought about counting it as cardio.

Other than coping with my larger belly, I've been finding my energy levels somewhat amusing. I'm either high as a kite or in need of a pulse check. On Saturday I spent the day deep cleaning. One minute I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the bathtubs, doing laundry, wiping cabinets, and dusting. The next minute I am curled up in the fetal position sucking my thumb and begging for a Starbucks.

Braxton Hicks has made it's way to my belly and I'm not a fan. Frankly, he can just go back to where he came from. The fiery pits of hell.

Your Daddy is coping with my new body temperature. I currently like the thermostat on 67 and not a notch over. At least we are saving on utilities.

But guess what? You've got new things of your own going on. This week you have started to roll your long legs across my stomach. The feeling is insane and amazing at the same time. I can't believe how big you feel.

I also feel like you try to communicate to me when you aren't comfortable. Maybe I'm crazy but I swear you do. For instance, if I lay flat, you freak out. I think this is your way of telling me that you aren't comfortable or that you need more brownies. I can't be sure so I usually just feed you more brownies, just in case.

Things have become freakishly real for your Daddy and I this week. We can't wait to see you and know that it will be a max of 10 weeks until we do. Can't believe it!

I'll leave you with a little something I read today that was a bit of encouragement to me.

"You have the exact qualities God knew your kids would need in a Mom. Each day ask God to help you be the best version of YOU." --Lisa Terkeurst

So that is what I am doing from here on out. I'm asking Him to help me when I worry about your health, when I worry about labor, and when I worry about your future to help me be the best Mom I can be for you and make the best choices. We can't wait to meet you Stelly Belly.

Love,

Momma

My Ginormous Baby

Dear Baby Stella,

Today was our 30 week appt and you never cease to amaze us. You looked right at us during our ultrasound, opened your mouth, blinked your eyes, and looked all cute for us. We got some shocking news that you are already a whopping 3.8 lbs. Holy Smokes! The average baby at 30 weeks is only 2.75 lbs so to say that you are growing is an understatement. We did NOT get the clear for a regular delivery, it will all depend on the rate you will grow between now and our due date which is still looking a little closer to the end of April instead of May. We are on to every 2 week appointments for the month of March and then it's GO time.

Your Daddy and I were talking about how big you were and cracking jokes as we left the hospital. He predicted that at your growing rate you would just go ahead and drive yourself home from the hospital. Nana said we might want to go ahead and purchase the toddler car seat. I predicted that you would come somewhat early and still be a nice, normal size. But hey, a Mommy giving birth can dream right?

Daddy took a video at our appointment today. I still can't believe how cooperative you have been for our ultrasounds. You must take after Mommy.

I love the way your Daddy's face lights up when he sees you or gets to hear your heartbeat. He is already wrapped around your ginormous, little finger. ;) I'm kidding about your size by the way, you are the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.

Love,

Momma

It's a Hard Knock Life

Stella,

The day started like any other day but it wasn't. It was the day from pregnancy Hades and I've thought long and hard about if it was worth it or not to relive the awful-ness via blog but here goes.

Your Daddy left bright and early for a work trip and I was feeling anxious and frazzled about being away from him for a few days (excuse #1). I woke up feeling super pumped to show one of our luxury buyers and hold an open house for one of our listings. The weather was beautiful, your Nana was in town helping, and starbucks was only 4 miles away. I was on top of the world.

Only I wasn't.

I couldn't find my keys. Anywhere. My spare was in Dallas with your Daddy on his keychain, so the rest of the story is all his fault (excuse #2).

I got desperate. I was a few hours away from meeting our buyer and had no vehicle to get there. I had to rent a car. My sweet brother-in-law had to take time out of his Sunday to come get me (Thank you Tonner bear). We won't talk about how much this mistake ends up costing. Mommy already feels guilty.

Fast forward to 3 hours later as I'm getting ready for the showing and I couldn't find anything to wear. Nana swore she had taken a trip back in time to when I was a teenager and I threw every piece of clothing I owned on my floor.

"No this doesn't fit."

"Too fat for this."

"This will be too hot."

"How much weight have I gained? Geez La Weez."

After I settled for the same outfit I had wore to church the 2 previous Sundays, only it was a little snugger, I ran a curling iron through my sweaty matted hair and was out the door.

Nana joined me as we pulled into a prestigious neighborhood and I was waiting for our buyer at the other side of the gate. I began digging for my lipstick in my purse when I felt them. My keys. Right there in my purse. The same purse I had searched 15 bazillion times that morning. You have got to be kidding me? At this point I had to laugh. I had spent money on a rental, 3 hours searching for keys, bothered my brother-in-law for a ride to the rental company, and I felt like a complete pregnant idiot.

After Nana and I laughed at the situation the day was honestly much better. We spent the next day shopping for maternity clothes that I have put off buying because I didn't need. I found some and guess what? I need them and I feel happy about getting ready for work these days. Praise God.

The moral of this story is this:

1) I'm pregnant and this is my excuse for my stupidity for the next 10 weeks.
2) After that time frame, I will need to find a new excuse. After all, everything can't be Daddy's fault forever.

Love,
Momma

Cheeseburger Baby

Stella,

Let me apologize for those little round things, fried just right, with cheese on top, slapped between two buns that I have ALL OF A SUDDEN been feeding you. They are called cheeseburgers. You see, when Mommy became pregnant she also became somewhat vegetarian. From day 1 of my pregnancy hamburgers, ground beef, steak, or any kind of lump of meat has completely grossed me out but that all changed one random day last week. As I was exiting off the turnpike past the only fast food place to our house, Braums, I decided I was craving a cheeseburger for the first time in 28 weeks. Random, I know. So I whipped right in and ordered myself a junior burger. I thought for sure that I would make it halfway home, throw it out the window from the smell and make myself a grilled cheese (see earlier post for usual reaction to cheeseburgers). But I didn't. I ate it..ALL. I even took a picture so people would believe me.

 

Sorry for interrupting your baby book with a picture of a cheeseburger. I considered it a milestone so

I thought I would share. But for real, your Daddy was so proud of me. He was so worried that his little princess would grow up hating the one food he loved the most. Maybe you still will, he will love you either way.

 

On a more serious note, we love you and can't wait to see your cute little face.

 

Love,

 

Momma



Rounding Third

Stelly Belly,

We have officially made it to the 3rd trimester! Congratulations my little bean. You are officially the size of a Chinese cabbage, whatever that is! Some days I feel like you are more like the size of a watermelon but not a small watermelon, a watermelon that feeds a family with multiple children, 42 children to be exact. Yes, I'm feeling huge. Yes, I'm in pain. Yes, I'm a huge baby. But I just keep telling myself that you are worth ALL of it and you most certainly are.

I would say that I am still in my nesting phase but these days it seems like all I want to do is build myself a nest in my bed. Yes, we have hit the "I'm tired" again phase. I fear this time it won't go away until you are 18. Oh well. You are moving more than ever and I am very anxious to find out your height and weight at our next appt. Soon we will be meeting with the Dr. every 2 weeks instead of every 3. Wowzers. It is starting to get real.

I've been recording "A Baby Story" and every now and then I will watch an episode. 3 things happen when I watch this show. #1 It's like it all of the sudden it hits me...this labor thing is going to hurt. I become terrified, I google insane stuff, and I want to know every detail. #2 I cry like a baby...duh. Anyone seeing their baby for the first time could bring a tear to my eye and it doesn't seem to bother me that the show is dated in 1999 and they all wear acid wash jeans. #3 I realize that every story is completely different and I can't wait to find out what our story will be. Will we be in a rush to get to the hospital or will I remain calm? Duh again. Am I ever calm? About anything? Here is my laughable plan for when I go into labor. Call my Dr, shower and fix my hair (who wants bed head for 2 days?), do my make up, and head to hospital. Here's how it will really go...Call my Dr, rush to the hospital with grease monkey hair, no makeup, and beg for the epidural instantly. Yes, I'm a baby.

Either way, at the end of all the madness I know that the makeup and messy hair won't make a difference because I will FINALLY get to hold you. CAN'T WAIT!

12 more weeks!

Love,

Momma

Stella in 3D

Dear Stella Girl,


What an AMAZING weekend. We invited ALL of the grandparents and your Auntie Logan for a special preview of what their favorite little princess would look like. You did not disappoint. Thank you for finally cooperating after a grande skinny cinnamon dolce from Starbucks, a little aerobics in the ultrasound room, and a few hard pushes in the gut from the Ultrasound tech. You were beautiful just like I imagined and it surprised me to see that you are looking exactly like your Daddy, full lips and all. Below is a picture of you and a picture of your Daddy when he was a baby.

See the resemblance?

I was just excited to see you had all your parts and they were looking fabulous. The tech made sure to show your Daddy that your nose was in fact not smudged but instead that you were pushing against the placenta. She was very friendly. Your Daddy loved seeing you too but he was a little disappointed that he would have to wait 13 more weeks to hold you. It's OK though, we will continue to let you cook. We had a fun weekend with your grandparents having lunch and doing a Sunday fish fry (my favorite). I'm excited for you to be a part of moments like that in the future.  

Love,

Momma