Jumping on the Bandwagon.

I have never been a leader. You know, the one whose opinion differs from everyone else around them, they find out what they like and they stick to their guns. Do research on different things and find out what's best for them. Nope, I jump on the bandwagon. I hate confrontation and controversy. I'll stay quiet unless someone asks my opinion and then I'll give it as peacefully and quietly as possible. Last Memorial Day, when Mr. Skinny's family got into a heated political debate, I took a convenient trip to the bathroom.

This jumping on the bandwagon stuff goes just about into every part of my life. Right now, it's seeping into how I feel about certain things once my little girl is born, and how I'm envisioning labor and delivery for myself.

I've always been fascinated by being a mom, the whole process. I used to watch "A Baby Story" on TLC all the time. Any kind of show I could find about labor and delivery, I watched. I'm not sure when I started reading up on natural birth, but when I did, it all made sense. Women's bodies were made to deliver babies. Pain is just how your mind perceives it. If you're scared, your body will make it seem more painful. Sure, I've never gone through labor pains before, but I know my body can do it. God created women to do this.

Anyways, natural birth goes back to jumping on the bandwagon. Reading up on it made it seem "better" than medicated birth, so naturally, I jumped on. Well, before getting pregnant, I would jump on the bandwagon in regards to healthy eating. Chia seeds seem to be good for you, let's get some. Greek yogurt, same thing. High fructose corn syrup seems bad for you, so let's avoid that. Organic is the way to go, let's spend more money on that. Same thing in regards to what I put on my registry. From the crib mattress - which is organic - to swaddles and bathing products, I jumped on the bandwagon. I read one negative thing about something and I jump on the bandwagon. Sometimes it's not a bad thing, i.e. organic produce. But some things I'll push for just because I read one article, which may or may not have been a credible source.

My next thing - cloth diapers. I can't even truthfully tell you why I'd like to try them other than possibly saving money. It just seems like the benefits outweigh the negatives. Luckily for me, Mr. Skinny is really easy going and laid back about things. He usually jumps on board with me because he trusts me to make educated decisions about the things that I'm passionate about.

I'm starting to be a little more opinionated about certain things, although I will only argue with certain people about them, but I'm a little worried that it's going to bite me in the butt. Mr. Skinny and I are on the same page with a natural birth, so I'm worried that I'm going to be in labor for like 4 days, and want some kind of pain medication, and he's going to talk me out of it. Which might not be a bad thing, but he's not the one going through the pain. I'm worried I'll spend all this money on cloth diapers and then something goes wrong, just so someone can tell me "I told you so." I want to breastfeed so badly, I'm worried it won't work out for me.

I'm sure this feeling isn't going to go away. Being a parent means making the best decision you can for your family, and people might not like it. My aunt might think I'm crazy to feed my baby on demand rather than on a schedule. Sometime might criticize me if I pick my baby up every time she cries for a long time. Co-sleeping. baby wearing, crying it out. Baby food vs. baby led solids. There's no right answer, and I'm worried that I won't be able to figure out what I want for my baby and stick to my guns.

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How do you handle criticism?
Do you tend to jump on the bandwagon, or march to your own drummer?

Twenty-Four Weeks.

Dear Little One,

Twenty-four weeks done, and about sixteen more to go! You're moving around more than ever, and I think I finally felt you getting hiccups! I couldn't tell for sure, but I think that's what they were. I can tell when you're moving and when you're sleeping. You're definitely more active at night while we're laying in bed and watching TV. The belly is getting bigger everyday, that's for sure! I put on a tank top that I ran in last summer, and it kept riding up and showing the underside of the bump. I think that's the last time I try to squeeze into a non-maternity shirt! 

My weight gain is around +16-17 pounds. I'm getting really bad at figuring it out each week. I weigh myself most mornings, just to keep myself on track, so it's hard to find an average of each week. I'm still on track for an overall gain of 25-35 pounds, although I think I'm going to be more like 35-40 pounds. I know I can loose the weight and get myself in a better shape than I ever was before. I know how to eat healthy and get myself healthy. I am so grateful for you, I'm doing what I can to keep you healthy, and keep your momma healthy, too! 

For the first time, when I went to Wegman's on Saturday, I was determined to park in a Stork parking spot. I've been putting parking here off for so long, just because I didn't feel big enough to take up a closer parking spot. But I was thinking about it, and I reached my sixth month, I don't have a ton more time to take advantage of these spots, so I was determined to park in the first one I saw. But then, none were open, so I had to park in the back anyways. Oh well, I could use the exercise, and you can, too! 

Speaking of exercise, I only walked once last week. I'm really going to try to walk today, but I think my exercise of the day might be scrubbing wallpaper glue off the walls of our room. That totally counts as exercise, right? Eating has still been going good, and I'm doing a little better with the sweets ordeal that I mentioned last week. I don't need dessert every day. I have been craving cake though, so I might have to indulge in that next weekend or so...

You're the length of an ear of corn now (so big!) and weigh about 1 1/4 pounds. It's crazy to think how much more weight you have to gain, but you're already about half the length that you'll be. I wonder what you'll look like, if you'll have curly hair like Daddy and me, and if you'll have blue eyes and dimples. Whose nose you'll have and whose lips. I can't even imagine what you'll look like, half Daddy and half me. It's mind blowing! 

I still feel absolutely fantastic, other than the occasional grunts to get up out of bed, or pick something up, but that's what happens when my belly gets so big. I know it's only going to get bigger, and I can't wait to be amazed at what my body can do. I've been thinking a lot about labor, and how I'd like you to come into the world. I'll write a whole other post on it, and I know that a lot of it is out of our control, but I'm not scared at all about labor, or delivering you. I trust that God knows what He's doing, and He's in control. I trust that my body knows what to do. Daddy and I are reading a lot about it, and talking about how much Daddy's going to be involved. I hope everything goes smoothly, but I will do anything to have a healthy baby at the end of the day! 

I get a little annoyed at the websites that tell me all the symptoms I could and should have, I'm growing a human, it's not going to be comfortable! I have had a blessed pregnancy so far, not a lot of sickness or cramps. But, I'm a really positive person, and I could have a terrible pregnancy, but I think feeling you move would make me forget all about it. I'm not swollen yet, although I think I waddle a little bit, it's a cute side-effect of pregnancy so far. My mind might change in the next three months, but I think I have a laid back enough attitude that it won't bother me. This is something I've wanted to do my entire life, and I will appreciate every "bad" thing that comes along with the good of growing a tiny human. 

And the last exciting thing this week, we got your crib! It's all assembled and it it's permanent, we think, spot! It was pretty easy to put together, only took Daddy and I about an hour, and I even got to help! This was a gift from your Great-Grandma Crane and we are so thankful that we got it! 

Keep growing and moving, and baking! It's nice to know you could survive if you decided to come now, but please stay put for quite a long time!

Love, 

Mommy

Tell me:

Would/did you feel comfortable parking in the stork parking spot at stores? 

What was your least favorite part of pregnancy? Most favorite? Or what would you look forward to the most?

2012 Goals.

It took me so long to write this because I wasn't sure how I wanted to handle my 2012 goals. I don't like to call them resolutions only because of the bad connotation of failed resolutions. Also, I wasn't sure if I wanted to do any kind of goals because being pregnant, I'm not sure how this year is going to pan out. I don't know how I'm going to feel after having a baby, and I don't want to set my goals too high. I also feel like this year is going to be split into before/prepare for baby, and being a mom. I thought about doing goals for the first half and then re-evaluating them after I have the baby, but I think I can make them general enough so that they can work throughout the year. So here goes nothing!

1. Be the healthiest woman I can be through my eating habits. This includes eating well, making sure I have enough fruits and veggies every day, along with balanced meals and correct portions. This also includes sweets/treats in moderation. I know that when I have the baby it might be eating whatever someone makes for me, and if that's the healthiest I can be at that time, then that's just fine. I want to do my best.

2. Be the healthiest woman I can be through exercise. After baby, I really want to get back into running, but we'll deal with that hurdle when we get there. Maybe I won't be able to run due to an injury, but I want to find something that I can do and stick with it. Right now, that means walking on the treadmill. If I get to the point where walking isn't as comfortable, then maybe I'll do some yoga, but I really want to take time every day and try to work on my fitness.

3. Deliver a baby to the best of my ability. I have higher hopes for this one than might be encouraged. I'll write a blog post on that in some later months, but for right now, this means to do a ton of research and prepare my body, my mind, and Mr. Skinny to deliver a baby in the next few months. This also means that if something happens and it would be safer to deliver baby via c-section, don't beat myself up and think I did something wrong, God has His reasons, and I need to trust Him. I also want to be the best mom I can be.

My little cousin Colton the morning after he was born!

4. Save money & pay things off. Does this goal ever go away? I don't think so, and I guess I'm okay with that. This one also comes with a sub-goal - stop being so materialistic! I don't need the latest gadget to be the best person I can be! Appreciate what I have, be frugal with money, be smart. Spend more time with family and less time on my iPhone. Don't buy what we don't need.

5. Get closer to God. This is never going to go away either, and I'm definitely okay with that. Mr. Skinny and I know we want to be the best role models we can be for him/her. This means going to church on a regular basis, and taking the baby with us. My mom and I have talked that we'd like to help out in the nursery so that we can keep an eye on the baby. Really, I'm going to try to keep the baby with me in church. But we'll play that by ear. I'm also going to try to read my devotions to the baby, I read them aloud now because I know that the baby can hear me talking and so I pray out loud too, to set a good example.

So pretty much that's it! Honestly, I want to be the best person I can be, best wife, daughter, mother, cousin, and sister. I think they're all general enough that they shouldn't change, but we'll take this year with a grain of salt considering I have no idea what kind of baby I'll have and what new challenges will be coming with that.

Tell me:


Did you set any 2012 goals? 
Do you call them goals or resolutions?

Twenty-One Weeks.

Side Note: Sorry I haven't been blogging as much as I was. I try to blog on Mondays and Wednesdays, my days off. I still haven't gotten back to a regular schedule since the holidays. I'm going to be hightailing it today so that I can get three posts up this week, and have one ready to do for next week. Last Wednesday I had an off day, and didn't get around to blogging, so I know I haven't had an update since last Monday. I've also been off on commenting on blogs, and my comments might be a few days after you originally posted, but I promise I'm still reading!


Dearest baby,

21 weeks! Past the halfway mark. Every day makes it seem more real that you'll actually be joining us in just a few short months. May 26th seems a lot closer this side of Christmas than it did on the other side. I get more and more excited for you every day, too! I was adding more things to my registry this morning and imagining if you were a boy or girl so I could get you pink or blue things, they're a lot more fun to look at than yellow and green stuff. I think we have most of the big stuff picked out, but I'm going to go with your Grammy next weekend to hopefully add anything else we need, or change things that I don't like in person since I did the whole registry online. It's really hard to figure out quite what to add since I don't know what kind of baby you'll be! And there's so many things I don't know if I have to add, and things that I wouldn't even think you'd need! Don't worry, we'll figure it all out.

You're about the size of a banana or a carrot - 10.5 inches and weigh about 12 ounces, so close to a pound! You're hopefully growing more hair, on your head, eyelashes, eyebrows and you have eyelids! Slowly, your digestive system is growing, and you're drinking the amniotic fluid and digesting it. You've been moving a lot, too. I still can't feel you from the outside, but not a day goes by where I don't feel you move. I think you were having a party yesterday, you were moving all day long! Your daddy feels you every night before we go to bed. I think that he can feel you more easily than I can because he doesn't know how strong you kick from inside, so he's very aware of the tiny movements that can be felt from the outside.

You must be going through a growth spurt, either that or I need to cut back on the food! I've been gaining too much weight over the past 2 weeks, but I'm not too worried about it. I know it depends on the day, how much sodium I've had and how much water I drank. I've been doing better about exercising, too! I got on the treadmill 3x last week and walked for at least 20 minutes, and even through some jogging in there! I've been wearing my heart rate monitor to make sure I don't push myself too hard, but I'm really proud of myself! I even do pelvic tilts daily after I walk/jog and I've been trying to hold a squat for longer every day!

 I have good days and bad days with eating healthy, but for the most part, I've been doing good. Weekends are hard, but I'm usually on track during the week. Your daddy and I have been reading "Husband Coached Childbirth" since he wants to be there with me during labor and delivery and he wants to be my coach. We're talking about the procedures and things that we're comfortable with, and what we aren't comfortable with. It's really interesting to learn about all these things! Your Grammy and I always went through my baby box and she found the birth story of me being born! It was really neat to read that and imagine how your birth story is going to pan out.

I don't have anything to complain about, other than my eye going a little crazy last Wednesday. It was like an eye test when you have to find the fuzzy part in your peripheral vision, but it went away after I laid down and closed my eyes for 10 minutes. That's the second time it happened, but it hasn't happened for months, so I'm not too worried about it. No heartburn this week, no leg cramps, I've even been sleeping pretty good. I can't complain about anything, little one, because I'd sacrifice anything for you! Our next appointment is on Wednesday, and it's with the doctor who delivered your uncle! Grammy didn't really like him, so we'll see how it goes!

Keep growing and kicking!

Love,
Momma

To Find Out Or Not.

In less than two weeks, as long as baby cooperates, Mr. Skinny and I could find out the sex of the baby. Our ultrasound, I think, and hope, is scheduled for December 21st. When we had our first appointment, and they made the consecutive two appointments, we were informed that the next appointment (November 21st) would be the heartbeat, and that it was. We were also informed that the following appointment (December 21st) would be the ultrasound where we could find out the baby's sex, if we chose to. 

Let me say that up to this point, and before we were even trying to get pregnant, Mr. Skinny and I agreed that we didn't want to find out the baby's sex. We thought it would be fun to guess and have our family members be guessing right up to the delivery. After this appointment, Mr. Skinny told me he wanted to find out. Ugh, really? With the appointment less than 2 weeks away now, I'm still not positive I want to find out, but I know I'm going to be easily swayed to find out. 

One reason why I'm not totally on board with finding out is because I don't want a ton of pink or blue stuff for my shower. I want things that I could use for all my children, regardless of their sex. And the other huge reason I don't really want to find out. They could be wrong. My cousin, who was born in 2003 was supposed to be a boy. It wasn't just a mistake on one ultrasound either, it was multiple ultrasounds. She got blue stuff for her shower, they had a name picked out, and Gwennie came out Gwennie and not Dominic. Yeah. I don't want that to happen. I don't want to expect one sex and get the other, bring home a girl to blue everything, or vice versa. 

So what are our options? Obviously we could not find out. But Mr. Skinny is really adamant on finding out. He's even gone so far to say that he'll tell the ultrasound tech to tell him and not me. Yeah, not a fan of that. 

Another option, find out but don't tell. I'm actually okay with this. Granted I couldn't tell everyone we knew and wouldn't be telling, I'd just tell them the baby didn't cooperate, so that way when we slip and say he or she, they wouldn't catch on. 

Which brings us to the third option. Pray the baby won't show us his or her goods. This is what I have my goals set on right now. Mr. Skinny doesn't think that we'd be able to keep it a secret, and honestly, I don't think I'd be able to keep it a secret either, but I don't think I'll be able to convince Mr. Skinny to find find out, so this is our option.

Predictions

As for predictions, I mentioned this before, but Mr. Skinny's grandma and father both think it's a boy for the simple reason that if it is, then it will be Pop Pop's "replacement." I can understand this, but it's still a little weird, no?

My cousin and her husband both think it's a girl. Don't know why, but they do. I think it's a girl, too. Mr. Skinny doesn't have a feeling, but he wants a boy. 

Let's go through some old wives tales, shall we?

1. Chinese Gender Test. If we go by the month I believe we conceived, it's a girl, if we go by the date of my last period, which is how they do the due date, it's a boy. To be honest, I think conception is more important than LMP so I'm going with Girl for this one.

2. Carrying high or low. Well, I'm gonna go with high so far. I have no lower bump at all, it's been high the whole time, so Girl.

3. Baby's Heartbeat. It was 156/minute, so definitely points to a Girl.

4. Sweet or salty cravings. I haven't had a ton of cravings, but I've never craved anything sweet, so that means it's a Boy.

5. Mayan prediction. Mom's age at conception - 22 - even, and year of conception - 2011 - odd means it's a Boy.

6. Acne. I've talked about this before. Definitely points to a Girl.

7. Ring on a string. Put a string (I used a necklace Mr. Skinny got me) through your wedding band and drop it over your belly. Points to a Girl. 

8. Morning sickness in the first trimester. Well, I was almost constantly nauseous, but only threw up a handful of times, I'm not sure if that counts as "sick as a dog" or not. Since I was constantly nauseous, I'll say sure. Means it's a Girl.

I was hoping for an even 10, but I can't find anymore! Well there was a website I found that has this crazy stuff, but I can't find it again, and sorry, I'm not peeing in a cup and putting drain-o in it, I don't have any drain-o! So we have 6 saying girl, plus my inkling, and 2 saying boy. Interesting. Guess we have a shot at seeing in less than two weeks!

What other baby sex predictions have you heard?