40 Weeks!!

Ok, so I never thought that I'd actually make it all the way to my due date!!  I don't think anyone did, lol.  The most common comment I got during these last few months was that Bean was not going to wait because he was looking like a big boy, lol.  Well...this big boy is just getting bigger, and not budging! My doctors appointment today had no new results.  I am still not dilating, and everything is still closed for business, lol.  Bean hasn't even officially dropped!  What is he waiting for???  Ugh...I said I wanted him to come on his own time, so I guess that's whats he's doing.  I just thought that he'd be here by the due date at least.  Anyway, the good news is he is still doing good in there, and that's all that really matters.  Healthy baby = Happy mom!

The doctor wants me to go in on Friday to make sure the baby is still doing ok.  She mentioned something about doing a stress test and seeing if I have shown any progress in the dilating part.  If not, then we'll wait till next week to induce.  They don't want to induce too early if I haven't started dilating at all because we run the risk of starting a process that my body cant finish on its own....which then has a higher chance of leading to a C-Section, that I am trying to avoid.  So, if I haven't started the process on my own by this weekend, we'll induce next week and hope for the best.

For now, I just have to wait.  And honestly, I think I would be ok with the waiting if everyone wasn't so anxious around me! lol  Its a bitter sweet feeling, because on the one hand I LOVE that there are so many people that are excited to meet and love him!  But it does tend to put a little pressure on me too. Not as much as my mom though...she's just so anxious and nervous, I think she makes it hardest for me.  Someone told her a story that I guess scared her, so now she feels like the more he stays in there, the more there is a chance of something going wrong.  And being pregnant, your already worried about what can happen.  You don't need reminders everyday....anyway, hopefully after hearing from the doctor that everything is ok, she will calm down.

Time to go...this carpal tunnel is kicking in, lol.

Still Waiting!

Hello!  I haven't been blogging as much lately because I usually cannot stand to sit in front of my lap top after a long day at work...in front of a computer, lol.  But I wanted to give everyone a quick update!  My usual Tuesday check up produced the usual results...Bean is not ready!  I am still not dilating, and my cervix is still closed.  I am ok with that for now, but I am getting nervous that he is going to go past his due date.  And that I do not want!  I will try to be as patient as I can be, but its getting harder to get around with this big belly!  This will be my last week at work though, and I also do not want to waste too much of my leave time waiting around.  I wanted to work till the very end, but its getting way too hard.  I am exhausted all the time, and stressing over my work load.  That is not the way I want to bring Bean into the world!  So maybe once I go on leave, I can concentrate on Bean a little more, and get some walking in.  And hopefully a few naps in between!

Countdown to Sprouting Bean....7 days!  (Hopefully, lol)

Look what I found!!

Ok, so this post will not be very long.  My feet are HUGE, and I need to get back to my recliner before they explode, lol.   I had an ultrasound today, and Bean looked great!  Since he's pretty big now, it was hard to get a clear pic of his face, but I caught a glimpse, and he was beautiful <3.  He was opening and closing his mouth, probably because he had hiccups, lol.  The ultrasound tech said he may be about 9 lbs if he goes all the way to my due date...oh boy!  Of course, they are often wrong, so there's really no way to know for sure till he's here.  I had my 37 week check up also, and I am still not dilating.  I'm completely fine with that, because I want him in there as long as he needs to be.  He will be ready when he's ready....no rush.  :)

Back to what this post was really suppose to be about...look at what I found at Target in between my appointments!

Blue soft fabric high tops for $3
"Star of Mommy's Blog" bib for $.58!!

The high tops were originally $19.99, so that was a huge save.  Especially since I hear that baby clothes/shoes do not last long.   The bib was originally $2.37, but I would have probably paid 4x's that to get it!!  Isn't it perfect?!?!  I cant wait till my little star gets to wear it!  <3

Are you ready??

I've been getting this question almost everyday from different people.  Are you ready??  And my answer always surprises them....no.  Am I suppose to be ready now??  I guess if they were more specific, then maybe my answer would change.  Maybe I should explain...

If you asked me, am I ready to meet my son, the answer would be YES!!  If you asked me if I was ready to go on leave and spend 3 months with him?  Hell YES!  But, when they ask, I feel as if its a question of...Are you ready for taking on the most important and difficult role of your life???  Well, the answer is NO!  Are you ready to change your whole life around for this one little person??  Well...I'd probably say yes to that one, with only a few reservations, lol.  Either way though, I have a lot of mixed feelings right now.  I'm soooo excited to meet my son, and see what he looks like and what his personality will be like.  I imagine it's like meeting the love of your life for the first time....who wouldn't be excited?  I'm also excited to finally feel like I belong to someone who needs me...like I matter.  I know that sounds sad and depressing, but its how I feel.  I'm sure if you know me personally, you understand.  

So, how do I mentally prepare for this?  How do I get myself ready for the most important role of my life???  I have NO idea....I just keep hoping that one day I will feel ready to take it on.  Don't get me wrong, I want to take this role on!  I've been waiting for this for the last 12 years or so.  I've thought about why I wasn't scared when I was trying to get pregnant while I was married.  I guess knowing there is someone there with you helps you feel a bit more secure.  Like you can both handle anything that comes your way.  But being a single parent, you feel like all the pressure is on you, and you alone.  I guess I'm just scared...scared of failing him.  I'm scared of letting him down, and not being enough for him.  I want to be the best mom I can be, and I'm scared he will see through me.  I want to be strong for him, and give him what he needs.  I want to be there for him no matter what, and always put him first.  I want to make sure that he always knows that he is loved and that he matters.  I guess I will just have to take it one step at a time, and try to do my best.   I just hope my best is enough...

For now, he will have ALL my love....

36 weeks = 9 months!!

Today I am 36 weeks, which is about 9 months pregnant...wow!!  I have less than 30 days to my due date, and maybe less than that if Beanie decides to show up early.  Of course, he could decide to show up later too, lol.  Some people have questioned me being 9 months already...if your 9 months, shouldn't you be having the baby already?!?!?  The answer is no...I have completed 8 months of pregnancy, and am starting my 9th month.  Once I complete my 9th month, thats when the baby is fully "baked", and is due lol.  So technically, women carry baby's for up to 10 months, or 40 weeks as the Dr's put it.

Here is some interesting info regarding the baby at 36 weeks:

- The baby is about 6 lbs, between 18-20 inches long.
- His skull and most of his bones will remain soft, making it easier to pass through the birth canal.
- Most of his systems (from circulatory to musculoskeletal) are ready, though his digestion system wont kick into gear until he takes his first suckle at the breast or bottle.
- My hormones are causing the connective tissue in my body to soften and loosen.  This is going to help the baby squeeze through the pelvic bones, which will be more flexible.  The downside of this joint flexibility is discomfort in the pelvis and hip area.  I feel that!!!  No wonder its hurting a lot more to get around...
- Frequent heartburn, urination, gas, increased swelling of the feet, hands and face (?!?), and difficulty sleeping.  Great!

Those are some of the great things I'm going through for now...of course Bean is worth all the discomfort and pain.  He's worth so much more...

36 Weeks

Update to the I Love Thrifting Party

First, I want to apologize for not having more updates to my blog lately...unfortunately, during the week I am way too exhausted to even get on my lap top.  I guess thats normal with being almost 9 months pregnant!!

So, the party was AWESOME!  My friend Katie Mac did a great job of putting together a great little party at one of her favorite boutiques.  It wasn't your usual thrift store, but more of a high end consignment store.  The owner of A Perfect Fit Resale Boutique was really nice for letting us have our first get together at her shop.  Katie Mac provided some wine for those that could indulge, and a fruit and cheese tray that I willingly attacked, lol.  The shop provided some great finds for the smaller peeps in our group...unfortunately, they don't carry plus size items.  The brands she carries though are mostly high end name brands, so I would probably go back just to try and snag a nice purse or something.  The other shop that was involved was a few doors down, and it was specifically for kids.  The shop, Clothes for Kids Resale, was also great.  I made it a point to go down and visit with the owner and her shop cat Smokey, lol.  I did find a hoodie for Bean, so that was nice.  Unfortunately, she had more girl clothing than boy clothing though, so that's all I found.  But that seems to be the norm everywhere, lol.  I guess boys fashions are not as popular...

Katie Mac...always posing and smiling!

A Cat in the Hat onesie that Katie Mac bought for Bean!  So cute!!!  Thanks Katie Mac!

I had to find somewhere to sit...the stairs had to do!

Some of the girls that showed up to support Katie Mac..they even did their own T-Shirts!!
Luci from Strictli Hair, Joycelyn, Angelica, Shandha, and Michelle from Fitz Chronicles

I had to show the Wine and Snack table!!  I hovered over it for a while, lol

Katie Mac did a great job, and EVERYONE is waiting for her next thrifting party!  Can't wait for the next Mac Styles event!

I love Thrifting Party today!!

As a little girl, my mom would take us to thrift stores and garage sales to look for clothes.  Being a single mother of two, she was doing what she had too to make ends meet.  As much as I understand that now, I use to hate it when I was a kid!  Other than the occasional $1 toy, I would always feel "less than" my other friends.  As an adult, I've held on to that idea for a while.  Other than maybe a passed down piece of furniture, I hated the idea of wearing someone else's clothes or shoes.  Not just because it was used, but because I would think a little further into it...what if that person's "bad luck" passed on to me with their clothes?  Like, somehow a piece of that person's soul came along with the $2 pair of jeans.  Lol, I know that sounds crazy, but I seriously felt that way!  This all changed a few years ago...

About 4 years ago, I became a vegetarian (which I gave up 4 months into my pregnancy due to uncontrollable cravings for beef!).  While I was only concerned with my health at the beginning, I learned about all of the GREAT reasons to not consume animal meat products.  One of them was due to the environmental impacts it had on our great planet Earth.  This of course opened my eyes to the impact humans have on the planet, so I started looking for ways to reduce my ecological footprint.  This brought on buying a home that was energy efficient, using energy saving light bulbs, recycling, unplugging unused appliances, buying less, etc., etc.  Another great way to help save the Earth???  Buying used products when available.  In today's world, we're taught to BUY BUY BUY!!  Consumerism has taken most people into a world of debt, and most of the time its just to keep up with the Jones's.  But it doesn't only have an impact on our wallets, it also has an impact on our world!  When we buy everything new, all the time, we are creating more and more waste.  Our landfills are full of waste that causes environmental concerns of all types...pollution of the soil, water, air...I could keep going, but I wont. Enough ranting, let me get back to my point, lol.

A couple years ago, my friend Katie Mac took me to a thrift store.  Even with my intentions of leaving a lighter footprint on this Earth than most, I was still not convinced I wanted to wear someone else's clothes!  But, she has a way of being persuasive, lol.  So I tagged along, thinking I would find NOTHING I wanted.  This was not the case of course...I found so much great stuff, that it completely changed my mind of what thrift stores are all about.  Thrifting is my new friend!  Especially with a baby on the way, and being a single mom.  

Anyway, there is so much more that I want to say, but I don't have time!  I have to go get ready for my friends I <3 Thrifting party!!  I will post again after the party to let everyone know how it went!

TheMacStyles Thrifting Party!!