One month to go!

Here we are...October 29, 2011...Exactly ONE month until baby Elena is due.  Will she be early?  Will she be late?  Or...will she make her grand entrance on time?  I'm sure everyone has their predictions.  What's mine?  I just think she'll be a November baby...I have no hunch on early or late.  Juan definitely thinks she'll be here to see us earlier than expected.  He's been right about her all along, so she'll probably come early just to see her daddy.  I have been feeling good, just rather large and a bit lethargic lately.  Strangers that I see at the stores are asking me how much longer I have to go and when I tell them about a month, I usually get a gasp of, "Wow, you look wonderful for only having one month to go" or "When I had only about a month to go, I was a swelled up mess!"  or "You just look like you have a basketball hiding under your shirt!"  I have taken all of these as a compliment.  I am not swollen, YET, which has been wonderful.  I have put on the lbs, but nothing that the doctor has made any comment about, so all has been OK in that department too.  We go to the doctor again on Tuesday for a check up.  Then, it's on to WEEKLY appointments until her arrival.  I just can't believe we've made it here already.  In March when we read the pregnancy test, November seemed so far away and here we are.  It's been one hell of a journey and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  The feeling of a human being moving around in my belly has been nothing short of a miracle.  It's amazing what the human body can do...and I know I'll learn that even more in just a few more weeks when I have to deliver!  Attached is my October belly picture...no makeup, but it will do ;)  My November picture will hopefully be the one I get Juan to take before we head to the hospital...I hope I can get one...even if it is in the middle of the night and I look like ****.  :) Keep checking back for updates as I will do my best to post when I can after we see the doctor over the next few weeks.  Looking forward to a final baby shower tomorrow and to put the finishing touches on all of our baby stuff around the house.  Thank you for all the prayers and just continue praying that Elena comes to us a healthy and happy baby girl!!

Week 35 Clumsiness

Earlier this week when I got up from the couch, I apparently wasn't paying much attention when I was walking because I totally hooked my pinky toe on the coffee table.  Let me tell you, it hurt SO bad.  I mean, profanity was just spilling out of my mouth!  I couldn't help it.  The stinging sensation that followed the "hooking" was almost bad enough to bring a tear to my eye.  Needless to say, it turned purple right away and I sat for most of the rest of the night with my foot up on ice.  When I woke up the next day, my foot looked like a purple sausage.  It was so swollen.  I was limping around school all day...I figured everyone would just start wondering if my limping was me just waddling around at this point since the belly is a bit out of control these days.  I showed my foot to our school nurse and she taped me up.  I've been keeping it taped up throughout the last few days and it's finally feeling better.  It was never broken, but boy was it bruised.  I attached a picture of my foot from the other day...enjoy!!  :)

34 Weeks!

Sorry I have been a bit behind on my posts lately, but October has been a VERY busy month!  I'm currently sitting here at Parent-Teacher Conferences since I have some time between talking with parents. 
I made it to the doctor again yesterday and the trend continues...Elena is doing just fine.  My stomach is measuring on point and her heartbeat sounds strong and healthy.  All music to Juan and I's ears.  It's hard to believe that she'll be here next month.  This pregnancy has gone by so fast and I thank God everyday for this miracle. 
A little over a week ago, my friend Meagan Dalton from True Life Images took some maternity pictures of Juan and I.  I was able to attach some of them.  She did an amazing job and I cannot wait to have her take Elena's newborn photos too.
I will post my October belly photo this weekend if I can remember to make time to take the picture!!

32 Weeks Strong!

This week marks week 32 for baby girl.  We made it to the doctor again this morning for a quick check up!  I'm still at a healthy weight and Elena is measuring on target and has a healthy heartbeat.  I asked the doctor today if she could tell what position the baby is in and Dr. Boulicault really dug into my stomach to check on how she was laying.  Great news was that Elena's head was down where it needed to be meaning all those pokes and large bulges coming out my side are her little butt and legs.  She really does like to remind me that she's in there ALL THE TIME.  Having to count kicks has never been a problem for us!  I have found that the right side of my back gets a pain sometimes and I feel like it's due to her sitting on my right side most often, making it heavier, meaning I'm leaning in ways I wasn't before.  I have to change positions often whether I'm sitting, laying down, or standing.  It seems like I need to be in motion more than still.  I shouldn't complain, though.  I need to keep moving!  I have not had any swelling...yet.  I hope that phase stays away for awhile. 

Juan reminded me last night before we fell asleep that this is the last month of "just the 2 of us".  When he said this, it really hit me that we are going to be a family.  I mean, I knew the day we found out I was pregnant that we were going to be a family of three, but it is getting all too real now.  In less than two months, we'll be a mom and dad taking care of something bigger and more wonderful than either of us can ever understand at this point.  We get more and more excited each day.

I also had my first baby shower on Monday, October 3rd with the JC reading teachers.  I feel so blessed to work with such caring people.  I don't think I'll ever be able to say thank you enough for the gifts and kind words.  Elena is already spoiled!!

Week 33...here we come!

September Belly

My September belly is looking large these days.  It looks so big in the picture, but I don't feel like it's that big already!  I still have 2 months to go!  According to the doctor, I am measuring just fine and my weight is good.  Baby is doing well and moves around all the time.  Her heartbeat is at a good pace, so we're SO happy about that.  Hoping baby girl continues to grow just like her momma and daddy want her to.  Elena has always been sitting so low in my stomach, but I think since she's starting to grow even bigger and at a faster pace these days, she's moving towards my ribs.  I find myself needing to adjust more often now when I've been sitting for a long period of time.  No complaints, though!  She's been very good to me this entire pregnancy. 
Pregnancy has been a wonderful experience for me and I've learned many things about myself so far...especially when it comes to food...as most of you know, I am not an adventurous eater, but I'm doing my best to eat a variety for baby...I am hungry quite often, but have to eat smaller portions as I don't have a lot of room to put all the food I want to eat!! 
I have realized: I DO have a taste for Chef-Boy-Ardee mini-ravioli, S'mores have never tasted SO good, bagels with peanut butter are a great snack, I can eat a pound of steamed asparagus and not think twice about it, even though the thought of Chinese food during the first trimester made me gag, I have found my love for it again, bacon is and will always be delicious at anytime of the day, raspberry yogurt is the best, canned pears are one of my favorite fruits, I'm addicted to fresh fruit-raspberries, strawberries, apples, midnight grapes, and Carnation Instant Breakfast is perfect for my weekday mornings!!
I just can't believe we're on our way to week 31...it's incredible how fast the weeks go by.  She'll be here before we know it! 

A few more 3D Ultrasound pictures:

 Oh, mom and dad, please stop taking my picture!

 OK, I'll smile for you, but just this once.

I'm tired now and will just sit here and look cute.

3D Ultrasound

Juan and I made an ultrasound appointment to see baby Elena on Monday, September 19th, 2011 in 3D.  At first, we weren't going to be able to get in for awhile because I left this until the last minute, but the wonderful people at the ultrasound center were able to get us in and Juan and I were both able to leave school a bit early take the appointment.  According to the doctors, the best time for this kind of ultrasound is between 26-30 weeks and I was just entering week 30 when we got to see her.  I'm so glad we were able to get this opportunity because I know she's going to start running out of room to move about freely as the weeks continue to fly by. 
This video above is just one of many that Juan and I got to bring home on a CD.  I think this one is just wonderful because she sticks out her tongue at us for a bit...she's a comedian already!

Glucose Test #2

I survived glucose test #2 and all test results came back normal.  I was SO thankful that there were no complications in this department.  I had never had trouble with this before, so I was so surprised when my numbers came back elevated the first time.  Thank you for all the prayers and concern as I made my way through the three hour test.  Being a teacher and all, I had plenty of things to keep me busy for three hours while I sat in the waiting room.  It really wasn't so bad.  Not only was I kept busy by my own work, but the comedy show I got from all of the elderly folks coming in to have their blood drawn was wonderful.  They would chat me up in a heartbeat asking about the baby and the weather.  I hadn't been so entertained in a long time in a waiting room!  It was a joy to talk to some of them and just observe while they spoke to others as well.  Many couples taking care of one another in their fragile states too...reminded me of what love really means.  So beautiful.