Hospital Bag

Had a great birthday weekend!

The hubby jump started the last stretch of preparing for the baby by surprising me with a packed suitcase full of things he had purchased to make my hospital stay more comfortable (nice to haves). Among the items are the super soft robe, slippers, and fuzzy socks from Brookstone, a wall and desk calendar specifically for mothers, a list of all the foods I've been craving (he made sure I ate everything from the list all weekend), jolly ranchers for the labor room, coupons for books, and a gift certificate to purchase any remaining items for the hospital (night gown, travel toiletries, books etc). So thoughtful and appropriate to the occasion as always.

So bag is now packed and I have one less thing to worry about, yay!

Danny's pre- Fathers Day

Ooops I totally forgot to write an entry about Fathers Day back in June! I was so quick to post about Mother's day but I guess thats sort of the way of the world though? Mother's Day seems to outshine Father's Day by far. Dannys mom always likes to ask each Mothers Day-- "Do American's even celebrate Fathers Day? tehehe"

Even so, I wanted to write a quick note on what future daddy received in appreciation foreverything he has done for our baby (and me) throughout this pregnancy:

1. tool kit so he can properly put together things for the baby

2. a little girl's fishing rod, so he can eventually take the baby on a father/daughter fishing trip that he's already mentioned

3. a new shirt, just because he hasn't gotten himself any new clothes in a long time

Father's Day may not be as revered as Mother's Day (and rightfully so...no? hehe) but I know our baby is going to having an amazing daddy, so I thought it deserved an entry for our memories.

Baby Library!

Allison's very first books have arrived!

Its extremely important to me to have our baby exposed to reading and books at a very early age, especially since I am such an avid reader. Although as an infant she won't understand what they are, having them in her environment and reading to her (if only just to hear our voices) is one of the ways I would like to bond with our baby. Hopefully she will grow a passion for reading and books like her mommy! I'm still on the quest for the type of bookshelf or display I want to start off with but went ahead and ordered baby books so I could have them on hand throughout the next year, while we continue to grow her little library. I chose some of the classics and also books recommended by little cutie/bookworm, Annabel.

I was the most excited to finally be able to use these precious book stickers that say "From the Library of Allison Nara John" that we received as a gift, all the way from San Diego.

How did she know?

These adorable book stickers melt my heart each time I see them. Not sure why but it mean so much to me to be able to label each book and make them our baby's own.

These stickeres are simply handmade with kindness and love, courtesy of gracie k. designs.

Thank you so very much.

30 weeks today!

30 is a good number. Allison is due on the 30th, my birthday is on the 30th, I enjoyed entering my 30's (despite how much I complained about it) and it just sounds like I've made it quite far in my pregnancy. I'm also very glad I waited to have a baby in my 30's (32 to be exact)...I look back at my 20's and there is no way I (me personally) would have been mentally capable. I'm glad we waited until we had a solid home, stable financials, and an overall comfortable place for her to enter this world. So yay to 30 weeks today! I'm feeling very peaceful, content, and prepared at this moment--we are ready for you Allison Nara John!

The dizziness, sudden tiredness, some nausea I've been feeling lately I figured was just a result of 3rd trimester symptoms but I received a call from the doctors office and they told me my last blood results showed that I was slightly anemic. This is great news! All I have to do is take additional iron supplements on top of my prenatals and hopefully all those yucky symptoms will go away.

Side note: I know I'm going to look back at this entry and laugh at my naive self so wanted to clarify what I meant by "prepared". I mean as much as you can possibly be for a hopeful, first-time mommy. I'm quite aware nothing will fully brace you for the mental breakdowns, the lack of sleep, the cracked nipples, and all the other not-so-nice things that people don't like to discuss. Ignorance is bliss!

What has Danny been doing to prepare for our baby? Running. Sound strange? I thought so too but when I asked him the other day why all of sudden he was running everyday - he replied "I have to be in shape for Allison because she's going to kick my butt".

There are surely different ways to display love --upfront & center or behind-the-scene and not so apparent. This is just one sliver & preview of all the different ways and colors that Danny will express his love for our baby and I'm so excited to see the layers unravel. Especially the very most unapparent ones. <3

Home Stretch (literally)

Its hard to believe I'm already heading into my 3rd trimester, time has been flying by and I've got to have had the easiest pregnancy! These last few months are definitely going to be the most challenging though, mainly due to the physical strain which is putting more & more pressure on my sciatic nerve/back, slowing blood circulation, leg cramping etc. I could have sworn it took me awhile to really show a lot (maybe not until 5 months or so) but now I'm stretching/growing at a rapid pace! Even people at work see me and comment "What happened?"...umm I'm pregnant people, you've known this. In about a month span I went from "awwe" to "whoa". I can't complain though, bigger belly means growing baby which is only good news! I'm measuring at 28.5 and I should be reaching 40 by the time I am ready to deliver.

We went to my 28 weeks check up this past Thursday (same day as Miso!) which was the Gestational Diabetes/Glucose test. It was very routine and I haven't gotten a call yet from the office. No news is good news so I won't have to undergo the 2ND exam. I wasn't really worried about it though. I thought I'd be the type to freak about every type of test they do on me wondering & worrying about the results but I seem to be average/normal on every level.

Not sure if this means everything will be smooth sailing through the birth as well or if nature is saving some surprises for me in the delivery room...YIKES! I have zero pain tolerance and the only words on the forefront of my mind will be "epidural" & "now". I know and realize that every woman goes through the birthing process but that little insight does nothing for you when you start to hear words like ripping, tearing, forceps, stuck etc. I love it when doctors describe pure pain as mere "pressure" or "discomfort" aka The Dentist. I'm a big sissy and I never pretended to be otherwise. Oh well, what can you do right? There's only 2 ways for the baby to come out and neither seem very pleasant but as long as she's healthy we'll all be OK. =)