35 Week Update... The countdown is on!!! :)

I can't believe we only have 5 weeks until Keegan's due date. It's coming up SO quickly, that it's starting to freak me out a little! We had our hospital tour this past Monday. It was very informative, but really started to make me kind of nervous. It was great to see the rooms and everything, but it just became SO real. It was pretty nice to know that Sparrow Hospital has you stay for 48 hours after a regular delivery, and 72 hours after a c-section. I definitely have heard things on TV about people having to head right home without having much time to recover and get a handle on the whole nursing thing, and I have to say, I think I will like having a couple days to re-coup and learn while under the supervision of people that actually know what they're doing with a baby!!! :)

I definitely hope that Keegan decides to arrive a little early. I have to say, I have SUCH a short torso that I already feel like there's no where else for him to go. He's already head down, but continues to kick me in my ribs anyway! Big kid, huh?!

I am SUCH a scrub anymore!!! Ha! My poor husband. Bless his heart for still being attracted to me. It's just regardless of how much effort I put in, I just still look tired and swollen! :)

I'm 35 Weeks!

How Far Along: 35 Weeks Pregnant

 

Size of baby: About 18 inches long, and just ove 5 lbs... Wow, that's a lot o' baby!

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'll update that after my doctor's appointment next week. I'm not sure!

 

Maternity Clothes: Mostly all maternity- all maternity pants, and some regular shirts.

 

Gender: My baby boy, Mr. Keegan Michael :)

 

Movement: Busy, busy kid! I have to say, though... I am starting to realize that I will kind of miss having him with me all the time! I know this is the closest we'll ever be. It's nice to know he's safe and sound in my belly when I feel him kicking around in there all day!

 

Sleep: I've had some trouble sleeping lately- lots of potty trips and frequent acid reflux don't make for the best night's sleep!

 

What I miss: Oh you know, just bending over, and not walking like I have saddle sore!

 

Cravings: Milk and Cadberry eggs and now I'm eating a lot of Subway tuna sandwiches... but not really because I'm craving them, but because I'm trying to eat healthy after seeing how much weight I gained my last appointment! Ha!

 

Symptoms: Sleepiness, sore joints and hips, sore boobs, acid reflux, pain in my pubic bone, a lot more shortness of breath... my sciatic has been acting up, and pregnancy brain big time...

 

Best Moment this week: Baby Shower and Baptism...! And it was kind of nice touring the hospital with my baby-daddy (no matter how overwhelming it was!).

My Water-Themed Weekend!

Wow. This post is far past-due! I meant to post this on Sunday, but I've been so exhausted after this weekend that I feel like I'm just now starting to get into the swing of things this week! And it's almost THURSDAY! Ha!

Anyway, this weekend was a phenomenal one. It was very "water"themed. Saturday was my Baby SHOWER, and then I was BAPTISED! So weird, huh?! Ha, I love finding joy in the little things in life! Anyway, starting with Saturday...

Our shower was thrown by my mom, sisters and mother-in-law at Carraba's here in Lansing. It was beautiful. So many fantastic people joined from around the state, and my sweet cousin, Becky, even came all the way from Chicago! It was so nice visiting. The food was delish, and the company was even better! We are so blessed to have so many supportive and sweet friends and family members. It's incredible to see how loved Keegan Michael is already!

Here are some picture's from the shower on Saturday:

My mom had this banner custom made for the shower! It was so cute.

And she had these center pieces done at a florist up in Grand Rapids. The tables were so beautiful!

Just a few cute details:

1.Kris' grandma had this cake made... We told her to order one for about 35 people... she ordered one for 70 PEOPLE!! Let's just say, there were a lot of left overs.

2. The napkins for the cake were little diapers with little diaper pins on them! SO adorable, huh?!

3. Note the framed picture of the invitation. My sister, Molly did those, and they are some of the most beautiful invitations I've ever seen! They're even prettier than my wedding invitations were! Ha!)

Instead of having a guestbook, we passed around Goodnight, Moon and had everyone write a message to Keegan in the front. It was SO incredible to read all the kind and loving comments to our sweet boy! AND it was funny to read my sister's comments back and forth about who's the favorite Auntie and who loves him more!

I also have to post a picture of the AWESOME diaper bag that the Anderson side of the family had made for us! I've never seen anything like it, but it is SO me, and I adore it! It inspired me to get the diaper bag packed already because it's so chic, I just can't wait to use it! :) THANK you, Aunt Nancy and Aunt Diane!!!

Lastly, here's just a cute picture of my beautiful mom and sisters, and me!

It was a great day. It was exhausting because we pretty much had to head STRAIGHT to church to get there in time for the Saturday night service that I was getting baptised during. I LOVED not doing anything at all on Sunday!!

Anyway, I just wanted to share some pictures from that sweet shower! What a great time with great friends and family! Thank you again, everyone who could come, and who were there in spirit! :)

34 week update!

Tomorrow is Friday and I am so excited. This is going to be a great weekend. Saturday will be so exhausting but SO fun. My mom, sisters, mother-in-law, grandma-in-law and sister-in-law all got their heads together for my baby shower which is going to be a great time. I have some friends coming from all over Michigan, and family coming all the way from Chicago! I never had a bridal shower, so I'm really looking forward to experiencing this shower. It's so fun to get together with so many friends and family and celebrate a very special boy.... Keegan Michael!

Also, that night I'm getting baptized at Riverview. I am so excited to finally follow such a basic command, "Go and be baptized"... it's about time, Mandy! Ha! Needless to say, I will be so tired Saturday night. Good thing we have NOTHING going on Sunday, and we get to just lay around all day!!!

Today we had our 34 week appointment. I feel like I never asked any questions in any of my previous appointments, but the closer and closer I get to giving birth I have SO many different questions, and I think my doctor probably thinks I'm a looney!

It was too funny- the last time we went they had told me to make sure to eat and drink before I came the next time because Keegan was a little sleepy a couple of weeks ago. So, I had my little cup of coffee and my bowl of Cheerios, and my word, when they checked that boy's heartrate- the nurse was a little alarmed because he was so wired (his heart rate is usually in the 140's-150's, but his was 176 today)! Ha! They must not know Kris and I very well... we're both easily excitable- he's just like us!

Welp, time to update:

Normally I'm really good at remembering to have Kris take my picture each week before blog day. But, I forgot, and he is at class until late this evening, so I'm mirroring it up this week! Note: my cute new top from Banana Republic! :)

I'm 34 Weeks!

How Far Along: 34 Weeks Pregnant

Size of baby: Almost 18 inches long, and about 4 3/4 lb's... Whew! Can I just say, my mom told me today that I was just 19 inches when I was born?! I was a little baby, though. I wish Keegan takes after Momma and is not TOO big! :) 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: AH. Two weeks ago surprised me. It showed me at just a 21 pound weight gain. TODAY surprised me because I gained FOUR POUNDS in the past two weeks! I have GOT to start sticking to Subway on my lunch breaks!! :) So for now, I'm at 25lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Mostly all maternity- all maternity pants, and some regular shirts.

Gender: My baby boy, Mr. Keegan Michael :)

Movement: AH. He is SO busy. But, the doctor said he's still "perfectly positioned and head down"- she actually said he's very well behaved. HA! This lady begs to differ sometimes! Anyway, Even though he's head down, he likes to kick me in the lungs quite frequently. Sometimes it feels like he knocks the wind right outta me while I'm mid sentence!

Sleep: I've had some trouble sleeping lately- lots of potty trips!

What I miss: Oh you know, just bending over, and not walking like I have saddle sore! 

Cravings: Milk and Cadberry eggs, spicy food (which I have to stay away from because even water gives me acid reflux anymore!)

Symptoms: Sleepiness, sore joints, sore boobs, acid reflux, pain in my pubic bone, a lot more shortness of breath... my sciatic has been acting up, and pregnancy brain big time...

Best Moment this week: Well... again, nothing quite in particular. I am happy to just be crossing things off our to-do list before Mr. Bitty decides to make his little arrival!

Hooter Hider and Hospital Bag!

So that time has come already... can you believe it?! As ready as I feel to meet this baby boy, at the same time it feels like I couldn't possibly be pregnant for this long already. We're starting to talk hospital bag, and making sure that we are ready. Seriously, everyone I know who is due before me has either given birth early, or they're anticipating that they may be early. So, since I jumped on the "I'm-having-a-baby-boy-band-wagon", I may just jump on the "two-or-three-weeks-early-band-wagon" too (or maybe I'm just hoping a little :)... So better to be safe then sorry!

There's a number of great suggestions online for things to pack in the hospital bag that I'm so thankful I've read, or else I would have definitely forgotten, and definitely regretted!

For instance: CHAPSTICK. I just don't think I would have remembered to pack that!

Also, my mom encouraged me to get a cute robe/nursing nightie set to have at the hospital. We picked up a cute one, and I'm definitely glad she recommended that. Oh those little things that you would not think of on your own with your first baby!

I can tell that we're nearing the end. All sorts of crazy symptoms have been happening that I haven't had much. On Saturday I had an insane migraine (I am NOT a migraine girl!), where my face was numb, my vision went, I was seeing white spots, and my hands would go numb off an on! Ha, other then the fact that it was kind of scary, it was the oddest sensation! I felt like I was losing it! :)

Also, this boy has GOT to be dropping (but somehow, at the same time is still managing to sit RIGHT on my lungs so I can hardly breathe :). I am aching and I think I'm walking funny because of it, because I feel like I've pulled my upper inner thigh muscles! I'm a hot mess if I do say so myself! Please be praying for me. I am so much crabbier now that these odd-ball symptoms are kicking in, which makes it so hard for me to get through the week cheerfully.

High point of my day: purchasing the newest accessory for the hospital bag:

MY HOOTER HIDER!!!

Don't you just love it?! I think it is sooo chic and cute, and I love the ruffles on it. I think it adds a little somethin' extra!

I am so thankful to my sister, Molly. For my birthday she had given me a gift certificate that works at both Destination Maternity and Motherhood Maternity. I've been holding onto it (aka: I leave to go to one of those stores with the intention to use that gift card and then get there and realize I forgot it because this whole pregnancy brain is a real thing!!!), and FINALLY brought it with me today for this purchase. Total I ended up spending just over $10 on it, and I could NOT be more excited! Ha, oh the things that we get excited about as we grow up.

Anyway, we're really coming along... and we would really appreciate your prayers during these last few weeks... That Keegan will be healthy and strong, and that Kris and I can remain as stress-free as possible during the last few weeks of pregnancy.

33 Week Update!

I'm definitely not feeling this week at all. We've been SO busy- I feel like we're running errand after errand, on top of working full time. I am getting WHOOPED!

I did want to announce that I am going to be getting baptized on Saturday, March 26 at the evening service at Riverview church in Holt. I wanted to put that out there to let everyone know that I would love their support if they were able to make it! :)

So onto the update:

Ha, it's SO funny to see how I've changed when I look back and see the pictures of my "belly" at 13 weeks, and even at 22-24 weeks! Ha!!! How did I even think that "belly" deserved a picture?!?! Ha!

 

I'm 33 Weeks!

How Far Along: 33 Weeks Pregnant

 

Size of baby: About 17 inches long and just over 4 lbs! 

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'll update that after the doctor's appointment next week!

 

Maternity Clothes: Mostly all maternity- all maternity pants, and some regular shirts.

 

Gender: My baby boy, Mr. Keegan Michael :)

 

Movement: He is SO busy. It's to the point where my belly will hang all the way to one side of my stomach, so I'll have to roll onto my other side to get him to move. 

 

Sleep: I've had some trouble sleeping lately- lots of potty trips!

 

What I miss: Oh you know, just bending over, and not walking like I have saddle sore! 

 

Cravings: Milk and Cadberry eggs- but I'm actually losing my appetite I'm still hungry, but I'm noticing I'm not near as hungry as I was before. Oh, and I'm STARVING at lunch- but could care less about breakfast and dinner!

 

Symptoms: Sleepiness, sore joints, sore boobs, acid reflux, pain in my pubic bone, and some shortness of breath... my sciatic has been acting up, and pregnancy brain big time...

 

Best Moment this week: EH. I haven't really had a best moment. Maybe just when I realized that this boy could come anytime between 4 and 7ish weeks from now! Bring it on, Keegy-Boo! Momma's getting ready! :)

SO this is what EIGHT months pregnant feels like... 32 Week Update!

Wow... Eight months... I know that if you carry your baby all the way to 40 weeks you're "pregnant" for about 10 months... but EIGHT MONTHS just seems crazy to me. When I think of how much has happened since we took that first test (which was so absolutely faint, anyone else would have called me crazy for seeing that it was positive)- the day after our one year anniversary/Kris' 32nd birthday, it just blows my mind how blessed we are. I am so excited to have this little boy who is the perfect combination of his dad and me.

Anyway, today was definitely not a GOOD day. I had started coming down with something a couple of days ago, but it really muscled up yesterday. I thought by going to bed super early last night I could kick this thing in the hiney- but I woke up this morning with my voice nearly completely gone, and when I would talk or move I would break out into such a chesty cough that I would start gagging! It was miserable. Luckily, I already had a doctor's appointment scheduled for this morning at 8:00am.

My fantastic doctor, definitely took care of me with the whole coughing thing. She prescribed me the best cough suppressant I've ever had in my life and some antibiotics. The cough suppressant had some sleeping stuff in it- so when I came home and took it I slept for nearly FIVE HOURS STRAIGHT! The only thing that woke me up were my naughty doggies... :)

I told my doctor about some symptoms I've been having lately, which ended up kind of concerning them- so what should have been a quick in and out half hour appointment turned into a two hour appointment where they ran all sorts of different tests on Keegan and I. They hooked me up to the fetal heart rate monitor for a half hour to monitor any possible contractions and monitored his heart rate. They did some "lady" exams and then took me to have an ultrasound to measure his amniotic fluids. I didn't think anything of the symptoms that I mentioned- but I just LOVE my doctors. They took such precautions to absolutely make sure everything is going well with my little mister... and so far, so good. He is lookin' and feelin' great! :)

I had my prescriptions filled at Target- and while they filled them I mingled through the baby area (I KNOW, I should just stay away). Fifteen minutes later I walked out with a bag of medicine and Keegan's first pair of shoes....

I KNOW, I KNOW!! Plaid again! But they will go with EVERYTHING! My son is already so preppy- even in the womb! I just couldn't resist. I love them, and can't wait to dress my little peanut boy up.

Also, I realized I have yet to blog about one of my new favorites... I had purchased these necklaces on Etsy through Tinabeads- I bought one for ME, and luckily the day before I ordered, my friend, Dorelle had decided on the name Gavin for their baby boy, so I ordered one for her as well for one of her baby shower gifts from a few weeks back:

It's a silver hand-stamped necklace that says, "Keegan" on it, and a little dangley diamond. Ha, you're supposed to do the birthstone- but with Keegan being due so close to April- I figured I'd rather do the diamond stone which will go with EVERYTHING... plus, it may be a little wishful thinking too... Ha! It wouldn't hurt for him to be one week early!! :)

Anyway, onto the weekly update:

I'm 32 Weeks!

How Far Along: 32 Weeks Pregnant

 

Size of baby: About 16 1/2 inches long, and weighs just about 4 lbs! 

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Welp, I stood on the scale at the doctors office this morning... and this morning it registered that I have only gained a total of 21 lbs. SO, that means that me being sick may have attributed to the whole lack of appetite. I just think he's smooshing my stomach too. So I'm actually down a few pounds from last week.

 

Maternity Clothes: Mostly all maternity- all maternity pants, and some regular shirts.

 

Gender: My baby boy, Mr. Keegan Michael :)

 

Movement: He moves so much. I feel like a lot of the time he does it to try and be a funny guy. Today while they were trying to monitor his heart rate he kept moving away from the doppler the whole time... FUNNY GUY- just like his dad! Ha!

 

Sleep: I've had some trouble sleeping lately- thank the Lord for that spectacular cough medicine she gave me! I will be feeling much better in no time, I'm sure!

 

What I miss: Oh you know, just bending over, and not walking like I have saddle sore! 

 

Cravings: MILK, Cadbury Creme Eggs, and anything spicy. Mmm!

 

Symptoms: Sleepiness, sore joints, sore boobs, acid reflux, pain in my pubic bone, and some shortness of breath... my sciatic has been acting up, and pregnancy brain big time, other things are no one's bizzznesss!

 

Best Moment this week: Probably my five hour nap this afternoon! Yay!

Date Night and Baby Class!

This weekend went WAY too quick. We had a great weekend, but it was so full that I can hardly believe it's already over! On Friday I was lucky enough to actually get out of work on time (I know, right?!), and my husband had made reservations at a really nice restaurant here in Okemos that we had yet to try: Dusty's Cellar. HOW DID WE NOT GO HERE UNTIL NOW?! It was a little pricier than we would prefer, but we hadn't gone out to dinner in a couple of weeks, and I have to say it was SO worth the money. I rarely have a meal that costs more than I'd prefer and say that it was truly worth it.

We started out with the Cheese Fondue Appetizer:

My word, this was delish! It had some white wine in it, so it was a great flavor along with the swiss cheese.

For my main course I had the Smoked Turkey Torta Rustica... What might that be, you ask?! Well let me quote the menu for you before I show you the picture: "Brioche Dough filled with Smoked Turkey, Red Peppers, Provolone, Spinich, Garlic Herb Gornay Cheese and Artichoke Hearts"...

Bum-ba-da-da!!!!



OH. MY. WORD. I can't even use my words to describe it's deliciousness. Just look at it! Anyway, this is my plug for my new favorite restaurant: Dusty's Cellar. And to top it off, when we paid the check, they brought two little brownie's instead of mints!

That was one fantastic way to start our weekend. The next morning we were up bright and early for our Baby class at the hospital that we will be giving birth at. First thing I'll say is: PRAISE THE LORD our dear friends Dorelle and Bryan were in the same class. I will advise anyone else expecting in the Lansing area to NOT do the all day seminar. It was WAY too much in one sitting.

I think if I were to do it over again I would only take the half day infant care class. The first half was just going over birthing videos and things like that (things that I will not even see happening on/in myself that I had no desire to see- and would much rather have NOT seen! Ha!) I just feel like it happens inside of you, and out of eyeshot for a reason... :) The class WAS good, however, to go over infant care. I have never been around a NEW-newborn baby before so it was definitely great learning how to swaddle properly, breastfeeding "grips", etc.

Today we had church, and had LifeGroup with a few other couples, then came home and did all sorts of cleaning and laundry. Now I am whooped, and am BUMMED that the weekend went by so quickly!

Let's have a good week, and hope that it goes by quickly! :)

31 Week Update... Whew!

Wow. This is going by SO fast. It's great, but I'm definitely starting to feel a little crazy- I'm losing my MIND lately! HA! I am starting to get so ready to meet this boy... not only because I want to know who this crazy little man in my belly is, but I really am looking forward to having 12 weeks off with him. I can't wait to get to know him!

Tomorrow's the last day of the week, and I don't think it will be too bad of a day. It should go by quickly- hopefully... Especially since Saturday's going to be a crazy day. We have our all-day-crash-course-birthing class at the hospital. With my job I definitely cannot guarantee what time I will be out on any given day, so to try and do a normal 6 week, every Wednesday thing was not happening for us. So know we get to spend our Saturday being completely overwhelmed and somewhat terrified by all sorts of things that we haven't thought of before! Ha!

So here's this weeks update:

 

I'm 31 Weeks!

How Far Along: 31 Weeks

Size of baby: He's just over 16 inches long and weighs in at about 3.3 lbs. Big boy!

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I finally stood on the scale a few days ago... Surprisingly, I'm still at a 24 lb weight gain! I'm starting to swell a little, so I'm sure I'll have put on a few more pounds by the beginning of May!

Maternity Clothes: Mostly all maternity- all maternity pants, and some regular shirts.

Gender: My baby boy, Mr. Keegan Michael :)

 

Movement: He's actually sleeping a lot more lately. He DOES move, and I feel it frequently, but it's rarely as much kicking and he's starting to transition into just MOVING... I think he's going to be a big boy, so I think he's starting to smoosh up a little in there!

 

Sleep: I am having such a hard time falling asleep at night. I have slept through the night the past couple nights without waking up much- but I think it's because I'm getting so exhausted from having trouble FALLING asleep so much! I guess it's just training though for when itty bitty gets here!

 

What I miss: Oh you know, just bending over, and not walking like I have saddle sore! 

 

Cravings: MILK. I normally HATE milk. I mean, I will rarely have a glass a month. But I (all by myself) went through a gallon of milk in 5 days. Mmm!

 

Symptoms: Sleepiness, sore joints, sore boobs, acid reflux, pain in my pubic bone, and some shortness of breath... my sciatic has been acting up a little the past couple of days- and I swear, I am absolutely losing my mind. I didn't think there was really such thing as pregnancy brain- but the past couple of days I feel like a crazy lady! I make a genuine effort to write something out correctly, or to remember something but I'll still write it wrong, or have no idea what I was saying. I hate it!  

Best Moment this week: I think the best moment was... getting to see the parent's last weekend for a little bit. It was great!

 

Also, just a little prayer request: my mom's dog, Murphy is the little doggie love of her life. He's a mini-dachshund, and they have the tendency to have back problems. Murphy's little back has started to really hurt him. They've been referred to a doggie surgeon, but the surgery would be very expensive. Please pray that he feels better soon, and as soon as possible... I know my mom AND Murphy would greatly appreciate it!