love21 maternity

I made a new discovery today. One that I'm VERY excited about! Forever21 has a maternity section! The new line is called love21 maternity. And though it's not very big yet, they have some very cute items for some very great prices! I'm really coveting this little combo, which would look great with my boots for fall! And both pieces combined are under $40!

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32 weeks

How far along: 32 weeks

Baby's size: A Squash

Ella's getting ready for her big debut! The past few weeks it's been all about practice, practice, practice as she hones the skills she'll need to thrive outside the womb - from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. And speaking of sucking, she's been able to suck her thumb for a while now. She's also becoming less transparent and more opaque, as more and more fat accumulates under her skin. She's probably in the head-down position by now, with her bottom facing up. This is the comfiest way for her body to fit in my increasingly cramped womb and will make her eventual exit (only a few months away now!) much easier.

Symptoms: Back pain, rib pain, leg cramps, frequent bathroom trips ... my belly is also getting ichy as my skin is stretching more and more these days.

Sleep: Still sleeping well, just not all that comfortably. And I never seem to get enough of it!

Total Weight Gain: 24 pounds ... though my weight has fluctuated quite a bit this week - which is different than the rest of this pregnancy has been. May need to keep an eye on this. But then again, it may be nothing to be concerned about.

Maternity clothes: Comfort seems to be key these days. Fewer and fewer things in my closet are fitting.

Best moment this week: Finally bought Ella's crib this weekend!

Movement: She is getting so big, and moving so much!

Food cravings: Starting to think I may never have any ...

Gender: Girl!

Labor signs: No labor signs yet, but I have felt a few random pains along my right side. Maybe Braxton hicks? Or maybe just weird cramps.

What I miss: Cuddling with hubby at night, and generally just being comfortable.

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting my baby in 8 weeks!

Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): 

Milestone:

Emotions: Stressed beyond belief with everything that needs to be accomplished in the next 8 weeks!

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Ella's crib

After what seems like an eternity of research, and shopping, and deliberating ... we have finally picked out Ella's crib. We ordered it yesterday at Babies R Us. I am SO excited, and really happy with our choice. I just think it is so beautiful. Don't you agree?

The Soho Crib from Delta Children's Products converts to toddler bed, day bed and full sized bed. So little Miss Ella just may be in this same bed until she turns 18! It doesn't have a drop side and it's JPMA certified, so it's completely safe and really sturdy. And it's just plain beautiful! It will look so great in her yellow and grey nursery.

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wordless wednesday: 31 week bump

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31 weeks

How far along: 31 weeks

Baby's size: A Squash

At three-plus pounds and nearly 18 inches long, Ella is quickly approaching her birth length - though she has another 3 to 5 pounds to go before D-day. She's going through major brain and nerve development these days. Her irises now react to light, and all five senses are in working order. (She won't pick up anything from her nose until after birth, though - smell is transferred through air, not amniotic fluid.) She's also putting in longer stretches of sleep, and developing more defined patterns of wakefulness and rest.

Symptoms: Back pain, rib pain, leg cramps, frequent bathroom trips ...

Sleep: Still sleeping well, but hard to get comfortable. I'm finally starting to feel a little uncomfortable laying on my back, with the weight of my belly. But side-sleeping isn't the most comfortable with back and rib pain either. I've started propping a pillow behind my back, which has done wonders!

Total Weight Gain: 23 pounds

Maternity clothes: Fewer and fewer of my regular shirts can be stretched over my belly these days.

Best moment this week: Laying in bed with hubby watching my belly move is still my favorite!

Movement: She is getting so big, and moving so much!

Food cravings: Starting to think I may never have any ...

Gender: Girl!

Labor signs: This question actually be relevant so soon!

What I miss: Cuddling with hubby at night, and generally just being comfortable.

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting my baby in 9 weeks!

Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): 

Milestone:

Emotions: Just really happy and content with life right now.

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a hole in the ground ...

... that will soon be our house!

Yes, that's right. Hubby and I are building a house. Though it may seem out of the blue to you, it's actually been a long time in the making. We first started talking about building a house when we got married. But we've been waiting for God's right timeing.

Once we found out that Ella was on her way, it seemed to kick things in high gear - especially for hubby! We debated back and forth about timing. Do we hurry and try to get the house finished before Ella comes? Or do we wait until next year? We currently live in a twin home - and while it has plenty of SPACE - it does not have a second bedroom on the main floor. Obviously this is not a necessity, but it would definitely be a plus to have Ella close to us at night.

Well this spring we started talking to builders, picked out a lot, and then started the long process of getting financing. By the end of August we had everything figured out. And yesterday we dug ground!

We could not be more excited! And yet a little scared. I think I may be insane to think that I can plan a house and have a baby at the same time! As the schedule sits right now, we will probably be moving with a six week old! Please tell me I haven't COMPLETELY lost my mind!

This decision also means we won't be setting up Ella's nursery until we are in the new house. Which - as all you moms who have felt the nesting instinct know - is extremely difficult for me! But I am trying to be practical here. We have a bassinet where she will sleep in our room for the first few weeks anyway, so it just is not necessary to have the crib set up in our current place.

I have been dieing to share this news with you all, but so much was up in the air so I held back. We have so many plans and ideas of how we will make this house our home. And now that it's official, I can't wait to share the details as the house progresses!

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the big 3 - 0

No I'm not turning 30! Just made it to 30 weeks. I can hardly believe I'm that far along already. Ella will be here in just 10 short weeks. I'm feeling like it can't come soon enough! I can hardly wait to meet this little girl who we love so much already. Can't wait to see what she looks like, and what kind of little personality she will have.

But part of me is terrified by the fact that we only have 10 weeks left. There is still so much to be done! I don't have a pediatrician picked out, a daycare lined up, I haven't bought the crib yet, haven't found the perfect rocking chair ... and the list goes on.

But really her arrival is not some big deadline, it's only just the beginning! Yes there are things that need to be done before she arrives, but there is still so much time AFTER she arrives as well!

How far along: 30 weeks

Baby's size: A Squash

As Ella's skin smooths out, her brain just keeps getting more wrinkled. All those grooves and indentations increase surface area, meaning more room for that oh-so-essential brain tissue. Her bone marrow has taken over production of red blood cells (before, tissue groups and then the spleen took care of producing the blood cells.) This means she'll be better able to thrive on her own after birth. So it's in with the new (brain cells, red blood cells) and out with the old (lanugo.) Much of the lanugo - the soft, downy hair covering her body - is beginning to disappear now because both fat and the brain are regulating her body temperature (so no need for that furry coat anymore!) She's also adding some brawn - her grip is now strong enough to grasp a finger.

Symptoms: Back pain, rib pain, leg cramps, frequent bathroom trips ...

Sleep: Still sleeping well, but hard to get comfortable. I may need to add a few pillows to the bed soon!

Total Weight Gain: 22 pounds

Maternity clothes: Loving my new maternity jeans, and leggings. Even some of my larger sized pants are becoming too snug.

Best moment this week: I told hubby last night that we needed to take new belly photos because I was thirty weeks. He just looked at me and said, "Wow, we're going to have a baby!" It was so cute, he could not be any more excited!

Movement: Still feeling her all the time. Still haven't started counting kicks, maybe this week ...

Food cravings: Starting to think I may never have any ...

Gender: Girl!

Labor signs:

What I miss: Cuddling with hubby at night, and generally just being comfortable.

What I'm looking forward to: My baby shower. Just scheduled it for October 16th!

Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): 

Milestones: We preregistered for giving birth at the hospital this morning! It's really just a simple little form with my contact and insurance info, but wow does that makes things real.

Emotions: Just really happy and content with life right now.

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29 weeks

How far along: 29 weeks

Baby's size: A Squash

Ella's energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath her skin. This fat is different from the earlier brown fat that she accumulated. Brown fat is necessary for body temperature regulation while white fat (the fat adults have) actually serves as an energy source. And since she's growing so fast (her weight will double or triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb. Soon her kicks will be more vigorous than before (and also less erratic) as she gets stronger and excitedly responds to all sorts of stimuli - movement, sounds, light, and that cup cake I ate half an hour ago!

Symptoms: Back pain, rib pain, leg cramps, frequent bathroom trips ...

Sleep: Still sleeping well, but hard to get comfortable. I may need to add a few pillows to the bed soon!

Total Weight Gain: 21 pounds

Maternity clothes: Went shopping with my mom over the weekend and finally bought the maternity jeans I've been eying for over three months! Also gave in and went bra shopping ... after trying on close to 50 bras, finally found four that worked - two of which came home with me. Bought my first nursing bra!

Best moment this week: My parents came up for Labor day. We had a great time looking through baby stuff, planning the nursery, and shopping for cribs and gliders.

Movement: Still feeling her all the time. Thinking I should start counting this week.

Food cravings: None ... well, made a chocolate cake last week just because I wanted a piece ... does that count? Hubby thinks it does. Didn't seem that different than a normal pms chocolate craving.

Gender: Girl!

Labor signs:

What I miss: Being independent. It's extremely hard for me to let others lift things for me!

What I'm looking forward to: Making plans for Ella's room.

Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): 

Milestones: 3rd Trimester! wow how did that happen! 

Emotions: We've had a TON going on in our life lately, so I've been so absent from the blog world. Besides Ella, I've been crazy busy at work this past month, and we've got other exciting news in the works as well. Hopefully once I get through this week, things will start slowing down a bit at work and I can get caught up on my blog ... and getting my butt in gear with my baby check list!

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