39 weeks- Pregnancy Questionnaire

How far along: 39 weeks & 5 days

Total weight gain: gained 30 lbs. 

Maternity clothes: I'm not gonna lie, I think I'm going to miss them! They're so darn comfy! However I have noticed a few of my maternity tops are on the snug side!!!

Stretch marks: Still here. 

Sleep: I've had a few really rough nights but overall I get sleep...eventually!

Best moment of this week: I really had a great Sunday at church! I'm going to miss being there for a few weeks!

Miss anything: sushi, rare meat, being able to walk outside without getting super hot and turning pink immediately annnnnnnnd sleeping comfortably! 

Movement: On Saturday evening I realized Raleigh hadn't moved much. It freaked me out but before I fell asleep I felt a few small movements. As I went about my Sunday I continued to monitor him. I drank orange juice, a coke, iced water... & he just didn't do his normal spastic moves & rolls! I decided we should go get checked out just because I'd HATE to ignore potential risky signs. So we headed into L&D. It worked out in the end... we were able to sign all of our paperwork & get acquainted with the hospital more! We got an ultrasound which showed us our lazy baby was just perfect. He has little room & was just sleepy! Even the u/s tech spent nearly 30 minutes trying to get him to move and wake up! She estimates Raleigh is measuring 8 lbs & 8 ounces... give or take a pound!

Food cravings: Pancakes & Cheeseburgers. Ha!

Anything making you queasy or sick: I'm feeling really good!

Have you started to show yet: definitely. 

Gender: Boy!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks... 1cm dilated, 70% effaced, -3 ... woohoo!!! Progress. 

Belly button in or out: Still in, but really close to being out still! 

Wedding rings on or off: Still on. I'm shocked!!

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, excited, nervous...

Looking forward to: besides meeting our little man? Experiencing childbirth with my husband & seeing our families soon! 

Late at night before bed, 39 weeks & 4 days! 

My Beloved... & milk.

Remember that time I had a meltdown over milk? Yeah.... it was back in February & you can read about that here. As y'all know, I've never been a milk drinker until this pregnancy! I just have to take a second to boast about my beloved husband!

We've had a few more tiffs over milk since February but I try to control my hormonal rage! Ha! So, the other day I walked into the living room and asked Nathan, "what is that smell!?" He was confused by my question... so I told him it smelled like cereal. "Oh- yeah, I just finished some cereal" he replied. My next thought was....... do we still have milk!? but I decided not to voice my thought! Quickly Nathan followed up with, "but I ate my cereal with water, so you still have some milk!".

Stop it.

I love that man. How sweet!? He ate his cereal dry & drank water with it. I seriously could have cried. He loves milk, but he loves me so much more!

As I've reflected over these last 9 months, I've realized over & over that Nathan has taken a lot from me. I have been exhausted, moody, hormonal, sometimes just not feeling well & less patient than I normally am. He has been a strong & loving husband. One that will put up with my mess (and a few times clean up my mess, sorry honey!). Occasionally he'll ask me, "have you practiced your breathing today? Let's practice!" This coming from the man who is outwardly vocal about how terrified he is about the whole birthing process. He has rubbed bio-oil and lotions on my ugly stretchmarks in the most gentle and loving way. He has made countless batches of pancakes for me & driven me to get my grits & eggs. He has done lots of laundry & helped out around the house.

There isn't another man I'd rather do this with. There isn't anyone else I'd rather be my son's father. He isn't perfect, but he's perfect for me & for Raleigh.

(And yes, I just cried the entire time I wrote this! Lol. I'm so pregnant.) 

And just like that...

I'm 38 weeks & 5 days pregnant... & very much ready to meet this baby. 

I'm suddenly short of breath & I having a rough time catching it. Not a good feeling. 

Indigestion is terrible again & I'm exhausted... to name a few symptoms. 

I know it is absolutely all worth it in the end! I'm thankful that I've had a fairly easy pregnancy thus far. I also know that I am blessed to be able to carry this child, so please don't think I'm not grateful... I'm just being real... I'm ready to not be pregnant! I'm ready for the next stage. The next chapter. I'm thinking this is how God designed us to feel! The thought of parenthood is daunting & can be overwhelming... but at this point my discomfort pushes me to be ready for the next stage! 

Come on Raleigh... your mom & dad are ready to meet you!!!

Pregnancy Questionaire

How far along: 38 weeks (and 3 days!)

Total weight gain: gained 30 lbs. 

Maternity clothes: yeah... maternity or spandex! (Let me just tell you, maternity underwear were the best purchase EVER!!)

Stretch marks: Still here. I think I've started getting used to them.

Sleep: I'm sleeping really well surprisingly! I think it's because I'm not working anymore and I don't lay in bed counting down how many hours I have left to sleep... instead I take my time and just rest.

Best moment of this week: Hmmmmm... I've enjoyed cooking for my husband and having time to rest.

Miss anything: Cool weather! It's so dang hot... and baking a baby isn't making that any easier. Also, being able to bend over!! I feel like I can't breathe & I'm squishing Raleigh.

Movement: Well I think Raleigh is running out of room. I've gotten pretty paranoid about his movement because it's much slower now and I think I've also gotten really used to the feeling so I don't always notice it. More often now I sit down and actually monitor his movement... and then I realize he is moving, it's just more subtle and slow. Oh I can't wait to lay my eyes on him!!

Food cravings: Breakfast. I LOVE all breakfast foods! I've gotten back on a Lucky Charms kick again. Haha! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just not eating soon enough...

Have you started to show yet: Yeah, it looks like I smuggled a basketball under my shirt!

Gender: Boy!

Labor signs: Not really... sadly. Just hip pain & braxton hicks.

Belly button in or out: Still in, but really close to being out still! 

Wedding rings on or off: On! Whoohoo!

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, but growing impatient!

Looking forward to: Going into labor and meeting this baby boy! 

My little basketball belly... ok... it's not so little! I'm SO ready to meet this kid. Taken at 38 weeks and 2 days.

Gramma's Chicken Pot Pie

Since I have been home again... AKA not working full time... I've actually cooked dinner every night!! A first in nearly nine months and boy is my husband appreciative! Last night I threw together my mom's recipe for chicken pot pie. It was always one of my favorites growing up & I'm sure my mom was thankful because it's super simple to make!

Gramma's Chicken Pot Pie:

Preheat oven to 350

2 cans of Veg-All

1 Onion

Chicken

1 can of cream of mushroom

1 can of cream of chicken

Bisquick

Spray a 9x11 pan & dump the 2 cans of veggies in the pan. 

Chop up onion (as much as you like) and place it over the veggies. 

Next add the chicken. I like to get a rotisserie chicken and de-bone the whole thing and use part of it for the pot pie and the rest for another meal! 

After the chicken add the soups. I mix them together & then pour it over the chicken. 

Last step, the bisquick! I use 1 1/2 cups of bisquick & 1/2 cup of milk... Mix it up and pour it over! Wasn't that easy!?

Now let it cook for 30-45 minutes... until the top is golden brown. Let it settle and cool down before serving! It's definitely a delicious and easy meal to make! 

Babymoon & 2 years!

Two things happen on Friday! 

First it will be August 2, 2013... two years since my sweet Nathan asked me to be his wife! My how life has changed! 

Secondly we will be heading to Delray to stay at a resort on the beach! We haven't done anything like this... well, since our honeymoon! We're both excited for the relaxing time we'll have before Mr. Raleigh makes his appearance! I'm just hoping he'll hold out until we get back on Sunday! (Don't worry, if he decides to come early we'll be close enough to the hospital to make it!) 

Marriage is awesome & I'm thankful I married Nathan Price. 

Our Maternity Shoot

I have been blessed to be constantly surrounded by talented photographers! Recently we had our maternity shoot with my sweet friend Jismarie Ramos of Jismarie Photography. She went out of her way to make me feel beautiful... because I was having a crazy hormonal pregnancy day and I needed it! She captured where we live and how we love.
Here are some of my favorite shots.

 This one is extra sweet to me. Nathan was praying for Raleigh!

I'm thankful to have these images and I will cherish them the rest of my life! Thank you Jisma.