November 2016

Pregnancy Update

The switch to Dr. Vicenti was perfect for me! This lady fits my style and I LOVE that she is the only one delivering my baby! Obviously she has a backup but I was having a hard time with Pali Women's Health Center because the rotation of all the various doctors. I liked most of them but it did make me nervous about how you got whatever doctor was on the schedule for that day. Dr. Vicenti is a one doctor/woman show and that is very appealing to me. I know I can't control everything but I will defintely do my part with what I can control! For me this meant finding a doc I could trust and felt comfortable around and that I have a relationship with. Also, she is a little more hands off and old school (this lady doesn't even have a cell phone--she uses a pager and her landline ha) in her approaches and that jives well with how I like to do things.

 In the end, I know the doctor is really only there at the end of labor and mainly there for the birth of the baby but I feel so good about her being a part of my birth team. She mentioned how if things go smoothly she can have Randy catch the baby and I thought that was pretty cool. I showed her my birth plan--in fact she asked me for it (more cool points for Dr. Vicenti) and she was on board! I met with her for the first time on November 2nd (week 35) and started going every week after that for quick checkups.

My doula (Melani) even came to one of my appointments with me when Randy had to work. She was the one who suggested switching to Dr. Vicenti and I am so glad I took her advice! After the appointment, Melani talked with me for over an hour about birth and it made me feel confident in my abilities to do this. I know my body was designed for birth and that this is a natural function of my body! I also feel very blessed because Pastor Mari is letting us use her house to labor right before we go into the hospital--she lives about 15 minutes from the hospital compared to our hour plus of driving from Sunset. I am also planning to do the placenta encapsulation after birth (Mari does this). After reading a bunch, listening to podcasts, and speaking with a ton of friends (crunchy and not so crunchy) Randy and I decided to give it a try from all the positive experiences we heard about.

I am continuing to gain small bits of weight but nothing too crazy--at my last appointment on November 23rd (week 38) I weighed 183 lbs so about 41 lbs gained total. He is in perfect position (head down and face down) and he seems to be measuring well and has a good heartbeat. He is continuing to move and I am beginning to feel the ligaments and muscles in my groin area change--they feel achy/sore at times. I also wonder if my cervix is softening as I feel slight twinges of sharp pain from time to time in that area (I have had it described to me as a feeling like a bee sting or rubber band being pulled on the skin). I also started taking evening primrose oil to help with the softening as of week 38.

I am also happy because I did my GBS (Group B Strep) test and the results were negative so no antibiotics for me!! I tried pretty hard to avoid a lot of refined sugary treats till I cleared this test and then had some yummy dark chocolate sea salt cashews to celebrate.

Nesting is definitely a real thing and it finally kicked into gear this month. I found myself wanting to have everything ready to go for this birth. I even made some padsicles in preparation for the after-birth so we'll see how they work! I also wheeled and dealed and was able to get a brand-new Ergo 360 carrier $60 off from Phoenix thanks to Craigslist and my sweet brother-in-law who happened to be in the area and picked it up for me and then had my mom bring it over when she came to visit me! We also found a nice rocking chair off Craigslist!

Randy and I have cleaned like crazy (I just discovered the pure mind-boggling power of magic erasers--where have these been all my life?!) and tried to make things more organized. Having my mom come was a huge motivator. I went to town with my friend Breann and was able to get some homey items. I also had weird urges to make salves, a sugar scrub, and a homemade hair mist--so random! I also ordered our splurge item--the BOB stroller thanks to the generosity of friends and family. That was my big-ticket item--pretty much everything else I didn't care if it was nice or new (besides the car seat) and tried to find it for free or at a bargain. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of others--I seriously only bought a single onesie from a yard sale for like $.50 because I thought it was cute and all his other clothes have been given to me for his first year of life!

Last Hurrah with my Mama

Okay, this was pretty epic! My mom came to party with me before I have this sweet baby! Think about it--this will be the ONLY time in my life ever where I don't have a job or kids the rest of my life! So we took advantage of this and planned a little girls trip. It was simple but amazing! My mom and I both love health, food, and gabbing away so that is exactly what we did. We went on a million walks, her and Randy came to my yoga class with me, we went to a free musical concert at BYU because my mom really digs that stuff, and we did foot zoning together and she loved it! We ate at home for the most part but splurged on a few special places like 'Ai Love Nalo, Beet Box Cafe, Kahuku Farms, Greens and Vines, Fijian Market, and CPK. I just really love food--maybe even too much--but at least most of it is pretty healthy. One of my favorite memories was talking and laughing while we ate our chocolate walnut brownie vegan ice cream on a picnic table in Haleiwa--I think my version of heaven involves something along those lines.

Blurry but proof Randy came to yoga with me :)

I love this lady--this is Julie my yoga teacher

Proud of my mama coming to yoga with me twice during her trip!

We also hiked the Makapu'u lighthouse together after one of my appointments. It was a cool feeling to have my mom present and see our sweet baby before he arrives. After we finished our hike we went to 'Ai Love Nalo (I have been wanting to go there forever--it was a first for all of us) and the KauKau Luau plate was divine!! This place definitely makes my top 3.

Makapu'u Lighthouse 

Gotta love No-Shave November ;)

At Backyards checking out the sunset

37 Weeks

One of the days we went shopping together in town and I helped her find a dress for her piano choir concert from Ross of all places--the very last store we went to! Afterwards, we went to Greens and Vines which is pretty nice and our food was sooo good. I got the pad thai and mom got the living lasagna. We shared some of their desserts (the wicked chocolate tart was the best) and then headed home. I actually got pulled over in town for making an illegal U-turn but was grateful to get off with a warning!

This place was pricey but fun to experience with mom visiting

We also went boogie boarding at Castles and she rocked it! It was also nice to have her come to church with me too. She arrived November 11th and left on the 20th so it was a good solid 9 days of fun with the mama I will never forget :)

Our last day together

Randy trying to hide the 'stache

 

Leftovers at 39 Weeks

I've been enjoying this slower pace. Towards the end of this month I began to feel pretty ready for this baby (or at least as ready as one can feel without fully knowing what to expect). My nesting period has calmed down since most errands/cleaning were done before my mom came and the vast majority of baby items have been procured. When Randy has had days off we enjoy just doing simple things together like going to the beach--this particular day Randy surfed while I read birthing books on the beach and took naps--it was glorious. After Randy finished he took some photos of me--I keep wondering if this will be the last time I will have my preggy belly. I've enjoyed being pregnant but I am definitely excited for the next stage--whenever that may start. I don't feel rushed or hurried and want this sweet babe to come on his own time. Prepare for photo overload. 

No--I did not go surfing on a shortboard at 39 weeks. Randy just found this highly amusing!

Thanksgiving

I kind of had Thanksgiving dinner in reverse. I made pumpkin crunch the day before and ate that in the morning. I made this for someone very kind who did me a huge favor and saved a few pieces for Randy and I. Also, I had a doc appointment the day before Thanksgiving so I decided to grab some lunch at Whole Foods. I was pleasantly surprised to find tons of vegan and vegetarian Thanksgiving goodies to try (stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc.) so I got my fill. Randy worked part of Thanksgiving Day so he had some goodies at the station. With our baby on the way we decided to keep the actual holiday VERY simple aka do almost nothing and relax and that's exactly what we did. We made summer rolls and chilled. I went to my yoga class and had such a good Thanksgiving sesh. Afterwards, an older couple from class handed out ginormous avocados (the buttery kind). Randy also got the chance to go surfing with his bud Jeremy so it was a pretty relaxing day for us. 

Other Happenings

My girlfriend, Alex, had her baby shower on the 27th! We have been preggy yoga buddies and it was fun to see her, socialize, and eat yummy food together at Ali'i Beach Park!

Randy and I also got the chance to babysit Nadia and Holden. These kids are so easy--we seriously drew almost the entire time until they had to go to bed.

Since I was released from my young women's calling last month us old leaders got together at Lei Leis. It was fun to reminisce and talk about all the changes that are happening in everyone's lives--babies coming, moving, new jobs, etc.