Life's a Beach

It's too bad it can't always stay that way... or I guess if I lived in a beach chair by the pool with my own waitstaff, I wouldn't appreciate it.  But, it sure was glorious this weekend!  Matt and I got away for a much too short beach weekend at the Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach.  I spent much of my childhood on the very same beach, so it was funny to be staying in a hotel there... let alone the Don!  They know how to class it up.  I definitely recommend it for a nice get away.  We spent most of the weekend laying in very comfortable lounge chairs, ordering cocktails (virgin pina colada for me, of course) and lunch poolside, and relaxing.  Most of my family lives in St. Pete, and I actually didn't even see anyone except my cousin and his fiance who came to visit us for a bit.  There just wasn't enough time.  He has an awesome camera and is a fantastic photographer, so we were going to snap some maternity photos but the weather wasn't great and frankly, I looked like crap (I did not get myself picture ready because I refused to leave the beach/pool... Matt was with me on that one).  We were originally going to see them around sunset, but we didn't get to experience any sunsets while we were there due to some crazy fog.  Bummer.  Thankfully, we had good sun on Saturday until about 4 and on Sunday until about 2.

Sweet maternity suit... the tan legs are an illusion.

The life!

Chatting by the beach... the fog didn't scare us off!

Fake smile.  Matt looks hot though.  :)

Ha!  Check out that belly!  34w4d

Who cares that it's foggy... I just wanted to lay on my belly.  It wasn't as comfortable as I hoped, but I did it!

Crazy fog.

Our prime spot for Sunday... got a few hours before the fog rolled in.

We really enjoyed the time away, although it truly went by way too quickly.  Two days just wasn't enough!  I'm thankful that we were able to get away and enjoy some time just the two of us before our little pumpkin decides to arrive.  It won't be long now...

Reflecting

Sorry Maddie.  Gotta sit up taller!



Max photobombs.  The cone is back.  That second three looks like an eight.  Oops.

I spent a little time yesterday evening reading back on the posts I've written since being pregnant.  It's so weird to go back to that place where everything was so new, I thought a belly that now seems flat looked so pregnant, and the days just crept by.  I think the beginning of a pregnancy can be a scary time for a lot of people, but especially if you've either experienced a miscarriage or infertility.  If you fall into one of these categories, you truly understand how fragile life can be in those early days or know that if something happens, it's not as simple as waiting a couple of months and getting horizontal, ifyouknowwhatI'msaying.

It was hard to even go back to that place now that I'm less than seven weeks away from D-Day and I can feel this little girl growing and moving all over the place.  The time is flying now.  I know that there are no guarantees, but it's a much more pleasant place to be emotionally even with raging hormones and inadequate sleep.  If I could pick her birthday, I would choose March 28 (the day before mine), which is all of six weeks from today.  I know the rest of this time is just going to fly by.

I had my last ultrasound at the perinatologist last week.  Although she is a peanut, Greer is growing on the expected growth curve.  Praise the Lord for that!  I really wasn't worried about it at all, but it was still reassuring to see her growth curve follow the normal one even if she's measuring less than the 50th percentile.  I'd prefer a little six to seven pounder anyway.  :)  They estimated that she weighed 3 lbs 14 oz (+/- 9 oz) and everything still looks great.  We got to see her "breathing," but she just didn't want us to get a good picture of her face.  It was funny, because for the third or fourth time, we caught her sleeping (or just chilling) in there with her hand/forearm over her forehead, which is how I often catch Matt sleeping.

Not cooperating for her closeup.

Sleeping like her daddy.  (That's her hand on her head above her nose.)

 

The doctor I met with for my 32 week appointment told me I'd only gained 18 lbs!  God bless her.  I told her I think that's from my 9 week appointment, and I didn't have any issues eating during my first trimester.  :)  I did find out my true starting weight (it was in my chart from the RE), and I'm up 23 lbs.  I said I didn't want to put on more than 25-30, so I think I will be okay.  Most importantly, I feel good and I don't feel heavy yet, so I don't really care what the scale says.  I know how to get it off when I need to!

In other news, we are heading to the beach for a few days soon and PRAYING for good weather.  I told God I feel really selfish praying for sunshine and mid-70s, but I just need it for my soul.  All I want to do is dig a hole in the sand for my belly (that will be a really good nap) and frolick in the Gulf.  I'm definitely bringing sexy back with my maternity swimsuit.  ;)  FYI - if buying a maternity bathingsuit from Target, go smaller than you think.  I bought medium bottoms and they are GINORMOUS.  Like, I don't even think a small would fit and this girl has plenty of junk in the trunk.  Better yet, just buy a non-maternity bottom and go w/ just the maternity top if you're in your 3rd trimester.  A regular tankini a size up from your usual will probably be sufficient before then.  (P.S.  I never thought I'd be buying a maternity bathingsuit... bonus of being pregnant during the winter.)

Out of the mouth of husbands

More accurately, out of the mouth of my husband.  Oh, the things he says.  As I told my best friends in an e-mail, it is a good thing I don't have self esteem issues.  :)

Scene: Matt has just returned from being gone for a five day ski trip.
Matt: Your belly is bigger since I left.  I can tell.
Me:  Why, yes it is.  It has grown all of one centimeter.  You are so astute!

Scene:  I am changing for bed the day after Matt has returned from his ski trip.
Matt (in a tone that is somewhere between embarrassed and repulsed):  Holy cow, your belly is huge.
(Side note: my belly is actually not huge for how far along I am... I measure completely normally, but most people comment that my belly is small... then again, they don't see it in all of its veiny, outie belly button glory!)

Scene:  Laying in bed chatting a day or two later.
Me:  I think it's hilarious that you are so scared or turned off by my belly and find me so unattractive right now.  I like to tell people.  It's funny.
Matt:  Why do you tell people that?  That's not true.  I don't find you unattractive.
Me:  Well, you certainly don't tell me otherwise.
Matt:  {crickets} ... moments later...  At least you haven't gotten fat!

He sure knows how to make a girl feel good.  ;)  Now, if you don't know my husband, you will think he is the meanest, worst husband ever.  Thankfully, we have a pretty open relationship, and he knows when something will hurt my feelings and when it won't.  I literally taunt him with my belly.  Bless his heart, he just does not think it's cute.  I wish he loved my pregnant belly and found me irresistable at the moment, but it's just not his thing and that's okay.  I am glad to know he at least doesn't think I've gotten fat!  However, I will also tell you this story to redeem the conversations above.

We were out to dinner on Friday evening and got on the topic of the fact that we're about to be parents.  He has said on more than one occassion that he wishes Greer would be here even sooner, but he hasn't really elaborated on why he feels that way.  He proceeded to tell me how he cannot wait for her to be born and he just wants to raise kids... all the time he spends watching TV, playing on his phone, or reading he'd so much rather be spending being a dad.  (I told him he may wish for lazy days watching TV and playing dumb games on his phone soon enough!)  He said that the nine month wait has been way too long, not to mention the waiting we had to do to get pregnant.  He also said that he's ready to start the process for #2 as soon as possible!  God help me.  Ha!  I think I need and deserve a break.  :)  If God blesses us with a miracle without assistance, then so be it.  I would be THRILLED.  But, I don't think I'm ready to go through the whole IVF process again any time in the near future... especially considering #2 could easily end up being #2 and #3.  :)  At least I know that he's not so turned off by me being pregnant that he doesn't want me to be pregnant again!

I just cannot wait to see him hold her for the first time.  I know he is going to be so in love, and I am sure I will never have loved him more than in that moment.  He has such a tough exterior, but he has the softest heart when he lets it show.  And, I know that no one will be able to bring that out of him like his daughter.  Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.  Obviously, I would never choose to experience the heartache of infertility, but I truly think it makes all of this that much sweeter.  We know better than to take this for granted.  God is good, and His timing is perfect.

YHL Does Atlanta

Jenn and I waited in a two hour line last night to meet the dynamic duo from Young House Love!  Quite a feat at almost 8 months pregnant and underdressed for the cold.  :)  But, I didn't get cankles!  Hooray for that!  (I actually haven't had any swelling in my ankles at all... God willing it never happens!)

They were as sweet in person as they seem to be on their blog.  And, I laughed as we got closer and I could hear Sherry interacting with the other attendees, because I could hear the Jersey in her.  You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl!  I had nothing enlightening to say and the Clara Conversations are my favorite thing ever, so I told them I hoped Greer would be as funny as Clara is!  Sherry assured me she would be.  I trust her judgment.

Katie Bower was there with her boyfriend and Weston, but we didn't wait to see them.  I was spent.  #pregnantgirlproblems  I did, however, want to advise Katie of the best bacon in existence (store bought anyway - Eden Farms... sooooooooo good) and snuggle that little bubba.  He is so precious!  I can't believe I'll have one of those in just over a month and a half!  Jeremy isn't half bad looking in person either.  ;) 

Even with the long wait and the cold weather, it was a fun night with my BFF.  Though I'm convinced we can make anything we do together entertaining.  :)