38 weeks

well, we are coming to the end of my 38th week

the waiting game is interesting to say the least

you never know when the day is going to come

right now things are so calm and I have so much free time

[like I have never seen my sink so dish free in years]

and I know in a blink of an eye everything will be very different

but I just couldn't tell you how

even though the unknown can be scary

the mr. and I are getting very excited

 and since I have made it to my masters class this weekend

[the one thing I asked Everly to do for me]

we are officially getting on some of those natural induction tricks my midwives 

have been mentioning lately

so tonight I will be drinking organic raspberry leaf tea

[even though I HATE tea]

wish me luck, it is seriously waiting for me on the coffee table right now

and I'm scared

yes, drinking tea, that is what I'm scared of right now

trying to keep things in perspective

we keep things low key

last night we enjoyed a very simple halloween celebration

this year we kept things very last minute and simple

mostly because we had no real way of knowing if we were going to be up for celebrating

or at the hospital in labor

and since Everly is still hanging in there for me as of the moment

we had the opportunity to do some celebrating

I loved our night of pumpkin carving and decorating

of playing games and enjoying sweet treats

and above all

spending the time with friends who also loved this kind of night

and as we get closer to the little lady's due date

it is amazing to know we have people around us who are so excited for her arrival

and where our little group is heading

and in case it wasn't clear, we took advantage of me being 

9 months pregnant for halloween

and dressed up as Juno and Paulie Bleeker

37 weeks is officially in the books

36 weeks

hitting nine months officially this week

and Everly is letting us know that she will be here soon

she has been a very active baby for some time

especially during our evening t.v. time

but now the movement is so visible it is just simply crazy

thankfully she is still hanging out in the head down position

but is still pretty high up, so I'm thinking I still have a little time before she arrives

besides trying to get up off the sofa in the evenings

and the complete inability to bend at the waist

I've still been feeling pretty good

rings are fitting

ankles are still visible

so no complaints here

and the best part, maternity leave is my new happy place

oh, and fall is officially here for us in northern california

and that makes me one happy lady

there may even be a little rain in the future

good, awesome, lovely

33 weeks

last minute baby prepping is keeping the mr. and I pretty busy

we've now finished our classes

and the last thing on our list is the hospital tour

I have three weeks left of work

and hopefully that will give me a few days before Everly gets here

it seems like all the first time moms I know lately have been having their babies

at least two weeks early

so I might need a few extra days off - we'll see

30 weeks

last night we got to take our maternity photos with our favorite -

Sarah Maren of Sarah Maren Photographers

and trust me, as soon as I get them, I will be sharing my favorite images right here

but for now

the mr. and I snapped a quick shot of our own
once all the professional business was done

very thankful that today is friday

because it has been too long since I've had a real weekend

and this weekend will be pretty special

because we will be celebrating little everly with a shower
and I get to spend some time with so many of my favorite ladies
many who I do not get to see often

pretty excited
and yes, we missed our 29 week bump photo
I'm going to blame my masters on that one

28 weeks

seven months pregnant and still feeling amazing

besides the constant dropping of things

which bending over for is not fun

and the very active little baby I have in my tummy

I would still not really say I have "pregnancy symptoms"

rings are still fitting

feet are looking a little more filled out, but not swollen in the least

and still not a single food craving [which I was really looking forward to]

and the funniest thing is it is much easier to wear non-maternity clothing

now that I'm so far along, go figure

this week I also finally took care of some business

signed the mr. and I up for some delivery classes

as well as a course labeled "surviving the first month"

which, considering we haven't even held a newborn before

I'm thinking these will be helpful

and took care of some fun business

like finally treating myself to a much needed pedicure

something I think I may have to repeat a few times before Everly arrives

so hopefully the next two months continue to go as smoothly

or even half as smoothly

and I'll continue to be very thankful

27 weeks

this week was a busy week for me and baby

putting the final touches on my classroom and starting the first days of school

but all in all, we handled the heat wave and the hours of work like champs

little E is moving so much these days

especially at night when the mr. and I are taking it easy on the sofa

she really likes feeling like she is part of the action by making sure we don't forget

that she is also there

this week I also made a very exciting purchase

my first maternity jeans, and man, are they a bit of heaven

I think that even after the little lady is born I am going to have a hard time giving them up

and on another note, I think stripes should be a staple in every pregnant lady's closet

I am absolutely in love with them

happy friday, and tomorrow we are getting to have a visit from some great friends

that we do not get the chance to see enough

yeah for weekends with friends, and a high temperature finally not in the 100's
oh, and goodbye to my second trimester, third trimester here we come!

26 weeks

last weekend we got to take our weekly bump photo while in santa cruz

and for the record, today I was told for the very first time this pregnancy

how small I look for 6 months!!!

 and beyond the awesomeness of the compliment

the very best part was who that compliment came from -

the secretary from the middle school I was hired back to last night!

it sure felt great waking up this morning for the first time since last march

when I received my first pink slip for this coming school year

actually knowing where I was going to be working for the 2012/2013 school year

tomorrow I'll fill you in on the details for my new job

but overall, I am so ecstatic and thankful for a great placement

and with baby on the way in a few months

things could have been pretty scary, but they are not

yeah for good news

25 weeks

this week was exciting for me on the pregnancy front

I changed hospitals and will now be delivering with Sutter

and the particular hospital I've chosen is much for suited for my natural birth plan

and they also happen to have one of the lowest c-section rates in the nation

which makes me a happy camper

I met with one of the midwives in their practice

and had the best pre-natal visit I've had to date

no more, wait an hour, see the doctor for five minutes

instead, I waited five minutes, and talked with the midwife for an hour

just what this first time momma needs

while I was there my midwife also didn't agree with all the due date changing 

that I was getting before

she pointed out to me that after six weeks all babies are very different sizes

so changing my date because she was measuring bigger at 20 weeks

didn't seem to make sense to her

so, we are back to the date given at my eight week ultrasound

and if I've been keeping track, I think that puts me back at 25 weeks

24 weeks

yes, 24 weeks means two things:

#1 - we missed week 23, you would think I would have more time over the summer

to snap a quick shot, but apparently not

#2 - I'm now officially 6 months along, which seems pretty real

this last week brought some cooler weather, thankfully

and the mr. quickly learned that touching the air conditioning in the car

is no longer an option for him

it was too funny yesterday when I caught him almost turning the air off

and then quickly moved his hand away from the dial, smart man

little lewis is moving SO much these days

not only can I feel her, but the husband has too

not to mention if you are really observant, sometimes you can see her wiggling around

craziness is all I have to say about that

thankfully she is still not keeping me up at night, at least not yet

22 weeks

well this week's photo is a little late

and no, you're not missing week 21, the ultrasound tech took it away from me

my due date has been once again changed, now I'm looking closer to 23 weeks than 22

so I'm thinking the entire month of November is fair game for this little lady to arrive

and I'm alright with that

who knows, maybe she'll even come on her very first due date - halloween!

this week's photo has so many things that we love

my patriotic outfit I had to help me celebrate independence day

a very awesome VW bus that is always parked around the corner from our house

[the husband and I have a tad bit of envy for it]

and finally, our little lady

I can admit she's our favorite

20 weeks

oh yeah baby, half way there

officially five months along and only TWO more days until we know the biggest

most exciting news we have had in quite a long time [boy or girl]

and honestly, at the moment, I can't think of bigger news

that the husband & I have ever waited for

so, speaking of the mr.

I figured he deserved to get in these pics too for the little half way party

we had on the street

so yeah, happy sunday

and currently baby is moving all around

which must mean one thing, and one thing only

baby supports mommy's blogging obsession

at least that's how I'm taking it

so you can only imagine how excited I was when I felt baby for the very first time

after finishing playing in our 8th grade vs. teachers slow pitch softball game

on the last day of school

clearly, future ball & glove kind of little one

19 weeks

I'm starting to realize this week a few things

that baby of mine was sure busy making sure that they had plenty of room

by making me look very pregnant very early

but it seems like the last couple of weeks there haven't been many changes

so I guess for the moment little lewis is quite comfortable

and another thing is still true

black is slimming, even with a baby bump

the one change this week is I'm starting to have baby dreams

most recently, they have been about our big upcoming ultrasound

where we find out boy or girl - finally!

but the fun pregnancy twist, well of course, who was the ultrasound technician

well no other than Randy Fenoli from Say Yes to the Dress 

talk about a fabulous appointment

I'm sure mine will be exciting, but probably not as fabulous

18 weeks

first off, let me start by saying I am absolutely in love with my baby bump

 ok, with that being said, I am NOT in love with how many people treat pregnant women
and when I mean pregnant women
I mean ME
now let me start this little moment by reminding everyone of the stats
I'm 5'3 and have about 4 inches of waist from hip to rib, if I'm lucky, and stand tall
needless to say, this little lewis has not many places to go but out and say hello

however, the constant comments about my size from everyone on the planet is getting
just a tad old
and just like we tell our kids
if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all
apparently that goes out the window as soon as you are showing
and even though I am probably receiving an equal amount of praise as I am negative comments
we all know which ones stick in our heads
in fact, I had a little meltdown on monday night because I had just had enough
enough of "well, clearly it's twins" [just one]
"I showed a lot faster with my third child too" [first baby]
"you are really packing on the pounds" [I've barely gained any weight actually]
"you must not be watching what you eat"
[in fact, my healthy food choices are no different than before]

so here's what I'm saying
people, just keep your mouths shut
if I don't know you, I probably don't need you guessing my due date is in the next two months
when really, it is in five

also, I'm realizing I just need to stay close to home in my neighborhood
because I am getting some of my biggest compliments from the wonderful
gay men that live in my part of town
they are so kind to me and my appearance
 and right now I can use all the kind words possible

however, on the most awesome side ever
this week I can officially say that I am feeling the baby kick
and just as the doctor predicted the last time she was trying to get a heart beat
baby is very mobile
and I am very ok with that
it makes all the negative comments melt away pretty quickly

17 weeks

the past few days have been amazingly perfect weather wise

we even had a little rain yesterday

and seeing as it came and went in one day

it was perfect for the beginning of june

and something we probably won't see again for months

things are winding down pretty quickly now at school

and having some fabulous T.A.'s to help with the packing has been amazing

especially with the belly I've got going on lately

so tomorrow is our last actual "work" day in class

then off to the waterpark on thursday

yearbook signing and paper pass back on friday

and rounding out the afternoon with a staff v. 8th grade softball game

I think I can handle that

16 weeks

also known as officially four months along!

and yes it also happens to be memorial day

so I'm rocking some patriotic colors

today I spent the day with my family where we enjoyed lots of american goodness

including these ice cream sandwiches my cousin & I came up with last minute

and thanks to grandma's amazing chocolate chip cookies 

they were hands down some of the best ice cream sandwiches I've had in quite some time

happy memorial day - hope you enjoyed the day celebrating & honoring

all the men & women who have sacrificed for our pretty great nation

15 weeks

snapped our 15 week shot while visiting with the in-laws

in their beautifully garden filled yard

something I'm realizing I may need to pick up at some time

and at almost four months I have already been asked multiple times
if I'm having twins
no, just one
and yes, I am good at baby growing

sunday's "so they said" [mom edition]

since my students found out I was expecting they have been full of advice

and cute comments

advice from a 14 year old:

"Mrs. Lewis, make sure you are eating lots of different kinds of food because right now your baby is developing what it likes & doesn't like, and we all know you don't want a picky eater." 

and if there is one thing I have learned so far

if you don't really have morning sickness in your first trimester

you get quite the baby bump by 14 weeks!

happy mother's day