Blueberry Squash: parenting

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Call Me Momma!

You might have noticed that I haven't posted recently, and assumed that my baby arrived. If so you would be right! Baby Molly arrived at 11:22 AM on May 13th, 2012 via waterbirth at a tiny 5lbs, 14oz. She made an early appearance at 37 weeks and 2 days so I didn't get everything checked off my before baby arrives checklist, but in the end everything worked out perfectly.

As I write this sweet Molly is nearing her 3 month birthday, and I have so many things that I want to share. I thought I would be one of those bloggers back writing the day after she was born, but I couldn't have been more wrong. The adventure of motherhood has consumed my life, and each minute of free time I get has been devoted to my sweet little one. Now that I am working towards fewer, longer naps and have caught up on my nesting around the house I plan on blogging more and sharing my journey along the way.

First on my list will include Molly's birth story, and the multitude of insight I now have into things I am so happy I got, and things I could have lived without. I have also been reading up so there will be plenty of book reviews on the way as well. This happy Momma has a lot to share!

I picked up Nurture Shock : New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman on my way to the airport after my baby shower. I read the bulk of it on the plane ride, and finished it up when I returned home.

When I was peeking through the parenting section I decided on Nurture Shock because it is a scientific book about new ways to think about childhood that spans from baby into teenage years. I was ready for a break from pregnancy and baby specific books, and this was the perfect choice. The book is a New York Times Bestseller which I found in the Psychology section that is not like any other parenting book I have read thus far.

The book takes on topics like sleep, race, and lies with new insight backed up by scientific studies. It is less of a parenting book, and more of a thought provoking resource. When I read the chapter on why children lie I was intrigued by the theories, but in the end wasn't sure exactly how I would parent my child on the issue. I enjoy a book that opens up my mind to new ideas, and this book certainly fits the bill.

This book exposes some of the flaws in modern parenting, and offers scientific information to back up its theories. It is thoughtful, and well researched. A good read for parents in all stages of the journey.

Find out what other books I have been reading lately at this link.

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* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Images courtesy of Amazon.

Week 35 has been a week of rest, hydration and preparing for baby to arrive. All the bags are packed, the birth plan is on file so now as we approach a full term pregnancy at 37 weeks the excitement is building! I am looking forward to week 36 which will begin with my wedding anniversary and finding out what that cake that has been in the freezer for the past year actually tastes like!

* Images copyright Brooke Photo Studio, LLC.

I really enjoy stories from mothers about how events unfolded when baby was brought home, and what choices they made in the arena of how to raise their child. The more and more research I do I am discovering that motherhood is really a lifestyle choice. It is about the choices you make for yourself, and the choices that you make for your children. There are many ways to raise a child, and I enjoy reading about them all.

I found the book Let the Baby Drive by Lu Hanessian when browsing through baby books on Amazon. I often browse titles online just like in a bookstore and look for something that catches my eye. I ended up with a used copy at a great deal that turned out to be an old library copy when it arrived. At first I thought maybe I should have sprung for the new copy, but the worn pages grew on me as I read the book and I wondered about all the other people who read the same words on the same pages that I was.

The book is Hanessian's story of moving from high powered career woman into motherhood. She speaks with an honest candor about bringing her first child home, and then later in the book her second. She receives advise from many sources as most mothers do, and in the end decides to push the bulk of it aside and "Let the baby drive." The book is all about where her intuition took her on the adventure that is motherhood.

The book is humorous, thoughtful and an overall enjoyable read. It is a comforting and eye opening thought to trust your intuition for new parents who are buried in books and advise. It is not your average parenting book, and would make a thoughtful addition to your reading list for new and old parents alike.

Find out what other books I have been reading lately at this link.

I am excited beyond words at the pending arrival of my baby. My husband has been the sweetest most supportive man during this entire process. If you had asked me if he could get any sweeter at the beginning of this journey I would have told you he was already at maximum sweetness, but somehow he has found even more love to share with me and the baby.

I never anticipated how powerful of a journey pregnancy would be. The two birthing classes we have attended were life changing for us both. Not only were we able to grow in our relationship, and see just how lucky we are to not face some of the challenges we saw other couples face, but we have grown both our spiritual and practical knowledge of parenting beyond words. These classes were nothing like what you see on TV, but rather spiritual workshops that have proved to be one of my favorite parts of the pregnancy process.

I chose a birthing center as the place to have our baby because they believe a baby should be born into the world in the same way we do, but I didn't anticipate how powerful the guidance I would gain from the midwives would be. Each visit I gain more and more knowledge. I have even compared the experience to friends as a college course. I feel educated and ready for my journey.

So week 34 has been a week of reflection, a week of thankfulness, and a week of anticipation.

* Images copyright Brooke Photo Studio, LLC.

Ina May Gaskin is recommended reading for parents to be weather you are planning a natural or medicated childbirth. After reading Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding I was hooked, and read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth almost immediately following. So when I was asked to read and review Ina May Gaskin's book Birth Matters by Seven Stories Press I jumped at the opportunity, and eagerly checked my mailbox for the book to arrive.

This book gives a comprehensive history of midwifery, and a detailed account of healthcare in America today verses other countries. It is a startling fact that women today are more likely to die in childbirth than their mothers, and Gaskin tackles the topic head on.

Birth is described in practical matters as a sexual and spiritual experience unique to each child. In order to have the best outcome a woman must be surrounded with support. The important aspects of childbirth are discussed, and for more intimate details one can read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. I especially enjoyed the chapter What's a Father-to-be to Do? The advise Gaskin gives to fathers is not only useful, but charming. When a father is deeply involved in the birthing process he is able to bond on a deeper level with his child, and the birthday becomes a truly life changing event.

When it comes to birth in modern day America this book covers how we got to a system where C-sections and interventions are the norm despite the fact that they are not usually medically necessary. The book goes beyond the problems faced by women giving birth today to offer up detailed solutions that can be utilized step by step to improve the system and place a new value on the birth experience.

In each of her books Ina May Gaskin speaks to the importance of positive birth stories, and includes several in the text. This book is no different with birth stories separated on colored pages throughout. Perhaps beyond the scientific evidence that she speaks of, these stories are even more important reminders of the importance of how birth is treated in society.

This book is a must read for expectant parents as well as anyone looking to gain knowledge on the subject. With women's issues in the news lately it becomes and even more important resource for those looking to educate themselves on the topic.

Find out what other books I have been reading lately at this link.

* I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product, but I was provided with a free copy courtesy of Seven Stories Press. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Images courtesy of Seven Stories Press.

The highlight of my 33rd week of pregnancy is the farm share that I signed up for spring! On Tuesday I picked up a box of fresh fruits and vegetables for baby and I to enjoy and was head over heels for the freshness and surprise of contents. Another bonus is that I now have a supply of fresh, local, produce for photography shoots and I slow down my client work in preparation for the baby.

Since my registry was emptied by my loving Mother I took some time to stick some toddler and childproofing items on there in case there are any stragglers who wanted to send something for baby. I feel so good about having everything we need to get started. The nursery is cute, and organized on an extreme level that both my husband and I enjoy. Last weekend we grabbed a cute cabinet for $15 from Craig's List that solved some storage dilemmas, and this week the toy box was delivered so all the nursery needs now is some art!

I feel good still, my only complaint is fat ankles but that's not so bad - just not so cute either! I will be back to report next week on week #34. Not to far to go now ...

*Images Copyright Brooke Photo Studio, LLC.

Birthing From Within provides a course for natural childbirth that is based on confidence in your body's natural ability to birth a child, and encourages personal growth throughout the process. I completed a 4 week program earlier in my pregnancy, and still reflect almost daily on the things that I learned about myself, my partner, and my future during my class time. It is not a traditional childbirth class, but has been the most valuable experience in preparing me for the birth of my baby up to this point in my pregnancy.

The class consisted of two couples, and a trained doula. We met weekly in candlelight, and practiced pain management techniques whose impact has stuck in my mind weeks later. With the soothing voice of the doula guiding me I was able to discover what techniques worked for me, and was surprised at the impact of a touch, smell or candle flame.

We talked about the realities of birth, and how to put fear aside to use the productive pain of childbirth to achieve the end results. I learned that childbirth hurts, it is hard, and I can do it. I faced my fears, and spoke of what I would do if things did not go as planned -- even though at the time I did not want to speak those words. I was able to get a visual image of what my birth might be like, and learn from ancient stories how women have birthed throughout the ages.

At first I thought this class might be too "granola" for my husband when I saw the candles and quiet mood of the room. However, in the end we were able to really connect and it turned out to be a pleasurable experience for us to go each week. We took our already strong connection, and made it stronger which gave me the confidence that I will need when our baby's birthday arrives. I enjoyed the experience so much that I wished we could return every week to spend that quality time as a couple together.

* I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Images courtesy of Birthing From Within.

Things are getting so exciting in my 32nd week of pregnancy. I feel frequent kicks, and have added a few more items to my maternity "wardrobe" to get me through these last weeks before baby arrives. My mind has shifted to tops easy to nurse in and healthy foods to eat for breastfeeding, and the research continues.

My only complaint is that my range of movement and energy level are down as I get larger and larger. It has become harder for me to do my beloved workout videos which I used to practice every day and now get to only a few times a week. Instead walking has been my best exercise and I get in as much as I can daily. Some days I can go much longer than others, and I am just taking it one day at a time.

If anyone is curious I am still diligent with my two, one hour sessions with the Baby Plus daily. I am driving my husband crazy with the thumping pattern, but we both figure that I have come way too far with this experiment to give up now. Plus the baby seems to like it!

The second birthing class is going well, and now I have just a few more things on my to-do list before we play the waiting game for baby to arrive! This is such and exciting time, and I can't wait to take the next step and become a Mom.

* Images copyright Brooke Photo Studio, LLC 2012.

Here I am with another weekly pregnancy update! The third trimester is turning out to be an interesting one, and I am so excited for baby to arrive.

The first highlight of the week has to be the chiropractor. There are many benefits to chiropractic care which I will need to blog about someday soon, but for me there has been one really big one. I have had rib pain on my left side since about week #12 that no one has been able to pinpoint. It has settled in just about everyday in the late afternoon, lasting until bedtime. It got so annoying, but regular that I started calling it "my thing" and dreading its daily arrival.

It was recommended by my midwife to visit a chiropractor for general pregnancy health around week 28 so on week 29 I made my first visit. The chiropractor knew exactly what was causing my pain and went ahead to fix it. By week 30 the pain was minimal, and by this week it was gone! I am so excited to be able to go through my days without this annoying pain. I will be back in 2 weeks to continue to keep my pelvis in alignment - which will hopefully shorten my labor and keep an eye on baby to make sure it stays head down.

My second excitement for the week is birthing class #2. We enjoyed the first birthing class so much that my husband and I decided to take another one. This class is more practical then the first as far as general information like breastfeeding & baby wearing, but not as heavy on pain management techniques. I think the two classes compliment each other and am glad we decided to take both. I also really enjoy the time out with my husband, and find that I love him more and more with each session.

So all is well. I am more tired then I was in the weeks prior so I have cut back a little on my workout routines, but I am still doing my best to keep my fitness in line for baby's arrival. I won't say that I am not pudgy, and puffy - but I will say that I can't imagine what I would look and feel like if I hadn't done anything but sit on the couch and eat!

The excitement continues - I will be back with another update next week!

* Image copyright Brooke Photo Studio 2012.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin is on many must-read lists for most pregnant women. This book is a comprehensive guide to both natural childbirth, and also the interventions to expect during a hospital style childbirth. This book is based on the female centric midwife style of care, and seeks to use history to educate the reader about the history of natural childbirth, and how this model can be healthy and useful for women today.

The first section of the book is filled with birth stories. They go on for pages, and pages demonstrating the uniqueness of each woman's experience bringing her baby into the world. As an expecting parent I enjoyed reading this batch of positive birth stories. I was inspired by the emotions, and informed by the details which added to my knowledge base about birthing naturally.

The pain in childbirth is not denied, but it is portrayed as a productive pain along with the techniques that have been used throughout history and in the modern age to cope with the pain, and produce a positive end result. By taking the fear out of childbirth it becomes possible for women to give birth naturally without unnecessary medical interventions.

The book does not only focus on natural childbirth techniques. It also has a detailed chapter on what kinds of interventions to expect in a hospital. The descriptions are thorough, and brought up some side effects that I was not yet aware of even though I have been researching natural childbirth for some time now. For me it is important to know a slice of everything involved in both the natural and hospital realm so I can be prepared for any unexpected events that may ensue.

The book provides information for achieving a natural childbirth in a home, birth center or hospital setting. The description of what really happens during labor, and tips for maximizing chances of a natural child birth were of particualar interest to me. Other topics include orgasmic birth, episiotomy, methods of inducing labor (the safe, and not so safe!), postpartum care, and how to work with your doctor to achieve the birth experience you desire.

A practical book, but also an enjoyable read, I agree that this book should be a must-read for expecting parents.

I had my baby shower a week ago, and have to report that it was an AMAZING experience! It was a small gathering of 20 people due to my small family, and friends all over the world with a huge outpouring of support that I will never forget. I was blown away that everyone came out with beautiful baby gifts, and the sweetest most sincere sentiments in their cards.

Let's start at the beginning. I had a morning flight up north on Saturday. My husband had to drop me off early due to his work schedule so I had breakfast at the airport, and due to my pregnancy bladder visited the restroom 4 times before boarding the plane. I adventured my way through 2 short flights with 4 more bathroom breaks including a short run with my big belly and little backpack at BWI airport. I read an entire parenting book (check out the review here) and the overall experience was very relaxing.

When I landed I was greeted by my parents and whisked off to a delicious seafood lunch of clam chowder and rainbow trout. I spent the rest of the day catching up with my parents and grandparents which is always a great time since I don't get up to see them very often.

The shower was on Sunday. My Mom & Grandmother planned it at a favorite old colonial style restaurant, and it was attended by my tiny family, my parents friends, and a selection of my friends still living close to home. I don't often get to see friends on my hectic trips home so they were the highlight of the day. I had one friend that I have known since kindergarten, three that I met in the 3rd grade, and one from college. I sat all of us right in the middle so I could have as much girl talk as possible.

We decorated onesies which I have to say is my new favorite shower activity. I was impressed by the artistic skill of my family and friends and had to laugh at a few of the results. They are in my washing machine as we speak and will make for some fun modeling and useful wardrobe when baby arrives. My Mom bought onesies all the way up to 24 months so some people will need to wait longer then others to see the results of their artwork. There was lots of good conversation during the process, and it gave time to pass around our baby guessing pool, and guess sheet for two jars full of candy.

Then we had fruit, salad, lunch and dessert followed by the opening of the gifts. I asked for everything to be travel friendly so it wasn't painfully long due to the gift cards I received. From the registry I got my diaper bag, some cloth diapering supplies, and the BebePod Flex which is adorable! I was also able to buy the two Boba Baby Carriers, Newborn Diaper Pack after the shower with my gift cards and tons of little stuff. Between the shower and gifts we received at the house I am down to 20 items on my want list and all the big ticket purchases are finished! I am so happy that we have the bulk of our spending to prepare for baby finished.

After the gifts my Mom had prizes for guessing the correct number of beans in the jar and we played the string game where people guess how big my belly is. There was lots of laughter and chatter. The shower was short and sweet, followed by some drinks (fake ones for me!) outside on an unseasonably warm day with a few people who had time to stay longer. It was the most wonderful day, and well worth the flight and weekend trip.

I spent Monday with my parents, and then was back on the plane Tuesday morning. A memorable and fun weekend. Now on to busy time ... more birthing classes, extra doctors appointments, chiropractor, breastfeeding classes, and the list goes on!

I love to research, and have enjoyed reading how other parents raise their children. My approach is to take each aspect of parenting, learn the details and differing opinions, and then chose which way I believe will work with my lifestyle, and be most healthy for baby.

I found myself interested in topics such as baby wearing, breast feeding, and cloth diapers. Soon I realized that these were all things practiced by the attachment parenting method so a natural next step was for me to learn more about this style of parenting.

Just as I decided it was time to get a book on attachment parenting Mayim Bialik of the sitcom Blossom fame released her take on the topic called Beyond the Sling : A Real-Life Guide to Raising Children the Attachment Parenting Way. I also really enjoy personal stories to I decided this book would be the perfect starting point for my research.

I purchased the book, and threw it into my carry on bag for the two flights that I would be taking to get to my baby shower in Connecticut where my family lives. It ended up being the perfect airplane book, and I finished it by the time I arrived at my destination. The book is an easy smooth read filled with facts, opinions, and experiences that not only reveal the beliefs behind attachment parenting, but how it can be used in the real world.

The book starts out with a section entitled Trust Your Instincts. This is an aspect of attachment parenting that appeals to me. With my historical education background, and in my modern world I am approaching parenting from a standpoint of learning as much as I can so when I am faced with the challenges of parenting I will be prepared, and can quickly find the information I need to answer the questions that will arise. However, my anthropological education also tells me that people have been reproducing for a long time, and in order to be as successful as we are in the world there must be some instinct involved. I may be doing a lot of research, but I am also making instinctual decisions on what will be best for my baby.

In the second part of the book entitled What Baby Needs the basics of attachment parenting methods are discussed. These methods are Natural Birth, Breastfeeding, Babywearing, Co-Sleeping & Elimination Communication. Her experiences with all of these parenting techniques are insightful, and made me curious to read more on the aspects such as elimination communication that I have not read as much about.

She goes on in section three to describe What Baby Doesn't Need which includes discussions about Baby Essentials, Unnecessary Medical Interventions, Pressure & Gentile Discipline. These are all topics that I was less familiar with, and her research has certainly inspired me to do more of my own.

Parenting is a a lifestyle, and there are so many choices to make the find the right parenting methods for you and your baby. The book concludes with a section about nurturing yourself, and your relationships which is a point often missed in parenting. At 30 weeks along I find myself mainly concerned with my baby, but know that I need to also pay attention to chapters such as this to make sure that I keep the strong connection with myself that I enjoy so much alive.

This book is an easy to understand breakdown of why Bialik is raising her children the way she does, and how she came to these parenting methods. It was an ideal read for a long plane flight, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it cover to cover in one setting. With any parenting method I found that I agreed with some of Bialik's techniques while being skeptical of others. However, I was quite interested in them all. The book is well researched, and the references provided make for a great next step reading list that I will certainly utilize. The best thing a book can do is inspire me to read more on the topic, and this book absolutely accomplished that task.

Well among the milestones this week, I also had a birthday. My husband was had a wonderful weekend prepared for us filled with adventures galore that I never wanted to end. He has been traveling for business for the two birthdays that came before this so it was really special to spend the weekend with him. We got some great snapshots, and created sweet memories. Another highlight was the gourmet carrot cake that I received. I have been eating healthy and worrying about calories for so many years now that it was nice to just indulge a little and have cake for dinner!

As far as the pregnancy goes all is well. I am finding that I have less energy entering my third trimester for those workouts that I love to do so much, but have been getting as much activity in each day as I can. I am feeling pressure in my chest so the cardio workouts have become more difficult, but I am still loving the Summer Sanders Prenatal workout that I reviewed earlier in my pregnancy. I have moved into the third trimester workout which is perfect for my current energy level, and still works those upper body muscles I will be using to carry a baby. I still feel like I could do the second trimester workout, but I am much more comfortable doing the third trimester version. I have been getting some round ligament pain from moving too quickly so the slow down is becoming necessary.

Tomorrow is the dreaded gestational diabetes test. I had to schedule it earlier in the day since it takes longer then a regular appointment so this will be the first one my husband can't make. I am planning on bringing a book (right now I am reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth which I will review when I am finished) and hoping for the best.

My shower is coming up this weekend so I am busy getting ready to travel (I have to fly!), and have been getting some fantastic gifts in the mail from my registry. I am blown away by the love and support from my family and friends and so thankful. This is the first baby so we started from scratch, and now I feel like I am on the home stretch as far as acquiring all the things I will need before the baby arrives. It is getting tricky not to peek in at the registry and see what people have purchased, but I am holding strong!

I have also been putting that Getting Free Baby Gear post that I wrote to work to check some items off my shopping list. I have a few things on a personal shopping list so I decided to stop hoarding the gift cards I am earning and buy something. I decided on the Sprout Shell (click on the link for my recent review) as my treat for this week. I cashed in $40 worth of gift cards and then only had to pay $1.94 for my order. Not too shabby if I say so myself. I had this product on my personal list because I was undecided on color so I didn't have to worry about getting a duplicate at the shower.

So now I am on a shopping hiatus until after the baby shower, and once that event is complete it is GO TIME for me and I plan on getting everything in order for the baby ASAP so I am not in sticker shock at the end of my pregnancy.

Building Healthy Minds : The Six Experiences That Create Emotional Growth in Babies and Young Children by Stanley Greenspan, MD is the latest parenting book that I have read.

I admit to having this book for most of my pregnancy at the bottom of my to-read stack. It goes beyond baby into childhood so it took me some time to feel like I had a good grasp on pregnancy and birth before I was mentally ready to learn about baby rearing and childhood. Now that I am approaching my 3rd trimester it was time to pick this one up and check it off my list. Like many other books I have read I see myself returning to this one again as my child grows to review the information I learned beyond the baby and toddler years.

The book gives detailed explanations of behaviors, and why babies and children exhibit them. By observing your child you can then categorize them by behavior to discover the best ways to interact with your individual child. What I find most interesting are the specific games and fantasy play recommended for each developmental stage. I believe that we all want our children to be intelligent, and these detailed guidelines give a good to-do list to go off of as your baby grows.

The book is long and detailed so as you read the book you may find yourself skipping the parts that do not apply specifically to your child. I find this to be one of the assets of this book. There are so many behaviors described that the book is relevant to a variety of personalities.

Currently you can grab this book used on Amazon from $0.01 and it is well worth the read!

You can check out the other books I have read and reviewed here. I am also always up for recommendations so chime in if you have one!

It was getting to the point in my pregnancy where I was ready to read a book about breastfeeding. I had heard the success stories, and the failures through websites, blogs, and podcasts. I found a great multi-use product that would provide me with some privacy when I am ready to breastfeed in public, and registered for a pump and all the supplies that go along with it. Next it was time to get into the details.

Ina May Gaskin is perhaps the most well known midwife in America. She is experienced, and respected for her knowledge and years of experience so I decided that even though her book was not the one I saw most often in the used book store that I frequent that it would be the first book I would read on the topic. So I picked up Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding and got reading.

The beginning of the book is very practical. It speaks to the bonding period after birth when breastfeeding is initiated along with the basics on how mother and baby learn this practical art. Methods are discussed in details followed by discussions of problems one might encounter and what to do when they occur. I love these practical details since I am not only educating myself on a topic of interest to me, but I am also using the books as an instruction manual for things I will need to do in my new life as a parent. The steps are interlaced with personal stories which keeps the book interesting as well as reinforcing the behaviors taught.

A unique feature of this book is it goes beyond the practical knowledge of breastfeeding to also discuss topics such as the history of breastfeeding, wet nursing, and shared nursing. Through her stories I realized just how much breastfeeding practices have changes over time, and how even though breastfeeding is regaining popularity, how much society has moved away from practices that were once deemed normal and healthy.

As this realization became clear, I reached the chapter called Nipplepobia which recounted stories of breastfeeding in modern America. Frankly it worried me on a practical level. I began to think of "safe" places I could go with my baby where no one would notice I was nursing when I needed to. I also became angry at the the stories of mothers told not to nurse their baby. These stories were recounted from public spaces to women hiding in their cars in the back of parking lots. I don't like the conflict of a situation like this, but when I have the intention of feeding my baby on her schedule I feel like it is inevitable. This inevitability is disappointing, and opens my eyes to the importance of normalizing breast feeding in our society.

This book was not only an informative learning experience for me, but I also see it as being a useful reference as I start to breastfeed my baby in the months to come. With a good overall knowledge on the subject I can see myself picking up this book again to review details or troubleshoot problems that may occur during the process.

You can check out the other books I have read and reviewed here. I am also always up for recommendations so chime in if you have one!

Okay, now that I am in the midst of week 26 I admit that I feel HUGE. My ankles are swollen, and my thighs are looking chunky. The baby bump is growing and growing and will be larger then cute in no time. All pre-maternity tops are off limits now, unless half shirts come back into fashion. I desperately need to find some comfy maternity lounge wear since I am down to one pair of casual pants to sleep in that doesn't press on my bladder and drive me crazy all night long.

This week we did some more nursery decorating, and vowed not to shop anymore until after the baby shower in the middle of March. With that said I bought some sheets, and baby legs on sale, and then re-started my no shopping vow. After the shower it is game on to get the rest of the gear that we will need. It is taking all I have not to peek at the registry to see how it is moving along, but I am being good and staying off Amazon.

My husband and I finished our Birthing from Within classes last night, and I have to admit that I am sad that they are over. The pain coping techniques were so simple that I found relevance in day to day life as well as in a painful situation such as labor. The classes also served as a special time for my husband and I to do something together. We were in a class with only one other couple so it was a very intimate setting. He told me that going to the classes has given some insight into how I think because he never gets to hear how I talk to other people. I found that interesting, and will miss our Monday sessions. I am thinking about taking a second birthing class starting at the end of March since I liked the first one so much.

With my husband being so busy we haven't been great with weekly photos to show the growth of the bump. One week I didn't get a chance to view on the camera and didn't come out well at all. So the documentation of pregnancy is not going perfectly, but it is tricky to fit in a photo shoot once a week with everything else we have going on. He did have last weekend off and built the new bookshelf that our loft desperately needs so that is one more step in getting the home ready for baby.

Overall pregnancy is fantastic, and I can't wait for baby to arrive! I feel ready, and prepared for this journey.

I picked up Your Baby's First Year Week by Week at a bookstore a few weeks ago. Although this book can be used simply as a refrence I decided to read it all the way through to give me an idea what to expect for baby's development.

This book is just the basics in condensed form. It speaks about development, and problems that might arise along the way with the same format in each chapter. Although it is a little dry, I think it will prove to be quite useful when baby arrives. After finishing the book I think it will serve me best to re-read it after baby arrives, and starts to grow. Reading a week or two ahead will keep fresh in my mind what to expect developmentally, and I can put the fun games to play with baby suggestions at the end of each chapter to practical use.

An important thing to note about this book is that there is also a portion of each chapter developed to babies born prematurely. This information will prove to be useful for parents of premature babies, and is more comprehensive then I have seen on other books.

This book is best served as a reference manual for the basics, and inspiration for further research on areas that interest you. You can check out the other books I have read and reviewed here. I am also always up for recommendations so chime in if you have one!

Where is the time going? Today I am 25 weeks along and my bump is getting huge! Last night I was able to see movement from the outside for the first time, and my husband swears that the baby punched him in the face when he kissed my belly. The look of surprise on his face was priceless.

Since my last update we have started acquiring baby gear at full speed. We were inspired a couple that we saw in Babies R Us right after my last blog post. They had TWO shopping carts full of baby stuff and I don't think their final bill was a pretty one. I would much rather buy things a little at a time to keep the sticker shock down. We got our stroller from my Grandparents, and ordered the matching infant seat on sale which allowed us to use an Amazon gift card for a large stash of cloth diapers with a travel wet bag, a nursery mobile, Sprout Shell (I will write about this one soon - it is a car seat cover, nursing cover, & shopping cart cover all in one!), muslin swaddle wraps, and to top it all off I cheated and peeked at the registry to find that someone bought my the diaper bag I wanted as well. Everything is coming together so quickly, and smoothly now. It finally feels like we are making progress with the bigger ticket baby items.

I even caught up enough on work to take off an afternoon and buy some cute baby outfits. I know I should wait, but I didn't spend very much and it was so hard to resist. I am just tickled that the only items on our list that we need over $100 left are the swing, highchair (which in my opinion can wait until after baby is born), newborn cloth diapers, monitor (which I might grab used for cheaper - same goes for the swing) and baby carrier. That is not as nearly overwhelming as when I started this journey.

We made our announcement to the world on Facebook, and took more bump images in honor of Valentines Day. Speaking of Valentines Day we had a sweet one, and even got the hear the babies heartbeat at the birthing center. Our second birthing class was fantastic, and life is good!

Week 23

Everyone seemed to like the pregnancy progress post so I thought I would take the time to write another personal post to add into the mix.

Work has been unusually busy for this time of year. I am managing to keep up, but it is exhausting and taking away from time that my pregnancy brain wants to spend researching baby gear, reading pregnancy books, and recording it all in this blog to share with you and use as my own personal reference. The strain of shooting products in the studio after a long day is starting to get to my back, but prenatal yoga helps and I have made it a point to not work any overtime so I am not overdoing it.

The big milestone for this week was attending our first birthing class. I am taking Birthing From Within, and will write a full review when the classes are complete. So far I am loving it. I felt rejuvenated, and educated when the first class was complete, and excited for next weeks lesson. The only downfall was that my husband and I were hoping to meet more couples at the class since we just moved to the area, and there was only one other couple in our class. It was good because it made the class intimate, and they were great people but I guess we are going to have to find another activity to meet more locals.

Another big event this week was my Mom sending out the shower invitations for my very small baby shower in March. My family is tiny, and a plane flight away with my friends scattered all over the country so a big shower was never in the cards for me. I did really want my Mom and Grandmother to be able to see my pregnant belly so we decided that I would get on a plane and fly up for a shower in March. It will be tiny, but I am so excited to have a special afternoon to share with a few friends and family members. With invitations out I need to step up my research for the registry. I still haven't decided on a breast pump, bottles, or a swing to name a few!

It has been a busy week - we also started to decorate the nursery! In addition to the crib and dresser that were already assembled we got the curtains, hamper, rug, and changing pad cover. I found some baskets for diapers to put on a small table we had on sale and they add a cute finishing touch. It looks so adorable, and I love peeking in as I get to the top of the staircase. My husband's grandparents also sent the crib mattress so things are really coming together.

I am up to date in the blog with books I have read, and pregnancy fitness videos. I am working my way through my to-read stack of books, and will hopefully have more to come. I still have to add some items on my registry, and podcasts to catch up on things I have already researched. Then it will be time to delve into the items on my list that I have not yet fully discovered. The good news is that all of the kinks I wanted to work out of the blog template are complete (for now...) so I can focus on posting for awhile.