Bathroom Remodel!

I've mentioned in a couple posts that my dad was up doing our master bath remodel, but I haven't really detailed it.  Honestly, it ended up being a lot more labor-intensive than I'd planned, but isn't that how all remodeling/housework goes??

To start, here's a list of all the things we did:
 1) Ripped out plastic shower insert, replaced with tile
 2) Removed the cultured marble tub surround, replaced with tile
 3) Removed the cultured marble counter tops, replaced with granite
 4) Removed the vanity, replaced
 5) Removed mirror, replaced
 6) Removed light, replaced
 7) Painted

My dad is a tile contractor, and happens to be the handiest man I know, so he was able to do 99% of the work himself. (HUGE thanks to my awesome dad!!!)  The only thing he couldn't do was the glass shower door, for obvious reasons.

After 4 long weeks, we FINALLY have a working bathroom.  And let me just say, I absolutely loooove the outcome!

That being said, I highly discourage 6-month preggo women to start a remodeling project.  Plan ahead, and do the work before you get pregnant, or do it during your 1st trimester, or quit your job and focus on the remodel (haha).  Trust me on this one.  The added stress and pressure of having my house a total disaster, my parents living with us for 3 weeks, sharing a bathroom with 4 people, etc. nearly gave me an anxiety attack!  I really think it had something to do with our scare a few weeks ago. 

Here's a before and after shot, so you get a really good idea of the complete transformation that occurred.  I took the first shower in that spa shower last night, and it was delightful. :)

Random thought

I was reading an article about baby names today & the article was mostly about parents having baby name regret. It talked a lot about how there are more options & more created names these days, which might sound good to parents at first but then turn out to be a bad idea. The article even mentioned that England in 1800, it took just 6 names to cover half the population. Now it’s over 500 names to cover half the US population. This got me thinking to how we’ve decided on Jacob’s name, & how articles like this make me like his name even more. We were definitely never going to go with a trendy name. In the list of names we considered, the one closest to being trendy was Jackson (we’d have called him Jack). But there are soooooo many little boys being named Jackson these days, we drifted away from that name. Jacob is a solid name. A traditional name, that goes back to the Bible. Either Jacob, or Jake, sounds good. So I think it’s a great, appropriate choice for our family. Now, I’ve always enjoyed calling people by a nickname when the opportunity presents itself, but I don’t know if I’ll adapt right away to calling him Jake, or if I’ll stick to Jacob & let others call him by Jake perhaps. I guess it kinda evolves with the family & funnels out to his friends later on. And, with my full name as Joshua, I wonder if my parents ever considered calling me Joshua, or went directly with Josh? 10 or 20 years from now, I wonder whether our son will commonly be referred to as Jacob or Jake, how that decision will develop, & which way he’ll prefer it?

--Josh

3D Ultrasound

We had our 3D/4D ultrasound on Thursday afternoon, and let me start off by saying - HOW TOTALLY INCREDIBLE!!!  To think that our parents rarely had ultrasounds because they were considered "advanced", and now we're able to pretty much see exactly what our baby will look like before he's born is totally amazing!

I have to say, I was a little nervous going into it.  I've seen some 3D pictures where the babies look like aliens or mutants or something, so I was really scared that our baby wouldn't be cute.  Gee, was I wrong!  Baby J performed like a true champ and showed us his adorable face the entire time!  He tried to hide in my placenta towards the end, but wouldn't you if you have a stick jabbing you in the face?! ;)

We went to a "boutique", so it wasn't a doctor performing the ultrasound, and she couldn't really give us any medical evaluations.  However, she was able to confirm that Baby J is head down!  Woohoo!!  I'm soo relieved about that!  And, she was able to guestimate that he's almost 4lbs!  Whoa!  If everything I've read is true, he should be gaining half a pound (to a pound) a week from here on out - which would make him 9+ lbs!!  Doesn't really surprise me, based on the birth weight of his father, but it definitely scares me a little! :)

Anyways, here are some of the pictures.  We got a TON more, but these are the best.  ENJOY!

Our happy baby :)

good shot of his chubby face

#1 or Hook 'Em?  Either way - he's already a champ!

his "huge" foot

31-week Update

How far along? 31 weeks
Total weight gain: 22 lbs
Maternity clothes? Maternity jeans and a few maternity tops
Stretch marks? None
Sleep: Tossing and turning, and hip pains this week.
Best moment this week: We did a 3D/4D ultrasound this week - SO AMAZING!  I'll do a separate post on this.
Miss anything? Wine
Movement: Lots!
Food cravings: None
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Gender: Boy :)
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks, and I think I've started to lose my mucus plug (tmi?).
Symptoms: Gas, lower back pain, leg cramps, exhaustion
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: We meet a potential pediatrician tomorrow.  Actually, we met her at one of our child birth classes and were really impressed with her, so we're sitting down to "interview" her.  I put that in air quotes because I don't have the slightest idea about what I'm getting myself in to.  I'm basically looking for a doctor that will tell me exactly what to do, and when, to keep my baby healthy and happy.  That's not too hard, right?? :)

30-week Update

How far along? 30 weeks...70 days to go!!!
Total weight gain: 22+ lbs
Maternity clothes? Maternity jeans and a few maternity tops
Stretch marks? None
Sleep: Tossing and turning, but no real complaints.
Best moment this week: Baby J was moving like crazy all weekend.  On Saturday morning, it felt like he was trying to escape!  Josh got to feel him moving all over the place, and he had hiccups at the same time.  Which, is a regular occurrence these days - he has hiccups 3x/day.  It was wonderful to finally let Josh feel the BIG movements.
Miss anything? Wine
Movement: Lots!
Food cravings: None really, still just really thirsty!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Gender: Boy :)
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks
Symptoms: Gas, lower back pain, leg cramps, and I'm getting exhausted again.
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Our 30-wk check-up tomorrow, and a 3D/4D ultrasound on Thursday!!  I can't wait to see what our little wiggle worm looks like!!!

We had a little scare this week, that I'm still trying to get over.  On Wednesday afternoon, I realized I hadn't felt the baby move all day, so I called the doctor - they rushed me in for a non-stress test to test the baby's heart beat.  They test for significant rises and falls in the baby's heart rate over a 20-minute time period.  Our baby had a couple spikes, after shining a light on my belly and talking to Josh on the phone, so they were "comfortable" with the results and sent me home.  Coincidentally, the same day I felt sharp pains whenever I bent over.  I can usually bend over and touch my toes, tie my shoes, etc. with no problems, so this was kinda alarming to me.  We've determined that Baby J was just in a weird position, which limited his mobility and mine!  (I've asked him to please avoid that position for the next 10 weeks)  By Thursday morning all these symptoms vanished and I woke up to baby hiccups. :)

Just writing this story brings a tingle to my nose and tears to my eyes.  After having a day of inactivity like that, I can't help but appreciate and embrace every kick and hiccup I feel now.  I never understood the love between a mom and baby, but now I am completely head over heels in love with this little boy and can't wait to meet him in person.  God is so good!!

29-week Update

How far along? 29 weeks
Total weight gain: 22+ lbs
Maternity clothes? Maternity jeans and a few maternity tops (for the length)
Stretch marks? None
Sleep: Tossing and turning, but no real complaints.
Best moment this week: In our childbirth class this weekend, we got to tour the labor and delivery and postpartum wings.  It's really comforting to know where we'll go, and what the rooms will look like.
Miss anything? Wine
Movement: Lots of kicks and hiccups about 3x/day.
Food cravings: Does water count?  I've been SO thirsty this week!!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Gender: Boy :)
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks several times a day
Symptoms: Gas
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Crossing things off my baby to-do list, my baby showers in about a month, finishing the nursery, etc... SO much to look forward to!

In our childbirth class this weekend, we discussed interventions and c-sections.  It's pretty alarming to hear the "slippery slope" that could occur when the first intervention is performed.  Josh & I have decided that, ideally, we'd like to have a 100% natural birth with no medicine or interventions.  I am completely aware that it's out of our control and in God's hands, but I think it's wise to have a game plan - if circumstances are perfect.

Our instructor told us something, referring to labor, that really stuck with me - it's worth it to give up 1 day of your life to bring another life into this world for ever.  How sweet is that.  I will try to remember that when I'm in hour 14 of labor and losing patience.

Early labor

We went to the doctor yesterday for our 28-wk check-up, and everything is looking and sounding great!  My fundal height was 29cm, which is perfect.  Baby's heartbeat was 146 and she found him really fast this time!  I guess that's what happens when he's 2lbs+! :)

I told my doctor that, after taking the childbirth class, I'm starting to get paranoid about going into early labor.  Especially because I've started feeling Braxton Hicks.  Thank GOODNESS my doctor is the woman she is - she's really laid back and relaxed.  She has an attitude like "I've done this a million times, so just sit back and relax" - which I really appreciate, seeing as I'm kinda Type A. :)  She basically said, unless you're having seriously painful contractions for more than 15 minutes in a given hour, I shouldn't worry.  She also said (and I quote) "I don't care about your mucous plug.  Who cares if it falls out?" - haha!  I love that!

So anyways, just wanted to share a little humorous OBGYN convo.  I feel alot better now, after talking with her and feeling her calmness and seeing how happy she was with my progress.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!
-Kate

28-week Update

How far along? 28 weeks - hello 3rd Trimester!!
Total weight gain: 22 lbs
Maternity clothes? Maternity jeans and a few maternity tops (for the length)
Stretch marks? None
Sleep: Feeling much better, and sleeping better too!  I've started feeling baby kick in the middle of the night, which is really special.
Best moment this week: Getting the rocker, and going to our first childbirth class.
Miss anything? Wine
Movement: Lots!  I felt my first "somersault" this week - talk about crazy!
Food cravings: Nothing, really...
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Gender: Boy :)
Labor Signs: I think I've started feeling some Braxton Hicks
Symptoms: Gas
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: My mom is coming up this weekend, so it will be fun to go shopping w/ her.  Also getting the bathroom remodel done, so I can get the carpets cleaned and finish the nursery!

Today marks the first day of my last trimester.  While I'm so excited and anxious to meet our sweet baby boy, I know he needs to stay for another 10 weeks at least.  My mind wanders every day - wondering what he will look like, what type of personality he will have, how my labor/delivery will go, etc.  I could think about it for hours.

After taking our first childbirth class this weekend, I'm a little more prepared for the whole labor process, and I can't explain how thankful I am to have such an amazing husband.  Josh is such a warm, supportive, loving, nurturing, strong and patient man, and I know he will be so awesome during labor.  I feel honored to be his wife and thank God every day that He brought us together.

Rocker!

I just had to post a quick blog because I'm SO EXCITED!  We got the rocker yesterday and it looks beyond amazing in the nursery!!!  My sweet mother-in-law bought it for us, and originally it wasn't supposed to come in until early April.  But, she surprised me yesterday and said it came in early!  I am so excited about how great it looks in there.  I can definitely envision hours and hours of rocking in that chair!  Yayyy!!  Thanks, CoCo!!! :)  I put the cute pillow we bought at Canton on it - and it's like it was made to be there...