39 weeks pregnant with Riley

Date: January 1, 2014

How far along -  39 weeks

Growing Baby- She's probably able to flex her limbs now. Her brain is still rapidly developing -- she's getting smarter by the week! Her nails may extend past her fingertips.

How big is your baby? 

Symptoms- heart burn, feet swelling and hurting bad. Emotional and hormonal. I feel like I've gained 75 pounds. Other than when my back was killing me, this has been my worst week yet.

Weight- 136.2 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +23.2 lbs

Belly measures- 39"

Craving-  sweets, soda, waffles

Bought- 3 pack of long sleeve white onesies, got a few pieces of clothes as gifts, our tandem stroller thanks to a gift card we got for Christmas.

Done- Put car seat and sun shield in car. Put all bigger clothes(12m +) passed down from Madison in totes in the attic. Packed mine and Alan's hospital bag.

To Do: Have this baby!

Looking forward to- my Dr appointment tomorrow.

Other thoughts- Still dilated at 2cm and half effaced as of last Thursday.

38 weeks pregnant with Riley

 Date: December 25, 2013

How far along -  38 weeks

Growing Baby- She may have about an inch or so of hair already. She's slowly shedding that white goo on her skin but you might see some of it at birth.

How big is your baby? 

Symptoms- heart burn, getting comfortable at night very hard, sore throat for months now, feet are killing me

Weight- 135.2 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +22.2 lbs

Belly measures- 39" at belly button

Craving-  sweets, soda

Bought- Alan's coworkers brought in a ton of diapers and wipes, along with, toys, socks and a blanket. We got gifts of a gift card for the tandem stroller, USC onesies, sleepers, bottles, pacis, breastfeeding supplies, burp cloths and an outfit from friends and family for Christmas. I got a car sun shade and an owl bank.

Done- Doctor last week(Friday) checked and I am 2cm dilated and half effaced(thinned out). She said by the size of Riley's head, and the weight I've gained that is all in my belly, she will likely be close to/over 8 lbs.

To Do: buy stroller and a couple of odds and ends. Decide on middle name.

Looking forward to- Doctor appointment tomorrow to see if I'm dilated any more.

Other thoughts- 2 weeks! Starting to think she may not come until January after all..

37 weeks pregnant with Riley

Date: December 18, 2013

How far along -  37 weeks

Growing Baby- She's practicing some skills: inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking. She's getting her first sticky poop ready for her first diaper.

How big is your baby? 

Symptoms- heart burn, very emotional, back hurting, getting comfortable at night very hard.

Weight- 132.2 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +19.2 lbs

Belly measures- 39" at belly button

Craving-  sweets, soda, those little white powdered donuts.. yum!

Bought- newborn socks, mittens, diapers, wipes, Mommy hook(a hook for the stroller that holds bags), burp cloths and a infant carrier(we got the Infantino Sash Mei Tai)

Done- Packed Riley's hospital bag

To Do: Pack my hospital bag, decide on her middle name. Now that I've seemed to agree, Alan is hesitating.

Looking forward to- Doctor appointment Friday. Having her!

Other thoughts- I am officially full term today! If I went into labor, they would not try to stop it!

36 weeks pregnant with Riley

Date:  December 11, 2013

How far along -  36 weeks

Growing Baby- She's getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on her own. Her skin is getting smooth and soft and her gums are rigid. Her liver and kidneys are in working order. Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go, too.

How big is your baby? 

Symptoms- heart burn, very emotional, getting comfortable/breathing at night very hard.

Weight- 131.2 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +18.2 lbs

Belly measures- 39" at belly button

Craving- sweets, soda, mexican

Bought- a pack of Newborn diapers, pack of wipes and a 3pack of bibs I found on clearance for $2!

Done- passed down toys and books from Madison. Added a couple of totes to her room for those. Attached blackout liners to curtains and made "sister" shirts.

To Do: Buy some things left on registry. Pack hospital bags.

Looking forward to- One last date night with Alan before Riley gets here. Figuring out her middle name.

Other thoughts- 4 weeks! The countdown is on!

Maternity pictures - 33 weeks

I am in love with these pictures. Carrie is our photographer and if you are in Upstate SC, contact me so I can tell you her info! I love that they are so different from Madison's maternity pictures too.

35 weeks pregnant with Riley

Date: December 4, 2013

How far along -  35 weeks

Growing Baby- Now, her hearing is fully developed, and she responds best to high-pitched noises. 

How big is your baby? 

Symptoms- heart burn, feet swelling and hurting bad, getting comfortable at night very hard. Exhaustion.

Weight- 130.2 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +17.2 lbs

Belly measures- 39"... but this was after breakfast, 2 cups of coffee, a Sprite and half of my lunch. I normally measure before eating but I didn't have time this morning.

Craving-  sweets, soda

Bought- Our first Family of 4 ornament. 4 snowmen with our names on each one. 2 birds for Riley's room.

Done- Passed down some toys and books from Madison to Riley. Now I have to find a spot for them.

To Do: Put blackout liners on curtains, iron on the "big/little" sister to the shirts I bought. Straighten up Riley's room again. Figure out this girl's middle name!

Looking forward to- massage, Santa pictures at a local garden, party at vendor of Alan's house.

 Other thoughts- She has dropped super low. I feel like if she drops any more, I won't be able to sit down! I had a doctor appointment today. Her heart rate was in the high 130s/low 140s. The doctor that delivered Madison was the one I saw. He said typically the 2nd labor is easier than the first. I laughed and told him that my labor with Madison was easy and I couldn't imagine an easier labor/delivery story. I'm very hopeful for this one! He also said that, although unpredictable obviously, he feels I won't go to my due date. He said they will start checking my cervix at 37 weeks and I am now going to the doctor every week from here on out!

34 week comparison

34 weeks with Madison

 126.2 lbs 

Belly measures 37.5" 

total weight gain to date 19.2 lbs and 7.5" gained in my belly.

34 weeks with Riley

129.6 lbs

Belly measures 37.5" 

total weigh gain to date - 16.6lbs and 7.5" gained in my belly

 I definitely look bigger. More round. I weighed less pre-pregnancy with Madison than I did with Riley. It's so weird that my belly measures the same at the 34th week yet I look so much bigger with Riley. 

34 weeks pregnant with Riley

Date: November 27, 2013

How far along -  34 weeks

Growing Baby- She's recognizing and reacting to simple songs. She's also urinating about a pint a day.

How big is your baby? 

Symptoms- bad heart burn, very emotional and moody, back hurting, getting comfortable at night very hard.

Weight- 129.6 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +16.6lbs

Belly measures- 37.5" at belly button

Craving-  sweets, soda

Bought- nothing

Done- Alan lowered her closet shelf so all of her closet is now organized. Blog to come.

To Do: Still some things to buy but nothing that we need right away. Pack mine and Riley's hospital bags. Put car seat in car. Pick out her middle name.

Looking forward to- Thanksgiving. Our Christmas tree mountain trip. 34 week appointment next week.

Other thoughts- So glad my back is feeling better. I was pretty miserable. It's not 100% but is about 60%. It still hurts getting up from sitting down and sitting down and sometimes laying in bed.

33 weeks pregnant with Riley

Date: November 20

How far along - 33 weeks

Growing Baby- She's keeping his eyes open while awake. She's also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing. Her bones are hardening. She's going through (more) major brain development -- that's one smart baby!

How big is your baby? 

Symptoms- heart burn, very emotional, back hurting, getting comfortable at night very hard.

Weight- 128.2 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +15.2 lbs

Belly measures- 37"

Craving-  sweets, soda

Bought- her car seat, burp cloths, bathtub, diaper rash cream, breast feeding accessories and bottles thanks to gift cards and money from my baby shower :) 2 packs of newborn diapers, 6 packs of refill wipes, a nursing tank and a maternity shirt.

Done-hung art above changing table and daybed, put monitor, sound machine and humidifier in room, and filled up drawers in dresser/changing table.

To Do: Alan is in the process of lowering the shelf and clothes rod, which involves patching and painting also. A few more things to buy.

Looking forward to- Maternity pics this weekend. Our mountain trip.

Other thoughts- Mentioned to the Dr that I feel Riley has dropped and she confirmed it. She said it actually doesn't mean anything unless I'm having contractions. She said every pregnancy is different and some ladies drop early and some don't drop until labor.

32 weeks pregnant with Riley

Date: November 13

How far along - 32 weeks

Growing Baby- She's getting ready for her descent -- she's likely in the head-down position now

How big is your baby?

Symptoms- heart burn, very emotional, sciatic nerve is killing me, getting comfortable at night very hard.

Weight- 128.4 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +15.4lbs

Belly measures- 36"

Craving-  sweets, soda

Bought- a couple of maternity shirts and cardigan.

Done-Not much of anything.

To Do: hang art above changing table, buy a few more things for shelves, sew blackout liners on curtains. 

Looking forward to- our shower this weekend, getting Madison potty trained(in the process), hopefully getting a massage to help my hip/leg,  maternity pics


Other thoughts- she seems to have dropped a bit.

31 weeks pregnant with Riley

Date: November 6

How far along - 31 weeks

Growing Baby- She's going through major brain and nerve development. Eye development, too. Her irises now react to light! All five of her senses are in working order.

How big is your baby?

Symptoms- heart burn, very emotional, tired, nightmares

Weight- 126.4 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +13.4

Belly measures- 36"

Craving-  sweets

Bought- more stuff for her(and M's) room, changing table/cabinet, lamp, hamper, pack of diapers. basket for end table for storage

Done- put her mattress, sheet and breathable bumper in the crib. Put her Sweet Dreams decal on the wall.  Put her shelves up. Got her cabinet in and halfway decorated(pics coming later)

To Do: hang art above changing table, buy a few more things for shelves, sew blackout liners on curtains. 

Looking forward to- getting Madison potty trained this weekend, 31 week Dr appointment, a massageand our shower in 2 weeks!

Other thoughts- time is flying by so fast!

30 weeks pregnant with Riley

Date: October 30

How far along - 30 weeks

Growing Baby- Her skin is getting smoother. But her brain is getting wrinklier -- to make way for all that essential brain tissue. She's now strong enough to grasp a finger!

How big is your baby?

Symptoms- staying really tired. Feet hurt. Feeling a bit 'off' lately. Feeling stronger movements and more hiccups. Feeling huge. More Braxton Hicks and some cramping. Been emotional lately.

Weight- 123lbs

Total weight gain/loss: +10lbs

Belly measures- 36" at belly button

Craving- sweets, Dr Peppers and Pepsi.

Bought- crib mattress, closet clothes size dividers, monthly onesie stickers, toy bin and night stand for Riley.
I also bought this very cute necklace from Groopdealz for my family of 4!

Done- Nothing other than what I bought.

Looking forward to- taking Madison trick or treating!


Other thoughts- This pregnancy has flown by. I can't believe I have 10 weeks left. I felt I was pregnant for 18 months with Madison and only 3 months so far with Riley.