Guess who's here???

Welcoming...

Jude Michael Griffis

Born Monday, March 28 at 7:23am... after a long (crazy-long) labor that ended in c-section.  I'll post the birth story later.

7lbs 11oz - 20 inches - and PERFECT.

We are so in love!!

More info and pics to come.

39 weeks.

I had a fairly uneventful week.  No weird nights full of contractions.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  Still pregnant... waiting waiting waiting.  I am officially on maternity leave and my full-time job is to get ready for this little guy.  Jordan and I had a "day of nesting extravaganza" yesterday and organized our offices, book shelves, closets, etc.  I'm now wondering what the heck I am going to do if this guy seriously doesn't come for another two plus weeks.  It is totally possible.  Luckily I still have my sewing machine and lots of cute things to make. :-)  I will do a post soon on all the things I have made so far.

Anyway - 39 weeks down... ONE to go!!

Today's date: March 20, 2011

How far along: 39 weeks

Total weight gain: I wish I had never started this section... 30lbs this week... wah wah wah.

Size and growth of the baby: He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon {finally a normal fruit}. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.)

Sex: BOY BOY BOY!!

Maternity clothes: Sweatpants.

Sleep: There are good nights and bad nights.  Contractions at night have become a regular thing - but it is usually just once or twice and they're gone.  I haven't stayed up for hours wondering if this is it in a couple of weeks.  I read, though, that when your bladder is really full it can stimulate contractions.  The uterus is a sensitive thing, I guess!

 
Best moment(s) of the week:  I love weekends without plans.  Jordan and I have had ZERO plans all weekend and it was glorious.  We had another mini-date on Friday night and went out to T.G.I. Friday's because I had a coupon.  Then Saturday was our cleaning day extravaganza - that and watching March Madness (which I have surprisingly come to enjoy - especially since I filled out a bracket and can actually root for a certain team).

Movement: Same old same old.  Still trying to convince him that he's not supposed to come out of my belly button - so he can stop trying.

 
Food cravings/aversions:  Just hungry all the time.

 
Morning sickness: Feeling good!

 
Symptoms: Cramping, achy, some braxton hicks/contractions.

 
Labor signs:  Some random contractions.  Otherwise - the doctor didn't check me this week (he doesn't unless you are overdue or in labor) so I can't be sure.  Any day now!

Belly button in or out:  It is definitely not "in" anymore... I think it is as out as it is going to be.

 
What I miss:  My not-pregnant body... although, I hear when I am not pregnant I will miss my pregnant body.  The grass is always greener, huh? 

What I'm looking forward to:  I am looking forward to having this BABY!! 

What's happening this week:

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

 

38 weeks.

I have a feeling that the next two weeks are going to feel just as long as the last 9 months combined.  I say this every week, but I can't believe how close we are to meeting our little guy.  I am SO EXCITED.  This is my last week of work before maternity leave.  I am ready.  I am looking forward to having time to myself to just focus on preparing for giving birth and parenthood (as much as I can).

Today's date: March 13, 2011

How far along: 38 weeks

Total weight gain: 28.5 lbs

Size and growth of the baby: Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek).

Sex: BOY BOY BOY!!

Maternity clothes: Sweatpants.

Sleep: I am great at napping... sleeping at night - not so much.  I guess I better get used to it.

 
Best moment(s) of the week:  Our wonderful house church threw us a mini baby-shower yesterday. :-)  I am just overwhelmed with the wonderful community we have around us.  While we don't live close by any family - we have an AWESOME church family and group of friends that I know pray for us and will be instrumental in the life of our child.  I just feel so blessed.

Movement: We won't talk about how he was air drumming on my ribs last night at 1am.

 
Food cravings/aversions:  I'm feeling guilty of my recent indulgences - so I'm really trying to eat healthy this week. 

 
Morning sickness: Not since last week - thank goodness!

 
Symptoms: Cramping, achy, some braxton hicks.

 
Labor signs:  Some random contractions.  Otherwise - the doctor didn't check me this week (no need to really) so I can't be sure.  Any day now!

Belly button in or out:  On the verge.

 
What I miss:  Sleep.  I have a feeling it'll be awhile before we reunite.  

What I'm looking forward to:  I am looking forward to having this BABY!!  And the next two weekends are pretty much clear so he can come any time.  If he doesn't - then I have another laid back weekend with Jordan and that is fine too. :-)

What's happening this week:

He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after he's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.) {this baby will DEFINITELY have blue eyes}

 

 

{baby is about as long as a leek... seriously - what is with the odd and ugly fruit comparisons?}

9 months on....

I'm in a bloggy mood tonight.  So deal with it. :-)

With pregnancy, a growing belly, and then birth comes many many wonderful things.  Like a baby.  I know that all the aches and pains I've already experienced and are sure to come will be WELL worth it. :-)  I'm already anticipating the sleepless nights and moments of complete "I don't know what the heck I'm doing."... and I can't wait.  Seriously, I can't wait to meet my baby even though I know life is going to be extremely different and challenging.  I still look forward to the challenge.

One thing I am not looking forward to?  I have gained nearly 30 lbs in the past 9 months.  And before those 9 months started, I had a stressful spring/summer and gained 10 lbs.  That is 40 pounds to lose (yikes - at first I made a mistake and wrote 400!!  This is not biggest loser territory yet!).  I know that hopefully 10-15 of those will be lost with baby and fluid and that great stuff, but I will hardly have by pre-preggo body back overnight.  What is the saying - 9 months on, 9 months off?... I certainly hope not. :-(

When I realized I needed to eat gluten-free I started thinking more about what I put into my body.  I realized that it isn't only calories that matter, but the quality of the food I was eating.  Food is my body's fuel.  I have a VERY sensitive stomach, and I always feel according to how I have been eating.  Like that ice cream I ate earlier today?  Yeah... feeling icky because of it (but it was worth it).  I know I feel significantly better when I am eating mindfully and healthy.

Before I got pregnant I got Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet book.  I wasn't intending on going on a full-blown weight-loss diet, but rather learning her principles and eating more organically, less processed, and just better overall.  It makes SO much sense.  Unfortunately - most of that went out the window during first trimester when I had such strong food aversions, the only thing that sounded good was mac & cheese and if I could keep it down, I ate it - darnit! 

So now, with my postpartum body around the corner, an "eat clean" diet is one of the main changes I plan on implementing to lose weight.  I recently subscribed to Clean Eating Magazine as well - after reading awesome reviews on it.  I know not all recipes are gluten-free, but after a year and a half of eating gluten-free I know how to make substitutions to make it edible for me.  I probably will count calories after a few months, but I plan to breastfeed, so I know that will be difficult.  I figure if I eat food that my body can use, instead of yucky processed stuff, both me and baby will be healthier... and hopefully I will look better too. :-)  And I will ask you to hold me accountable!!  I am sure I will blog about it.  I am soooo eager to feel healthy and fit again.  But I know that will come with time. :-)  In the meantime, I'm having a fun time looking up recipes and making meal plans to continue to make my family more healthy.

That's a big belly.

 

{"That's a big belly." - what I say to Jordan every morning when I get ready for the day.}

The one I love.

 

{Date night!  37 weeks pregnant on March 5.}

This man is amazing.  Just gotta throw that out there. :-)  Last weekend we went on a date that consisted of Thai food and a movie.  It is so weird to view every weekend as our potential "last" alone.  Life is about to change in a crazy awesome way - but we are trying to take advantage of the time we have together where it is still just about us.  I can't wait to see Jordan as a father.  I just know he is going to be amazing.

Thankful.

I've been impatient this week.  In my defense, I've been feeling pretty awful.  I'm getting to the end of this pregnancy journey and it is taking a toll on me physically.  And I'm exhausted.  I've had many "get this baby out of me" moments and sometimes even 3 weeks sounds like a long time to wait.  But, it is a small price to pay for what is to come.

I just got done reading the blog of a friend who has struggled with infertility for over 2 years.  I feel like I got a tiny taste of that struggle when it took us over a year to get pregnant, then experienced a loss, before getting our wonderful baby boy in my belly.  I remember month after month after month of disappointment - often coupled with anger and bitterness you try to fight.  I haven't forgotten that feeling.  You can imagine how foolish I felt, sitting here feeling impatient that my baby is AT MOST 33 days away from me (if I do go 2 weeks late)... when I am reminded that there are people who would give anything to be in my shoes.

When we were trying for a baby, I would often say that I didn't care if I knew having a baby was 3 years and thousands of dollars away - it was the unknown month after month that was so difficult.  It is easy find a reason to be patient when you have a countdown, like I do.  But I just feel for those of you who long for motherhood in your hearts and struggle every day with when and how that will ever happen.

So - I apologize for my impatience.  I can wait 33 days.

Know that those of you who are still waiting for a countdown are in my prayers.

10 Most Annoying Things People Say & Do to Pregnant Women

I remember my friend posting this when she was pregnant and decided to find it and see if I could relate.  Ummm -- YES!!  So here it is... the 10 most annoying things people say and do to pregnant women... humor with a little truth to it. ;-)

1. Old wives tales as gospel. As scientific as it is, it's annoying when people tell you with certainty what sex the baby will be based on how you're carrying.

2. Manhandling. Suddenly your globe of a stomach becomes public domain. Old women and customers in grocery stores suddenly flock to molest your belly as if it is the most accepted and natural thing in the world. More common than a handshake.

3. Horror stories. While pregnancy brings kinship between women who otherwise had nothing in common, it also brings out their burning desire to regale you with stories of their horrific stories of birth. Never will you hear more about botched episiotomies and days of fruitless labor and stopped baby heartbeats. Why anyone thinks someone with labor on the horizon would want to hear this is beyond me.

4. The just wait until...syndrome. Nothing is less pleasing than to have your current station in pregnancy belittled with just wait until... (insert anecdote here). Sometimes it is only limited to how much worse your pregnancy will get (as if it hasn't been bad in different ways throughout) but it can also extend to just wait until you get no sleep when the baby is here. When does this end? When I have a baby I guarantee I will start hearing about the terrible twos...when I have a 5 year old it will be "Just wait until you have a tween" and then just wait until you have a teenager. Thank you harbingers of doom, but I think I will take my torture one day at a time.

5. The belly reactions. Pregnant women are hormonal; they are seldom happy with their expanding waistline and are self-conscious in regards to their looks. Why do people feel the need to point out how big they are? "Oh my god! You're huge" are NEVER words a woman wants to hear. Similarly, "Are you sure you aren't having twins?" should have a moratorium slapped on it.

6. Unsolicited opinions on birth plans and breast feeding. The debates between no drugs vs. drugs in labor and breastfeeding vs. not breast feeding can be hot ones...but it should be relegated to the no talk zone along with religion and politics. I am sure that everyone feels like their information is true and correct, but it is a personal choice.

7. Ingestion Nazis. The people that watch you like a hawk just waiting for you to eat or drink something that they think is on the no no list. Pregnancy is hard enough without people commenting on nitrates or caffeine. What self respecting pregnant person isn't going to be aware of the do not eat or drink items and the risk associated with each? Everyone's Dr. is different and new information is being uncovered every day.

8. Unsolicited name advice. A name choice is a privilege bestowed upon people carrying and raising the child. Yet, despite varying tastes, everyone wants to weigh in on name choices. Even the most well meaning person offering up names puts the pregnant couple in the uncomfortable position of having to shoot down names. One man's Bertha is another man's treasure.

9. The “expert” syndrome. It seems that some women who have been pregnant, even forty years ago, feel like they know everything there is to know about all pregnancies. Even though all pregnancies are different they feel the need to weigh in of what is normal or not normal in a pregnancy. Even if they are directly contradicting scores of baby books and professionally trained medical workers, they toil on, spreading misinformation and causing panic or feelings of abnormality.

10. Unhelpful weight advice. Yes I know it is better not to gain too much weight. Yes I am aware of how hard it is to take off weight. Yes I know that breast feeding will not melt away my fat. Yes I’m aware that stretch marks are no fun to have. Enough said.

Wake up!

So - this baby took being "full term" quite literally that we needed to get some action going.  Last night was a bit of a wake up call... it was SO odd.  I had been feeling suddenly nauseous and was vomiting and all that lovely stuff.  I went to bed around 9:30pm and woke up around 11 or so experiencing contractions (or surges, as they call them in hypnobirthing).  There were definitely "real" contractions with the cramping that stretches around my back and my whole belly... but also Braxton Hicks here and there.  I was still feeling pretty awful and nauseous, so I didn't time them but they weren't clearly regular either.  I pretty much just wished them away so I could sleep.  Haha.  I knew that they would either stop or get stronger.  It lasted for about 3 hours or so before I fell asleep.  When I woke up this morning, the contractions had stopped.  I still feel nauseous to a degree and completely exhausted.  But it was just such an odd experience!  I know you can experience nausea with labor sometimes, but I REALLY hope when it is the real deal I don't have that.  I was trying to focus on the contractions and breathe through properly, but I was so tired for one, and more focused on not throwing up in bed.

I feel like this was a true wake-up call!  We're full-term people!!  That means ANY time.  I've been preparing myself to go overdue, because that is what everyone says first time moms are.  But, after last night I feel like I need to prepare myself to go early if that is what God has planned for us.  The thought never REALLY crossed my mind until that little episode last night.  Holy moly - we're having a baby... sometime... in the next month. :-)

37 weeks.

FULL TERM.  And I am glad to be here... I go back and forth from being like "holycrapwe'reactuallygoingtohaveababy" to "getthisbabyoutofme".  I feel like today it suddenly became more real to me that this baby is coming one way or another.  I don't know why, but I have been experiencing spontaneous bouts of nausea/vomiting tonight.  I have heard that this can be a sign of impending labor, or just simply another lovely third trimester symptom.  Time has yet to tell.  But just the idea that labor could happen any second makes me suddenly very aware of how real this is now.

Today's date: March 6, 2011

How far along: 37 weeks

Total weight gain: 28 lbs is the official number at the Dr.'s.  I'm gaining the textbook 1lb a week at this point.

Size and growth of the baby: Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard).

Sex: BOY BOY BOY!!

Maternity clothes: Sweatpants.

Sleep: I long for sleep... but we've been on again off again for awhile now.

 
Best moment(s) of the week:  Date night with my hubby on Saturday night!  Thai food (yum) and a movie... which was good, but I found myself wishing I had brought my slew of pillows to help make me comfortable.

Movement: Less this week... which I have been told to expect.  He is getting much bigger and is running out of room.  Still regular movement though.

 
Food cravings/aversions:  Ice cream, as always.  But after my recent nausea, nothing sounds good right now.  Blah.

 
Morning sickness: Yes!  What the heck third trimester?!

 
Symptoms: Cramping, achiness.  The baby has dropped (and this was confirmed by my doctor) and I have to waddle as opposed to walk sometimes.

 
Labor signs:  No action there.  Not dilated or effaced.  Although I know this means jack squat.

Belly button in or out:  On the verge.

 
What I miss:  Sleep.  I have a feeling it'll be awhile before we reunite.  

What I'm looking forward to:  As much as I love my job (and I do)... I'm exhausted, and uncomfortable, and totally distracted.  I'm ready to be done and focus on this little guy for awhile.  My last day of work is March 16 and I'm glad to have at least a week (hopefully) to just relax and prepare.  Of course, this guy could have totally different plans, so we'll just see.

What's happening this week:

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. 
Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

 

 

{swiss chard sounds disgusting... and looks disgusting... why compare this to a baby?!}

Answering the call.

I am so excited for my sister and brother-in-law, Krista and Ben Beukema.  They have recently made the decision to follow God's lead and become missionaries in Jamaica!  If you know them, then you know that this is not a surprise.  They will be working for the CCCD (Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf), where Krista will teach and Ben will be responsible for the work teams that come down to help build the villiage.  This is a PERFECT fit.  Krista has a degree in Deaf Education and spent the last two years teaching at a residential deaf school in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Anyway... we are SOOO excited for them and that they are in the perfect point in life to take advantage of this opportunity.  Of course we will miss them... but we can't help but be so excited and proud of them for responding to God's call on their life.

If you'd like more info - they have started a website and blog at http://bkbeukema.org.  Here is a little blip from their blog.

About Us

Where to start! The two of us have been practically inseparable since we met our freshman and sophomore years of high school. We began “dating” on Krista’s 15th birthday and immediately knew that we had something special. After almost 8 years of being together (4 of which was long-distance), we were finally married in May of 2009.

Our passion for the Deaf community stems back to our high school years, during which we had the opportunity to participate in missions to CCCD several times. The experience touched both our hearts; it was incredible to be a part of a movement that reached out to such a marginalized people group. Even after several missions to the island, Krista especially felt the urge to return to CCCD again. She was able to spend 2 months on a short-term mission at the Montego Bay campus after her Junior year of college.

We are so excited to begin our partnership with CCCD as full-time staff. God’s call on our lives has been undeniable…our personal skills and experiences, including construction and deaf education, have prepared us for this specific opportunity. It will be such a blessing to be a part of an organization that not only gives children a basic education, but provides them with access to the Gospel in a world where most language is inaccessible.

Once we get there, Krista will be teaching in the classroom and I will be leading missions teams that come down from the states to do construction projects and other various activities. Some of the details are yet to be determined, including which campus we will be on and what grade/subject Krista will teach. We are just leaving that in God’s hands right now; we know he has it planned!

Bring Betsy's Nephew Home!

I love love love a good find on etsy.  Home-made stuff is just so much more special... not to mention unique and adorable!!  I love owning something that I know is one-of-a-kind specially made for me. :-)  Even though I don't know half of the people I purchase from on etsy, I'm a sucker for a good home-made buy. 

WELL... I have a good friend Betsy who has been outrageously successful with her line of crocheted baby items, called The Dainty Daisy.  You may remember this AWESOME cocoon and hat she made for my baby boy for my shower.

ADORABLE!!!!!  Seriously, check her stuff out.  Anyway, my reason for posting today is that she and a LOT of other super crafty and talented ladies are selling their items in an auction next week to raise money for Betsy's sister, who is in the process of adopting a boy from Ethiopia.  I just don't see how you could go wrong participating in this.  Adoption is something that hits a nerve in my heart.  I know the Lord has a heart for the orphan and I truly hope that at some point in my life, I am able to bring in more children into my home that need loving families.  The idea of a child growing up without a stable, loving environment just kills me. (Although I know it happens all too often).  And I LOVE that Betsy's sister is pursuing this and not letting finances hold her back.  So, Betsy is an awesome sister and came up with this idea to help raise money for her.  Bidding takes place next week, and I fully intend to bid on a few items.

Like this...

{no - not the baby... the hat... but, can you say ADORABLE!}

Or this...

Anyway... there is my plug. :-)  Check it out - and if you want more info or want to check out all the awesome items you can bid on, you can find it here: http://boersmaauction.blogspot.com