34-40 weeks

It has been a very long time since my last post! Needless to say, Baby Whitlock was born and is a GIRL! Her name is Shelby Elaine Whitlock and she was born at 12:12pm on October 22, 2013. She weighed 7lbs and was 19in long. I'm not going to share the whole birth story, but I will say that it was  painful and beautiful at the same time. I was induced and everything went fairly smoothly. I had a few complications with the epidural and an unknown tear in the placenta, but all in all, it wasn't too bad...and completely worth it. I will admit that before the epidural I told Dustin repeatedly that I was never having anymore children, but after the drugs finally kicked in and Shelby was born, I changed my mind and was much more pleasant and positive! Dustin was amazing in the delivery room and I'm so glad I had him there to encourage me.

I'll also say that waiting to find out what we were having was such a good decision. It was so awesome to have everyone in the delivery room guess what we were having and then for the doctor to shout out, "It's a girl!" It was such a fun surprise and I'll never forget that moment! I only wish I could have seen our family's faces when Dustin told everyone about her. What an amazing day!

Now to catch everyone up on the weekly chalkboard posts...

Sorry I stopped updating the blog. I just got busy and tired and didn't feel like doing it! Here's weeks 34-40:

 Here are some pictures of our precious Shelby:

I'll post more pictures on her one month post! We are so blessed and love her so much!

Love,

Kelsey

32 and 33 weeks

Watch the purple shirt get smaller and my face get more swollen! haha

32 weeks

33 Weeks

33 weeks with Gumbo

33 weeks in a more flattering shirt...I wish fall would get here!

Due Date: October 18, 2013

How far along: 33 weeks

Baby is as big as a: Pineapple

Gender: Unknown

Movement: Baby Whitlock likes to kick mommy's ribs...

Symptoms: Fatigue, back pain, and swollen hands, feet, face, and of course...belly!

Cravings/Aversions: None

Looking forward to:
- upcoming shower
- getting our glider (back-ordered)
- next appointment will be in two weeks and it will begin my 1-week appointments! I know these appointments won't be the most comfortable, but they mean we are getting closer to meeting our little sweet pea.

Best moment of the week:
- We bought our car seat and it is in the car, ready to go!
- Mr. Howard (Pop) bought us a bunch of baby items off of our registry. It was so sweet of him to do that and it gave me some relief to see actual baby items in the baby's room. We have been so blessed by our family these past 8 months!
- We got another ultrasound done and we got to see the baby again. Baby is growing at the right rate and everything checked out great.
- I bought some more maternity clothes, but I can't wear them yet. It is still too hot for fall clothes but I couldn't resist. I'm so ready for cool weather!

28, 29, 30, and 31 weeks

Due date: October 18, 2013

How far along: 31 weeks

Symptoms: I'm still experiencing back pain (mostly in the evenings and at night). Also, my feet are swelling. I'm still feeling pretty good. The weather has been amazing and I think that helps!

Looking forward to:
~ October 18th! Haha

Updates from the past few weeks:
~ I failed my 1-hour glucose test, but passed the 3-hour test! It was a bummer to fail the first time and a pain to take the 3-hour, but if it means doing what's best for this baby, I'll do whatever it takes.
~ I went to Kool Kids for the first time. I'm not sure this was a best moment, but it was still fun to hang out with other mommas and get to see what it's all about. It was a little overwhelming and crowded, but I'll definitely go back next time!
~ We started going to baby classes at St. Francis. So far, it has been very informative and is really getting us excited about the next 2 months. It's also nice to spend time with Dustin before the baby gets here and our lives are turned upside down.


I don't really have much to update about. We are pretty much just ready to meet our baby boy/girl. We have another ultrasound in 2 weeks and I'm excited to get to see the baby one more time before delivery day! The nursery is coming along and we are getting a little more prepared every week.

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks. I'm not too excited about taking these pictures in the purple shirt anymore. It is not flattering and I'm not sure how much longer I will take these pictures in this shirt. Maternity shirts are much cuter!

26 & 27 weeks

I'm finally getting caught up on posting my weekly photos!

This was taken in Hawaii. No chalkboard this week, but I think the sand and scenery made up for the lack of consistency!

I made it to 27 weeks! I can't believe I am in the 3rd trimester already!

Due date: October 18, 2013

How far along: 27 weeks

Baby is as big as: a head of cauliflower (16 in, 2.5 lbs)

Gender: Unknown

Movement: " I like to move it, move it!"

Symptoms: Minus a few aches and pains, I'm still feeling pretty good. I've got the acid reflux issue under control (for now) and I'm sleeping better at night (for now).

Cravings: I've been really into fruit and veggie smoothies.

Looking forward to: I go to the doctor next week. I have to take the glucose test, but I'm still excited that I get to hear the heartbeat again! After this appointment, I start going to the doctor every two weeks. I can't believe it's time for the 2 week visits...

Best moment(s) of the week:
- Being in Hawaii for 10 days. This was such a relaxing and beautiful trip. I'm so glad we went, especially since we probably won't get that opportunity for a long time!
- Getting home from Hawaii (haha). Even though it was a great trip, I am so glad to be home! Hawaii is wonderful, but the traveling was not. When we got home on Tuesday, my poor feet were super swollen and I was exhausted. There is really nothing like your own bed!

Project nursery: I haven't really done anything in there for a while. We have all the furniture, except the chair. We haven't put anything on the walls...and I'm not sure we will. I'm not much of a decorator and I don't really know what to put up. I'm sure I'll find something I like...and if not, I'm sure the baby won't notice ;)

24 & 25 weeks

Due Date: October 18, 2013

How far along: 25 weeks

Baby is as big as: an eggplant (9.2 in, 2 lbs)

Gender: unknown

Movement: Baby Whitlock is kicking away! I mostly feel him/her kick in the morning and at night (when I am mostly relaxed). Dustin has been able to feel the baby move too!

Symptoms: Back pain, trouble getting comfortable at night, and the newest symptom: ACID REFLUX! Thank the Lord for Zantac! Even with the symptoms I've had, I feel like things have been pretty great! These symptoms can be annoying and inconvenient, but I know it will be worth it...and it won't be like this forever and will go away!

Cravings/aversions: nothing new

Looking forward to: Our Babymoon to Hawaii! We leaving tomorrow morning and will be there for 10 days. The only thing I am not looking forward to it the traveling and long plane rides. I plan on getting up every 30 min-1 hour. Which shouldn't be a problem since I usually have to make a bathroom break that often anyway!

Best moment(s) of the week:
-Dustin went out of town for a very long weekend and it was great to have him back this week.
-I got to see a lot of family this week. I went to BR to visit my parents and then I got to see Dustin's family on the 4th of July.
-I ordered a baby book last week!
-I went to the doctor and my check up went great. I got to hear the heartbeat again and everything seems to be measuring correctly and the baby is on track.

Other updates:
- I signed up for classes at the hospital. It's crazy to think that I only have 15 more weeks until my due date! I kind of panicked a little when I was look at the calendar and realized that there isn't much time! But it also made me very excited! I can't wait to meet Baby Whitlock!

21, 22, & 23 weeks!

Here are my weekly pictures from the past 3 weeks! I know I haven't been updating much, I just feel like I'm writing the same thing over and over. Which I guess is a good thing and proves that the 2nd trimester is bliss.

The past few weeks have been wonderful! I'm feeling great, for the most part, and am enjoying the summer and all the time I've been able to spend with Dustin, family, and friends. Here are some updates from my pregnancy journal:

Due date: October 18, 2013

How far along: 23 weeks and 3 days

Baby is as big as: an ear of corn (by the way, this is so confusing...so many websites say different things! That's why my weekly pictures don't always say a fruit. I'm just so unsure! The baby must be the length of an ear of corn)

Gender: Unknown. I had a another dream last week that we were having a girl. I love hearing every one's predictions!

Movement: The baby is getting stronger and stronger. The other day, I looked down at my belly and actually SAW him/her move!

Symptoms: Back pain, sleeplessness (due to not being able to get comfortable), and weight gain (haha)

Cravings: Chocolate milk

Aversions: Shrimp and sometimes chicken

Looking forward to: I am going to the doctor this week for a check-up. I always look forward to these!

Best moment this week(s):
- Feeling/seeing the baby move
- Ordering the glider
- Brandi showed me how to bathe a baby! She has been so helpful along with all of the other new mothers I know. I am trying to soak up every bit of information I can before the little one gets here. Luckily, I have such great family and friends that are willing to share everything they know, even the very personal stuff. I know there is only so much people can tell me and that I'm just going to have to experience motherhood and figure out what works best for us, but it sure does help to have people who are willing to share their experience (good and bad).

Worst moment:
- I went to the dentist...bad decision! My gums have been a little sensitive, but the cleaning was horrible! The hygienist kept apologizing because she knew it was killing me. I don't ever like going to the dentist, but that was by far the worst experience I have had. I almost started crying in the chair! Note to self: don't ever go to the dentist while pregnant!

Project nursery: We ordered a glider! It is the same glider that Temple has in the nursery. It was very comfortable and I think it will last a very long time. We had to order it so I'm not sure when it will come in. We pretty much have all the furniture for the baby's room, except a book shelf. Dustin is planning on building one for me.

Other: I am still exercising pretty regularly. I have had a lot more energy, but the heat is killing me. This past week, instead of walking outside, I went to Temple and used the elliptical and did upper body weights. Also, I started doing Prenatal Pilate's. It was much harder than I thought it would be, but I'm sure it will pay off later on in my pregnancy when I don't have as much energy. It also makes me feel great!

19 & 20 weeks

 19 weeks

 20 weeks

How far along: 20 weeks and 3 days

Gender: Unknown

Movement: I started feeling some movement this week! The kicks are very subtle, but it is such an amazing feeling! So far, this is the best part of pregnancy!

Symptoms: Back pain and some nausea, which I believe is caused by my blood sugar getting too low. Other than that, I'm feeling pretty great!

Cravings: Fruit, milk, pretty much healthy foods. I've been eating pretty well during this pregnancy, but I think seeing the baby during the 4D ultrasound made everything so real and has made me want to make sure this little sweet pea is getting all the right vitamins and minerals!

Aversions: Meat - specifically chicken. It just grosses me out.

Looking forward to:
~ Registering with Brandi in Monroe this week. I am so thankful she agreed to help me!

Fun Baby Fact:
~ Boy or girl, the baby's reproductive organs are almost fully formed!

Best moments of the week:
~ Seeing the baby on the 4D ultrasound - and we got a DVD! Now we can watch our baby wiggle and open and close it's mouth any time we want!
~ Feeling the baby move. I can't even describe what an amazing feeling it was when I realized the baby was moving.
~ People noticing I'm pregnant, and not just putting on extra pounds. Maternity clothes are awesome! They make you look pregnant and not just thick around the waist.
~ Painting Baby Whitlock's room. Dustin worked so hard this week and it is finished! The color is called Herb Cornucopia by Valspar. See photo below.
~ After the my ultrasound appointment I went to Target and bought a few baby items. I'll post a photo of some of those items.

I love the way the paint color turned out. It was much more of a challenge than I thought. The baby clothes are just so cute! I love the little ducks! Now I know they have blue on them, and the baby could be a girl, but is there really a "rule" that girls can't wear blue? So for all you baby clothes critics out there...get over it! haha I also bought some towels and a little hat and mittens. I just couldn't resist!