Weekly Updates: 30 weeks pregnant

Today, im 31 weeks 2 days but here is an update of the past 2 weeks.

Cravings:
Dr Pepper and Candy! YES MY CANDY CRAVINGS HAVE FINALLLLY RETURNED! and its been a sweet reunion.

Movement: Baby girl now rolls around, BIG ROLLS,  back and forth trying to find a comfy spot. Torin can even seen her rollin. Im tempted to play "Ridin Dirty" every time she gets going.

OB News: I have switched my obgyn and have left GBMC. Which wasnt a sweet parting, my ob at GBMC was legit upset at me when I told him I was switching to deliver at St Joseph's in fact he discharged me from his practice and said I could never return. HARSH. But I know the midwives at St Joseph's and St Joseph's are just a better option for us so yea oh well.

Comfort level (scale 1-10 comfiest):  Im at about a 4, yea my comfort is dwindling. As my stomach gets rounder Im disabled from doing certain things, like tying my own shoes. I sorta just slip in and out of them. Torin has to help me out of bed and if he isnt home I have to roll to the left like a cow or horse. Cleaning is difficult no more getting on my knees to scrubs floors or sweep with the hand brush.

Baby Prep: We have decided to forgo childbirthing classes, we are going to let my body do what it does. We will be taking a lactation class though. We have been given a breast pump and lots of clothes and gadgets by an old friend, S/O to Courtney, an amber teething necklace and squeeze system from the Dunhams, cute clothes from Torin's mom, and a baby swing from Torin's classmate. The baby shower is the 19th, after then we will kick it into full gear with accumulating baby items.

How im feeling: Sadly nausea has returned and its super random when it happens. Usually I can just eat something and feel better... which really means im constantly eating. Im sure I've gained a considerable amount of weight since my last ob visit. Its been almost 4 weeks since my last visit so I anticipate that Ive gained about 5 lbs at least. I feel stretching and pulling periodically down below and in my tummy. She is growing at record pace these last weeks. And Im tired on a whole new level. Body tired, mentally tired, just overall tired alll the time. Im amazed that I can make it through full work weeks still! (pats self on back)

Current favs: Shea and cocoa butter baby oil on my tummy, boobs, and legs (NOT A STRETCH MARK YET), cotton boy shorts instead of bikini styled underwear (they just feel more comfy and I always feel covered), and lemonade (Baby girl dances all about when I drink it and its super refreshing!)

How Im lookin:

28 weeks!

30 weeks!

27 weeks pregnant: Beginning of 3rd trimester

Soo the 2nd trimester was....MY ENERGY HAS RETURNETH...still hate most foods though...baby girl you are kicking my ass all day and night, but its magical though...Prince concert rock out baby!....ugh high blood pressure...doctors appointments every other week, waaaaahh...HEARTBURN, ARGH...purchased a mommy mobile aka a minivan...throws up...wait did I just throw up in 2nd trimester?....morning sickness returns...NOW WAIT ONE GOT DAMN MINUTE NOW....im sooo frickin emotional, get me a kleenex...belly stretching my Oprah my belly button is burning!!!....awwww baby has hiccups...uh ok baby still hiccupping....5 hours later...ok now cut it out...yay I actually look pregnant now...HAZAAA...

So 2nd trimester definitely was exciting. I lost another 9lbs, Doc wasn't too pleased but hey Ive been working out and eating healthy. Plus I had no business being that large in the first place. I feel strong, at peace, and capable of delivery now. We only have 13 weeks to go before our spawn is unleashed onto the world. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and we plan on enjoying our last days as a family of two. Good Things.

Ise Married Now! 6.5.15

Im Mrs Ashley Lauren Matthews now

20 weeks. HALF WAY THERE!!!! 4.22.15

So after our awesome Reveal Party... btw Bobwehadababyitsagirl! We hit the 20 week mark!!!! woot woot! yasssss.

Im no longer losing weight, sorta leveled off. My blood pressure was pretty high for 2 months straight but Ive finally gotten that under control. 

I was on a mission to tour other hospitals because I wasnt sure about GBMC, but now as I write this I am 22 weeks. I love my OB so I think Im going to stick with GBMC. Next time Ill do a water birth at another hospital. This time Ill just push her out and catch her like Kortney Kardashian.... (hey not all references of their family are bad)

LOOK AT THAT ROUND BELLY!

Symptoms... none really... food aversions, random bouts of nausea still, boob pain... well I guess I do have symptoms haha. Of the 14lbs I lost I have gained back 2. So here comes the weight gain!

 

Whats Next??? Birthing classes, more prenatal yoga, and more walking. Its a waiting game now. I do plan on getting a belly cast done around the 30 weeks mark. 22 weeks today. 

COUNTDOWN TO SEPTEMBER! I can see the finish line!

Our Engagement Shoot!!!

Photos taken by Stephanie Michelle Photography

Location: Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Druid Hill Park and Reservoir in Baltimore City. 

Baby Matthews: The Reveal Party Vlog 4.19.15

16 weeks pregnant...

First let me sum up my first trimester....

YAY......HEARTBEAT......CAN'T EAT SHIT.....HATE MY FAVORITE FOODS.....QUEASINESS....DOCTOR'S VISIT.....E.R. VISITS.....BLOOD....ER VISITS......

yeaaaaa so pretty much sucked except for the fact that I bought a doppler and can listen to Baby Matthews to ensure he/she is doing well.

now the second trimester thus far

FEELING GREAT....BABY BUMP....WAIT IM SICK!.....WISDOM TOOTH PULLED ARGH!!!.....IM THROWIN UP EVERYWHERE.....BLEH....BLEH...BLEH...

In 17 days we will find out the gender. Im excited to debunk all the bullshit myths of acne and lots of morning sickness denoting a certain gender. Im just ready to say HE or SHE with confidence. Ive felt some fluttering. Awesome and creepy at the same time. Its like a goldfish flopping around in my stomach. But i know its a baby. Here are some pics of my progress.

Oh yea and ive lost 14 lbs. geesh this baby is taking all my calories! But i aint mad atcha!

13 weeks

15weeks

Our new love...

written: 2/24/15

Me and Torin found out we were pregnant on December 31st, our 3 year anniversary with our first child. I am now 11 weeks and 5 days and next Tuesday Ill finally be able to tell my parents. They are coming in town from Florida and I was determined to tell them in person. I believe every mom should be told in person. We will finally tell Torin's parents too. This is all so exciting. Torin and I have always talked about having a family of 3 or 4... id like 5 and we have started, We got pregnant right away on the first try. The pregnancy has not been easy. I was bogged down with nausea from weeks 4-10. This is the first week I haven't experienced it. It got so bad I had to take Zofran for a week. I am still currently working full time and even though I have a very sedentary job, it is taxing. I have a stressful job and at the end of week 9 I experienced spotting. I went straight to GBMC Labor and Delivery department and had my second ultrasound (I had my first at 7 weeks, I saw a strong heartbeat and a picture of a blob haha). After a vaginal exam it was ruled that they couldn't find where the bleeding was coming from. During the ultrasound my baby showed a strong heartbeat and was doing good. The nurse practitioner sent me back to work. 7 days later after a day of no blood I got up and a gush of blood came out like the beginning of a period. I thought I was miscarrying. But I slept on it and called my doctor the next day who told me to go back to Labor and Delivery. Another exam was done I only had that one gush of blood and spotting when I wiped after that. Again they couldn't see where the blood was coming from and it wasn't a lot. Another ultrasound showed again a heartbeat of 176bpm and I saw my baby's large head and its arm for the first time. This time they sent me home with strict bed rest for 5 days. This brings me to today, 11 weeks and 5 days. Not out of the woods yet and accepting the fact that I am the 1 in every 4 woman who bleeds and trying not to stress. Our baby is due 9/11/15, what a dubious day for some will be the most joyous day ever for me and my now fiance' (he proposed on MLK day right after our first sonogram. it was so special and perfect). I cant wait to meet my baby, I think its a boy. My baby boy. I cant wait to be forever changed because he looks at me and I look at him and we have a conversation with our souls. I cant wait to have him between me and my fiance as we take our first dance as newlyweds at our wedding in December. I cant wait for my mom to meet her first grandchild. I can't wait to know he is healthy and whole and mine. I cant wait to meet my love.

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!! 1.19.15

MLK Day, my handsome boyfriend got down on one knee and proposed. We both cried and cried and held each other. It was special and perfect. I had always dreamed of a big deal being made with a camera crew, but when the moment happened I didn't care about any of that frill. Torin knows me well and the intimate occasion was perfectly us.  We decided to capture our announcement with humor. That's totally us, serious moment then laughter must ensue. Peas and Carrots.

 

wait thats not right....

 

ZE RING!