Summertime...and the Livin's Easy!

I cannot believe the school year is actually over. I am so relieved. I was getting exhausted towards the end, and this was a rough year being pregnant for the majority of it. I am so happy that summer vacation has finally arrived, but reality is also sinking in that I won't actually be returning to work until sometime in November. That seems like such a long time, but I know once Luca is here it will just fly by. I would give anything to be able to stay home with him and not have to return to work, but that is up to God.
As of today I am 34 weeks and 2 days pregnant. That means, in 6 weeks or less Luca will be here. I am so excited. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve every single day. I have plenty to keep me busy in the next 6 or so weeks between organizing things around the house, working in my classroom to prepare for the maternity leave sub, and preparing for Luca's arrival. I also plan on enjoying plenty of pool time (per doctor's request) and getting as much rest as possible. I know our lives are about to change in ways we can't even imagine. It's really hard to get my mind around what is about to happen.
Next week Santi and I will celebrate our 4 year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been that long, and what an incredibly blessed 4 years it has been. We got married and moved across the country together as newlyweds, and God has truly provided for us since we arrived in Arizona. We have had some wonderful times together just the two of us, and we have been through a lot together. I just can't imagine what it will be like when it's no longer just the two of us. I guess we will find out soon enough!
As far as the pregnancy goes, like I mentioned I am 34 weeks and 2 days. Due to my low fluid levels a couple of weeks ago, I am being monitored twice a week with non-stress tests and fluid index tests. I went in this morning for testing and praise God everything looked good. I will go back on Friday for the tests again, and starting next week I will be seeing my doctor every week until delivery. Good thing school is out, because I don't know how I would fit in so many doctor appointments while working! Other than my concerns about my fluid levels and Luca's small size, I am feeling great. I get tired much more easily, I can't stand or walk for long periods, and I am starting to swell with the warmer weather, but honestly I can't complain. I am grateful that I have had a pretty easy pregnancy up to this point. More importantly, I am thankful that I was able to get pregnant again quickly after our losses, and that Luca is healthy and doing well so far. I know too many people who have dealt with pregnancy loss and infertility, and it's a painful thing to go through. Being pregnant and being able to have a child of our own is a true blessing, even when I am uncomfortable or inconvenienced.

And per request, we have a 34 week picture with the Halloween shirt. I can't believe we found out about this little blessing on Halloween weekend. He has definitely grown a lot since then!!!

We also spent this long weekend washing baby clothes and doing some other pre-baby home improvement projects. I think Luca has enough outfits to last his entire first year.

Tevez was helping fold clothes. Do you think he is ready to be a big brother?

33 Weeks...The Troublemaker

Today we have reached 33 weeks. Things have been pretty hectic around here this last week, and it appears our little boy is already quite the trouble maker. On Wednesday I went to OB triage to be monitored because he hadn't moved much all day. This was very unusual for him, he is usually pretty active. After being on the monitors for awhile, and being sent for a biophysical profile, we learned that my fluid levels were a little low, and even though Luca was still being lazy his heart rate was great and he passed the test. They had me come back in on Friday for a non-stress test and to check my fluid levels again. So, after drinking ridiculous amounts of water on Thursday, they determined my levels had gone up to an 11 (most likely the first measurements were off because of his position, because normally fluid levels don't go back up once they have dropped). I left feeling like I could relax a little and hopefully get through the last week of school. So now we wait to see my doctor on Wednesday. I still have this nagging feeling that he is going to be arriving earlier than planned, but I am praying that he can hang in there another 3 or 4 weeks at least so he can grow a little bigger and stronger. I will be so relieved when he is finally here and I can see him and know he is okay.

On a lighter note, here are some of our maternity pictures from Papago Park last weekend. We love them! And we hardly paid anything for them after finding a great photographer on Craig's List that is just trying to get their photography business going. Enjoy:)

32 Weeks...

Yesterday I hit 32 weeks. That means in 8 weeks (or less) Luca Alberto will be making his grand entrance into the world. That just seems crazy. How can it be so close? 2 months!!!!! I feel so excited and so ready to meet this little blessing,  but I also feel like we still have so much left to do! Thankfully school will be out in just two more weeks and we can work on the last minute details like washing the clothes and blankets, organizing things, packing the hospital bag, etc. Speaking of hospital bags...we have our hospital tour in a couple of hours, followed by our maternity pictures at Papago Park! I hope the hospital tour doesn't freak me out. I have honestly not been nervous at all...yet.
We had our growth ultrasound last week and met with our doctor. Luca is weighing in at about 3lbs 10oz right now, and is in the 35 percentile. She said he is on the smaller side, but she isn't concerned at all since I am a smaller person. She said she would rather me have a smaller baby. I couldn't agree more, as long as he is healthy! According to her, he should be about 6-7lbs at birth. That sounds just fine by me...he can do is growing on the outside.
Last week I was also blessed with another baby shower at work. I have some of the best coworkers ever, and they make my job so much easier. It's such a blessing to come to work every day knowing I have their support in everything. Teaching in our school is definitely a challenge, and I know we wouldn't survive without each other to lean on!

 Just a few of my awesome coworkers.

 The Kindergarten Team

Some of the gifts Luca received...he is so spoiled.

I am hoping later this week I will be able to post again with our maternity shots that we are having taken today. I am not sure how long it will take for her to edit them. I also promise to bring back the Halloween shirt next weekend....I know I have been slacking with that. I will be amazed if it still fits, Luca has had quite the growth spurt in the last few days. 

Happy Mother's Day!

I woke up this morning to a delicious breakfast and roses from Santi, Luca, and Tevez.

I have the best husband in the world, and I know Luca is going to be just like his daddy:) We were supposed to have  maternity photos taken today, but our photographer had to reschedule for next weekend. That was just fine by me, I am so tired today and really didn't have enough time to get ready for the photographs like I wanted to. Next weekend we also have our hospital tour, and tomorrow I am having another shower at work. It's all becoming real....

How far along?: 31 weeks!

•Total weight gain: 23 pounds as of my last appointment...right on track...whew!

•How big is baby?: Luca is the size of a squash!

•Maternity clothes?: Hoping to survive the last 9 weeks of pregnancy in what I have.

 
•Movement: I think he is running out of room. His movements are different now and not as free. 

•Stretch marks?: Add thigh stretch marks to my collection...oddly none on my stomach yet. 

•Sleep?: Uncomfortable...turning over is hard work!

•Symptoms?: Tired...impatient...ready to meet this little man!!!

•Food cravings: Lots of fruit because it's so hot outside. Nice cold fruit. 

•Belly button in or out?: Popping out...

•What I miss: Being able to freely move around, and last night I went to The Tortilla Factory with my girlfriends and I was really missing my margaritas!

•What I'm looking forward to: My work shower tomorrow, the ultrasound on Wednesday because Santi gets to go with me again and he hasn't seen Luca in awhile, our hospital tour next weekend, and our maternity photo shoot.

•Best Moment this week: Hmmmmm....a pedicure on Friday, pool time with Santi on Saturday, a girl's night out last night, the awesome breakfast he made me this morning...tough to choose.

•Milestone: All 5 of Luca's senses are now working, and he can distinguish light. 


This is me all dolled up to go out to dinner in Scottsdale with my girlfriends:

 

The Big 3-0

30 weeks that is! I cannot believe I am 30 weeks pregnant. Do you know what this means? It means that in 10 weeks or less little Luca will be making his grand appearance. Santi and I are getting so excited. The only bad thing is that the closer Luca's arrival gets, the harder it gets to focus at work. I have four more weeks of school to survive, and then I am free to sit around, relax, and wait (not so patiently) for his arrival. I know technically I wasn't suppose to do a pregnancy post this weekend, but I couldn't help but share my excitement about reaching 30 weeks.
We had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday and Luca's heart rate was good, my weight was right on track, and she was surprised I am not swollen yet now that the temperatures here are above 90 every day. We also found out that I am measuring about a week behind, but she didn't seem too concerned. She said that the fundal measurements (literally done with a tape measure) are not the most accurate and that a growth ultrasound would be a better indicator of his size and growth. So, I have an ultrasound scheduled along with another appointment for May 11th. I am kind of nervous about measuring "small" as she said, and I hope that the ultrasound shows that he has caught up. We might just have a little peanut, which I am okay with, as long as he is healthy. No pregnancy survey this weekend...but here's a belly shot for your time!