Introducing Mommy Belle!

First off, I would like to apologize to my faithful readers for not blogging since August. Since the last time I blogged, we were blessed with a healthy 8lb 1oz baby boy, Buckner James. I thoroughly checked out and immersed myself into every moment of my maternity leave only focusing on all things Buckner. Now three months later I want to share my joys and lessons on this journey. August 7th changed me as I knew it would when Buckner added a new dimension to my life. I still have my same interests and goals but a whole new aspect of me as been added when I earned the title of mommy.  To mark this new journey, I am starting a new blog....Mommy Belle, Adventures in Southern Parenting. I will continue to posts stories of the south as well as recipes but the focus will be my adventure in motherhood.  Modern Day Southern Belle will stay active for you to be able access the former posts but all new entries from me will be on my new site. I hope you will follow me on this new journey because I have lots of moments to share with you. 

The first post describes in detail the moment our Baby Buckner arrived. Read it at https://southernmommybelle.blogspot.com

My world

Thursdays third Trimester Countdown: 39 weeks and 4 days

I laugh at myself now when I think about how we were all convinced Baby B would arrive early.  There was no indication for him to come early but somehow I just decided we would never make it close to the due date. I thought I would be one of those mamas that went in around week 37 or 38 and easily deliver a healthy baby.  I am still hanging on to the hope of the easy delivery part and definitely a healthy baby but the early part has now passed.

At last week's appointment, I measured at 42 weeks so they did a sonogram to check on Baby B and estimate his weight. My doctor told me before the scan that the weight can be off by a pound. Let's hope he is off by a pound less not a pound more because our little chunky monkey weighed in at 8lbs 11 oz.  I am 5'2" so my normally calm demeanor was a little shaken at this point. No one seemed concerned and my doctor reminded me that it was just an estimate but it was the first time in almost 40 weeks that a c-section was even mentioned. My doctor told me that we weren't ready to throw in the towel yet for a natural birth but we just had to wait and see.  At my next appointment tomorrow, I guess I will learn more...unless he wants to come today!

I said I would never have a birth plan because I have not heard of any one's birth plan actually going the way they planned it. Naturally I am a planner but I feel like the birth of a baby is just something you can't plan. Having a birth plan, in my opinion, just tends to stress you out when it doesn't go as planned. So my plan was to do whatever the doctor deemed necessary to keep us healthy. However, I did not realize that I had more of a plan than I had let on. I guess because I had not wrote it down, I did not think I had a birth plan but the moments after the big C was mentioned and into the weekend, I was an emotional mess. C-section was NOT A PART OF MY PLAN!  Did I mention I am a natural planner?

Since crying my way through last weekend, I adjusted back to the idea of being flexible to whatever happens because whatever happens is an answer to my prayers that God takes care of us. I feel like my emotionally stable self now...well as much as a 9 month pregnant woman can be emotionally stable. Hopefully he will come this weekend just in time for Daddy's big birthday weekend and we can see his adorable face in person.

Thursdays Third Trimester Countdown: 10 Days!

Today marks 10 days until Baby Buckner's due date!  I can't believe we are finally in the countdown.  Anticipation is hard. Everything is done. The nursery is finished. His little clothes have been washed and folded. All the diaper and care items are set in place. His diaper bag is packed. The pack and play that he will sleep in for the first few weeks is in our room. The car seat is installed. The house is clean and ready for visitors (and I keep cleaning and cleaning).  And now all we have to do is wait. The waiting part is hard. We really can't make too many plans because we are in such a waiting mode. I have a hard time because I am so excited that I feel like a kid before Christmas morning...except this Christmas Eve is lasting several long days.

I tell myself to try to enjoy the last stage of pregnancy so I am doing my best to make a few plans.  Whatever little plans my big body can accommodate. I told Ed the other day I am way too small to be this big.  My petite 5'2" frame has taken all the extra weight it can handle. But all the frustration of waiting is just due to sheer excitement of getting to meet our sweet little boy soon. Almost time!

Third Trimester Thursdays: 37 weeks and 4 days

I was hoping that I would go to the doctor today to be told I was ready to go to the hospital. I know it is still a little early but a preggo girl can hope like no other! However, hope was all it was today because there was no progress. Baby Buckner is quite happy where he is for now. I know that his cozy status is good for now allowing him more time to grow but it still hard not to grow anxious.  Waiting these days feels like a never ending Christmas Eve.  Everything is done and the celebrations are ready to be started but we still have to wait a little longer. The good news is I feel good except for the stinging from the swelling and a few more aches and pains so I need to find ways to entertain myself (distract myself) for the next 17 days until his due date. Hopefully he is on time (or a tad early!).

Size of the Baby:  I am still measuring at 40 weeks. The Bump says he is the size of a winter melon. Not sure if I ever seen one of those but supposedly he can weigh 6.2 to 9.2 pounds right now. Let's hope for the smaller option out of those sizes!  For the first time today, a woman told me she did not think he was that big but that I was just so small that he had no where to go but out. Finally, someone who realized I am carrying a baby on a 5'2" frame!

What I Miss Most: I am not missing too much right now because not being pregnant is in the near future. I can once again look at fashion magazines and know soon that I will be able to wear something besides maternity clothes which is a great feeling. 

Symptoms: A few mild cramps, consistent weight gain (fun times), swelling in my feet and hands, and hips hurting.

Best Moment of the Week: The nursery is complete and the hospital bag is ready to go. I feel so good having all of those items completed! 

Third Trimester Thursdays: 36 Weeks and 4 days

I log on to The Bump every day to see my little day counter number go down.  Today it said 24 days until the due date.  I know that babies rarely come exactly on their due date but it is reassuring to know that at least a month from today Baby Buckner will be here!  I am so ready. I am excited but not scared. However, even though I have been carrying this baby around for nine months and the room is ready, it still feels surreal.  I can't believe in a month or less we will have our baby here to hold! 

I start my weekly visits next week. My best case scenario is that I go into one of these visits and the doctor tells me I am already 4 cm dilated and need to go on to the hospital. Then I would go to the hospital and have him within an easy couple of hours. Yes, I know these scenarios are rare but I do know someone that just recently experienced such a birth so it is possible. Therefore, I am concentrating on the law of attraction and hoping to attract the best birthing experience possible!

Best moments of the week...drinking Diet Dr. Pepper...I am so fascinated with it and it makes the slight lingering nausea leave. Also, we have packed the hospital bag (well at least laid everything out in the guest room) and we are finishing up the nursery this weekend! Pics to come! 

Third Trimester Thursdays: 35 weeks and 4 days

Today is an exciting day!!!! One month until Buckner's due date. A lot of people say he will be early. In fact, no one thinks he will be late. Of course, this is all just speculation but I tend to believe that he will be early but only slightly. The pregnancy has been progressing in such a textbook manner that I feel he will stay put until close to his due date. However....

Size of Baby: he is measuring big! Today at my doctor's appointment he measured at 40 weeks! The eyes of both the nurse and doctor registered surprise when they saw the measurement. I said yay come on! But the doctor reminded me while he may be big he still needs to mature a little more.  I think we have a little overachiever in there pushing the weight limit as high as he can make it. I hope he just makes delivery as easy as possible!

What I Miss Most: Not feeling so big and being able to get out of the bed without effort!
 
Symptoms: A few mild cramps and weight gain!

Worst Moment of the Week: Not too bad of a week. Can't complain!


Best Moment of the Week:  Knowing I can get some more nursery stuff done over the long holiday weekend!

Third Trimester Thursdays (or Fridays): 34 weeks

I am moving a lot slower these days which includes posting blog posts on Fridays that were suppose to be published on Thursdays. Maybe I should rename the posts "Falling Behind Fridays." But I am determined to document the last few weeks of pregnancy so whether it is Thursday or Friday...here is my update!

Buckner is growing but thankfully I think my weight gain has slowed down a little bit. However, I probably put on a few this week due to my friend coming to town and us eating our way through Oxford this past Saturday. We followed our food fest on Sunday by another feast day at the shower.  But the extra pounds are well worth it this week because it was a weekend full of fun, family, friends and FOOD!  More to come about our wonderful shower later next week.

Size of Baby: Not sure his exact size right now because I have not had a sonogram in the last few weeks but I would guess at the rate he was going that he weighs around 5 or 5 1/2 pounds. Maybe that is wishful thinking because I don't want him to be a huge baby to deliver. I am hoping for a nice healthy 7 pounds!

Movement: He is still squirming around but I think he is getting more crowded so the kicks feel a little different more like twists.


What I Miss Most: Not much this week just waiting every day to get a little closer to the big day.

Cravings: Still can't get enough watermelon!


Symptoms: Still swelling and harder to move around.

Worst Moment of the Week: My tooth broke the other evening! I was eating a delicious turkey burger that my husband made and thought I had found a hard piece in the burger which freaked me out. After spitting it out and still feeling pain, I realized that I had lost a filling...so I thought. I went to the dentist the next day to learn that my tooth had cracked and when it did I lost the filling. So I have a temporary filling in it for now with an appointment to get a crown next week. Not what I want to be doing at 35 weeks pregnant!


Best Moment of the Week:   My sweet, sweet husband rubbing my deformed and swollen feet at night. And of course our shower, where we were overwhelmed with the love and support of our friends and family!

34 weeks and 4 days pregnant