Love, Life and Appreciation

Nia Jane Sumo is here and she has already been so calm and precious. She was born one week ago today on July 7th at 2:13 PM. Nia weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces and was 21 inches long. I had her at the same hospital I gave birth to her big sister, May-Holy Cross in Silver Spring, MD. Nia's birth was much different from May's delivery. It was a much more calming experience. Her delivery was by scheduled C-Section. As I previously stated in past postings, I went back and forth with the options of getting a VBAC or a repeat C-Section. In the end, Rex and I decided that a repeat C-Section would be our best option and the day prior to the surgery I went to Holy Cross for blood work to be taken.

I seemed like there were so many pregnant women getting their blood taken the day I came in. In fact the lab tech said I was the fourth pregnant woman getting my blood drawn that day. After that hospital visit, I was not to eat or drink anything after 12 am. Not eating or drinking anything after a certain time that night was not hard because I actually felt sick the night prior to the surgery. I wasn't sure what I had ate that made me feel nauseous but I felt like I was floating on the ocean at one point and all I could think was "Don't throw up." Rex, May and I stayed at his parent's place that night because it was closer to the hospital. Also we knew that the next day May would have to stay with the family until I was in my hospital room after the surgery.

The morning of the surgery went by pretty quick. I was scheduled for 12:45 pm and I was told to come to the hospital at 10:30 am. Traffic was not too bad getting to the hospital, especially for 495 W. It was so different because I had no contractions, nor did my water break. I walked into the hospital and told to go up to the third floor, only with May my contractions were less than 4 minutes apart. I calmly checked in and Rex and I were told to walk back to our room in Labor and Delivery. While there I casually got into my clothes for delivery. I was given an IV but it took three times due to my small veins.  The nurse also thought it was because I was dehydrated because I couldn't eat or drink anything prior to the surgery. Rex and I waited patiently and as Nia's heartbeat and movement was monitored. I took these pics while we waited:


I wasn't in much pain as we waited but I did feel a little due to Nia's karate chops in my womb. When it was around 12 pm, the nurse gave us news that my c-section would be slightly delayed. She said that it would be more around 1:15 pm. As 1:15 pm came closer and passed and I still had gotten the epidural, I wondered if I would at least get the epidural in the room  I was waiting in before I got the surgery. At around 1:30 pm the nurse came in and with the anesthesiologist and said that my turn was next and that I would be receiving a spinal block in the operating room. A few minutes after that I was told that I would WALK into the operating room. Last time I was quickly wheeled in due to the emergency. Calm music was playing as I entered the room and the doctor and anesthesiologist were talking about a trip to Italy. The spinal block went well for as much as spinal block is. I remember I was having a contraction during the epidural before. Not too long after the block I noticed I couldn't breathe well and I told the doctors that it was getting harder and harder for me to breathe. The anesthesiologist lifted my head a little and I felt so much better. They put the curtain up and Rex was brought inside. It seemed to take a bit before the real tugging. I remember the first time the doctor said, "And know you'll start to feel some real tugging, we're going to pull out the baby." The doctor said around the same thing this time. That tug was strong and with about five to six tugs, Nia was born. I remember the doctor said, "Oh she's a cute baby."

Nia's cries were magical and I cried once again. She was taken to the table to be weighed and then I heard someone say to Rex, "Would you like to cut the cord?" May's delivery was such an emergency that Rex wasn't given that option. Rex gladly said "Yes" and later told me that the cord was tough to cut. Nia was then washed a bit and given back to Rex and for a good 20 or 30 minutes for the time they were stitching me back up, Nia was so quiet and was alert as Rex sat with her.


 Later I was taken to the recovery room were she was washed further and I was able to do skin to skin and start nursing right away. I'm happy to say after a few bumps the first few days of birth, Nia and I have found our rhythm and she's been nursing ever since.

While I was in recovery, Rex left to get May and not too long after that I was moved to my hospital room. May seemed so happy to see Nia and she was beaming. She was very intrigued too and we said, "May this is your sister." Here's a picture of when May first saw Nia:

Today marks one week until Nia's delivery! I've actually be so anxious these last few days. I have my last pre-natal appointment on Thursday. Nia has been kicking and moving more at night, I know her space is getting smaller in there and she's getting more ready to enter the world. She'll be delivered at 39 weeks and 2 days. May was overdue and I had her at around 41 weeks and 4 days.

I'm supposed to go into the hospital a day early for lab work and monitoring. I don't think that will take long. It'll be on July 6th for that. The day of c-section Rex and I will drop May at her grandparents place and we'll go to the hospital so we can be there around 10:30 am. I will make sure I DO NOT eat or drink anything as I do not want to be sent home. I remember when I was pregnant with May. That was something I was avoiding then as well. I had to wait until the contractions where 4 to 5 minutes apart before we left for the hospital and even then I was worried they might send me back but I had to call the doctor too and they cleared me to go. Gosh that was hard waiting, especially when the pain started getting worse. This time around I am not currently experiencing contractions or water breaking or anything like that. There is still some pains from her pressing down on my pelvis and I definitely am going to the bathroom more frequently.

I am getting the house more clean every day. I know the time is coming but I am still slower because of how big and I and taking care of a very curious almost 3 year old. I have Nia's clothes laid out and I looked through most of the things we have. We actually have a lot of things that we saved when we had May and can use for Nia. I found my breast pump and it still works. I'm hoping I can breastfeed with Nia. It was hard at first with May but once I really had a natural way of being shown how to do it, it was smooth sailing. I did before that experience rock hard breasts and cracked nipples, oh it was fun but now that I am more aware it is such a healthy and natural way to feed a newborn and helps to develop such good bonds.

In the next few days Rex and I will be getting a few more things that we don't have currently, like Maxi pads, haven't had to use them in the last eight months. This time it doesn't look like we'll have a baby shower. We were iffy from the start about it. We knew we had a lot from May when she was a newborn and it's more just diapers and wipes that we'll need for Nia, plus the funds just aren't really there this time around. Our families and friends are all happily awaiting her birth though and May, her big sister, says "Sister, love sister," when placing her head on my belly. Half of me really can't believe that in 7 days we'll be a family of 4. Another part of me is ready to start taking care of Nia and May and take so many pictures and snuggle her.

We have little less than a month before Nia is born!!! I got the call today that my time for my scheduled C-Section is at 12:45 pm at the same hospital I delivered May. That hospital is Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD. Rex and I decided on the C-Section because we weren't sure if I would be overdue like I was with May. In a previous post, I was wondering whether to do the repeat C-Section or the VBAC. When I delivered May I initially thought I'd be having a vaginal birth but later on after the epidural and I had dilated to 6 cm, May was in fetal distress and I had to have an emergency C-Section. I was worried that this might be the same with Nia. If I said OK to the vaginal birth and then if there is fetal distress, Nia would have to be born by emergency C-Section and that actually poses greater risks than a scheduled C-Section.

I'll learn more about what to do the day of the C-Section. I was told so far that I have to come in 2 hours before my scheduled time and that I can't eat anything pass midnight the night prior to surgery. With the scheduled C-Section it definitely seems much more planned. I told my doctor about the length of recovery too and he was saying that it actually might be less for the recovery. I know I wouldn't be jumping and skipping within 5 days of the surgery but it's nice to know that I might feel a little bit better than the first one. My recovery wasn't the worse but it also wasn't the best. For months after the surgery, I felt pains here and there when I laughed or sneezed. I remember I was told not to drive for 2 weeks and not to lift more than the weight of my child. I had help from Rex, Rex's family and my own family and friends the first time. This time might be a little different because we do live farther than Laurel and that some circumstances with the family might be harder to come by. I didn't saw what day we chose. Well Nia's estimated due date is July 12th. For the C-Section I was given any day from July 6 to the 10th. Yup no July 4th, well unless she decides to come on her own accord earlier. So given that week to chose from, Rex and I decided on July 7th. Yup 7-7-15. Apparently 12:45 pm was the only time to schedule me that day too, so maybe more people had the same idea. I was also thinking about 7-8-15, if the 7th wasn't available. The math part of me liked that date because 7 +8 = 15. Hehe.

We are getting more prepared at home for the birth. We already have a lot of baby supplies that we saved from having May and those are in a storage/panty section of the house. We are planning to go back to NJ sooner than later to pick up the car seat that we had for May. May has been forward facing since she was around 20 months, she was of the weight requirement to be forward facing for the seat. May is getting more aware of "mommy's big belly" as she calls it. She has her tantrums and I know she's not going to get completely over them in the next couple of months. Nia is doing fine in the womb, I can feel her space is getting less in there because she is pushing out more. Her heart rate has been more at a range 131 to 141 beats per minute, while I remember May's being 141 to 163. My next doctor's appointment is on Wednesday. I have to go every week now. Apparently too if you are going to have a C-section, the doctors don't check to see if you are dilated or effaced during those last few weeks.

The homestretch is here and I know the night leg cramps and acid reflux will be subsiding soon. We have our baby girl Nia!

Just wanted to share a few pics of May with Nia. There's still 6 weeks left, though that may be shorter. We have been trying to get May more ready each day with the upcoming birth of her sister. She's more hugging and kissing my stomach, than kicking and trying to crawl over me, when I was in the earlier stages of pregnancy. I'll definitely be taking more pictures as we approach Nia's delivery and certainly May and Nia after the delivery.

I've been back and forth with decision ever since my 32 weeks appointment. I'm technically 33 weeks and 2 days today and I still trying to figure out which one to do. At my 32 week appointment last week I had an ultrasound and Nia is doing fine. She's 4 pounds and I forget how many ounces. The ultrasound tech said she's measuring a little big. I didn't get a chance to see my doctor for that day though I did return the next day. My doctor said it was OK if she's measuring a little bit big but if she is really much bigger for her week then we would have to looking into sooner options. Unfortunately she didn't have the results of the ultrasound present but she said if there was concern, I would be contacted. Since then I haven't heard anything but I do have another appoint on June 5. I told the doctor that I had been experience pelvic pain and she said that is common for this time in the pregnancy and also that I might be experiencing a little stronger pains because I had a prior C-section and the uterus slightly weaker. We also discussed birthing options, now that it's getting closer to delivery.

Now around 16 weeks pregnant I went to the doctor and I see different doctors in the same office and when I spoke to that doctor he said though the option of a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is possible, he suggested that I schedule a C-section as there are risks like uterine rupture associated with VBAC's, though very rare, that could lead to a hysterectomy. In some cases, there is a emergency C-section that has to be done and in this case there is risk of infection and even death for the fetus and/or the mother. His information made we really think to get a scheduled C-section, though I remember how long and difficult the process of recovery was, and there's a risk of infection with that option too (He's against VBACs). The doctor I had recently said that it is very possible to have a VBAC given my circumstances (She's pro-VBACs). My prior C-section was due to an emergency for the fetus. May's heart rate dropped to zero, Rex said and I was put on oxygen and had to sit in different positions because she was not getting enough oxygen. The doctors then though the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. I got to 6 cm ofter almost a week from her original due date and I when into labor on my own, I did get an epidural at 4 cm. So with all that into account, my doctor from the last visit says I never really got a chance to see what my body can do. There is also the consideration of having more children. Rex and I are pretty much set on 2, May and Nia. If I get another C-Section, I'm greatly reducing my chance for more children and if I have a vaginal birth, my chances improve.

Talk about confusing. I searched VBACs after the first consultation and saw that there were many success stories, pretty much 60 to 80%  a success rate. This recent I was given a two packet with information about a VBAC and repeat cesarean in which I have to consent to either one. I do remember for the C-section in the hospital I had to sign papers. That was so quick though because they had to really get me into the operation room.

So what I'm really thinking about is the best option for me. I've spoken to Rex and he says the same. I'm just still trying to figure it out. Both have their pros and cons. To be honest, I didn't actually have a birth plan for May. I thought I would have a vaginal birth but I didn't want to be set on it knowing that things don't always go as planned. I feel this time I have to go into the delivery with more of plan, which I understand, it's just a little harder to decide. I didn't have a 2 and half year old running around before and with a C-section I know it'll be much harder for recovery. I know I will have help but moving in general is difficult after a cesarean and honestly it took me like a couple months to really feel like myself again. The VBAC sounds more pleasing because the recovery is shorter but considering May was about a week late and I never really had the chance to see what I could fully do. I also really think I'll have to get another epidural. With the repeat cesarean, I would know for sure when Nia is going to be born, unless she decides to come before the scheduled cesarean. I feel that even if I try for a VBAC there is the chance that I might have to another emergency C-section and depending on what size Nia final result is, I might not even be able to deliver vaginally. May was 8 pounds 7 ounces. In any chance though, it all boils down to a healthy child and mom. I know I'll come up with a decision soon. I have the consent form to give back to the doctor's office next visit.

I'm just hoping that either way, I have a safe delivery and we honestly can't wait to meet our growing baby Nia.

Wow it's been almost a year since I last posted on the blog. I decided to take some time off and just got caught up in life. There so many changes since the last update I posted. We no longer live in Moorestown. We now actually have been living in Baltimore, MD since February. Back in December I applied for a job with a temp agency in Maryland and luckily I was able to get an interview a position with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission in Laurel, MD. Rex as well was able to find work in DC, so all of us moved in with my sister-in-law in Maryland. We left the jobs we had in NJ and PA because we felt like even with the money coming in we couldn't get more on our feet. I am so thankful that we were able to stay with my family during the time. I remember when we first had to move back I was think it would only be a few weeks, it turned out to be about a year. May was also learning a lot at the daycare, though it was pricey having to pay over $200 each week.

When we first got back to MD, the position I had was more stable but Rex's was not as stable. It was ok because my in-laws were more able to watch May. I was a Buyer III working with contracts and memos and Rex was supposed to do more of the working in the hotel like he had previously done but the manager seemed to want to keep him more outside and in the cold. Now before we moved back to MD we also found out some big news that November. I am pregnant again! It was a shock. I had been at the document clerk job for four months when we found out and at first we both couldn't believe it. We had also tried to get insurance and change the car title to NJ while we lived in NJ but it was such a long process. I didn't even know how many weeks pregnant I was when we found out and we knew we had to really get the insurance. I was so nervous interviewing with the temp agency and going to the job, though I wasn't showing at all back in December. I'll say I was so tired during the first trimester and moody. Having a two year old, working and pregnant is a lot. I was also nauseous. When I told my parents they weren't immediately happy because they knew the situation we were in but they accepted and have been very supported. They said they are always there if we need them and that is so true. We waited until Christmas to tell my in-laws. We still didn't have insurance and I didn't know how far along I was. Luckily we were able to get insurance and I went to my first prenatal visit at 16 weeks pregnant.

Actually about 4 days before the appointment I had to go to the hospital due to food poisoning and a UTI.  Rex had picked me up with May in the backseat after work and we went to Denny's in Laurel to eat. I had a burger and felt fine eating the burger. This was also around the time that we were getting everything together to move into our townhouse in Baltimore. Later that day I started to feel very sick and when I threw up once I thought, "Oh well I threw up when I was pregnant with May three times, on three separate occasions, so this much just be the first time." Well later in the night I could not stop vomiting. I was so weak and we had the insurance by then so we when to the hospital and I was still vomiting. We were worried because we hadn't had any prenatal treatment other than me taking prenatal vitamins. Luckily the baby was fine and we got to see the baby on the ultrasound just moving and kicking and doing flips. I had to be treated for dehydration, vomiting and the UTI which was surprising to me because I never had a UTI before.

Flash forward to March, we had into the townhouse in Baltimore, my assignment ended at WSSC and Rex had found work at the Baltimore Port, which he is still at. Now the townhouse is a two bedroom townhouse and for the moment Rex's , Farms is staying with us, Farms would also watch May when she a baby. The townhouse is located near the Baltimore Harbor, actually on the other side downtown Baltimore, and less than 5 minutes away from were my brother-in-law and his family lives. After my assignment ended I tried looking for outside work, I told my job and they seemed happy but work ran out for the assignment. I interviewed for another assignment, at that time 4 months pregnant, but lost that to a more experience candidate. I can see it's even harder finding work while pregnant. So I looked more for online jobs, much like I did during the first few months when we moved back to NJ and I think I might have actually found something legit and not a scam, working part time, rating ads. I have about 3 more months to go and I know that I'll be able to find something after the baby is born. Oh let me stop saying the baby. We are having another girl and we also have named her. Her name will be Nia Jane Sumo. Jane is the middle name of my grandmother and I've also liked the name of Nia.

For the time now, I watch May while Rex is at work, before my brother-in-law's girlfriend would watch May while both Rex and I were at work. We are still working to get more on our feet and we know we'll have our hands full even more when Nia comes. Thankful we are working together through all these twists and turns and we will continue to be working through all the humps that further await. At this current moment I am 29 weeks pregnant and May is becoming more and more aware of her sister to be as well as so is learning so many new words and songs. She's even starting to say "Gracias."

I'll be posting on the blog more. I'll have product reviews like before and I'll be really working towards that 30 before 30 list. Sometimes in life you must rest and when the time is right you'll see things fall into place.

Here's a couple a pictures from the past few months, enjoy :-)

Today marks a year since we found out I was pregnant. I remember that day like it was yesterday. It had been a few weeks after Spring Break and a few days since I had gotten back from a conference in Tallahassee. We got the pregnancy test a couple of days after I missed my period. I remember how it was waiting for the result of the test and how we felt after the result showed. PREGNANT!!! Such a flood of emotions and above all, pure joy :-)

Thinking about the journey we had after finding out and leading to her delivery is nothing short of amazing. We both went from not knowing much about children to raising one of our own. Though at 25, I felt mature to have a child, and even now with her almost four months, it's still a bit overwhelming. Every child is truly different, no matter how many classes take and books you might read.

As I write this entry, our daughter played with her first doll. Her little hands and feet are so cute. She is fighting sleep. Tossing the doll to the side and rubbing her eyes. We are so happy she's here with us and we love watch her grow more each day. We love you May. Always and forever.

Started with this:  :-D


And now.... :-D!!!!

The long awaited day finally came. May is here and she is cute as ever. We can't believe we're parents to such a beautiful and happy little girl. I'll break down the story of her delivery.

The morning of December 12th, I woke up to what felt like cramps. I was 40 weeks and 4 days pregnant and had a doctor's appointment at 9:45 that morning. The appointment was to monitor how May was doing, as she was overdue. The cramps where mild and I didn't want to over excite myself because for the weeks before, I had not felt anything close to being in labor. When I went to the appointment, I was given my schedule for an induction on the 18th at 7:30 am. I was hooked up to the monitors and at first the doctor was not happy with the results. May was not moving much and her heartrate was low. He wanted me to have an ultrasound done but as I waited for another woman to finish hers, May began to move and the results were more pleasing. The doctor checked me and found that I was 80% effaced and 1.5 cm. This made me happy because I was finally dilated. He also asked if I was feeling the contractions, that I was having, which I replied yes. He said that he didn't think I would make it to the date of the induction and because of the results of the fetal monitoring, he scheduled me for an ultrasound and another Non-Stress Test, that Friday. He said I'd mostly have her by the weekend.

I left feeling happy there was more progress but also concerned about the results of the test. I continued having the contractions throughout the day and Rex and I decided to walk, to help speed the process. It didn't work and by 4 pm that evening, my contractions were still 10 minutes apart and 20 seconds long. By 7 pm, I started feeling stronger contractions that were lasting longer and thought, "Hey, May might actually be born on 12/12/12." The contractions were very uncomfortable and the pain level was around 4. Prior to visiting the hospital, my office requires calling the on call doctor who clears you for the go. I called and he told me to wait until they were 4 to 5 minutes apart. Waiting was hard, as I was tired and the contractions were getting stronger. I tried to go to sleep and all I could think was, "It's going to be a long night."

I timed them, and at around 11 pm, they were much closer together. I called the doctor and he gave me the OK to go the hospital. We arrived at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, 25 minutes later. I was in pain and we took the elevator up to the fourth floor for the maternity ward. I was taken back to triage, where the nurse checked me and said I was 3.5 cm dilated. She confirmed I was in labor. She asked if I wanted to get an epidural then. I replied I did want the epidural but I'd wait it out. As I waited to be admitted, the contractions got stronger and more painful. The nurse appeared after a while to say I was admitted and as I was moving from the bed to wheelchair to go to labor and delivery, I felt a few drops of water and the nurse tested it and saw it was amniotic fluid.  I was settled in my room and was checked and the nurse found that I was 4 cm. I got the epidural then. I had a contraction while getting the epidural. Not long after getting epidural, I felt a gush of water and knew my water had broke. The contractions started to feel like pressure and I felt better. It was about 2 am around this time and I decided to try get some sleep to save energy for pushing.

The nurse keep coming in and checking the results of my fetal monitor. At one point I was given oxygen. Soon the doctor came in and they both were looking at the monitor results. After a little while he told me that the heartrate kept dropping and they were concerned. He checked me and said I was around 6 cm dilated. He left and shortly came back in and said that due to the results of the monitor, and how many more hours I had left to start pushing, he advised that I get an emergency C-Section. My thought went back to what my mom told me when I was born, that she had to get an emergency C-Section due to the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck. I thought this might be the same case with May. I agreed to the C-Section, and very quickly things changed. Rex was given scrubs to change into and not long after I was taken to the operating room. I was prepped for surgery and at 6:19 am on Dec 13th, May entered the world. Upon hearing her first cries, I cried. I couldn't control my tears. The nurse brought her to my head after they were done cleaning her off and I kissed her cheek. She weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces, and was 21 inches long.

We spent 3 days in the hospital and got discharged early due to being healthy on both accounts. We are absolutely in love and May is so adorable. Though the emergency c-section was kind of scary, I am happy that she is healthy and safe. I know my recovery process will take a while. So far though, with all the help, it hasn't been too bad.

 Well we're past May's due date. I'm am currently 40 weeks and 2 pregnant and still no real signs of going into labor any time soon. I know she could be born any day now but I don't feel contractions at all. She's still moving with as little space she still has in there. I'm hoping she's OK. I have my non-stress on Wednesday and that will better monitor how she's doing in there. I definitely can see that babies come when they want and we are all so ready to meet her.

I've been reading about going over the due date and seeing that it could be because of a miscalculation of when the baby was conceived. I'm thinking that could be the case. Though I know the first day of my last menstrual cycle, I'm not entirely sure of when May was conceived. I did find out I was pregnant in April and I do know for sure she was conceived in March. I'll just have to be patient though. She'll come when she is ready. Until then she'll continue to grow and develop more. I'm really hoping she does not get to 9 pounds. There might be a bit of difficulty there. I did do walking yesterday. Rex and I went to Baltimore for a liquidation sale. Of course I got the "When are you due?" and "Is it a boy or a girl?" We walked around the convention center were it was was being held, because the entrance was not clearly marked. Let me say that is a big convention center and I did walk up and down flights of stairs too. We've also tried other methods of natural induction, but that didn't work too. The pineapple was good though :-)

One day though I'll be writing that she's here and finally in our arms. We've been waiting for that day ever since we found out I was pregnant and I know I'll cry once I hear her first cries. I'm already tearing up about it now. We love you May.

So I had my weekly doctor's visit today. I'm 39 weeks and 4 days. May is still cooking and her heart rate is at 137 beats per minute. I've gained about one pound and I am still not dilated. My doctor suggested a nonstress test for next week, given I don't go into labor by then. That'll put me at 40 weeks and 4 days, which would be 4 days past my due date. The nonstress test monitors the baby's heart rate and movement. I looked online and saw that this test is given for high-risk pregnancies, near the due date or past due. This pregnancy has been pretty normal.

I haven't been having any contractions over the past few days and I know the longer May stays in there the bigger she'll get. I know when she's ready she'll come though and plus the doctor told me they won't let me go past 42 weeks. At another appointment they said if she doesn't come by her due date, they'll induce me 7 to 10 days after that. That would mean either the 15th or the 18th. She'll definitely be out before Christmas. I'm trying not to get too anxious. We are still so ready to meet her.

As I was leaving the doctor's office today, a man asked me if I was having twins. I shook my head and said "no" and told I'm due in 3 days. He looked at me like I had two heads. The doctor did say her head seems lower. Which is good. We'll just have to wait and see. We love you May.

Just finished my 38 week check up. I had my first weekly check up at 36 weeks and not much has changed from then.  I'm not dilated though I am becoming more effaced, which the doctor said is good. This Saturday will mark 39 weeks. She's due the following Saturday. Hopefully changes start occurring next week.

I'm making good process though.  My sugar levels are normal as well as my blood pressure and May's heart rate is good. I know it's getting tighter in there for her and she has definitely dropped. I feel so much pressure on my pelvis and now I know what it feels like to go to the bathroom like every 30 minutes. She wants to keep cooking though and that's good. I just hope she comes by her due date. I want to hold her in my arms and see her.

We are as ready as we can be for her. Finally packed that hospital bag. We'll have to see what this next week brings...

May is officially  full term. Yay for 37 weeks! That means she could be coming any day now. There's still 3 more weeks until her due date. We got much of her nursery ready for her. Her crib and bedding are so cute. We did a jungle animal theme.

I'm going to pack my hospital bag this week and I already put in my pre registration with the hospital. It's been such an amazing journey, full of so many feelings. I had my first of my weekly visits to the doctor last week. I wasn't dilated then. I've also gained 29 pounds now. I have my next appointment Wednesday. We'll have to see how that appointment turns out. It won't be too long now, until I'll be writing she's here. Wow. We love you May!!!

Yesterday was my baby shower. It was hosted by my mom and grandmother and held at my grandmother's house in NJ. I took the greyhound back to NJ. I met so many cool people along the way (I had to make two transfers). They were asking me when I was due, and what the sex of the baby was. I also heard many stories about children in general as well.

I knew about the shower behind and didn't know if we'd still have it because of Hurricane Sandy. There is so much devastation in many parts of NJ and NY, thankfully around were my grandparents live and around where my guests we coming from, wasn't hit too bad. I invited some of my friends from NJ to the shower. I was going to have another shower in Maryland hosted by Rex's family, this coming Saturday but my father-in-law was seriously injured recently and we decided not to have the shower. He is doing better. It's a long road to recovery though :-(

The shower went very well and the turn out was good considering the recent storm. There were a few guests that couldn't make it. I am so thankful to my parents and my grandparents and everyone who came out to the shower, as well as those who couldn't make it and still thought about May and I. We all had a good time and I was very overwhelmed with all the gifts. Reality is really starting to set in and come Nov 8, it'll be a month before her due date. Rex and I are really getting things ready for May, as best we can :-)

I have my next doctor's appointment on the 7th. After that it's every week. In two weeks I'll be full term. It's very exciting, and I'm a bit nervous, but with the help of so many and my husband by my side, I know we'll be great parents and May is so surrounded by love <3.

I'm 33 weeks today! Yay! That means only 49 days to go. Wow like I've been saying, this pregnancy has been going by very fast. We're getting more things ready for baby May. We have a car seat given to us by one of my husband's co-workers and we just got back from North Carolina, where my aunt gave us a port-a-crib. We traveled down that way Wednesday and first we stopped in Lynchburg, VA were one of my best friends Carmen, her husband and my god daughter live. It was so wonderful seeing everyone and my god daughter is so gorgeous. I came so close to crying when I first held her. Rex was so great with her. We all really bonded. It was so nice to see Carmen as well. I first met her when we both attended Virginia State University back in 2005. My how things have changed!

We visited my aunt and my grandfather in North Carolina the later that night and stayed until the next day. It was great visiting them and the trip to seeing Carmen and my aunt and grandfather was very nice. We know when May comes won't be traveling for a long while. We'll be raising our daughter :-)

I've been feeling the pains of the third trimester. Back aches, insomnia, etc. The joys of pregnancy. It's all worth it though. The Braxton Hicks are coming more now too. Can't believe in 7 weeks or so, we'll be holding her. I remember when Rex and I first found out I was pregnant. How I was excited but worried in those first 12 weeks, how we told our family and friends, when I felt her first movements and when Rex first felt her movements. On the 25th I have my last ultrasound. So excited we'll get to see her again. I can tell her space is getting smaller. She doesn't move around as much, but she loves to sit on my right side. She has a perfect little spot there. We'll also see if she's turned. I have a feeling she'll turn closer to the due date. See you soon May!

I think I had my first start of Braxton Hicks contractions yesterday. I'm a little over 31 weeks now. They didn't last long and they weren't too strong but they were definitely noticeable. The Braxton Hicks are preparing me for real labor. This pregnancy has gone by so fast.

My doctor's appointments are every two weeks now. I took the Glucose Tolerance Test  my last visit. I was 29 weeks then. I passed! The drink was very syrupy and you have to drink it so quickly. I like that the doctor's office let me drink the mixture prior to coming to the appointment, so that by the time I got to the office, I could get my blood taken.

Early next month I'll attending my baby showers!!! My family in NJ is throwing one for me and my extended family here in MD is throwing one also. My husband and I are getting more and more ready. Soon I'll be pre-registering at the hospital, I'll be delivering at. Rex and I need to get that hospital bag ready. Come Thanksgiving I'll be a little past full term. May might want to be a turkey baby :-)

I got my first pair of maternity pants today. They're skinny jeans :-) I'm 30 weeks and 2 days. I was trying to hold out but I only had one pair of pants that kind of still fits me.  That size is two sizes bigger than what I wore pre-pregnancy. Many of my pre-pregnancy pants don't even come up pass my thighs and I was using the elastic band trick with them, but I was still popping out. At last I got maternity pants.

I feel SO much better now. I also got three maternity shirts. I got all the items from Motherhood Maternity. It's so weird I'm shopping there now. I remember walking past the store in the mall before. Now I'm running into the store trying to find something more comfortable for me and May. Most of my shirts and sweaters still fit. I'm also wearing a few dresses. I also got a free orthodontic pacifier with my purchases. Here's a pic of some of what I got:


So exciting. May will be here soon enough!

Caught May moving around and very active today. The song playing in the background is A Song For Mama by Boyz 2 Men.  Feeling her move is such a joy. Excuse the bad lighting.

Just recorded May kicking. I was sitting at my computer and she was really active. You can see I'm wearing my favorite cat pajama pants. They let my belly breathe so much easier. Enjoy!

Finally Rex and I know the gender of our baby. We're having a girl! We are so excited. We went in for the ultrasound earlier today and the ultrasound tech asked if we wanted to know the sex, at the end of the ultrasound. I said we wanted to know but we wanted her to write it on a piece of paper and seal the result in an envelope. I saw this idea on Youtube, to ask a bakery to bake a cupcake or cake with blue or pink filling, if the baby is a boy or a girl, then when you bit into the cake, the gender is revealed. She was very nice and we saw that she was very healthy and everything on track.

We saw her heart, her head, her spine, her brain, her arms, her legs and her face (it looked more like a skeleton). We also saw the blood flow going to her. Her heart rate was 144 which is 1 beat less than the last visit. I'm sure at one point we saw the sex because the tech never told us to look away, but for some of the time I didn't really know what I was looking at. I'm so happy she's doing well and that the amniotic fluid is also good.

From the doctor I found out that I'm on track for weight gain and I'm actually the same weight I was last visit. She said that during the first trimester, I didn't weigh too much more than my starting weight and that the 8 pounds I gained last visit, was more of a catch up. The doctor also measured my stomach and the measurement looked fine.  I'm just a natural worry wart.

After the doctor's visit we went to a bakery and asked if they could make a cupcake filled with blue or pink icing depending on the sex of the baby. At first the baker didn't know what we meant but as we explained it, the baker said sure and that they'd to it. We picked up the cupcakes (we only got two) and saw that the outside was white and the top was covered with white icing. We found a place to park and I handed a cupcake to Rex and as I was taking down the wrapping, I saw a pink bit of icing on the wrapper. I screamed "It's a girl!." I bit in and saw that the icing inside was pink. As Rex bit into his, he saw his was pink too. It was so wonderful. I couldn't contain myself for a moment. Rex was smiling and said "Yup." He was hoping for a girl, since all of his brother's have a boy as the first born child. I didn't have a preference and I kept going back and forth. The belly position seemed more like a boy and the family history seemed like we would be having a boy, but those heart rates above 140 every visit, really said girl. The first visit was 167, then 157, than 145 and now 144. We would have been happy to have a boy too. We just wanted our baby to be healthy.

I guess that Chinese Gender Predictor was right! 

Here are a couple of pictures:


We're going to name her May Kolu Sumo. May after my grandmother who passed away in 1999 and Kolu after Rex's mother in Liberia.

We love you May!