Chicken Nugget - 39 Weeks

Today was scheduled to be Chicken Nugget's birthday (eviction day), instead we're heading to the doctor for her one week appointment! I still can't believe the speed with which Maggie arrived into our lives. She's making up for her whirlwind arrival by sleeping around the clock. I'm actually having to wake her up to eat. I know that in a few days/weeks, she'll wake up and I'll laugh about setting the alarm at night to feed her as she'll be waking me up. Until then I'm going to enjoy my sleepy baby who is such a wonderful Birthday/Christmas present!

You can see the entire Chicken Nugget pregnancy set here.

Introducing Chicken Nugget

Scott, Molly and I are so happy to introduce Chicken Nugget! She was born on Saturday, December 21st at 2:45 a.m. at a hearty 8 lbs and12 oz.

Marjorie Catherine (Maggie for short) is named after my favorite Great Aunt Marjorie who I loved so much as a child. We had a special relationship when I was a child and used to exchange many letters which delighted 8-year-old me to no end.

I ended up with an unexpected VBAC after planning a scheduled c-section. I started having some crampy feelings on Friday afternoon and called my doctor. She said that it sounded like I might be in early labor and to time things. I timed them all evening and was having cramps every 9-10 minutes or so. I went to bed and thought well I'll get some rest so if I'm in labor, I'm at least rested. I woke up at 1 a.m. with crazy, intense contractions. I felt like I had to poop and my water broke. I woke Scott up and called my Dad to come watch the toddler. Scott called my doctor who said that we needed to come in. My Dad made record time and helped me to the car where I made Scott run a few red lights on the way to the hospital. Luckily we live about 2 miles away so it was a short, yet intense drive. We arrived around 2:15 a.m. and dashed into the emergency room.

I got wheeled up to the Labor and Delivery floor while trying to breathe and not scream. I got into my room and striped down. Seriously, just striped. The nurses were awesome. They got right in my face and told me how to breathe all the while communicating what they were going to do. My family doctor came in along with the OB. They checked me and said I was at 10. The OB said I could try a VBAC if I wanted. I said sure and asked for drugs. Well I never got them because they said I'd have to sit up and I was not able to do that. The OB who I have had issues with in the past was AMAZING! She coached me through every push and gave me clear direction. She was aggressive and firm which was exactly what I needed. I pushed maybe 5-6 times and had Maggie at 2:45 a.m. They put her on my chest and Scott cut the cord.

We've been chilling in the hospital getting to know our Maggie now. She's been sleeping most of the day and I should also sleep but I'm so amp'd up! Molly came by to meet her and thought she was pretty cool. Molly is now off with Grandpa and Grandma having an adventure!

Welcome to the world Maggie! We are so excited to get to know you!

Chicken Nugget - 38 Weeks

It's been a rough week in Nugget land. I had my usual BPP Ultrasound on Tuesday morning but she didn't pass with flying colors so my NST was moved up to Wednesday from Friday. That meant I had to take Molly with me but I wasn't worried as I was sure it would be quick. Two and a half hours later with another BPP Ultrasound thrown in, all was declared good with Chicken Nugget. Molly was a champ luckily which helped me out when I was stressing.

I had my usual doctor's appointment on Thursday and I'm measuring at 41 weeks. Whew! Big baby girl! I'm still feeling good but I'm so ready to meet Chicken Nugget on the outside. 6 more days (or less if she decides to make an earlier appearance).

Chicken Nugget - 37 Weeks

It's been a sick week. I had a cold and got something in my eye which made me think I had pink eye but I didn't, just a bad scrape. I've gotten some pregnancy insomnia but Scott has been letting me sleep in when I am asleep which is so glorious! 

I had a growth ultrasound where they have pronounced Chicken Nugget to be 8 lbs 12 oz with a big belly like her sister! My doctor thinks she'll be closer to 8 lbs but hey maybe I make big, hearty babies. My doctor is also convinced that I'll have her next week which I will more than welcome. She said that maybe the baby will be my birthday present which would be hilarious because then I'd get my birthday sushi! You bet, I'd be sending Scott out to get that as soon as I was cleared to eat. 

We're in the period of pregnancy where everything hurts and is a pain but I know that it will all be over soon and I'll miss being pregnant. I also know that an inside baby is a lot less work than an outside baby but I'm ready to meet my Chicken Nugget! I'm not very good at being patient. 

Packing the Hospital Bag

In just under 3 weeks, I'll be heading to the hospital to have a baby. Since babies are unpredictable and sometimes come early, I decided to pack my hospital bag now. This time around, I didn't just have to pack my bag, I also had to pack Molly's bag for her visit to Grandpa and Grandma's. 

For my bag, here is what I've included:

• Baby's Birth Certificate Form (pre-filled out)
• Warm Socks
• Lip Balm, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner and soap
• Camera Cord
• iPhone Charger
• iPad Charger
• Going Home Outfit for me
• Nursing Tanks (2)
• Going Home Outfit for Chicken Nugget
• Molly's Gift to Chicken Nugget (+ gift bag)
• Chicken Nugget's Gift to Molly (+ gift bag)
• Chicken Nugget's Blanket
• Breast Feeding Herbs
• Pump Supplies
• Extra Hat + Outfit for Chicken Nugget
• Car Seat (this has been installed in the car already. Molly yells, "Baby Seat" every time we get in the car now. She is going to be excited to a baby in there soon.)

I still need to pack: 

• Photo ID
• iPad
• iPhone
• Camera
• Knitting! (a woman can dream)
• Make-Up
• Hairbrush

I haven't included much in the way of clothing for myself as I like to just wear what the hospital provides. Birth is a messy process and they can do the laundry. I'll be busy snuggling a baby! 

For Molly's bag, I still need to pack most of her essentials but here is what I've included so far:

• Snacks and Pouches - Grandma and Grandpa will feed her just fine but I like to provide them with snacks in case of toddler meltdowns.
• Disposable Diapers - again, why make my parents take care of cloth diapers when they are already doing me a huge favor!
• Kindle, Kindle Charger and Headphones - This is the WHY WON'T THE CHILD SLEEP KIT where I give my parents permission to hand her the Kindle, put on a cartoon and let her watch it until she goes to sleep because you have to do what you have to do when kids are out of their usual routine.
• Toys and Books
• Eating and Drinking Utensils
• Booster Seat for eating

Still need to pack:

• Carseat
• Winter Coat, Gloves and Hat
• Clothing (I put her clothing in separate ziplock bags and label them. My Dad has taken her to church in her PJs because he didn't know they were PJs so I try to help them out)
• Favorite Blanket and Doll

Chicken Nugget - 36 Weeks

Oh Chicken Nugget, We get to meet you in three short weeks (or sooner if you decide to be impatient). I'm at that point where I am so done with being pregnant but I know the longer you bake, the better. 

I've been preparing for your arrival and I think I'm ready. We have your co-sleeper set up, I have the hospital bag almost all ready to go, I have your coming home outfit finished and your sister talks about you a lot. 

I installed your car seat this week. Unfortunately I discovered that one of the cats had pee'd in it so the entire seat was washed (except the straps!) and everything is fresh and clean now. 

My doctor's appointment this week went well and all looks good. I realized that I only have two more doctor appointments before I meet you which seems really, really soon! We also consulted with the OB today who will perform my c-section. He said that he wants to give us skin-to-skin in the OR which is so awesome! He also told me that this recovery will be a lot easier since I won't be tired from labor. Since I had a pretty good recovery with Molly, I'm hoping this one is even better. 

We are so excited and a little bit nervous at the thought of having two kids in our house. But at the end of the day, we are more excited than nervous. We've kept your sister happy for over two years so we have faith that we'll be able to take great care of you too. 

Chicken Nugget - 35 Weeks

I'm at the point in pregnancy where I feel 100 weeks pregnant rather than 35. I have a definite waddle and I'm slow. I take a long time to walk places and I can so feel it in my hips when I do so. But I have a toddler so laying on the couch is not an option. This holiday weekend has been wonderful though as Scott is home and keeping up with the toddler. 

Our timeline to meeting the Nugget is getting shorter and shorter! Only 4 more weeks. It's weird having an eviction date because I know exactly how long I'll be pregnant unless I go into labor early. 

We have a lot to pack in these last four weeks as a family of three. The holiday season is in full swing and I want Molly to do everything before we enter the quieter newborn period. Molly has been busy kissing my belly and patting the baby. She yells, GENTLE as she hits my tummy which is amusing now but I'm sure hoping she is gentle with Chicken Nugget though. 

Chicken Nugget - 34 Weeks

This week has been so much better! Molly has been sleeping again which means I've had some time to myself. This alone time is so precious that I'm selfishly hoarding it while also wanting to spend all my time with just Molly as soon we'll have a new sidekick to our troop. 

I'm feeling HUGE and I don't remember being this big with Molly. I can't wait to see how big this little girl is. I have a growth ultrasound in a few weeks and then in five weeks, I'll see how accurate that test was. FIVE WEEKS! This means Christmas is almost here and then I'll have a new baby! 

Chicken Nugget - 33 Weeks

It has been a week around here! Molly has not been sleeping well and that is just causing me to be exhausted. Something I guess I'll need to get used to soon! But I'll be honest I was looking forward to a few more weeks of good sleep. 

I had a bit of protein in my urine at my doctor's appointment this week but my blood work came back all clear so that was good. Chicken Nugget did excellent on her weekly u/s and NSTs. 

Otherwise, I'm just getting ready to meet this little girl in 6 short weeks! I'm excited for Molly to have a sister and to meet my newest daughter. 

Lactation Cookies

As part of my freezer madness plan, I've decided to make a big batch of lactation cookie dough so I can enjoy these after Chicken Nugget comes. I loved these when I had Molly and while I'm not sure if they actually help milk production, I do know that they are DELICIOUS! These are so good that Scott used to sneak some when he thought I wasn't looking. This time around, I'm going to make enough to share. 

Most of this recipe can be adapted to your taste - Don't like nuts, then put in raisins. Don't want chocolate chips (NO!), sub in something else. However there are three things that make these cookies, lactation cookies and if you leave them out, you are missing out on the benefits of these delicious cookies. The first is Brewer's Yeast. I included a photo above to help you find it in your store. I usually buy it in the vitamin section at Whole Foods. It is different than nutritional yeast, you want Brewer's Yeast! The other two items are old-fashioned rolled oats and flax seed. All these to these ingredients help with lactation so don't leave them out!

I originally found this recipe on a parenting forum and I've made some changes to it myself. I love, love, love these cookies and try to make them for all the new moms in my life. Enjoy! 

Lactation Cookies
Makes about 2 dozen

• 1.5 cups unsalted butter, softened 
• 2 cups light brown sugar, packed 
• 3 large eggs 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon 
• 1 teaspoon salt (I like fine ground sea salt) 
• 1/4 cup brewer’s yeast
• 3 Tablespoons ground whole flax seed meal 
• 1/4 cup water 
• 4.5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 
• 1 cup chocolate chips 
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• 1 cup walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350F. 
2. Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy and smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat until smooth. 
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, brewer's yeast in a separate bowl. Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined. 
4. Mix the flax seed meal and water in a small bowl and then add to your dough. 
5. Fold in the oats, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and walnuts. The dough will be harder to mix at this point so put some arm muscle into it. 
6. Place your cookie dough in the fridge for at least an hour to firm up the dough. If you are freezing the dough, now is a good time to roll it into logs OR refrigerate for an hour and then roll into balls of cookie dough. Place the cookie dough on cookie sheets in the freezer for 2 hours until the balls are frozen, then place them in a freezer bag and back into the oven to enjoy later. 
7. Once the dough is firm, bake the cookies on ungreased cookie sheets about 2" apart in your preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. 
8. Cool for 5 minutes before eating. 
9. Freezer Directions: Remove your frozen cookie balls from the freezer and place directly on an ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes and cool for 5 minutes before eating. 

Now who is going to clean up my very messy kitchen while I eat cookies? Darn it! I can't eat them yet but soon, so soon!

Chicken Nugget - 32 Weeks

This was a busy week for me! We all flew to San Diego for my best friend's wedding over the weekend and I was a bit apprehensive about flying at almost 32 weeks pregnant. It was totally fine though. I wore my compression knee high socks and made sure to move as much as possible. Molly ended up with her own seat due to the kindness of strangers which was a blessing because she kept trying to sit on the bump.

I had a busy weekend of wedding obligations but they were so much fun that they weren't obligations in the least. I did bow out of dinner with the bride and the rest of the bridesmaids the night before the wedding because I was exhausted and missing Molly.

We got back to Seattle on Tuesday night and I powered through Wednesday without missing a beat. Thursday was another story. I was in a daze all day. So much so that a friend kept asking me if everything was OK. Ugh! Friday morning, Molly woke up with a cough so we hunkered down for the day. She might have watched A LOT of TV while resting.

I'm in the home stretch of this pregnancy and I have so much to get done. Chicken Nugget lets me know her presence often which spurs me on through my to-do list. 7 more weeks to go!

Chicken Nugget - 31 Weeks

I just booked out all my OB appointments until my due date and I'm wigged out a bit because there weren't that many to book! 8 more weeks until Chicken Nugget comes along which means this is getting real. Luckily I am doing well on my to-do list. Christmas shopping and knitting is well under way. Molly's birthday party is being planned and my freezer meal project has really stocked up our freezer. It's getting so full! 

My stomach has been aching this week like it is being stretched out. My doctor felt Chicken Nugget at my appointment this week and confirmed she is lying side-wise across my belly. She said that is why I'm feeling stretched but that I am perfectly on target with fundal height. I'm getting excited to meet this new baby but also feeling a little anxiety because life is going to change again (for the better)! 

 

Chicken Nugget - 30 weeks

It's really sinking in. I'm in my THIRD trimester and in 9 very short weeks, I'll have a baby in my arms. I feel like I have so much to do but really I don't. We bought Molly a Big Girl bed this weekend and are getting the crib ready for Chicken Nugget. I need to wash the baby clothing but I'll wait until I am closer. I've finished knitting two sweaters, a pair of booties and pants. I just have one more sweater to finish (maybe, I'm not in love with it and am considering my options). Chicken Nugget's Monster for her weekly photos is almost done. I just need to buy more stuffing so it is properly full. My freezer meal project is going well so we won't go hungry along with the amazing meal train that my friends are putting together. My weekly U/S and NSTs are getting to be routine and boring which is a very good thing. I'm seeing the doctor every other week for a few more weeks. Then I'll switch to weekly at 36 weeks. 

My weekly photos have been a source of entertainment for Molly. Here she is, peeking in on me!

I found a picture that Scott took of me at 30 weeks last time and thought it would be fun to show the side-by-side comparison. 

I'm definitely bigger this time around but the funny thing is that I weigh almost 20 lbs less! Maybe the lower weight makes the baby stick out further. All in all though, things are going well. I just feel like I have so much to do before my deadline comes up!

Top 10 Pregancy Must-Haves

I'm deep in the throes of pregnancy which got me thinking about things that get me through these final weeks. With my first pregnancy, I felt like I needed ALL the things but this time around, I've gone back to a few staples that got me through last time.

Without further adieu, here are my Top 10 Pregnancy Must-Haves!

1.

The Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow

This is my TOP pregnancy item pick. I wouldn't be able to sleep without it. My husband hates it because it takes up a lot of the bed but I love it so much that I refuse to sleep without it. My hips are no longer achy when I wake-up and it helps me sleep through the night.

2.

Soft Form Maternity Support Belt, Universal Medium

I didn't have pelvic pain the first time around but I've had a ton this time. I mentioned it to my doctor who suggested a Maternity Support Belt and this has changed my life. I can exercise again and get all my day to day things done without being in pain and I really like that. 

3.

Erin O'Brien's Prenatal Fitness Fix

Along with walking, I've done this video a few times and I love it. Exercise is so important even when I'd rather just lie on the couch and watch television. It actually gives me more energy which is something I desperately need at almost 30 weeks. 

4.

The Prenatal Yoga Deck: 50 Poses and Meditations

If you can't make it to a prenatal yoga class, this deck is awesome! 

5.

Burt's Bees The Mama Bee Collection Mama Bee Belly Butter 6.5 oz.

Full Disclosure: Belly Butter did not prevent stretch marks either time for me BUT I love how it feels and there is nothing wrong with rubbing some nice lotion on one's belly and feeling better. 

6.

Earth Mama Angel Baby Pregnancy Pampering Kit

Speaking of pampering, this kit is awesome! It's full of all the little things that make you feel good and they are all safe to use while pregnant. 

7.

Belli Complexion Protection Duo

Early pregnancy does bad things to my skin but then I'm limited to what I can use. This stuff is awesome! It clears up my face and makes my skin smooth. 

8. & 9.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too!

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (4th Edition): The Complete Guide

These two books are my pregnancy go-tos! They are concise, well-written and health oriented. I like books that aren't cutesy about pregnancy but just tell me the facts. I like the facts. 

10.

Arriva Travel-Tec- SCT Travel Legwear (Mens, Black, Large)

Compression Socks are not just for old people! They are the very best thing when pregnant. And if you have to fly somewhere, like I do soon, they are even better. They make your legs feel less tired and help keep them from swelling. 

What are your pregnancy must-haves?