The Big Diaper Bag Debate

One of the last big purchases left to get before the baby gets here is a new diaper bag. The one I used with Lila literally ripped apart so I need a new one! I think as a second time mom, I won't feel the need to pack as much stuff into the bag as I did the first time around. But, I will have a few things for Lila in there (usually a snack, wipes, extra panties and pants) in addition to whatever I need for baby (btw, what do I need!? I totally forget!). I also will not spend over $100 on it (my wonderful mom has generously contributed to the cause!) but I'd like to keep the cost at $60-75 if possible.

I'm leaning towards black and white mainly, but I love pink of course as well.

I had decided on this one, the JJ Cole System 180 bag... but I'm not super excited about the pattern/color and the reviews aren't stellar. But I like that it is a messenger/crossbody style bag with a flap on the front.

I love this JJ Cole one because it looks like a super cute purse!

I also really like this Ju-Ju-Be HoboBe Bag.

This Ju Ju Be BFF bag is awesome because it can be a backpack and a messenger bag depending on how you put the straps.  

This Timi and Leslie bag is another messenger/backpack style:

Eeek! I don't know! I guess I need to go back to BuyBuyBaby and look at some of these in person. I really want to get a nice durable bag this time around!

Baby #2: 31 Weeks and some Hypnobabies highlights

Now that it's getting colder and getting closer to Halloween and the other holidays, my due date is feeling more and more imminent. I am 31 weeks today! 9 weeks to go until Christmas. I'm getting really excited to meet the baby and to be done with being pregnant! I'm so ready to get this weight off and start running and moving again! I'm obviously getting bigger and slower and even though I'm trying to walk and stretch a lot, I am truly looking forward to a real workout whenever I can start that up again!

I'm feeling pretty good, honestly. Yes I'm 8 months pregnant so things hurt and I have some discomfort, but we're getting so close! I am sleeping pretty well, but of course I have my nights where I can't get comfortable. 

Something that is making a huge difference in my sleep is the fact that I'm listening to my Hypnobabies tracks each night. So instead of trying to fall asleep with a thousand random thoughts and worries in my head, I doze off with positive thoughts about the birth or guided relaxation and hypnosis. I love it! I was pretty dubious in the beginning (as I am with most things, being the analytical skeptic that I am) but I truly believe that I am going to have a wonderful birth and that Hypnobabies will help me deal with the fear that I have leftover from Lila's delivery! 

Ok, I know what you must be thinking... seriously? The only way Lindsay can give birth is by being hypnotized?! What a crock.  Yeah, I was there, too.  I was very skeptical. First, this is NOT what you think of when you think of hypnosis. I'm not going to be under someone's hypnotic control and unable to think, talk, or move around for myself.  Hypnobabies is self-hypnosis which allows me to be mobile, open my eyes, and to go in and out of a deeply relaxed state when my pressure waves come and go.  I am able to come in and out of hypnosis at my choosing. I have tracks to listen to to prepare for birthing time and also specific tracks to only listen to when the actual birthing time begins. There are even tracks you can download for VBAC, stopping pre-term labor, helping with nausea and one called "Come Out Baby!" which I just might have to order if we are approaching 41 weeks again this time.

One simple thing I've learned with my two weeks of Hypnobabies practice is the power of positive thoughts and also positive language and phrasing. Instead of contractions, I will experience pressure waves or birthing waves. Labor is called birthing time and words like pain/hard/etc. are rephrased positively such as strong, powerful, intense, etc. I am also protecting myself from negative thoughts and birth stories and I'm trying to only surround myself with people and stories that are positive and uplifting and supportive. 

I also wanted to share some of my favorite positive pregnancy affirmations. These are from the Joyful Pregnancy Affirmations track that I have listened to every single day since I started Hypnobabies and plan to until birthing time. It's a 33 min track of positive statements about pregnancy and birth and I can't tell you how much it's helped me, especially the sentences in bold!

 I deserve an easy and completely comfortable birthing.

 With every breath I exhale from now on, I feel more confident.

 I stay centered and balanced in my birthing time.

 This is a new birth and a new baby, unique unto itself.

 Through birth, I find healing.

 My job is to simply relax and allow my baby's birth to happen.

 I see myself birthing beautifully, calmly and with confidence.

 I look forward to giving birth with happiness and excitement.  

 I deserve to have an easy and completely comfortable birthing, and I will!

---

I plan to share more about Hypnobabies as I move through the program. But so far, I am really loving how much it is preparing me for my birthing time. It's much more than just the tracks and hypnosis itself, but there are readings and a lot of other information including nutrition and exercises that are extremely helpful as well.

Here is my update pic for 31 weeks, and my first cold weather outfit! It was cold enough today to wear gloves. And yes, I'm pretty sure my face is getting fat/swollen! Ugh! I'm reminded of another positive affirmation: "I love my pregnant body and accept it everyday!" I'm really trying!

Rosalie June: 30 Weeks

Baby Rosie is still baking away in there and she is getting bigger and stronger everyday. Her movements are becoming way bigger and it feels like she is rolling from side to side a lot. She is extremely active, just like Lila was (and is!). So I am 30 weeks today. Less than 10 weeks until Christmas and my due date. Six weeks until full term. So exciting! It's getting closer!

I had a good quick appointment today. I am measuring right on at 30 weeks. Her heart rate was 125. My blood pressure was great and my "official" weight gain is 26 lbs. It's actually more than that in my eyes because my first appt. wasn't until 8 weeks, so that's where they were getting my starting weight I think. I think I gained 3-5 lbs between finding out about the pregnancy until the first appointment. This is the first appt. where they've said I single thing about my weight.

Oh well! I have gained around 30, which puts me on track to gain about 40. I think that's just what my body likes to do. I gained 46 with Lila and was back under my pre-pregnancy weight within 12-18 months. If I was more motivated earlier, I'm sure I could've gotten it off sooner. I think I will be more interested in getting back to normal quicker this time.

Everything is going well. We just had our family/maternity photos done (so much fun, I LOVE them and will be sharing some soon!) and we've just been having a lot of fun with Lila going to fall festivals, pumpkin patches, carnivals and just hanging out watching movies and playing.

I'm starting to really get prepared for the birth of baby Rosie. I'm getting very excited and I'm SO positive about it. I just started the Hypnobabies Home Study program, and so far it is awesome! I'm just in week 1 of the 5 week program which continues on after that until birthing time. I love how positive and motivating it is. Because I have a lot of anxiety and fear left over from Lila's traumatic c-section birth, I wanted to do something extra to prepare for this baby's arrival. At first the idea of doing self-hypnosis for birth sounded crazy, but now I'm really getting in to it. It's more about positive affirmations and positive thinking, deep relaxation and visualizations. Eventually I'll get into controlling discomfort and managing pressure waves (contractions). I'm actually looking forward to the birth now instead of being terrified.

Here's my 30 week photo. If you can't tell I'm attempting to grow out my hair and bangs and it's a pretty painful process especially on rainy humid days. I don't know how long this will last. Actually today in the car Lila said, "Mommy, your hair is getting long like a princess!" I think we might both grow ours out for a while.

And here are a few pics of my lovely little Lila bean:

And a sneak peak of our family photos from the wonderful Joseph Danzer! We went out to the gorgeous campus of Miami University where I happen to work and where Neil and I both went to college. It was awesome to take our family/maternity photos there and to have so many awesome shots taken by our friend Joe! We LOVE them and can't really pick favorites yet!

Baby Rosie: 29 Weeks

Another week down and we are at 29 weeks and just about 75 days to go until my due date! Crazy! I'm getting more excited than nervous, honestly. It's getting so much more real that we are going to have two precious little girls soon! I'm so excited to meet this baby that is rolling and kicking in my tummy. I truly cannot wait to see her face and have her join our family.

I've been working on a ton of crafty projects for the baby's room, so I'm hoping to share some nursery pictures at some point. Things are coming together at last! I'm still thinking about a crib mobile, a wreath for her door and some more of the art for the walls. Then of course I have to get Neil to help me hang everything. That is sometimes the hardest part!

Everything is really going pretty well. I feel pretty good most days but then sometimes I have a rough night's sleep and I wake up very sore and grumpy. My hips and legs hurt a lot. Rosie is very active and she wears me out honestly. I am getting kicked and headbutted most of the time! Get some sleep in there, child!

Things at work should be slowing down here in the next few weeks. My weekly class is wrapping up on the 24th, my other classes are dying down and then I have a conference presentation on Oct 25th. After that my schedule is much more open. I'm thankful for that! It's getting much harder to teach for a lot of the day and be on my feet like that.

Here is my update. Sorry for the blurry image, but it's the only one I've got! Someone was coming into the restroom so I think I shook my phone! Haha.

Baby Rosalie: 28 weeks

I had my 28 week appointment this morning and it went really well! I had another ultrasound to check on the choroid plexus cysts on the baby's brain. Looks like they are gone or have shrunk so much the ultrasound tech wasn't concerned. I will have another ultrasound in 4 weeks to check again. I'm not sure it's really necessary, because no one (including me) is very concerned, but I'm not going to refuse an ultrasound! I love getting to see my baby girl! I think they are just covering their bases.

Baby Rosie was doing great in there. She was moving a lot and everything looked good. She was head down but still obviously moving and switching positions a lot. Her heart rate was in the 140s and they estimate her at 2 lbs. 11 ounces, which is just slightly bigger than average for 28 weeks (2.5 lbs). I am also measuring 28 weeks and so is baby. We didn't get very many good photos because she had her hands over her face most of the time. It was really cool to see her moving around in there as I felt her kicking and moving.

There are 10 doctors in my OB practice and I've been trying to see all of them. I saw a male doctor today and he was one of the most supportive of VBAC so far! He was so casual about it. He was like, "You'll be great. You're not going to rupture." Which sounds a bit glib, because I could, but I like the confidence.

He basically said I'd be treated like any other laboring mom, except I'd need an IV placed and they will want to keep me on the monitors most of the time. He said I can have breaks from them to go to the bathroom, take a shower, get in the bath, etc. But I'd need to be monitored most of the time (contractions and baby's heart rate) but not constantly. He also said they have wireless monitors so I can move around!

He also said that I should really let my labor progress a bit before I come in and that I should wait until I'm in active labor to show up and there is no need to get there early to be monitored. If I have weird pain or bleeding I should get there quick, but otherwise I should labor at home for a few hours before I go in and definitely know I'm in labor. This was awesome news!!! I feel pretty good since I am only 15 minutes from the hospital. I'm honestly so relieved and optimistic about the birth at the moment. It's such a relief!

Otherwise, I'm doing well! I've been trying to take it easier and I've been sleeping okay. My symptoms are the same as always: heartburn, back pain, peeing a lot; but I've added some Braxton Hicks into the mix. Just a couple times a day.

Here's what I'm looking like now: