40 Week Update

40 weeks!!! We made it full term Avery :) You are now DEFINITELY ready to come meet the world! We welcome you with open arms any day you decide you are ready our sweet little girl!! I keep thinking it will be any night now, so I hope I am right one of these days! Regardless, we can't wait to meet you very very soon and hold you in our arms...and probably never let you go :)

How far along: 40 weeks!! We have officially made it to my due date- March 29th!

Total weight gain: Right around 32lbs...I hope it will come off fast =)

Maternity clothes: Usually all I am wearing right now (because I am already on maternity leave) are my comfy workout pants and sweatshirts =) ...I learned a valuable lesson that although they say to get your maternity jeans in the same size you normally are pre-pregnancy, that a size 26 is NOT going to fit me at 40 weeks pregnant!! Note to self for my next pregnancy.

Stretch marks: No...so thankful!! I still love my belly, but I will love it too when I can get some abs back =)

Sleep: I can't really complain...I still get up a lot to go to the bathroom but other than that I sleep pretty well! I have been trying to sleep in since I don't have to get up for work, but apparently my body isn't feeling that. Oh well!!

Best moment of this week: Our last ultrasound...finding out that Avery is now in the 58th percentile at an estimated 7lbs 6oz. So proud of her!! Also, the glimpses we have been getting of the amazing Spring weather was another highlight. I am so glad Avery is arriving with the Spring so we can enjoy A LOT of time outside in the sun and fresh air!

Miss anything: Still running and being my normal size...especially seeing these adorable new Spring clothing lines come out!

Movement: All the time! She loves to move her feet a lot on my right side...I think that is the only space she really has left. Sometimes I will feel her hands punch and arms move, but it's definitely her feet that I feel most of the time. She doesn't even have the room to turn sides anymore...her feet are always in the same place and have been for the last two weeks. The Dr. did tell us that her face is facing up ("sunny side up") and I think this can cause for some bad back labor...but hopefully, (and knowing Avery), she will turn around before labor!

Food cravings: I have really wanted chicken fingers lately...but that is nothing new since I was about 3 =)

Anything making you queasy or sick: No, I feel really good!

Have you started to show yet: Umm- yes.

Gender: Our little baby GIRL of course!!

Labor signs: I really don't know...I know some promising things that the doctor has told me, but really no contractions yet. Some back pain and maybe a few braxton hicks (but even then, I'm not really sure if it is Braxton Hicks or just her moving!) I am thinking that it will come out of the blue. I am hoping I won't have to be induced, but if I do, then at least we will get to pick the date and our doctor =) If Avery decides she wants to stay in till next Thursday then we will talk to the doctor about a date for the following week. 

Belly button in or out: Still in!

Wedding rings on or off: On, still no swelling anywhere!

Happy or moody most of the time: Very happy, but anxious!! Also, I am pretty bored during the day since I started my maternity leave on Wednesday. I am trying to enjoy this time of having little to nothing to do, but it's super hard when I just want her to be here!

Looking forward to: Going into labor...and of course- finally having Avery here and seeing her sweet little face!!

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing...

Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying, planning and dreaming....

...Which is why I am writing this blog post! Still no Avery!! I know her due date is still 3 days away AND most first babies are born the week following their due date or even the next, but I am still as impatient as ever. This time has definitely been the hardest part of my pregnancy...but I think that is for a reason. I feel amazing, but anyone that knows me well, knows that I have always been quite an impatient person in many aspects of life.

I strongly feel that this time is God's way of teaching me just a little bit more about patience and trust before I embark upon motherhood. After all, if pregnancy isn't one of the greatest examples of HIS timing- I don't know what is!! During these past 9-10 months, I have had to graciously learn how to relinquish all control. And that has NOT been easy for me. Throughout pregnancy, I felt that the only things I was able to have any control over were my health and my daily eating habits. Knowing that there is a little tiny person growing inside my body over which I had little control, was a hard concept for me grasp that I struggled with a lot. But through all of this, I have realized that this is the true miracle of pregnancy!

Everyday Jason and I are constantly in awe of the grand Designer. It is truly an unfathomable thought how He can take a few tiny little molecules and in 10 months, execute everything flawlessly according to His plan, to design the most perfect little person. Pregnancy has by far been the biggest event in my life to date- and I think it is awesome how I have had to totally trust and rely upon God to execute his perfect plan with almost all of it out of my control. It has been an amazing lesson in trust and sole reliance on Christ. It is incomprehensible to me how a woman can go through pregnancy and still not believe in God. Pregnancy is truly an unexplainable miracle that only God can make possible through His amazing and perfect design.

I am having to consistently remind myself that this time of waiting for her arrival is just the same. It is not my timing, but His. He knows exactly when she will be ready to come- and that time will be perfect. No matter what I do to try to speed things up- going for nightly walks, eating pineapple, bouncing on my yoga ball, eating eggplant parm, making labor cake, etc- it is STILL not up to me =) Yes, I am guilty of doing all of these things and more, but in the end I am learning an invaluable lesson of patience and trust in God's perfect timing.

Avery will be here when she is good and ready, but even more so when He is good and ready. And who can argue with His perfect timing?? Regardless of when and how she comes, Jason and I could not be more ready to meet her and welcome her into this world with so much love and happiness!! Thank you all so much for your prayers and thoughts during this time- keep them coming =) We can't wait to let everyone know when little Avery Reagan makes her grand entrance into this world in perfect timing!

"Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead!" (I Peter 1:6)

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust." (Psalm 91:2)

"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." (Job 37:14)

"I will give you peace and quietness." (I Chronicles 16:11)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)

"Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act." (Psalm 37: 5,7)

38 Week Update

38 weeks!!! The perfect time for Avery to come =) I am really not uncomfortable at all, but rather impatient and anxious! I hate not knowing the actual day she will make her appearance (or if I will have to be induced) because I wish I just knew how much longer I had to wait...typical me! Regardless, the time is going by very fast and we are super excited no matter when she comes! It is crazy to try to think about how much our life is about to change in a few days as we go from a family of 2 (only for about 11 months) to a family of 3! Come soon Avery Reagan Porche- we can't wait to meet you!!

 

How far along: 38 weeks!

Total weight gain: More than I wanted, but I'm not really too concerned about it right now since I'm so close to the end!! I think around 29 or 30 pounds.

Maternity clothes: Of course...Although, I still wear some non-maternity shirts since my stomach isn't too big, so I do enjoy that!

Stretch marks: No...so thankful!!

Sleep: My sleeping patterns have been pretty constant throughout my whole pregnancy. I sleep really well, but I still have to get up a lot to go to the bathroom. It is my own fault because I chug water 24/7 and haven't learned to stop before bedtime =) I do have a problem though where I seem to stay up and wait for her to move and get adjusted before I fall back asleep...so this is causing for some rough mornings! Next week is my last week of work before my maternity leave so I am looking forward to maybe a little sleeping in if Avery still hasn't made her grand entrance!

Best moment of this week: Jason's Birthday!!! Avery is his birthday present from me this year...so I feel bad that he has to wait a little, but I think it will be worth it =)

Miss anything: Running and being my normal size!! Soon enough!

Movement: She doesn't kick as much these days with the room running low in there, but she moves random arms, knees and legs constantly...which I think are more forceful than kicks since she is SO big now. The doctor estimates she is around 6lbs 10oz as of Wednesday (still right at the 50th percentile). She moves her feet a ton on my right side...sometimes its a little uncomfortable, but I still love every single movement!

Food cravings: Still sweets...I eat way too many. This will all change very soon as I will attempt to cut them out of my diet after she comes! For now, I am letting myself savor them =)

Anything making you queasy or sick: No, not at all! I have been blessed with feeling great every day of my pregnancy. Aside from some tiredness and the weight gain, I really haven't felt pregnant at all in the last 9 months.

Have you started to show yet: Yes!! But when I tell people I only have 14 days till my due date, everyone says they don't believe me. Apparently my belly is measuring 35-36 weeks right now at the doctor, so that's only 2 weeks behind- catching up!!

Gender: Our little baby GIRL of course!!

Labor signs: None yet, but we do know that she is very low!! However, my doctor always reminds me that labor can often start out of the blue with no signs, so this is what I am hoping for!! And soon...and fast...

Belly button in or out: Still in!

Wedding rings on or off: On, still no swelling anywhere!

Happy or moody most of the time: Very happy!! I can't believe we are going to get to meet little miss Avey Rae in a few days!! I do get tired sometimes, but other days I will have a ton of energy...overall I really can't complain about anything.

Looking forward to: Seeing Avery's little face and holding her in our arms!!!

Happy 27th Birthday to my Husband

Wow, this is your first Birthday since we have been married and your last without a baby!! :) I know you are so glad you are turning 27 before Avery comes...so you will seem older! haha I also know we aren't doing much this year by means of celebrating...but I am working on your present as I type this! She will be here sooner than you know :) 

I love you so much and I am so thankful that God put you on this earth for me. You are truly my soul mate and best friend. Thank you for constantly reminding and showing me how much you love me. Thank you for all the support you give me in every single aspect of life. Thank you for being such an amazing leader in our marriage and embodying Christ everyday. Thank you for being the father of our daughter...I truly believe she is one of the luckiest little girl's in the entire world to get to call you Dad. I cannot wait to see you with her- as I know the love that you already possess and display for Christ, me, family, friends and life will only be multiplied in your relationship with her. I love you so much and I am so glad you were born! Happy 27th Birthday JP!

 

37 Weeks- Ready to Pop!!

37 Weeks?!? Holy Cow...Avery is Full Term!! Which means she is ready to make her debut now any time she chooses :) I am hoping for 38-39 weeks, but we'll see what Avery has in mind! I thank the Lord everyday for the amazing pregnancy he has granted me with. We are feeling so blessed and ready to meet our precious little girl!! 

Jason and I decided to do a fun shoot tonight to commemorate this last big milestone...well before her birth of course ;) I must say, he did a pretty good job playing photographer and taking my directions!