Anniversary Weekend

This weekend Joey and I celebrated two anniversaries. Saturday the 23rd was our 8 year dating anniversary and Sunday the 24th was our 1 year wedding anniversary. Friday night we went to my favorite Indian resturant which I had been craving and only get about every 3 months or so. Then we headed to the UH baseball game with our friends. Saturday we went to this place called the Mason Jar for lunch so Joey could try their chicken fried steak and yesterday we spent the day at our families since this year our anniversary fell on Easter. Since I don't have a job at the moment and we have a little one on the way we didn't have the money to buy each other anything but it was very nice to spend the time together and go out to eat.

To me this first year of marriage has been the toughest since we've been together. It's had its ups & downs but this years downs have really been hard. In one year Joey lost his job, found another one, we got pregnant and I lost my job. I have to say though I wouldn't have wanted to go through it with anyone else. I love my husband so much. He really calms me and makes me feel like we can get through anything. (Sorry I didn't take any pics of us this weekend)

I love you babe!

34 Weeks

How far along? 34 Weeks 2 Days (6 weeks to go till D Day and 3 more weeks till full term!)

Baby's size?  Baby Center says: weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long.

Weight Gain? At today's Dr visit I gained 6lbs since my last visit 2 weeks ago :( Total gain +30lbs. I do not want to gain anymore weight! I feel so fat! I need to start eating healthier instead of all the sweets I've been consuming.

Maternity clothes? Oh yes

Stretch marks? Have some on my boobs now. Rubbing Palmers oil on 2-3x a day.

Belly button in or out? Still in

Sleep? Waking up once or twice to use the bathroom.

Foods I am loving? Breakfast foods

Foods I am hating? Nothing at the moment

Best moment this week? Hubby putting the pack and play together


Symptoms? HOT all the time! And not finding a comfortable position to be in

Gender? A girl Elizabeth Grace Lopez

What I miss? Not being so fat!

Dr. Appointment: I had my last 2 week appointment today. We are now down to once a week! Liz' heart rate was 158 and my blood pressure is still very good. I had to have a culture done today. The doctor said as long as I don't start having contractions she will start checking for dilation at 38 weeks.

What I'm looking forward to this week: My second and last baby shower!

Belly Pic:

Showering Elizabeth with Love: Shower #1

This weekend was my first baby shower. Joey's family hosted it and even though there wasn't a lot of people in attendance it was very nice. Liz is definitely loved and everyone can't wait for her to be here. Here are some pics of the day:

Host Barbara and I

Gift table

Little Sister Krysti and I

My mom and I

My Mother-In-Law and I

Lawn sign for when shes born

Delicious cupcakes that had filling inside

My friend Patty and I

Princess bath towel

A handmade dress that the host made for Elizabeth

Play set my sister got us

Diaper cake

33 Weeks

How far along? 33 Weeks 2 Days (7 weeks to go till D Day and 4 more weeks till full term!)

Baby's size? Last appointment she weighed 4lbs 3oz. Baby Center says: weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark.

Weight Gain? ! Total gain +24lbs.

Maternity clothes? Oh yes and even some of my shirts are getting kind of tight but not going to buy any more since only have 2 more months left.

Stretch marks? Proud to say still none on the belly but the ones on my side are more prominent!

Belly button in or out? Still in

Sleep? I've been waking up every night around 2 a.m. to use the bathroom.

Foods I am loving? CAKE with lots of icing!

Foods I am hating? Nothing at the moment

Best moment this week? Having my first baby shower!

Symptoms? Having trouble turning from side to side

Gender? a sweet baby girl

What I miss? Being able to move better

Dr. Appointment: We have our last 2 week appointment next Monday.

What I'm looking forward to this week: This weekend is the hubby and I's 8 year dating anniversary and our 1 year wedding anniversary is on Easter this year.

Belly Pic:

8 Months!!!!!

How far along? 32 Weeks 3 Days (We are in our 8 month and have 8 weeks to go!)

Baby's size? She weighed 4lbs 3oz at yesterday's appointment

Weight Gain? I actually didn't gain any weight in the past 2 weeks! I was so shocked with I got weighed yesterday! Total gain +24lbs.

Maternity clothes? Oh yes and even some of my shirts are getting kind of tight but not going to buy any more since only have 2 more months left.

Stretch marks? Proud to say still none on the belly!

Belly button in or out? Still in

Sleep? I sleep good for about three hours then wake up and go back to sleep for another couple of hours.

Foods I am loving? Oranges or Orange Juice

Foods I am hating? Nothing at the moment

Best moment this week? Getting an ultrasound yesterday to see how our little girl is doing.

Symptoms? Not getting comfortable

Gender? a little girl named Elizabeth

What I miss? I really want a glass of wine!

Dr. Appointment: Doctor's appointment yesterday went well. We had our last ultrasound and don't you know Liz wouldn't let us see her face. I moved around and we got one shot of her but that was it we mostly saw her backside. Her heartbeat was 148 so no longer in the 150s. She is now a little over 4 pounds and measuring right on schedule. She is positioned kinda like a backward C. Her head is down near my pelvic area then she curves and her spine is by my right side, her butt is up near my boob area and her legs are by my left side. We are so lucky that everything is looking good and is on track. I have one last 2 week appointment on the 25th then will be going once a week!

What I'm looking forward to this week: My first baby shower is this weekend and I can't wait!

Ultrasound Pic:

She wasn't happy that we were trying to get her to turn towards us and she looked really squished.

A Hardship or a Blessing in Disguise?

This past Thursday I was laid off at my job. I know I mentioned it in another blog post that I was worried about this and sure enough it happened. I was hoping it wouldn't happen until closer to my maternity leave but of course it didn't happen like that. Even though I knew my position was in jeopardy and I had been trying to mentally prepare I still cried like a baby. I cried because since I was 16 years old I have always had a job. I have always made my own money and supported myself. Not only this but this came at the worst time with only 8 weeks until Elizabeth is supposed to be here. I mean NO ONE is going to hire me when I would be leaving in 8 weeks or less to go on maternity leave.

My company doesn't give a severance package nor do they pay out sick/vacation time which I had over 5 weeks saved for my maternity leave. The only thing I  got was one extra paycheck. It is so frustrating financially. Yes I will be able to apply for unemployment but I will not receive unemployment benefits while I'm unable to work when Elizabeth is born. So until the doctor releases me to go back to work I will not have any income coming in.

Next weekend Joey and I will be celebrating our 1 year wedding anniversary and in that one year we have both experienced being laid off for the first time. I know that people say the first year of marriage is the hardest but DAMN both of us getting laid off in our first year of marriage is absurd! And of course they both came at the worst possible times. Joey's company went out of business right before the wedding and his last day was the week we got back from our honeymoon and now I get laid off when we're 8 weeks away from our baby girl coming into the world. Every time things are going good in our lives some kind of set back always happens. I think God doesn't want us to get complacent or too comfortable. I will say that my hubby got a way better job after he had been laid off and I can only hope the same will happen for me.

I do believe everything happens for a reason and I can only pray that this was God's way of telling me I need to take it easy until she gets here because she doesn't need to come early and/or that there is something better for me once I am able to work again. I just have to keep telling myself that and try to get through this period financially. I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we go through this hard time in our lives.

Single Digit Weeks

How far along? 31 Weeks 2 Days (We are finally in the single digit weeks with 9 more weeks to go!)
Baby's size? From Baby Center: measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt.

Weight Gain? + 3lbs at last week's appointment making my Total gain +24lbs and boy do I feel fat!

Maternity clothes? Oh yes and even some of my shirts are getting kind of tight but not going to buy any more since only have 2 more months left.

Stretch marks? Proud to say still none on the belly!

Belly button in or out? Still in

Sleep? I sleep good for about three hours then wake up and go back to sleep for another couple of hours.

Foods I am loving? I had my foster moms homemade brownies with cream cheese icing that was to die for!

Foods I am hating? bananas

Best moment this week? Liz being more active and Joey getting to feel her more

Symptoms? Getting hot a lot, swelling, itching

Gender? a little girl named Elizabeth

What I miss? daily cup coffee!

Dr. Appointment: Doctor's appointment last week was good. Liz' heartbeat is still in 150's and sounding good. We have our next appointment next Monday and finally get another ultrasound!

What I'm looking forward to this week: Going to my real life and blog friend Val's baby shower!

Belly Pic: