Mae - One Month

Can you believe my little girl is already one month old! It feels like she has been with us for longer then that, and yet I also feel she was just born yesterday.

She has grown out of her premie diapers, and some of her premie clothes too. She fits into most newborn clothes although some are still just too big to fit. 

She is a whopping 7 lbs now!

She has been such a blessing in our lives and I feel honored to have this little sweet spirit with us in our home. I just keep telling Taylor, "I made her from scratch!". It just seams so crazy that I made this little person, she is such a great baby as well. She doesn't cry much and only wakes up once or twice a night now.

 

39 Weeks

Better late then never right?!

Here is what 39 weeks looked like for us, baby in my arms by the end of the day :)

Below Is the photos from my whole pregnancy. Fun to watch my belly grow!

The Nursery

Lots of these books were from my childhood

This Quilt was made by Me along with my Mother and Sister

 

My first pair of pointe shows beside the dress I was blessed in and now Mae will be blessed in also.
Handmade by my Mother.

"Pooh Bear" my childhood best friend made by my Mother

Lamp: Target shade recovered by me

Book Storage: Restoration Hardware

Foot Rest: Restoration Hardware

Lumbar Pillow: Restoration Hardware

Rocker: Garage Sale, Restored by my Husband and Mother

Dresser: Ikea - with Anthropology knobs

Change pad cover: Land of Nod

Zinc Letters: Urban Outfitters

Crib: Walmart

Flower Balls: Local Bookstore

Mirror: Lowes

Crib Sheet: Homemade

Quilt: Homemade

Crib Skirt: Land of Nod

Mae Alexander - Our Birth Story

I had a scheduled c-section due to this little girl being breech, set for January 2nd at noon. I thought I still had a week left to finalize our hospital bag, finish cleaning the house, do some last errands, and go on a couple more dates with my hubby. Airplane tickets had been bought by my parents - man wasn't it so nice to know exactly how things were going to happen!

Today I was exactly 39 weeks

December 28th, 2013 9:30 AM - Still enjoying time off work during the holiday break together. Taylor had just turned the shower on and was waiting for the water to get hot when I climbed out of bed. I felt a cramp and groaned, he knew this was normal. Then I felt a stabbing pain and I let out a more intense cry, Taylor came out to see if I was okay and to his surprise found my clinging to the bed while at least a gallon of "water" gushed from my body. It was one of those movie moments, I had no indications before that moment that I would be going into labor. My mind flashed back to my OB telling me that if my water ever did break it was an emergency and to get to an ER right away. Since she was breach they were worried about a prolapsed cord or feet coming down the birth canal which would put the baby at very high risk. There was also meconium in my water which can indicate fetal distress. My mind went to the worst place in second and I thought there must be something wrong with the baby. 

Taylor grabbed the car and loaded our hospital bags inside. I don't think we have ever made it to the hospital so fast! My contractions started in the car about 5 minutes apart right off the bat. They were strong (so I thought) but definitely manageable. While Taylor drove I called both my parents and declared the baby was coming TODAY!!

I waddled into labor and delivery and announced I was in labor, my water had already broken, my baby was breech and I needed an emergency c-section right away! If only it actually worked like that right? They got my settled into a room after checking in, and got my all hooked up to those fancy machines and confirmed that the baby was doing great and that I was indeed in labor (oh thanks I was worried it was false labor!). Since it was the weekend after christmas our OB was out of town and there was only one full crew in labor and delivery. They said they would get me into surgery as soon as possible, but there was another women who need a c-section and had been here longer so I would probably have to wait until she went in probably only an hour. They offered me an epidural while I waited which I declined since I had originally wanted to go natural in a birthing center. I labored for about 2 hours and they told me it would only be another 15 minutes, then another women was crowning and my curriery got bumped probably only another 45 minutes. My contractions were anywhere from 3-9 minutes apart, sometimes with double peaks before ending. 

At list point I had been in labor for 4.5 hours which I was not mentally prepared for. Taylor and I had taken a birthing class but any position I tried seamed to just make the pain worse, and the contraction just kept getting stronger. My body was doing it's job!! But since I had the idea in my head that I would never go into labor and the c-section was planned it all seamed very overwelming. The anesthesiologist came in and let me know that it would actually be another 2 hours and he was about to go into another surgery and would be unavailable for that time and offered me the epidural again. My husband and the nurse both told me to get the epidural and there was no point in being in pain when I was getting a c-section anyways, so I agreed. I am very happy that I got the epidural for my last 2 hours of waiting, because I had a long road ahead of me for the day and much more pain to come.

Finally I was being wheeled into the operating room around 2pm, they rolled me off my hospital bed onto the operating table and started prepping me for surgery. The room was freezing and I had Taylor standing with my at the head of the bed all dressed in blue coveralls. I was shaking on the table, teeth shattering at they put some warm blankets on my arms. This is when I declared, "I'm butt naked laying on this table right now aren't I!?" everyone laughed and Taylor and a male Dr in the room confirmed my suspicions. Maybe it should have bothered me more but I was just so ready to meet my little girl I didn't even care that I was naked in front of more then a dozen people. I laid there staring up at the big surgical lights shining over me when I saw a red line appear in the lights reflection, it grew longer and opened wide. This is when I realized the red line was me! I quickly asked them to cover the reflective light from my view before I had a panic attack. There was lots of pulling and tugging and at one point it felt like someone was trying to rip my ribs right out of my body when I heard Taylor say, "She has a cute bum just like her Mom!" I was confused at everyone giggled at his joke then I realized he was talking about our daughter. They announced she was out, I saw her for less then a second then she was taken over to be wiped down, measured and weighed. At this point I felt the cavities of my inside swell in stabbing pains. I tried to be tough but they kept getting stronger and growing higher into my chest, I asked the Dr to stop whatever they were doing because it was hurting too much. Luckily this is when they gave me more drugs and finally the siring pains started to dim and go away as the sewed me up. Taylor came over and handed me our little swaddled swollen peanut. She was so tiny and so calm, I just kept looking at her and then squishing my face next to hers. In the midst of me cuddling her surgery was over and I was taken back to the recovery room. I was still shaking from being so cold and I am sure being pumped full of so many meds but at this point I didn't care because I had my daughter in my arms. 

After an hour of being stable we were taken to a room upstairs where I would recover for the next couple of days. These days were a blur of feedings, nurses checking on us, crackers, juice, more tests,  lots of medicine, and lots of cuddling. I didn't want her to leave my arms ever!! My favorite thing was to get her unwrapped and right up against my skin and then bundle us together to sleep. I just couldn't get enough of her. 

We had lots of visits for her since she was so tiny, she had a hard time feeding, and staying warm so she was constantly being checked. They were also concerned about her hips not forming right since she was breech, so far they seam fine but they are being tested every week right now to make sure no problems come up or she won't be able to walk properly when the time comes. 

My first night of recovery was very painful, those stabbing pains I felt in surgery was air which was now trapped inside me. For the first 24 hours I shook a lot and no matter how much morphine they gave me I was just constantly moaning in pain. Cuddling with Mae was the only thing that made it tolerable, she reminded me that all the pain was well worth it!

Those first days in the hospital I just cuddles my sweet baby all day and all night. She slept on me for days, the only way she left my arms was for bathroom breaks and vital checks. I just love her sweet face and soft skin and how politely she asks for food.

First Family Photo - I look a little scary but oh well

Such a good Dad!

First time I laid eyes on her, she was so puffy, squashed and perfect!! I couldn't help but cry I was so happy and so in love!

I wish I could go back to this moment she was soooo incredibly tiny and would just sleep all day right on Mom

Meeting Grandpa! This gives you an idea of just how tiny she is.

38 Weeks

Sorry no picture this week, I have been so sick! I have bronchitis and the flu. I kept postponing this post thinking I would get better with no luck. This was supposed to get posted Saturday so a little late now only 9 days till baby but oh well. Maybe I'll do a better update this weekend.

Crazy to think last time I did a pregnancy post I was looking at a month away. Now I am literally less then 2 weeks away from holding my baby girl in my arms! My Dad already has his flights booked to come meet the baby and help out for a couple of days. Insane it is finally arriving, car seat is in the car, bags are packed, were just waiting for baby to come we know exactly what day and time which is a little un-real. But that's what happens when your little girl wants to do things her way. She is just as stubborn as her mother already, what have I done!?

12 Days till Baby Phillips Birthday 

Such a wonderful belated Christmas gift. Can't wait to spend a week all alone with my husband for the break and our last hooray as just the two of us. We have been eating lots of junk food and going on lots of dates!

How far along are you? 38 weeks

Maternity Clothes? Can't go without them!

Ring: Is Off!! It fits but my hands change size through out the day and I find it very uncomfortable.

Sleep: I have a very hard time sleeping at night, and cannot fall asleep to nap anymore either.

Best moments: Feeling the baby moving around in there, reminds me that she loves me already and her active moments are more rare these days.

Missing anything? My Body!! Restful Sleep!! My Clothes!!

Movement? She is a little stealthier lately which is odd, but she does move every once in a while still.

Food Cravings: Still eating cereal everyday, always want carbs and chocolate. 

Queasy or Sick? Drinking water makes me feel sick, and I seam to be nauseas a lot more these last two weeks.

Gender: Having a girl!!

Symptoms: Lots of Braxton hicks, stabbing pains, and false labor moments. I am so swollen, my arms and legs don't fit into a lot of my clothes anymore I am rotating through the same couple of outfits everyday now. My Robe usually being the only thing I want to wear. Tons of stretch marks, if you saw me in a bikini you would think I was a bear attack survivor. 

Belly Button in or Out? Half Out!! So funny just the top portion has popped out, my belly is being pulled too tight to let the rest free!

Happy or Moody? Happy, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Looking Forward to: Meeting my baby girl!!

36 Weeks

Oh this little baby girl of mine she is like her mother already! Stubborn and feisty, it's adorable and terrifying. She kicks at all the doctors when they try to feel where she is and move her. She does not want to be bothered while hanging out with Mom she gives me little head nudges in my ribs and I always interpret them as, "Mom I just want to stay up here close to you!" Can't blame her I guess, I wouldn't want to be upside down either. 

Between seeing my Midwife, and now getting transferred to an OB, and seeing a webster chiropractor 2 times a week I swear I am always being poked and prodded at. Counting down the days till I can meet my sweet girl, recover and start our new world together.

29 Days till Due Date

So crazy to think next month I will have my baby here!

Hardest part of my day, definitely putting my shoes on! I don't even want to leave the house anymore because that means bending over to get ready.

Favourite part of the day is the little head nudges from my baby girl.

Latest symptom is Hiatal Hernia - pretty much my stomach is herniated above my diaphragm making keeping any liquids down really hard. I am constantly dehydrated these days!

Breech Baby

There is so much information about breech babies and what to try to do to turn them. We did lots of crazy things to encourage our little girl to flip. I found the whole process a bit much and we finally decided to stick with two methods instead of doing all of them but we did try almost everything at least once. Even whale noises!

At the end of the day it is a very personal choice on how you want to approach a breech baby. I feel that our baby will choose how she needs to come to us whether that be by natural birth or c-section. I will try to encourage her to flip but in the end whatever is best for our baby will be a beautiful birth. Many people will say, "Well didn't you try..." or "Oh don't worry she will flip..." get to you. You have the right to prepare yourself for plan B, and no matter what you did or didn't try to do everything happens for a reason!

Here is a list of things I did to try:

I put peppermint Essential Oils on my belly right where her head was - they say babies don't like the cold tingly effect and will go away from where the oil is since they can sense the coolness

Ice pack where the head is and heat near your pubic bone - to encourage her to go towards the warmth and away from the cold

Spinning Babies Inversion - this helps loosen them with gravity and encourages them to flip.

Spinning Babies Breech Tilt - I used an ironing board for this, I would have husband help you!

Yoga - I went to a prenatal class

Make whale noises at the bottom of your belly!

Deep Relaxation and imagery

Swimming - we did some swimming along with underwater hand stands and flips why not try right!?

Webster Certified Chiropractor - this link will help you find one in your area. This is a certified technique that is supposed to help flip breech babies.

EVC External Cephalic Version - Or Manually Turning
My experience with this was some what traumatizing. Mostly emotionally because I was not prepared for the procedure, I did not take any type of pain killers which I would still choose again but I wasn't mentally prepared for the fact that it was going to hurt and be an emotional experience for myself. My advice, take your husband or a good friend for support! I'v heard women say this process was worse then labor!

34 Weeks

Man third trimester is getting hard! Here are some bullet point updates:

- super nauseas, I do not enjoy eating anymore

- I keep our house super cold anywhere from 65-69'F Taylor doesn't like it!

- Getting my shoes on is hard, sometime results in pushing my last meal out TMI sorry

- As you can see from the photo our baby is breach, feet down and butt to the side which is harder to move then a normal frank breech baby (yes we have tried everything from cold packs and whale noises!)

- I think I finally am figuring out how to get some rest at night, this has been a huge emotional relief

- Speaking of Emotional... I'm a grumpy ball baby but trying hard not to be

- Getting VERY excited to meet our little girl

- My favourite thing is she is finally getting hiccups I just love watching and feeling her twitch

- Taylor has finally persuaded me not to work up until my due date, which I had previously planned for. Training clients is just getting too hard on my body and the midwives and my chiropractor feel the baby will have a better chance flipping if I am more relaxed

- We started buying kleenex from Costco!

- Taylor has been an amazing patient loving man during all of my out burst, I am very blessed!

Jersey Baby Headband

I was more then happy with how wonderful these turned out! They looked exactly like the ones off Pinterest which is a score. I made little circled pattern so that I could recreate the flower the same over and over again, and because I'm awful at free handing circles with a pair of scissors.

Go HERE for full Tutorial

My Tip - Make pattern consisting of the following sizes of circles:

3 inch

2.75 inch

2.5 inch

2. 25 inch

2 inch

1.75 inch

1.5 inch

1 inch

* I just used my quilters ruler to measure out squares in those sizes and then rounded the edges making perfect circles! *

Dating My Man

This Man has been so amazing to me during this pregnancy. He rubs my feet, rubs my back, helps me get my socks off at the end of the day when it seams to be much to far away. He helps me clean and cook and has truly just been a champ! He has even done surprise spa nights, were talking full on spa in our living room it was glorious. 

But getting to the point which is "Dating My Man!"

As my pregnancy comes to a close I am realizing these last two months are the last months we have alone for probably the next 30 years. Kind of insane to think of so I made up this little jar of date night ideas. Our goal is to go on a date each week. I had originally seen this idea on Pinterest and wasn't satisfied with the list of date idea they had so here mine goes:

I'v included dates mostly for winter, some at home, some christmas, and some for after baby.

Christmas:

Gallivan Plaze

Read Favorite Christmas Book w/ Hot Chocolate (in a bookstore)

Temple Square Christmas Lights

Make Christmas Ornaments

Gingerbread House

Home Dates:

Three favorite falling in love moments (each couple has to pick three moments and find an item or picture that goes along with it, take turns sharing)

"That reminds me..." (activity in link)

Kinect Night

Bedtime Stories and Smores on the stove

Homemade Pizza

Puzzle Night

Love Test w/ Chocolate Strawberries

Race Car Marathon (xbox)

Dance Off (xbox dance central)

Get out of the house:

Planetarium

Italian Ice

ABC Game - In grocery store everyone has to collect one item for each letter in the alphabet, can be done against spouses or as a double date. Who ever finished first wins

Hot Chocolate (in a coffee shop)

Mini Golf

IKEA Dream Home (go to ikea and design your dream home, dream kitchen!)

Bowling

Utah Hogle Zoo

Bakery Sweets

Matinee

Aquarium

Volunteer Somewhere

Go-Karts

Classic Car International (vintage car museum near us)

Thanksgiving point (new events held every weekend)

Go to the movies

Driving Range

Desert Star Theater (a dinner theater near us)

Breakfast and Morning Walk

Rock Climbing

Arcade Night

Natural History Museum

Ice Skating

Homeless Kits (make care kitsand hand out to homeless)

Above you can see some have blue tape and red tape. The Blue is for home dates, Red is for christmas dates and then some are christmas dates to do at home.

Maternity Photos

Taylor sweet friend Pax took some photos for us to document this fun time. You can contact her here if you are interested in photos.

You can see how low I am carrying in this picture. She really is just hanging out at the button yet somehow my ribs still hurt and I have a hard time keeping food down now that I'm this big. Crazy how the body can handle growing a little person. We love her like crazy and can't wait for her to come!!

32 Weeks

How far along are you? 32 weeks

Maternity Clothes? Can't go without them!

Ring: Is Off!! It fits but my hands change size through out the day and I find it very uncomfortable.

Sleep: I am usually sore and stir around a lot. Naps are my life saver if I can manage them in between jobs.

Best moments: Foot rubs from the husband! 

Missing anything? My Body!! Restful Sleep!!

Movement? She is a little stealthier lately which is odd, but she does move every once in a while still.

Food Cravings: Cereal (I eat it everyday)!! I have been craving Inn-N-Out and Jamba Juice really bad this week. But have been good and not indulged.

Queasy or Sick? When I drink water I usually feel sick which has been a problem.

Gender: Having a girl!!

Symptoms: Hard to drink and eat enough as my body wants without me almost throwing up since my stomach is being smashed so I am very thirsty most the time. Also I seam to be dropping everything lately, it's almost like my hands stop listening to my brain and just let go of stuff!

Belly Button in or Out? Half Out!! So funny just the top portion has popped out were awaiting the rest.

Happy or Moody? I'v cried A LOT this week!

Looking Forward to: Decorating for Christmas and lots of date nights before the baby comes.

Canadian Thanksgiving

First Canadian thanksgiving since I was 16 years old, wow thats been a long time. It is always so hard to go since we don't get any school or work off for Canadian Holidays but now that we have big kid jobs it's easier to just request time off and leave.

It was so amazing to be with them again, I love Canada and I love my family. We laughed so much together!

We got a little crazy at night but boy did we have fun. My Dad, two pregnant sisters and two other sister all in the same photo booth - now that was a tight fit haha

Love this Handsome Man! Couldn't do any of this without him.

My Dad roasted a whole entire pig, apple in its mouth and all! Go big or go home right?

I can't even express how big of a blessing my sister Ashley is in my life. We did a joint wedding reception and now we are also sharing being pregnant together. Exactly 4 weeks apart! So crazy but it has been so wonderful to have my best friend literally going through the same things as me almost week by week. She is such a good listener and support to me. Pregnancy is HARD but she helps make it a littler easier :D

29 Weeks

Feeling like I don't want to even post pictures of myself anymore... Yikes! I have taken on so much weight and swelling in the past month!!

How far along are you? 29 weeks

Maternity Clothes? Can't go without them!

Sleep: I am usually sore and stir around a lot. Naps are my life saver if I can manage them in between jobs.

Best moments: Our latest trick is feeling around my tummy and finding her. The other day I found a little limb and she quickly pulled away from me and then proceeded to toss and turn. Not sure she loved that but it sure was fun for me!

Missing anything? Feeling good, feeling skinny, bending over and not grunting or almost losing my food!!

Movement? It has slowed down a little bit since she changed position she is now head down and it is harder for me to feel her now.

Food Cravings: Zupas!! I would eat out for every single meal if I could.

Queasy or Sick? I am feeling a lot of nauseas again lately, makes me hate the kitchen again. Boooo!

Gender: Having a girl!!

Symptoms: The normal! But lately I have been swelling a lot which makes it very painful for me to stand and move around much, which is bad since I work both jobs on my feet. I have to sit down to reach my feet and bending is very difficult now.

Belly Button in or Out? It is very close to coming out, if I move a certain way it will pop out the top for a second. I think another month it will pop out.

Happy or Moody? Emotional, I'm a ticking time bomb for crying.

Looking Forward to: Baby Shower in Utah! Gotta have something to short term to reach for right!?

Free Nursing Cover (Almost)

Figured I would share this code with all you Moms, or anyone who is looking to stock up on really great baby shower gifts. It cost $12 after your done paying for shipping. I was originally going to make my own but after fabric, D rings, and time it was much cheaper to order this one. I have not used mine yet (obviously) but it looked/felt like great quality.

26 Weeks

Iv never felt so impatient in my life and I still have 3 more months to go. Which I think will fly by... and I want to enjoy ever second I have with my husband before our lives change forever. But I can't stop dreaming about holding my perfect little newborn and then waking up and realizing she's still needs to grow for a couple more months! The nursery is finished, I have been sewing to keep my mind off of it, and I have two jobs which keeps me busier then my husband would approve of!

Feeling exhausted and impatient already. This worries me since I feel the hard part is still ahead of me.

But I sure love this baby girl she has me totally smitten and worry 24/7 about her already. Guess I should get used to that!

Lace Baby Dress

I really do love this pattern it is so simple and so cute, you can find it here. Can't go wrong with free especially when things turn out this cute! I just added a bow to the pattern and put it on a pin so I can take it on or off depending on the occasion. This took me about 3-4 hours to make, I would highly recommend it :)

I can't wait to take her to church in her dress made with love!