John's Poem

Sweet lovely child you are.
Little space invader of my womb.
You who were once a prayer and dream,
Has now infiltrated my everything.

You crept so quietly into this glorious place.
You nestled in and invaded my sacred space.
What a precious secret being of mine.
Tiny expander of my heart and waistline.

A beloved dear joy and treasure you are,
One who is our most brightest star.
Awaiting to gaze at that mysterious face,
And to wrap you up in our loving embrace.

Oh, what beautiful grace has been shown,
By God to something so perfect and not yet known.
Your already our tiny adored gift from above.
One who has put our hearts into overdrive with love.

So, my sweet heavenly child you are.
My little space invader of my womb.
One who was once a prayer and dream.
That has now infiltrated my everything.

Please don't delay another day.
Come to us soon, this is what I pray.
What a precious secret being of mine.
Beautiful expander of my heart and waistline.



Love always,

      Mommy

39 1/2 weeks....and still waiting!

C'mon little man! I thought you would of been here by now, but I guess your loving the food and the nice warmth of mommy's tummy! BUT, want to see you and hold you already!

Had my 39 week doc appointment on Tuesday and everything is checking out great for baby John. Had a NST test performed, checked blood pressure and urine for protein. Everything came back great! Last week, Doctor was a little concerned about my blood pressure spiking and finding protein in my urine and had almost wanted to induce me on Sunday if things weren't looking up. Thankfully, he didn't have to. I truly want John to come on his own...because I know it would be better that way. I want to try for a natural child birth and Doc told me that if he did have to wind up inducing me, I could potentially be in labor for 24-36 hours because of my cervix only being dilated 1 cm. AHHHH...CRIKEYS! We def can't have that! So, it's not that I am totally ruling out a epidural or any type of drug intervention. I at least want to try Demerol or some form of mild pain killer to take the edge off a bit. My  mom and mother in law both had births with no epi and if they can do it...I just know I can!



Anywho...


So here we are just sitting and waiting...twiddling our thumbs and doing last minute little things like cleaning and making sure everything is ready for baby John's arrival. I tell you...I can hardly sleep. I am so anxious...nervous...excited...sitting in absolute anticipation 24/7 thinking that at any minute or with any pain or twinge felt that this could be it...this is the time! I pray that he comes soon...mostly I pray that he is happy, healthy and there are no complications. I can't believe that 39 weeks ago...we were praying for me to get pregnant....now I am praying that he comes any minute. God is so good. We are so blessed and so thankful for his little life that we will cherish and love to pieces!

ps. My birthday is Monday July 16th...so that would be pretty stellar if he came on my birthday. I would not mind sharing it with him the rest of my and his life. It would be beautiful and the best birthday gift ever! So....with all that being said...hopefully next time I blog....I'll be blogging a pic of him and his measurements...date and time!

37 Week Update!

Did I just really say 37 weeks?! Ahhh! Well...actually I will be 37 weeks tomorrow, but close enough! That means I have 22 days left...and only 3 1/2 Saturdays left, if I am counting today as a partial. I can't believe we get to meet our little Johnny man so soon. How crazy, beautiful is that?!?!

                                            

Here's a little update!

Size of baby: Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. Your baby weighs around 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 18-19 inches, head to heel, like a stalk of Swiss chard, (since I was clueless at to what that was...I attached a pic). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. (We've been told numerous times that John will have a head full of hair because Nick was covered at birth! So hopefully he doesn't come out like a wolf baby...hehe jk, but we're expecting lots of dark hair :) ).

Total Weight Gain: As of last appointment on 11 June 2012 (35 weeks) I had gained 38 lbs.

Sleep: Yea right! I get it whenever I can, however I can...cause I definitely am not having the best quality/quantity of sleep at night. I am too restless and have to get up to pee every hour.

Symptoms: INDIGESTION/HEARTBURN should def be my new middle name. Tums are truly my best friend...just wish they came in chocolate! Had episodes of Braxton Hicks contractions in my lower back a couple times already...I could of killed Nick when he said to me "just think...these aren't even the real things yet!" -doesn't he know he prob shouldn't say things like that?! Had nausea last week a couple times. Having a bit of achiness that radiates down my legs, into my pelvic region and hips. Having lower pressure on and off through out the day. Breasts are extremely tender and sore like how it was in the first trimester. I have bursts of energy at some points and then extreme fatigue at others. Increased discharge (sorry tmi). Nesting on and off...I think I went through the majority of my nesting period a month ago, Nick however totally went through it like 2 days ago. I'm talking about curtains being taken down and washing them, vacuuming every square inch of our house, doing massive amounts of laundry. I think he was literately finding things to wash. It was so endearing :)

Cravings: Any and everything...nothing in particular.

Belly Button in or out?: 100 % in! Hasn't changed a bit.

Stretch Marks: I have a few, but very faint. Mostly on my upper thighs.

Maternity Clothes: I have moved from medium sized shirts to large sized. Pants are a bit snug in larges, but big in x-larges.....so I guess I'm in between large & x-large in pants. I can still fit into medium maternity dresses....weird.

Movement: He was quiet & almost still there for a few days, but last couple of days he has been moving like crazy. I think he wants out already....I don't blame him.

Best Moments this week:  Knowing that I only have 3 weeks left!!! Almost have his registry complete. Got all his clothes washed, cleaned and put away. Had dinner with a dear friend who surprised me with mommy to be flowers :). I got a week off of work prior to my due date! Got a pedicure for first time since like January (usually do my own pedicures, but couldn't bend over anymore to paint my nails) and truly experienced a bit of heaven on earth for about 45 minutes. Ordered the cutest handmade matching sling, burp cloths, wipe case and some other baby things off of ETSY! Received a few more sweet shower gifts and finally bought his car seat!

What I'm looking forward to: Holding him for the first time. Looking over in detail and gazing at his little face, hands, body and all his beautiful parts. Being called mommy (which wont happen for a while...but that would be pretty awes if he came out talking...he'd be in Guinness book of world records and we'd be making some moolah!). Watching Nick change a diaper, feeding and bonding with him. Breast feeding for the first time. Watching him sleep next to us in the bassinet. Seeing him smile, hearing his first words, listening to him giggle. Witnessing Charlie's  first reactions when we come home with him. Seeing the joy and look on every ones face that comes to see him for the first time. Experiencing all the joys of parenthood with Nick. Not gonna lie...looking forward to at least remotely getting close to fitting back in pre-pregnancy clothes and having my body somewhat back to normal, but how I will miss having him here with me always and feeling him move inside me 24/7.

Milestones: That we made it to full-term! Praise the Lord!!

To Do List: Clean/boil bottles and paci's. Check our bags to make sure everything is packed and ready for hospital. Figure out how to use the breast pump. Take last & final pregnancy progression shots. Finish last minute books that I have been reading. Finish up last minute odds and ends on my Natty & Swank jewelry business. Get car seat installed. Cook/Bake some freezer meals.

I can't believe I am already typing a blog on 37 weeks! I look back over the past year and read my previous blogs and I can remember so clearly typing those up through tears and worry while just trying to hold out on faith and trust in the Lord that He was gonna bring our little man through to us. We have truly been through so much over the last year and it is amazing all that can take place in a year. As I am typing now I am recalling last year the day after my birthday on July 17th is the day that we miscarried and this year the day before my birthday on July 15th little John is expected to make his entrance into this world of ours. We are blessed beyond measure! Thank you Jesus for his life! We praise you because "He is fearfully and wonderfully made."

      Below are some random pics I have taken over the last few months......

                                                                A little peak of the nursery.

His bassinet already placed in our room...waiting and ready for his arrival!

Burp cloths, wipe case, car seat straps ordered off of ETSY in cute Robot pattern :)

Co-workers surprised me a adorable diaper cake, wipes and diapers!!!

                                                                            Me and some preggy girlfriends. Both are due in August :)

Me and my sweet girlfriend Laura at 36 weeks!

My beautiful friend Erin at my shower :)

 

Two wonderful women who threw my shower! So grateful for them!!

Beautiful baby blanket my Aunt B handmade John!

A little outfit I got baby John..."certified hunk" he will be...have you seen his dad?! :)

My cousin & best friend! Love her!

John's 3D ultrasound pic...33 weeks!

That's all for now! Maybe the next time I write...I'll be posting a pic of him with measurements :)

The Canoe

You were probably wondering what this blog post was about considering the title is "The Canoe". Well, it is all about my precious little doggie Charlie Chew Meatball Travaglini.  "The Canoe" is just one of his many names, and you may be wondering how he in fact  conceived that name....however....I can not help you with that. See, I am not sure how that name came about....it just came out of my mouth one day and ever since then we have been calling him that on rare occasions. So before we go any further let me just go ahead and break down a list of the many other names out there that we call him and let's see if I can also give you the whys behind some of the names:

- Charlie Chew (he chewed up my shirt, our carpet, the end of our night stands, my books, random q-tips found in garbage etc.)

- The Chew   (reference above)

- Chewy Man  (reference above)

- The Canoe   (not sure)

- Canoey Man  (again....not sure)

- Meatball   (Nick calls him this...I think it's an Italian thing?!?)

- Canoe Cachew  (it rhymed...thought it was cute)

- Lil Char Char  (when I pet his little head...awww)

- Char Canar (it rhymed....again i thought it was cute)

- Little Freak   (when he initially chewed up my shirt...our carpet...etc....he gets called this when he does things like that)

- Pee Pee man   (he peed, peed, and peed everywhere when we first got him....peed several places on our laminate hard woods and those spots are now destroyed. He is housed trained now...go figure...after all the damage that has been done)

Any who...with all those crazy names we have for him...and all the psychotic things he has done...like chewing up things...peeing everywhere...etc. I honestly wouldn't trade him for the world. His personality is so stinkin cute and oh so prevalent, and lots of times he mimics a little toddler to us because of his playfulness. He also has the best temperament ever! He turned 1 year old on April 11th...and it seems like we have had him for years. He is such a big part of our family and I just know little John and him will make best buds. All in all...Charlie Chew, Canoe, Meatball, whatever....is such a sweet dog, most friendliest dog ever, never meets a stranger...and has brought a lot of good times and joy into our lives. So today I want to pay tribute to him. Here's to Charlie!!!!

This little rascal rolled around in our dead grass and was covered in it...needless to say the Little Freak (one of those times we would call him this) ran into the house when I had my back turned and shook it everywhere. I was cleaning up dead grass off our carpet...floor and furniture for a good 45 min. He's a trip!

Brief History of "The Canoe"

  We adopted Charlie from the Humane Society last year as my birthday gift from Nick. He is a mixed breed of Basset Hound and Black lab. However, we think he has a little bit of Chow in him because of his spotted tongue and we also think he has Pit Bull because of chest/stance and facial structure. He has the smallest little ears to be a basset hound or a lab. His little body is long like a basset hound, and he has a long tail and short stubby legs. He is solid black...not a spot of white or any other color on him. He had 4 other brothers and sisters who were there that day at the pound. They were acting seriously ridic....jumping up on the kennel and barking all crazy like, but our ole Charlie (his name at the Humane Society was Booberry....yuck!) just sat there looking at us and didn't make a peep. He actually doesn't even bark much. I was concerned that he even had a voice box because he didn't bark for almost 3 months when we first got him (he does whine though, but not a lot). He however does bark when he wants your attention....but it is on rare occasions....like when its a full moon. We def think he was a God send because someone actually  had a deposit on him for purchase the day we got there and laid eyes on him. I was so sad because I wanted  only him out of the other 40 dogs that were there. The lady behind the counter told us if the customer doesn't come by closing then they are considered a no-show and "Booberry" goes back up for adoption....turns out....the customer was a no show and hence forth...we got little Charlie man all to ourselves! Definitely was a divine appointment...thank you Lord.

                           This one is my fav....he's sooo cute!!

  He loves the groomers....like I said...he never meets a stranger :)


   and that my friends is our Charlie :)

Pregnancy Survey

So this is my 3rd post in 2 days...I must be in blogging mode...

*When is your due date?     July 15th 2012 ...a day before my 27th birthday!!!!

*What week are you in?      32 Weeks!!! 

*What was your weight pre-pregnancy?     154lbs...ain't no shame in my game...hehe

*What is your current weight?       188lbs 

*Have you had an ultrasound?     Yes...thankfully everytime I have gone for checkup

*Do you know the gender of your baby? If so, what?      Yes...IT'S A BOY!!!

*Do you have a name picked out? What?      John Nicholas Travaglini

*Is the child being named after someone?    His father - Nicholas John Travaglini

*Who is going to be with you during delivery?    Just Nick & me and baby T.

*Natural or medicated childbirth?    Ummm whatever....not gonna get hung up on that....just want him here safe and sound...lol.

*How are you feeling right about now?   I am feeling ok...tired a bunch...hot as crikey...restless sleeping... having right leg pain....cankle swelling ;)...hungry...and a few minor cramps here and there...but over all...I'm good. :)

*What was the first thing you bought for baby?  Onesies, and books.

*What colors are the walls in the nursery?      Pastel Blue

*What is the nursery theme?        We went with an Ikea jungle themed nursery...but we put our own twist on it. Colors are blue, green, yellow, orange and red.

What is your favorite part of the nursery?     Our almost 6 foot orange giraffe wall decal. Will post pics of nursery in coming blogs...cause you have to see it! :)

*What is your favorite baby gift so far that someone has given  you?     Well there are several- his crib, his bassinet, Nick's baby shoes & rocker, a hand crochet teddy bear, and a handmade car seat cover.

*Do you feel you are ready to have a baby?  Well...there is no turning back now. Absolutely!

*Are you excited or scared about delivery?    Ummm...trying not to think about it...so thanks for bringing it up. Jk. In all honesty I am a little nervous, but excited to go through every ounce of it just to have him in our arms!

*Any food cravings?    1st trimester I craved salt n vinegar chips & mcdonalds french fries- pretty much anything salty. 2nd trimester I craved all sweet & sugary stuff like sour patch kids & icecream ...now I will eat just about anything at this point!!

*Anything you loved before that you absolutely cannot eat anymore?   Cottage cheese....the texture gets me every time.

*Age when you found out you were pregnant:     26

*Did you experience any pregnancy symptoms and what?:    Yes, sore breast, increased tiredness, nausea, implantation cramps, missed menstrual

*How far along were you when you found out?: The day before missed menstrual was due...I just felt something was off with my body....and so I took a test and saw those 2 beloved pink lines!

*Was your little one planned or a surprise?:     We were going with the flow this time..

*What was your first reaction when you found out you were pregnant?:  Praise the Lord!!!

*Who was the first person you told that you were pregnant?:  Hubby of course

*How far along were you when you felt baby kick for the first time?: 19 1/2 weeks

*What month did you find out the sex of your baby?:  February  at 19 weeks, so I was in my 4th month of pregnancy.

*Have you/are you planning on attending any Lamaze classes?:  Naw, just watch a couple YouTube videos and hope for the best.

*What kind of birth plan are you considering?:   I am opened to all options...just want baby happy & healthy.

* What pregnancy related books have you read/are you currently reading?: "What to expect when your expecting", & "Praying your way through your pregnancy"

*Any weird pregnancy dreams?:   Oh gosh, a ton...too many to count. Crazy ones from forgetting to feed my baby, to delivering sextuplets....

*Are you planning on breast feeding?:    Yes

*Do you plan on having any more little ones?:    Oh yes....God willing :)

 *What's the funniest thing that's happened to you while you're pregnant?  Well, it wasn't funny then...but it is now. I thought my amniotic fluid was leaking at around 24 weeks...went to doc and found out it was just me peeing on myself.

*Last but not least...what is the one piece of advice every pregnant woman should have?      Pray your way through your pregnancy...everything will either make you nervous, frightened for your baby, scared out of your mind or worried sick. There is not a thing you can do but to rest, relax, don't over do it... and enjoy being pregnant. Leave everything else up to the Lord...cause He is the one that is growing that little miracle inside of you. Trust Him.

Season of change...

In the last few months I have noticed a huge change in myself and a shift in my priorities. Although it had me utterly confused for a split second...I have  since then, with Gods help and a little help from an old wise woman, realized that my priorities, feelings, dreams, goals and passions are in fact shifting...which is totally normal since I  am in full preparation for motherhood....

So when I first started having these feelings around the second trimester I thought something was wrong with me. I found myself constantly thinking...am I losing my passion and drive? What's going on with me? Oh where art thou my desires for the things I once thought so highly of? I had a long discussion with an ole wise woman who told me, "it's totally normal honey...it's just your body and mind preparing for motherhood dear, not to worry". I use to have these big, huge dreams for myself....these career goals that I wanted to obtain and these great, over the top things I wanted to do in ministry for the Lord. Now, these days, I am finding myself so content and at peace with just being the best wife and mother in the world and letting that be my first and foremost ministry. I told Nick a couple weeks ago, "I think I would actually be extremely content the rest of my life being a career waitress and just serving my family." Before, that didn't seem all that too successful to me. It is so funny to me now, and I feel so foolish at how superficial and ignorant I acted and thought. Not to down play any woman/mother/wife that has a huge corporate career and or involved in a huge ministry and holds down a family...cause that is absolutely astounding and I admire those that do, but for this season of life that I am in now I just earnestly desire to focus on being a awesome wife to Nick and a beautiful mother to John and serving the Lord by serving them first. 

I truly think, let me back up a min, I truly know....the ministry of wife hood and motherhood is one that is powerful and oh so important. We as women should never neglect that calling, especially those in my generation of woman. Society now a days seems to frown upon the women that are not working outside the home and being a career driven individual. Growing up in my grandmother's generation being a stay at home mom, or part-time stay at home mom was ideal, and society frowned upon those women that weren't ole "Suzy home-maker" per say. Now, I am not saying that every mother should be a stay at home mom because you have to do what you have to do for your family to provide if situations and finances call for it, but keeping our families, as mothers and wives, at the center and keeping Christ first is so heavily important in today's world.

You know...I use to think I had to be the next Beth Moore or Joyce Meyer to be effective in ministry or be something great for the Lord or to even be a success in life. But, I've now come to realize that Christ receives great joy when He sees His children serving in order, in love, with great joy and a willinging spirit. I once heard someone say "how can we serve others in ministry or do missions when our first mission (husband and wives, children) in our homes are neglected...it just doesn't add up, it just doesn't make sense."...and it truly doesn't add up or make sense. Oh how I have had to ask the Lord's forgiveness for putting Nick on the back burner, for him coming in second so many times. There are times when I was rushing out first thing to serve someone else in need, and his needs were not being met at home. It pangs my heart to think that I have done that, and I think it is so easy to do that because we take our loved ones for granted lots of times, but I am greatful that the Lord is showing me this now....in order to be effective and used by Him and for His glory...never neglect your home life and serving your family first....we must start there! For it is often times them that need us the most.


So in closing this blog I will say I am finding myself prioritizing my life, goals, dreams, desires, wants, wishes and all of the above.  Now I haven't literately sat down and made a list of it all in order, but its just the change and attitude of my heart that is evolving into something different for this season. God always knows whats best!

13 weeks left and....

Let me just first start off by saying that this post is about 6 weeks too late. I started it nearly 6 weeks ago...and logged in today for the first and realized I never published it to my blog. It was kind of a nice surprise to log into and see...hehe. Enjoy!


It's been an emotional last couple of weeks. I only have 13 weeks left till baby John is here and in my mind and heart I am growing increasingly anxious....


I was watching a TV show the other day that showed a young girl graduating from high school, and her mother made this statement, "Oh...where did the time go? She was just in my arms a few moments ago, now I am sending her off into the world...it went by too fast." Boy....did that hit me hard and out of no where I started sobbing uncontrollably. I couldn't help to think of the same thing happening to baby John with graduating in 19 years!! Ahhh...I don't even want to think of "Congratulations Class of 2031". He is not even here yet and I already don't want to let him go. Oh how I long to hold him in my arms, but a part of me wants him to stay right here in my womb...because at least there I know he is with me and protected, safe from the world. I pray that mine and Nicks journey with him in this life-time will be a long, and beautiful one. I pray that I will never forget  to just stop and cherish every waking moment and memory with him and to never take it for granted....because it is true...they just grow up so fast right before your eyes and you can never get those moments in time back. Then, before you know it, they are gone...off into this vast open world God made for them. But, I know truly deep down that he is not only just ours, but he is the Lord's and that is so reassuring to me.


It feels like I am entering a new chapter in life...and for the first time I am understanding things about the Lord, and myself that I have sought out for so long to understand...

"My whole life I have struggled with trying to understand God's love for me. I mean...I know His word, and  I know how amazing His love is written down for us in His word, and how completely indescribable His sacrificial love was shown on the cross, etc.... but never could I truly grasp just the unconditional aspect of His love that He actually has for His children....for me. In the Bible it says that "God is love" ...it is just who He is. But, growing up I just couldn't grasp it for some reason. Someone told me a while back that you will begin to taste  just a bit of unconditional love when you have children of your own some day. I now feel like I am just getting to a place where I am experiencing that for the first time....the way that I already love John so much is I know just a snippet of how compelling God's unconditional love is for us....for me. I believe that having children is the closest thing that we have on this earth and in our life times to experience that. Wow...and just think He is SO good because He blesses those with children to experience and taste that unconditional love even when they don't acknowledge or recognize Him as Lord & Savior. I stand in awe. I am so overwhelmed to know that He favored Nick and I, and wants us to experience a glimpse and just a taste of that. For so long I prayed and really searched out how deep His love was for me....and now Lord....I am truly getting it for the first time. It is one of the most heartfelt and absolutely amazing things to feel, to know and trust in."

What a lovely chapter it is that I am entering. Can't wait to hold my little Johnny man and to look into his precious eyes. This mysterious little one that has jabbed, punched, kicked, nestled, tossed, and invaded my sacred womb has also invaded my very heart and for that I am truly blessed!