Tiny Dancer Update

Happy Friday!

I just had my 34 week appointment this morning.. Our baby girl looks great, but is measuring a little small. Is anyone surprised?? I'm not. She's our teeny tiny girl!

Anyway the doctor is not overly concerned, but wants me to start coming in every week. Typically my weekly appointments wouldn't start until after 36 weeks. He's guessing she weighs about 4lbs 2oz right now (but we all know how accurate those estimations are- they're almost never correct!) and is measuring in the 11th percentile. That's where the potential concern comes in. Basically they get concerned when a baby is in the top or bottom 10 percent. So she's not in that zone, but pretty close.

The reason she's small has nothing to do with calories or how much I'm eating- it has to do with blood supply from the placenta. So they need to keep an eye on things to make sure the blood flow is good and on track to keep her healthy. Obviously if they see a problem with that, it's an immediate emergency, because she needs it to live! BUT, we're not worried about it right now- everything looks like it's working and flowing correctly.

So what this means is that my doctor may want to deliver me early. At like 37 weeks, depending on how things go.

(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I'm not at all thrilled with the idea of inducing, but of course want what's best for this precious baby! I've had some feelings lately that she would be coming early, so that's not a problem for me.. I just can't wait to meet her, I just want her to be healthy and whole and to come in His perfect timing!

So I'm asking for prayers to cover myself and this baby girl.. that she would stay inside of me for as long as she needs to, to grow big and strong.. that my body would continue to nourish and care for her the way it's intended to do so.. and that she would come on her own, at exactly the right time! Also, that we would have a safe (and short!) delivery.

Thank you!!

P.S. This little girl was in the perfect, head-down position today. :)

34 Week Bumpdate

Holy Moses, folks, we only have 6 weeks to go!!!

34 Weeks and change

Lots of growing going on this week! I feel aches and pains and pressure below decks all.the.time. And every day I come home from work and check out my belly button. I swear it gets flatter and flatter by the day. Sooo weird!

Also? The indigestion has settled in. I frankly think Tiny Dancer has squashed all of my internal organs within an inch of their life... Or it could be that I like to lay around in bed at night and eat oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and milk, and my expectations of proper digestion at a horizontal level are too high. Whatever.

I think my boss is freaking out that I might have this baby at any time. Both of her kids were early- one premature at like 27 or 28 weeks (he's fine now!) and her daughter was born at 35 weeks, full term and just fine. I'm not quite so worried about it, but wouldn't be too upset if she decided to make her debut in the next few weeks!


On my lunch break yesterday I went to Baby Gap. Big mistake.
I don't know what line it is, but I just love all the little black and gray outfits they have right now for girls! I am not a frilly/giant pink bow/frou frou type girl, and my baby won't be either!

So needless to say I hit the sales rack and found some sassy little items that I can't wait to dress her in:

How cute are these??

Also, I saw this tote that I LOVE and think would be so cute as a diaper bag!
(hint hint Hubby!)

Denim "Love" Tote

I did receive an actual diaper bag from Pottery Barn at my first shower, which is very cute, but I just can't decide if I should keep it or not. I'm not sure if I'm really the type to carry a full-on diaper bag. I like big tote bags and hobo purses anyway, so I'm thinking I may prefer to use something like this GAP bag, that I can throw everything into, including my wallet and keys.. thoughts??

Project Central Station

This weekend has been a busy one at Casa Tiny Dancer! I set up shop at my sewing machine on Saturday and settled in for the long haul.

Here is a peek at a few of the bajillion projects I have in the works right now- in varying states of completion:


Striped Knit Blanket

This has actually been done for a while now! Can't wait to take some pics of our little girl snuggled up on this blanket!



DIY Baby Legs

I scored big time during a lunchtime trip to Target last week. They had a ton of women's knee-high socks for $2 each!
I plan to make them all into baby legs for you know who!



Knit Hats

I'm expecting her to come out with lots of hair, but it will still be cold when she arrives, and little bitty hats are a quick and satisfying project.



Beginners Quilt

This is my very first attempt at sewing a quilt! I'm pretty excited about it and am already dreaming up others I want to do down the line. I have the squares all sewn together, but still need to pick out a fabric for the backing.



Crib Bumper

It doesn't look like much.. yet. I cut out all of the pieces and sewed the piping for the bumper, so progress is being made on her bedding!



Crib Skirt

And finally.
The infamous crib skirt. I'm happy to report that she is DONE!
I'll be sharing pictures of the finished product soon! Let's just say I have been giving myself numerous pats on the back.
Also- this baby better be a girl!!!!

Stretchy Pants: Part 2

After a long day of suffering in (semi) silence yesterday, I made the executive decision last night to remove a pair of my maternity jeans from the rotation. :(

This left me sad and angsty for a number of reasons.. That number being 2.

1. I only have 2 maternity items in my entire closet.
2. I have now cut my wardrobe down by 50%.

I knew when I purchased the two pairs of jeans that one of them was a little snugger than the other. One pair is regular/boot cut fit and the other are skinnies. My very first pair of skinny jeans. So of course they're a tighter fit in general. And yesterday was the flippin straw that broke the camel's back when I couldn't even sit at my desk in reasonable comfort and the drive home from work had me laying and cavorting all over the passenger seat. There also may have been some moaning and gnashing of teeth, but the details are fuzzy.

So once we got home and I was able to peel those suckers off, baby girl and I did a quick lap around the house to George Michael's "Freedom" and then I set out to fashion myself a replacement pair.

I had already checked the Forever 21 site and they no longer have their maternity jeans for sale, so that was out.
Is anyone else but me mildly disturbed that I seem to be the new, pregnant face of Forever 21?? I should be getting paid for this.

I feel you, buddy.

You guessed it. I cut up a pair of regular jeans to refashion them into what I affectionately call "stretchies". I nearly finished them last night, but then ran out of steam at the end. They should be completed tonight!

It wasn't too difficult of a project, but I was really hoping to make it to the end with both of my original stretchies in tact. The tough part for me is that I wear jeans constantly. And I've already exhausted a long list of pros and cons to try and reason my way into wearing yoga pants to the office. Not gonna happen. Of anyone in my building, I think I could pull it off, but everyone's a little miffed at me ever since the scale in the break room mysteriously stopped working, so I need to stay on good terms with HR. I have my own theories on who stepped on that baby for the last time, but I guess I can't blame them for pointing the finger at the scale-happy pregnant gal.

So hopefully I'll be able to show you my new pair soon! I'm also planning to share a few of my recent Tiny Dancer projects, in their various states of completion. I've got a lot to do!

33 Week Bumpdate

33 Weeks

A bathroom photo shoot, for your enjoyment.

How far along? 33Weeks (!!!)
Weight Gain: Drumroll please......... 17 lbs!!
And that was at last week's appointment, so no telling what kind of poundage I've managed to pack on in the space of 7 days.
How Big is Baby? Around 4lbs ??
Maternity Clothes? Still no. I did do some shopping while we were in Cali, but you'll be happy/alarmed/shocked to know that it was at Forever 21 (the store was 3 times the size of our local joint). Yeah, that's right. FOREVER 21. Because clearly I'm mourning the death of my youth along with my waistline in this pregnancy. But boy was I excited. And for me right now, it's all about getting a few cute items that look good with my bump and have a chance of still fitting when I'm toting baby girl around on the outside. Oh and also? They're CHEAP, which just happens to be one of my love languages.
Stretch Marks? Still no! Cue the hallelujah chorus!
Sleep: Meeeehhhhh.. not the best.
Best Moment of the Week: I'll be honest. When my doctor said he saw some hair on her teeny tiny head. These are the magic words I have been longing to hear. I just can't picture myself with a bald baby..
Movement: You betcha.
Food Cravings: Not really.
Gender: All girl.

What I Miss: Rational thought processes. And a full range of breathing abilities.
What I'm looking forward to: Another fun shower in a few weeks! So excited!
Symptoms: Here's a fun one- about 5 times a day, I will let out a single, violent hiccup. Just one. Very very bizarre.
Also, my lower legs and feet have started to feel like tree stumps in the evening. Especially when we go for walks. Don't get excited- the blue haired old ladies down the street walk faster than me at this point- and yet I find a leisurely stroll somewhat taxing.. sigh.

Emotions: Oh you know- a straight roller coaster. I have been feeling a tad overwhelmed with all that I feel like I have to do before she gets here. But it comes and goes and I know I'm the only one expecting me to get everything done.

One other thing- at my appointment with my regular OB last week, he noted that Tiny Dancer was in a breech position. And then his next comment was "so we'll either have to do a c-section or she'll need to flip." To which I replied, "well let's flip her!"

I haven't mentioned it much on here, but I am all about a natural labor and delivery. And by that I mean, as drug free as possible. I'm no dummy- I signed up for an epidural last week- but I'm really hoping to do all I can with breathing and walking and focus and LOTS OF PRAYER to have this little girl on my own. And if it gets to be too much, well, I guess I'll take an elephant needle in the back.

So needless to say, I wasn't thrilled with his answer. And when I asked him if there was anything I could be doing to help flip her, he said no. Huh. Pretty sure that's not true, but I like the guy enough and want to keep my stress and sanity intact here at the end, so I'm not switching docs or anything. I just logged on to the Google Machine and found a few DIY tips I could try at home.

So I'll keep you posted. If sister doesn't get with the program, chances are you'll find me on my hands and knees scrubbing our hardwoods and upside down on an ironing board in the days leading up to her arrival.