Are there really only 2 weeks left?

How in the world can it be Week 38 already? I was feeling quite round in this sweater yesterday so Milan decided he should log this little memory with a picture. Posing for pictures is not on my top 10 list of fun things to do anymore. To be honest, neither is putting on socks and shoes and wearing jeans is so uncomfortable! I know I am not enormous but seriously my feet are so far away! I can't even remember the last time I put lotion on them; they feel like sandpaper.

I am now going to the doctor weekly. Last Tuesday he told me the baby is still very high and he doubts I'll go early but anything can happen from day to day. His advice was to walk, walk, walk. Let me just tell ya' that all I have been doing for the past 9 months is walking!! I don't feel like walking anymore. I don't feel like cleaning the house. I don't feel like cooking. I don't feel like working. I don't feel like eating. The only thing I feel like doing is sitting on the couch. Yet when I sit on the couch I am antsy and don't want to be there. UGH!

As for the due date predictions: I am not at all happy with Dec. 28th Rosa so please start thinking earlier thoughts! As for Karen and Pam's predictions I am a little afraid because that would mean Eli would be born this week! Milan has a lot going on at work this week so can you please start thinking thoughts for next week? And Uncle John, what were you thinking telling me you think he'll weigh 9 lbs!! Everyone else is coming in at 7 lbs or so- I believe that is manageable but 9 lbs- are you nuts! :) I don't know what I think anymore but I am getting anxious as I know with each passing day I am going to wake up and it's going to be Eli's birthday.

When Will Eli Arrive?

I have been collecting due date guesses and it has been a lot of fun seeing what people are predicting. It is so weird knowing that it can happen any day now. I am 37 weeks which is considered full term! We went for a tour of the hospital the other night and that really made it all seem real! Here are the guesses so far

Me: Dec. 27th 6 lbs. 9 oz. 21 in. long
Milan: Dec. 14th 7 lbs. 9 oz. 23 in. long
My Mom: Dec. 20th
My Dad: Dec. 22nd 7 lbs. 9 oz. 21 in. long
Dave: Dec. 22nd
Karen: Dec. 10th
Christy: Dec. 20th 8 lbs. 1 oz. 22 in. long
Rosa: Dec. 28th 7 lbs. 20 in. long
Uncle Mike: Dec. 24th 7 lbs. 7 oz. 22 in. long
Kim: Dec. 25th
Pam: Dec. 11th 7 lbs. 6 oz. 19 in. long
Courtney: Dec. 22nd 7 lbs. 6 oz. 21 in. long
Cassie: Dec. 27th 7 lbs. 7 oz. 20 in. long at 7:07 am
Kristin W: Dec. 23rd 7 lbs. 2 oz. 20 in. long
Ned: Dec. 23rd
Luke: Dec. 17th 7 lbs.
Adam: Dec. 22nd
Teti: Dec. 18th 7 lbs. 12 oz.
Uncle John: Dec. 23rd 9 lbs. 10 oz.
Kuma Nicole: Dec. 27th 6 lbs. 15 oz. 21 in long
Tiva: Dec. 20th 7 lbs. 4 oz. 18 in. long
Kristin M: Dec. 22nd 7 lbs. 6 oz. 21.5 in. long
Cooper: Dec. 19th 7 lbs. 6 oz. 21.5 long

Can You Guess?

Can You Guess??

Milan and I thought it would be fun to see if everyone tries to guess when little Eli will enter the world. His official due date (which hasn't changed the whole time I have been pregnant) is December 21st.

Please leave a comment indicating the day you think he will arrive, his weight, and his length. After comments are left I will post them on my blog so we can see who the winner will be!

Milan has it in his mind (especially since his work vacation starts on December 13th) that Eli will be born on December 14th. I have tried explaining to him about a million times that first time moms often go past their due date but he is sticking by his prediction. We'll see... :)

I predict that my little guy will take his dear sweet time getting into the world. Therefore, my guess is December 27th. I am really praying that Eli decides to come before or after Dec. 24th and 25th. My doctor is not on call either one of those days and I really want him to deliver Eli so let's just hope Eli doesn't want to share his special day with Christmas. :)

As they say, what's meant to be will be! In the meantime, it is fun to guess!

Our Neighborhood...

Milan and I live in a wonderful neighborhood! When we first started looking for a house in Georgia we looked at this neighborhood and saw that the houses were really close together. When I say close I mean you could practically reach out the window and pass sugar to your neighbor should they need it. It was a big draw back for us so we decided to keep looking. I wanted a fenced in yard for the dog and room to "breathe". After a lot of looking we just kept coming back to this neighborhood. As with all the moves we had to weigh our options so we decided we would give up the idea of a big fenced in yard for Jack. I can tell you that we knew we made the right decision after only a few days of living here.

The people in this neighborhood are beyond friendly. The first week we lived here our doorbell rang daily. There was always someone coming by to meet us and bring us a "welcome to the neighborhood" gift. We soon found out that there were monthly block parties and summer gatherings at the pool. I went from wanting privacy and a big backyard to loving the fact all the neighbors live so close to each other. There were very few nights this summer that Milan and I didn't sit on the front porch with Jack just hanging out with whoever else was outside. It felt like a flashback to the 1950's. There is nothing better than knowing everyone on your street by name. You come to think of people as friends and not just neighbors. They become people you can trust and know will look out for you and your house.

I was 6 weeks pregnant when we moved into our house. Milan was telling people the minute he met them. I kept thinking it was too soon to be running around telling strangers our business but he was just too excited and I couldn't burst that bubble! So as summer progressed and my belly continued to grow and grow the neighbors have kept up with me and always ask how I'm feeling. You can tell they are genuinely excited that we will be bringing another member into the neighborhood!

There are 3 couples in our neighborhood whom Milan and I have become good friends with. The girls in the picture below threw me a baby shower this past weekend. It was such a nice gesture for them to offer to throw the shower! Who would have ever thought that the neighborhood you live in matters this much? I have always been concerned with the location or type of house. I always thought having a nice neighbor would be a bonus but it wasn't top priority. It is going to be so hard to move away this time. I highly doubt we will ever come close to living in a neighborhood like this ever again.

Thank you girls for hosting the shower! It was a lot of fun! Little Eli is already spoiled by all the gifts he has received at all 3 of my showers. I can't wait for him to meet all of you! It's so nice to know I have a handful of babysitters lined up waiting!

Courtney, Jen (Eli's there you just can't see him!), Kristin, & Cassie

How cute is this Steelers onesie! It already fits.

Is it just me or do I have chipmunk cheeks now? I think it's all of the nuts I have been eating. Remember the sugar detox I had to go through? Yah well it's now all about the salt. I have always loved nuts- the saltier the better. But now, I can't get enough of them. It's all about walnuts, cashews, almonds, and pecans! The problem with the sugar was the fact that I couldn't justify eating it. There was no nutritional value whatsoever. The nuts on the other hand can be justified so I feel no guilt while downing handfuls of them at a time. It's winter and like squirrels I need to pack on the pounds (for Eli of course) by eating nuts and berries (I eat a lot of Craisins for my sweet tooth). Ahh, only 5 more weeks of this. :)

Week 34- Already?!

Belly? What Belly?

Black is so slimming isn't it ladies?

Oh that Belly!

Yep, it's still there and still growing like a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch.

Looking back, I should have painted my belly orange for Halloween and painted a face on it. Now that would have made a great costume!

I just told my mom today that there is no way my belly can get any bigger than this because my skin is stretched so tight! My belly is as hard as a rock. I like to tell people I have abs of steel. It feels like I have been working out like a maniac! Ha, if only that were the case. This baby is growing like a weed. I have to take deep breaths all the time because he has discovered my rib cage to be the perfect resting spot for his feet. Milan and I were joking today that Eli is going to have legs like his Uncle Adam. Super long! Then we started thinking and listing all of the men in the family whose genes he could have acquired for these long legs. Let's see Milan, my Dad, Milan's Dad, Milan's brothers, Milan's Uncle George, my Dad's two sisters, the list can go on and on. I'm going to start calling Eli my Little String Bean instead of my Little Peach. I wouldn't be surprised if he measures 30 inches long at birth! :) Milan prays nightly that these legs are going to be part of our son's god given athletic talent!

Fall in Georgia

Seriously, it can't get much better than this! Fall in Georgia is beautiful. It is 70 degrees and sunny on November 8th. Living in this climate makes the feeling of homesickness disappear quite quickly! If only all of our family and friends could move down here! Last I heard it was in the 30's and raining up in Chicago today. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of extra maternity clothes that I would need if I was living there pregnant instead of here. I just keep washing and wearing the same mild weather clothes over and over! No coats, turtlenecks, and layered sweaters needed here! :)

With the weather being so nice lately, we took the opportunity to take some pictures of the outside of our new house (now that I got out of my lazy funk and decided to decorate a bit). I can't wait to rock my little guy in our classic Georgia front porch rocking chairs.

The Three E's

The Three E's... About 6 years ago my very close friend Rosa became pregnant. She was my first friend to have a baby so everything about having a baby was completely foreign to me. So I decided that I would read all her pregnancy books with her so we could talk about it even though I wasn't pregnant. Of course Rosa rushed right out and purchased the classic What to Expect When You Are Expecting book. As her pregnancy progressed and we got further and further into the book we decided that neither one of us wanted anything to do with the terms that began with the letter E. Those words being, enema, episiotomy, and epidural. I'll have you all know that I have not forgotten those words over the past 6 years and now that they are possibly around the corner I am doing everything in my power to steer clear of them! :)

I feel very fortunate to be able to say that I have never spent any time in the hospital. When I was about 5 years old I was bit by a horse and had to get stitches in my finger but other than that trip to the ER I have never been back for anything other than the occasional immediate care visit for the flu or something common like that. Before becoming pregnant I can only recall giving blood one time when I had stomach issues and that was so traumatic I said I was never going back to the doctor again. I have tried to take medicine and it makes my stomach turn so I quit taking prescriptions for anything- I'll survive. Oh and just to add a little story about pills: I was on a prescription from the dermatologist once (desperate times call for desperate measures I looked like I was 12) and apparently I didn't swallow the pill with enough water so the capsule dissolved in my throat and backed up into my sinuses and out my nose. I was foaming at the nose and my throat was on fire. Milan had to call poison control at midnight. I survived but my throat and nose were both burned from it. Dave lovingly calls me "green snot" now. Nice. Anyway, I have tried taking vitamins and we all know from a previous blog that I am incapable of that as well. I refuse to take over the counter medicaton for a cold (remember when I puked Nyquil all over you mom?) nor will I take aspirin or any of that stuff. It too makes my stomach turn. When it comes right down to it I am a complete wreck. I prefer pain over intervention.

Onto another subject... Gestational diabetes testing. During the third trimester they make you go in and get tested for diabetes. I do have to say for the record that I am getting better at giving blood. After much practice of mental relaxation I can now give blood without getting an upset stomach. I really am proud of myself. Anyway, the doctor told me to eat like normal that day- so I did (no Twizzlers of course). I went in drank my bottle of "kool-aid" and waited the full boring hour until they could draw blood. Two weeks later I go in for my visit and I'm told I didn't pass the test. What? Ok, imagine me freaking out about this. All I can see is visions of Twizzlers dancing in my head. I am told to come into the office the next day for the 3 hour test. Oh my god, three hours! I had to fast after midnight. I have never fasted in my life. I honestly thought I was going to die the next morning without my breakfast and water. Anyway, I get to the office, they draw blood, and I drink that nasty sweet drink again. You can't walk around or leave so you just sit for an hour until they can draw your blood again. You do this for a total of 3 hours. Oh did I people watch! But that's another story. In the end, I was nauseous, thirsty, starving, and my arm hurt from all the needle poking! But none the less I survived. Now I get to wait for the big news of whether I have diabetes or not. I knew that if I did I wasn't going to be able to forgive myself for all those Twizzlers I ate. Finally after a long few days of waiting I call the office and the nurse tells me that my numbers came back really low and everything looks great. WHAT? Then why on earth didn't I pass the first test? Come to find out at my appointment today I was only one point above normal so it automatically pushed me into the 3 hour test requirement. Are you kidding me! As ridiculous as all of this may sound to the average person you need to see that to me that is traumatic. :)

Back to the three E's. I waited to get pregnant for many reasons but the biggest reason had to do with the fact that it requires me to have medical things done. Now that I have survived two root canals and crowns put on my teeth I knew I had graduated into the world of being a big girl. If I can get a root canal done certainly I can have a baby. If you have never had a root canal done then make sure you are taking extra special care of your teeth so you don't need one done. It is terrible. Here's another look into the life of Jen. When I was 23 I had my wisdom teeth removed. How bad could that be? Oh how naive I was! I was nervous but I honestly don't get as afraid at the dentist as I do at the doctor. Anyway, I sit in the chair and suddenly I am being strapped down and givin a big needle in my arm. I immediately start crying. I don't know what came over me but I had no control of myself. The nurse had to wipe my eyes and nose because my hands were strapped down. It was pathetic and scary. The next thing I know the surgery is over and they are waking me up. What do you think the first thing I did was? Cried of course. I started crying all over again. It was as if I had never been out. I picked up right where I left off! You would have thought I had lost a limb and not 4 teeth. Anyway, back to the three E's.

After I found out I was pregnant the first thing I did was get a bunch of books to read. I knew I had 9 months to psych myself up for this. Fortunately the lady I babysit for had just given birth to twins so she was my daily resource for pregnancy conversation. It wasn't long before she was sharing her own stories and suggesting reading material. Little did I know that my meeting her would change my entire outlook on giving birth. I didn't know people actually gave birth without the 3 E's. I also didn't know that my list of things to be afraid of would be much longer than my little list of the 3 E's. The most powerful thing for me has been learning that I have control over the interventions that happen at my birth. You don't have to do things just because that's the way the hospital tells you to do it or that's the way most women today do things. I felt so liberated learning about this and reading all of the material supporting and encouraging natural child birth. Remember... I am the girl who would choose pain over intervention. In my quest for a birth that I can handle I have hired a doula and found birth classes that support and encourage natural child birth. Over the past 7 months I have bombarded Milan with snippets of info from all of the books I have read and he is completely on board with me for this journey. It is a journey much different than my friends have taken but I do believe it is one woman were created to do without too much unnecessary intervention.

I had planned to share my funny birth class stories tonight but it seems as though I have gone off on a tangent. I will save my stories for another day. Taking traditional birth classes at the hospital and taking alternative birth classes are much different and we are totally enjoying the experience. I will paint the picture for you next time. I hope you enjoyed my chatter. I needed to get it out! :)

7 1/2 Months

7 1/2 Months Looks Like This!

Here is the Little Peach! I guess I can't really call him little anymore. But he will always be "my little peach" even when he is 10 and tells me to stop calling him that! As I have mentioned before, my back is killing me. When I look at a picture of myself I can totally see why! It's starting to be shaped like a U. I feel like he is pulling me forward and I always want to correct my posture but it doesn't work at all. It's hopeless. I am finally having to give in to the inevitable pregnancy waddle.

This week will be week 31. I went to the doctor last week and found out that Eli is head down. I didn't really need the doctor to tell me that since I have been getting kicked in the ribs continuously but it was nice to have it confirmed. Let's just hope he stays put! I have had so many people share their pregnancy stories with me and no matter how well someone describes what it feels like when the baby moves there is no way to truly understand until you experience it for yourself. There are no words to describe the feeling. I am in awe everytime he moves. The kicks are one thing but the real movements are amazing. When you put aside the first trimester sickness, the second trimester clothing issues, and the third trimester discomforts you come to realize why so many women choose to do this over and over again. I'm already getting sad realizing it is coming to an end. At least there is something wonderful to look forward to.

I do have to say for the record that I am slowing down in all ways possible. My trips to the gym are shorter, my hours of sleep are shorter, my desire to socialize is shorter, my patience is shorter, and my ability to think rationally has just about diminished. I am angry over nothing important and then on the verge of tears over nothing important. I get mad at the TV because there is nothing worth watching. I am constantly antsy and bored out of my mind. Yet I can think of 10 things to do and don't want to do any of them. I feel like I am trapped inside of a cage yet the door to the cage is standing wide open so I can come and go freely. I think it must be time to start nesting. They say pregnant women start nesting around this time so maybe I need to do that. I had been holding off on getting the nursery put together since we thought we may be moving but now that I know we are not moving yet (thank goodness) I can put my focus on Eli's room.

Tomorrow will be birth class number 2. I will write about it this coming week. If it is anything like last week's class then let's just say it will be a blog worth reading... :)

The Happy Couple

Our trip to Marco Island

Us

Uncle George, Aunt Maria, & Us

Being pregnant is so enjoyable! Milan and I get along so well and enjoy this time together so much. Not that we didn't get along before but we are even closer now as we await Eli's arrival. It is so much fun waddling around getting attention from strangers and having Milan smile at my tummy. Our trip to Florida was wonderful. We relaxed a lot and just enjoyed the scenery. I would do anything to live near the beach. My hope is that Reynolds will move us near the ocean one of these days.

Now that we are back to reality again this has been a tough week. I feel like it is my first trimester all over again! I get tired so easily! I am also experiencing back pain for the first time. Apparently my little Eli is positioned on my sciatic nerve. I have shooting pains from my lower back into my hip and down my right hamstring. I am waddling around like a duck. So far I have managed to continue my trips to the gym but I must look quite uncomfortable as I waddle around the place. I had to take a break this morning from blow drying my hair because I was out of breath! What on earth is going on? Oh that's right all of my organs are up in my throat now. Speaking of my throat, I know digestion is an issue for woman in their third trimester so I wasn't surprised when I would feel full so quickly. But what I am surprised by is the fact that my food stays in my chest for hours and hours. I laid down in bed 5 hours after dinner and could feel the food in my chest. This morning I woke up and could still feel it there. All I can say to that is YUK!

Milan and I begin our birthing classes this week. There are 4 sessions on Sunday evenings from 5:00-8:00. I decided to take a less traditional class through a place that specializes in woman who are seeking a nonmedicated birth. I haven't really written much on here about my birth plan but yes I am crazy and yes I am going to try to do it without the epidural. I have hired a doula who will be there to help with pain mangement. Not that my dear sweet hubby couldn't be of help to me but this woman assists pregnant woman routinely and has a whole bag of tricks to help you get through labor. I can't wait to see the reaction on Milan's face when we get to the class and he gets introduced to the reality of child birth- the gory details and all. :)

I am now 7 months and in my third trimester. I think they call this the ready and able stage. I have to say that I am neither of those two things. Maybe next month. I am already feeling sad thinking about not being pregnant anymore. As much as I can't wait for my little guy to arrive I am in no hurry. I may say something else very shortly if he doesn't move and get off of my nerve, though! I have a doctor's appointment again this coming Monday. I am now visiting the doctor every two weeks instead of every four. I guess time is winding down huh? The next thing I know it will be every week! I'm pretty sure I will be getting scared right around that time.

I noticed our pictures from Florida really don't show my baby bump very well. I will have to get a better picture posted soon. He is growing and growing in there. Not to mention moving and moving. He now kicks my ribs. There is nothing funnier than when my stomach gets distorted looking or when my shirt just starts moving all around. I can't help but wonder what he looks like. I imagine it all the time.

Twizzler Detox Program

Today is day 4 of the No More Twizzlers Detox Program that I have created for myself. Actually, I should be calling it the no candy at all detox program instead since all candy has been eliminated from the Hayden household. There is no secret that my weakest point with food is with sweets. I could eat dessert and candy over a real meal any day. Now most people with this problem would call themselves Chocoaholics but in my case it's not at all about the chocolate. It is all about the little kid sugary candy like gummy bears, swedish fish, licorice, sour patch kids, etc. I have a mouth full of fillings from the many years of this addiction. I have decided that I am no longer going to be in denial about my addiction. It is time to kick the habit!

Milan has been informed that there is to be no more candy brought into the house. Let me just say for the record that Milan's sweet tooth is just as bad as mine if not worse. So the look on his face when I told him that candy is the enemy and no longer welcome was that of a child being told the same thing. Since Milan does not feel he needs to be on the detox program he has agreed to buy candy secrectly and hide the stash from me.

I am writing about this today because I am so proud of myself. I have made it 4 days without any candy at all. I am not saying that there haven't been moments of intense weakness because I would be totally lying. For example, every time we go to the mall I make sure I have quarters with me so Milan and I can get candy out of the little machines. While in the mall yesterday I searched high and low for one of those machines but wouldn't you know that the mall we were in didn't have them! I took a deep breath and later held my urge to have Milan stop at a gas station. You have no idea how much trouble a candy addict can get into in a gas station candy aisle. Some how some way I made it through the day yesterday without any candy.

Ahh, which brings us to today. As we waited for a prescription to be filled at Target Milan has this bright idea to go down the candy aisle looking for chocolate Twizzlers. Chocolate Twizzlers are by far the best. In the back of my mind I am thinking I want to strangle him but I say nothing and go along to the aisle. Luckily there weren't any chocolate Twizzlers but none the less I still had to exercise some serious self control not to give in to my craving. Heck, it's been 4 days! Can't a girl have just one piece? I successfully left the aisle enpty handed. Milan of course had a bag of swedish fish with him but I just ignored it. By the time we left Target I had completely forgotten about the fish he bought. That was until we reached the car. The first thing Milan does is rip open the bag and let the warm air just fill up with the scent of sugary fish. Oh yum! I say nothing and stare out the window trying my best not to reach over and choke him. Finally when I couldn't help myself anymore I told him that eating those fish in front of me could be one of the meanest things he has ever done to me. His response, "oh just eat one it won't kill ya." I said, "you are suppose to be supporting me not encouraging me! Buying those fish and eating them in front of me is just rude!!" So he smiles at me and says I'll just put them in here and hide them. As if I am not going to remember he has candy hiding in his car!

Now ya'll can see why I am so proud of myself. It has been one hard weekend on my detox program. I did make some muffins last night as a way to curb this sweet tooth I have. :) It helped a little but in the back of my mind I am still craving the candy. I have no idea how I am going to travel this week without my stash in my carry on bag. We always have treats on the plane with us. Wish me luck!

Have you ever seen a drug on TV called Chantix? It's made for people who want to quit smoking. It blocks the craving for nicotine. I wonder if they make anything like that for people with my sugar addiction?

I go to the doctor again tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn't show that I am living on sugar- well WAS living on sugar until now. :)

Little Peach's Shower

Notice the lady is holding a bag of Twizzlers in her hand.

Very funny, Mom!!

As you all know I went home last week for my second baby shower. How nice to have multiple showers! I checked the weather report before leaving and saw the tempertaure was suppose to be low 70's and sunny. What a nice change from the heat in Georgia. Tuesday and Wednesday were absolutely beautiful days. The kind of day that makes you homesick because fall is coming. Thursday was another story! In rolled those classic Chicago rain clouds and by afternoon it was cold and drizzly. I packed a few items for cool weather but since my wardrobe is so limited fall clothes are non-existant. I dragged my mom from store to store to find some fall maternity clothes so I wouldn't freeze to death. I was hoping however the rain would pass and the sun would return. As luck would have it the rain just kept falling. It rained nonstop from Thursday to Sunday night. By Sunday, the day of the shower, Chicago had seen more rain fall than ever recorded in history. The roads were flooded, people were evactuating their homes, and the parking lot of Target had abandoned cars that were completely covered in water. As frustrating as all of it was I now have a story to share with Eli about his trip "home" for his baby shower.


As you will see in the photos below I can no longer call Eli my Little Peach. He is a growing boy! "They", whoever they are, say that he should be about 2 lbs. and 9 inches long now. This is the end of my 26th week- which is the third week of month six. I can't believe how I have changed in such a short amount of time. I look at myself and have to take a double take because I can't believe what I am seeing. Other than lower back aches, hip aches, and nightly muscle cramps I really can't complain yet! Yet is the keyword in that sentence. :) I know different woman complain about a variety of things while they are pregnant but my number problem is cramps. I have had cramps in my feet, calves, hamstrings, fingers, and as of yesterday a cramp in my butt! I fell over in pain and Milan just looked at me in complete shock. If you could have seen his face. I must have looked like a real moron trying to find a way to stand to get the cramp out.


So back to my shower... even with all that rain just about everyone was able to venture out and make it to the shower. I was so grateful that people chose to endure the rain and the roads so they could be at the shower. A big thank you goes out to my Mom for hosting the shower. I also need to thank Brenda for all her help with the planning. Bre- thank you for the centerpieces they were beautiful! Karen- thank you for providing the cheesecake and cupcakes as well being the photographer for the day! Thanks to all of you the shower was beautiful and Eli was blessed yet again with more gifts to get his life off to a great start! Not to mention helping make his Mama's life easier too!

Jen & Eli's Grammy Bonnie
Jen & Eli's Nana Karen
Bre 8 months & Jen 6 months Jen & Leticia
My beautiful centerpiece from Bre!

So what's next after baby showers? Oh that's right, the third trimester. Let the waiting game begin! Milan and I are going on a "Babymoon" to Florida for our 3rd anniversary on October 1st. Are you saying, "what in the world is a babymoon?". It is the last trip you take as a couple before life changes and you become parents. I can't wait to go to the beach! The next dilema... wearing a bathing suit in public.

6 Months!

Week 24- The beginning of month #6! Wow time flies by. I love it that my birthday falls around a holiday weekend (Labor Day) so in the past Milan and I always do something over the weekend and I call it my birthday weekend. This year it landed on the Thursday after Labor Day but I still like to call it my birthday weekend anyway! :)
This year was a little different since alcohol and babies don't mix! No margaritas on a patio with chips and salsa for me. Oh well, that was just fine since this year I get to have a baby!

Anyway, I still wanted to celebrate so we got all "dressed" up and went out for ice cream with our friends from our new neighborhood. A big thanks to Christy who let me borrow her super cute maternity clothes! I'll have you know this is a shirt without a string in the back! As you can plainly see my little peach is no longer little!

I went to the doctor last Tuesday. He told me I have doubled in size in 4 weeks! As if I didn't know that already on my own! One minute I'm squeezing into shirts that aren't maternity and the next minute I am wearing Milan's tee-shirts because nothing else is long enough to cover this bulging tummy! He told me I might want to stay away from all the Twizzlers since sugar is a pregnant person's enemy. I was reluctant to admit this crazy pregnant obsession but I did anyway after he asked me if I was drinking Coke before my appointment since my glucose level was elevated. Oops. Note to self... don't eat candy prior to peeing in a cup at the doctor's office. My love for Twizzlers has turned into an obsession. I have zero self control. The last bag that my sweet husband brought home is finally gone and I have requested he doesn't buy me anymore. We'll see how long I can go without. Just for the record, it's not just one type of Twizzler. I will eat the little pieces, cherry, strawberry, chocolate, or Pull n Peel- it makes no difference to me. The more the better.

I am off to Chicago for my second shower being given by my Mom. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post soon.... Eli's first trip by plane- how exciting!

Watermelon, Shirt Strings, and Diaper Bags

How come no one told me that watermelon causes heartburn? Watermelon of all things! I ate, yes you can believe it, a entire cheeseburger and fries for lunch yesterday and didn't suffer from it at all! Tonight for my healthy snack I eat watermelon and now I am suffering from heartburn- go figure! Eating Tums is just about as gross to me as taking vitamins so I may choose to suffer through this tonight!

Does anyone know who invented the maternity shirt? Why on earth do they all have to be cut from a tent pattern and then made to look form fitting by attaching that ridiculous string to the back? If that doesn't scream "I'm pregnant" I don't know what does! Yes I know I am pregnant so it shouldn't matter that the string screams that out but the shirts are so darn ugly! My mother would say I am acting vain by complaing like this but there has to be someone else out there who agrees with me! I am not trying to be vain about this. I guess I could shop at Mimi Maternity and pay $50 for a shirt without a string but honestly why can they make nice stringless shirts and the less expensive stores can't?

Ok, why is it so difficult for me to choose a diaper bag? I know my mother wants to reach through the phone and choke me sometimes! I have been looking for a diaper bag for months already! I hate carrying a purse so you can imagine the stress I am having over having to carry a bigger bag that requires so many items to be in it! I don't consider myself the trendy type so all of those super expensive bags that are really cute seem ridiculous to me. However, I don't like the bags that look like diaper bags from 1988 either. No Winnie the Pooh for me. I look at a bag online and then I find a store who carries it so I can check it out in person. I am so worried about making a bad choice! Who the heck cares? It's a dumb diaper bag! So I run down my list of questions... 1. Does it fall off my shoulder easily? 2. Does it have enough pockets? 3. Is it stylish and is the fabric nice? 4. Will Milan be caught carrying it? 5. Will it stay closed once it is stuffed with baby things? 6. Are those side pockets even big enough to carry the bottle that is suppose to fit in it?
By the way, what do people even realistically carry in these bags anyway? Do Moms upgrade to even bigger bags when they have two kids?

This is why God made pregnancy last 9 months. We need time to find shirts without strings and diaper bags that suit us perfectly.

The Next Michael Phelps?

Week 22- Yah! I am finally starting to look pregnant. Jack likes to put his head on my hip to tell me he wants to be pet on the head. He was doing that right before Milan took this picture but of course he wouldn't pose when it came time! He is so tall it looks like he is trying to "talk" to the baby. I can't wait to see what he thinks when this baby is actually here in the house. I can picture him licking the baby's toes while he is swinging or sitting in his bouncy chair. Too cute!

If you noticed I wrote HE that is because there is no longer anyone left who hasn't inquired about the gender of this little Peach! Yes, it is a boy and yes I was right all along! Mother's intuition I'm sure of that. His name will be Ilija Martin Hayden. We will call him Eli. It was very important to us that he was given a Serbian name so his full name will be Ilija. Milan has two uncles who were named Eli so it is also a family name for him. Eli's middle name Martin is after my very special Uncle who I spent my entire childhood with.

I don't know about any of you but Milan and I have been quite "into" the Olympics this year. Michael Phelps has to be part fish. When I think of my Little Peach swimming around inside my tummy I always describe it to Milan as if the baby is a little fish. It's just what I picture in my mind. First of all, how on earth can this baby be "under water" for 9 months without coming up for air? Secondly, I feel like I am walking around as a human fish bowl now that I can feel his every move. If I concentrate on what he is doing I could get seasick from all the swishing back and forth in there. It wasn't until this week that I could completely identify and track his movements. I do believe that watching (and listening- did you know babies can hear everything now?) the Olympics has inspired my little son to practice his swimming abilities. One night we were watching Phelps win yet another gold medal and my Little Peach kicked me so hard it made the remote control, which was resting on my belly, lift up and then back down again! I'm pretty certain he was using the side of my stomach as a wall for kicking off and making his turn to the other side of the pool just as Phelps does.

I honestly don't know which is better- seeing the ultrasound or feeling the baby move so much. I used to see pregnant woman and wonder why on earth they are always touching their bellies or resting their hands on their bellies. I just figured it was because it was a good resting spot now that their tummy was so large! I know from first hand experience now that it is just something pregnant mamas do naturally. Most of the time I don't realize I am resting my hands there or I am actually rubbing it until I have been doing it for a few minutes. It makes me laugh every time he moves around. You would think I'd be used to it or even tired of it but I'm not! I absolutely love it! I think he really enjoys yoga because he was kicking me during class as if he was marching along in a band. I had to stop what I was doing because it was just so darn funny!

I told Milan tonight that I LOVE being pregnant. Now ask me that again in November or December and we'll see what I say then. But for now, I am enjoying the second trimester. A while back I wrote that the doctor called this the showing and glowing stage. I'm not too sure if I feel like I am glowing but I am definitely showing, feeling great, eating with joy, and smiling often. Life is good...

Week 20- THE BIG DAY!

Here's our little Peach at 20 weeks! You can stop looking so closely the baby's gender can't be told by the angle of this picture! Our little peach was pretty cooperative so we were able to get the pictures needed to show that all the organs are formed properly. The baby's arms and legs were moving like crazy the whole time! It is totally amazing to me that this baby only weighs 13 ounces and has all the working parts of a living human. I wish this picture was as clear as the actual screen because you could really make out the face, heart, and spine. I laid on the table in complete awe of what I was seeing. I know a lot of woman say they cry during the ultrasound but it was different for me. I wouldn't call it shock. It was more like complete utter amazement knowing that I am growing a baby inside of me.

Are you asking yourself whether this baby is a prince or a princess? Will Milan be learning how to braid hair or will Jen be learning the rules of all the sports this baby will play? Will it be butterflies or baseballs adorning the walls of the nursery...

If you know me at all you know that I am not one for surprises. I feel sorry for Milan because he can't plan anything without me being in on it. So, I of course have known since day 1 that I wanted to know whether it was a boy or girl. I can't say I wanted to know because I couldn't wait to put the nursery together because if you know me I am not much into decorating! I can't really say why I wanted to know so badly but I did so needless to say I have been secretly counting down the days to week 20. Milan on the other hand was hard to predict. One day he'd say he wanted to know. A couple days later he'd say he didn't want to know. All the way up until the moment the ultrasound started he was still saying he didn't know if he wanted to find out. As the ultrasound lady is nearing what she called the "butt shot" he shouts out, "Ok, I want to know!" It was so cute watching him fret over this decision. I honestly thought we'd be ushering him out of the room so I could view this "butt shot" on my own. Can you imagine life around our house with me knowing and him wondering? After the ultrasound we sat together looking at the pictures while we waited to see the doctor. Milan told me his plan was to keep it a secret from everyone else. We agreed we'd each tell one person who wasn't a family member so they wouldn't be able to get the news back to everyone at home. Let me just say that this pact of ours worked for a total of one hour! So Kuma Nicole if you are reading this... you were right! Keeping a secret didn't work.

I have decided that I will not be sharing the baby's gender on my blog (well at least not at this point). There are still a few out there who say they can wait until December to hear the news. I have a feeling they'll crumble just as the others have already so in that case I will eventually write about it. If you are curious and want to know just send me an email and I'd be glad to share the wonderful news. Quite honestly a healthy baby is the number one thing and knowing the gender is just plain fun. So far the health of our little Peach is perfect so we feel ecstatic about it all.

Baby Shower Time!

Baby Shower #1
The month of July has been a busy one. Milan and I went home to Chicago for 10 days to visit our family and friends. We haven't been home since Christmas and we always look forward to the trip. It took us 11 hours to drive there from Georgia. Most people gasp when you tell them that but in all honesty it is a really nice drive! No offense to people who live in Indiana but that is the least scenic part of the drive and it takes the longest! Northern Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky are very pretty and make the drive easy. We packed a cooler full of healthy mom-to-be treats, gave Jack some meds for car sickness and we were off. I am pretty sure the thoughts of pizza and Italian beef sandwiches guided us along the way. Neither one of us could wait to get "home" and eat.

This picture was taken on July 20th at "The Little Peach's" shower. Milan's mom, Ljubi, threw us a beautiful shower at the Serbian Hall (where our wedding reception was). The theme was based on orange and brown as a tribute to the Peach! How cute! If you look closely at my belly you can sort of tell there is a baby in there. Milan and I posed for a picture before he was off to golf. It is unbelievable how many gifts we received and the generosity people showed us. We feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family.

The rest of our time at home was spent visiting family and friends. We were on the go from sun up to sun down every day. When we are in Georgia living our day to day lives we try not to dwell on our homesickness but it hits ya' hard when you go "home" and realize how much you are missing. The kids are all growing so quickly! Milan's brother Adam made me feel better when he said that even though 7 months have passed since we were all together it feels like yesterday the minute he sees us. It is so true. Time may pass but relationships don't change and knowing that makes living so far away not quite as bad. It is our hope to make the time between our visits shorter once the Little Peach arrives.

So here we are back in Georgia again. I did not take one nap the whole time we were home so needless to say I have been sleeping a lot this week. It has been raining, yes raining, down here in Georgia- can you believe it! Maybe our grass will be green by September. It is HOT and HUMID here and just about as bad as you can imagine when you walk outside. Needless to say, I stay indoors. I have a nice surprise belly shot coming soon so check back. I also go to the doctor on Monday so I can't wait to post the latest ultrasound! It will be 20 weeks already. Time flies when you are feeling better!

The Bump

Here's the proof! There really is a little peach in there. Look at the bump! I told you I swallowed a grapefruit. :)

As week 14 comes to an end I am finding fewer and fewer items in the closet that fit. So much for those cute capris from last summer. It is an odd feeling putting on clothes that won't button and then I remind myself there is a baby in there and suddenly the fact that all I can fit in is stretchy work out clothes doesn't seem to matter at all.

I am counting down the weeks until this baby starts to make itself known by kicking! "They" say to expect that to happen anytime around 16-18 weeks. I can't wait!

Oh and how come no one warned me about heartburn striking at any time whether I have just eaten or not?! It's brutal! Thank goodness for Tums- they are what should be called Life Savers! :)

Atlantic Ocean on Tybee Island, Georgia



The Little Peach visits the ocean for the first time.

Me, Ljubi, & Bobby Deen at Paula Deen's Restaurant in Savannah.

14 Weeks- Goodbye Morning Sickness, right?

14 weeks! I made it! I am officially out of my first trimester. I went to bed Sunday night thinking Monday was going to be the first day of no more sickness. That's what "they" (whoever they are) say, right? WRONG. I haven't felt this bad in two weeks. Now what is going on with that? I should know better than to think I would be that lucky! Ha. According to my weekly updates my baby can now pee (nice huh), suck it's thumb, and make facial expressions. I bet my little peach was making faces today (laughing of course) knowing that momma is sick again. :)

We visited the doctor last week for our monthly check up. She said I lost two pounds. How can that be? I feel like I swallowed a grapefruit and it is lodged in my pelvis. But none the less my sickness didn't help add any pounds to me. She said she wasn't concerned because my appetite will be ready to go during this trimester. I can't wait for that to happen! According to the doctor the "pickles and ice cream" stage is behind me and I am now entering the "showing and glowing" stage. I'll let you know when I start glowing!

This has been a very busy month of June. My dad came to visit us three weekends ago. Then my mom, Dave, Uncle Mike, and Aunt Linda drove here last weekend (crazy people)! And this past weekend the Hayden's came for a visit. I can't believe it has been 6 months since we last saw our parents. Time flies. I have a feeling that things will change after this little peach joins the world. It was a lot of fun having company. It gets very lonely down here with no family and friends to visit. What are we going to do next weekend when we are all by ourselves again?

While the Hayden's were in town we took a drive to Savannah. What a wonderful day it was. I don't know how many of you are familiar with Paula Deen from the Food Network but her restaurant is in Savannah so of course we had to go there. If you know about Paula you will know she has two sons who are also on Food Network. It just so happened that her son Bobby was in the gift shop that day hanging out signing cookbooks and taking pictures with people. So here we are with Bobby Deen! What a sweet guy. After that we took a ride to Tybee Island so the little peach could go to the beach for the first time. I am keeping a journal of all the things we do while the peach is growing so the beach is now on the list. That's why I am patting my tummy in the picture above. :)

Check back soon for the next belly shot......

Our First Book!

Yah! We got our first book for the baby this weekend! If you look closely at the cover it is meant to be read while the little peach is still inside it's momma's tummy. How cute is that idea!

A big thanks to Teti Beth for thinking of us and sending this book! I love it and I love getting things in the mail. I am like a kid myself. I haven't read the book to the baby yet but I will soon. Thanks again, Beth! We love ya.

Welcome to the land of plastic!

Part I- The happy couple holds hands as they walk into Babies R Us. Their world is filled with day dreams of baseballs and butterflies as they get closer to entering the world of parenthood. They can't wait to pick out all the sweet stuff that every baby needs. The mom is armed with saltines and Swedish fish to keep up her energy as they shop. The dad is armed with the "gun" ready to scan whatever he wants. Life is good in the land of Jen and Milan.

This beautiful story lasts for the first 2 aisles of Babies R Us.

Part II- My energy level slowly decreases as the first aisle we see is the breastfeeding aisle. Breast pads and breast ointment for sore parts I don't want to mention. Electric breast pumps vs. manual breast pumps. Bottles that contain BPA and bottles that claim they don't. Pacifiers designed by dentists and pacifiers made of silicone (is that even safe?). Video monitors that cost a fortune vs. ones that work the good ole' fashion way. Oh and how about the safety aisle to baby proof your house? They should just invent a bubble to buy and then your child can safely make it through their toddler years so you don't have to drill screws into cabinets and the wood trim on your staircases.

Part III- Strollers, car seats, and activity centers Oh My! I went to this department with confidence! I called my friends, my Kuma, and my sister-in-law for advice here. I am searching all around for the exact stroller and car seat I want and can't find it. I finally find someone to ask only to be told it had been recalled!! What! On to plan B.

Hum, I wonder if we would use a jogging stroller? It sure looks cool. I bet I could find a used one that some other ambitious mom registered for and never used.

Swings, exersaucers, bouncy chairs, walkers. My head is spinning. Why do we need all of these things? I quickly call up my Kuma Nicole and ask that very question. Her answer, you don't know what kind of baby you will have. Some like swings some don't so you get all of it and see what "it" likes best. You'll have the rest of it for your next baby. My next baby... let's get through this pregnancy first! :)

Part IV- Someone please take the "gun" from my husband! I am the kind of girl who will go to 10 stores before finally choosing what I want. Milan on the other hand sees something and buys it without a single thought. I'm looking at one thing trying to read about it and compare it and behind me I hear the beeping of the scanner on things I haven't even looked at! All the while I am thinking... do babies really need all of this stuff or do we just think they do?

Part V- Welcome to the land of plastic. Do you know that nothing is made here in the good old United States. I mean nothing. Well of course you could go online and shop for wooden toys that are boring in comparison to the ones made in China that go blinky blinky and sing 10 different melodies. This child is not even born yet and I am already contributing to it's exposure to toxic plastic. Everything in that store is made of plastic. Why do they use toxic chemicals in toys in the first place? Is China trying to slowly kill us over here because they know we are suckers for giving our kids every toy known to man if it keeps them quiet and happy?

I will end this story here. I could carry on with my opinions and dislike for the way things are but I will spare you until next time when I write about the world of poopy diapers. Until then, Milan and I are back to day dreaming about our little peach while knowing we have conquered Babies R Us. This is one lucky little baby who will be blessed with everything imaginable and for that we are grateful.

Flinstone Vitamins

Week 10! This is the week when Baby Hayden graduates from being an embryo to a fetus. How exciting! If you've been wonderin' why I haven't posted in a while well let's just say that graduating is a lot of work. I have been exhausted. According to my weekly emails the baby now has all of it's major organs- no wonder I am so tired! Even checking my email is a chore that requires rest afterwards. That is so pathetic! :)

Eating... yeah, that is not any better at all. The bummer is my cravings are totally gone and now food is even more of a chore. I love looking at cookbooks and trying new recipes so I tried with all my might today to flip through some books. No luck. Our fridge is empty. Our cupboards are bare. Thank goodness Milan eats at restaurants every day for lunch. I can't wait for the day when I have more to talk about than sleeping and eating. Bare with me, it's coming (I hope).

So did ya'll know grown ups can take Flintstones chewable vitamins? I have always had the hardest time swallowing pills. The thought of taking a pill especially medicine makes me sick. It is on a desperate rare occasion that I will take a pill. I've never taken vitamins because the smell pushes me over the edge. Then I get pregnant. Prenatal vitamins. The pressure is on. What if my baby is malnourished and comes out sick? I can't begin to tell you how I have to mentally prepare for this daily activity. I put it off until the very last second of my day- right before bed. Then I lay in bed sick for an hour until I force myself to sleep. I told this story to my doctor and she casually says, "you know you can take 2 Flintstone vitamins a day and it is just as good for you." I drag Milan out to Kroger at 10pm for Flintstones. I am so happy I am skipping down the aisle. Here's the even better part... they are only $7 for a month's supply. My prenatals were $30! So... we rush home and I take out two vitamins. Just for the record, I loved these things when I was a kid. So I pop two in my mouth and chew, chew, chew. I was anxiously waiting for that yummy sweet taste I used to love but it never came. All I taste is bitter semisweet vitamins getting stuck in my teeth and making me nauseous by the second. Dang it! Who changed the formula of these vitamins? So let's see, I can't eat, I can't drink, and I can't take vitamins. This poor kid is off to a rough start. Oh well, for the sake of my little growing peach I will suffer through the chew it is still better than those horse pills they call prenantal vitamins. There is no doubt in my mind that a man developed the prenatal vitamin. There's no way any woman would do that to another woman.

Woo Hoo... More Pizza!

I definitely have the best Kuma's ever! The doorbell rings again yesterday afternoon and sure enough I open the door and there sits another Lou Malnati's box! Woo hoo! Now, if I had known writing a blog and complaining about food cravings would bring on pizza I would have done it long ago! :)
My sweet Kuma Nicole sent us two pizzas- one cheese and one sausage. She told me I don't have to share it if I don't want to but when Milan found that out he looked like a sad little puppy. Of course I'll share!
All I know is this baby is already getting spoiled by his/her two Kuma's and we are only at 9 weeks. This is one lucky little baby! Thank you Nicole for thinking of us. :) We love ya!

Baby Hayden: 9 Weeks

Milan and I went to the doctor yesterday and we got to "meet" Baby Hayden! Here's our little peach all cozy and warm just growing and growing away. Seeing the ultrasound makes this whole thing so much more real. At one point the baby was moving around and looked like he/she was trying to throw a ball with it's arm. The ultrasound tech asked Milan about his siblings and after telling her that he is one of four boys and that his brother Adam has a son she said we can count on having a boy. I'm pretty sure Milan was day dreaming about little league the whole drive home.

As for a Mommy update... yeah, remember all of those cravings last week? They're gone. I'm back to my old self again. Well, not really. Food is still gross and only being eaten out of necessity. We did have a date night for ice cream this weekend and I had no problem getting that down! Milan asked the doctor if I should be eating more meat and she told me no as long as I get enough protein from other sources. Milan is really trying hard to get meat into this house! Nice try though. :) I always tell him he is welcome to eat whatever he wants but that would require him to worry about what to make for dinner so as you can guess he chooses to eat whatever I make.

Food Heaven

Who knew that pizza could make a person cry? I was taking my usual afternoon siesta and the doorbell rings. I usually ignore it but for some reason I felt the need to answer it today. I open the door and there sits this big box of Lou Malnati's pizza shipped directly from Chicago to my doorstep. I think I may have died and gone to heaven at the sight of this box. My eyes immediately tear up because I'm thinking someone out there can relate to me! But who? But who?

The box reads, Ship To: Georgia Peach Hayden

Message: Congratulations, Guys! Here's some Chicago pizza for your peach! Love, Kumovi Danko.

Dankos if you only knew what this means to us! Even though Milan is not pregnant he craves the stuff all the time too! This baby is off to a good start knowing what real pizza tastes like! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! XOXO

Did I mention the box contains two deep dish cheese and sausage pizzas? Guess what's for dinner tonight?

The "Before" at 8 Weeks

I have been told it is important to take "before" pictures of the growing tummy. So here I am at 8 weeks. Not much to see yet but believe me I know something is going on inside of there!

As many of you know I am a very picky eater. Lets just say that being pregnant and being picky do not go hand in hand. Aside from being completely nauseous day and night I feel like I am constantly famished. Of course the wonderful man I am married to knows exactly what I like so he runs out to the store before going out of town and buys me my usual favorites. Ya know, things like romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, and any other salad toppings you can think of. I used to think "oh I love healthy food so I am going to have such a healthy pregnancy. What a lucky little baby this will be!". I invite you to look inside the fridge. In doing so you will find all of those veggies completely mushy and rotting. I can not stomach the thought of eating a vegetable. Nor can I stomach the thought of eating anything that resembles healthy whether it is a vegetable or not.

This week's cravings include... Any pizza (from Chicgao of course), a beef sandwich with mozzarella cheese (Portillos is sounding delish right about now), italian sausage sandwich from Pepinos, roast beef sandwich from Potbellys, my mom's chicken and dumplings, and my dad's crazy looking homemade cheeseburgers off the grill. Do you notice the key ingredient in that list? MEAT. I do not like meat as a general rule. What is going on here? I bet I am having a boy. This is definitely a male Hayden that I am carrying.

Stay tuned as I post more photos because if I can get my hands on all of that wonderful food from Chicago you can be sure my tummy is going to start growing.

PS- If you want to call me you'll need to place your call during the evening hours. I am napping daily these days from 1:30-4:30. :) One of the many perks of being pregnant. Milan told me today that he wishes he could nap all day like I do. I told him we could trade places and he could carry the baby. His response, God didn't plan for men to carry babies. My response to that was, God didn't intend for me to go to work.