Saturday, June 9, 2012

50 Things To Do During the Last Month of Pregnancy

For a lot of moms, the last month of pregnancy seems to drag on endlessly.  We're tired, our back hurts, we can't breathe, we have to get up  954.2 times to go pee.  It's hard to concentrate on anything that isn't baby and our impending labor.  We've compiled a list to help time pass a little more quickly during that last month.

  1. Get a massage - Nothing eases those aching back muscles like a good rub down by a professional
  2. Go to the chiropractor - This is perfect for those with a lot of lower back pain, hip pain, or pelvic pain.  Be sure to find a chiropractor that is trained to work with pregnant women.
  3. Spend alone time with your partner - After the baby arrives, alone time will be hard to come by.
  4. Spend alone time with your older children - After the baby is born, your older children will look so big and grown up.  Enjoy the time when they are still your "baby".  
  5. Go swimming - Great exercise and great to take the weight off of your back.  
  6. Get a manicure/pedicure - Its hard to stress when you are getting pampered.
  7. Go to the movies - Take a pillow to make the chairs more comfortable
  8. Read your favorite book
  9. Organize the baby room - Put on some upbeat music, open the blinds and let your nesting instincts take over
  10. Shop - Do I need to say more?
  11. Make a belly cast 
  12. Paint your belly - Invite your friends over and let them get creative on your belly canvas!  Please be sure to use non toxic paints.
  13. Belly henna - Real henna (not the chemical filled black stuff) makes great belly art.  See a professional or if you are really brave, have your friends do it.  
  14. Girls Night Out (or In) - Virgin daiquiris, chocolate covered strawberries, and gossip with good friends  
  15. Go out for ice cream - Probably don't have to twist your arm too hard on this one do we?
  16. Take a breastfeeding/cloth diapering/babywearing class 
  17. Learn to sew, crochet, or knit 
  18. Host a game night 
  19. Join Pinterest - Just like that, 4 days have gone by
  20. Write a letter to your baby - Write a letter about yourself to your baby before they are born.  Write a letter each year on his/her birthday describing your life.  Keep the letters for them when they grow up.
  21. Take lots of pregnancy pictures
  22. Join a moms group
  23. Go for a walk - Sometimes a little sunshine is all we need
  24. Go on a picnic
  25. Go geocaching - www.geocaching.com
  26. Play video games
  27. Start a scrapbook
  28. Have a blessingway -  http://www.theblessingcircle.com/blessing-way
  29. Acupuncture - Another great way to relieve stress and pain
  30. Prepare meals to freeze - Cook meals that can be stored and easily reheated.  This will make grabbing a bite to eat between feedings and diaper changes much easier.
  31. Volunteer - Find a local charity or organization and give back
  32. Watch birth videos - You can never be too prepared.  Watch videos of natural childbirth and find ways to help you relax during birth.
  33. Dance - Dance away your stress!
  34. Meditate
  35. Do prenatal yoga - Great for working out and preparing for birth
  36. Attend a festival
  37. Go fishing
  38. Go camping
  39. Visit a museum
  40. Write up a birth plan
  41. Play mini golf
  42. Visit a bookstore with a cafe
  43. Make a list of places that you want to take your child to when they grow up - Tape it to the inside of your cabinet and mark off places once visited.
  44. Eat at a local diner
  45. Make your own natural cleaning products
  46. Host a poker night
  47. Start a journal
  48. Get your hair done
  49. Try reflexology
  50. Relax! 
What would you add to the list?

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Update June 2012

Hello everyone!   I wanted to post an update.  We have known for a while now that we were going to have to move.  My husband has been working on getting his degree in education for the last three years.  We live in a smaller community so teaching positions are hard to come by.  He graduated in May (yay!).   After a discussion about our situation with our IFs, we all agreed that it was best to put the surrogacy on hold until we had settled down.  We did not want the stress of the move to potentially harm the baby(ies).  We've been in limbo for a while but my husband accepted a teaching position a few counties away.  We are in the midst of moving and hope to be settled by July 1st.  With that date in mind, we are moving forward with the surrogacy and we are shooting for a late July/early August transfer.  I've had this holding pattern mindset for so long that it still seems surreal that things are actually moving forward.  I'm excited and nervous at the same time.  I should be posting soon when I start the medications so keep an eye out!