We are at UCSF right this moment, just moments (more like days) away from meeting baby! While this last stretch has been unexpectedly difficult with both Jeff and I getting sick, I am feeling overall positive about this delivery. Looking back, I can’t believe how far we’ve come in 9 months — I’m about to meet an actual human being that I grew inside my body!
Read MorePregnancy is such a miracle, and I just wanted to make sure I captured all of this to look back on. Fortunately with perfect timing, my friend, Jenny Soi (who also did our wedding photos), hosted a photoshoot series called Luminous Motherhood. “Luminous” is exactly how I was feeling! Here are some of my favorites from the shoot. These pictures were taken April 7 at 36 weeks.
Read MoreIt’s been hard to keep up with posting, but I’m committing to creating this space to document my experience so I’m a little behind! Baby is about the size of a pineapple (even bigger now), and he is still growing. I feel my body expanding dramatically in this final stretch! We are spending a lot more time these days at UCSF with extra monitoring and testing, all in preparation for an early induction.
Read MoreBaby is the size of a butternut squash. He is growing, kicking, hiccupping, and responding to sounds! I’m doing well overall too. We took a tour of the UCSF Birth Center, and now I’ve got my birth plan ready to go! Unfortunately, I’m still dealing with the gestational diabetes, but we are taking it day by day.
Read MoreOur babymoon in Hawaii was so wonderful, and we wanted to capture the moment with a little shoot on the beach. Now that I’m in my third trimester, my belly is changing so rapidly every day! I want to be sure to capture every moment of this special transformation.
Read MoreWe are in the final weeks of our 2nd trimester and baby is the size of a cantaloupe! He’s tumbling around my belly like a little gymnast, especially around 4-5am in the morning when mommy wakes up. I am loving being pregnant in the 2nd trimester. I’m full of energy and appetite. Jeff and I finished our birth classes, and we made our first big purchase - a stroller!
Read MoreEveryone prepares for birth in their own ways - it’s completely personal. For me, I am an over-planner who likes to be over-prepared (even when I know it’s a situation I can’t control). To overcome my fears and feel confident about pregnancy and birth, I dove into education and preparation. This includes 85 hrs of prenatal yoga teacher training, 20 hrs of birth classes, hiring a doula, getting infant CPR certified, and more.
Read MoreBaby is having a growth spurt! He is about 6.5 inches long - the size of a banana! Jeff and I have been noticing my belly growing visibly every single day. Baby has been very very lively - this kid loves to move around and kick all day long! As for me, I’m just trying to stay rested and stress free! As usual, work is demanding, but actively compartmentalizing has been helpful.
Read MoreBaby is about the size of a pomegranate now! Baby can hear sounds (we talk to baby every night!), has finger prints, and has all the girl/boy parts in place — which means we get to find out the gender next week. Very exciting! Mommy is also feeling pretty good and starting to look real pregnant. I’m trying to stay mindful and keep a diligent meditation practice to stay calm amidst craziness at work. Second trimester is going great - we’re trying to stay happy, healthy, and stress free.
Read MoreFinally getting around to writing about my week in Joshua Tree getting certified to be a prenatal yoga instructor! This training not only helped me navigate through this new and exciting experience, but also gave me the tool kit to share my experience to help other expecting moms! I will ALWAYS remember Joshua Tree as the place where amazing wonders happened — I became a part of a community; I found my voice as a mother; I felt my baby move for the first time; I gained a wealth of knowledge to go forth and share with the world.
Read MoreThis is a little letter to my baby to thank this miracle child for the gift of joy, of motherhood, of strength, and of faith. I love this baby so much already. I will always remember this joyous moment — the first time I felt my baby move in my belly <3
Read MoreTrusting myself and finding my own voice in this pregnancy has truly been a challenge. From the start of the pregnancy, it’s been an inundation of unsolicited advice. Being here in Joshua Tree with this strong and opinionated group of women has only exacerbated the situation. Ultimately, this is my pregnancy and my decision. While I don’t always agree with some of the women here, it’s helpful to gather information to make choices for myself, to ask the right questions when I get home, and to forge my own birth plan.
Read MoreOne of my favorite traditions with Jeff is talking to baby every night. When we learned that babies start to detect noises at the start of their first trimester, we thought it would be a great idea for us to start talking to baby every day! It’s become a special and sacred time for us at the end of every day. Not only does it provide a tangible way for Jeff to directly connect to baby in utero, but it also makes me feel like baby might recognize our voices!
Read MoreWe are now into our second trimester! Baby is about the size of an orange now, can sense light, and can move all his/her limbs. Best of all, I’m starting to actually see a noticeable bump! Mommy is feeling better too overall - I have less nausea (but way more gas and bloating) and a lot more energy. At this point, I’m expected to gain about a pound of weight a week, but since last week was Thanksgiving… I’m giving myself some leeway on that.
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