Thirty-five Weeks

The Good...

I'm already 35 weeks, and almost done with this pregnancy. I can't help but want my body back to myself. I love growing a baby and think it is absolutely beautiful what God made our bodies capable of. I am just ready to be done, meet our baby, and be little again.

I have not had any major issues with this pregnancy. I'm healthy. (Besides almost being a gestational diabetic, being anemic, and having a very low lying placenta). Baby is healthy. I'm on track with a healthy weight gain. My baby's head is down.

I work on labor and delivery. This could be bad in the sense that I have seen more than any pregnant woman should going into the final stretch of this thing. However, I'm going to put it as a good. My coworkers have my back and I know I am in the best hands. Every single OB and Family Medicine doc will make sure I'm taken care of. I mean, I am their favorite nurse...

Up until last week most of my pants and shorts still bottoned. In the first trimester nothing fit around my waist. As soon as I hit 18 weeks, everything fit again. My belly just needed to come up a little bit. Now I'm wearing the belly band and everything linen.

I'm having a baby soon! When Mark and I were dating, I made it clear I wanted to start having lots of babies at a young age. Here's to number one!

I'm only a month away from spending maternity leave in Toronto with my husband! What a joy it will be!

The nursery is coming a long. Slowly, but surely.

No stretch marks yet.

The days I get to go to prenatal yoga. Child's pose has never been as wonderful with that bolster.

The fact I've hardly bought anything "maternity."

It's been nice to share this experience with my sister Mary Kate and sweet friend Hillary who are both due the same week as I am.

The Bad...

Heart burn. Some say that means your baby has a lot of hair, and I've seen it to be true on the unit. If that's the case, it will be a good thing, but for now, it is bad. Plus, I was a bald baby, so my hopes are low.

Mark has not been here to indulge my random food cravings. If he was I'm pretty sure we would of had French toast and pancakes for breakfast every day. For dinner I've wanted yummy bread and yummy things to dip it in.

The fatigue that has hit me again. 1st trimester I was exhausted. 2nd trimester I felt great. 3rd, I'm exhausted again. I get very weary after a few hours of movement. This has made any type of errand a hassle, working 12 hour shifts miserable, and staying inside and still, wonderful.

My big belly and the jokes Mark likes to make about "my weight gain in a certain mid-section."

The middle of the night bathroom trip.

Being this pregnant in the summer was a BAD idea.

The Ugly...

I have one terrible vericose vein on my knee that exploded into spider veins. It looks like a huge bruise. That popped up early on in the pregnancy. In the last month, a lot of veins on the back of my right leg are now bulging. I pray they go away after pregnancy. Otherwise, I am thankful for my Navy health benefits.

I feel like my face is rounding.

In One Week...

Mark came home for a couple days! The team decided he could come visit, and the next morning he was here. Thank you, Toronto FC. Thank you, Jesus. My family was already planning a trip to Pensacola to help me paint the nursery. With the addition of Mark, it was the best and most productive weekend I've had in a long time. My dad and Mark knocked it out in a couple of hours while listening to Jeff Beck and Katie Perry... My mom, sister, Rocco, Hank and I really didn't do anything, but sip mimosas till lunch time. It was an unpredictably stormy day, so we went and ate outside, under cover on the harbor. The air was heaven. We came back, my dad finished the second coat, we walked to the playground, and finished with watching the TFC game. The games aren't quite as exciting to watch with Mark, but I'm not complaining. We also had pizza delivered and that never happens! Poor Mary Kate had a diaper rashed, teething, and sick little Hank. He eventually fell asleep for a late nap that went till 11p.m. when it was time to go. When we woke him up, we realized he had pooped all over my bed. I love that boy as if he were my own, and was thankful my very nice down comforter was not in use at that moment. They hurried back to 30A. Mark and I laughed about what our life is about to be like as we tag-teamed the swift clean up/soak session of our linen bedding and rid the air of the not so romantic stench for Mark's first night home. We are a pretty good team, and nothing makes us more excited about our baby as hanging with the Perkins boys.

Mark and I woke up, drank coffee and had biscuits with my grandmother's apple butter and watermelon. When the bright white paint was up, it was clear that the trim in that room was not very white, bright, clean or even painted all the way. I don't know how the original color hid how poorly done the trim was, but I am avoiding looking closely at the rest of my house's paint job. What was going to be a relaxing beach day for us turned into another trip to Home Depot and another day painting. It was still the best day with Mark. We were so happy to be setting up for baby bloom together. Something I thought I would do alone or with my mom and sister. We finished with wine and Indian food. I never eat Indian food, but when we are together, it is at the top of our list! I honestly could eat Naan every day and be happy. We stayed up too late talking and enjoying each other's company. It was our last couple days alone as just the two of us before it becomes three. I had to work 12's the next two days. Mark stayed very busy painting shelves, putting the crib together, and icing his knee. He also went around and "fixed" all of the little things in the house that I had been avoiding. All my light bulbs are changed, door handles are fixed, nails hammered down, screws tighter, and heavy things moved. I love that man. I didn't have to ask for a thing to be done, he just knew.

Wednesday, we both had 6 a.m. flights. His to Canada, mine to California. Goodbyes do not get easier, and our hellos seem to be getting more and more emotional. This one just felt different. We are excited that the next time we see each other will be when I'm in labor or holding our baby. Praying he makes it for the birth.

I went to California to be apart of the MOST beautiful wedding I've ever seen. I will share what iphone/instagram photos I have of it later. She is my dearest friend made since joining the Navy. She got married and moved to Spain with her husband all in one week. The Lord truly blessed me with her friendship, and saying goodbye was even more emotional than my goodbye with Mark. I just have to plan a trip to Rota, Spain to see her. After the wedding, this very pregnant self of mine flew home to finish what seemed like a very long week. I think anyone would be tired after that. So I am not feeling guilty about not moving much from my house for two days before going back to work. Not to mention, if pregnant in Florida at the end of July didn't feel suffocating enough, getting a little taste of the West Coast air makes me never want to go outside here again. Or at least till October.

34+ weeks!

Woe, is me...

With Mark living in another country most of the year, there are certain things I've come to rely on to get me through each day. I praise God for the brain he gave the person that created FaceTime. On my days off and Mark's afternoons, we spend a lot of time FaceTiming. Sundays and Mondays are usually our best days. Hours will go by on FaceTime. We aren't necessarily even talking the entire time. I carry Mark all around the house while I'm getting stuff done or cooking. Sometimes we'll be FaceTiming while he's on the phone with one of his buddies or we're watching movies. Lately, it's me showing him new tiny outfits for our baby, or my growing belly. I'll even try and show him her rolling around in my belly, but that's more difficult and is usually missed. My favourite is when we FaceTime going to sleep and then wake up FaceTiming. We both make breakfast and coffee and sit and chat together. It can be sad when you think about our life together these months on an iPad, but I am thankful. We are one, so really he's here with me every day even without the iPad. Without the iPads or phones we'd probably send love letters to each other every day. That would be romantic, but I am happy with these modern days.

Another thing I rely on to make this season go by, is watching Mark play. This was the point of my post in the first place. Every week, sometimes twice a week, I get to watch my husband play soccer on TV. I'm so proud of him and all that he does. This is one of my proudest moments each week. He starts every game, and plays every minute. It's why we are apart, and getting to see him play makes it worth it. Wednesday night, Mark went down with an injury. Seeing him get taken out by another player made me sick. I had to go hours without hearing from him. I read tweets about his speculated injury from the media and coach before I heard from Mark. "Bloom with an MCL tear...it's not looking good" was my least favourite. Obviously, my dramatic mind thinks the worst..thoughts of his season being over, someone else being brought in as a right back. It's a ruthless business. You miss one game and the guy that plays, plays well, can take your spot. Mark, the amazing and faithful man he is sent me a text that said "I'm okay my love, don't you worry. I'll call you when I can ok?" I'd like to say I am more distraught about this injury than Mark is. I probably am, but that's why Mark is so awesome. He rejoices in the Lord always...He doesn't worry or stress about anything. I know he is frustrated about being held back by an injury, but he doesn't dwell on it. He has already moved on and is focussing on getting healthy. I, on the other hand, am secretly plotting the death of the player that took him out. Mark now has to take 4-6 weeks off with this MCL injury. Unfortunately for me, this means 4-6 weeks of games that I don't get to watch him play in. My weekly ritual I rely on to get me through this soccer season is gone. Woe, is me.

You can watch the take out here. It's the second GIF.

An article on how unfortunate it is to the team that Mark is injured. TFC defender Bloom out 4-to-6 weeks

Some other fun things to watch of Mark are here and here.

If you missed this from the Meet Mr. Bloom post, it's a good watch as well.

Blueberry Crisp

The homemade cookbook my mom made each of us for Christmas a few years ago.
It contains all of our families' most treasured and famous recipes.

Over the 4th of July, my mom made her heavenly, blueberry crisp. I will admit, I ate it for two days straight. I would blame it on me being pregnant, but my mom did too. It's just that yummy. Like cake, it gets better and better each meal. Here is the recipe, but with how many times my mom's made it, I can't promise this is exactly how she does it. 

For the crumble:

~2 cups flour
~3/4 cups brown sugar
~1-2 sticks of melted butter

Mix ingredients with hands, starting with just 1 stick of butter. It should be crumbly but hold together when squeezed. If its too dry, add another stick of butter. My mom prefers a stickier, wetter crumble.

Butter a pan and fill 2/3 with blueberries. Add a handful of flour and stir. Squeeze half a lemon over it. Put the crumble on top! Bake this masterpiece at 350 till the juices start to come through and the crumble is brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream! 

We prefer a shallow pan so the crisp is thinner. Be your own judge on the amount of blueberries... That is part of the art, mastering the ratio of crumble to blueberries. The crumble here is enough for a 9x13" pan. Over the fourth we broke it into smaller, thinner tins. 

Baby Wants and Needs

I'm currently having fun shopping and searching for...

Stainless steal and glass bottles

A soft place for our baby while in Toronto at Mark's rug-less apartment. I also wouldn't mind a sheepskin to throw around in pretty spots after baby bloom's use.

A wooden gym. I love the simplicity and quietness.


Wall art for our nursery. I NEED to get inspired and pull out the paints.

 I hope she loves Butterflies. 

"But these are flowers that fly and all but sing"

I love these animals and may have a sister that promised something similar! We'll see! 

I like to think I can do something like the last three. 

a local artist I think is pretty cool

Changing mats. Maybe some that are disposable for our first trip to Toronto. 

The only concern with flying so soon after delivery to be with Mark in Toronto is infection control. We all know how dirty airports are, so I'm looking at ways to minimize exposure such as the disposable mats. In an ideal world my baby will sleep the entire time in my carrier. Strangers wont even know she's there. I will be on an empty flight or at least empty row. Mark or my mom will be with me.

These white swaddle blankets, and anything else soft and white. Mary Kate and I are planning a dip and dye/tie dye party...

Crib skirts to go with my antique iron crib from Mary Kate. 

cheers!

One Perfect Day in Maine

After the most wonderful sermon on love

Mama and Clementine sipping sparkles

Grand pappy took us out on the Texian

I am the most blessed with such wonderful sisters.

One day...

We went to Boothbay Harbor.

Quite the bump

Our diet for the week: lobster, lobster rolls, fried clams, steamers, fried haddock, grilled haddock and onion rings.

This lobster roll was worth the trip alone

Steamers

Clementine and I can still recite each flavor description to perfection as if we worked that window yesterday 

Cherry Chocolate chip. Mocha Mud Pie and Minty Mint cookie. My mom was a copy cat. 

The end.

The rest of our trip looked a lot like that day. 

Martha as a beautiful bride

Spending time with these love birds

Eating more lobster

Walking one minute down to the Dock from the cottage.  

Trip to Frosty's on the way to Damariscotta Pottery. 

A growing baby.