“Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.” - Jane Austen
I wanted to post this yesterday and never got the chance to... I'm such a home body! I have even been made fun of for being "old" and wanting to stay home with book or curl up with a movie when everyone else is out doing something. I think that's why my husband married me LOL

Honestly, though, being pregnant hasn't slowed me down or made me even more of a cozy cuddler than I was already. I am really probably the most fortunately person... Even though I complain a lot about being tired or my back hurting, I have had it comparatively easy when I think about the horror stories that my friends and family have told me.

Even so, I still like to take a few minutes after a long day for myself... what woman doesn't? One of the things I really love is taking a nice bath in our garden tub (although it's a TOTAL pain to clean!). I've decided that I'm gonna try to take one homeopathic bath every week at least; it's not often that I have the time. 

Have you ever seen the late 90's movie, "No More Baths"? Well, that's how a lot of women feel once they get pregnant. If you have read a lot of blogs or books about prenatal restrictions then you might feel like you are completely confined to luke-warm showers. However, that's not the case. Don't be scared to try things that might not be "FDA approved"! I'm such a hippy and refuse to give up my organic tea and, for that matter, specific bath salts I like.


 
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Well, Pinterest has done it again. 
I am counting down the days until I can enjoy a full on workout at the gym again. These prenatal pilates are great for conditioning pre-labor and delivery, but I'm ready to go back to my kick-butt boot camp pilates teacher, Amy. If anyone is an inspiring mom, it's her. She has 3 children and looks absolutely ripped!


Unfortunately, in my condition, I have another 4 months until it's okay for me to play at one of my old sessions. :( 
My muscles are killer right now and my bones, especially in my ribs and lower back. I feel like I'm growing a cancer, not a baby-- I'm completely exhausted. Not to mention I am FINALLY starving (been waiting for that feeling) all the time, as I mentioned last week. But, I am having a hard time deciding what to eat still. If any of you have been following this blog regularly you are probably SO sick of hearing about that by now! And in that case, you can imagine how I feel living it on a daily basis. 


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Jon has been such a HUGE helper. He plays Mr. Mom so well (although he has had practice...) that he never hesitates to step up and make dinner (which he has done SO many nights while I've been pregnant), or let me nap. He has gotten up so many times to change peed on sheets, take the dogs for a walk... He even got on his hands and knees to mop the floor for me because, according to him, I'm "too pregnant". Such a great hubby!

Today I went for my one hour glucose test... Drank a bottle of what tasted like carbonated Gatorade and waiting in a tiny room full of multiple other pregnant woman, who looked like they wanted to rip their hair out and many of which had other small children with them, to get my blood drawn. I dread getting a phone call telling me that I need to come back for a more extensive three hour test, which points to the probability that I have gestational diabetes; the last thing I need to deal with. Though, I haven't had any excessive swelling or weight gain; major symptoms to look for = avoided thus far.


After that, I had to scurry across the street to my OB appointment for a "tummy check". [A little background, the practice at which I am being treated has about 13 doctors housed there. It is the goal of that office for all of their pregnant patients to see as many of those doctors as possible, seeing as how any of them could be the one that delivers your child. Had I thought about that before becoming an established patient there, I might have chosen to go somewhere with only one doctor following me so that the visits might be a little more personal and maybe more than five minutes, after you've waited for 30-40. Hindsight is 20/20... But, since I've been going there for 26 weeks and 3 days, I should bring out that they are taking good care of me.]

So far, I have gained 24/25 pounds; still under what one of the doctors predicted! I am hearing from them that the average weight gain now is 20 lbs in the first twenty weeks and additional 20 in the duration of your pregnancy. Fortunately, I have not gained that fast! Nor do I want to. 
I was told I look perfect, Ezra's heartbeat is "beautiful", and that I don't have another appointment until the first week of January! (Thank goodness for a healthy baby!) They also started measuring my tummy today. It's exactly where it should be; 27... inches? Centimeters? I don't remember... But, now I can rest easy until the next time.

My mom is getting on my nerves now... She has no filter it seems. (Must be where I get it from!)
She calls or texts me at least once a week giving me alternative baby names for Ezra! Now, I don't know about you but, I'm not really fond of someone trying to change my child's name just because THEY don't care for it. It's MY kid. I told her, in the early 1990's when she was walking around telling everyone that her daughter's name was Quintana, they probably looked at her like she was nuts! She confirmed my speculation. 

It's my reasoning, too, that a child grows into their name. I, almost 21 yrs later, couldn't go around telling people my name is Ashley and make it believable. Ha!
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Ezra's room is coming together slowly, but surely. We have yet to paint and such, but getting the details together is the fun part! We got a beautiful Eames 1960's/70's style dresser which was a major stress now lifted; and it cost a fraction of the price. (Pictures and vendors will be supplied as soon as the room is finished!)
I had to share this cute little guy (to the left) though! One of my best friends, Jade, pinned a photo of this on pinterest last week and I couldn't resist clicking on it. For the love of owls!
It is a ceramic speaker that works with any mp3 player. I am so excited!!





Hubby and I have been compromising left and right with each other to make this room what the other one wants. I think it's gonna turn out great!
Well, I'm off to finish dinner for the fam before we all perish from hunger! I'll be sharing recipes soon!

 
Decided I would start doing weekly photos after I realized how quickly Baby Ezra is changing my belly when I took my 6 month picture last week. There is a major difference in just 7 days! He kicks me ALL the time now and I am starving 24/7. And, I don't know if you can see it or not, but my belly button is starting to pop out too! 
 
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This morning... Whoo! 
I just turned 24 weeks (6 months) pregnant yesterday. 3 months to go! More excited than ever now to meet my little man. More than anything, though, I'm ready to be rid of the constant need to eat, but not wanting anything. 


This morning I woke up with a sick belly... Poor Ezra had hiccups last night and I just couldn't get comfortable with all of the shaking in my abdomen. It made me feel so queasy inside every time I felt the little tremors. But, what a miracle it is to be able to sense all that new life! 

I am hoping that my cravings are taking a new direction... After nausea and hiccups you'd think I wouldn't want anything to eat for breakfast.-- Not so.



Of course, I wanted something that we didn't have in the house. A butter rum muffin and a huge bowl of fruit. Unfortunately, because of my thyroid medicine, Synthroid, I have to wait 30-60 minutes to eat after taking it... And, yes, it was impossible for this craving to come on during that time so that I could've gone to the store and been back before I felt like I was starving to death! But, no. As soon as it comes time for me to eat, I want this off the wall breakfast. No muffins in the pantry. No fruit in the fridge. What's a girl to do?! 

Oh, wait. I know. Go to the store and almost pass out half way through because you're so hungry you just might die & then you decide you have one last burst of energy because if not you won't be able to chug the Bolthouse drink you've been avoiding for the last 6 months because it has coffee in it. By the time I got back in the car, I swear my head was spinning! And stupid Food Lion didn't have butter rum muffins... Cream cheese is close enough. 



So, here I sit, on my couch, blogging about food, while eating food, thinking of what food to eat next (thank goodness I'm under the weight gain they predicted!!), and have a million other things I should be doing. Like, taking care of my sick child who has symptoms of the flu because I'm the one who made him go get the flu shot so he wouldn't give it to me or the baby. *shake my head* 

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Good news: I finally talked Jon into photos of Ezra's birth!! Now we just have to see if we can afford it. Until then I will just be documenting via Instagram. Follow me @qm_mcconnell :) 




 
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BrittanyG Photography of Highlands, Utah first grabbed my attention when it came to photos of giving birth.

If you'd have asked me a few years ago if I would even attempt to give birth I would've said no, let alone the idea of someone photographing me doing it. And even now that I'm pregnant, sometimes when I think about it makes me a little jumpy; I might end up punching the poor photographer in the face. Plus, being a photographer myself, I know just how much the pressure would be on. 

When I first started thinking about having a baby, I was always looking at maternity, newborn, and quirky post-natal items I thought where cool. (Click here to see my 'bump starter' pinterest board) In the process, I came across these amazing pictures of baby Wil's birth story. None of the photos were invasive, graphic, or offensive and it made me look at the delivery process in an entirely new light.

Now that the birth of our little booger is getting nearer I keep thinking more and more about how much I would like documentation of that day. Nothing distasteful or gross... 

I think the entire idea is becoming a bit more trendy and accepted, as I've seen a number of photographers in my area and all over the country offering sessions like this. I would love to offer a session like this!! Especially after I give birth to my own child and know the ins and outs of the progression.

Hubby is a bit weirded out by the entire thought of having someone in the room and would rather just set up a camcorder in the corner. I don't like that idea because at least when you review your photos it's SILENT and you don't have to hear all of the pain you went through to get your little miracle. There are so many tender moments that a family shares in welcoming their new addition into the world; how sentimental it would be to look back on those prized possessions years later! 

A friend of mine told me to remember it on the little camcorder in my head, haha. But, I'm such a sucker and driven by emotion... I can't imagine how tear-jerking and nostalgic those pictures would be... Still-frames will always be my favorite way to capture a moment. No black & white memory could ever do the moment you meet your new son/daughter justice. Or the small instant when your first child realizes they are a brother/sister and hold their new sibling for the first time.

Ahhh! I don't really think you guys understand the crazy adrenaline running through me as I write this! Regardless, of whether I can talk Jon into doing it or not, or how much it costs... I will ALWAYS think this is a good idea. 
I've watched quite a number of birth videos, and read experiences, and heard true life stories from family/friends; I feel like this is a personal choice like everything is. Just like having a midwife or a doula, or having your baby at home vs a birthing center vs a hospital. But, it's definitely a once in a lifetime adventure. <3
 
I'm currently in bed as I write this because I'm so exhausted I feel like it would be a waste of energy to get up and go to my computer. I cancelled all my appointments for this morning as it is. Zero sleep last night and an early morning... They mixed way better a few years ago when I was 18 and single, and way more paranoid about how I would look if I just decided to blow something off.

Week 23 has been an eventful on thus far. After our long weekend trip to Ohio & our first baby shower for Ezra I was sorely deprived of sleep. To get up early and come home, plus have my friend Zoe come back with us for the week... It seems like I get more tired, uncomfortable, and out of breath every day.

Monday I had an "I can't do this" breakdown and just wanted my pregnancy to be over... Sometimes 3 months more sounds like an eternity! And other times I feel like I need all that time to be prepared. Our stroller is put together but a baby can't sleep in that! Lol

I've also noticed I've got a shy boy on my hands. Ezra kicks and moves A LOT throughout the day. Sometimes it's so much that I have to just sit very still until he stops. But, today I'm disappointed because every time I make Jon rush over to feel the movement or wake him up in the night/early morning to put his hand on my belly, the baby stops moving and won't move again for a little while after Daddy takes his hand away. So sad that it happens like that because I want Jon to feel as much of a part of this pregnancy as possible.

A friend told me that it's only down hill from here... I really hope that's not the case. For the most part I have really enjoyed being pregnant! I don't have half of the problems a typical pregnant woman would complain of or characteristics you read in the mom-to-be books.

I guess for that reason alone I'll just sing "We Are The Champions" on my way to fulfill yet another bagel craving & look forward to the 6 month mark!