40 weeks...our due date!

So we reached our due date and baby Madison STILL isn't here! We thought forsure she'd be here by now but I guess she wanted to prove us wrong and show us who's boss. =) Since I was 40 weeks along I had a Dr.'s appt to see how she was doing and if I dilated yet. Thankfully Madison  was doing great and to our surprise I was almost 2 cm and 60% effaced. Since I was FINALLY dilated the Dr. was able to strip my membranes which can help to induce labor. Although it's a very uncomfortable procedure and only works 50% of the time I was willing to try anything at this point. I just wanted to meet our baby already!

I pulled out all the stops that day...on top of stripping my membranes (sounds so gross doesn't it?!) we took my in-laws to the Concord Mall so they could shop and I could get a little walking in. After working up an appetite we decided to try out the famous "Preggo Pizza" at Skipolini's. I was a little hesitant about it since I've only known it to work on a couple people but I figured why not give it a shot. I love to eat pizza anyway! Here is a picture of the yummy concoction...

It had salami, pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, extra onions, sausage, ground beef, linguisa, extra garlic, parmesan, and oregano. I'm not a big fan of that many toppings on my pizza, but I have to admit...it was delish!  I'd eat it even if I wasn't pregnant! hahaha! Jaime, his mom,  & sister agreed. It was very filling too, I was stuffed after just 2 pieces!

After a loooong day of trying every remedy possible to induce labor we finally went home to relax. I had felt a little bit of cramping throughout the day but didn't think much of it since I was told that was an effect of having my membranes stripped. Before going to bed I had a glass of red raspberry leaf tea...my last attempt to help little Madison along (can you tell I wanted her out?! hahaha!). I was planning on going to bed early but got caught up reading the latest Stephanie Meyer's book. Before I knew it, it was midnight. I decided to finally put the book down to get some rest.

39 weeks...when do we get to meet her?

That is the question EVERYONE wants to know...especially Jaime and I! We're dying over here! It seemed like my pregnancy was flying by, but now that we're soooo close to FINALLY meeting her time seems to have slowed down drastically. Each week seems to take longer and longer. I really thought she would come out this week especially since I was so early but I guess she's working on her on schedule and telling us who boss already! Uh-oh! We're in trouble...she's already running the show and she's not even here yet! =D

I have an appt with my Dr. this afternoon so we'll find out what position she is in, how far dilated I am, and about how big she is. I'm very excited since that can give us a better idea of how much longer we'll have to wait. I must admit I have been trying to speed up the process a bit by drinking raspberry leaf tea (a recommendation from a few friends) although it worked for them unfortunately it hasn't done anything for me. Not one contraction...nothing! I think Madison might have inherited the Escay stubborn gene...just my luck! hahaha! So I just received a call from my Dr.'s office to come in early for my appt. I have to leave now so I'll let you know how it goes...

Ok, so we just got back and I found out that Madison is in the head down position BUT I'm not even dilated meaning she probably won't be here anytime soon. =( We'll be lucky if she comes out by my due date, but I have a feeling that she is going to be over due. That wasn't the news I was expecting or hoping to hear but what can you do. Apparently, she's just not ready to come out yet. She's nice in comfy in her oven. =) I guess the one good thing about her taking her time is that I'll be off from work longer. I would rather have her here though if it was my choice, but again we're on her schedule for now. Let's hope this isn't a sign of what our future holds. hahaha! Well I have another appt scheduled next Fri (my due date) to see what's going on. I'm praying we don't make it to that appt but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I'll keep you posted!

39 weeks...

38 weeks...she's still baking! =)

Here we are at 38 weeks...I'm starting to get very anxious as to when our little cupcake will make her debut. Apparently, she's not following in my foot steps by coming out 3 weeks early which is a good thing...gives me more time to rest & relax before she gets here. As much as I want to meet her I know I should be enjoying every second of down time that I have. Everyone keeps telling me enjoy it will I can because once she gets here it's a whole different ball game.

Not much has changed with me since last week...still having some back pain & fatigue of course. I take a nap almost everyday...it's crazy! There's always so much I want to do, but I just can't get myself to do it all since I get exhausted so easily. I try to walk as often as possible but it doesn't always work out. I know if I walked more that would probably help Madison get here sooner. Hopefully she doesn't wait too much longer. I appreciate her giving me some time but I think I'm ready to meet her now! =)

Here we are at 38 weeks...

Maternity Session with MRS Photography

Ok...so I'm a little late on posting this one, but just about 2 months ago we had a maternity photo session with MRS photography. Michelle, the photographer, is a friend of ours who has her own photography business. We've seen the work she has done for others and knew when our time came we wanted her to do our maternity shoot. We had such a great time during our session (sometimes I think a little too much! hahaha!) and all the pictures turned out great! We had the hardest time choosing which ones we liked best since there were so many. Here are a few of our favorites that I thought I would share!

MRS Photography

*Feel free to contact me if you would like info for MRS Photography.

37 weeks...and the countdown begins!

So today we are 37 weeks along and considered full term. Meaning our little princess can come ANY DAY now! Ahhh...I'm sooo excited and nervous at the same time! They say she should weigh around 6 1/3 pounds and measure a little over 19 inches. From now on she should also be gaining about half an ounce a day which is probably why I'm starting to feel more aches and pains. Luckily I'm not having too many issues sleeping through the night, but when I wake up in the morning my entire back is killing me. I assume it's from all the weight in my belly but who knows. I've kind of given up on watching what I eat since we're so close to the end and my weight gain isn't too bad. I figure I might as well enjoy eating now since it'll be a whole different story once Madison arrives.

It still feels so surreal that we're so close to meeting her...the suspense is killing me! I just want to know when she'll be here. Every little ache and pain that I feel in my stomach makes me stop and think "Is it time?" but then nothing. I'm not even sure if I know what a contraction feels like. The doctor explained it to me but since this is my first pregnancy I'm still unsure. I thought I would a least feel some Braxton Hicks contractions but I haven't notice anything. I get a pain/cramp every once in awhile but it doesn't last very long. They say when a real one comes I'll know so we'll just have to wait and see I guess. I'm hoping Jaime will be home when they start. It's really not a big deal if he isn't since they want me to labor at home during the early stages, but it still would be nice to have him here when they do. He's now driving separately to work instead of carpooling since we don't know when I'll go into labor. It's all just a waiting game at this point...

So..I've only been on maternity leave for a week and I hate to admit that I'm actually a little bored. Can you believe it?! I didn't think that would ever happen! I guess it's because I've spent most of my time at home which I'm still trying to get use to. I rest as much as possible as well as make sure I have everything prepared for when baby girl decides to come. I FINALLY packed my hospital bag the other day which made Jaime happy. He's been bugging me about it for a while now. I assume it's because I was 3 weeks early and he is afraid Madison might be as well. I guess I should really enjoy all the down time now since my world can change any day now. I know it'll all be worth it so I'm ready! =)
 

I think that's about it for now...we'll have to see if I make it til next week. I'll keep you all posted! Here's our 37 week bump pic.

37 weeks

36 weeks!

I'm 9 months today and officially on maternity leave after 5pm! Woohooo!!! I can't believe how fast time has flown in the last few weeks. I'm starting to get a little nervous about the delivery but I'm trying to stay positive about everything...I know it'll all be worth it in the long run. I can only hope my delivery is as quick and easy as my sister's was. All of hers were only 2-4 hrs and she didn't use an epidural on any of them. I doubt I'll be that lucky but I can wish right! =)

So things have been going ok so far. My belly is still growing everyday but my family & I have noticed that it's dropped a little which I guess is a good thing. As much as I want her to come out when she is suppose to a part of me wants her to come out sooner for a few reasons. One...we are sooo excited and can't wait to meet her and two...I'm a little tired of all the extra weight I'm carrying around not to mention a HUGE belly getting in my way. hahaha! Sometimes I forget about it and realize after I try to do something that my body just isn't the same right now. I can't move as fast as I use to especially when it comes to getting out of bed or off the couch. Jaime finds it pretty funny but is very quick to help me out when I need it. I'm so lucky to have him! He has been soooo good to me throughout this journey! I couldn't ask for anything more! He's always trying to do as much as possible just so I can rest. Thank goodness he likes to clean! I think he's the one going through the nesting stage! j/k! =)

Speaking of nesting...I think it's finally starting to set in. Well, atleast when it comes to preping for Madison's arrival. The nursery is just about ready...we're just waiting for the rocking chair we ordered. Her closet is all organized by color & size and the necessary items (like the pack & play, swing, & co-sleeper) are up and ready to go. I already did a load of laundry and everything is hung in the closet or folded neatly in her dresser. BTW, I have to share that I LOVE the scent of her detergent! It smells soooo good! What more when it combines with her baby smell. Ahhhh...I can't wait!!! I have one last item on my to do list which is pack my hospital bag. I know I've been slackin on that one so I better get to it. Jaime and my mom remind me all the time about it.  I figure since my maternity leave starts next week I can finally get it done then. Now that we're getting so much closer I'll try to update you all more often. For now here is our latest bump pic.

 

36 weeks...

32 weeks...only 8 to go...MAYBE!!!

Here we are at the 8 month mark! I can't believe our little princess will be here in about 8 weeks. It all depends on when she wants to make her debut into the world. =) Let's hope sooner than later since I know the summer heat + my pregnant/swollen body = no bueno! hahaha! Other than dreading the hot weather that's fast approaching things are going great! Baby Madison is approx. 3.75 lbs and 16 inches long. She should be gaining majority of her weight in the upcoming weeks. Let's hope I can keep my weight gain on track. I've had a few bad weeks but I think I'm still doing ok. Hopefully I won't gain more than 35 lbs, which is the average for my body size. We'll see how that goes. I have noticed my belly growing bigger and bigger everyday & my feet are starting to swell a little. My shirts are getting smaller and my shoes are getting tighter...oh the joys of pregnancy! hahaha! Along with my growing belly I've noticed I get short of breath at times, which I've read is completely normal since my uterus is pushing up near my diaphragm and crowding my stomach. I'm sure Madison is contributing to that too since she's such an active little girl. Her movement & kicks are getting much stronger! Jaime loves seeing my stomach move and shake. It's pretty crazy! Hopefully I can get a video of it. If I do I'll make sure to post it so you can see her move too.

Other than that there isn't too much going on, we're just about done with the nursery...just waiting for a  few finishing touches (like the rocking chair) to complete the room. We should be getting that in a few weeks so I'll make sure to post some pictures when it's finally complete. We have just about everything we need thanks to our wonderful family & friends. Madison's closet is already full of cute clothes & all the other essentials she needs. What a lucky little girl! We can never say thank you enough to everyone for all the love & support we've been given through this wonderful journey. We truly feel blessed to have you all in our lives! We love you all!

Here is our latest bump pic. We've definitely grown since last month! =)

32 weeks

Let's Go Bananas!!!

That was the cute theme of our baby shower celebrating our little girl's upcoming arrival. Thank you to all of our family and friends that were able to celebrate this memorable occasion with us and for all the great gifts! We are so grateful to have you all in our lives and couldn't ask for anything more! Jaime and I had such a great time at the shower, we wish it didn't have to end. Here are some pictures from the amazing day...

  The favors

 The cake

3D/4D Ultrasound...AMAZING!

What an exciting day! Today Jaime and I went in to have a 3D/4D ultrasound done. It was one of the most amazing experiences ever!  The fact that my family was able to share the experience with us made it even better...even great-grandma was there. The appointment took over an hour since someone didn't want to cooperate! hahaha! First she decided she wanted to be shy and cover her face with her hands & then she decided to turn the opposite way & show us her back side. Too funny! In between the madness the ultrasound tech was able to get a few good shots.
Here they are...who do you think she looks like?

Madison Kalea Antoque

29 weeks & 6 days

Here she is being shy and trying to hide from the camera...

Look at those cheeks...our chunky monkey! heehee!

Aw...she's smiling!

Since Jaime and I both had chubby cheeks and a similar nose when we were babies, we can't decide who she really looks like. I guess we'll have to wait a couple more months to find out! We also received a DVD of the entire session which is pretty cool. It's so amazing to see her in action...not only can I feel her moving in my belly, but I could see her now too! We are SOOOO excited to meet our little princess and can't wait for her to meet all of you too!

Dual celebration!!!

Today Jaime and I are celebrating our 5 year anniversary! Can you believe it!?!? FIVE years already!!! I can't believe how time has flown! It seems like we just got married yesterday! I can still clearly remember every minute of that special day from the crazy tornado warning to my dad's tie dilemma to finally walking down the aisle with clear skies and tears pouring down my face. Such great memories...makes me smile just thinking of them! I know we'll have many more to come especially since our little princess is on her way! Only a few months to go!

Since I'm really starting to feel the symptoms of pregnancy (backaches, fatigue, etc.) Jaime & I decided to celebrate our anniversary locally. We always said we'd do something big for our 5 year but we didn't take into consideration that I may be pregnant. Oh well...there's always next year! We're way more excited about the baby anyway so no biggie! To celebrate our anniversary we decided to check out the newly renovated Academy of Science in SF. We both remember going there for school field trips when we were younger so we were really interested to see the changes they made. It was pretty cool! I'd have to say the aquarium was my fave. I loved looking at all the different fish. They even had an exhibit specifically for the Phillipines coral reefs. After we finished at the academy we went shopping downtown to kill a little time before our dinner reservation at one of our favorite restaurants...Roy's! We've celebrated a few of our anniversaries there so it's somewhat of a tradition now. I was pooped by the end of the day but it was soooo worth it! We had a GREAT time! I'll make sure to post a few of  the many pictures Jaime took.

Not only are we celebrating our 5th anniversary but we also started our 3rd trimester today...28 weeks down and 12 to go...maybe! They say the 3rd trimester will be the toughest! I am a little worried but I'm going to try to take it one day at a time. So far things haven't been too bad. Like I said earlier I'm really starting to feel the wonderful (hahaha! yeah right!) symptoms of pregnancy. The backaches seem to be getting worse but luckily Jaime gives great massages. =) I also noticed I get tired a lot faster & my feet hurt after walking for too long so I just make sure to take enough breaks so I don't over do it. Other than that I've been feeling ok. Still no cravings which I guess is good. I pretty much eat the same things I did before I was pregnant, the only difference is the portion size or how often I eat! I'm still trying to watch my weight but it's definitely getting harder. I only went over my goal weight for the 2nd trimester by a pound which is good but after seeing this weeks bump pic I feel HUGE for 7 months! I can only imagine what I'll look like at 8 & 9 months! I'm hoping it just means baby girl is going to be big, but we'll see when she decides to make her debut. We have our next appt with my doctor on the 30th. I'll be 31 weeks by then so we'll see what she says. Hopefully everything looks good! We are also scheduled for several different baby classes that start in May. I'll let you know how those go once we get there. For now here is the latest pic of baby & I, as well as some pics from our special day...

28 weeks

California Academy of Science

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion