Miller Living

Hello, remember me? So, I had a baby and now my life revolves around taking care of this little creature. She's kind of a big deal around here, so I finally threw together a blog because of her. 

If you want your daily fill of baby photos, then check out our new site. It'll basically be where I dump my Instagram photos and upload things from my iPhone.

The best is yet to come

Think the fun is over once you hit 30? It might actually be quite the opposite! A recent survey came out stating that 33 is the happiest age of your life. The survey was conducted by the British social networking site Friends Reunited and has been all over the news. I found it very interesting and was excited that my best years are likely still to come! Click here to see the original press release.

Are you quickly approaching your 30th or 33rd birthday and need help planning your upcoming birthday? Here are a few party planning/entertaining websites for some inspiration. 

Meet Miss Elodie

Yesterday, you might have seen a preview of Elodie's photo session with my talented photographer friend Elyse of Ely Fair Photography. Last Friday, Elyse was kind enough to drop us a visit and shoot some precious shots of baby E despite a little meltdown by the little one. Baby does not like to be naked and will not stay asleep when I really want her to, so there was much more crying and screaming than sleeping like a peaceful newborn during the photo session. Another takeaway from this shoot: Do not feed a diaperless baby unless you don't mind being pooped and peed on...twice. Even with all these setbacks, Elyse was able to capture some priceless moments that we will cherish forever. Check out a preview of the photos on Elyse's blog. 

Our New Arrival

Baby E about a week and half old. Photo by Ely Fair Photography

The blog has been quiet recently, but our house sure isn't. I'm sure you probably all know or suspect that our baby girl has arrived already (or else I would be waaay overdue)! Our sweet, little bundle of joy was born on Tuesday, February 28, at 9:15 p.m. (a few hours shy of Leap Day), weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz and measuring 19.5 inches long. She had a full head of beautiful black hair and chubby cheeks. Although we are currently operating in survival mode right now, we feel so blessed to have a healthy, beautiful baby.

I have wanted to get back to the blog but have just been adjusting to this new life of diaper changes, nursing and trying to "sleep when the baby sleeps". Hopefully, I'll get around to blogging about my crazy, complicated birth story, give a tour of the nursery and get around to non-baby things. I've been thinking of starting another blog - all things baby and family related, so family and friends can keep up with us and I can document our new life with baby... but we'll see how motivated I am the next few months.

Here's a weekly photo I took of our baby at one week old. I don't have a two week photo because I sold my camera, but my new one should be coming tomorrow!

Preggo Update: 40 weeks

I'm beginning to detest due dates and wish they didn't exist.

(I actually was supposed to post this yesterday but didn't have enough time)

So, here's my story this week. Tuesday was my regularly scheduled OB appointment. Baby's heartbeat was still healthy, but still hasn't dropped and no dilation or effacement. The bun is overcooked, just gaining weight by the day, but the oven door won't open! The doctor is worried that I won't have a chance for a vaginal delivery the longer I wait, so she scheduled me for induction Wednesday at 7 p.m. I was definitely nervous and worried about being induced from all the horror stories out there, but I trust my doctor to know what she's doing. So, Wednesday rolled around, and we were getting excited and anxious thinking that we'll meet our daughter soon! By about 8 p.m. or so, the nurses got my IV in, hooked me up to monitors and inserted the Cervidil, which is supposed to soften and open up the cervix. Our parents came by to visit and we just hung out for a little while before we went to bed. I started to get cramps and some contractions in the middle of the night, which made me have to pee about every hour and a half, so I didn't get the best of sleep. Also, my IV somehow got detached at some point in the middle of the night and bled all over my bed, so the nurse had to change my sheets, clean me off and redress my IV. Around 4:30 a.m., the nurse came in to take out the Cervidil, check my progress and prep me for Pitocin. I was dilated to a whopping...nothing still!!! What, how can that be? She said it was softer, but I think she was just trying to be nice and give me some hope. Now, time for the Pitocin, maybe that'll get this show on the road...Once I was on the Pitocin, I actually felt fewer contractions and could sleep for a while until my husband woke me up with all his shuffling about. That morning, the doctor came to check me out and see my progress with the Pitocin. Getting internal cervical checks were probably the most painful and uncomfortable part of it. My progress...unchanged, still the same, closed for business today! That's when she said that she would probably just send me home and try again another day if my cervix was still the same at noon. Status at noon...I was going home. We packed up our bags and left the hospital exhausted and deflated. It felt incredibly weird leaving the hospital with no baby in our arms and knowing we would have to go through this process again in a few days.The worst part was having to inform everyone waiting on this baby that there would be no baby and getting reactions like we were crazy people!

How far along? 40 weeks and baby won't come out! 

Total weight gain? Around 35 pounds

Maternity clothes?  I would just like to wear a sack now.

Stretch marks? I think I might be home free with no stretch marks! 

Sleep: Pretty restless these days - I think it's more mental and not physical though.    

Best moment this week: Best moment turned worst moment - finding out that I had an induction date set and would finally meet my precious child, and then having to go home from my induction with no baby. Also, very glad that the induction thing wasn't even that painful, I would just describe it as kind of uncomfortable.

Miss anything: Not having to worry about every little thing I put into my body and being able to work out as much as I want. However, I did actually go to a Zumba class today in hopes of dancing this little baby out of me! :)

Movement: Still nice and cozy in there, squirming about every day. Surely, there can't be that much room left.

Food cravings: I made my hubby take me to get frozen yogurt and gummy bears on Friday. 

Anything make you queasy or sick: Thinking about the whole labor and delivery thing.

Gender: A little drama queen who's on her own schedule.

Labor signs: If only I were so lucky! Weirdest thing I've ever wanted - please just let me dilate already! Still getting contractions everyday, but apparently they are doing jack squat. 

Symptoms: Heartburn has returned, swollen extremities

Belly button in or out? Out when standing or sitting, in when lying down

Wedding rings on or off? On when I feel like it, but they've mostly been off

Feelings: Definite anxiety and frustration about the whole induction thing, but also hopeful and relieved that there will be an end and a baby! I had a fairly easy pregnancy and felt great the whole time, but not so much the delivery and getting the baby out part though.   

Looking forward to: This delivery thing being over, so that I can just be a mommy already.

Preggo Update: 39 weeks

39 weeks and about to pop!

How far along? 39 weeks (+ 2 days) and still pregnant

Total weight gain? Probably around 30-35 pounds - I find out tomorrow; baby could weigh about 9 pounds now - yikes!

Maternity clothes? Yeah, even my maternity clothes are tight now. What do you wear when you outgrow those with only a week left? 

Stretch marks? I may have made it the whole time without one stretch mark...oh, glorious day! Come on, skin!  

Sleep: I could sleep all day if I really wanted to. More tossing and turning from side to side and peeing about every 2 hours in the middle of the night, but I feel pretty well-rested these days. 

Best moment this week: My husband asking me "Is it time?" every few hours or so! :) I'm glad he finally decided to pack a hospital bag this week.

Miss anything: I think I will actually miss being pregnant whenever the little one come out. I really didn't have it too bad and liked the feeling of growing a little person inside.

Movement: She's a little boxer this week. I keep feeling a foot or arm jabbing out on my right side. 

Food cravings: I'm trying to eat more spicy foods and other labor-inducing foods. None have worked so far. 

Anything make you queasy or sick: Can't really think of anything this week.

Gender: Oh, girl...come on out, please!

Labor signs: Contractions every so often, but she may be wanting to stay in there forever. I find out tomorrow if my body's made any progress at all.

Symptoms: Puffy and swollen sausage hands, feet and face. Preggo brain - why can't I speak and remember things like a normal human being?

Belly button in or out? Out when standing, in when sitting or lying down

Wedding rings on or off? Still the same - on when I leave the house, off at home.

Feelings: Anxious, nervous and concerned that I'll need to be induced or have a c-section. But I know that she will come out one way or another...I'm just praying that she does it on her own.  

Looking forward to: Holding little baby girl and knowing that she's healthy and happy. Becoming a family of three (plus a little pup).

Preggo Update: 38 weeks

How far along? 38 weeks (+ 2 days)

Total weight gain? Still about 30 pounds

Maternity clothes? Anything loose and baggy. Leggings, pajamas or yoga pants just about everyday.

Stretch marks? Still none...yay! 

Sleep: Getting to be a little more uncomfortable, but at least I'm getting sleep and can sleep in if I want to. It would be nice if I could sleep on my back and not wake up in the middle of the night though.

Best moment this week: Realizing that I am so close to meeting our baby girl! Enjoying the last few times I will be able to feel her move around in my belly.

Miss anything: Hugs without a belly in the way.

Movement: It doesn't feel so much like jabs and punches anymore...more so like a tickle here and there. Sometimes she'll fall asleep and freak me out, because I don't think she's moved for a while.

Food cravings: Food doesn't really appeal too much to me these days. But I still do want sweets more than usual. 

Anything make you queasy or sick: My pup's stinky dog breath

Gender: It's a girl! Do they actually announce that when you deliver the baby?

Labor signs: Still the occasional Braxton Hicks contractions, but no dilation or effacement. The doctor was planning on inducing me a week early for fear that baby was going to be jumbo-sized, but I just found out today that my body isn't ready, so I'm back to waiting. Come on, baby...come out.

Symptoms: Glad the heartburn isn't so bad anymore, but I have to pee more often.

Belly button in or out? Ever so slightly out

Wedding rings on or off? Still the same - on when I leave the house, off at home

Feelings: More anxious...just wondering when I'll go into labor. I'm really hoping that I make some progress toward labor within the next week or so.  

Looking forward to: Delivery day. I just want this day to come on it's own...hopefully before the due date.