God's Humor

Through pregnancy, I'm seeing a new side to God's sense of humor, and how he has created each of us to find humor in the details, like he does.

In the same way that the 20 week mark hit, and I was instantly relieved from my all-day sickness, as the 30 week mark approaches, I'm experiencing pain again. I had a magical 10 weeks of the "2nd trimester bliss" everyone talks about, where you feel great, you aren't swelling yet, you're excited and eager for the baby, your bump is just the right size, clothes fit and feel good, morning sickness has disappeared, and you're "glowing!"

But now, right at 30 weeks, my Rheumatoid Arthritis has decided to make an appearance for the 3rd trimester after being virtually non-existent for the last 7 months! Each morning this week I woke up with a new joint causing me lingering, annoying pain - knee, hip, ankle, and today it is my jaw (yes! RA does not discriminate, and you have little joints in your jaw!) I'm hopeful  the joint pain will come and go throughout these last weeks. I'm also experiencing the dreaded carpel tunnel that pregnant women complain about, so I've been sleeping with some stylish wrist braces that have really been helping so my wrists and hands don't hurt during the day. And, I'll spare you the details of a few other fun pregnancy symptoms that have decided to show up in the 3rd trimester.

I keep thinking that by the time she gets here, I'll be so ready to not be pregnant anymore, and that shows me God's humor in all this. You better believe I will give it all I've got to get us through labor as quick as possible! I live knowing that He won't put me through anything I can't handle, but sometimes I question His faith in what my body is capable of - especially when I'm feeling like a 27-year-old stuck in an "arthritis-like-an-80-year-old" body.

3D Ultrasound

Also as part of my birthday celebration, we scheduled a 3D ultrasound of Baby G for the day of my birthday. It was an incredible experience, and so neat to see how something so small (only 3 pounds right now) could be so beautiful and developed. My parents were at the ultrasound with Chris and I, and then Chris' parents and granny were live streaming online, so it was neat to experience it together! 

The ultrasound tech talked about how "filled out" she is, and how she looks less like a 28 week baby that he sees, and more like a 32 week baby! Chris and I were both born at 38 weeks (I was 8 pounds, Chris was 9 pounds 8 ounces), so we're thinking she may come a little early too!

You can watch the video in this link, or photos are below:
Baby G 3D Ultrasound from Sarah Gilstrap on Vimeo.

The room had a large screen so we could all watch.

A yawn...

Her legs were up next to her head for most of the time and she was playing with her toes. We could see her little fingers and toes moving around. Her legs are crossed in front of her face in this photo.

Smiling for the camera! She's scrunched up in there with her chin down to her chest, and you can see her little belly down below.

The joy of life is incredible, and seeing her filled us with happiness. I can't even imagine what it will be like when she gets here and we actually get to meet her in person! We are so excited, let the countdown begin!

Birthday Weekend

My first official birthday as a mama was the best birthday weekend on record! My parents came to Denver for a week and helped us with lots of odds and ends around the house. They accomplish more in one day than we accomplish in months. Everything from buying under bed storage containers, to insulating our back door, to finding a resale crib online (and going to get it!), to finding a deal on a new rug for our living room - the list goes on an on. They didn't have any major home renovations on their "to-do" list, but the little details were really what was helpful this week!

Here's a quick pick of the two loves in my life right now, my beau and my belle. I crossed over into the 3rd trimester and at 28 weeks, I'm still feeling pretty good. Another highlight of only having 12 weeks to go is that I've also crossed over into a stretchy-waistband-only policy, which is fabulous, and I'm considering never going back to jeans or slacks, even post-pregnancy!

The love of my life spoiled me all weekend (and really all month - it is my month of honor after all, right Gigi?)

We found the perfect used crib online, and at the price I was willing to pay for a used crib, we also got a mattress and waterproof crib protector. What a deal! The curves in the crib match the curves of the Craigslist changing table perfectly, I think they may have been sold as a set when they were new!

We had DELICIOUS breakfast at Denver Biscuit Company. We had heard good things about this breakfast cafe, but hadn't tried it yet. My only regret is that we didn't try it sooner, what a gem! Note: Chris' Biscuit Club with chicken, bacon, lettuce and tomato (for breakfast?)

Look at the size of that cinnamon roll! I'm a total sucker for sweets, and I became concerned when I had no desire for sweets the first 5 months of my pregnancy. It was alarming! My entire life I would have rather had dessert than dinner, or a cookie before breakfast, a total sucker for anything sweet! Fortunately, I'm back to normal, and couldn't pass up this cinnamon roll on the menu - to share with the table of course. Just think about all the delicious dessert I would be missing out on if my sweet tooth had gone away for good.

We enjoyed a DELICIOUS birthday cake, that was just what I wanted! At the beginning of our relationship, Chris would try to read my mind and guess what I wanted so he could surprise me (resulting sometimes in disappointment on both ends). He quickly discovered it was much easier to ask me to pick out what I want for my birthday and he can deliver. Now, we're both happy because he knows how to make my dreams come true, and ultimately, that's any man's wish for the love in his life. Oh, the differences between dating and marriage, we just keep getting wiser!

My parents treated Chad, Michelle, Chris and I for a DELICIOUS Italian dinner at La Scala, a little local eatery we pass every day on the way to work, but have never tried out. The restaurant only had about 10 tables, and we enjoyed the intimate setting for time together.

Michelle's mom sent a package of homemade goodies for Baby G, including a wonderful airplane burp cloth. Chris was VERY excited that it was airplanes, but I sense a little hesitation in this photo at the concept of burping a baby.

She also sent a homemade "Udder Cover" for nursing - she's so sweet!

Also, dad made me a FABULOUS jewelry holder! We got the idea on Pinterest and he made it for me, love it!

Guest Bedroom / Baby Room Painting

Chris made a promise and kept it, "If we find out she's a girl, we can paint the room so it's not blue." Of course, conversely, if we had found out it was a boy, there was no way he was going to paint the room, AGAIN, since we had already painted it once when we moved in 3 years ago. The walls are very textured, which complicates the paining process in multiple ways. You have to purchase a special roller so the paint goes on thick, but it's difficult to get good paint coverage because of all the peaks and valleys in the texture, and the texture causes the paint to splash off the wall too, so you're covered in paint when it's all said and done. 

Anyway, we went to work, and sampled 12 colors (because I'm quite indecisive these days). Everything from shades of blue, green and yellow, to neutrals. We decided on a neutral taupe that is just slightly darker than our living room (in the background). I think it's a nice blank canvas for pulling in accent colors, and making fun purchases, like a colorful rug that I absolutely adore!

We're keeping the bedroom as a guest bedroom, because we feel like it will get more use that way. She'll have her crib and changing table (plus clothes, toys, and all the other fun stuff that comes along with a little one), and it will be her room any other time. We want to have a place for visitors to be welcome to stay with us, and she will be able to bunk up in a Pack-and-Play anywhere in the house for at least the first year!

The rug that mom and I found at HomeGoods - we are obsessed! I love the colors and pattern, I'm looking forward to finding accessories and room decor to match!

Gilstrap Family Cruise

A few photos from our Caribbean cruise in December. We left from New Orleans and stopped in Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. We had a great time with Chris' family and enjoyed the beautiful landscape, family time together, relaxing time away, and delicious food!

Chris with his sisters, Katie and Kim (missing #4 Kendra, she didn't come on the cruise)

Cruising at 24 weeks!

Jamaica's only evergreen tree :)

Santa's helper

HOT day in Grand Cayman

Chris spent lots of time reading and relaxing on the patio

Cozumel, with our ship in the background

Enjoying a Cuban in Cozumel

Authentic Mexican cuisine in Cozumel, yum!

Delicious food on the ship!

6 1/2 Months!

We are at 26 weeks - translating to 6 1/2 months, wow it feels like time is flying by. This week is the last week of my 2nd Trimester. I feel like I have so much to do before the baby gets here - in just 3 short months! It is exciting to think that she'll be here in 3 months though! The highlight for this week is that she is now responding to Chris, they play a game where he pushes on my belly and she kicks back. It's pretty funny to watch, and pretty cute that he's already found a way to connect with her.