35 weeks

As of tomorrow I am 35 weeks pregnant. It is going by so fast. Only 2 more birthing classes left too. 34 week check went well. I had my iron re-tested. Im getting better, but still need to take it twice a day.
Last weekend was a big one. It started with a surprise visit from Lili and Kenny from Santa Cruz. He is a gifted photographer (he did our wedding) and took amazing belly shots which I will try and post.
Grandma Friedman helped us big time to get our Bugaboo stroller and its here and SOOO cute! Im so in love with it!
Grandma and Grandpa Horwitz got us the changing table and crib and adorable hippo sheets, and put it all together so the nursery (aka our bedroom that is HUGE thankfully) is almost done.
Auntie Melissa came by and helped give the house a make over by redecorating and it fells like a brand new space!
I have 3 weeks of work left and Pedja will be done with school in 2 weeks.
Im so looking forward to the holidays hanging with family and eating yummy food-baby and I think thats the best part.

33 weeks

I am sick for the first time since being pregnant and let me tell you it stinks! It started with a cough (that thankfully is now gone but I swear I have a bruised rib on my right side from it) and I now have a wicked cold. BOOOO I am going to rest up this weekend and be better asap. Daddy is being great and taking good care of me.
We had our 32 week check up and baby is still doing great. My belly grew another 1.5 inches in the last 2 weeks. Im waddling like a pro! The checks are pretty uneventful which is a good thing it means both of us are doing well.
I had my second yes second shower last weekend at grandma and grandpa Horwitz's house and it was wonderful! More amazing food, so many friends from all parts of my life and all over the map, and a memorable joyful day all around. I feel so loved.
The day before the shower I had a full beauty day. That will be the last one for a while so I totally spoiled myself with a facial brow fix hair cut and blow out. I can not even tell you how amazing it fells to have a good hair day! I didnt want to ever wash my hair again it looked so great!
Those that know me know i LOVE party games and there were a couple. Guests had to guess the circumference of my belly. OK OK I was 41 inches. Marcia and Jamie 2 of my dear office mates tied at that one.
The activity of the shower was for everyone to design a square of fabric and my lovely Auntie Kassie is going to hand make a quilt as a gift to baby m!! SO COOL!!!
For some reason I can only post 4 pics per blog entry so here is a short overview. Pics from top to bottom: This was one of many delish appetizers. Heart shaped puff pastry stuffed with carmelized onions! YUM. The beautiful caterer Danielle (who is also a recent mommy) did such an amazing job with all the food. No one noticed it was gluten free and vegetarian! (I am allergic to wheat and gluten while pregnant and veggie all the time)
You can check her out at paperpalate.com. Next is the hostess herself, second mom Nancy aka Grandma Horwitz. She made the day so fantastic.
Then we have my mom and I. she is so excited to meet baby m! And last but not least one of my best friends Melissa. She helped Nancy out so much before the shower and I really put her to work during the shower too! She was such a great sport. She is getting married on 1/9/10. That date rings a bell right? Of course it does, that is Baby m's due date! I was supposed to be a bridesmaid in her wedding but sadly had to bow out. We are really excited and happy for her.

2 pics

I know it's out of order.
This was when I was 29 weeks at Santa Monica beach --yes that's October in LA for you!
And a cute one of us.

Today we are 31 weeks pregnant!

Pedja and I just got off the phone with big brother Luka. Every time we talk he asks if my belly button has popped out yet. It has not :) and he checks how fast (or slow really) I am able to walk. When he was here this summer I was still suffering severe morning sickness so I was VERY SLOW when walking. Im feeling good now but waddling a bit slower the bigger I get.
He sounds excited that the baby is coming soon! Actually Luka will be moving in with us permanently the same week the baby is due to come. Instant family!
This week we continued with our birthing class and guess what? we are due January 9, another couple is due January 10, and another is due January 11! pretty neat. we discussed the pain of labor and birth, -(this type of pain is called transformational pain, just FYI,) and did some breathing work and meditation.
We also had our 30 week check up. I met with another midwife, Marie. Since at UCLA you deliver with whichever midwife is on call, they all try and meet with you during your pregnancy at least once. Im good! 2 for 2 I like them both! Baby M's heartbeat sounded good and my belly grew 3 inches in the last 2 weeks! Thats the most so far. Im so joyful it's all going well.
Last weekend was my first shower! It was such an incredible, wonderful day full of love and amazing food and FAB women! My brother Brad (who hosted everyone in his beautiful home) stayed and chefed it up for us all. It was such a treat -he is a bad ass cook!
Pictures top to bottom:
My mom's dear friend Sandi made a bunch of these adorable chocolate mommies all by hand for the party. She also made chocolate strollers in white, milk, and dark chocolates. The plate of chocolate strollers just happened to be at my 15 month old niece Charlotte's level and I think she ate like 7 of the white ones. Her first experience with white chocolate was a huge success!
The hostess with the mostest -Bridgit my lovely sister in law (brother Brad's wife and Charlotte's mom).
Next is the center piece of a table. CUTEST shoes ever and they were gifts to Baby M!! YAY!
One of the activities was to design a onesie for Baby M. These are a few on the clothesline.
The last photo was an irie baby 31 flavors mint chip ice cream cake that Bridgit designed. sooooo cute!

30 weeks

Last week (29 weeks really) was a big one for us.
First, we had our hospital tour at UCLA where I will be delivering. It is close by our house and well I mean, it's UCLA for crying out loud- what more do I have to say? It made my situation a bit more real if that makes any sense and I got a bit overwhelmed but it's all good and Im very excited!
Then Pedja and I started our 8 week birthing class in Venice. The first one went well and I am glad we are taking it. I havent done all of my homework though, yes we have homework! I brought some awesome fall muffins to share with the moms and dads- fresh cranberry, toasted hazelnut, and dried fig. Everyone ate one and enjoyed which made me feel good.
Last night we turned the clocks back, gosh I LOVE any extra sleep I can get!
Today is my first of 2 -yes 2!! baby showers given with love by my incredible sister in law Bridgit (if you were at our wedding she is the one that performed our ceremony) my Mom and Andrea. Im really looking forward to a wonderful day!
I know my awesome aunt Mary who came all the way from Minnesota by the way!!! is helping a great deal too, as well as my mom's friend Sandi who is making some cute pregnant lady chocolates for the occasion. I will be sure to get lots of pics to post!

A+ and A-

So I have A- blood and Pedja has A+ blood. It is highly likely that baby m will have A+ blood like daddy.
These days, all mommies with any - blood type need to get a Rhogam shot at 28 weeks.
It has no side effects for me or baby m, but it protects me from building up any antibodies to fight against the baby should any of it's blood leak into my system for any reason.
I had my shot yesterday and met with Ann one of the midwives that works at UCLA.
She was wonderful, patient and informative and I feel confident about delivering with them on or around January 9!
My mom came up on Monday night and was a real trooper when I dragged her to a vegan restaurant I have been wanting to try, called the vegan joint. Dinner was delish! I had fried faux chicken with brown rice and veggies and she had a lentil brown rice burger. I know this may sound terrible to all my meat eating friends, but it was super! She spent the night with us and I took the day off of work so we got to spend a wonderful day together yesterday. The weather was over 80 (yes thats october in LA!) and we spent alot of the day outside in the sun walking around searching for a maternity dress for me. Not so much luck but it was still a great day. She joined me for my shot appointment and then we tried to find the labor and delivery wing so we both know where to go on the big day. Pedja and I have our tour of the wing next Monday which we are looking forward to. Now that I am over 28 weeks I have to go every 2 weeks for check ups. Everything looks good, however Im still anemic and need to up my iron intake a bit.

28 weeks

I had my first baby/birth dream last night. I was in a room with 3 women (I couldn't see their faces) and I said" I have to push." I did and out came a perfectly clean baby feet first! they grabbed him and said "its a boy but he's not ready yet," so they pushed him back in. Next thing I remember Im with my mom and I said "its time" and i pushed once and again --out came this perfectly clean baby feet first. I grabbed him and pulled him up on to my chest. I checked for 10 fingers and toes while mom got a towel. and then I woke up! I can only hope my labor is as easy as this, but not a fan of the feet first thing.
Baby M is kicking away

27 weeks

This week was good I am entering the eternally tired phase it seems i can fall asl..
see i almost did it right there
i can fall asleep at any given moment.
Baby is kicking all the time. Other than that we are moving along well i must say.
tech support (aka my brother/ aka uncle dan) had to come rescue us from a broken computer modem
i cant really complain though because it was accidentally broken when my rad husband was cleaning the house on his day off! the top photo is of dan and i from pedjas birthday bbq. Uncle Dan is probably one of big brother Luka's favorite people on the planet and i agree 100%. hes a great guy.
It was my father in law Radovan's birthday this week. Even though we didn't get to celebrate together we send lots of birthday cheer to him! the bottom picture is of me and him from our trip back to Serbia in August. He speaks no English and i speak little Serbian but i know he adores me and is very excited about the arrival of the newest Milenkovic.

26 weeks

I am 26 weeks along now and i think i went through a growth spurt last week, this belly seems to have doubled in size suddenly!
My mom and I had a small surprise birthday gathering for my amazing little sister Andrea who is also newly a fiance! yea! Congrats Ben and Andrea! SOOOO happy for you both! It was so great to see her surprised face and really fun laughing and hanging out with the girls. Laughter and good food is the best medicine for sadness right?
here are my first belly pics and one of Andrea and I on the bottom.

mommy model

Baby M and I were models in a CABI fashion show yesterday hosted by my beautiful friend Kelli!
I had never been to a CABI party, and I must say it was lots of fun and the clothes are beautiful and very comfortable.
its not a maternity line and I was feeling great in both outfits i modeled.
www.cabionline.com
This is Kelli and I in India last year where we met. She made the trip that much more amazing.

25 weeks and counting

I really can't believe I am already 25 weeks pregnant! This has been quite an amazing journey every step of the way.
Last week, my step dad of over 29 years Steve-ushka (big brother Luka gave him that nick-name a couple of years ago) passed away peacefully in his sleep.
The circle of life and death is very real and present right now for me, especially with the precious life growing inside me and kicking me all the time!
Steve-ushka is missed by so many already, and I hope that our baby has many of his wonderful traits--especially how when he would smile it took over his whole face and his eyes became little slits. Example is the photo here of him and I last year when I returned from India hence the bindi on my forehead :)
So far all appointments have gone well with the exception of the gestational diabetes scare but it all turned out ok thankfully.