29 Weeks

"Your baby is now about 16 incheslong, which is the size of the front wheel on the original Big Wheel." -hisboyscanswim.com

"Baby's now the size of a squash! Baby's energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath his skin. And since he's growing so fast (weight will triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb. What all this means for you: Get ready for some more kicks and jabs to the ribs." -thebump.com

Weekly Checklist

How far along? 29 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 24lbs

Maternity Clothes: Yep

Sleep: Some good nights, some bad. But my energy seems to be pretty good. If I take a nap in the afternoon I actually have energy to get stuff done around the house. yay!

Food Cravings: I went to the grocery store by myself (bad idea) & came home with all the fixings for ice cream sundaes. Plus the only reason reason I went to the store was to pick up fixings for peanut butter rice krispie treats. I don't think I came home with anything nutritional!

What I miss: uncooked lunchmeat. My cravings for Milios or cousins have been coming back the last few days. I can't wait to have my first sub after the baby!

What I am looking forward to: Eating a ham & cheese sub. (Did I mention I'm slightly hungry at the moment?)

Weekly wisdom: Having a footrest at my desk helps keep me a little more comfortable when sitting all day. A co-worker actually recommended using a mail tote instead of the copy paper box I was using. She very nicely ran down and got one for me on Friday, so we'll see if that is even better next week.

Milestones: A stranger noticed I was pregnant! I've had lots of co-workers who I hadn't specifically told start to notice in the past few weeks, but this was the first time someone I didn't know said something. I was at Kohl's and an associate made a comment and asked about the baby. I guess I'm officially big!

Taking After Mommy Already

Now that Brody is getting bigger and taking over more of my belly, I've notice a new trait. He likes his space! Whenever anything pushes my stomach in, or rests on it, he starts moving around and kicks that part of my stomach.

When I lay on the couch and put the laptop against my stomach, he kicks it. When I sit at my desk, sometimes there isn't a lot of room between me and the desk, so he kicks the desk. When I was holding Aubrie at the hospital, naturally she was resting on the top of my stomach -- kick, kick!


Now, I totally get this. I love my personal space. In fact, Jason learned very early on in our friendship that if wants to get on my nerves, he can just stand in my "bubble" for no reason. Don't get me wrong, I love cuddling, hugs and being close to those I love. Just not all the time! :)


I'm sure he'll love cuddling with his Mommy, but if eventually he just needs his bubble back, I get it.

28 Weeks

*Since my "weekly fruits" have turned into monthly ones, I'll just include my bump picture until I enter a new month. Baby is still the size of an eggplant (or a boot).

"Baby's now the size of an eggplant! Baby's lungs are mature enough that, if born right now, he has a pretty good chance of surviving (with help from medical technology). His skin is still pretty wrinkly (one byproduct of living in amniotic fluid) but will smoothen as fat continues to deposit." -Thebump.com

Weekly Checklist
How far along? 28 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 22lbs
Maternity Clothes: Yep and now that it is getting cold out I can wear some non-maternity items (like cardigans/hoodies) as long as I don't close the front.
Sleep: Starting to get more uncomfortable (despite all my pillows). But I'm still tired, so I need the sleep!
Food Cravings: I think it's seasonal as well as pregnancy, but I've felt the need to bake a little more. However, that generally means desserts...so hopefully my weight gain won't start to skyrocket! :)
What I miss: Being able to spring up from a laying down position. I've officially started rolling out of bed or using a lot of energy to get up from lying on the couch.
What I am looking forward to: Holding Brody and seeing what he looks like.
Weekly wisdom: No matter how annoying pregnancy can be at times it will all be worth it when our son is here.
Milestones: Jason "saw" him kick this week! He's getting stronger and many times my whole stomach will move when he's active. J could see him kicking from across the room & thought it was hilarious.

Aubrie Kendall

I wrote a few weeks ago about our friend Tina who was expecting her little girl. She's here! Tina delivered 7lb 7oz Aubrie Kendall on Tuesday afternoon. She kept us posted when she went into the hospital and when Aubrie was born. We were able to meet Aubrie on Wednesday.

Tina sounded fantastic after delivery and looked great when we saw her the next day. Aubrie was a bundle of joy who slept almost the entire time we were there, despite the background noise. I was lucky enough to hold her for awhile and there really is nothing as sweet. She's teeny tiny and adorable. The family is now home, healthy and sounds like everyone is adjusting well!

Of course this brought me out of my 2nd trimester denial. I will too be giving birth in a few months. Tina handled it all like a pro and already looks like an experienced mommy. I hope I will be able to do the same.

Seeing Tina hold her daughter is a great reminder that no matter how much I may complain somedays about the not-so-great parts of pregnancy, that there is a bundle of joy at the end of the tunnel.

27 Week Doctor Appointment (GD Test)

*Knock on wood*
That's how I felt after my doctor appointment today. So far everything has been going well in this pregnancy I feel like it's too good to be true. Has this pregnancy been 100% delightful? No, but it's really been a very normal road so far. I hope it continues that way.

Today was my gestational diabetes test. They gave me an orange liquid to drink and then take my blood an hour later. The orange drink is often hyped to be so awful, but honestly it was fine. Not something I'd drink by choice but it just tasted like flat orange soda that had too much syrup in it. An hour later, they took my blood and gave me the results right away -- I passed! I was slightly worried about the idea of having to give up all the sweets I eat, so that was a relief. They also checked my iron levels and they were fine. That was also good to hear since I have been borderline anemic prior to pregnancy.

In between my hour wait, I had my monthly check-up.
Weight: Up 5 lbs or so, to a total weight gain of 22 lbs. I was worried this was too much, so I asked what he thought. He said it was perfect! He expects about a pound a week for the next 13 weeks, which would put me around 35 lb gain. While he's not worried, it still is difficult for me to see how much I weigh.
Blood Pressure: Actually much higher than my normal, but within perfect range, so he didn't even bring it up. 122/70
Heartbeat: 135
Fundal Height: 28.5 -- He made some comment about how he's a "healthy" size & I don't have a 5 pounder in there. I'm going to choose to ignore the fact that I might have a big boy growing in there. Honestly, it's pretty early to determine how big he'll be anyway.
Questions:
Talked about my symptoms - back pain, side-back pain & dizziness. My headaches have gotten better, so I think he was happy to hear that. The back pain that's more on the sides he said is probably muscular because my urine doesn't show any problems with my kidneys. He recommended a massage (I gave Jason a look!) and heat. He also recommended using a lumbar support of some sort at work. My posture is probably hurting my back as well. He also said that the dizziness i've been feeling is probably when I haven't eaten anything in awhile. I'm probably letting my blood sugar get low & I need to make sure I'm eating something small throughout the day.

I asked about cold medicine, since I haven't been feeling great and wanted to check in case it progressed to something worse. He said sudafed, tylenol and mucinex are all good options. Of course he also gave me the signs to pay attention to if it turns into the flu. Fever, chills etc.

I asked about working up until I give birth & his thoughts. Basically, yes most women do & if my blood pressure is good and everything else progresses well, he sees no issue with that.

Next Appointment: I got to schedule my next 8 appointments! Straight through my due date. My next one will be in 3 weeks and then 2 week increments until December 7th when I'll go every week.

27 Week Bump Pic

27 Weeks

Baby is still the size of an eggplant (or a boot)...

"Baby's now the size of an eggplant!Baby's lungs are going through some major developments these days, which (combined with the opening of previously plugged nostrils) means he's now able to practice inhaling and exhaling. The lack of air in your womb means every "breath" is filled with amniotic fluid, but hey -- it's progress." - Thebump.com

Weekly Checklist:
How far along? 27 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: we'll see for sure at next week's dr appointment...
Maternity Clothes: Yep!
Sleep: Same
Food Cravings: I sent J out for a rootbeer float this week. It was yummy!
Labor Signs: none
What I miss: my old clothes. I put on a shirt that I thought might work and it barely went halfway down my stomach. It was pretty funny at least.
What I am looking forward to: putting the smaller touches on the nursery. Now that we're getting the furniture in, I'm starting to plan what we're going to put on the walls and the rug. It'll be fun pulling it all together!
Weekly wisdom: Pregnancy is a great excuse to send your husband out for food! I could have survived without a rootbeer float this week, but it really sounded good and Jason was so willing. I figure I might as well take advantage while I can! Plus it's the first time in
Milestones: completing second trimester

Goodbye Second Tri

I am officially in my third (and final!) trimester. This is both scary and exciting to me. 13 weeks ago when I began my 2nd trimester, I was thrilled. It meant a significantly lower risk of miscarriage, I started sharing the news with everyone and we found out it was a boy! 3rd trimester isn't as thrilling to me...

I've never had any concerns about being pregnant but I've always worried about the whole giving birth part. When I was in high school, I actually swore that I would never have kids. This was part of the reason. In college I went through a phase that I would just adopt all my children, as to avoid it. Then I became pregnant and though I knew I'd have to get over my silly fears, I still figured I'd just ignore that part until I hit 3rd Tri.

So here I am. Now it's time to educate myself to determine what my birth plan will be and actually start forming opinions on things like pain management, induction, C-sections etc. Consider denial over.

Now on to the good thing about 3rd tri: I get to meet my son in approximatly 13 weeks! Other things I am excited for are the wonderful baby showers that my friends & families are throwing us, finishing the nursery and getting the dogs ready to have a baby around. Between all of that and the holidays, I know the next three months are going to fly by.

26 Weeks

"13 inch boot? You know what they say… Your baby is about this long during these weeks." -http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/

"Baby's now the size of an eggplant! Baby's soaking up your antibodies, getting his immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and he'll soon be practicing the blink..."-Thebump.com

Weekly Checklist:
How far along? 26 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 20 lbs give or take (eek!)
Maternity Clothes: Yep!

Sleep: Same
Food Cravings: I did have a craving this week for a buffalo chicken sandwich from the Cheesecake Factory...but it wasn't strong enough I guess because we never made it there.

Labor Signs: none

What I miss: nothing in particular this week...

What I am looking forward to: The birth of Tina's daughter! She is my son's future wife after all ;)

For those that don't know, a very good friend of ours is having her baby girl in the next week or so. We're waiting anxiously to meet her. Tina is one of Jason's best friends, so there have been lots of jokes about the future marriage of our children.

Also, this means that Tina can reassure me that labor really isn't that bad....right?
Weekly Wisdom: Don't get a bad haircut when you're busy gaining more weight than you ever have in your life! I was too impatient to wait for my regular hair person & had someone else cut it recently. I think it's too short. Everyone knows how frusterating it is to have hair they don't like. Then on top of it, my clothes don't fit like the used to & I'm getting fatter (I mean -- more pregnant) everyday! Not a great ego boost.

Milestones: Getting a jump start on the nursery!

Baby Bump!

13 Week picture. I thought I actually had something to show! I knew it was mostly bloating since the baby was so tiny, but now looking back it just looks normal. :)

Fast forward to 25 weeks. There's a baby in there! I'm starting to feel big, but I know in 12 weeks I'm going to be looking back again wishing I was this small. :)

The wall in the background is in the nursery while we were choosing colors.

What's in a name?

So Jason & I pretty much decided on a name awhile ago. Before we found out if it was a boy we had two girl names picked out and no real solid boy names. Once we found out it was a boy, there has only been one name that we agreed on. At this point, we both really like it, so why keep looking for other names?

Our son will be named: Brody Daniel.

My parents gave us middle names after family members. We wanted to do the same thing for our children. My brother's name is Daniel and as one of my favorite and most loved people in the world, I'm very excited to be naming our son after him.

25 Weeks

"13 inch boot? You know what they say… Your baby is about this long during these weeks." -http://www.hisboyscanswim.com/

"Baby's now the size of an eggplant! That oh-so-handy sense of equilibrium is kicking in, and baby's learning to distinguish right side up from upside down." -Thebump.com

Weekly Checklist:

How far along? 25 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 17 lbs give or take

Maternity Clothes: Yep!
Sleep: Same

Food Cravings: Anything that's bad for me :)
Labor Signs: none
What I miss: Being comfortable. Yes I realize this whine is a bit premature - I'm only going to get bigger. But the long car ride to MN would have been much easier if my back didn't hurt from sitting for so long! Oh well...

What I am looking forward to: Painting the nursery (I've already posted pics but I'm a few days late in posting my weekly check-in)

Weekly Wisdom: The grass is always greener... While shopping at the Mall of America with friends, we stopped in the American Girls store. I had a doll when I was growing up and I am amazed at how huge of a phenomenon it has become. You can get your doll's hair done and even have lunch with your American Girl. This of course made me a little sad that I'm not having a little girl. I do recall whining a little bit after leaving the store.

It's times like these that I try to remind myself, that I was a little girl once. And when I don't get enough sleep, I'm REALLY cranky, and when I didn't get my way, I sometimes threw temper-tantrums. Girls can be a lot of fun, but I know they can be difficult as well. I know I will love my son as much as I would have loved a daughter. And it's only my first -- there will be more. :)

Milestones: The baby is moving around a lot more and a lot higher than previously. It's now a lot less of kicking/punching here & there and now I can actually just feel him moving around. He's a pretty active little guy!

We painted!