26 weeks and less than 100 days to go

Wow, less than 100 days until my due date!?!? WHAT? Where or where has the time gone? Seriously, I can't believe that in 2 weeks, I will be in my 3rd trimester and in the home stretch where every one says the time starts to slow down because we're so excited to meet our little one and to feel good again. I don't want it to all be over but I DO want to meet Preston and see what he looks like. I can't wait to smell him, kiss him, love on him, cuddle him, console him, etc. It's going to be amazing. I can't wait to see Daddy A interact with OUR little boy. He's going to be great and that just melts my heart. hehe

How have I been feeling?... Well, I guess it's the same ol' same ol' complaints.....my back hurts, my right rib hurts, my ankles swell at random times, I can't wear my engagement or wedding rings :-( , etc. I know that this is only temporary and I will have the greatests gift when it's over and I'm sure when it is over, I'll say I miss it. However, I cannot wait to meet this little guy and call me vein but I can't wait to get my body back to the way it was before.....

What am I looking forward to?... Tomorrow! Our Hypnobirthing class starts and I couldn't be more excited. Now, Daddy A on the other hand isn't quite as excited as I am! But, do you blame him? It's a 3 hour class about 50 minutes away. Oh fun! But I'm really excited to finally learn some techniques that are going to help me through this process we call Labor. I'm guessing they call in Labor because it's not easy, it's HARD labor!

Any weight gain?... Yes but I refuse to step on the scale so I don't know the exact amount....I'm scared to know. lol I really do eat pretty healthy but I can't do it ALL the time, it's hard!

How big is baby?.... The size of an eggplant or an English hothouse cucumber...take your pick! The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb (which will be great since mine is great). Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes. Awwwwwwwwwwww!! He will have beautiful eyes, I know it!

How is my body changing??... Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly, although it's probably still lower than it was before you got pregnant. (Typically, blood pressure falls toward the end of the first trimester, and it tends to reach a low at about 22 to 24 weeks.) HEY, that could be why my ankles are deciding to swell on me sometimes.

Sleep?... It's been great, I've been sleeping like a rock but still feeling exhausted when I wake up. Odd, right? I'm wondering if it's because of all the dreaming that I'm doing. I dream SO much every night.

Health?... Still great. I've been very lucky.

Cravings?... Waffles.....oh my gosh and let me tell you, they are delicious. I only have them on the weekend mornings and it's only been maybe like 2 weekends now.

Food Aversions?... None

New Senstation?... Peeing A LOT now. I didn't have this issue until right after 25 weeks and now at work, I feel like it's all I do. At night, I'm pretty much sleeping through the night still with a couple nights here and there that I have to get up and pee but nothing too crazy.

Next appointment?... February 7th for my wonderful glucose test and Rhogam shot. That's next week.............I'm really not excited for EITHER one.

I finished painting the letters for his room and I love how they turned out. Now, I'm on the hunt for green & brown ribbon. You would think that'd be easy, right? Guess again! It's not. Michael's nor Hobby Lobby had anything to go. They are mostly green but the letters are green so I need ribbon that's mostly brown with some green in it. I'm still hunting and searching.

Less than 3 weeks until my co-shower with my Sister-in-law in California. I'm excited that I get to see her (it's been since September but feels longer) and it'll be fun and exciting to see everyone all together and lets be honest, to open BABY presents. YAY! So fun!

Today, I got 2 comments from my boss and a co-worker about how "big I've gotten in the last week". I know people don't say these things to be hurtful nor do I really take it TOO much to heart but how can I not take it a little bit to heart? I'm growing a human and I'm a female. Do you think we like to hear how big we are getting? If I wasn't pregnant and just gained weight, they wouldn't tell me how big I was getting. I think people tend to think it's ok since I'm pregnant. Oh well, I love looking pregnant and knowing that I get the privelage of growing a beautiful human inside of me!

Well, here are some pictures........

25 Weeks

How have I been feeling?... Mentally - good. Physically - getting MUCH slower at doing things. Getting up takes A LOT of energy, moving from my left side to any other position in bed is hard, my rib still hurts, my back hurts REALLY bad, my left ankle still swells sometimes but not as much, I can't wear my rings all the time as they are getting harder to put on and take off. So, basically, things are getting much harder in the physical aspect of being pregnant.

I've developed the wonderful "line" aka linea nigra. It's a beautiful dark line of hair that's both above and below my belly button. Sexy, right? I know you're jealous! ;-)

What am I looking forward to?... Well, a few things.....I bought letters for Preston's name that will probably go above his dresser/changing table. I painted them green yesterday but need to do another coat and I want to get green & brown ribbon to hang them from. So, I'm looking forward to finishing that. I'm looking forward to the big Waste Management PGA Golf Tournament the first weekend in February. It's SO fun. It may be a bit challenging this year though as I'll be big and pregnant and won't be able to walk as fast to follow some of the golfers. I'm looking forward to January being over because that means it's one month closer to meeting this little guy in my tummy.

This was before I painted them green. The pillow above is part of the bedding set. The green I painted them is the same color green as the frog. Once, they are completely painted, I'll post another picture.

Our Hypnobirthing classes start next Tuesday so I'm VERY excited about that.

Also, I'll be in my 3rd trimester in 3 weeks! WOW, that's hard to believe.

Any weight gain?... Oh poo, I really did mean to weigh myself this morning. lol I'm not sure how much I've gained, hopefully not much so I don't get in trouble when I go for my next appointment. :-)

How big is baby?.... Head to heels, Preston is now measuring about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, (or a small bag of sugar) but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture. (which I'm assuming is thick BLACK hair)

In the last third of pregnancy, he'll double and triple his weight. Your dexterous baby can touch and hold his feet and make a fist. Your partner may be able to hear his heartbeat by pressing his ear against your belly. Your baby has a regular sleep schedule now and active and inactive periods. You may or may not be able to discern what those periods are. His nostrils, which have been plugged, open up.

How is my body changing??... Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.
You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.
When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Sleep?... Depends on the night. Some nights I sleep GREAT, like last night but other nights I toss and turn, can't get comfortable, I feel him kicking, etc.

Health?... Still great. I got really lucky as Daddy A had the 24 hour flu on Saturday and I managed to avoid it. I do have to say that it has to be because of all the daily vitamins I take. Woohoo for a wonderful immune system!

Cravings?... I can't think of anything. Apples still make me very happy. I'm hungry A LOT.

Food Aversions?... None

New Senstation?... I can see my belly move when he moves and it's quite crazy. I feel like he's doing somersaults in there. Daddy A FINALLY felt him move while we were lying in bed. YAY!

Next appointment?... February 7th for my wonderful glucose test and Rhogam shot.

I can't believe I have 15 weeks (ish) to go. WHERE has the time gone? Seriously, I cannot believe that I'll be in my 3rd trimester in 3 weeks, having baby showers, getting ready for this little peanut to enter this huge, crazy world. Waiting for this little guy who is going to turn our world upside down yet we will look back and wonder how we lived life without him....how such a small little human can take SO much of your love even before you have met him. We cannot WAIT to see/hold/kiss/hug/smell Preston. It's going to be amazing!

We're having a baby THIS year...we're having a baby in about 3.5 months! WOW! Blows my mind!

Well, here are your pictures............

I just want to add that the lines on my stomach are NOT stretchmarks. They are indentations from my pants. LOL

24 weeks = 6 months and Viability Day

Wow, 6 months already?! The time is FLYING by and I can't believe it! Also, I have reached V-Day aka Viability Day, which means if PGA were to be born today, he has a good chance of survival with A LOT of medical intervention. This is a huge milestone. No, we do not want him born now, of course, but it's something to celebrate. The further along we get, the better his changes are for survival if he were to be born prematurely. Only 112 days left until my due date! WOW!

How have I been feeling?... Great except when at work. My rib hurts SO bad when I'm sitting all day at work that my stomach even sometimes goes numb. Crazy!

What am I looking forward to?... Meeting a few girl friends tomorrow night to celebrate another one of us getting pregant and then another big get together with my Nest girls on Sunday.

Any weight gain?... Oh, I'm sure but I didn't weigh myself this morning.

How big is baby?... PGA weighs a little over a pound and is about 8 1/2 inches long—the size of a banana. His skin becomes less translucent as pigment is deposited, and it looks wrinkly because his body is making his skin more quickly than it makes the fat to pad underneath it. His unique hand- and footprints are forming. You may feel jumps as he has bouts of hiccups. In fact, it may seem like the baby is in perpetual motion. Some babies now kick in response to sounds and touch from outside the womb. Encourage your partner to talk to the baby, and see if she kicks in response!

His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

How is my body changing??... Your uterus is about 1 1/2 to 2 inches above your belly button, and your bump is definitely apparent and hard to disguise! You may be suffering from heartburn, muscle aches, sore feet, fatigue, and dizziness. Call your care provider if you feel dizzy often or if you faint; it may be a sign of anemia. Dizziness if often caused by low blood sugar or by standing up too fast. Rise slowly, and eat regularly.

Sleep?... Pretty good now that I know NOT to sleep on my right side, it causes numbness in my legs and arms. I like my right side too but I'm learning to cope.

Health?... Still great, no issues to report. YAY!

Cravings?... Hmmm, nothing this week, I don't think.

Food Aversions?... None which makes me a VERY happy girl!

New Senstation?... Feeling Preston kick A LOT now. It's amazing and I love it! It's like his little reminder to me that he's doing okay in there. It brings a smile to my face every time!

Next appointment?... February 7th for my glucose test and Rhogam shot. I'm definitely not looking forward to either of those! I will fill you in on the Rhogam shot, maybe tomorrow.

I bought my ticket to NY for my family/friends shower! I cannot WAIT to go back home. I will be going alone which won't really be fun while flying but I'm actually some what excited to have the alone time with my Mom. It's been a while. It'll probably be cold and I'm not used to that. When it's 60 here, I think it's cold and it's been in the negatives back in NY.

Today we picked up the crib and got his bedding in the mail. I love them BOTH. They really exceed my expectations and it only makes me want to finish his nursery! It's so FUN! Buuuuut, I am trying to refrain from buying any thing more until after at least my Cali and NY showers. We'll see how well I do with that!

Here are some pictures of the crib, bedding and of course my belly!

The sticker will be coming off. I just didn't feel like doing it at the time. Crib came from JCPenney and we LOVE it!

This is a comforter that probably won't be used as one. Maybe it'll be a blanket we put on the floor before laying him down.

I really can't believe I am 6 months as of today! I feel like I look large but I don't feel this large YET!

Cry over spilled milk? What about a Kit Kat?

Tuesday morning I wake up with a swollen left hand and left ankle. I think to myself “nooooooo, this can’t be happening already, can it?” Luckily, we had an appointment that night to see Preston’s heart so I didn’t have to call my Midwife and ask if it was normal. I made sure to prop my feet up during the day at work and get up more often than not to make sure the blood was flowing good.

So, after work we head over for our appointment to make sure Preston’s heart looks good and they can see all 4 chambers of the heart. Last ultrasound, they weren’t able to get a good view of the whole heart. Luckily, he was cooperating this time and we got a GREAT view of it along with all of his other parts! It’s just SO amazing to watch that little guy moving around inside of me like he was. He was opening and closing his hands and wiggling his toes. Watching his toes wiggle was the best moment so far, I think, when it comes to the ultrasounds we’ve had. You could see each little toe perfectly.

As the tech was finishing up all the measurements she had to do, she switched it over to 3D/4D for a few minutes so we could see him better. WOW! It was amazing to get a glimpse of what our son might possibly look like. It blew us away! We got lots of pictures and she even gave us a CD of all of them! THAT was awesome especially so I could upload them to the computer and share them with family!

We then saw our Midwife after the ultrasound and she assured us the rib pain and swelling are normal. It was good to hear it’s normal but then again, I was hoping for a resolution on how to make them go away so I could get through my days without agonizing pain. Oh well.

Here he is....

His boy parts! There's no mistaking this child is a boy!

3D/4D picture of our boy! I think he's got his Daddy's nose!

Wednesday night we had our group class. These classes are supposed to take over for our regular visits so the regular visits are less. Especially with having a Midwife, she could possibly be at a birth while my appointment is supposed to be happening and then I would have to reschedule or wait for another Doctor to see me.

Anyways, the group is led by a Nurse Practitioner who I believe I know more than she does. We feel like it’s a total waste of time and even another couple said the same thing to us as we were leaving Wed. night. We’re starting to like some of the couples so we’ll stick it out plus we all get to bring our babies the last day of class in June so that’ll be fun! Surprisingly, out of the 6 couples, us and one other couple are having boys, the rest are girls.

Last night, I was lying on the couch with my feet propped up watching some TV. Daddy A was outside trying to figure out our irrigation system and Preston was kicking a ton so I lifted my shirt and I could see him kicking or punching me. My stomach would move a bunch. Daddy A came in and got to see it once but wasn’t able to feel him as he stopped moving, of course. He seems to be a bit stubborn. I wonder where he got that from?! Hehe

We didn’t feel like making anything for dinner so we ordered pizza, which we haven’t done in a while. I ate 2 pieces and then stopped hoping it would settle and I would get full. About 30 minutes after, I realized I wanted 1 more piece so I asked Daddy A to get me one. He looked at me like he was in shock. I asked if he ate my pizza and he said “I ate one piece but I left you two for work tomorrow.” Ok, I was a little upset as I was still hungry but let it go. Then a little while later Daddy A was getting me some water so I asked if he would get me my Kit Kat from the fridge as well if he hadn’t eaten it. I said that jokingly as he’s done it before but I told him not to eat my stuff anymore. He laughed and said he did so I asked if he was joking and he said no. Instantly I began to cry. I couldn’t help it. The tears just started flowing and I couldn’t stop them. He thought I was laughing until I started talking and then he realized I was crying.  He apologized but it didn’t matter to me. I said “I know it’s dumb of me to cry but you eat my stuff ALL the time.”

It had to be the hormones, I wouldn’t normally cry over a Kit Kat, I swear!

23 weeks

How have I been feeling?... Pretty good except my right rib is KILLING me whenever I sit. Oh yes, this is fun especially because I sit for 8 hours a day at work. Also, my back hurts more along with my right hip. Oh, how fun. I do love experiencing this though and knowing I'm growing a little boy in there.

What am I looking forward to?... Tomorrow we get to see Preston again! YAY! I'm praying his heart looks perfect.

Any weight gain?... Yes, I weighed myself this morning and gained 5 more pounds but I don't know since when! haha So, total, I've gained 14 pounds which I think is "normal."

How big is baby?... Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

How is my body changing??... You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery.

Umm, yes, I'm finding my ankles aren't as "skinny" as they were. They aren't huge by any means and I don't think anyone else would notice but I do and I don't like it. Give me a huge belly and boobs, I just don't want to gain puffiness!

Sleep?... Last night was a BAD sleep night for me. My back was hurting and 2 hours after I fell asleep my right hip was in HORRIBLE pain. Once I flipped to my left side, I was fine. Thank God our bodies know how to tell us when we shouldn't be doing something or to switch up our positions. I still find myself on my back sometimes which isn't too uncomfortable yet but I can't stay in that position for long.

Health?... Still great, no issues to report. YAY!

Cravings?... Ice cream on Saturday night so after dinner, we went and got some Thrifty ice cream and it was AMAZING!!!

Food Aversions?... None which makes me a VERY happy girl!

New Senstation?... My nipples are tingling again. They must be getting themselves ready!

Next appointment?... TOMORROW!!!!! I will post pictures, don't worry!

We painted Preston's room yesterday and I ordered his crib today! It's becoming more and more real the closer it gets and the more we get to prepare for his arrival. It's still such a surreal feeling knowing we are bringing a human into this world. It's scary, exciting, nerveracking, thrilling, etc but we cannot WAIT!

Once we get the crib, I may order the bedding set so we can get it looking like a real room. That will be SO fun! And then we'll just be waiting for his arrival. Of course, with some other things in between! haha

I have to call the 2 hospitals we get to chose from and schedule our tours. I've heard GREAT things about the one near our house so I'm thinking that will be the one we'll go with but I'd still like to visit/see both of them to get my own opinion.

We still have a few things to do to the house before PGA arrives because I know once he does, we won't be doing house work/repairs for a while!

My ticket to Cali is bought for my joint shower with my Sister-in-law. YAY! Tickets to her wedding are bought also. Now, I just need to buy tickets to NY for March. THIS, I am SO excited for. I haven't been back in over a year now but it seems like longer than that. I can't wait to see my friends and family especially all in one place to celebrate my little miracle growing inside me! hehe

Ok, here are the pictures, I'll stop blabbering.

Look at how I looked at 5 weeks. Yes, I have to admit, I miss being this small and I look forward to getting there again....I was also very tan. WOW, I look pasty white in my new picture! HAHA

22 weeks

How have I been feeling?... Pretty good. My back is getting worse or should I say our bed is making my back worse. Our bed sucks and it really makes me mad. I bought it less than 5 years ago for $1200 and it was only good for about 6 months. So sad............
Other than that, I've been feeling pretty good, no nausea or headaches. YAY!

What am I looking forward to?... Umm, this week, not much. Next Tuesday is our next ultrasound to look at the 4 chambers of Preston's little heart. I can't wait to see him again and to see how much he's changed in 4 weeks. Also, gotta see the penis again to make sure he's still a boy! :-)

Any weight gain?... Oh, I'm sure but I forgot to weigh myself this morning. I think I'm starting to see it in my face and I don't like that! :-(

How big is baby?... At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash or a papaya) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Also, watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Sleep?... The last 2 nights I haven't been able to fall asleep fast and that is NEVER an issue for me. Still tossing and turning and I'm guessing that's not going to stop for the next 18 weeks.

Health?... Still great, no issues to report. YAY!

Cravings?... Chocolate maybe but I'm trying REALLY hard not to each much because of the caffeine.

Food Aversions?... None which makes me a VERY happy girl!

New Senstation?... My right rib has been hurting toward the top of it. I'm assuming it's from the expansion it is doing since PGA isn't up that high yet. It's not very fun, I will tell you that. I also think I had some Braxton Hicks today.....I was having period like cramping earlier in the day which have now gone away, thank God, I was starting to get worried. I made sure to drink a lot of water as being dehydrated can cause your uterus to contract and we do NOT want that yet. PGA needs to bake some more. hehe

Next appointment?... Next Tuesday, 1/11/11, for another ultrasound. YAY!

Daddy A and I went to Babies R Us yesterday and registered for our little guy. On our way there, Daddy A says "I think it's going to be a lot easier to register for a baby than a wedding." HA, little did he know how overwhelming it really could be. Luckily for him, I did a lot of research on the big ticket items before we got there so we were able to skip right over those. After about 2 hours, he was begging to leave. lol He did a great job and I'm proud/excited for what we have picked out for our little man. We're also registered at Amazon which doesn't have a ton of stuff on it but mostly bedding stuff and kellyscloset.com for cloth diapers which reminds me that I need to finish that.

I think we're going to buy our crib and changing table/dresser so we can get his room looking a little more like a nursery and leave other big ticket items for the Grandparents -to-be if they'd like to purchase those. I just can't WAIT for someone else to buy them for us! hehe

I'm starting to stress about daycare. I wish we had family here who could watch him rather than finding a complete stranger but what can we do? Nothing but look at the positives of it all. I'm doing a lot of research and even possibly looking at changing around our schedules for the first 2 years of his life so that we won't have to pay a sitter. That would mean not seeing eachother much but I guess that's what you do for the sacrifice of your children, right? I wish I could stay home even part time but I don't think my work would be ok with that and I'm not sure I'd be comfortable taking the paycut especially with a brand new house. Good news is that we have some time still to think about it and ask around.

Ok, enough, I know what you're all really here for and that's the picture. So, here ya go! :-)