35/35

It's my 35/35!!

I'm 35 weeks along and have 35 days left to go!!!

Woooooo hooooo!!!!

34 Weeks

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.


* How far along?: 34 weeks, 1 day.... 6 weeks left.... 41 days to go!

* Total weight gain: up 2 pounds since my last appointment 2 weeks ago-- for a total of 25 lbs

* How big is baby?: my books say around 19 3/4 inches long and almost 5 pounds!

* Maternity clothes?: yep... just bought a new pair of jeans and a sweater

* Stretch marks?: i know i said yes a couple of weeks ago, but it seemed to have disappeared... weird, i know... i guess it wasn't really a stretch mark i was seeing.... very happy about that!

* Sleep?: rolling over is rough and i wake up with achy hips from laying on them... feels like i'm getting a bed sore! can't get enough sleep though!

* Best moment this week?: i had a doctor's appointment this evening and saw my regular doctor (i haven't seen him since the very beginning b/c he told me to make appointments with all the other doctors in the group so i would at least have met them in case they happen to be the one on call when this little one decides to come) and i told him my concern about her being breech. he started telling me there is still time for her to flip around and then said, "well, let's go take a look!" and took me into the ultrasound room. i got so excited to see her again on the screen! unfortunately, she is still breech! i kind of had a feeling she was b/c of the kicks/pokes/punches i have been feeling. they are usually always in the same spots. i guess the big hard thing i have been feeling above my belly button is her head! i think i will be able to tell if she flips. the fact that she is still breech is not the greatest news, but seeing her again and hearing her heartbeat was the best moment this week!!

* Movement?: oh yes! lots of movement!

* Food cravings?: haven't been able to resist all the holiday sweets at work :) no real cravings lately

* Labor signs?: had some braxton hicks over a month ago that i forgot to mention but nothing since

* Belly button in or out?: still in but looks weird... i'm thinking it is going to stay in

* What I'm looking forward to: Christmas with my family!!

* Milestone: my doctor said tonight that if this little girl was born at this time, she would not require steroids that are normally given for immature lungs that premature babies need, would just need to stay a little longer in the hospital and would do wonderfully.... that doesn't mean i'm ready for her to come quite yet though but it was great news to hear she would be ok!

13 versus 33

Here's a comparison from 13 weeks until now- 33 weeks! It's amazing what has happened to my body in just 20 weeks!

Beware: below is a super duper close-up!
By the way, I think the stretch marks disappeared... or maybe I just can't see that part of my side any more :)

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Overall, I'm feeling really well. I'm starting to get slightly short of breath when running around at work and it's hard to bend over to pick things up when I drop them... which is all the time these days!! Turning over from side to side in bed is also becoming a chore as is getting up from the couch or bed. The baby is moving all the time now- I still find it fascinating watching her move from the outside! I hope she decides to flip soon while there's a little room in there! Hopefully I will get good news at my doctor's appointment next week!!!

Week 32

32 Weeks: Jicama
(what the heck is a jicama?? i wish they would pick normal foods that i've actually heard of)

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.


Whoa! The past 2 weeks have really flown by! Pretty soon Christmas will be here! I haven't even started my shopping yet... or put up the tree! That was on my list of things to do today, however after my doctor's appointment, lunch at Olive Garden (I'm in love with soup, salad & breadsticks) and a 2 1/2 hour nap... I'm thinking curling up in front of the fireplace with hot apple cider and a book sounds much better that getting frustrated putting up the tree. And it would be more fun if Albert was here to help me... so I think the tree will have to wait until Wednesday :)

Albert and I went to our 1st prenatal class over the weekend. We chose to take the "marathon" class all in one day instead of a going one night a week over a 6 week period due to our work schedules. The teacher of the class was wonderful and I wish we could afford to hire a doula, or midwife like her. We practiced different breathing techniques, sitting on birthing balls, timing contractions and tons more that although I loved learning, I have to admit kind of freaked me out. Just the thought of not knowing when this is all going to happen makes me a little nervous. I know Albert will be a great "coach" though and will help me get through it all. My plan as of now, it to go natural... for me, meaning no epidural, but I know plans can change quickly so I'm not set against anything, just going to try. As of now, Baby Mogul is still breech and that is also making me nervous as she has been throughout the pregnancy. I know there is plenty of time for her to flip but the space inside is also getting more and more cramped as time goes on. When I mentioned it to the doctor today, she said we will discuss it at my 36 week appointment.... so we have 4 weeks.... please little one... do a somersault or something. I have been reading ways to help her do this: doing headstands in a pool, lie on the floor and walk your feet up a wall and then put pillows under your lower back, taking a warm bath and then putting a bag of frozen vegetables on the abdomen where her head is, accupressure, going to a chiropractor and many more. Sooo, I know much of this sounds crazy, but I did try kneeling on the couch and put my head down on the floor. After less than 10 seconds, I had to get up because I thought my head was going to explode from the rush of blood. I think I'll wait before trying anymore of these :) If anyone knows any tricks- let me know!

How far along: 32 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: +23 pounds... I got a "look" from the doctor today but she didn't say anything (my books say anywhere between 21 and 29 pounds at this point is normal so I don't feel so bad)

Maternity clothes: Yep

Stretch marks: Ummmm.... do I really have to answer? I think I see the beginnings of some on my side :(

Sleep: Not great. It is hard to turn from side to side and I woke myself up multiple times overnight from my heavy, congested breathing. The teacher of the class we went to says this is normal and it will most likely get worse... poor Albert!

Best moment this week: Past 2 weeks: going home for Thanksgiving, baby shower with my friends from back home, having Dawn confirm the baby is going to be a girl and seeing the hair on the back of her head on the sono! Although she didn't cooperate with getting some 3D pics, it was great to see her again-- thanks Dawn!!

Movement: Lots and lots! I love it when I can see movement from the outside!

Food cravings: Soup, Salad & Breadsticks from Olive Garden! We went today for the 2nd time in less than a week

Gender: Girl!! =)

Belly button in or out?: In- and I'm thinking it's going to stay that way

What I miss: getting up easily from lying/sitting down

What I am looking forward to: Getting the wooden letters in the mail that I ordered that spell her name. I'm planning to hang them somewhere in her room, probably above the crib..... yes, we picked a name but are keeping it a secret until she arrives!

Weekly Wisdom: Still trying to drink enough water

Milestones: Making it to month 8! Only 8 weeks to go!

30 Weeks!!!

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from his face (normal adult vision is 20/20).

How far along: 30 weeks today! Only 10 more to go!

Total weight gain/loss: +18 lbs

Maternity clothes: Mostly... but also just buying regular clothes in bigger sizes

Stretch marks: no

Sleep: having a hard time getting comfortable... using lots of pillows!

Best moment this week:

Movement: feeling lots of kicks really low... i wonder if that means she is still breech?

Food cravings: hmmm.... no real cravings lately (for those of you wondering, i did get my liver and onions fix... my wonderful husband took me out for some last week and didn't even make any comments while I enjoyed it!)

Gender: still a girl... i hope! many people have told me they were told it was girl, but was actually a boy!

Belly button in or out?: still in but it looks funny

What I miss: not getting leg cramps, not getting daily nose bleeds, sleeping on my back

What I am looking forward to: Thanksgiving-- seeing my family and all the yummy food & my baby shower with my friends this weekend!

Here's a couple of pictures I took after work tonight:

Woo hoo!!! I passed!

So I found out this morning that I passed my 1 hour glucose test I took on Monday- it's the one where they check for gestational diabetes. For some reason, I was really nervous about the results and am now much relieved. The blood work did show that I'm slightly anemic though. It's not bad enough that I need to take an extra supplement but I do need to increase the iron intake in my diet. The nurse was telling me some foods that are high in iron and one thing she mentioned was liver. When she said it she kind of scrunched up her nose and looked at me. You can probably imagine her face when I said, "Oh, I love liver!" She was shocked! It's actually been quite a while since I've had any. So, who wants to come over and go out for liver with me? :) I don't especially like cooking it myself, although I used to in college. Albert doesn't even like eating next to me at a restaurant when I do order it! Maybe I'll just have to take it to-go some night he is working.

Ok- enough about that... nothing else exciting is going on. I'm getting excited to go back home for Thanksgiving in 2 weeks!!

84 days to go...

3rd trimester here I am.... I made it!!!

*How far along? 28 weeks

* Total weight gain: +16 pounds.... my appetite had definitely increased recently!

* How big is baby? should be about 2 1/2 pounds and 14.8 inches long... about the size of a chinese cabbage (whatever that looks like)

* Maternity clothes? pants definitely, but still wearing some of my regular shirts & sweaters

* Stretch marks? nope

* Sleep? loving it!

* Best moment this week? enjoying the beautiful weather this past weekend with my husband!

* Movement? started feeling more frequent movements this week after not feeling much for a couple of weeks. i notice them more when i'm in a sitting position and when i drink cold water.

* Food cravings? no real "cravings" still.... but i've noticed my chocolate intake has definitely increased

* Labor signs? no, thank goodness... just sciatic pain that started last week

* Belly button in or out? still in, not sure if it will pop out or not

* What I miss: coffee, tea, sweet'n low, cherry coke, deli sandwiches

* What I'm looking forward to: hopefully hearing at the end of the week that i passed my glucose test today!

* Milestone: making it to the 3rd trimester!!!

Sweet November

Another beautiful November day!!! After church, we decided to go downtown Naperville for lunch and then walked around the the shops and the Riverwalk. Here's a few pictures we took along the way!

(a bird's eye view of my feet)

A tribute to the Veterans

After all that walking, we stopped by Red Mango for a little something sweet and to rest. Yummy!!!

What a beautiful day!!!

We got up early today to go to the hospital for the tour of the units. We sat through a short power point presentation and then walked around the floors. We looked at the rooms in Labor & Delivery and Mother/Baby. For some reason, I thought they had rooms where you stayed in for the entire stay-- where you labor, give birth and then recover for a couple of days. But, about an hour after the birth, they move you to the mother/baby unit. So, just a little disappointed about that but I'm sure it's no big deal. I'm hoping to be there the minimum 2 days anyway. I was also looking forward to maybe laboring for a little bit in the bathtub (just thinking of those birthing shows on TV :) but they don't have tubs. Everything else looked wonderful though. They have a level 3 NICU and are affiliated with Children's Memorial Hospital.... I pray we don't need these services, but it's nice to know it is available if necessary. So, overall it was great to see the hospital and get to know a little bit of what to expect. Next month we are going to a more in-depth class about what to expect through the whole process... breathing/relaxation techniques, pain medication options and a whole lot more.

After the tour we came home, took a nap and then realized how gorgeous the weather was outside. To spend some time in the sun, I went on a long walk while Albert ran and then we met up and walked back home. I was so happy to be able to fit into some shorts I bought over the summer when we went to California! They aren't even maternity, but have an elastic band waist.

While I'm blogging and baking some brownies, Albert is riding his bike on some trails with a friend. I'm so glad we are both off work this weekend and are able to enjoy the weather!

My next doctor's appointment is on Monday-- I will be 28 weeks!! I will have the 1 hour glucose screening and another Rhogam shot... I feel like I've had so many shots lately... and I still get nervous everytime! I really hope the glucose test goes well 'cause I don't want to do the 3 hour one!

27 Weeks-- Only 90 Days Left!!!

Only 3 months until our little one is due to arrive!! I am getting really excited and a little nervous. We finished registering last week and I scheduled a couple prenatal classes at the hospital. We are going for a tour of the Labor/Delivery and Mother/Baby unit this Saturday. Besides that, nothing else too exciting is going on. I'm starting to feel a cold coming on so I'm going to go to bed early tonight and hopefully it will go away!

Albert said we had to take a picture, so here it is...

survey says...

This week, your baby weighs approximately 1 1/2 pounds. Her heart is beating so loudly that anyone who presses an ear to your belly can hear it. Her lungs are getting ready to take their first breath, and, though the sex of your baby was determined long ago, genital differentiation is now becoming complete. She can make a fist and reach her feet, and she may already exhibit a preference for her left or right hand.

How far along: 25 weeks, 2 days... 103 days to go! Almost down to double digits!

Total weight gain/loss: +12 lbs as of today's OB appointment... yikes!

Maternity clothes: yes, definitely need to get some winter clothes. my scrubs have been hiding a lot until this week and people are starting to notice. i wish i could find some green maternity scrub pants!

Stretch marks: none yet (fingers crossed)

Sleep: sleeping very well and loving the naps on my days off work

Best moment this week: hearing the heartbeat at the doctors office today (i still get excited everytime) and hearing everything is still looking great!

Movement: several times a day, becoming more and more frequent... loving it!

Food cravings: cookies... maybe that's why i've been gaining weight! i blame my mom for leaving 2 boxes of cookies here :)

Gender: still girl i hope :)

Belly button in or out?: still in but getting much shallower all of a sudden

What I miss: starting to miss coffee now that's its getting cold

What I am looking forward to: spending time with my hubby this weekend... it's his only weekend off this month!

Weekly Wisdom: drink lots and lots of water! it's hard at work being there for 12+ hours running around but i've learned i need to make time. i make several trips a day now for water and snack breaks!

I'm feeling even bigger than last week so I decided to post another picture. This isn't the greatest as I tried again to take it myself... sorry a little blurry!

I hope everyone is getting the flu shot! We have had 2 deaths at my hospital and it scares me soooo much! I got the regular vaccine 2 weeks ago and the H1N1 today!

24 Weeks

So here are a few pics from today that I tried to take myself :) I'm 24 weeks, 3 days today. I haven't noticed much change since 20 weeks, except for yesterday I noticed my belly button is starting to look different. I have still been feeling little pokes every once in a while but not too many big kicks.

Last week my mom and John came to visit for a few days and we had fun shopping around at Babies R Us, Baby Depot and Target. John decided he wanted to get us a pack 'n play so we shopped around and then found a great deal online. It was shipped, arrived on Tuesday and then Albert and I put it together last night. I love it! It's also a Chicco, like the stroller we got and in the same colors too. Thanks Mom & John!!!!

Above is a side view- a little organizer for diapers, etc

You can remove the toys hanging from the top and pull a changing station up from the side, which I think will come handy since we are keeping this downstairs. We will have somewhere to put the baby down while we are downstairs doing things and a place to change her. The changer folds down to the side when not in use. It also comes with music and vibration- and it can even be controlled with a remote control!

Getting started on the baby's room

We got the crib and I can't wait to get started decorating the baby's room! We are going to use the loft for her room to start out with and see how it goes. I still want to keep the 2nd bedroom as a guest room. A good friend of mine from work gave us this crib as well as some other things that she no longer needs. I am so thankful for all the things I have gotten! Here are a few pictures of Albert putting it together yesterday. It is so weird to walk up the stairs and see a crib sitting there!

It took a while but we finally figured it out!

My little papaya kicked me today!!!

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.

How far along?: 21 weeks, 6 days.... Day 138.... 127 days left!

Total weight gain: 6 lbs

How big is baby?: weighed 14 ounces at doctors appointment last Wednesday

Maternity clothes?: Oh yes... none of my pants fit anymore. I've been buying larger size shirts

Stretch marks?: I've been loading on the lotion and stretch mark cream... none yet!

Best moment this week? Getting yet another ultrasound at the doctors office. I have had a total of 5 so far... one at each appointment and one from my cousin. This was the the appointment where they were supposed to tell me the sex but little one was crossing her legs as tight as can be. I'm so thankful Dawn got a good view or I would be going crazy right now.

Movement?: I have been feeling little flutters since 20 weeks but just today I felt the first real kicks! I was sitting on the couch and all of a sudden felt like there was a boxing match going on in there. I got Albert's attention and we actually saw movement from the outside!!!

Food cravings?: Still not really having cravings... Albert is working tonight so I decided to get Papa John's pizza... I just didn't feel like going to the grocery store or cooking! It's been a few years since I've had Papa John's and I forgot how good it is. Yum!

Labor signs?: No

Belly button in or out?: Still in, but definitely more shallow.

What I miss: Kara

What I'm looking forward to: Feeling more kicks and getting started setting up the room in the loft-- I hope to get the crib this week!

Halfway There!!!

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

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Woohoo!! I'm halfway through the pregnancy already! I can't believe it! 20 week already?! 5 months! I'm definitely starting to "feel" more pregnant as my belly is growing. I haven't felt any movement yet... I don't think anyway. Here are some pictures from this morning. (Albert declined to have his bump picture taken)

I think I'm going to go shopping today and start to get an idea of what I need to register for. Last time I went to Babies R Us, I was completely overwhelmed! I'm hoping they can help me or have a list of the "esssentials."

My first big purchase for the baby!!

After much research, I bought a stroller/infant car seat travel system! I wanted to get something gender neutral so we can use it again (for the 4 more I'm having :) haha!

It is a Chicco Cortina Keyfit 30 Travel System... I chose this one b/c of the very good reviews and the car seat weight limit is 30 lbs as opposed to most that are 22 lbs... so it will last a little longer. I found a good deal online with no tax and free shipping and cost much less than in the stores. I did go and see it in person though at Babies R Us before purchasing it. I'm hoping to get it sometime this week!!