33 Weeks

7 Weeks to go!

Actually it could really be anywhere from 5-9 weeks (if they let you go that long) as we learned in childbirth class....meaning anywhere from July 28th - August 27th. The majority of first time mothers go 10 days overdue, so we could be looking at August 23rd. 

Or course I'm not holding my breath for an early delivery, but July 28th seems VERY close!! I want MJ to keep cooking. I'm well aware I very well could go overdue since this is my first birth but by no means do I want to get anywhere near the end of August. My plan is as soon as August 1st rolls around I'm going to start doing whatever I can to help little man make his debut ;) .....whether it will work or not is another story. 

As I mentioned, we start childbirth class Sunday. Dave fell asleep within the first hour and half, I looked over to see his eyes rolling to the back of his head so I poked him and he gave me a death glare! His excuse was because we were sitting on couches and they had the A/C up. At least after that he paid attention and actively participated by giving me back massages. 

Class was a bit overwhelming, actually at the time it was fine but all the information on real vs false labor and when to call the doctor along with the birth of my new niece made me unable to sleep Sunday night. I woke up at 1:30am and did not fall back asleep at all, I basically just freaked myself out with thinking about every little symptom in the world of whether or not I could be in labor at any given time. I know we'll be fine but of course at the time when I would try not to think about so I could fall back to sleep I would just end up thinking about it more.   

33 weeks 2 days

How Far Along: 33 Weeks 2 days

How Big is Baby? Baby's now the size of an durian fruit! Things are heating up inside as well: Baby may grow up to a full inch this week alone, and his brain is developing like crazy. Pretty soon, he'll be able to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing. Also, his bones are hardening, and he's started to keep his eyes open when he's awake.

Maternity Clothes: Starting to grow out of some of my early maternity pants, it's quite hilarious to watch a very pregnant lady trying to squeeze IN and OUT of a slightly small pair of pants, looks like I might have to go shopping again for these last two months. Still able to rotate between maternity and some non-maternity shirts and dresses.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: They are getting much stronger, he is one powerful little man! They aren't just flutters or little rolls across the belly anymore, these are major karate chops to my lady parts, his butt in my ribs and kicks that take my breath away. These movements actually make me stop whatever I'm doing do be like "Damn kid that hurt, what is going on in there?" He's definitely making it known he is in there and wants some attention! I can only imagine what that is going to be like when he's out in the real world ;)

Belly button in or out? It’s mostly still in although I think sometimes it’s a halfy…but then again I can’t really see it.

What I miss: Nothing! Okay sleeping comfortably, not waking up just to turn over.

Food Cravings: Soda and ICEE’s!

Aversions: Not currently....

Sleep: Finding a comfortable position to sit in, let alone sleep in sure is becoming more of a challenge.

Symptoms: Back pain mainly at night. Swelling of my feet, ankles and legs but mostly on my right side. Occasional headaches. Exhaustion. Lack of sleep. Lack of good sleep. One large and in charge belly :)

Labor Signs: Lots of Braxton Hicks! They keep coming and going but sadly that is no indication of anything. 

Best Moment(s) this week: My niece being born on Saturday and getting to meet her!

Milestones: Starting Childbirth Classes. We might have a name! The last few weeks Dave has been pretty adamant about one of the names on our list, it of course is one of the names I really do love (since I picked it!). Even though he has gone back and forth to each of the 3 names on our list since we found out MJ is a boy, it seems like this time it might be a keeper.......but of course I'm still not telling yet!

What I'm looking forward to: Next appointment is on Monday. My best friend Roxie's bridal shower this weekend.

Stella Ann!!

Yesterday I became an Auntie again!!!

Jordan, Stephanie and Carter welcomed little Miss Stella Ann into the world ON her due date, June 23rd at 10:10pm, weighing in at 7lbs 9oz and 19.5 inches long.

I am so thrilled to have a healthy and beautiful baby niece!

She is absolutely gorgeous and ohhh so little! Lucky for Dave and I we had our first birth class today which was on the hospitals campus so we were able to go visit her right after we got done with class and spend some good quality time with them. 

I'm so proud of Steph for following through on her birth plan of having a natural labor and birth!! She is so strong and amazing!    

Can't wait to see the whole family together and cuddle little Stella again.

Progress

I finally made a list of the things I would really like to accomplish around the house and other things that are need to be done before MJ arrives. Best of all, I've actually been able to accomplish some of them and have begun to cross them off....that's what I love most about lists, crossing things off (that's really why I like making them!)!!

House

• Finish organizing basement storage room
• Collect clothes and items for Goodwill/Salvation Army
• Re-grout/caulk master shower
• Back splash in kitchen
• Organize garage
• Organize office/guest bedroom 
• New batting and re-line childhood blanket
• Wipe down baseboards – Kitchen, Living Room, Hallway, Office, Nursery, Hall bathroom, Master bathroom, Master bedroom, Mud Room
• Order front of house storm door
• Steam clean carpets
• Organize basement bedroom
• Prepare Make Ahead Freezer Meals – meatloaf, casseroles, lasagna, enchiladas, chili, breakfast sandwiches
• Buy Carbon Monoxide detector
• Order remote training collars for dogs
• Stock up on household supplies or items needed after birth - Ex: toilet paper, nursing pads, shampoo, contact solution, dog food, groceries, etc.

Nursery/Baby

• Confirm details of maternity leave
• Hang curtains
• Order dresser
• Hang alphabet letters
• Hang paper lanterns
• Put up book shelves
• Order crib conversion kit
• Buy small side table
• Wash all 0-3 month clothes, onesies, blankets, socks, towels, burp cloths, wash clothes
• Wash and prep cloth diapers, inserts and wipes
• Make list for hospital bag
• Pack hospital bag @ 35 weeks - July 8th-ish
• Register for breastfeeding class
• Find a pediatrician
• Start baby scrapbook
• Purchase extra car seat base AND install in both cars
• Buy anything off registry needed right away
• Write “Thank You” notes for shower gifts - in progress
• Schedule a pregnancy massage
• Buy extra clothes hamper
• Purchase a new camera
• Purchase nursing bra/tanks
• Order rest of CD supplies needed – test water stripes, detergent, diaper rash cream, wet bags
• Infant CPR class

Last week I went through our cloth diaper stash, which I prepped and washed everything!
Even though we won't be using them right away or at least easing out way into them I wanted them to be ready. The diapers are all stuffed with newborn inserts, ready to be pulled out. All the extra inserts and cloth wipes are ready to go as well!. I still have a few more washes for the organic cotton inserts and prefolds since those need to be washed multiple times before they are fully absorbent, but we're almost there!

Dave actually showed of the printed diapers I bought just for him to his dad last night....I take this as a good sign! I know he's still hesitant about using them but I was pretty excited when he pulled them out of the drawer all by himself to show them off. :)

The nursery to progressing!! It seriously is my favorite room in the house, I just wish the glider and ottoman would come in sooner than later so I can sit comfortably in there to hang out.

I got the paper lanterns hung! I ordered them from paperlanternstore.com, which were really cheap and had fast shipping.

The dresser came in last Friday so my awesome father helped me pick it up on Monday, then both my parents unpacked it and moved it into the nursery since Dave was gone all week with baseball. I started getting stuff put away in it and even hung up the alphabet letters I made above it.

I'll get more pictures (and betters ones at that) taken of the nursery once it's fully finished.

32 weeks

Another week's gone by and overall I'm starting to feel HUGE!

Okay I've felt big for a while now but sometimes I think I just can't get any bigger. But I know I will. Then in a few more weeks I'll think the same thing and know I will still get bigger. It's definitely a challenge getting accustomed to a growing waistline at such a fast rate.

We definitely still have some growing to come though.

This thing, called the bump, just keeps getting in the way lately.

I find myself opening doors into my belly. Bumping it into things. I avoid any shoes that tie or sandals that buckle, basically only flip flops now. I can barely paint my toes (I can but its VERY uncomfortable), it's really not a pretty site when I try so I think monthly pedicures will officially start, darn! I spill drinks and food all over it. I have to sit back further from my desk at work otherwise MJ will push up against my belly and the desk to make me feel more uncomfortable.   



How Far Along: 32 weeks


How Big is Baby? Baby's now the size of a squash!  Ready or not, baby's getting ready to emerge. He's probably in the head-down position by now, with his bottom facing up. This is the comfiest way for him body to fit in your increasingly cramped womb and will make him eventual exit (only a few months away now!) much easier. (If he's still head-up, don't panic -- there's still time for a flip before birth.) - No need to worry here MJ's been head down for quite a few weeks now!

Maternity Clothes: All maternity pants, still able to rotate between maternity and non-maternity shirts and dresses.


Gender: BOY!


Movement:  All the time, he is one strong, active and powerful little man! He loves kicking his mom in her ribs.


Belly button in or out? I feel like it's starting to be a halfy, like half in and half out but I can't see it unless I look in a mirror.


What I miss: I'm not complaining nor would I change anything....but boy do I miss being able to sleep comfortably through the night. I wake up every time I have to rool


Food Cravings: Soda!


Aversions: Not currently....


Symptoms: Dave recently informed me I snore. And apparently it's not just a little snore, I'm loud! But I don't hear it so it doesn't bother me :)  Exhaustion. Backache mainly just at night getting in and out of bed. Swelling. Out.of.Breath....I can just be sitting at my desk and all of a sudden get totally winded.


Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks, some days I only have a few the entire day and some days I have a lot to the point I start to get worried but they eventually go away.


Best Moment(s) this week: Our dresser came in so the nursery is almost complete! Dave and I had a date night on Saturday, we went to dinner and a movie. We ate dinner at Chili's, which the waitress forgot to put our order in after she put in our appetizer so the manager took care of our entire bill...score! We saw Snow White and the Huntsman, then stopped at a friends 30th birthday party on the way home. We celebrated Father's day with both our dad's. I had my bi-weekly doctor's appointment yesterday, heard little man's heartbeat at 147bpm, they're guessing he's probably around 4lbs right now although it sometimes feels like he's much bigger!


Milestones: Having less than 2 months to go!!

What I'm looking forward to: Starting Birth Class on Sunday

Are they Ready?

This morning as I was getting ready for work, this is where I found Maddux....

Chillin in MJ's room!

  

It looks like he's just waiting for him.....ohhh so cute!

  

Obviously this is the NOT the chair we will be keeping in the nursery, it's from the office but I brought it in because I was tired of sitting on the floor and I like to hang out in MJ's room too! I usually sit and read to him while the dogs hang out on the floor.

  

I have a feeling I'm going to be finding Maddux here a lot once the real comfy rocker finally comes in and MJ arrives. I think he's going to he MJ's little protector

Last night was laid in bed to read. Little Miss Waveland came with. After a while she got bored and wanted attention so she rolled up into me for back scratches and booty rubs. Then she decided to cuddle with her soon to be brother for the longest time.

Excuse my bare belly, when I weat non-maternity t-shirts they always seem to rolll up!

She laid her head right on top of my belly. MJ was quite active too.

He would kick her, she would move her head back. He would kick her again, she would move her head up. He would kick her again and she would her head back again. No matter what she stayed right on top of him, like they were playing. I know they are for sure going to be friends!

Doggy training officially begins this weekend. In preparation for MJ's arrival that it! 

  Wish me luck....I'm going to try to get their dislike of the doorbell under control, along with Waveland's barking and Maddux's over protective and dislike for "strangers" coming over.

31

How Far Along: 31 Weeks

How Big is Baby? Baby's now the size of an pineapple! Baby's going through major brain and nerve development these days. His irises now react to light, and all five senses are in working order. (He won't pick up anything from his nose until after birth, though -- smell is transferred through air, not amniotic fluid.)
Out of breath? Your still-growing uterus is squeezing your lungs, making it impossible for them to fully expand like they used to. Things will improve once baby drops, probably in the next few weeks. Until then, sit up straight with your shoulders back to get a little relief.
Maternity Clothes: All maternity pants, still able to rotate between maternity and non-maternity shirts and dresses.
Gender: BOY!
Movement: All the time! I wish I knew how big he actually is measuring. He still is lovin' hanging out on my right-hand side, he pushes his butt and back up against my stomach and I swear there are times he is going to bust out! It can be a bit uncomfortable and I try to push him back in. Dave yells at me when I do it, thinking he’s going to come out with a deformed head so I have to remind him it’s only his butt I’m pushing on. He has now also began kicking the hell out of my side, just below the ribs.
 Sleep: I can't seem to get enough of it, lol! I'm always tired, if not feeling exhausted. I felt like I could have slept all day Sunday, but that could have been because I wore myself out from Saturday…cleaning the entire house, doing load after load of laundry, getting my hair cut/colored, putting up MJ’s curtains…all along with the hot and humid weather. It kicked my butt!

MJ about to bust out of my belly!

Belly button in or out? Still in but it's only a matter of time now before it pops out.
What I miss: Nothing!
Food Cravings: Soda! I recently came to the realization I’ve actually been craving soda (and having it) for a very long time! I use to drink it only occasionally but it just always sounds soo good to have one every day. And I almost always do!! I should probably go back and add it to all the previous weeks….
Aversions: Not currently....
Symptoms: Sciatic nerve pain is starting to come back again. Headaches have begun. Back and rib pain. Heartburn.
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks! Feeling them quite often the longer I'm on my feet and standing in the kitchen baking or doing stuff around the house.
Best Moment(s) this week: Finally ordered the dresser. I’ve been contemplating finding an old used one to refurnish and repaint but I just haven’t found the time or energy to go looking for one, so I gave it to buying the one that matches the crib.
Milestones: Making it to a SINGLE. DIGIT. WEEKS. for the countdown!!
What I'm looking forward to: Next doctor appt is next Monday and getting to hearing MJ's heartbeat

Thirty Weeks

Only 10 weeks to go!!

Overall I'm feeling good but definitely can feel the exhaustion setting in the last week or so, more so in the morning than at night though. Seeing how the weeks are quickly getting smaller I keep thinking about all the things we still need to do. Which reminds me that I really need to sit down to write down an updated list of all these things running through my mind all hours of the day and night we need to get done around the house and baby related.

How Far Along: 30 Weeks

How Big is Baby? Baby's now the size of an cucumber? (according to the Bump and a head of cabbage by BabyCenter).  As baby's skin smoothes out, his brain just keeps getting more wrinkled. All those grooves and indentations increase surface area, meaning more room for that oh-so-essential brain tissue. He's also adding some brawn -- his grip is now strong enough to grasp a finger.

Maternity Clothes: All maternity pants, still able to rotate between maternity and non-maternity shirts and dresses.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: Daily and I love every single minute of it!

Sleep: It's getting more uncomfortable as the night goes on, usually just toss and turn all night from one side to the other. My back gets pretty sore as the night goes on laying down but I'm still sleep fairly good. I usually pass out within a few minutes of laying down and have been able to easily fall back asleep when I have to get up in the middle of the night. So I really can't complain!

Belly button in or out? Okay it's only a matter of time now before it pops out, it's getting that shallow!

What I miss: Nothing!

Food Cravings: Thinking about Mexican!

Aversions: Not currently....

Symptoms: Sciatic nerve pain. Headaches had begun. Back pain. Heartburn, especially after laying down for a long period of time.
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks! Feeling them quite often the longer I'm on my feet and standing in the kitchen baking. Luckily only a few more weeks of baking orders and I'm taking a few months break.

Best Moment(s) this week: My work baby shower which was on Friday. Getting one more thing accomplished in the nursery, hanging paper lanterns. Bi-weekly doctor appointment and getting to hear his heartbeat, 156 bpm today!

Milestones: Making it to 30 weeks!

What I'm looking forward to: Getting to hearing MJ's heartbeat every two weeks right now.

Starting to feel fairly large....and afraid of what 10 more weeks will look like ;)

Work Shower

My awesome co-workers through MJ and I a baby shower on Friday!

It was so sweet of them and they were so soooo generous, giving us our swing AND activity floor gym. We also got a few other smaller gifts such as a super soft blanket, toys, pj's, bibs, health care kit, a book, an outfit and some cute little onesies! And of course LOTS of delicious food. OMG there so much food, I was completely stuffed for the rest of the day!  

Tera did the majority of all the planning, she's VERY excited about MJ to put it mildly ;) We've known each other for over 5 years now and have worked together 3 different times (we just keep following each other!). She's helped me call daycare's, brings me lunch, makes sure MJ is getting fed, and talks to him all time (especially since we sit right across from each other at work). So I know she's been thinking about this work shower for a very long time and pretty excited about. I'm pretty blessed to have such a great co-worker!!!

It's no surprise that she got MJ these adorable onesies....and added onto one of them. LOL! :)

After opening our gifts I just knew Dave would want to put them together that night once we both were home....and I was correct!

He got to work on the swing right away and tested it out. He's just so cute!!

He's all done.

We are pretty darn blessed with such generous people in our lives I just cannot believe it! This little guy is so loved and he's not even here yet.