Lily at 8 weeks

Stats...
...weight 13 lbs 9 0z.  That's up 4 lbs since last month!!!  Lily is 95% on weight
...height 23 1/4 inches.  She's grown 2 1/4 inches since her 2 week appt and currently in the 85% on height
...Lily has almost outgrown all of her 0-3 months clothes!!!  Her little legs are getting too long for the onsies!
...next appt on Jan 10th, her 4 month checkup!

Eating...
...Lily is exclusively breastfeeding!  Mama is so proud that she is gaining weight like a champ!!!

Sleeping...
...Lily is co-sleeping with mommy and daddy.  We have weighed the risks and read about the benefits and feel that it is the best arrangement for our family right now.  Lily is still sleeping 2-3 hours at a time, with some 4 hour stints at night.  Some days she will only nap for a half hour, hour and be up 2 hours at a time.
We've been able to maintain our routine of getting bed between 9-10 and falling asleep around 11.  Last night Lily was a little fussy (since her 2 month vacinations, she been a bit fussier :( She feel asleep around 12 and slept until 5am.  Yay for mommy!!!
Lily continues to be a very active sleeper, grunting, moaning, sometimes a yelp!  We watch her as she sleeps and her eyes flutter and roll, she's a dreamer for sure!!!

Exploring...
...Lily is becoming very aware of her surroundings!  She noticed Sabrina (our cat) for the first time last week!  She smiled and stared for bit before the cat became impatient waiting for me to pet her!!!  Lily loves the toys hanging from her carseat, she stares at them and sometime reaches out and hits them!  Still loves the Mamaroo and looking at the balls, again sometimes reaching out to hit them.
Lily has started making lots of noises the past few weeks.  She 'talks' to the bird on the curtain, the balls on the Mamaroo and us quite often.  She loves hearing us imitate her noises!

Family Traditions

Growing up there were few 'traditions' in my family.  My parents, sister and I moved to Honolulu when I was 7 years old, and while I'm sure there were family traditions we participated in prior to the move, sadly I do not remember them.  When we moved to Hawaii, we tried to start a few traditions in our new home, such as spending Christmas day at the beach (because, why not ;-).  Now that I have my own family and by my own sentimental nature, I think it is important to establish our own family traditions.
One of my family traditions is visiting the Pumpkin Patch around Halloween.  This year we were thrilled to take Lily along, even if she did sleep the entire time!

last year, 2011

Another family tradition I am looking forward to sharing with our Lily is Thanksgiving.  We hold Thanksgiving dinner at our house.  This year the entire family is joining us... 

Lily at 4 weeks

I cannot believe how fast these last 4 weeks have gone by!  This past month has been wonderful, overwhelming, frustrating and amazing!

Stats...
...weight 9 lbs 9.7oz at 3 weeks and 3 days.  Lily had lost a little over 10% of her body weight by 1 week, down to 8 lbs.  By her 2 week appt she was up to 8 lbs 15 oz.
...height 21 inches at her 2 week appt.  Lily was 19.5 inches at birth.
...LIly has outgrown most of her newborn clothes and is now wearing 0-3 months.
...next appt on Nov 9th, her 2 month checkup!

Eating...
...Lily is nursing like a champ these days!  We had some difficulty out of the gate because mommy has flat nips.   Our Doula suggested nipple shields, which we used for 3 weeks to help with feeding.  It only took Lily about 3 days to transition off the shield to bare nip.  Now that she is off the shield she is feeding and sleeping more frequently.

Sleeping...
...Lily is now sleeping 2-3 hours at a time, with some 4 hour stints at night.  She is usually up for an hour to 3 hours at a time.
We've been able to get into a good night time routine this past week.  Lily comes to bed with mommy and daddy between 9-10pm.  We watch t.v. and Lily gets a good feeding in and usually falls asleep sometime around 11pm.  She stirs a little during the night, and I get up to change her sometime around 2-3am and again between 5-6am.  She barely wakes fully during these times, and I nurse her a little after her changing just to get her fully back to sleep.
Lily is a very active sleeper, she grunts and sometimes laughs in her sleep... we think she is quite the dreamer!!!
We're co-sleeping right now, which works for us.  With Z being back to work, Lily can stir a little during the night which wakes me without a full blown cry fit.  We hope to transition her to the bassinet/ crib within the next few months, but for now we're just rolling with it!

Exploring...
...this past week & half Lily has become much more alert to her surroundings.  She enjoys looking at the curtains beside her changing table (black/ white print of trees and birds).  She also enjoys looking at the balls above her Mamaroo, also black/ white prints.  Lily is starting to smile more frequently now.  She is a very happy girl!  Lily loves bath time and I often get a couple of good smiles out of her.  Lily grunts and coos a little now.

Birth Story

My amazing hubby SoggyStargazer wrote up our Birth Story from his perspective a few weeks back, which was amazing to read!  I started feeling that I needed to put in all into my own words as well.  I have so much I want to express and share about our experience that it seems almost impossible to convey how utterly perfect it all was!

My hubby and I spent a lot of time over the 9 months reading, asking questions, and deciding that we wanted to try for a natural childbirth (no epidural, no narcotics, no interventions).  We hired a Doula, and attended classes to help us with coping through the labor pains. We created a birth plan and shared it with our OB. But we were very realistic in knowing that rarely do things go according to plan, so we prepared ourselves for alternatives and knew that however our birth played out we would not be surprised by any necessary interventions/ procedures.

A moment of honesty, clarity or just plain insanity!

I wrote this post a month before our daughter, Lily was born. I never felt it was complete, but after reading it again I felt it was worth posting.


I have to admit, I have really enjoyed being pregnant!  Now that this pregnancy is nearing the end, I am a little saddened by the fact that I won't be pregnant any longer.  Even though the past few weeks have left me feeling 'I'm so over being pregnant', the uncomfortableness, the lack of more than 4 hours of sleep at a time - I have cherished every moment during this pregnancy!
I really started thinking in the past few days what not being pregnant means... Baby time!  That I am going to be a mama, that there will be this new being in the world - one which will be my responsibility (along with Z's) to raise and mold and shape into an amazing person!  THAT freaks me out a little!!!  Don't get me wrong, I wasn't one of these women who just wants to be pregnant and doesn't think about what happens next - I do want to be a mother and raise a family and all that it entails!  I think you just get caught up in the moment of being pregnant, of working full time, of planning for when baby arrives, that you forget about the actual presence of a baby!
For a while now, it has just been Z and I!  And I love our moments together, just us two.  In a few short weeks, it'll be 'just us two' plus one!  I'm both thrilled and nervous about how this addition will affect our relationship!  I am excited to see Z as a daddy, I know he will be wonderful and the thought makes my heart swell!  But there is also this small part of me that doesn't want to share him!  I think about how raising a child will change both of us, and am excited to embark on this journey together and apprehensive at the same time!

Our Birth Story...

I have tried to make time in the past two weeks to put together our birth story... between feedings, diaper changes, and just trying to get some sleep!  My amazing husband posted our birth story over on his blog, SoggyStargazer.  I think you'll find that his memory of the event is much clearer than mine would be ;-)

40 weeks + 6 days!!!

It's a.........

.. GIRL!!!

40 weeks

How far along: 40 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 to 22 inches, 7 lbs! The size of a watermelon! I think baby is around 8+ lbs now!

Sleep: no changes from last week, up every hour

Maternity Clothes: no changes

Food cravings: watermelon! Fitting! ;-)

Food aversions: no changes

Symptoms I have: bruised feeling pelvis, sore back, just uncomfortable all over...but I know baby is worth the aches!

Doctor’s Appointment: every Friday! This weeks appt showed that I was a loose 1 cm, 0 effacement. Ultrasound showed that bany has plenty of amniotic fluid!   

Movement: Baby is still so very active!  Keeping me up nights ;-) movements are very strong!

Belly Button: no change, so close to popping out all the way, but not quite!

Gender: the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:  Meeting baby!!!!

Total weight gained as of 40 weeks: 33 lbs

39 weeks

How far along: 39 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 to 22 inches, 7 lbs! The size of a watermelon!   Based on our last ultrasound, and the OB's predictions.... I think baby is close to 8lbs now!

Sleep: Baby has dropped lower... I've been up every hour the past two nights :(

Maternity Clothes: no changes

Food cravings: no changes, still craving chocolate and fruit!  Mostly watermelon!!! Ha!

Food aversions: no changes

Symptoms I have: Pelvis still feels bruised, uncomfortable to get up and move around because baby is settled low in my pelvis!

Doctor’s Appointment: another appt tomorrow... hoping for some progress (dilation, effacement - please :-)   

Movement: Baby is still so very active!  Keeping me up nights ;-)

Belly Button: no change, so close to popping out all the way, but not quite!

Gender: the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:  Meeting baby, finding out if we'll have a baby boy or girl!  Can't wait!!!!

Total weight gained as of 39 weeks: I'll update after my appt tomorrow!!!

38 weeks

How far along: 38 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 to 22 inches, 7 lbs! The size of a watermelon! 

Sleep: No changes

Maternity Clothes: no changes

Food cravings: no changes, still craving chocolate

Food aversions: no changes

Symptoms I have: I have been having a lot of pelvic discomfort, kind of like a bruised feeling.  Reading up, it appears to be common since my pelvis is caring a 7+ lbs load these days!!!  

Doctor’s Appointment: I go every Friday now, had a appt today.  Everything is on schedule, no exam today.  Measuring right on track 38-39 weeks!

Movement: No changes, baby is still very active.  Movements are very noticeable and jolt my body!

Belly Button: no change

Gender: the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:  Getting labor started!  Crazy, I know!  But the more I read up on it the more I am embracing the process!

Total weight gained as of 38 weeks:  32 lbs! (gained 3 lbs this past week... I think its mostly water weight from my swollen feet!)

37 weeks, full term!

How far along: 37 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 to 22 inches, 6.5 lbs! The size of a watermelon! 

Sleep:No real changes, still up 2-3 times a night.

Maternity Clothes: no changes, still able to wear maxi empire waist dresses and skirts

Food cravings: been craving chocolate A LOT lately!!!

Food aversions: no changes

Symptoms I have: Back has been killing me the last two days.  And I've been having more frequent braxton hicks... not too painful just annoying and uncomfortable!

Doctor’s Appointment: tomorrow Friday, 8/17!  

Movement: Baby is still super active!  I thought it would slow down at this point given baby's size, but I guess there's still room in there to move around!!!  Although I will say that the movements are much more prominent now!

Belly Button: no change, I don't think my timer will pop!

Gender: the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:  As much as I have really enjoyed being pregnant, I am looking forward to getting back to my normal size and not carrying this watermelon around inside me ;-)

Total weight gained as of 37 weeks:  29 lbs!

36 weeks

How far along: 36 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 to 22 inches, 6.5 lbs! The size of a watermelon! 

Sleep:No real changes, still up 2-3 times a night.

Maternity Clothes: maternity shirts, 1 pair of pants, but mostly empire dresses and maxi skirts!

Food cravings:fruit and chocolate! still on a fruit kick

Food aversions: no changes

Symptoms I have: Feeling pretty good, hips still ache at night from sleeping on my sides.  It's a little more difficult to get up from laying position!

Doctor’s Appointment: OB appt next Friday, 8/17!  And then we are on to once a week phase!

Movement: Lots of twisting around and kicks!  It's fun to see how much my belly moves and other people can see it now!

Belly Button: is so close to popping out!!! Mostly flush, don't think it'll pop!

Gender: the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to: A celebratory milkshake once baby arrives!!! Ha!

 

First load of baby clothes washed and hung!

Letters to Baby, 36 weeks

Dear Baby,
You have grown in my belly for 9 months now!!!  At first it was hard to imagine you growing inside me, but as you've gotten bigger and bigger I can feel your movements and it tickles me with delight!  I can feel you twisting your body around, the little kicks of your legs and feet and the movements of your hands!  I imagine you sucking your thumb, or grasping at the umbilical cord!  You are so active!  I imagine we will have our hands quite full with all of your energy!
Your daddy and I don't know for sure, but we think you are a little boy!  The ultrasound measurements appear to reveal that you are built like your daddy, with a long torso and shorter legs!  You weighed 4 lbs 14 oz a little over a week ago.  I think you are well over 5 lbs now!  The ultrasound images look like you have your mama's nose, and your daddy's full lips with your mama's shape!
While we think you are a boy, we will be just a thrilled if you are a girl!  Your daddy is already thinking of all the things he will show and teach you.  He can't wait to take you to Table Mountain for the yearly astronomy event!  We look forward to camping trips, and day hikes, taking you to the places we love and discovering new places with you!
We have your nursery almost completely setup.  We have lots of books that we can't wait to read to you!  There are plenty of toys for you to play with!  As well as pals to hang with (Sabrina has already taken quite a liking to your room, we find her curled up in blankets next to your crib)!
We already love you so much, as does your entire family!  We are all so excited and awaiting your arrival!!!

35 weeks

How far along: 35 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 to 22 inches, 6 lbs! The size of a large cantaloupe!  Last Friday's ultrasound showed baby at 4 lbs 14 oz.!!!

Sleep: You guys!  I slept 4 straight hours the other night!!!  From 11:30-3:30!  It was glorious!!!

Maternity Clothes: loving my empire waist maxi dresses!

Food cravings: still on a fruit kick!  Eating lots of veggies and hummus!

Food aversions: nothing to complain about!

Symptoms I have: Hips still ache at night from sleeping on my sides.  Feeling like I need to hold my belly up when standing and walking around.  Other than a few aches here and there I am feeling great!!! 

Doctor’s Appointment: OB appt tomorrow, follow up on ultrasound results and how the GD is going. 

Movement: According to the ultrasound baby is head down, ready to go!  Baby still loves to move around, I can feel little hand movements in the fold of my hips!  and twists and turns of little legs in my upper abdomen!

Belly Button: is so close to popping out!!!

Gender: the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to: Really getting excited to meet my little baby!

 From Friday, on the way to the ultrasound

 

my swollen feet/ toes

34 weeks

How far along: 34 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 to 22 inches, 5.5 lbs! The size of a large cantaloupe!  We find out tomorrow an exact estimate of how big our little one is!  Yay!  Can't wait!

Sleep: still up a few times during the night for potty ;-)  Sleeping on my sides these days, surrounded by many pillows. 

Maternity Clothes: elastic, love elastic!

Food cravings: still craving fruits mostly and chocolate... partly because I can't have very much of either and mostly fruits because it's summer and everything is so fresh and in season!

Food aversions: nothing to complain about!

Symptoms I have: My hips ache a little in the night from sleeping on my sides. I've had a little abdominal aches similiar to menstraul cramps - which I think are related to baby's growth spurt that is happening!  Happy to say I've not had any stretch marks yet :-) knock on wood!  Although I can feel that my skin is stretching because my belly itches here and there! 

Doctor’s Appointment: Ultrasound tomorrow!  Cannot wait to see how our little one has grown!!!

Movement: Baby is soooo active!  Still prefers to hitch their little body on my right side!  Funny to look down and see my belly all contorted!  Still feeling kicks in my lower abdomen, hoping baby flips around here soon!

Belly Button: this past week my belly button has almost fully popped out!  Mostly just the upper lip popping, but I think we are close to full popage ;-)

Gender: the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to: Seeing baby on the next ultrasound!!!

photo bombed by Sabrina!

33 weeks

How far along: 33 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 to 22 inches, 4.9 lbs! The size of a pineapple!

Sleep: no changes! Baby woke me the other night as if he/she was running a marathon! They say baby's dream in the womb, I think our baby will be a athlete!

Maternity Clothes: same... maxi dresses, skirts mostly

Food cravings: fruits mostly, chocolate

Food aversions: doing good, still liking foods :-)

Symptoms I have: Breathing has been much better this week, no panic attacks! Baby getting bigger and still very active has made for some awkward and uncomfortable positions lately. Today baby was positioned to where I kept getting these sharp jabs to my hip bones! Baby's getting cramped in there I think ;-)

Doctor’s Appointment: OB appt tomorrow, and ultrasound scheduled for next Friday!!!! Can't wait to see how baby has grown! Really hoping we can get a pic of baby's sweet face!!!

Movement: Baby is a gymnast these days! Rolling and twisting all over! Live feeling babys movements but they are increasingly powerful and sometimes uncomfortable

Belly Button: still an innie.. mostly! Pops out occasionally depending on baby's position

Gender: the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to: Seeing baby on the next ultrasound!!!

32 weeks

How far along:  32 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 inches, 4.5 lbs!  The size of a honeydew melon!

Sleep: same o same... up a few times in the night.  Baby's movements are more and more noticeable and may be waking me a few more times than usual.

Maternity Clothes:  maxi dresses, skirts mostly

Food cravings:   fruits mostly

Food aversions:  doing good, still liking foods :-)

Symptoms I have: I've had a few times where I've felt very short of breathe.  As baby has started getting bigger and moved more up in my abdomen towards my lungs, I'm having a hard time getting a good full breathe of air.  A few times it's caused me to have a panic attack :(  Not fun!  Z has been really good about calming me down, rubbing my back or feet to try and distract me.  Laying on my left side seems to help (suggested position for best oxygen flow for you and baby).  Also got some great tips from the other ladies at our birthing class - lay more upright, get into an all four position (drops baby away from lungs), do the alphabet game - a is for apple, b is for baby - when in the midst of a panic attack to refocus attention.

Doctor’s Appointment:  Next OB appt on the 20th (Z will have to miss this one as he'll be up on the mountain astro hunting!), and ultrasounds scheduled for 7/27!!!!  We'll get a better idea of exactly how big baby is at this point!

Movement: Baby is very active still.  As baby has gotten bigger I can feel more of the changing positions, sometimes seeing my belly roll, or that baby is positioned all on one side (usually my right side)  It both awesome and freaky to watch!!!

Belly Button:   still an innie.. mostly!  I keep waiting for the full pop out... we'll see if it happens!

Gender:  the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:   Seeing baby on the next ultrasound!!!

What I miss:   sleeping through the night still!!!  breathing comfortably!

Nursery in progress

This past weekend was a very productive one for the nursery!  Yay!!!  Just in time for the nesting hormones!  We decided to paint the nursery green.  We love green, and it is gender neutral - a win - win!  Friday night we put the final (3rd!!! coat on)  We went with a low VOC paint, and it turns out the yellow toned paints require an additional coat than the 2 we are used to!  

Saturday, Zach put together the crib (a hand-me-down from family).  We spent a little time deciding on how to best arrange the furniture, and then we headed to Ikea to get some additional necessities and fun decor!  We picked up a great rug, that to me resembles the rings of a tree (which matches the curtains we had already picked up from Ikea that have trees, with leaves and birdies on them)  We also have been eyeing the leaf canopy at Ikea since before we were preggo, and had to pick that up as well!  We also picked up a small bookshelf and some wall mounted shelves (which you will see once the nursery is complete!)  A good start... and I am pleased with how it is all coming together so far!  More updates to come!

17 weeks vs 31 weeks

31 weeks

How far along:  31 Weeks

Baby's size: About 19 inches, 3.9 lbs!  The size of a head of lettuce!

Sleep: no real changes, still up 2-3 times a night.  Started having leg cramps and have to change positions frequently, which wakes me up in between bathroom runs!

Maternity Clothes:  thankful that it's summer, and that summer in Seattle means upper 60's to mid 70's!  Although, we're suppose to get a heat wave over the next few days - 80's!!!  TG we bought ourselves an air conditioner!!!

Food cravings:   still craving fruits, which I have to limit because of the GD :-(  That and milkshakes... can't have those at all really!!!

Food aversions:  still good!  still liking all the foods I typically do!

Symptoms I have: swollen feet and hands (no longer able to wear my wedding or engagement rings), difficulty breathing occasionally (as uterus and baby get bigger my lungs are cramped), achy lower back. 

Doctor’s Appointment:  follow up with nutritionist and OB went great!!!  My blood sugars are in check, no concern at this point!  Just need to continue to stay on track with diet (no fruits in the morning, balanced meals 3 times a day, 3 snacks a day)  Next OB appt on the 20th (Z will have to miss this one as he'll be up on the mountain astro hunting!), and ultrasounds scheduled for 7/27!!!!

Movement: Baby is very active!!!  At the fam's over the holiday, everyone could see my belly bouncing around as baby kicked!!!  Baby's kicks and movements have mostly been in my lower abdomen, in the past few days baby has moved up and I'm feeling baby more above my belly button now!

Belly Button:   still an innie, still very stretched!  

Gender:  the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:   Enjoying a milkshake after baby is born!  Is that bad?!?! ;-)

What I miss:   sleeping through the night

30 weeks

How far along:  30 Weeks

Baby's size: About 18 inches, 3.2 lbs!  The size of a head of lettuce!

Sleep:  no changes, still up 3-4 times a night.  Lately baby has been waking me up with kicking!  Mainly kicks to my bladder!

Maternity Clothes:  Oh yes!  Mostly skirts and dresses!

Food cravings:   Fruits, mostly watermelon and cherries!

Food aversions:  doing good :-)

Symptoms I have: achy back, achy feet mostly

Doctor’s Appointment:  follow up call with nutritionist tomorrow, and OB appt on Friday!  Another ultrasound is near!  Yay!

Movement: Tons of movement!  Baby likes to reside in my lower abdomen, mostly ON my bladder!  Lots of kicks and recently started feeling baby rolling around, which is a strange feeling!  I can now see my tummy move from the outside when baby kicks and moves!

Belly Button:   Still in there... wonder if it will pop out!  But baby has some serious weight packin weeks ahead!  We'll see!

Gender:  the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:   I really have enjoyed being pregnant and maternity clothes.... but the last few days I am missing some of my old clothes, being able to fit into everything!  

What I miss:   getting up and down easily, it's gotten and is getting harder every day!

       

29 weeks

How far along: 29 Weeks

Baby's size: About 17 inches, 3.1 lbs!  The size of a butternut squash!

Sleep:  sleeping a little better lately, but also been getting to bed later.  I tend to wake up more frequently in the hours before midnight, and then about twice before my alarm goes off (usually 2-3, and 4-5)

Maternity Clothes:  yes!  skirts, dresses... thank you target, old navy and thrift stores!

Food cravings:   doing pretty good, enjoying peanut butter a lot lately!

Food aversions:   nothing 

Symptoms I have:  I've had a little more energy this week, exercised a little more, changed my diet a bit (more to come on this!)

Doctor’s Appointment: Glucose testing was a bust :-(  Have to start monitoring my glucose levels and tracking my diet!  (again more to come on this)

Movement: Baby is most active at night... or maybe I just feel it more when I'm laying down!  Feeling little kicks, can feel baby rolling around, changing positions!  It's amazing and weird!

Belly Button:   soooo stretched!  still an innie!

Gender:  the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:  thinking a lot about how exciting it will be when baby is born and the dr announces "it's a  _____!!!!"

What I miss:   other than sleep...nothing much!  Feeling blessed and so excited that baby will be here soon!!!

28 weeks

How far along: 28 Weeks

Baby's size: About 17 inches, 2.9 lbs!  The size of a small cabbage!

Sleep:  I've gotten to sleep a little late this past week, around 10:30/ 11:00.  But I've only woken up twice after that... usually around 2:30 and 4:30 :-)

Maternity Clothes:  lots of skirts, and dresses.  Thankfully it's summer (well sorta here in Seattle;-)

Food cravings:   not really having any strong cravings... although I did have 2 peanut butter/ jelly sammies this week, which is unusual!

Food aversions:   nothing 

Symptoms I have:  tired, still unable to wear my wedding rings (i've got a stand in cheapo for the time being ;-), wake up with my hands numb during the night.

Doctor’s Appointment: Glucose testing on the 8th, which I failed by 2 points! :(  Went back on the 15th for the 3 hour test....

Movement: Baby moves around a lot, mostly feel baby at night.  Felt hiccups for the first time the other night... that was funny!  Hubby could feel... poor baby!

Belly Button:   stretching day by day... hasn't popped out tho!

Gender:  the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:  meeting our baby... will it be a boy or a girl!??!

What I miss:   sleeping mostly

14 weeks vs 27 weeks!

27 weeks

How far along: 27 Weeks

Baby's size: About 16 inches, 2.5 lbs!  The size of head of cauliflower!

Sleep:  Apparently my snoring has increased this past week.... hubby has woken me up a few times in the night 'you're killin me'!!!  Started wearing breathe right strips, which seem to be helping!

Maternity Clothes:  skirts, skirts, skirts!  elastic!!!!

Food cravings:   craving chai tea lattes everyday!  I have been extra sleepy this week!  (probably because someone is waking me up during the night ;-)

Food aversions:   doing good, knock on wood!

Symptoms I have:  still having braxton hicks!  my lower back/ tailbone has been extra tender, I assume from sitting at my desk job most of the day.  I try to get up frequently for breaks to relieve some of the pressure.  Hands and feet are a little swollen!  I had to stop wearing my wedding band :(

Doctor’s Appointment: Today!!!  June 8th, glucose testing! Wish me luck!

Movement: Baby is quite the little gymnast in there!!!  I feel baby all day long and at night!!!  Love feeling the little kicks and jabs!  Although a few times I felt it to my bladder... not so much fun! 

Belly Button:   still a very stretched innie!  I wonder if it will pop out!  

Gender:  the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:  baby being born and (hopefully) being placed immediately on my chest!!!  I cannot wait to meet this new light in my life!!! 

What I miss:   still missing sleep!  and getting up and down easily!  It's becoming increasingly difficult going from sitting/ laying down to standing!!!

I neglected to take a good bathroom photo this week... here's a few snapped at my desk!  ;-)
(yes, this is the same outfit I wore last week.... getting limited on my options from week to week!!! I'll try and do better next week!)

26 weeks

How far along: 26 Weeks

Baby's size: About 15 inches, 2.2 lbs!  The size of cucumber!

Sleep:  The past few nights have been a little rougher!  I've been up just about every hour :(

Maternity Clothes:  For sure!  Love my maternity jeans, love maxi skirts!!!  Comfort, comfort, comfort!

Food cravings:   fruit - watermelon, strawberries mostly!

Food aversions:   still doing good, no aversions happening right now.

Symptoms I have:  I've been having these times when my stomach will get extremely hard and a little sore, but it will only last a few minutes, but sporadically throughout the day.  Reading up on it, I believe these are Braxton Hicks contractions.  (This site, amongst others gave some good info on it http://www.askbaby.com/braxton-hicks.htm) While somewhat of an annoyance, it's also been reassurance that my  body is working properly towards delivering our little bundle :-)

Doctor’s Appointment: June 8th, glucose testing!

Movement: Baby is still so active!!!  This past week the kicks have gotten a lot more intense!!!  I just love feeling our little baby bouncing around in there!  There is no doubt this kid is on the go... we're going to have our hands full for sure!

Belly Button:   A very stretched out innie!  Coughing, laughing tends to make my belly button pop a little, but it's still going back in at this point!

Gender:  the great mystery!!!

What I’m looking forward to:  meeting our baby, gazing into their eyes, studying their little features!!!   

What I miss:   sleep... definitely missing sleep.  But it will all be so worth it, I know!

A couple shots for you this week, taken at work.  I'm feeling like I'm on the cusp of cute pregnant and woah mama pregnant! ;-)
Excuse the hair... I'm not having much energy to do anymore than wash and dry it these days!  Ha!

25 Weeks

How far along: 25 Weeks

Baby's size: About 9.2 inches, 2 lbs! Still the size of an eggplant!

Sleep: no changes, still up every few hours.  This is my life now!

Maternity Clothes:   Yes!  The few maternity items I picked up on consignment and a few empire waisted dresses, and maxi-skirts are what I live in now days!

Food cravings:  not having any real cravings, unless the cupcakes that I had to have when I was at the mall the other nights ;-)  one for me, one for z, and one for baby!  haha!

Food aversions:  doing good, nothing really turning my stomach right now

Symptoms I have:   achy back, I am so thankful to be receiving chiropractic and massage therapy throughout my pregnancy!  It has been awesome!  Had my first 'pregnancy' massage the other night and she really worked by hips, sides and sciatic... was a little painful but I know it's helping!!!

Doctor’s Appointment: June 8th, glucose testing!

Movement: baby is so active in there!!!  z can definitely feel movements now.  And we can almost see the movement on my belly!!!  Although had to tell right now if it's just my twitching ;-)

Belly Button:  still an innie, but it's a shallow one at that!

Gender: mystery

What I’m looking forward to:  these longs days at work are making me look forward to spending my days at home with baby!  

What I miss:  nothing much, well other than getting more than 2 hrs of sleep at a time!  ;-)  dragging a little during the day!

And coincidentally....  I am wearing the same dress as last weeks post!  Ha!  But styled a little differently!

24 Weeks

How far along: 24 Weeks

Baby's size: About 9 inches, 1.7 lbs!!! The size of an eggplant!

Sleep: still up every few hours

Maternity Clothes: bought some 2nd hand maternity clothes, some of my pre-pregnancy dresses are becoming tight!

Food cravings: lots of salads, ice cream :-P

Food aversions: No changes

Symptoms I have: A little lower back pain, my heels ache after standing for long periods of time

Doctor’s Appointment: June 5th, glucose testing!

Movement: lots of movement as usual! Z has been able to feel it quite positively now!!!

Belly Button: still innie, but the other day I was laying down and started coughing and my belly button popped out like it was erupting! It was weird! Popped back in though! But I think I'll be an outtie before the month is over!

Gender: mystery

What I’m looking forward to: meeting my baby!

What I miss: nothing much, pretty happy!

Nursery inspiration

I don't know about the rest of you, but I love pinterest! Especially for ideas for our nursery! Since the hubs and I have decided to keep the gender a mystery up until the time baby decides to join us, we're going for a gender neutral themed nursery. We decided early on to paint the nursery green, and then the idea of a whimsical northwest forest evolved from there. And thus began the hunt for inspiration, enter pinterest! Here are a few of our current inspirations... 

 Hardwood floors, pops of color

Source: creativeeveryday.com via Bonnie on Pinterest

Wall art Tree Design inspiration

Source: google.com via Bonnie on Pinterest

More Wall art Tree inspiration

Source: trendhome.info via Bonnie on Pinterest

Ikea curtains (already purchased)

Source: ikea.com via Bonnie on Pinterest