31 weeks! (I'm a little behind posting this)

63 days to go!

Here's your 31 week update:

Baby's size: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt.
Baby's development: She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.


Best of the week: Going on the hospital tour! It made everything seem so real!
 
Worst of the week: Trying to sleep on my side. Frequent trips to the bathroom.

Side Effects: Wishing I could get paid for how many times I go to the bathroom a day! :)

Cravings: Sweets!

Anticipating: My baby shower in Tuscaloosa with college friends!

Here are this week's goals:

• Continue writing letters to Bella in my pregnancy journal  -- I wrote several last week!
• Buy the baby book I want from Books A Million
• Check over registries and make adjustments
• Continue filling out my pregnancy album
• Read our new parent devotional
• Finish reading pregnancy book (I did finally catch up to my current week) and BabyWise
• Find curtains for the nursery
• Finalize photographer!
• Baby Laundry

Items Accomplished:

• Ordered baby furniture
• Finished baby thank you notes
• Registered for closet organizers
• Read Baby book and am now up to date
• Started writing in Pregnancy Journal
• Started filling out Pregnancy Album

31 Week Picture:

32 Week Check Up!

I met with Dr. T yesterday for my 32 week check up!  She said I am doing great!

Here's the scoop:
Weight gain: 14 lbs (3 lb up from 2 weeks ago)

Blood pressure: 118/74

Iron: 10.8 (down by .1 from two weeks ago)

Baby's heartbeat: Excellent (Dr. T said she can tell Bella is a happy baby from her heartbeat -- not sure if this is scientific...but it makes a mommy feel good!)
Size of uterus: 32 cm (Dr. T said this puts me a little ahead of schedule)

Side notes: They are concerned about my iron levels...which should be at 12. So, I have to take an iron supplement two times a day now instead of once. AND they recommended pork chops, tomatoes, and Cheerios to help me increase my iron naturally! 
Doctor's orders: Get the iron up!

Next visit @ 34 weeks! Chris will be attending this visit because we will discuss our labor/delivery plan!

Nursery Beginnings

Over the past few weeks, Chris moved the guest bedroom into another room. We then added a lamp and vacuumed the floors! We are ready to start decorating!

Closet is full of toys and supplies!

30 weeks!! 70 days to go!

Here's your 30 week update:

Baby's size: Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus.

Baby's development: Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)


 
Best of the week: Telling friends and family our baby's name and getting sweet responses! Having people rub my belly! Yes, I enjoy when friends/family to that!  Also, Bella enjoyed my favorite cheese fries of all time from Wings in Birmingham! Can't beat it!

Worst of the week: Not getting enough sleep due to hectic schedules

Side Effects: I might as well live in the bathroom! :)

Cravings: Still sweets! Right now I am into Milk Duds and Reeses cups!

Anticipating:  Enjoying a weekend relaxing at home and getting some of these to-do items done! :)

Here are this week's goals:

• Go on "mommy walks" -- Can I count black Friday shopping?
• Start stretching
• Continue to go on walks and do prenatal work out video
• Write letters to Bella in my pregnancy journal
• Look for a baby book -- any ideas?
• Fill out my pregnancy album
• Read our new parent devotional
• Finish reading pregnancy book and BabyWise
• Find curtains for the nursery
• Order baby bedding from Walmart
• Find clothes organizer that we can hang in Bella's closet (we won't have a dresser)
• Finalize photographer!
• Thank you notes for shower gifts
•  Baby Laundry
• Encourage Chris to put together baby furniture!

30 Week Check Up

Yesterday was my 30 week check up with Dr. Klein! I can't believe I am 3/4 of the way through my pregnancy!

Here are my stats:

Weight gain: 11 lbs (1 lb up from 2 weeks ago)

Blood pressure: 128/60

Iron: 10.9 (up from 10.3 2 weeks ago -- however, it needs to be at a 12)

Baby's heartbeat: Excellent

Size of uterus: 30 cm (right on schedule)

Side notes: Did a breast exam (because I have a history of breast cancer in my family) -- no abnormalities, Also, did a pelvic exam to check and make sure the amniotic fluid is intact -- result: cervix is low but no amniotic fluid leaking! :)  The doctor could not tell whether the baby's head is up or down but should be able to tell next visit.

Doctor's orders: Start counting kicks!  10 kicks a day is great!

Next visit in 2 weeks with Dr. T!

Thanksgiving Baby Shower!

Chris' mom and sister threw a fabulous baby shower for me on Thanksgiving Day! I loved all the special touches: celebrity baby name game, a beautiful cake, and sweet gifts for Bella! I also enjoyed having Chris there with me for this shower.  He was given a Proud Dad hat, and it made me so proud! I wore a New Mom crown! :)

Here are some pics from the party!

Ayleaih and Leionna helped us open gifts!

Love his hat!

A beautiful cake!

Excited and thankful for all the love!

My shower helper!

I think they had fun! :)

29 Weeks! 77 Days to Go!

Here's your 29 week update:

Baby's size: Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week she weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel.  Baby's energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath her skin. And since she's growing so fast (weight will triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb. Get ready for some more kicks and jabs to the ribs.

  Baby's development: Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.


 
Best of the week: Chris' family hosting my 2nd baby shower! We had a blast!  Look for a post later with pictures!  Also, Chris calling Bella by name instead of calling her "that ol' baby". :)  Also, having our niece, Ayleiah, as me tons of questions about the baby. For example, I drank a lot of cold water over Thanksgiving and she asked me if the baby liked to swim in cold water. Haha!  AND counting Bella's kicks! She sure is active!

 

 

Worst of the week: Going to the bathroom 7 times in one night!  My foot swelling so much on Thanksgiving Day that I had to soak it in Epsom salt before I could walk to bed!

 

 

Side Effects: Still having a little trouble sleeping through the night

 

 

Cravings: Cookies!

  

Here are the updates on last week's goals:

• Go on "mommy walks" -- Can I count black Friday shopping?
• Start stretching
• Continue to go on walks and do prenatal work out video
• Write letters to Bella in my pregnancy journal
• Look for a baby book -- any ideas?
• Fill out my pregnancy album
• Read our new parent devotional
• Finish reading pregnancy book and BabyWise

Items not on list that I did accomplish this past week:

• Purchased a glider
• Purchased our baby bed in a bag
• Purchased Dreft to start on laundry
• Vacuumed nursery
• Disinfected items recently purchased
• Organized baby gifts in the nursery closet

To Do This Week:

• Last week's items that weren't accomplished
• Find curtains for the nursery
• Order baby bedding from Walmart
• Find clothes organizer that we can hang in Bella's closet (we won't have a dresser)
• Find a photographer for maternity and baby shots -- any ideas?
• Thank you notes for shower gifts
• Baby Laundry

Anticipating: My 30 week doctor's visit next Monday. Visiting with friends this weekend at Chris' best friend's wedding!