31 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

This week, my baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs 4.1 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's moving a lot, too, so I'm having trouble sleeping because my baby's kicks and somersaults keep me up. I can take comfort though: All this moving is a sign that my baby is active and healthy.

How my life's changing:
Had some pretty severe cramping the other day... wasn't sure what to think when I began to time the pain every 4-6 minutes apart for over an hour. I thought surely I'm not having contractions, this baby can't come yet. It could have been a sign of preterm labor but thankfully Micah prayed over me and it subsided.

We had our next Dr's appointment this week and got another ultrasound. As I mentioned before he weighs 4 pounds 1 ounce, not too big yet although heading into a growth spurt could still change that. Here's a picture of his face.

As I mentioned last week I had a Baby Shower this week. It was absolutely wonderful, we had a great turn out of guest! The decoration was lovely and we were very blessed with many gifts to help us as we prepare for Mack's arrival. Thank you so much to all that attended and helped make this day so special. Here are a few pictures from the shower.

The sign-in table.

As a party favor each guest got a small Tazo tea bag with a note that read "Please Enjoy this Tea from Baby and Me".

Instead of your typical finger foods we did an ice-cream social.

The gift table.

Opening gifts!

We didn't play games but each guest got a card to give me advice on.

I've begun making a Pregnancy scrapbook!

30 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

My baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). 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 my 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 he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How my life's changing:

I'm feeling a little tired these days, especially since sleeping is becoming a little more difficult. I find myself taking more naps these days. Other than that things continue to be smooth. Just 10 weeks left to go!

This Saturday I will be having my baby shower at Juana Hernandez'. I included a copy of the invitation however the color is off for some reason... oh well.

29 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

My baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, I'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, I need to be sure to drink milk (or find another good source ofcalcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in my baby's hardening skeleton each day.

How my life's changing:

My baby's very active now. My practitioner has asked me to spend some time each day counting kicks. I'm to let him know if I ever notice a decrease in activity.

An old friend — heartburn has taken center stage now. You could say Tums and I are tightly aquatinted at this point. We're not scheduled for another sonogram until the 28th - then we will get a more accurate reading of his weight and length as well as his positioning.

If you will please be praying - I am hoping he comes early (not b/c I can't handle a couple more weeks of pregnancy) but my Dr. is scheduled to be gone on my due date. Aside from a medical reason I don't want to induce which I think my Dr. would opt for as oppose to me going late. I've just been really set on trying to have this baby as natural, med free as possible. Well what I do know is God has ordained this child's days long before I began my planning so what will happen will happen.

Here's the next picture - 7 months/29 weeks.

My 28th Birthday

I turned 28 on September 10th! It was a wonderful Birthday... Micah got creative this year and took me on a progressive date. We started with an appetizer at Taco Rico (the funny thing is, earlier in the week he had asked me what my 3 favorite resturants were and one of them was this fast food taco place). So we began by splitting a plate of bistec tacos. Throughout each part of the evening there were questions that we had to answer - it was a lot of fun!

Between courses Micah took me to get my gifts that he had already picked out. The first one was a Willow Tree figurine of a husband, wife and baby - I'd been wanting to collect these.

Next on the agenda was dinner at Chili's (another one of my favorite restaurants). It was rainy that day and I love the rain, particularly when you get to stay inside but it was fun nonetheless.

Next was a stop at Toys R Us... I wasn't sure what to expect when we arrived here b

ut it ended up being quite fun. We each got $5 and had to split up in the store and find a gift for the other person. We then exchanged gifts and had to explain why we got that gift for them.

After that he explained that he had a couple chick-flicks picked out for me... since I'm in the 3rd trimester and slowing down he figured I would need some entertainment while I sit on the couch. How cute!

We ended the evening by picking up Marble Slab ice-cream and going home to cuddle on the couch with a movie.

I also got a couple of my favorite Yankee candles (Sage & Citrus and Autumn Wreath) from some friends, a new book, money and a few really sweet cards. A couple days later Claudia took me lunch and my in-laws made me a special birthday dinner in addition to money for a prenatal massage - looking forward to that! What a wonderful day!

28 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

I realize I've just posted 3 times but I've had a little catching up to do. So I am officially 28 weeks today!

By this week, my baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink His eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through my womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

How my life's changing:

I'm in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If I'm like most women, I'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester, hopefully not any more... At this point, I'll begin visiting my doctor every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, I'll switch to weekly visits.

Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. This sensation is temporarily relieved when I move, and is what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers.

Master's students get back this weekend, classes start Monday and I'll begin leading a Beth Moore Bible study out of my home on Monday evenings. I'm looking forward to the months ahead with my 28th birthday next week, and Micah and my 5th anniversary approaching!

27 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

This week, my baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, my baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. I can chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements I may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so I can just relax and enjoy the tickle.

How my life's changing:

The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as my body gears up for the final lap, I may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, I'm finding that my leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and my expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from my legs to my heart as well as on the nerves leading from my trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as my pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give me some relief. Straightening my leg and then gently flexing my toes back toward my shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging my calf sometimes helps, too.

Well the nursery is almost done. Just waiting on the canvases my mother-in-law is painting and the curtains and it should be complete. Here's a preview of the room, I will post more once it is all done.

26 Weeks Pregnant

How my baby's growing:

The network of nerves in my baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both my voice and Micah's as we 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.

How my life's changing:

We had a wonderful vacation to Kansas City to see my family. I mainly took it easy while Micah picked up a new hobby not only in the sport of golfing but one called frisbee golf as well. He also was able to shoot guns for several hours with my step dad and brother. I think he had fun.

My mom threw me a baby shower with the family - I am so thankful to have gotten to see all the family that attended as well as the gifts for Mack. It was a great start to the things we will need going into this journey. My favorites were the baby blankets both my mom and grandma made - they are priceless!

My your lower back seems a little achy lately, I can thank both my growing uterus — which shifts my center of gravity, stretches out and weakens my abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen my joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight I'm carrying means more work for my muscles and increased stress on my joints, which is why I may feel worse at the end of the day. Sleeping in several different places on vacation without my normal pillows surrounding me didn't help. Oh well, I figure from this point on I'm probably just going to be uncomfortable anyway...

And lastly the promised 6 month picture.