31 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 31 Weeks – we are down to the single digits in weeks before we meet little man!!

Size of baby: Baby J is the size of four navel oranges; over 16 inches long; 3.3 pounds

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 18+ lbs.

Maternity Clothes: All maternity. I even tried on a pair of work pants that were maternity yesterday and couldn’t button them! 

Gender: Boy!

Movement: This boy needs to learn that night time is for sleeping.  Oh my gosh, two nights ago I was laying on my side and had JJ put his hand on my belly.  He couldn’t believe how much the baby was moving, and how hard he was kicking.  He said “now I see why you don’t get much sleep!”  Yeah, tell me about it!  He’s had hiccups a few more times, and it seems like if he gets them one day, he’ll get them several times.  I took a bath the other night and was confused by the shape of my belly, now I’m not so sure he’s in the same position he was in at the 3D ultrasound anymore.

Sleep: See above. :) 

What I miss: Sleep.  It’s really starting to wear on me and I can’t believe I still have so long to go. 

Cravings: Ice, raw almonds – which is so weird because I used to hate the taste of almonds.  I’ve been eating these for several weeks now as a snack.

Symptoms: Major pressure/fullness going on down below.  It started last week but I didn’t think much of it.  Except it hasn’t gone away.  Anytime I walk, pick a leg up to get dressed, lift Chloe, basically do anything that involves movement while I’m standing, I feel this pressure.  It's kind of making me start to waddle.  I plan to ask the doctor what that’s about next week.  Still have some back pain when I stand up, but not too bad.  Gosh I feel like all I’m doing in this post is complaining!  I will admit, it’s been harder this time around. 

Best Moment this week: Buying the first piece of furniture for the nursery!  We got a dresser, now we just need some nice weather to be able to paint it.

30 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 30 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby J is the size of a head of cabbage; 15.7 inches long; almost 3 pounds

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 18 lbs

Maternity Clothes: Pretty much all maternity

Gender: Boy!

Movement: The hiccups have continued and I even got a video the other day of my belly bouncing with each hiccup.  His (now I know) feet have really jabbed me a few times in the ribs.  They aren’t painful necessarily, but if I’m sitting in such a way that I’m bent over, I have to sit up straight or lean back so he doesn’t do it again.  He is still pretty active during the night.

Sleep: I toss and turn all night long.  Taking my three pillows along with me each time I roll over.  I desperately wish I could sleep on my back, and often do for a while propped up with pillows.

What I miss: Sleeping through the night.

Cravings: Ice, almonds.  I used to hate almonds but now I can eat them by the handful.

Symptoms: I cleaned our bedroom this past weekend and I was paying for it later with a sore back.  I also have noticed the forgetfulness kicking in – I misplaced my debit card for a few days, then finally realized I put it in my pants pocket.  I was just glad I hadn’t called to cancel the card yet!  The dry mouth continues.  Another thing (and I have no idea if this is pregnancy related or not) but my wedding rings are starting to slip off my fingers.  I’m close to taking them off so I don’t lose them, which I hate to do, but I thought my fingers were supposed to swell and get bigger, not the other way around.

Best Moment this week: Watching our boy in 3D at our appointment last Friday.  It makes it so much more real to see his face and watch him move around.  I am also getting closer with nailing down a (simple) design for the nursery and I’m anxious to get started on it.  We also scheduled our newborn photo shoot!

Side note: I asked for the results of my blood test at my doctor's appointment today.  My iron was 113 and they want it over 110.  My blood sugar was 132 and they want it under 135.  Whew!  It was close, but I passed and that's all that matters! :)

3D Ultrasound

We decided to splurge again with this pregnancy and have a 3D ultrasound done.  We ended up going back to the same place we went with Chloe because they have some of the newest technology in the area.  The lady is really nice and thorough, but apparently we have stubborn kids.  Both Chloe and this boy did not cooperate in the least!  Chloe had both her hands and her feet in front of her face the whole time, and baby boy had his feet in front of his face, which also meant the umbilical cord was in front of his face.  He did start off with the very first view of him with his legs way up in the air, letting us know he is 100% boy.

We didn't get the best shots, but the ones we did get were pretty amazing quality.  Here is a sample picture of what the ultrasound pictures looked like from just two years ago with Chloe...

 And here is a small sample of the ones we got with baby boy...

 Sweet face - think he looks like his sister? :)

Foot in his eye

  I see you!

 Little smile

 Poking himself in the eye with his ring finger

Kind of hard to tell here, but he's biting his lower lip

I know it's sometimes hard to know what you are looking at, hopefully my brief descriptions are clear enough.  I still questioned a few of the shots she got when she'd say, "see here's the stomach, foot, leg" and all I was seeing was a blob.  But, she's done this for 35 years and obviously knows her stuff.

Even though we didn't get as many face shots as we wanted, it was still cute watching him for an hour.  He liked to keep his hands behind his head, and kept poking himself in the face with his feet.  The ultrasound tech he has very little hair.  The best thing that came out of our appointment was learning that he's head down!  Yay!!!  He is laying on his left side with his head down, butt up towards my left ribs and his feet down on my right side, if you can picture that.  A little triangle.  Now I'm even more anxious to meet this little guy and kiss those sweet cheeks. 

29 Weeks

 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 29 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby J is the size of a butternut squash; a tad over 15 inches long; about 2 1/2 pounds

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 15 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: I’m loving my new loot of maternity clothes JJ’s mom brought!  As I went through the bag of clothes, I thought they were all really cute, but surely they were too big to fit me.  Um, nope.  They fit perfect.  Not sure what that says about my size, but I’m happy with having a new wardrobe to choose from!

Gender: Boy!

Movement: This little boy is on the move.  The timing of his movements are still a bit unpredictable.  Lately he’s been very active late morning, and then during the night, plus random times throughout the day.  I’ve felt the hiccups at least once more and JJ felt them too.

Sleep: Dare I say sleep was a little better this week?  I think it’s because I changed up the pillow situation.  We have numerous pillows on our bed, but now I sleep with one harder pillow between my legs, one soft feather pillow under my belly, and the other soft feather pillow under my head.  It’s a bit cumbersome when I have to roll over, but I’m getting better sleep so that’s all that matters.

What I miss: Nothing

Cravings: I can’t believe I’ve forgotten to mention this each week, but ice!!  I craved it with Chloe, kind of cut back on eating it after she was born, and then started up again shortly after I found out I was pregnant.  I’ve heard eating ice is a sign of low iron, that’s why I was just sure I was going to get a call from the doc saying I needed to at least take an iron supplement.

Symptoms: After going to the auto show last week, I think my back hurt worse than it’s hurt so far this pregnancy.  It was really low so I had JJ rub it with a tennis ball.  By morning it seemed to be better.  The stomach pains have been good this week, nothing to report there.

Best Moment this week: Passing my glucose test!  I honestly can’t believe I did, but I am SOOO happy that I don’t have to take the 3-hour test!

28 Weeks

 

Pregnancy Highlights:

I said this last time, and it still stands true…Holy crap, I’m already in the 3rd trimester!  How did this happen so quickly?!

How Far Along: 28 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby J is the size of a Chinese cabbage; 14.8 inches long; almost 2 1/4 pounds

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 15 pounds

Maternity Clothes: JJ’s mom is coming to stay with us later this week and is bringing me some new maternity clothes.  I’m anxious to add a few more things to my wardrobe because I feel like I’m wearing the same things over and over.  Can still wear some regular clothes, but for the most part I’m in maternity.

Gender: Boy!

Movement: He is definitely making his presence known, especially at night.  A few nights ago, I was lying on my back and my stomach was so lopsided.  That’s the first time it’s happened this pregnancy and I kept showing JJ.  It was also very hard so you could tell something was under there, just don’t know if it was a butt or a head.

Sleep: I need to just take this one off because it depresses me.  I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night and I don’t expect it to change anytime soon (before or after baby’s arrival).  He is more active at night than Chloe was, so if I roll over or readjust, it’s like it wakes him up, then he starts moving and it keeps me up longer.

What I miss: Sleep

Cravings: Oh my gosh, sweets!  I am determined to pass the glucose test that I have today so I quit eating all things sweet and candy on Sunday.  No idea if it helped or not, but when the time comes that I have to start watching my weight for whatever reason, I’m gonna be horrible.  Knowing that I can’t have something makes me want it even more.  You can bet I’m going out for ice cream or a big candy bar after my appointment today!  Even potato chips sound good right about now.

Symptoms: No leg cramps this week which was nice, but one day where I thought I was having BH.  I still don’t have a good idea if that’s what they really are or not because this was more painful.  Most things I read say they aren’t painful, maybe just uncomfortable.  Dry throat.  I think I forgot to mention that last week, but it has not let up yet.  That’s part of the reason I’m not sleeping well b/c I can hardly swallow at night.

Best Moment this week: Scheduling our 3D ultrasound for next week!  Excited to see sweet boy’s face again!

Side note:  I was a bit more nervous about the glucose test today than I thought I would be.  JJ and Chloe met me there and even came back with me for the blood draw.  I got all sweaty and my heart starting beating quick, which hasn't happened the last few times I've had blood drawn.  I just kept looking and talking to Chloe.  JJ was holding my hand, and at one point, Chloe leaned in and held onto my finger too.  So sweet!  The prick was nothing and the guy was done very quickly.  First time I've had a guy do it and he was one of the best.  All that damn anxiety leading up to it is what gets me.  I should know the results of the test tomorrow.  Then the doc met with us, said I measured great at 27 weeks.  I asked if she could tell what position the baby was in, and she said she could try but that the uterine wall was about the thickness of a steak so it might be hard.  After pushing a bit she thinks he's still feet down.  I'm really starting to get bummed about this even though she says he has plenty of time to move around and could move around day to day.  I will do anything to avoid a c-section.  When we left to schedule our next appointment, the lady said "ok, two weeks?"  It totally snuck up on me that we are already to the point where we have appointments every two weeks.  Time needs to slow down!!