Week 27

It is hard for me to fathom sometimes that at the end of this week I will officially be in the third trimester. That will mean only 3 more months until my little princess gets here. In approximately 91 days, I will be a mommy. Can I just say, WHOA!?

The recent growth spurt is making for cramped quarters in there for her. I can feel how she is taking up more room in my uterus with less wiggle room than before. It feels like she is even trying out new positions because I felt her up around my belly button several times yesterday. She has been so active since her little growth spurt. There are times that my entire belly just shakes. The little munchkin still prefers her usually spot for nightime, though - all balled up on the left side, which still makes me laugh everytime I see my wopped-sided belly. Yes, in addition to new belly shots, we still have not managed a pic of the wopped-sided belly either.

Things just seem busy lately. Last weekend, we traveled to Charlotte so me and Auntie Kim could shop for fabric for Mia's bedding. We were so successful at a place in Gastonia called Mary Jo's. The store is absolutely amazing and the women that work in there impressed me to no end with their mathematical skills WITHOUT a calculator or pen and paper! Clay started painting the nursery. He had a new plan for the paint scheme so there is one wall left to paint which he is going to finish this weekend. Once that it complete, we'll try to post a picture or two. It will just be a picture of an empty room with 3 pink walls and one mocha colored wall. Papa is buying the crib and that has not been ordered yet, nor has any of the other furniture that's going in there. Boy, we have a lot to do!

Here's what babycenter.com has to say about her progress for week 27:

How your baby's growing: Your baby is really starting to fill up your uterus. This week she weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with her legs extended. She can now open and close her eyes, and she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. She may suck her fingers, and although her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if she were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you 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 isn't bothersome to her, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what she's thinking?

I know exactly what she's thinking - I can't wait to meet my mommy and daddy. :)

Sweet dreams

I had the sweetest dream last night about Mia. I was sleeping in my bed and woke up and part of my belly was uncovered from the sheet. My skin was almost transluscent and I could see her little hand balled up into a fist and pressing up against my belly like she was trying to get out. I could clearly see each tiny, precious finger. I pulled the sheet back to see my whole belly and there she was. I could see her entire body and her little noggin and her beautiful face. She had the sweetest eyes. It was so real, too. Three more months is just too long to wait sometimes!

Week 26

I have been rather cranky today and I'm not entirely sure why. Mia has been super active today and that makes me smile. She always makes me smile. I was driving back to work from lunch and she was hitting me in a spot that tickled and I just laughed. She's so sweet and loves her mommy and knows just what to do to help my mood. :)

Here progress so far, although I don't think much has changed except she's steadily growing bigger and stronger:

Your baby now weighs a little under 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches, from head to heel. The nerve pathways in her ears are developing, which means her response to sounds is growing more consistent. Her lungs are developing now, too, as she continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid — good practice for when she's born and takes that first breath of air.

Since I still don't have any new belly pics to post, here is a diagram (courtesy of www.babycenter.com) of what she probably looks like right now.

Double digits!

As of today, there are 99 days until her due date. 99 DAYS!!!!!! It could be a little more and could be even less, really depends on her. I am getting so excited about how close it's getting. I think Mia recently went through a little growth spurt. Someone commented the other day on how she's "growing". Plus, my belly has really been itchy the last couple of days and up until now that really hasn't been an issue for me. Bring on the lotion!

We bought the paint for her room and hopefully we will get to start on that this Sunday. Our goal was to have the room painted by May so only a couple of weeks left. We decided to do the walls in all pink and the trim in a mocha brown. Then, we'll just need to put some furniture in there. It's going to look so pretty!

We don't have another doctor's appointment until May 5th. After that appointment we will start going every 2 weeks. It's all just so real now. :)

Week 25

Time is still flying by! Only 105 days until her due date. I think C and I are going to get the furniture moved out of the nursery this weekend and possibly even start painting. I'm getting very excited about getting her room all set up. Next weekend, we are headed to Charlotte to go fabric shopping for the bedding for her room.

Here's her development for this week:

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. Her hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after she's born.

I think C is going to take some more belly pictures this weekend so I should be posting some of those soon. Have a great weekend!

News flash....

Today has been nothing but great news. I proposed a new work schedule to my boss and she was in total agreement with it. I am so psyched! I tried to figure out a way to go part-time and I just couldn't find a way to make that work at all. So, I proposed to my boss that I cut my work week from 40 hours to 36 hours. I will work in the office Wednesdays and Thursdays and half a day Friday. That works out to 20 hours total in the office. I will work the other 16 hours at home where I get to spend more time with my little sweet pea and still keep my full time status. I think it's going to work out very well and I am so completely happy about it.

Mia must be able to sense that happiness because she has been one active little booger this afternoon. If I didn't know any better I would swear she was practicing karate moves in there. She was all over the place and the movement was so strong. I just love her so much and I really cannot wait to meet her!

The other night, I laid down for bed and was going to do my nightly "feel" for her. I can feel her and see where she is best when I'm laying down in the bed. Well, I pulled up my shirt and there was this big lump on the left side of my belly. She was all balled up on one side and I couldn't help but laugh. She is definitely partial to the left side of my belly. I'm going to have to try to see if I can get a good picture of it because it's the funniest thing.

Also, my glucose test results came back just fine. I was a little worried because of all the fruit I have been eating lately. Makes me wonder if it's possible for one person to eat too much fruit. :)

Ahhh, vacation.

Woohoo! We are having a 4-day weekend in June and heading to the condo in Hilton Head. I can't wait! They have some great outlet stores we are going to check out for baby stuff, too. Yay! C is going to take some maternity pictures of me on the beach. Some in color and some in black and white. I've been seeing some great maternity pictures on the internet in black and white and I just love the way they look. I know he will be able to take some great ones as well. Talking about this makes me think about taking little Mia to HH for the very first time and seeing her on the beach, absolutely COVERED in sunscreen, and splashing in the water. She's gonna be so cute!

Week 24

Another week gone by. This is also the first week of the 6th month. We had a doctor's appointment this morning. My belly is measuring exactly 24 weeks and the doctor called her "smart" - as if we didn't already know that! My weight was about the same as last month. There may have been a 1/2 pound difference, but not a significant jump or drop which is good. Mia's heart rate was between 135 and 140. The doc found it right away and it was loud and fast. She's growing and getting bigger and closer to the surface now so I guess that makes it easier to find. She should be weighing just over a pound now and is about a foot long. Also, according to babycenter.com, her skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

I also had the glucose screening test. I had to drink some orange liquid they gave me which tasted rather good. Then they drew some blood an hour later. I should get the result from that on Monday. It is to check for gestational diabetes. I have a feeling the test will come back normal.

We were disappointed to learn that they are not planning anymore ultrasounds. We were really hoping to at least get to see her once more before she's born. They don't usually plan another ultrasound after the 18 week one unless there is a problem, which we definitely don't want. I can so see why bozo Tom Cruise bought Katie Holmes her own ultrasound machine. If I had one, I'd be looking at her everyday! We're thinking about doing the 4D ultrasound. I'm going to look into whether or not there is a place in town that does 4D ultrasounds and see how much they are. I've heard a lot of talk about them and people getting them done. You're supposed to be able to see more features of the face and can get a better idea of what the baby looks like. I always thought they were a waste of money and wanted to wait to see her when she's born, but I dunno. We've been working so hard trying to save much and work things out so I can maybe just work part time and spend more time at home with Mia. I'd love to be able to not work at all but right now that just doesn't seem possible so I'll take what I can get!

First baseball game

I am carrying around one active little girl or she just really likes baseball. We went to a USC baseball game last night. She was so active that I could no longer concentrate on anything but her movement. I just wanted to unzip my jacket and just stare at my belly. I couldn't believe it. Usually, she gets active early in the evening and when I eat dinner. Then she'll settle down a little bit and then gets comfy for bed and that's it. She was non-stop last night. I just loved it.

I noticed a little swelling in me for the first time on Monday in my fingers and then again yesterday I could see a big difference around my ankles. I was really hoping to avoid any swelling at all. So, no coffee at all this morning and it's been replaced with water. I really am wanting a cup too...just for the taste. Also, going to try to watch the salt intake. Maybe that will help.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow for week 24 checkup and a glucose test. Woohoo!