29 Weeks

 Week 29 Complete

How far along? 29 Weeks 1 Day

Baby is the size of: A hawaiian pineapple, a barbie convertible, new england cottontail rabbit at 16 inches tall and 3 pounds!

What did the baby develop: He is packing on the fat and his muscles and lungs are still maturing.

Gender: Sweet baby boy, Adler James

How many:1 little squishy

Showing a bump: Yep. And you can't deny I am pregnant now. I am in the stage where you don't have to question if I am pregnant or not. 

Maternity clothes: 90%, I still have some skirts I can wear for work.

Stretch marks: Nope! Putting my regiment on to hopefully keep my skin pliable and stretch mark free!

Sleep: Until last night, I would have said still good! But it was so hot that I didn't sleep well. Hopefully tonight will be better, but overall I am still doing well.

Movement: Non stop during the day. Not so much at night to wake me up though. It is so much fun to chat with him and include him in our daily lives already!

Best moment this week: Starting the work to finish our basement so that I can start on his room! Thomas and I seriously have been giggling all week. It is so much fun to just enjoy this time just the two of us preparing for him!

Miss anything: I forgot to tell you about seeing the dentist to get my teeth cleaned last week. My dental hygentist and I are 4 days apart. So it is so fun to catch up with her every 3 months and walk this road with her!
Also, pregnancy does weird things to your gums. Because my blood volume has doubled being in the 3rd trimester, my gums bleed way more. And the dental hygentist found what is the start of a pregnancy tumor on my gums. That sounds horrible, but basically it is inflamed tissue. It is not cancerous and will go away after pregnancy stops. And there is nothing I can keep doing other then brushing and flossing. Not a big deal, but I had never heard of it before pregnancy! Our bodies are weird while pregnant. :)
Medical Help:  Daily Vitamins - Prenatal, fish oil, Vitamin D, Probiotic, Calcium/Magnesium, and electrolyte supplement
Emotionally Feeling: Exited to meet this little boy! 

Belly button in or out: In

Food cravings: Any type of melon! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Eating too much and then bending to get anything is not so comfortable. 

Symptoms/Side effects: My newest symptoms are both acid reflux, although it feels more like food just backing up my throat and not so much the burning. I have had to eat smaller meals because there just isn't as much room! Although I just read that it could be because of the hormones that my body is producing to get ready for labor and birth. Also the way the birth class teacher described braxton hicks, I realized I have been having them for months! And I am definitely having some difficulty getting off certain low seats. Still have the line nigra, frequent bathroom breaks, but less leg cramps and headaches this week for sure!

Wedding ring off or on: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Going to camping with friends this weekend and just relaxing after the week of working on finishing the basement!
Things they don't tell you about pregnancy: That I feel like my normal self so much that I forget I am pregnant at times. But then I can't fit in the same places or rolling to get out of bed isn't quite the same. But overall I am still able to do everything completely normally!

It is legit!

I haven't posted a hand pic in a while! Can you believe how big he is getting?!

Full on basement construction this week! I will post a separate post showing the progress!

We also decided that since we are on vacation, we are going to go out to dinner every night this week at a new place in Tacoma that we have never been too. I will do a separate post on those places as well!

After dinner tonight we ran to the store and Thomas was so excited to find this MASSIVE can of Fosters. He just had to have it. 

So question of the week... Tell me about your moment right after birth. The first look at your babe, the sigh of relief that the labor was done, the birthing the placenta, the simple joy of what you just accomplished.

28 Weeks

Week 28 Complete

How far along? 28 weeks and 3 day

Baby is the size of: A coconut, 16 inches and 2.5 pounds

What did the baby develop: Adler's adrenal glands are now secreting androgen. Skishy’s wrinkles are starting to disappear as he packs on an increasing amount of fat, which will aid him in regulating his body temperature. Something he needs to survive on the outside. He is also dreaming, coughing, and practicing breathing.

Gender: Sweet baby boy, Adler James

How many:1 little squishy

Showing a bump: Yep. It is here to stay.

Maternity clothes: 75%, I still have some non pregnancy pants and skirts I can wear for work.

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Still doing fine unless my room gets a little too toasty.

Movement: Non stop during the day. Not so much at night yet though.

Best moment this week: Finally finding out the results of my gestational diabetes test on Thursday. Definitely not diabetic. The normal range is between 70-130 mg/dL and I was at 105. Oh and I am not anemic either. Hooray!

Miss anything: My dad came up to visit this week last minute. Life has been crazy busy, but the stolen moments together have still been good.
Medical Help:  Daily Vitamins - Prenatal, fish oil, Vitamin D, Probiotic, Calcium/Magnesium, and electrolyte supplement
Emotionally Feeling: Perfect about Adler, a little stressed with too many things going on. Looking forward to our week vacation.

Belly button in or out: In

Food cravings: Watermelon 100% of the time. Beloved hydrating watermelon.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Other then the glucose test when I wasn't downing water? Nope.

Symptoms/Side effects: A sore mid back from the extra weight from my bump, linea nigra, constant visits to the restroom, headaches when I don't stay hydrated, calf and foot cramps.

Wedding ring off or on: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Our week of vacation next week to finish the basement!
Things they don't tell you about pregnancy: That no matter what, people make funny comments. And, people cannot describe to you how those comments will affect you. I have discovered that I feel the need to defend how small my bump is at this time with a statement about how long my torso is. And can I tell you that it is super awkward when people tell me they were how big I am at 6 months when they were only 3 months? I defend and say, we are all so different. I have been very careful what I say to pregnant people, but I can guarantee that I will only ever tell people they look beautiful or cute from here on out!

28 Weeks!

Thomas has been grilling up a storm! And there is the framing for our garage concrete behind us.

And a spread for a friends baby shower. Beautiful when 4 people contribute. Love friends!

Question of the week: We have been loving our birth classes because we have learned things about Thomas and I am how we are going to be during labor. Creating level expectations is huge for me to having the best in any event including labor. So... along those lines, what are the things that you guys used that helped in labor? Photos to focus on, music that you adored, counting through the contractions, etc. I would love to hear all of your ideas of what helped you the most so that maybe I can steal some! :)

27 Weeks

 Week 27 Complete

How far along? 27 weeks, 3 days

Baby is the size of: A bunch of bananas, about 15" and weighs over 2 pounds.

What did the baby develop: Mainly all his growth and progression is in his brain because his organ's are all pretty much developed. His brain is starting to control his lungs and regulate his body temperature. He is sleeping and waking in intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and he recognizes our voices! My amniotic volume is also cut in half so we will see his movements more! He also apparently hiccups, but I haven't figured out when exactly that is yet.

Gender: Sweet baby boy, Adler James

How many:1 little squishy

Showing a bump: Yep. It is here to stay.

Maternity clothes: 75%, I still have some pants and skirts I can wear for work.

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Yep. Definitely starting to get tired more again. It is amazing how different each trimester is and how almost immediately to the day, things kick in. I slept almost 12 hours on Sunday night.

Movement: Non stop during the day. Not so much at night yet though.

Best moment this week: Finally popping. Literally from last week to this week, I feel like I really popped. Adler wants to make his presence know in the world apparently.

Miss anything: I had my monthly appointment on Monday after my Gestational Diabetes test in the morning. All is well in our little world. My stomach is measuring at 27 cm which is right on track with me being at 27 weeks. First time she measured my stomach. Also, his heart beat is strong and my blood pressure and pulse are perfect.
And I got my rhogam shot. Lets talk about that, because most people don't know what that is. If your blood type is negative, then if you do not get the shot and have a baby, your body will produce antibodies if your baby has a positive blood type and it can stop you from ever carrying a baby to term again. You get the shot once before 28 weeks and then if he has a positive blood type that will be tested after he is born from cord blood, then I will get it again.
And I also had the warning signs for preeclampsia conversation with Neva my midwife. Looking for vision disturbances along with a headache and excess bloating.
Medical Help:  Daily Vitamins - Prenatal, fish oil, Vitamin D, Probiotic, Calcium/Magnesium, and electrolyte supplement
Emotionally Feeling: Great, although so busy!

Belly button in or out: In

Food cravings: Watermelon!!! I seriously go to sleep thinking about it and wake up thinking about it. I have been drinking so much water, but even then I still feel dehydrated. So watermelon does the trick for me. I may or may not have eaten a entire half of a watermelon the other day. A full size one, not a personal size one. Good thing it is all liquid and increasing my water intake drastically!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Sugar in the morning.

Symptoms/Side effects: Smells are so strong again ( I think I am going to have a no perfume in my house rule after he is born), minor back aches if I sit funny, headaches from not being able to get enough water in, linea nigra, calf cramps, and I am a little more tired then normal again. I am also a bit hungrier then normal.

Wedding ring off or on: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Hosting a friend's baby shower this weekend.
Things they don't tell you about pregnancy: That you can be 6 months pregnant and hide your stomach with jeans and a hoodie. No joke, I did that accidentally on Monday.

And lets talk about the gestational diabetes test.I have heard so many bad things about it, that honestly it freaked me out because I don't do sugar in the morning well. I also don't like processed foods with crap in them and so there is that. My midwife suggested the lemon lime because it does not have any of the food dyes in it. That first sip was a surprise. Not terrible. I can do this. Half way through the drink, I was watching my 5 minutes tick by. Well I downed it in my allotted 5 minutes and the gal told me my time to come back 1 hour later.

I had forgotten my water, so I literally sat by the drinking fountain and took sips every few minutes. I did get a little headache from it, but the water helped tremendously. I went back at 9:38 to get my blood drawn. I then went to the car and downed my hard boiled egg and nuts to get protein back in my body. Overall, I felt ok the rest of the day. I am so thankful that I had talked about it so much because if I had not been over prepared, I know that the amount of sugar that early in the morning would have wrecked me for the rest of the day! But all is well.

27 weeks along

Took the test. Still don't know the results. Hopefully soon! Although the assumption is it was negative or I would have received a phone call.

Breaking ground on the garage! Thomas is seriously so excited about it.

It was a big Monday! Along with the test and the garage breaking ground, our new dishwasher also came in. Our old one broke about 2 months ago and Thomas was about at his wits end from all the hand washing.

Tacoma Peeps - Favorite pediatrician. Both with and without a more natural approach? I have a list from my midwife, but I am excited to hear from you all too!


Everyone - What are the things that you want to make sure are important to your pediatrician? I never need a regular doctor and don't even know where to begin!

26 Weeks

 Week 26 Complete

How far along? 26 weeks 2 days, first week of my 3rd trimester! And last Sunday was 99 days left! And 6 weeks tomorrow!

Baby is the size of: A butternut squash, a large zucchini, or a kale leaf, 2 lbs and 14 inches long.

What did the baby develop: He is adding on layers of fat to regulate his own temperature. His eyes are starting to open, blink, and his eye lashes are grown. He is borrowing my antibodies to make his own immune system. All 5 senses are fully developed. Most of Skishy’s bodily systems and functions are now intact, and most of the rest of his development purely revolves around putting on height and weight.

Gender: Sweet baby boy, Adler James

How many:1 little squishy

Showing a bump: Yep. It is here to stay.

Maternity clothes: 75%, I still have some pants and skirts I can wear for work. Apparently my bump should grow 1/2" a week from here on out though, so I am not expecting these to last long.

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Still doing pretty well. Averaging 2-3 wake ups a night. If I only wake up once I know I have slept hard!!

Movement: Non stop during the day and very active in the evenings when I stop moving around. Not so much at night yet though. He definitely pushes straight out the front now so that I can feel my stomach very taught where he is. Just so neat, unless I have to go to the bathroom which is often. Then not as neat. ;)

Best moment this week:Visiting my sister Clara and her hubby Drew. Clara was even able to feel Adler move around!

Miss anything:I have realized that when I sit for a long time at work, when I get up to walk to the bathroom, my initial walk is a bit of a waddle. I have to consciously think about walking normal. Kinda makes me laugh. I am not big enough to waddle! Must be my hips shifting.
Also, we walked so much this weekend that I woke up Sunday with my abdomen tightening on the right side where Adler hangs out. So I treated it like contractions. Tons of water and relaxed for a few days. Took a day or 2, but now I am back to normal!
And we started our birthing classes last Thursday.Will fill you in more on those next week.
Medical Help:  Daily Vitamins - Prenatal, fish oil, Vitamin D, Probiotic, Calcium/Magnesium, and electrolyte supplement
Emotionally Feeling: Thankful for Thomas and who he is.

Belly button in or out: In

Food cravings: Ice cream. Even though it doesn't sit well, the rich creaminess just sounds amazing in the heat! Oh and watermelon. Helps with the dehydration.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Anything other then straight protein in the morning is no bueno.

Symptoms/Side effects: Linea Nigrea, tender gums, skin stuff multiplying, sore back when I don't sit right, calf/foot cramps when I don't get enough water.

Wedding ring off or on: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Next Tuesday. Then I will have taken (and passed, because lets just claim it) my gestational diabetes test. It's the most dreaded part of pregnancy for me. Not because I don't think I will pass, but because I don't want to feel like crap the rest of the day after drinking that crazy sugar drink in the morning! I have a plan though! I will tell you how it goes.
Things they don't tell you about pregnancy: That everyone looks at your face and then down at your stomach. I know that I said that before, but it still floors me. Also, even though I don't feel big, the extra little weight definitely puts a different strain on my back.

Not perfectly stomach form fitting, but I really do feel my bump has grown!

Awesome weekend with Clara and her hubby Drew in Portland.

Next question. I know some of you don't carry a diaper bag, but for those that do.... What are the necessaries for the diaper bag? I am still all about simplicity, but is anything more needed then diapers, wipes, a wet bag, and an extra onesie?

25 Weeks

 Week 25 Complete

How far along? 25 weeks and 2 days, last week of my second trimester!

Baby is the size of: A cabbage at 14" tall and almost 2 lbs.

What did the baby develop: He has hair color now, his nostrils are opening and his air sacs in his lungs are developing, because he is producing surfactant he has an increased likelihood of surviving a preterm birth! His sense of balance helps him with up and down and it helps him rotate down for birth positioning.

Gender: Sweet baby boy, Adler James

How many:1 little squishy

Showing a bump: Yep. It is here to stay.

Maternity clothes: 75%, I still have some pants and skirts I can wear for work.

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Still sleeping well, especially when I am super active during the day!

Movement: Non stop during the day. Not so much at night yet though.

Best moment this week: Cleaning out Adler's room.

Miss anything: I am officially hungry more! I have the snacks and food I always eat at work with specific times I always eat them. And that has definitely changed! I figure it is all Adler because he has doubled in weight in the last 2 weeks!
Medical Help:  Daily Vitamins - Prenatal, fish oil, Vitamin D, Probiotic, Calcium/Magnesium, and electrolyte supplement
Emotionally Feeling: Great

Belly button in or out: In

Food cravings: Just want protein in the morning

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope

Symptoms/Side effects: Linea Nigra, minor twinges in my abdomen as my uterus grows and stretches, my skin reacts to things weird, struggling staying hydrated as it grows warmer. Get more headaches and cramps when I am not hydrated.

Wedding ring off or on: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Spending the weekend with my sis!
Things they don't tell you about pregnancy: The uncontrollable gas. I have always been a little gassy, but I literally cannot control it eeking out now! A wee bit embarrassing. Bare with me over the next 3 months people! It's all Adler's fault. ;)

25 Weeks along, can you believe it? 15 more to go! 

Still so incredibly thankful for all these maternity clothes. 

We had a yard sale last weekend. All the stuff in this room we got out of the house!

  

Thankfully we can see the floor again in this room.

This is our guest room soon to be Adler's room. We are taking a week off at the end of July to bust out the rest of the basement. Once we finish it, we can move all of this furniture down there and start on making this room Adler's! One project at a time though. And we still have 3 months to go. 

And of course part of our little garden this year.

 But here is my weekly question. What are the things you got that you never used? This goes off of last weeks question, but is just as important to know!

24 Weeks

Week 24 Complete

How far along? 24 weeks, 1 day (111 days left!)

Baby is the size of: An egg plant, a GI Joe, or a Puffin! 1.5 lbs and 13" long

What did the baby develop: Adler's lungs are producing surfactant the substance that will make them inflate/expand when he has to breathe on his own, and he is starting to develop taste buds! Time to really start on the Indian, Mexican, and all amazing flavored foods for this kid! And of course veggie overload. ;) He gained a quarter of a pound in bones, muscle, and fat and is really filling out his baby shape. His eyebrows, lashes, and hair are coming in, but still lack pigment.His ears and finger nails are complete! He can sense right side up and upside down

Gender: Sweet baby boy, Adler James

How many: 1 little squishy

Showing a bump: Yep. It is here to stay.

Maternity clothes: 75%, I still have some pants and skirts I can wear for work.

Stretch marks: Nope. But with the start of my bump really growing, I have started my anti stretch mark regime.

Sleep: Still doing well. I have switched to about 99% side sleeping with a regular thick pillow between my knees and under my head. The pregnancy pillows just didn't quite work for me at this point.

Movement: He is moving lots during the day. Non stop in the evening. Not so much at night yet though.

Best moment this week: Last Friday night when I was laying on my side watching a movie with Thomas and it seriously felt like Adler was trying to bust out my right hip. He was so incredibly active and it felt like he was punching to get out. I think it was the spicy enchiladas. It's those taste buds kicking in. I was able to get a video of it which was really fun!

Miss anything: I had my monthly appointment yesterday. All is well in our little world. Adler's heart beat is strong. My blood pressure is normal. But I did find out that although you don't eat for 2, you do drink enough water for 2. So I really need to step up my water consumption game with the summer heat and how much we do outside now. And I now know all the warning signs of preterm labor.
Medical Help:  Daily Vitamins - Prenatal, fish oil, Vitamin D, Probiotic, Calcium/Magnesium, and electrolyte supplement
Emotionally Feeling: Just dandy. Life is beautiful people.

Belly button in or out: In

Food cravings: I have wanted a donut for some time. The problem is that if I eat it in the morning I feel yucky the rest of the day. And there is only 1 donut shop that the donuts don't make me feel terrible. So I have to be smart about it. Maybe this weekend I can have Thomas run and get me one.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Sugar or lack of protein in the morning.

Symptoms/Side effects: Linea Nigrea, sensitive skin stuff, gag reflex when brushing teeth, gums bleeding easily, randomly hiccup/burping.

Wedding ring off or on: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: The yard sale that was postponed from last weekend because of the weather. But we were able to finish our laundry shoot which is super exciting! And we are still on for the yard sale on Saturday so that we can clean out Adler's room and start dreaming. 
Things they don't tell you about pregnancy: What exactly will annoy you. For me it is the word belly. I don't like it. I would prefer people to ask or talk about my bump. Don't even ask me why. It's just a thing.

24 Weeks! And in my borrowed gift of maternity clothes.

The most vibrant rainbow looking east from my front yard.

Standing in the same spot, but looking to the west. Love the beauty that God creates!

OK, I know I asked about it on FB the other day and had a few of you look over my existing registry, but what was that top item once baby comes that you could not live without? The one that you want to give to every new mom because it turned your world around? It could be for the baby or for mom. Or maybe a suggestion for one of each?

23 Weeks

 Week 23 Complete

How far along? 23 weeks 3 days

Baby is the size of: A bunch of grapes or a barbie doll, although lets call him a ken doll since we know he is a boy. A bit over a foot tall and 1.25 lbs

What did the baby develop: Adler is gaining baby fat to keep warm and his lungs are still developing. He is also still transparent and a bit red because of his developing veins and arteries. His face is fully formed though! He can also hear really well now and can kick in response to things outside of the womb! Lanugo, the fur like hair he has now, generally sloughs off deeper into pregnancy as Skishy gains more of an ability to control his body temperature, with a more highly functioning nervous system, and increased accumulation of fat beneath his super-soft skin. Nearly all lanugo will be shed by three or four months after birth. And a disgusting fun fact: babies eat the lanugo that they shed while in the womb, and it builds up within them to form the substance that makes up their first poop, known as meconium. After Skishy sheds and eats his lanugo, he will develop vellus hair on the same areas that the lanugo coated previously. The vellus hair will continue to help Skishy regulate temperature as he transitions into the outside world until his beautiful adult (terminal) hair grows in.

Gender: Sweet baby boy

How many:1 little squishy

Showing a bump: Yep. It is here to stay.

Maternity clothes: Still mostly no, simply because I don't have many yet! Getting creative with my own wardrobe, but starting to feel that everything is frumpy and ill fitting!

Stretch marks: Nope! Starting my oils regiment pretty strictly now to try and prevent them!

Sleep: Still going strong!

Movement: Non stop during the day. Not so much at night yet though.

Best moment this week: Meeting with my friend Mary who gave me tons of maternity clothes! Once I get them all washed, I will be a whole new woman with that new wardrobe! She is also going to be our doula, so it was great to just talk about what each of our perceptions of her role was going to be! Thankful we have very similar visions. I think it is going to be a great match!

Miss anything: Thomas and I were able to see my stomach move when he started his gymnastics routine in there! Thomas has been able to feel him often which is just about the neatest thing ever!
Medical Help:  Daily Vitamins - Prenatal, fish oil, Vitamin D, Probiotic, Cal/Mag and electrolytes
Emotionally Feeling: Awesome! Life is great.

Belly button in or out: In

Food cravings: Just loving good food.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope

Symptoms/Side effects: Working on the water consumption, linea nigra, funny skin things are magnified, and lots of cherries make me (and Thomas) gassy!

Wedding ring off or on: On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: The yard sale this weekend, so we can get all the stuff out of his room and start rearranging!
Things they don't tell you about pregnancy: That early on, you don't want to even touch your stomach at all, but then once you start showing and don't feel sick, I finally realize why women always have their hands on their stomachs! It is just kinda to say "hi sweet boy!".

My first and only purchased maternity shirt.

Starting to show straight on too!

This beauty was outside our kitchen window!

This is in the bathroom of my midwife's office. Love the break down of where the weight comes from!

 I have had a few of you look over my registry and all of your wisdom is AWESOME! So the newest wisdom is really from my cloth diaper momma's!! Tell me all your tricks of the trade! I know everyone does it different, but I am trying to learn and other then trial by fire in 4 months, I am trying to tuck away any bits of wisdom I can!