25 & 26 Weeks

25 Weeks

So I missed posting last week because I was visiting my family.  First I went to Pasadena (LA area) to help out my Aunt & Uncle C for three days while they went to see my Uncle G go before the Senate Judiciary Committee because he has been nominated to serve as a judge on the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Uncle G is a great guy and we are all very proud of him and what he has accomplished!  I couldn't go to DC but I was able to go hang out with two of my cousins in Pasadena for a few days.  O & W are 13 and 16 but they are very mature for their ages and are a lot of fun to hang out with!  I mostly just had to drive them to and from school and then I spent my days hanging out at their house which is one of my favorite places because it is incredibly relaxing.

One of my favorite places to read

 I was able to do a lot of reading which is one of my favorite ways to spend a day. I figure I should get in as much reading as possible before Baby M comes and life gets crazy:) I was a little sad that it wasn't warm enough to lay out by the pool but it was still really nice!

Another great reading spot

I came home for two days and then I flew up to Utah to visit my family.  I always love going home and spending time with my parents and siblings!  We are a sort of nerdy family but we have a lot of fun together.  My little brother M has gone through a growth spurt over the last few months and I think he might actually pass me up in height by the next time I see him.  Since there is an almost 15 year age gap between the two of us it is fun to see him getting older. We watched lots of March Madness and debated the merits of various different superheroes.  I ate lots of food that I probably shouldn't have but I enjoyed every bite of it :)

My Grandma drove up from Wyoming to see me so we went to lunch with my sister C.  I don't get to spend much time with my Grandma anymore so I always try to soak up the time that we have together.  She brought me an adorable stuffed bear for the little man.

Grandma, Me and the Little Man

My parents and sisters were able to feel Baby M kick which was fun.  My dad is especially patient in waiting to feel kicks so he experienced it the most.  I feel very blessed to have my parents as the grandparents for the Little Man. He will be very lucky to have them.  Baby M will be the first grandchild for my parents so there is a little extra excitement over this pregnancy!

My dad and me with Baby M

J was nice enough to paint the nursery while I was gone!  I was so excited to come home to a painted nursery so that we can start putting everything together.  A friend was nice enough to stop by and help J move the dresser upstairs.  I love the paint color on both the walls and the dresser.  I still need to sew the tabs on the backs of the curtains but hopefully those will be up by next week.  I also need to get started on finding/ making the wall decor.

The last few weeks hanging out with family have been a lot of fun!  I'm not thrilled to head back to work on Monday but it will be nice to be home and see J every day.  I love having him around so that he can talk to Baby M and feel his kicks :)  For now I'm looking forward to having a nice Easter!  J has been deployed for the last few years on Easter so I'm excited to have him here this year. 

26 Weeks

Now onto the regular update:

How far along: 25 & 26 weeks
Baby is the size of a: 25- rutabega then  26-cucmber
Total Weight Gain: 9 lbs at 25 weeks, 10 lbs at 26 weeks

Maternity Clothes: I'm still wearing maternity jeans and some shirts and regular dresses and leggings.  It is really strange to see how a shirt fits one week and then how different it can look the next time I wear it.

Sleep: I'm still sleeping really well!  The little guy is being really nice to me and letting me get good sleep.

Best Moment of the Week: Getting to go home and spend time with my family :) Also getting reunited with J at the end of the week!

Miss Anything: regular jeans.  Maternity jeans are super comfortable but between having to cover the band and trying to keep them up they can be kind of annoying.

Movement:  Baby M has been very active but he really likes to stop kicking as soon as someone else tries to feel it.  He is already a little punk :)

Food Cravings: I got to have Cafe Rio so I was happy food wise this week!

Symptoms: Occasional ligament pains, it's starting to get a touch harder to put my shoes on or get up if I'm laying down

Have you started to show yet: Yep!  It is very obvious from the side but from the front it depends on what I'm wearing.

Looking Forward To: Easter!  and also getting the nursery set up :)

24 Weeks

A little sunburnt from watching J play softball

This week not much changed in babyland for us.  Our little one is continuing to kick harder and he did figure out where my ribs are this week which I didn't really appreciate. It is amazing how much force he can get behind his kicks in such a small space!  I am definitely feeling him move more as each week goes by.  Last night he kept flipping over so one minute my stomach would look small when his back was to my spine and the next I would be popping out with his little butt pushing out.  It was weird to watch! 
I got started sewing the curtains for the nursery and I have one finished panel and another that still needs a little work.  I am by no means any sort of seamstress but as long as I stick to straight lines I do okay :)  I'm not going to hang them until after the nursery is painted but once I do I will post a picture.  I can't wait to get all of the nursery decor together so that it is ready for the little guy! 

We received this fun package for our little guy from friends in Japan that had a sweet baby book and several cute outfits.  They gave us some funny onesies and the most adorable little newborn shoes ever :)

J received a Navy Commendation Award this week for service in Afghanistan last year. He doesn't like to make a big deal out of things like this but I am very proud of him for all that he has done for our country.  He is an amazing husband and I cannot wait to see him as a father to our child!  I feel so blessed to have found someone that is so perfect for me.  I am also grateful that we don't have any looming deployments hanging over our heads, especially with little man on his way. 

 

Now onto the regular update:

How far along: 24 weeks
Baby is the size of a: Eggplant
Total Weight Gain:+7 1/2 lbs

Maternity Clothes: maternity jeans and a few shirts.  I did a little shopping so I would have a few more options.  A lot of my regular shirts still fit (or at least they stretch well enough to work) but they aren't long enough to wear with maternity jeans that have a panel that has to be covered.

Sleep: I'm keeping my fingers crossed but so far sleep has been going really well!  He seems to be super active right before I go to bed and then when I wake up in the morning.

Best Moment of the Week: J getting his Navy Comm Medal

Miss Anything: Mostly just Diet Coke

Movement:  He found my ribs and gave them a few kicks.  He seems to be more active more frequently.

Food Cravings: on Friday I HAD to have french fries from Wing Stop.  They were pretty much the best most satisfying french fries ever :)

Symptoms: Occasional ligament pains

Have you started to show yet: Yep!  The lady at the grocery store even asked me if it was a boy since I am carrying pretty low.

Looking Forward To: Going to LA for a few days to see my cousins and then heading home to see my family next weekend!

23 Weeks

This week we had our second anatomy ultrasound.  The little man cooperated this time so they were able to determine that he doesn't have a cleft palate or Down syndrome so we are very grateful for that!  It was fun to see him again though he kept his hands covering his face for most of the ultrasound.  I asked for a profile picture but the guy apparently didn't understand so instead we got straight on face pictures which definitely look more like an alien.  Oh well, it was nice to just to see it on the monitor :) 

Our little man with his hands over his face

J had to go to the field for most of the week so I got several baby projects finished.  I didn't actually get around to putting the trim on the dresser but I like the way it looks even without it. It will look better with trim going around the paintable wallpaper but this is what it looks like for the moment:

What it looked like before I painted it.

What it looks like now.

Closer view of the drawers with paintable wallpaper

I pulled out my sewing machine and made Sweet Baby M's crib blanket.  I love the nursery fabric that I chose so I used that and added minky to back the blanket because it is so soft and cuddly.

I still need to make curtains and a crib skirt but I didn't get to those yet.  I did make these cute little burp cloths.

I started making a tie onesie but the fabric from the onesie kept getting in my way.  I will try it again another day.  On a related note I was looking at how tiny the little onesie was and it reminded of how little Baby M will be when he gets here.  I can't wait for his arrival! 

Now onto the regular update:

How far along: 23 weeks
Baby is the size of a: Ear of corn- he weighs a pound and a half now
Total Weight Gain:+6 1/2 lbs

Maternity Clothes: maternity jeans and a few shirts mostly because they are super long, If I could just wear dresses and leggings to work I would do that daily.

Sleep: Sleep went pretty well this week

Best Moment of the Week: Watching the little man on the ultrasound

Miss Anything: This week I really wanted a Margarita.  No worries, I didn't indulge :)

Movement:  His movements are getting stronger and more frequent

Food Cravings: pizza, alfredo, everything unhealthy

Symptoms: Occasional ligament pains, a little back pain while pinning everything to sew

Have you started to show yet: I think so.  It's still a smallish bump but it's definitely there.

Looking Forward To: feeling Baby M move more :)

22 Weeks

As you can see, Baby M is continuing to grow at a fast pace!  I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday so we were able to take find out the results of our anatomy ultrasound as well as take a few measurements.  Everything looked good from the ultrasound but they weren't able to see his nasal bones or palate so we will be going back this week for another ultrasound.  I'm looking forward to seeing him again!  I was measuring just a little bit small but my doctor wasn't concerned about it since the baby is measuring right on schedule.

Fun presents from Aunt Jessie

This week we picked up a dresser for the nursery and I started doing a Pinterest project to refinish it.  I think it should be finished by tomorrow so there will be pictures next week.  I can't wait to put the nursery together!  I need to start a bunch of sewing projects this week so hopefully by next weeks post I will have a bunch of cute things to show off for Baby M :)
We also discovered that Baby M really likes Worship music at church this week.  He was kicking me like crazy the whole time the Worship music was going and as soon as they stopped, he stopped.  I think he can probably feel the vibrations but I'm glad he enjoys it since that is my favorite part of church!

It has been a gorgeous week here in Southern California and we decided to enjoy it by going to the beach today.  I have decided that until I get huge I'm just going to rock the baby bump in my bikinis (but no pictures will document this) because I hate maternity swimsuits.  At this point they are all WAY too big for me and I just look like a beached whale.  Today while we were laying on the beach I noticed that I could totally see all of Baby M's movements when he kicked my stomach!  It was fun for both J and I to watch him moving.  We have felt the kicks for a few weeks now but we have never stared at my bare stomach while it was happening so that was pretty cool.

Now onto the regular update:

How far along: 22 weeks
Baby is the size of a: Papaya, he is a little over a pound now
Total Weight Gain:+6 lbs

Maternity Clothes: maternity jeans and a few shirts mostly because they are super long

Sleep: Sleep was great this week!

Best Moment of the Week: Watching my stomach move at the beach :)

Miss Anything: Diet Coke

Movement:  He is moving a lot more frequently this week

Food Cravings: Wing Stop, Chick-fil-a

Symptoms: Occasional ligament pains

Have you started to show yet: I would say yes.  I had my first stranger ask me when I was due while I was picking out paint for the dresser at Lowe's.  

Looking Forward To: seeing Baby M again at our second anatomy ultrasound this week!