27 Weeks

This week, our baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with its legs extended. It is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing it's eyes, and perhaps even sucking it's fingers. With more brain tissue developing, our baby's brain is very active now. While it's lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if the baby were born now.

The baby is moving more and more each day. It really makes me laugh when it is awake and moving. We went to the doctor on Tuesday to do the glucose test (nastiest stuff ever). We haven't gotten any word back, so hopefully we are in the clear. We haven't started on the nursery yet, but I've got all the designs picked out. I have been stocking up on diapers when I find them on sale. This week Walgreens was having Huggies on sale for $8.99 with a $2.00 coupon for next time, a $1.00 in store coupon, and a $2.00 manufactures coupon. I ended up getting a pack of Huggies for $3.99. And if you spent more than $25, you got a $5.00 coupon to spend on any purchase later. The closet is getting too full of diapers though, I'll have to find a new spot to keep them.

I'm doing good. Work is keeping me busy and the baby is keeping me exhausted. I've been trying to finish up lose projects around the house, but the church calling has me busy every evening. So far this month I've finished my sisters quilt, a baby quilt, the baby's stocking, scrapbooking a calendar, and cutting the fabric for another baby blanket. I've got much more to do, but things will happen when they do.

Loren is doing better. He is still coughing all the time. At least he can function now. He still enjoys taking the dog on walks every evening. I can't participate with my leg in as much pain as it is, and the risk of slipping on the snow/ice.

Our animals are doing good. They love the Christmas tree. Artard is climbing the tree everyday to knock off the bulbs. He actually pulled off all my ribbon the other day. Then every time Bowser walks by the tree, he bites one of the limbs. It's sad that only half of my tree has ornaments, but I guess I'm just getting prepared for next year when we have a little one crawling around. Bowser finally jumped the baby gate yesterday. Every time Loren gets home, Bowser jumps like crazy and makes funny noises because he is so happy someone is home and he can come out of our room. But yesterday when Loren got home, he walked into the kitchen to get the leash first before letting him out and Bowser was so excited, he just leaped over the gate. I didn't think he could even jump. I guess we will have to dog proof the rest of the house now, just to make sure he can't get into anything.

Life is great. Christmas will be here before we know it and we will be flying back to Kansas. I'm pretty excited to see my whole family and be there for Christmas. I haven't been in Kansas for Christmas in 5 years.

26 weeks

The network of nerves in our baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. It may now be able to hear both our voices. It's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of it's lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when it's born and takes that first gulp of air. And it's continuing to put on baby fat. It now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches from head to heel. If we are having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days.

As each day goes by, the baby moves more and more. I'm starting to feel movements in 2 locations at a time (up high and down low). It must growing fast. I can't believe there is only 14 more weeks of this pregnancy. I have a Dr. appointment next Tuesday to have the Glucose test and another exam. I'm almost to the third trimester...Yeah!

Loren has been sick this past week and finally decided to stay home and try to get better on Thursday and Friday. He actually got banished from the bedroom to the guest room, just to make sure I don't get sick. Today he is starting to feel a little better, but he still sounds like he is going to cough up a lung.

I've been feeling ok. Still having issues with my leg and every step is painful. I've finally found a stretch that stretches the specific muscle, so the past two days have actually been tolerable. Except I went to the chiropractor today and I'm one sore puppy. He really stretched those muscles and realigned my lower back. I've already had to ice it once. It's going to be a hard weekend. I'm looking forward to the weekend though. I'm going to a girls night out Christmas party with woman from the church. Then on Saturday, Keri is coming over to scrapbook a calendar with me. That night, if the roads aren't too icy, hopefully we can go look for some good Christmas lights.

Christmas is coming so fast, good thing I really don't have to buy anything this year. I have all the white elephant gifts around the house and the baby drew a cousins name for Christmas. One gift and we are done. Loren and I have decided to buy baby furniture for each other for Christmas and we are waiting for it to go on sale. That present might have to wait until January or February.

Another one bites the dust...

Another project is done. I've been working on my sister Tracy's wedding quilt for 2 years now. I did squeeze in her wedding, my wedding, moving 2 times, buying a house, and finishing my other sister Susan's quilt. One thing I've learned from this quilt is that I'll never do another 1 inch square quilt. It took too much time and a lot of ironing. I'm glad it is finished. Tracy I hope you like it, I think it is beautiful.

I think it turned

I've been feeling this baby move since week 16. Yesterday the spot where I feel the baby the most, changed. I've always felt the baby kick low, right on my bladder and back towards my tailbone, probably because it was breach. Now the kicking and moving is up high right under my ribs. The kicking is so much more dominate. Loren had his hand on my belly and with my hand over his, I still felt it in my hand. I can actually see my belly move too. I sit at work and laugh at my belly moving. I guess I get entertained at the littlest things. This movement makes me happy unlike the the other movement. I don't think the baby takes a break at all though. It moves all the time. So with all that said, I think the baby turned. Lets hope that it doesn't turn back breach before the birth.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Christmas Projects

I'm the kind of person who always has a project or two, maybe even three or four, going at a time. When Loren and I were dating, I made both of us a stocking. Last year when we were married I had some extra fabric so I started cutting it all out. I never got around to finishing the stocking. So with the baby on the way and time running out, I'm stepping up the game to get many of the unfinished projects done. The Santa is a great addition to the Snowman and Moose. All I need to do now is add the name. I'm very happy on how it turned out.

25 Weeks, only 15 to go!

How our baby's growing! Head to heels, our baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. It's weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but it's beginning to exchange it's long, lean look for some baby fat. As it does, the wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and it'll start to look more and more like a newborn. It's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

So my belly continues to grow/stretch/hurt. The past couple of days have been horrible. I've woken up at 3 am each night in pain. You would think that at night things would feel great, being able to relax and all. Not for me. The muscle that stretches over my belly and attaches to the pubic bone is stretching and being overworked. Therefore causing a lot of pain on my lower abdomen and also causing pain to shoot down my legs, wrap around to my back and make me very uncomfortable. I can't lift one leg without the other without pain (I have to cut out stairs at work). Maybe I'm trying to do too much around the house/church/work, so I've got to tell myself to sit down, pause, and rest. I really hate not being able to do the things I'm use too. Other then all the pains, pregnancy is going good. I'm gaining my 1 pound a week and I am also feeling the baby move all the time. Loren has even felt it move a couple times.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. Loren's family came into town and we had our first Thanksgiving in our home. It was great having them around. Not only to help around the house (installing two toilets, raking leaves, installing light fixtures, fixing lamps, and playing with the dog) they were a joy have around. We even got up on black Friday. I ended up getting a Glider (1/2 off), 3 boxes of wipes ($5 for 500), and 6 packages of diapers ($5 a bag). It feels good to get things for the baby, especially when they are a good price.

I'm so thankful for everything in my life this year. My wonderful husband, the gospel, family, my job, our home, having the opportunity to have a child, our wonderful and weird animals, and many more things. Something else I'm grateful for, is the kindness of others. There is a gentleman at work that has been giving me any and all of his baby stuff he has still. Last night I went home with nice diaper bag, infant toys, bottles, little girl sweaters, heavy duty baby gate, car seat head support, and a booster seat. He also plans on bringing me a baby backpack. I'm also grateful for the people on Freecycle. We have gotten so much for nothing (swing, clothes, potty chair, bouncer, boppy, car window shades, and probably more I can't think of now). It really helps out when you are working with a budget and trying to save enough to pay for the hospital right after the baby is born.