28 weeks (12/21 to 12/27)

How big is baby?  Eggplant! 

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +17 (I was supposed to have a Dr's appointment on 12/23 but rescheduled it due to our lack of insurance coverage)

Stretch marks?  Nothing major yet!

Sleep?    Still pretty good.

Best moment this week?  Christmas!  duh!

Worst moment this week?  Having to drink the sugar drink for the glucose test.  It wasn't that bad but I wasn't a fan!

Food cravings?  A nice juicy hamburger!

Belly button in or out?   In.  

Movement:  Yep!  Baby was actually sticking out!  It was pretty weird but awesomely cool!

What I miss:  Being able to fit into normal clothes!

What I'm looking forward to:  A nice quiet New Year's celebration.

Weekly wisdom:  Not a good idea to be pregnant during Christmas time!  All the sweets look so tempting!

Milestones:  Baby is weighing in at 2 1/4 pounds!  Baby can blink eyes, which now sports lashes.  With eyesight developing baby might be able to see light that filters through the womb (yes it's true!  we put a flashlight to my belly and baby moved!).  Baby is also developing billions of neurons in the brain and adding more body fat.

Time for bump pics!

27 weeks (12/14 to 12/20)

How big is baby?  Eggplant!  

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +17

Stretch marks?  Still same!  I'm amazed!

Sleep?    Pretty decent!  Getting a little uncomfortable with as big as the belly is getting!

Best moment this week?  Making holiday cookies with Shaun on the 17th!

Worst moment this week?  Nothing stands out.

Food cravings?  Still unfrosted cut-out cookies!

Belly button in or out?   In.  

Movement:  Still feeling the kicks and punches!

What I miss:  Time!  I feel like there is never enough!

What I'm looking forward to:  Spending Christmas with the fam!

Weekly wisdom:  

Milestones:  Baby is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing eyes, and maybe even sucking fingers.  With more brain tissue developing, baby's brain is very active.  Lungs are still immature, but are capable of functioning if born now (with a lot of medical help).  Any tiny rhythmic movements may be from baby's hiccups, which become more common from now on.

26 weeks (12/7 to 12/13)

How big is baby?  Eggplant!  Baby grew!

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +17

Stretch marks?  Same

Sleep?    Hanging in there!  My hips are still bothering me :(

Best moment this week?  Um how about everyday!  It's been so nice having Shaun home every night!

Worst moment this week?  Having to go home every day to let Snoopy out for lunch.  I feel like I've been driving all the time....

Food cravings?  Cut-out Christmas cookies from a local grocery store!

Belly button in or out?   In.  

Movement:  Yep.  Baby is going to town!

What I miss:  Don't really have anything this week.

What I'm looking forward to:  Making Christmas cookies with Shaun this weekend.

Weekly wisdom:  I got nothing....

Milestones:  Baby's ears are better developed and more sensitive to sound!  Baby is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid.  Baby is continuing to put on baby fat and now weighs almost 2 pounds.  Baby's eyes are also starting to form and soon will open.

25 weeks (11/30 to 12/6)

How big is baby?  Eggplant!  Baby grew!

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +17

Stretch marks?  Same

Sleep?    Still doing good!  My hips are hurting so bad when I wake up though!  Anyone have some ideas on how to help?

Best moment this week?  Shaun's last day of work and finding out he got a new job!  And the annual shopping trip with my mom and sister :)

Worst moment this week?  Finding out that my boss hired an intern to train for when I'm on maternity leave.  Not so bad except he didn't tell me because I was out of the office one day (ummm e-mail/cell phone anyone?) and it didn't give me any notice to get things ready!

Food cravings?  Barbecued chicken

Belly button in or out?   In.  But when I expand my stomach out :)

Movement:  Baby feels like she/he is starting Tae Bo training!

What I miss:  Clothing that fits normal.  All of my shirts are starting to look like mid drifts!

What I'm looking forward to:  The weekends that I get to spend with Shaun!!

Weekly wisdom:  Just because you can't tie or put on winter boots by yourself does not mean you are an invalid.  (Note to self:  Keep repeating until you believe it!)

Milestones:  Baby weighs in at almost a pound and a half!  Skin is starting to smooth out and not look so wrinkly.  Baby is growing more hair and you can see the color and texture (any bets on red hair?).  Baby now knows which ways is up and down (interesting!)

24 weeks (11/23 to 11/29)

How big is baby?  Papaya still!  Apparently baby isn't doing too much growing right now!

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +17

Stretch marks?  Same

Sleep?    Still doing good!  There were a few times I had to move to the couch.

Best moment this week?  Spending Thanksgiving with my family

Worst moment this week?  Almost passing out and throwing up!   I was sleeping and woke up feeling like crap.  Came out of no where and then was gone! 

Food cravings?  Nothing really this week

Belly button in or out?   In....for now

Movement:  Tons!  Baby is starting to kick a little higher up (thankfully not in my ribs yet).  But I can sort of tell baby's sleep patterns and when baby will be awake :)

What I miss:  Tying my shoes. I've resorted to leaving them tied and slipping them on :(

What I'm looking forward to:  Shopping trip with my two best ladies in the world!

Weekly wisdom:  Not so sure it's wisdom, but the best words out of anyone's mouth this week:  "It's the last time I have to work on Saturday/Sunday!"  Shaun is leaving his job that requires him to work 3 out of 4 weekends a month!  I'm so stoked to be able to spend more time with him and actually do stuff on the weekends!

Milestones:  Baby is growing fast-gaining 4 ounces since last week and now likely over a pound!  Baby is almost a foot long (ear of corn).  Brain is growing quickly, taste buds are continuing to develop; lungs are developing "branches"; skin is still thin and translucent, but starting to change to a pink color.

And it's time for a bumpdate!  Baby has officially popped!

23 weeks (11/16 to 11/22)

How big is baby?  Papaya still!

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +11 

Stretch marks?  Same

Sleep?    Despite my cold, doing pretty good!  I started my Hypnobabies so I think that may have something to do with it :)

Best moment this week?  Spending vacation time with Shaun and getting the nursery done and finishing the apples!

Worst moment this week?  Getting sick!  I'm blaming it on the dentist office!

Food cravings?  White chocolate covered pretzels.

Belly button in or out?   Still in...but I can see the top half moving in an outward direction.

Movement:  Yes lots!  Shaun actually felt baby kick a lot!

What I miss:  

What I'm looking forward to:  Spending Thanksgiving with my family!

Weekly wisdom:  .....

Milestones:  Baby has nipples now; face is fully formed; can swallow; blood vessels in lungs are starting to develop; and is starting to listen to the outside world more (wonder what baby will think of the dogs barking and Minnie sleeping on my belly all the time).

Happy 40th Anniversary!

On October 16, we celebrated my parents 40th Anniversary!  Yep, you read that right 4-0 years of being married.  In today's "let's just split" mindset, this is AMAZING!  I'm so proud of my parents and was more than happy to help them celebrate!

My dad came to my sister and I earlier this year and asked for our help in surprising my mom with a renewal of vows and little get together afterwards.  So we planned and schemed, invites were sent, reservations were made, and my mom knew NOTHING (well for the most part until our lunch reservation called the home number and talked to my mom).

Shaun and I went home for the weekend using the cover of a dodgeball tournament.  My mom had off the entire week and was pretty crabby when we got there on Friday.  She apparently took off thinking her and Dad were going somewhere....oopsie!

Saturday arrived and so did their first surprise...a brand new kitchen table!!  Shortly after the delivery people arrived so did my sister and her family!  My mom was SHOCKED!

Then Sunday came.  She still didn't know what my dad had planned until we told her at breakfast.  When Dad told her they were renewing her vows she looked at him and said "No we are not!" and then started tearing up!  It was actually pretty funny.

We arrived at church and helped put on their corsages (which amazingly lasted a long time!)

Then came the renewal!

And blessing:

And after church with Deacon:

Family shot (how is that someone's face is always blocked?)  

Bigger family picture:

At the after party:  We got them an anniversary cake and put their actual cake topper on it!

Still in love after all these years!

And me and my Mommy (haven't had one taken with just us for a while!)

I had my cousin take some pictures during the day as well, but haven't gotten them from her.  So when I do, I'll post an update with my favorite from the day!

Do you believe in signs?

So before the deep freeze set in for the winter I noticed we had some color in our flower garden.

A little back story behind this flowers:  I had planted some perennials in early spring with the hopes that they would come back next year.

Well to my surprise a few of them "popped up" this year.

Out of all of the plants I planted in early spring (about 8 of them), these were the only ones to pop up.  By now you are probably wondering why this is such a big deal, right?  Well, the reason is below the surface.  See these beautiful flowers bloomed right above where we buried our beloved Kitty earlier in the year.  ::sob::

It's amazing to me how signs about our loved ones come about when we least expect it!

Miss you and love you always Kitty!

22 weeks (11/9 to 11/15)

How big is baby?  Papaya!

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +11 

Stretch marks?  Same

Sleep?    Sometimes good sometimes not so good.

Best moment this week?  Seeing my family and deciding on a major change (more details to come in the future).....

Worst moment this week?  Being mad at Shaun...

Food cravings?  Cheerio Treats and egg salad!

Belly button in or out?   In for now

Movement:  Baby is starting to do some gymnastics

What I miss:  Being able to tie my shoes like a normal person.  Yeah I'm to that point already.  I told Shaun I already wish I could just put on a pair of flip flops!

What I'm looking forward to:  Seeing how the nursery turns out!

Weekly wisdom:  .....

Milestones:  Baby has more developed eyes and lips and almost looks like a newborn.  Baby is starting to sleep in cycles about 12-14 hours a day.

Week 21 (11/2 to 11/8)

How big is baby?  Banana ( how is a banana bigger than cantaloupe?)

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +11 

Stretch marks?  Same

Sleep?  Comes and goes.  

Best moment this week?  Feeling lots of kicks and nudges.

Worst moment this week?  Pretty much everything!  From work to schedules...I'm so over it!

Food cravings?  Ice cream!  My go to stress reliever since I can't have margaritas!

Belly button in or out?  In. 

Movement:  Yep and lots of it!

What I miss:  Being happy/excited.....

What I'm looking forward to:  Being off of work next week!

Weekly wisdom:  I'm too drained to even go there.....

Milestones:  Eyebrows and eyelids are present.  (My two sites I depend are pretty lacking in this department this week :(  Apparently not much is happening!)

HALF BAKED aka 20 weeks (10/26 to 11/1)

How big is baby?  Cantaloupe (or length of banana-depends on who you ask!)

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +11  Dr. says I'm right on track and should gain about 20-25 pounds by the end.  So not what I wanted to hear, but it's all for baby, right?

Maternity clothes?  You better believe it!

Stretch marks?  Same

Sleep?  Still doing great!

Best moment this week?  Seeing baby during the anatomy scan and learning all is well!  Baby is measuring about a week ahead of schedule and weighing in at a whopping 13 oz!!  The 3D pics that the tech took were pretty awesome as well!  I already told Shaun that the baby looks like him!

Worst moment this week?  Shaun's work schedule

Food cravings?  Cinnamon Bagels!

Gender?  We know....but due to some family members not wanting to know, I will refrain from posting.

Belly button in or out?  In.  But Shaun says I'll have an outie by the end!

Movement:  Yep!  Baby has been moving quite a bit and Shaun was able to feel baby.  I woke up Saturday morning (10/29) and had a nobby body part pushing out near my belly button and after feeling that he felt the "wave" of baby moving.  It was so cool!

What I miss:  Spending time with Shaun....

What I'm looking forward to:  Getting the nursery set up!  We've got the colors picked out, crib is ordered, and we both took a week off of work to get it done!

Weekly wisdom:  "Hang in there.  It'll get better"

Milestones:  Baby is swallowing more; also producing meconium-a black sticky by-product of digestion which will accumulate in bowels until first movement after birth.  Oh and the genitals are fully formed!

The outside:

The inside:

Check out the Simpson lips--totally Shaun!!

A progression:

Week 19 (10/19 to 10/25)

How big is baby?  Mango

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +8

Maternity clothes?  Yep.  No going back now!

Stretch marks?  Same

Sleep?  Some nights are better than others but for the most part doing remarkably well!

Best moment this week?  Having Mom & Dad over to get the leaves raked up in our yard!

Worst moment this week?  Shaun's insane work/school schedule.  I'm so over it!

Food cravings?  Still nothing.  I actually can't decide what I'm hungry for!

Gender?  Unknown..find out in a few days!  YAY!

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement: The kicks are starting!  Hopefully Shaun will be able to feel them soon!

What I miss:  Not sure...

What I'm looking forward to:  Our anatomy scan on Thursday (10/27)

Weekly wisdom:  From Shaun (again):  "At least you have your own personal space heater and can float in water"

Milestones:  Baby's sensory is exploding:  brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, touch.  Baby might be able to hear our voices now!  Arms and legs are in the right proportions to each and the rest of body.  Kidneys continue to make urine and hair on scalp is sprouting!  A waxy protective coating is forming on skin to prevent baby from "pickling" in amniotic fluid.

Week 18 (10/12 to 10/18)

How big is baby?  Sweet Potato (num! can't wait for Thanksgiving!)

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +8

Maternity clothes?  Same as last week....my shirts are starting to look a little to small though :(

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?   Pretty good. The dreams are getting weird though!

Best moment this week?  My parents 40th anniversary celebration!

Worst moment this week?  Starting to get sick. .. 

Food cravings?  Still nothing really.

Gender?  Unknown..find out next week!  YAY!

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement:  Still not feeling much.  Shaun and I were "trying" to push baby around the other night...yeah we're mean like that!

What I miss:  Daylight...it gets dark too early!

What I'm looking forward to:  Appointment next week!

Weekly wisdom:  All you need is love!

Milestones:  Baby is busy flexing arms and legs - movements that you may notice.  Baby is also yawning, hiccuping, and sucking!  Blood vessels are visible through skin and ears are now in final position!  A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around nerves (will continue for a year after baby is born).  Reproductive organs are now formed and in place.

Call us Crazy!

So with the weather getting cooler and me being pregnant and not being able to entertain Sadie as much, we decided we would do some fostering again for BBR.  Most of our family and close friends look at us weird when we tell them we are doing it now.  But usually two dogs is easier to take care of than one because then can  play with each other.  Hopefully, our new foster proves my theory right!

So foster #3 is a Bagel (basset-beagle mix).  His name is Snoopy and he is 6 years old.  His previous owners decided that they didn't have time for him anymore, such a shame, and he was starting to get aggressive.  Apparently when the relinquished him they didn't seem to care at all, actually happy to be rid of him.  So sad!

We picked up Snoopy on Sunday (10/2).  He is a very lovable guy that is in need of some training and LOTS of walking to tone him up!

Well after I wrote the above, Snoopy managed to STRESS me out to the max.  Apparently, I don't have as much patience as I'm used to.

We had been letting him have free run of the house because his previous owners used the crate as a form of punishment so I didn't want him to think that us leaving and putting him in the crate was punishment.

Incident #1:  he knocked the gate down at the top of the steps and went downstairs and peed on the floor.  To his defense, he'd been left alone for 8 hours and it was only the second day.

Incident #2:  since he was knocking the gate down we tied him up to the table next to the window so he could see out and have access to water.  Well he chewed threw his harness and was running around when I came home at lunch.

Incident #3:  Same day as incident #2

I left him out because I didn't know how he would do if I tried to put him in the crate.  We don't know if he's had his rabies vaccine and I wasn't going to chance him snapping at me and biting me!  Lesson learned!

So a day after Incident #2 and #3, I left to go run some errands and Shaun put him in his crate without incident. When I got home he was still in there and as quiet as a mouse!  THANK GOD!  He's been in his crate most of this week and has been doing great!  He actually runs down into it when we tell him we have to go bye-bye!

Wish us luck that he continues to do well!

A little slice of vacation . . .

So Shaun decided to skip town without me!  Okay not really.  But his company paid for him to travel to an all inclusive in Cancun, Mexico for a "work trip" for a couple days.  He was nice enough and only took a few pictures so I wouldn't get too bummed.  Apparently, I could have gone but by the time we found out it was too late :(

I know nothing about these pictures so feel free to make up your own stories...

Part of the margarita gang!

All together now:  JEALOUS!

Week 17 (10/5 to 10/11)

How big is baby?  An onion!

Weight gain/loss:  To date:  +8

Maternity clothes?  Still hanging on to normal clothes with the exception that I can't button nor zip them up.

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?   Remarkably well!

Best moment this week?  Feeling rather chipper!

Worst moment this week?  Shaun being away and trying to take care of two dogs (update to come on #2)!

Food cravings?  Surprisingly nothing really.

Gender?  Unknown

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement:  Haven't felt a whole lot this week!

What I miss:  Nice calm walks!

What I'm looking forward to:  The upcoming weekend! 

Weekly wisdom: Another week with nada :(

Milestones:  Baby's skeleton is changing from cartilage to bone; umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker; baby can move joints and sweat glands are starting to develop.

Week 16 (9/28 to 10/4)

How big is baby?  Avocado!

Weight gain/loss:  Well the doctor's office scale said +13 BUT I had on my jacket (with keys in), an extra layer of clothing from what I had on last time, and I had just had lunch at Qdoba (read inhaled 5 pound burrito).  I weighed myself on 10/3 and it said +8.  Still amazed at how fast this added up.  I'm hoping it's mostly baby and all that comes with it!

Maternity clothes?  So close.  I have a pair of maternity dress pants I started wearing.  Otherwise I'm living in yoga pants! 

Stretch marks? Same as week 5

Sleep?   Doing good!

Best moment this week?  Spending time with Shaun and seeing the baby!

Worst moment this week?  Having to pee and not being able to!  Whose brilliant idea was it for a pregnant woman to drink LOADS of water and then have her hold it?

Food cravings?  Nothing really....

Gender?  Well the ultrasound tech was super nice and took a peak for us.....she told us what she thought it was but couldn't say for sure.

Belly button in or out? In.

Movement:  I feel like I'm feeling baby but doctor said it's too early :(

What I miss:  Working out.  My ginormous weight gain means I really need to get back to it!

What I'm looking forward to:   Decorating the nursery!  We found some awesome decor items at Goodwill!

Weekly wisdom:  I'm fresh out of wisdom for this week.  I feel like I'm in a daze!

Milestones:  Legs are much more developed; head is erect, eyes have moved closer to front of head, ears are closer to final position; heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day; Baby is starting to listen to voices, thanks to tiny bones forming in ears; starting to grown hair (Grandma D. thinks it's red hair!), lashes, and eyebrows; forming taste buds.




My 16 week profile pics:

And pictures of baby from our ultrasound on 9/30!

So exciting to see baby grow!

Really Minnie?

Minnie apparently has a new thing for our bathroom sink

I don't understand how this is comfortable at all!  Can someone please fill me in?

NYC Weekend Trip

So I'm really far behind in updating on my everyday non-baby stuff :(  But to my defense I've been busy.  I haven't spent a weekend at my own home in almost a month!  Yes my house looks like I haven't cleaned it in that long too!

Now onto the real reason for this post!

I took a weekend trip to meet up with some FABULOUS ladies from a little old message board called The Nest.  My "nest" family was all married in April 2010 so we have this special connection.  This was the first ever major get together so we all didn't know what to expect.

I arrived in NYC on Saturday afternoon (9/17) by my lonesome (and scared out of my mind)!  I traveled to the middle of the city via public transportation...eek!  I somehow managed to make it despite make a fool of myself on one of the city buses...

When I arrived to our meeting place, I ended up having to wait for over an hour since the other girls had some delays in their travels :(  Thankfully the restaurant was nice enough to let me squat there until they arrived!

After they arrived we ate an awesome lunch and headed our separate ways to our hotels.  Unfortunately, the hotel I was staying in took forever to check us in so we didn't get out to meet up with the girls who went to look at the 9/11 Memorial :(  They said you couldn't see much but I still would have liked to make it down there.  At least I got a plane's eye view of it when my plane was coming in to NYC.

After we got settled into the hotel, we traveled to meet up for supper and meet some more "nesties".  We ate at Don Giovanni.  We ordered 4 pizzas!  Yes 4!!

After dinner, we went to Times Square and checked out all the lights (and crazy people)!  What a sight!

Sunday was the BIG day!  16 of us were meeting for brunch!!  I'm still trying to wrap my mind around that!  But before that, we headed to Central Park to see what all the hype was about!

Part of Columbus Park (which is just "outside" of Central Park)

Do we look lost?

Who knew Central Park was so rocky?

On to brunch!

Oh I forgot to mention that it was 16 1/2!  Little Man came with his mom!

Here's some pics from our resident professional photographer:

All of us after brunch (sans Holly who was taking the picture):

After brunch, we walked to the High Line park and enjoyed each other's company, ice cream sandwiches, and the weather!

On Monday morning I was walking to the subway to head back to the airport.  The hotel was near Wall Street so I snapped a few shots:

Trump Building!

I've never seen so many police in one area (yeah I live in a small rinky dink town)!  You may have heard about the Wall Street protests, well it started that weekend I was there.

And surprisingly I made it back to the airport without any problems!  Phew!  It was a crazy-long weekend but one that I will never forget!!  Thanks to my Nesties who made it spectacular!