72.5% = 29 Weeks

I am now 29 weeks pregnant.  7 months? There seems to be a lot of controversy on "how far along" I am.  40 weeks = about 9.5 months, but that just gets complicated, so I have decided to start reporting my "progress" as a percentage.  So, 72.5% complete, a little less than 11 weeks to go!

Along those lines, I have started taking notice of all of the fun/ funny comments people say to you when you're pregnant.  No matter where you go, its sort of like the elephant in the room. The cashier at the grocery store feels like they need to make a comment to address the obvious "issue."  People at work feel the need to ask me how I'm doing or make some other inquiry when they run into me in the break room.  Whether they know me or not, everyone feels compelled to say something.  So, here are some of this week's favorites:

• From an anonymous consultant at a work meeting, who sees me every week and apparently this week he just could not hold back any longer- Are you going to have a baby!? 
• Well, I sure hope so!  Otherwise, I should probably go see the doctor about this tumor or stop eating watermelons whole.
• From coworker who sees me every day!- "So... how far along are you now?" My response: "About 7 months" To which she replies "Oh, I thought you must be, you're getting really big"
• Wow, those were some awesome observational skills, and thank you for that! 
• A surprising number of people have asked this one when they see me in the break room at work: "So, getting ready to leave soon?" (With this look on their face like they are afraid I might go into labor any second right in front of them and ruin their lunch) My response:  "I'm probably going to go leave mid April"  Their response: "Oh! When are you due again?"
• Really people?  Most of you have kids of your own.  Do you really not remember anything about pregnancy?
• And my least favorite... "Look how cute she is!"  
• There are a few women that every time they see me coo and mention how "cute" I am to which I transform into a scary monster and yell at the top of my lungs "I hate you!" Or at least in my mind, that's what happens. Maybe that's just pregnancy hormones?

So the real news you all want...

Baby is doing well, kicking and moving like crazy.  He now responds to taps and scratches on my belly.  If I tap or scratch he usually kicks back.  The other day Jake (our cat) was swishing his tail into my belly while we watched tv and every time his tail hit my belly Baby boy kicked back.  This went on for nearly an hour :-)
Baby is now about 14.8 inches long from head to heal and about 2.2 pounds.  His brain is developing all its folds and grooves and he continues to "plump up."  His muscle tone is also improving, as are the strength of his kicks! His lungs are now developed enough to breath air.

I, on the other hand am not not doing as well.  I've been in a lot of pain lately.  My back is really hurting and my hips ache making it uncomfortable to try and sleep.  My feet hate me and I'm swelling some now.  In general, I'm just not too comfortable any more.   

House update: Movers came last Saturday and we finally have furniture and a washer and dryer again!   Most of the stuff is not occupying our garage because we aren't actually ready to put it in the rooms, but we're making progress!

• Downstairs tile demo complete & wood floors installed!
• Baseboards and door casings are in progress (and probably will be for a while!)  Trying to tackle one room at a time
• So, so, so much more to do!

The last of the back-breaking floor demo

Floor is in, baseboards on, new blinds up!

 Thanks for following! Lot's of love <3

Congrats to Tay and Shawn on their upcoming addition! So cool the cousins will only be 6 months apart!

25 Weeks

I know its been a while, but the days are just flying by...  this last month has been a blur.

Past the 6 month mark!  Baby and I both continue to grow.  I have officially gotten to the point where perfect strangers feel comfortable asking "when am I due?" or "how is the pregnancy going?"  Every time I look in the mirror I continue to be shocked at what I see.  How am I even bigger than the day before!?  I was looking back at my early "bump" pics, when I felt like I was clearly showing! Ha!  And to think, I have about 3.5 months to grow, I mean go.  I can't even imagine it!  I continue to be amazed by the natural phenomenon of creating a child.  I am finally accepting that this body is no longer my own.  It has been abducted by an alien life form and my sole purpose of existence right now is to meet every need and demand of this child.  Welcome to parenthood?! :-)  No more trapeze or hand balancing.  I haven't even been upside down in a month!  Pretty sure that's the longest I've been upright since birth :-)  For most people, I'm sure this seems normal and perhaps a strange "complaint," but for me it is so foreign and I feel so completely unlike myself.

Meanwhile, my baby boy is thriving!  He's about 1.5 pounds right now and about 13.6 inches long from head to heel.  At last week's Doctor's appointment his heart was beating 145 beats per minute and everything looked good.  He's getting plenty of exercise, moving about daily and punching and kicking throughout the day.  Thankfully, he's been an excellent sleeper so far, mostly moving while I'm at work and throughout the day and sleeping while I do at night.  Or maybe I am just too exhausted during the night to feel him? 

The house.... well, we are "moved in," sort of.  Most of our stuff and furniture remains in storage while we try and get the house ready for it.  Baseboards and casings are all torn out, while new ones wait in the garage to be installed.  New carpet is in!  The nursery is painted (thanks to Grandma Janine) and the other rooms are in the process of being painted.  The master closet remodel is almost complete.  This weekend we began the demo of all the tile downstairs (and by we I mean mostly Jason and Janine), it is nasty business! The house is one big construction zone but its going to be a great home when we get through with it.

Hope everyone's New Year is off to a great start!  Wishing you all health, happiness and prosperity!

XoXo

Baby is a....

BOY!

20 weeks, Half Way There!

5 months down, 5 more to go!  


Baby is growing like a weed lately! Or at least my belly is :-)  And little baby V is an active little one.  Keeping me company and constantly reminding me he/ she's in there.  Last night we went to see Hunger Games 2 and at all of the really loud noises and action scenes I got a swift kick straight to the bladder.  One of them caused me to jump out of my chair.  Maybe no more action movies... 

This week Baby is the size of a banana, or about 6-6.5 inches from crown to rump.  Baby's bones continue to harden (which makes the kicks stronger and stronger) and Baby's skin is thickening and forming two layers, the epidermis and the dermis.  As for me, lately I can't seem to get enough water, I'm always so thirsty.  Getting hungrier more often, but craving healthy things right now with lots of nutrients.  Ironically, bananas are my biggest craving of late :-) 

In other news, we close escrow on our new home today!!! Can't wait to get settled in, although we'll have to wait a little longer since the previous owners are sticking around up to an extra 10 days until their new home is ready.

Can't wait to finally find out if we're having a girl or boy!  Reveal party is this Sunday (the 15th) at Grandma Janine's house at 3PM.  If you haven't done so already let me know if you'll be joining us.  Look forward to sharing such a fun and special moment with everyone!

17 Weeks

17 weeks and Baby is the size of a grapefruit (or about 5 inches from head to bottom).  This week the  baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker.  

Overall I'm feeling much better now, energy has returned for the most part and there's no more sickness.  Starting to notice my belly interfere with usual activities like my workouts and simpler things like just putting on my socks :-) I've finally moved off the hand balancing stilts and on to the floor.  My balance just isn't what it used to be, plus I can't really get up anymore!  Still able to get up on the trapeze but I'm carefuller now and more aware of my belly at all times.  

This weeks breakthrough... Finally went maternity shopping!!!  I was partly holding on to the idea of fitting into my old clothes as long as I could, and partly just haven't had the time to go.  But now that I have, WOW, so much more comfortable!  Wish I would have done this a month ago.  Maternity clothes are sort of like walking around everywhere in PJs!  Love elastic! 

Off to Cancun this Saturday for some much needed R&R!  Baby and I can't wait!  Not super excited about wearing a bathing suit :-/ but I'm sure I'll get over it once I have a virgin Pina Colada in hand and the ocean at my fingertips! 

I guess next week's fruit will be whatever I find in Cancun that's about 5 1/2"  :-)

Looking forward to.. Baby Gender Reveal Party, December 15th!  Open invitation to anyone that wants to come wage your bet and find out what we're having!

First Baby Purchase

So the first baby item we bought is.... a jogging stroller.  My Mom's reaction to this, "You don't jog."  :-(  A bit random maybe for our first purchase, but I was browsing through Craigslist and found this brand new unopened stroller for a great price.  I thought Jason was going to call me crazy when I called him and told him to stop by some random guy's house and pick up the baby stroller I just bought off craigslist, but just said "yes dear" and went along with it.  Once we put it together when he got home I think he was even more excited about it than I was.  It's pretty cool!  And Jason thinks it looks sporty and way cooler for a Dad than traditional strollers :-)  It'll be a while before we can use it, but it was still fun to get something for future baby!  I can't wait until we find out the sex so we can buy more fun things.

Update:  So several people have pointed out to me I've missed several weeks in my blog updates, not to mentions belly progress pics.  Sadly, I haven't taken them for us either.  So, here's my excuse.... We spent the last 2 weeks of October packing up our home and moving it into storage, moving some to our little rental, and having the movers haul some away.  Currently our stuff resides in 5 places, and I couldn't tell you what was where!  But that's not enough of an excuse, so also during that time I had a huge deadline at work and was working until midnight to get stuff done, and then left on November 4th for a week of work in North Carolina.  I got back Monday night this week, to unpacked boxes, loads of work, and a sick kitty.   Oh, and I almost forgot!!! We are in escrow on our new home! One more thing that happened the day I left for NC.  We gave up on our dream neighborhood/ house and settled on a great place nearby in a great neighborhood on a cul-de-sac.  We're scheduled to close December 9th! 

So, I am now 16 weeks (4 months!) and baby has been growing along and I have been going crazy, but all is well.  My usual posts, and next "bump" update will be this weekend.... week 17 baby is an onion. (Unless I can think of a cuter fruit/veggi that is the same size) ;-)

13 Weeks

13 Weeks, baby is the size of a Peach!  Baby and Mom are doing well!  I can't believe my little lime is already a peach!  They grow up so fast ;-)  I'm doing my best to keep it concealed, but I had another person ask me today.

Morning (all day) sickness seems to pretty much be gone!  Feeling much better, but adjusting to some "growing pains" as everything keeps getting bigger.  

Trying to be careful packing and lifting as we box up our home and put it in storage.  Only 2 weeks left in our home before our new adventure begins!  .... that's me trying to stay super positive :-)  
xoxo