WEEK 30: What's Happening

How Far Along:  30 weeks 1 day 

Baby's Size: about 16.8" long, and a little over 3.5 lbs the size of a Large Cucumber

Total Weight Gain: 20 lbs (1.5 lbs this week, yikes!)

Maternity Clothes? Taking over my wardrobe, seriously. Check out this belly bump! It's growing SO FAST!

Stretch Marks? Nothing new.

Sleep? It comes and goes - mostly goes these days. I wake almost every night around 2am and then can't fall back to sleep. I've also started having some CRAZY anxiety dreams, but Violette is actually in them these days! Which is an adjustment for me.. I'm usually not carrying a baby in my arms while running from scary stuff. LOL.

Best Moment this Week: We saw Dr. Medrano on Wednesday and he said that everything looks great, AND she showed us her face long enough to get a photo! :) She really does have my chubby cheeks! Check it out!

Other good moments this week included Jeremy and I getting a lot done in the nursery this weekend (blinds, curtains, organization, cleaning, stocking, etc), and then I got to do some craft time with my Stephiekinz. Her presence definitely calms my anxiety, it always has. She has one of those mellow spirits that just makes you relax.

Miss Anything? Sleep! and my Daddy and JoJo. They have been in my dreams a lot this week. I keep thinking about how much calmer I would be if they were here to cheer me on. When a piece of your heart that big goes missing, it's hard to be 100% sure that everything will be alright... I know that they are watching over me though, but it still would be better to have them holding my hand or just be a phone call away. 

Movement: I watch her move around all the time... my belly just starts to jump a few times in the same place and then she rolls to the center. Her favorite place to lay her head is down by my left hip bone... she likes to elbow me in the abdomen and then rolls into the birthing position at night, (when I lay on my left). Seems were both most comfortable on the left these days. LOL.

Food Cravings: Vanilla Ice Cream is probably the most prevalent one this week. I wonder why? Turns out that alot of my mommy friends crave it... is it because its a comfort food? a dairy? a protein? Not really sure but its been calling my name all week long!

What Makes you Queasy: Chicken. I guess this couldn't have come at a better time with all of the Chicken Recalls going around in So Cal... SERIOUSLY FOLKS. Don't buy chicken right now... the contamination is everywhere!

Gender: It's a girl!

Labor signs? None

Symptoms: Baby Bump. Waddle. Sore hips, thighs and legs. Exhaustion. A little bit of morning sickness came back too. :(

Wedding Rings On or Off?  Off. But I do sport a Lia Sophia fancy ring in its place.

Mood: Productive. This weekend I washed all of the baby's clothes and blankets, as well as all of her bottles and a few pacis that she might need for the first few months. Everything has been folded and put away, all of her toys are placed neatly in a drawer, her books (the few that she has) on the shelf, and everything has a place. 

What's the Daddy-to-be Doing? He finally put up the blinds and the curtains in your room :) It looks like a more finished space now! He said that was how he is nesting... LOL. Whatever that means...

Notes to the Little One: Well your mama took inventory of all of the gifts we have received and it looks like you are almost all set for the first 4 months or so! Your nursery is all organized now, all that is really left is the mobile feature (which I started to work on yesterday), and we still need a few odds and ends, like mittens and hats for the first few weeks, and then a few things in the size run of 6-9 months, just in case you grow REALLY fast! 

WEEK 29: What's Happening

How Far Along:  29 weeks 1 day 

Baby's Size: about 16.5" long, and a little over 3 lbs the size of an Acorn Squash

Total Weight Gain: 19 lbs 

Maternity Clothes? Taking over my wardrobe

Stretch Marks? No

Sleep? Baby let me sleep the night before my baby shower, but the night after it I woke at 230am and didn't go back to sleep until 8pm. :( I was one tired Mama! 

Best Moment this Week: The baby shower! :) It was SO EXCITING to see all of the old faces, and be surrounded by those whose company I cherish. It was SO PRETTY! 

Miss Anything? Sleep! and I missed fish a little bit yesterday. It's hard because though I am allowed to eat a select type of fish - I am not supposed to eat them unless they are farmed in specific regions because of the mercury levels - and instead of asking that stupid question to the servers, I just go for something I know I can eat. (Like a Baked Potato.)

Movement: I could tell she was just as tired as me this weekend - she wasn't moving as much during the shower and the day after... but last night she was kicking up a storm ... (MOM! It's time for BED!) Lol.

Food Cravings: What's funny is I have been craving Carrot Cake for about a week - since Laura said Aunt Cindy baked for her and then I wanted Great Grandma's 24 karat Cake - but was super dooper excited when Jeanna brought out Carrot Cake for the gift opening at my shower. YUMMY! The best treat ever!

What Makes you Queasy: Chicken. Turkey. Really any type of fowl. The thought of thanksgiving makes me a little queasy too right now. Though, I do love the side dishes!

Gender: It's a girl!

Labor signs? None

Symptoms: Baby Bump. Waddle. Sore hips, thighs and legs. Exhaustion.

Wedding Rings On or Off?  Off. But I do sport a Lia Sophia fancy ring in its place.

Mood: Overwhelmed. After the baby shower sitting among the pile of gifts it really SET IN. There is a little person who is going to take over REALLY soon. Though I am excited, now I think the anxiety has begun too. I am glad that everyone (grandparents, etc) seems to be okay with letting us do things our way... it will make the transition a lot easier.

What's the Daddy-to-be Doing? He is tired - he was SUPER helpful during the baby shower. He helped set up, and move heavy stuff and protected the food from flies (he loved this!) and then he helped tear down too. I was so glad that he was there to help, and yet he still seemed to have a really good time. Some of my friends were meeting him for the first time, but he was very relaxed and social. I was quite proud of my little hermit. ;)

Notes to the Little One: HOLY WOW you are loved! Your baby shower was OUT OF THIS WORLD adorable... and everyone that came really enjoyed themselves. You even had a surprise visit from the Schramm girls - (which is funny since they were my wedding crashers, too!) There was so much love and omiword there were a lot of presents! I think we will be pretty set for a time...

My FAVORITE present was from Auntie Rae (Agnes) who saw something and KNEW it would be perfect for your bedroom - and boy was she right! We had been struggling with your theme for some time, but now it is set! Up, Up & Away! Hot Air Balloons and bunting... a soothing neutral backdrop with these beautiful pops of color and whimsy... it is going to be AMAZING! I can't wait to get it ready for you! Your Grandma Brenda is making you a crib skirt when she gets home, and my assignment is bunting. (LOTS OF IT!) I will have to start that soon, maybe I can round up a friend or two to do it with me so I am not as scared of my sewing machine. :) 

WEEK 28: What's Happening!

How Far Along:  28 weeks 1 day 

Baby's Size: about 16" long, and a little over 2.5 lbs the size of an Eggplant

Sorry for the pajama selfie - but I noticed how much my belly's grown since the last pic and wanted to share!

Total Weight Gain: 17 lbs 

Maternity Clothes? Taking over my wardrobe

Stretch Marks? No

Sleep? Almost nightly I wake between 3 and 6, and am WIDE AWAKE for about 2 hours minimum. Then I am allotted an hour nap before I can't sleep anymore and have to start my day. :( 

Best Moment this Week: Finished deadline and the CRIB & CHANGING TABLE were Delivered! :) I am so grateful for such an amazing gift! (Thank you J, K, C & C!) It's beautiful - and BIG! I didn't expect it to be so large! :) {The standard crib sheet I bought doesn't fit, but It's okay, I fixed my registry to match the dimensions.} They fit perfectly in the space. Can't wait to start nesting and making sense of her room!

Miss Anything? Sleep! I miss sleeping through the night. I miss having my limbs not fall asleep and I miss not having to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes. 

Movement: She is quite the little mover and shaker - every couple of hours I feel her shift - or kick - and then always when I start my evening rest around 9pm, she keeps it up pretty steady until 11 or so. 

Food Cravings: During deadline all I wanted was Bread & Butter. I never actually got it - but it was INSANE how badly I was craving it - my mouth was watering, and I could smell it!

What Makes you Queasy: Chicken. And after this weekends cooking night, Im going to add pork to the list - just for now. LOL

Gender: It's a girl!

Labor signs? None

Symptoms: Baby Bump (it has appeared! and continues to grow - my belly's been aching all week from the new growth spurt!), Tired, Achy, Unable to lift stuff, Too much to do - not enough time to do it in.

Wedding Rings On or Off?  Off.

Mood: I really wish my sleep wouldn't have been so disrupted during deadline - I did my very best to keep my head about me - but by 4pm I was 100% trailing. I could sense my brain start to slow down. Thankfully Angie was totally on her game - she laid out most of the magazine and I think she felt really comfortable - maybe because I was sitting next to her if she got stuck - but I 100% believe that she could do this by herself. She didn't ask for much guidance this time, I just told her my thoughts, or how we had done it in the past, and she went to work - and the magazine looks AMAZING. I can't wait to see it in print! 

What's the Daddy-to-be Doing? The last few weeks he was REALLY stressed about his CCNA (Cisco Networking) exam - he needed it to renew so that he could keep his other certifications or something. He passed with a 937 (out of 1000) and he only needed 776 to pass. I told him over and over that he didn't have anything to worry about - but just to do his best. :) Silly boy! He doesn't plan to procrastinate on his exams from this point forward. He said he was going to take one every year so that it doesn't happen again. LOL. (Thank God - his stress was stressing ME out!)

Notes to the Little One: Your bedroom is starting to take shape... :) It still needs a little fiddling with - but the main components are there :) Your daddy is going to put your blinds up this week, too! After the shower I still have a few things I need to get, like a rug and some curtain sheers - and grandma Brenda is planning to make you some custom bedding :) I just want it to be soothing but fun. Hopefully it turns out! Right now it doesn't make sense - but I plan to fiddle with it this week after work - :)

Your mama is really excited for next weekend - the Baby Shower - where we get to celebrate you before you arrive! :) I get to see so many people that I rarely see these days and we will all share in the excitement. Your grandma is even flying in from Oregon! (She will be back to meet you when you are born, too!)

Well my Little One, your Mama is SUPER tired this morning - once again I was awakened WAY too early. This time with my hands going numb and leg cramps. And then I remembered that I forgot to switch the laundry... (OOPS!) I wish I could go back to sleep - but its time to start getting ready for the day. We REALLY have to work on this sleep stuff, your Mama is a morning person that can't nap during daylight. If you keep this up though, it might be time to invest in blackout shades for the bedroom!