WEEK 27: What's Happening

Violette at 26.5 weeks

How Far Along:  27 weeks 1 day {WE FINALLY MADE IT TO THE THIRD TRIMESTER!}

Baby's Size: about 15" long, and a little over 2 lbs the size of a Rutabaga

Total Weight Gain: 16 lbs 

Maternity Clothes? Slowly taking over my wardrobe

Stretch Marks? No

Sleep? Sometimes, Jeremy had bronchitis this week, so he (on doctor's orders) did not sleep in the bed with me the last few days. Some nights I slept very hard and very deep, and others I barely slept at all. One note, the baby didn't wake me up in the night when he wasn't there... maybe she can hear his snoring, too!

Best Moment this Week: Jeremy and I went to see Dr. Medrano on Wednesday, (before we knew he had bronchitis of course) and Dr. Medrano said the most amazing thing to me, EVER! He said...

"For being an at-risk patient, you are 

having a SURPRISINGLY HEALTHY pregnancy!"

It totally made my day! :) And the little one FINALLY showed her face! (not on a 3d ultrasound though) but Dr. Medrano was looking at her spine, and she turned her head and looked right at us! She stayed there for a few seconds and then turned back. She moved before he was able to snap a photo.
All I can say is that it appears that she is going to have cheeks like mine. Hahaha.

My sister, Crescent, and Baby Me (with the big cheeks)!

Miss Anything? Since Jeremy was sick he wasn't supposed to be around me, so I missed HIM all weekend. :(

Movement: There is a whole lot of kicking going on! Mostly when I am lying down, the doctor said its because the blood flow isn't being directed to my extremities so its all going to her, and that gives her more energy.

Food Cravings: On Saturday, I wanted a hot dog. So I went to Weinerschnitzel. (and it was DER-licious!) Mostly though, I just crave Vanilla Ice Cream.

What Makes you Queasy: Chicken. And when Dovey kills a fly!

Gender: It's a girl!

Labor signs? None

Symptoms: Fatigue, Soreness, Gaining a bowling ball, Waddling, etc.

Wedding Rings On or Off?  Off, but I have been wearing a lia sophia replacement ring :)

Mood: It was a really rough weekend, with Jeremy being sick I was feeling quite alone - and Disabled! It was like my best friend was on vacation without me, and I couldn't call or spend time with them. And, Once again I had no help to move the heavy things that I needed moved. I even tried to move some of the lighter ones myself, but it wasn't happening. I am growing weaker I think! It's sad - he had bronchitis but I felt like I was the one being punished because I was the one who was quarantined!

On another note, I was feeling very productive when planning this meal session - I had labels and menus and first steps all laid out. But I was feeling a bit more energetic when I made the lists I think, because I was overzealous with the menu - and chose 4 recipes too much! We didn't finish as a result. :( Next time I will do less recipes, but more times. We always have some favorites mixed in - so we can just triple those recipes instead. 

What's the Daddy-to-be Doing? He is feeling better now, he has been taking the steroids for days - he was kind of funny about keeping me healthy, walking around with Lysol wipes, wiping down everything he touched and washing his hands like crazy. The doctor must have scared him with a tale of what could happen if I got sick too, (we go to the same doctor, so Dr. Smietanka knew of course that I was pregnant from the start). I have never seen Jeremy go to such lengths to steer clear of me! It was sweet, but ANNOYING too - Two weekends in a row that I was left husband-less!

Notes to the Little One: You really like to wake mommy up in the middle of the night, don't you? I know that one of the nights it was easy to blame Eva dog - she sat way to hard on you while mommy was sleeping, and you went NUTS kicking her back. But the next night you woke up all by yourself and decided I needed to be awake, too. But I was SO TIRED. I woke up for about 2 hours and then drifted back to sleep finally - and only got an extra hour of sleep. I had to take a 3 hour nap the next day to make up for it. But alas, I survived.

Your daddy and I were SO EXCITED when we saw your face on the ultrasound - :) - it was only 30 seconds, but you definitely looked right at us! It was what we had been waiting for for months! LOL.

This week is my deadline again... (yes, I know... AGAIN?)! It happens once a month but the time between the months seems to be getting shorter and shorter! (Probably because you keep stealing my sleep!) This time Angie is going to do a lot more of the layout, (Angie is the one who is going to do Mama's job for her when  you are born), so we are hoping and praying that everything runs smoothly. 

WEEK 26: What's Happening

How Far Along:  26 weeks 1 day

Baby's Size: 14.8" the size of a head of ice burg lettuce (approx 2.5 lbs)

Total Weight Gain: 15.5 lbs 

Maternity Clothes? Worn daily for comfort... though I did buy them a little big so that I won't have to buy many!

Stretch Marks? No

Sleep? Last night was hit and miss, but I slept a little sounder, and I took a nap during the day. Most nights are filled with anxiety or fear dreams - like random people trying to kill me. I had stopped having them for about 2 years, but I guess the new baby has stirred them back up again. 

Best Moment this Week: Jeremy let me have a 'craft project' for the baby's room {well actually two - he won't let me throw away his old lamp so that revamp is by default!} but I found the most amazing mobile for above the crib (in my opinion of course) of vibrantly colored bunting on a neutral palatte - and its spread throughout the room very subtly. The sample is for a boy, but I just added some yellows teals and purples to the fabrics I chose so that it fits with the ideas we had existing.  I don't think I will need to do the rain clouds anymore either, Auntie Agnes surprised me with something much cooler! I am excited to get started. We also plan to use miniature versions of the bunting on the crib skirt, and perhaps the lampshade (attached to that horrible lamp that needs a complete overhaul!) so that it all ties in together. :)

mobile inspiration - Lennon's Nursery

I went to two different fabric stores before I found the right fabrics - and even then it was a challenge to get them all to go together. These crafty trips have always been nothing but fun for me, but I found myself overwhelmed and anxious at both visits. I am guessing that I shouldn't be attempting shopping by myself right now... (we all know how much I LOVE shopping! NOT!)

Miss Anything? I miss sandwiches. The other day I went to an event where I didn't know if I would be able to eat (as the standard main dish at events is chicken) and I thought - no problem, I can bring something! Only everything that I can eat has to be heated up, and there would be no manner in which to do that. Thankfully they opted for an Italian lunch so I was not starving, but being able to eat a normal cold sandwich would have helped alot. This lack of peanut butter is sad indeed!

Movement: A LOT OF MOVEMENT. It's like she never stops! At my event we had to sit from 9am - 4pm and for about 5 of those hours she was kicking me like a ninja. I kept having to stand up and walk around in hopes that she would stop! Last night she started right as we went to bed, and Jeremy placed his hand on my belly and just felt her kick until he fell asleep. 

Food Cravings: The past week it had been pizza. And then last night it was chili. Thankfully fall is upon us! I am excited for wintery comfort foods :)

What Makes you Queasy: Chicken. (Turkey by default). Peanuts. Lettuce.

Gender: It's a tenacious little girl for sure! LOL

Labor signs? None

Symptoms: Lack of energy, lots of eating, alien movement in my belly, waddling, muscle aches and pains, etc.

Wedding Rings On or Off?  Off, but I found a lia sophia ring that I had that is a little larger than my regular so I have been wearing that one instead :)

Mood: I looked at my google calendar today, and started to get scared. I added the countdown to the Sundays so that I could be correct on my countdown for the blog... but it worried me quite a bit! September is almost over! And October is going to be very busy with lots of baby showers to go to (including mine!) and then November has holidays mixed in - and December will be baby time! They say you don't realize how fast 9 months goes until you are in it... but I seem to recall every year saying WOW... it's already June, last week it was January! I guess the only reason you stop to realize how fast it goes is when a big event is happening that you can count it down to.

What's the Daddy-to-be Doing? He had to work all weekend to help a coworker who was terrified that he would get fired if he messed up this big project over the weekend. So it went from Jeremy being home all weekend, to him being gone from 8am to 8pm both days in the heart of the ghetto in Los Angeles. I am glad that he wasn't there alone! They seem to think that the problem is fixed though, and hopefully his coworker can rest easy now. He is such a helper this guy...

Notes to the Little One: Hey little lady, what on earth is going on in there? It's like you never stop bouncing around and kicking like crazy. Is it something that I am eating? It's okay, I know that it just means that you are healthy and growing so it's not too bad, but sometimes you kick me in the wrong spot and it hurts! We are definitely going to have to work on the schedule you are on, too - but that can wait until after the big show! Slowly but surely everything is starting to fall into place, and we are excited for your arrival, but by no means ready! Please take your time and come when the doctor says its okay! Your Mama has just started to do this whole 'nesting' thingy and needs all the time she can get!

Next weekend is Baby Jaxson's baby shower, and the week after that is Baby Elizabeth's! You are going to have so many little friends when you arrive! (and even though  you will be the youngest, chances are you might be the tallest, too! - Just like your Mama!)

Tomorrow morning, I have to do the glucose testing - (the things I do for you!) and then Wednesday we have another appointment with Doctor Medrano. Maybe you could be awake for that one!? We would love to see your kicking skills on the little screen!

WEEK 25: What's Happening

Violette's 25 week diagnostic appointment with Dr. Lee -  still hiding!

How Far Along:  25 weeks 2 days

Baby's Size: 13.6-14.8 inches, 1.5-2.2 lb. The size of a cauliflower.

Total Weight Gain: 14.5 lbs 

Maternity Clothes? Same - mostly bottoms but now my tops aren't fitting. Time to shop for more tops!

Stretch Marks? Not yet

Sleep? In Las Vegas I slept like a log! I don't know if it was the exhaustion from all the walking, or the comfy bed... but I was out like a light whenever my head hit the pillow. Last night, when we got home, I slept less - I kept worrying about the alarm and the noises. One thing I can say about the resort, it was so much quieter than our house!

Best Moment this Week: Jeremy and I went on a mini vacation to Vegas, we thought we should go on one last trip before the baby arrived. Vegas is alot less fun when you are pregnant though! LOL. The smoky casinos bother you even more, and the walking is intense. Not to mention all the drunk people! We still had fun though, I was able to visit with my friend Jacqui for a bit, get a little shopping in (yes, I know that's WEIRD for me to enjoy shopping!) and had some yummy food while we were there. 

Miss Anything? Still miss Sushi, but I am getting over it.

Movement: A TON OF MOVEMENT. This kid has started her pedaling I think! It's like a non-stop stomping for 10 - 20 minutes at a time a few times a day. They say its the same movement as pedaling a bicycle - hence the name - she is actually doing it now as I type. 

Food Cravings: While in Vegas I craved breakfast, steak, and hot dogs. The last one was weird, I had a few bites of one and was over it. LOL.

What Makes you Queasy: Chicken and anything that shares the same consistency. Jeremy ordered a Monte Cristo while we were gone and they used roast turkey in it, it looked just like chicken and it was all I could do to not get woozy. That may be the first time a Monte Cristo did not look appetizing to me.

Gender: Dr Lee confirmed that she is still a girl!

Labor signs? None

Symptoms: Exhaustion, waddling, constantly feeding. The normal stuff.

Wedding Rings On or Off?  Off :(

Mood: I definitely enjoyed our vacation - mostly the ginormous bathtub that was in my room that I soaked in all three days. It was well worth the cost of admission! I am feeling pretty rested now, hopefully it will filter in through the week as I go back to work today.

What's the Daddy-to-be Doing? He is feeling rested too - we were in need of a vacation!  He got to play a tournament and his fishy slot game and was happy.

I've gone up one whole pant size - and growing! Sorry for the bad hair/makeup day - I was exhausted!

Notes to the Little One: We went to see Dr Lee on Wednesday, and we really were hoping to see your face, as it's the last chance we may get for it until the big reveal - but you weren't having it! Your little hands were covering so good that we only got to see your hands. The side view wasn't too bad though - and we were able to see an extreme closeup of both of your hands, one down at your side, the other up by your face. Perfect little hands, which I thought was pretty amazing in itself. If course you were wiggling when he tried to take a snapshot of them, so that pic was a little blurry, but alas - we saw them pretty good. You are allowed to be shy, but just not with your mommy and daddy! :)

I think you have changed my body quite a bit this weekend - I noticed my belly changing shape each day - hard to miss as there were mirrors all throughout the room. One day I stood in front of the mirror and watched you pedaling away on my tummy. So much activity in there! I am hoping you won't be too active when you come out here - your dad and I are feeling pretty old lately - LOL, and we have to try to keep up with you for the next 50 years or so. Please go slowly for our sakes!