30 Weeks!

How big is the baby this week: Emersyn is the size of a cucumber.

Due Date: May 8, 2012

Weight Gain: Up 2 lbs this week. Running total: 16lbs!

Symptoms: Big ol' belly! Soreness in my back, hips, and legs. Giant kicks, rolls, and punches from baby girl. Hard to breathe, and my tailbone is in pain when I sit too long.

Cravings: Milk and pineapple upside down cake.

Aversions: Nadda.

Sleep: Sleep has transitioned to not as great. Waking up a few times at night, and now it's harder to get back to sleep. Also, when I wake up, it's usually with a sore neck/back. I'm still using my Snoogle, so I think I'm just to the point that there is no avoiding some of the pains of pregnancy.

I am loving: Seeing hubby's face when he feels or sees her move. He's pretty impressed with her:)

I miss: Being able to find a comfortable position.

I am looking forward to: My baby shower at work this Friday, and our childbirth class this weekend.

I'm spazzing about: The bookcase we want for her bedroom has been out of stock since we decided on it and I'm waiting (impatiently) for it to come back into stock so we can get it ordered!

Best thing about this week: My baby shower last Saturday- it was absolutely perfect in every way! Also, I got in the dresses I ordered for our maternity pics and decided on one (the pink one, shocker).

Milestones: Reaching 30 weeks! We've got 70 days (give or take) left!

Movement: Nearly constant throughout the day (she probably only gives me around 2 hours total off). She feels very big, and her movements are fairly uncomfortable- especially around my belly button. I have a scar there from when I had my appendix out, so I'm not sure if it's related to that, or if that's just a painful area in general.

It's a...: Girl!!! Emersyn Grace:)

Dear Baby

Dear Emersyn,

We had your first baby shower this weekend- for some reason it made it feel just THAT much more real that you will be here soon! It was hosted by the girls in my small group at church, and was a mixture of church friends and pharmacy school friends. You got oodles of gifts, and I definitely choked up a few times by how wonderful everything was, and how special the friendships I've made here in Tulsa are. We are so excited to move back to Missouri, but I will miss a lot of things about your hometown!

This third trimester definitely has it's rough spots. It's still better than first trimester nausea, but a lot of your kicks and punches and rolls really hurt. Sometimes you like to just poke an elbow out for awhile, and man those spots are sore. You also like to stretch around my belly button and that sucker feels like it's going to pop! I can only imagine what the next few weeks will feel like, but I'm definitely understanding why women are so eager for the baby to come out near the end of pregnancy.

Mostly though, I'm just ready to know when you'll come, what you'll be like, and start testing out my mama skills. I'm sure there will come a day I'll be wishing you back IN, but right now, I'm so eager to hold you in my arms and figure out this mama thing that I'm praying the next few weeks pass quickly! We love you so much, baby girl!

Love,
Mama

Maternity photo prep

I just ordered 3 maxi dresses from Target (with plans to return at least one, maybe two) in hopes of finding the right dress for maternity photos. We're taking the photos at the end of March, and I'm hoping it will be uncharacteristically warm, as it has been all season), since all three dresses are short sleeved. I plan on using the images in the nursery, so I picked pink, teal and yellow dresses- may have overthought that one haha.

My main concern is fit- none of the dresses are maternity, but I didn't see any maternity dresses from there that I liked, and I wanted to try to find something reasonably priced before going to a more expensive store. I'll probably pick another outfit as well, but here are the dresses I ordered.

29 Weeks

How big is the baby this week: Emersyn is the size of an acorn squash.

Due Date: May 8, 2012

Weight Gain: Up 1 lb this week. Running total: 14lbs!

Symptoms: Growing belly, occasional heartburn, and increased nose blowing. I've had a few random pains in my lower abdomen, and it's feeling harder to breathe.

Cravings: Milk and steak. And chocolate fudge brownie ice cream:)

Aversions: Nadda.

Sleep: Sleep is pretty good. It's hard to find a really comfortable position as she gets bigger, and I'm waking up 1-2 times a night to go to the bathroom, but other than that it's good.

I am loving: Working on her nursery.

I miss: Being able to put my socks and shoes on without feeling like I'm about to suffocate, sleeping on my belly and back.

I am looking forward to: First baby shower this weekend!

I'm spazzing about: The bookcase we want for her bedroom has been out of stock since we decided on it and I'm waiting (impatiently) for it to come back into stock so we can get it ordered!

Best thing about this week: Crafting things for Emersyn's nursery with my SIL, Jeni- hairbows, and letters and birdhouses, oh my! Got a bassinet from my brother and SIL, Cory and Kristina that Emersyn will use in our room! And Emersyn's great- grandma is going to make her quilt! Lots of good things this week!

Milestones: Fabric for her bedding is ordered, the crib is assembled, and her painting is hung. Our house is starting to house lots of baby-related items and I love it:) I passed my glucose screening!

Movement: Her kicks and jabs are still mostly fun, but it's starting to progress to a little bit uncomfortable, and occasional pain (foot in the ribs= ouch). I'm growing a strong girl!

It's a...: Girl!!! Emersyn Grace:)

I passed my test!

Glucose test, that is. I got the call from my doctor's office today that I scored a 119, and passed! I took the test last Thursday before my appointment, and it really wasn't bad at all. I had the fruit punch flavored drink, which my nurse had heard was better than the orange. Even though I obviously didn't taste the orange, the fruit punch tasted just slightly sweeter than normal fruit punch. It wasn't until the last two gulps that I was even like, hmmm this isn't that great, and by then I was done.

In other news, Emersyn was measuring in at 3 lbs 2 oz (my doctor said, "that's a big baby")- she doubled in size since my 24 week appointment. If she continues to gain weight how she is supposed to, we'll be on track to have a 9lb 2 oz baby! Eeek. I was 8lbs 6 oz, and my oldest brother was 9 lbs 2 oz. My other brother was 6lbs 8 oz, but I'm not sure how early he was (we were all c-sections after my mom labored with my oldest brother for 27 hours and ended up with a c-section). So we shall see... I start going every two weeks now! No pictures from the appointment because Emersyn is head down.

I was having some pains on the lower left side of my belly last weekend, so my dr also checked my cervix- long and closed. I haven't noticed the pains here lately, so it may have just been baby girl rolling over on some nerves, or round ligament pain.

Crafting for my girl!

I spent a good deal of time yesterday after work at Hobby Lobby! I picked up the letters for Emersyn's room, some birdhouses to decorate with, and lots and lots of things to make hairbows with! I still have more to go, but here's a closeup of my favorite...

Please excuse the cruddy iPhone pics- I was sending them to my SIL. Here are the rest I ended up with last night. The three on the left are ones I actually made, and the three on the right were just clip ons I bought for the bands.

So very fun thinking about her wearing these someday soon!

28 Weeks!

How big is the baby this week: Baby is the size of a rutabaga.

Due Date: May 8, 2012

Weight Gain: Up 1 lb this week. Total: 13lbs!

Symptoms: Growing belly, occasional heartburn, and increased nose blowing.

Cravings: Milk, hamburgers, and guacamole. Also, had a REALLY intense craving for Red Lobster this past week- hubby and friends obliged:)

Aversions: Nadda.

Sleep: Seems to be a little better these days- I think I've finally broken in my Snoogle and now I seriously can't imagine sleeping comfortably without it. Funny story- we usually set our alarm for around 15-20 minutes before we actually have to get up, and enjoy hitting the snooze button a couple of times, but I think the alarm wakes up Emersyn, and she does NOT go back to sleep- she starts kicking. So, while hubby catches another few minutes of sleep, I lay there with E kicking away. Not too bad of a way to start the day:)

I am loving: My Snoogle, and food. Nom nom nom.

I miss: Being able to put my socks and shoes on without feeling like I'm about to suffocate, sleeping on my belly and back.

I am looking forward to: Working on the nursery this weekend, and my first baby shower on Feb 25th!

I'm spazzing about: My glucose test this week- I don't think I'll have any major issues passing (fingers crossed), but I've heard the drink is super sugary, and too much sweet stuff makes me nauseous.

Best thing about this week: The foot rub from hubby last night- I worked until 8:45 and my ankles were starting to swell.

Milestones: I'm officially in my third trimester!! Also, pretty sure Emersyn had hiccups Sunday night:)

Movement: She moves the most in the evenings, and around 20 minutes after I eat.

It's a...: Girl!!!