Pillow

I just bought this pillow from Target for one of the arm chairs in my living room, and I adore it. The fabric around the edges is burnt orange, which makes my husband very happy! I'll have to take a picture of it in the living room because it matches my orange lamp and my other pillows from Crate and Barrel! :) Don't you just love Target?

31 Weeks

What's Happening This Week: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

How far along? 31 weeks

Stretch marks? Not yet…
Sleep: I spoke too soon. This week I haven't slept at all, and let me just say it's taking its toll. I'm having a difficult time functioning. Prayers for that, please!
Best moment this past week: Ben and Holly hosted a super fun Israel reunion party.  It was great to finally meet everyone who was on the trip. (This was the trip I was supposed to go on, but couldn't because of the pregnancy.) It was great to meet the tour leader, too. I had heard so much about the great Jack Beck!
Food cravings: Cuties, those super tiny mandarins. I've been eating at least two a day!

What I miss: Being able to get dressed without having to sit down! haha It's so hard to put my pants on now. Pretty funny.

What I am looking forward to: My first baby shower!!!! YAY :) Some of the sweet ladies from church are throwing me a shower on Saturday. I'm pretty excited...I'll be sure to post pictures after the event.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't compare yourself to other parents, always do what's best for your family.  What great advice.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning. I'm hoping to get some sense of how much she's weighing, or at least figure out how I'm measuring.  I'll be sure to update tomorrow after the appointment. Prayers for the continued health of this sweet baby!!!!

30 weeks!

What’s Happening This Week:  Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How far along? 30 weeks!!!
Stretch marks? Not yet…
Sleep: A little better! My sweet husband moved the guest room mattress to our room and it’s working so much better!  Sleep is still minimal, but at least I’m getting a little. By the way, pregnancy dreams are so weird! I’m just saying :)
Best moment this past week: I had an urge to redo the living room, and Matt did it for me-yes, all by himself! He moved a couch to another room for me.  That’s love :)
Movement: All the time…she’s ready to bust out :)
Food cravings: Smoothies! yummmmmm
Labor Signs: just Braxton Hicks
What I miss: My fancy high heels :( It’s not that my feet are all that swollen (yet), but I’m pretty sure I would topple over since my balance is so thrown off by this giant bump! Can’t wait to put them on again (even if it’s just to do the dishes!)
What I am looking forward to: The closer I get the more excited I am to know what she’s going to be like.  I’ve been thinking about who she’s going to look like, what her personality is going to be, wondering if she’ll have red hair…I can’t wait to meet her :)
Weekly Wisdom: Matt teaches a young mom’s bible study and they’ve been giving him cards with tips and advice written on them.  I’ll use this space to share what they’re passing on :) Here’s one from this past week:
“Your kids will always love to see their parents in love. So get dressed up for date night and let your children see you kissing in the kitchen.  Always be madly in love with each other.”
Milestone: Only 10 more weeks until my due date! How CRAZY is that???

29 Weeks

What’s Happening This Week: Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk.  This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

How far along? 29 weeks
Stretch marks? Not yet…
Sleep: The doctor told me to take a Tylenol PM to help with my back pain at night…and oh my goodness! I SLEPT! I mean, it wasn’t sleep like I used to get, but I actually feel a little rested. What a relief!  :)
Best moment this past week: Spending time with Holly over the weekend. It was so nice to have some girl time. We both missed our husbands (both are pastors and both were at a retreat), but it was nice to get our nails done and relax! :)
Movement: I feel like she’s been moving for the past two days straight! She’s such a wiggle worm. You can see her rocking my belly back and forth. It’s pretty darn funny.
Food cravings: Fruit and TCBY (a constant craving…why don’t they sell this in the grocery store????)
Labor Signs: My Braxton Hicks contractions have officially started.  Not that this is a sign of labor, but it’s a sign that my body is practicing for labor! Pretty cool.
What I miss: Normal clothes! I went to J.Crew with Holly this weekend and I am so in love with everything there.  J.Crew, create a maternity line already!
What I am looking forward to: Actually getting the crib set up with the bedding! I need a mattress first, but I can at least tie the bumper on to see! :) Also, who knew that crib mattresses were so expensive???
Weekly Wisdom: Take pictures of yourself pregnant! I clearly listened :) My mom is always saying she wishes she had more photos of herself pregnant. I’m trying to take her advice seriously.
Milestone: Braxton Hicks contractions

Maternity Photos

My good friend, Holly, took some maternity photos of me over the weekend.  Holly’s a professional photographer, mother and a children’s minister! She does it all :) I wasn’t so sure about taking the pictures, but she assured me that later on I would want to remember what I looked like pregnant.  Also, my mom said I had to :)

We’re going to take some more pictures later on in the pregnancy.  We hope to get Matt in some of these! :) 

Here are a few of my favorites:

3rd Trimester!

 What's Happening This Week: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

What a week it has been! My mom came in town on Wednesday night and stayed through Sunday. My dad met us here in Houston on Friday. We had a GREAT time together! My mom got an amazing idea from her mother to cook a bunch of meals and freeze them for me so I wouldn't have to cook or do much grocery shopping this month. How fantastic is that??? So now my freezers are stocked up with all kinds of goodies! Thanks mom and Grandmother! :)

My dad bought us our stroller, which really makes all of this feel so real.  Matt was out of town all week and got home late Saturday night. He still had a sermon to write, but was excited to see the stroller box and went right to work! He had the entire system assembled in no time :) I have such a sweet husband! Tako (our chihuahua) is a little freaked out by the stroller-maybe we should tell her she's going to be a big sister :)

Here are some pictures of Matt putting together the stroller:

How far along? 28 weeks

Stretch marks? Not yet, but I think some are headed my way. BOO.

Sleep: I am actually sleeping a little better than last week! It still takes me a few minutes to switch sides and whatnot, but I definitely slept better this week! YAY!

Best moment this past week: Mom and I went to Baby Daze (a HUGE consignment sale here at KUMC) and bought way too many clothes for my sweet girl. She already has 5 pairs of shoes---insane, especially since she won't keep them on, I'm sure of it! But, what can I say, she takes after her mother and grandmother :)

Movement: I swear, she's using the bed as a trampoline. When I lay on my side she pushes against the bed. What a funny girl.

Food cravings: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream...I'm just not going to go to the store. If I buy it, the carton will be gone in under 5 minutes. Not cute.

Labor Signs: Not yet, but I read that the Braxton Hicks contractions could start this week.

What I miss: Being able to walk like a normal person (I currently walk like a duck-OK, I waddle like a duck.)

What I am looking forward to: The crib comes in this week! YAY! I can't wait to start putting this nursery together

Weekly Wisdom: RELAX and take care of myself. I struggle with this, I still want to do everything I was able to do a few weeks ago, but it's not a physical possibility

Milestone: I would say reaching the 3rd trimester is pretty big milestone :)