27 Weeks

My apologies for lack of recent photos, I hope to upload some later, 

I can't find my camera anywhere and it's starting to get frustrating!!! Plus, I have an

undeniable baby belly now and want to show it to you!!! Hopefully this weekend I'll be able

to remedy this photo situation... which makes me realize I need to buy an actual high-

quality camera for when Will arrives instead of a generic point-and-shoot... 

add that to the wish list that grows exponentially these days!!!

Reflections this Week:

How Far Along?:  27 weeks, only 13 weeks to go, how is that possible?

Total Weight Gain:  still around 15 lbs. but it feels like more!

Clothing: maternity clothes and some of my regular things too, the hair-tie trick on my jeans is still working, although not as well as it used to!

Catching Zzzzs: since we are house sitting in a fully furnished house until we move into our own house, we've been sleeping on someone else's bed... although sleeping isn't the word for me lately, it's been lots of tossing and turning. This week we switched to a different bedroom because I didn't sleep well at all last week, and so far it's been getting better, which is a relief!  And, although having a huge body pillow is nice, it's like having another person in bed with us, along with our 110 dog, makes life interesting!

Best Moments of the Week: a parent volunteer at school asked me if I was pregnant, which is my first official time that someone who didn't know me realized, so this belly is growing! :)  We also got to see "our" house again today to meet with the realtor and the seller and discuss some details prior to closing.  I love it even more now that we've seen all the little green shoots popping up in gardens everywhere, and we learned there are several rose bushes & high bush blueberries, plum tree & apple trees, and flower beds all over... along with turtles and frogs in the pond, and a fire pit out back, it's so perfect!   It is soooo easy for me to get lost in daydreams, imagining Will toddling around the yard or taking him for strolls along the trails in the woods, looking for signs of animals and playing in the garden. 

Miss Anything?: nope, life is good! :)

Movements: lots, I love seeing him moving all around, so does his daddy, he even wiggles when Kevin sings to him close to my belly or plays guitar, it makes me happier than anything I've ever experienced before. Kev is going to be an amazing daddy, he already is

Food Cravings: watermelon pretty much all.the.time. seriously, I wish people delivered it instead of pizza or instead of a 1-800-Flowers, there should be 1-800-watermelon and I would be their #1 customer

Queasy/Sick: nope

Gender: baby boy

Labor Signs: nada

Symptoms: lots of rib cage fun, all on the left side, I think little Will likes jamming his toes in there, or maybe it's his head, whatever it is, he seems mighty cozy

Belly Button: getting flatter 

Wedding Rings: on

I'm feeling: excited about our house & getting to finally sort through these baby things we've been accumulating and organize them, instead of placing them in bins and totes to be ready for moving time

Looking Forward to: closing on the 17th and getting to go play around in our new house, paint the walls (with safe paint, no worries!) tear up some yucky carpets, dig in the garden, and get the nursery started, finally! I can't wait to get in there and start designing, I feel like I've waited my whole life for this, especially having moved just about every year since birth!  Life is so beautiful!

"Hey Mama, look what I can do!" 

 adapted from babycenter.com

This week I cross over to around 2 whole pounds and measure roughly 14 1/2 inches long with my legs extended.  I'm sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening & closing my eyes, and even sucking on my fingers.  My brain tissue keeps developing and my mom is beginning to feel my tiny baby hiccups, which are more common from now on.  They usually last only a little bit and my she likes the tickle.

26 Weeks and Counting

Reflections this Week:

How Far Along?:  26 weeks, hard to believe it's getting closer and closer to the 3rd trimester

Total Weight Gain: around 15 lbs

Clothing: definitely in maternity items now, major belly growth going on

Catching Zzzzs: getting tricky these days... who would have thought it would be hard to roll over?

Best Moments of the Week: having Little Will go crazy the other night when his daddy was singing to him, it was the most amazing thing

Miss Anything?: nope :) ...except maybe sleeping comfortably, but it's well worth the trade!

Movements: all the time, I love telling the kids in my classroom when he's moving, they think he gets excited about read alouds

Food Cravings: watermelon, all the time still... woke up in the middle of the night dreaming about it last weekend!

Queasy/Sick: nope

Gender: beautiful baby boy

Labor Signs: nope

Symptoms: left rib pain pretty much whenever I sit down, I think he's pushing his feet up in there or something, also feeling out of breath a lot

Belly Button: getting flatter

Wedding Rings: on

I'm feeling: happy, our house has passed the appraisal  now we're just waiting for the closing date, wow! I can't wait to get in the nursery and set it up!!!

Looking Forward to: Meeting this little boy and rocking him in his new rocking chair :)  

"Hey Mama, look what I can do!" 

 adapted from babycenter.com

Hello world!  Greetings to my fan club!  So, as usual, I've been busy doing lots of important things.  This week, while my parents get closer and closer to buying my first home, the network of nerves in my little ears is becoming better developed and more sensitive than ever before.  I can hear my parents talking to each other about me!  I am inhaling & exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid to helps my lungs get stronger for that first big breath I take.  I am also adding to my baby fat and weigh about a pound and 3/4 and measure about 14 inches from head to heel. 

25 Weeks

* Picture to come tomorrow, I forgot my camera at school, oops!*

Reflections this Week:

How Far Along?:  25 weeks, wow!

Total Weight Gain: so we're up to 12 lbs now

Clothing: more and more maternity items

Catching Zzzzs: I finally got a body pillow and it's helping, but I still get uncomfortable laying on my side and toss and turn a lot.

Best Moments of the Week: finding out I do NOT have gestational diabetes!  The first glucose test was a little high, but the 3 hour fasting test was fine, yahoo!!!  I am so happy because that sugary stuff tastes all kinds of awful (I don't drink soda and it's like soda times a thousands, so sweet it makes your throat burn) and I don't want to drink it again! Yuck!

Miss Anything?: nope :)  I had some alcohol free wine on St. Patrick's Day and that did the trick!

Movements: so many, Kev and I lounged in the hammock on Sunday afternoon after raking leaves and doing a little furniture project and we could both see Will moving around, it's so much fun & makes me love Kev even more

Food Cravings: none really... although I did get this yummy Wasabi Pea trail mix from Target and could have eaten the whole jar all by myself

Queasy/Sick: only during the 3 hour glucose test, gahhh, horrid stuff

Gender: he's a boy 

Labor Signs: no no no

Symptoms: the ever-present left rib pain that seems to like hanging around, round ligament pain, etc... nothing to worry about though!

Belly Button: getting flatter

Wedding Rings: on

I'm feeling: so excited to meet this little boy, we really can't wait!  We are still awaiting the results of the home appraisal, hopefully we'll know soon and then closing is in mid-April.  Until then we'll keep praying!

Looking Forward to: Closing on our home and decorating the nursery, finally!  

"Hey Mama, look what I can do!" 

 adapted from babycenter.com

Head to heels, I'm 13 1/2 inches and I weigh about a pound and a half, kind of like the size of an eggplant.  I'm starting to look a bit less scrawny as I get some of my baby fat.  My mom likes the idea of that! :) 

My wrinkly skin is starting to smooth out so I'll look less like an old person and more like a newborn baby.  I'm growing more hair too, and if you could see it you would know the color!  Just the thought of me and all the excitement is keeping my mom up at night.

24 Weeks

I'm like a Grapefruit this Week!

  

Reflections this Week:

How Far Along?: 24 weeks, wow, the 2nd trimester is almost over already, how is that possible?

Total Weight Gain: around 8-10 lbs now

Clothing: I was still wearing my favorite jeans, but they ripped in the knee, which seriously bums me out because, as you know, I detest shopping and now I have to embark on a croc hunter style expedition in search of another pair of perfect jeans... no easy task!

Catching Zzzzs: getting trickier to sleep comfortably, have to pick up a body pillow this week and see if that helps because I've got to do something differently

Best Moments of the Week: Still loving the kicks & that Kev can feel them too!  We saw some crocuses sprouting up through the snow in Massachusetts this weekend (pics below) and all of us Mainers know that's certainly a moment worth celebrating, spring is coming! I am so ready for green grass & flip flops... enough of winter already, I'm tired of slathering myself with gallons of lotion to fend of winter's dryness and wearing layer upon layer!  Bring on some sunshine!  Oh, another highlight... Kate, a sweet friend of my mother in law, knit two adorable little hats for Will, one is brown with little teddy bear ears and the other is colorful with two little pompoms on the sides, I LOVE them & Will is going to love them too! My collection of knit hats is growing and it all started with my 2nd grade teaching buddy Pam and her adorable pumpkin hat, love it!

Miss Anything?: Rolling over without thinking about it & sleeping on my stomach, but I wouldn't trade this little guy for anything!

Movements: LOTS!  I think he likes UMaine hockey, I got pretty excited during the Hockey East series against Merrimac College and he was kicking up a storm, way to go Will... taking right after your mama!  I need to raise this kid right, he can't be a Boston College fan like his daddy, to heck with the Eagles, GO BLUE!  

Food Cravings: still watermelon, although my glucose test is this week so I'm trying to cool it with sugar, even natural sugar in fruit... it will not be easy! 

Queasy/Sick: a few mornings lately I've felt a little nauseous, wonder what that's about?

Gender: little Boy Will

Labor Signs: nope

Symptoms: same left rib pain when I sit in certain positions, some weird pain when I walk (only when I step with my left leg... strange!)  and generally feeling like I have a person inside of me... so it's all good!

Belly Button: getting flatter

Wedding Rings: on, my hands are so cold I think they'll always fit!

I'm feeling: happy happy happy 

Looking Forward to: Next ultrasound is today, plus we are awaiting the home appraisal, which is the next to last step in closing on our house, so we're praying that it's meant to be!  We should hear back soon!

        

"Hey Mama, look what I can do!" 

 adapted from babycenter.com

Since last week, I've gained 4 ounces!  I am almost a foot long, about the length of an ear of corn!  I'm pretty skinny right now, but I'll be plumping up soon.  My brain is developing quickly and my taste buds too! My lungs are also growing and I am working on developing "branches" of my respiratory "tree" as well as a substance called surfactant.  This will help my air sacs inflate once I arrive in the big, bright world kicking and screaming for all to hear.  If I'm anything like my parents, I'm gonna have a lot to say! 

23 Weeks: Pomegranate!

Sorry, no pic this week... 

there was zero, zilch, nada natural light by the 

time I got home from work each day this week,

 so my pics were super dark... 

but there will be a week 24 photo!!! Sorry all!

Reflections this Week:

How Far Along?: halfway +3 weeks! 17 weeks to go!

Total Weight Gain: 8 lbs.

Clothing: mixing in more maternity items now

Catching Zzzzs: some nights are better than others, some new discomfort

Best Moments of the Week: We can see our little William kick from the outside now!  So amazing!  Another great part of our week: finding out the water tests for the house we're trying to buy came back perfect, the radon was slightly elevated but the seller is going to pay for the mitigation system, and we're getting closer & closer to it being our home!  

Miss Anything?: nope :) I can already tell I'm going to miss these kicks!

Movements: Lots of them, kicks and twists & turns

Food Cravings: still watermelon constantly, and avocados, and fruits & veggies of any kind!

Queasy/Sick: nada

Gender: He's our boy!

Labor Signs: nope

Symptoms: heartburn seems better on some days, same rib pain as the past few weeks, some low pelvic pain when I walk or roll over in bed, which is new.

Belly Button: getting flatter 

Wedding Rings: on!

I'm feeling: happy & blessed every day!

Looking Forward to: doctor's appointment this week & possibly getting a 3-D ultrasound, also waiting to hear from our realtor about our  appraisal, crossing our fingers & praying this house is meant to be our home!   :)

"Hey Mama, look what I can do!" 

 adapted from babycenter.com

This week I have been able to dance with my mom (& my dad)!  I have a better sense of movement, so when she dances, I can feel it!  She really likes music!  I'm not quite so little anymore, I am 11 inches long and weight around a pound now!  I am looking like a miniature newborn and my face is fully formed.  Over the next four weeks I will be packing on the baby fat, doubling in size!  My mom keeps looking at her tummy because she can see me move from the outside now!  Blood vessels in my lungs are developing so that I can breathe and my ears are getting better and better at hearing sounds.  Loud noises are more familiar to me, like when Bailey barks at the mailman or the kids in mommy's classroom laugh.

My List of Things NOT to Say to Pregnant Women

I appreciate a good joke and love a great belly laugh... 

unless it's at the expense of MY belly.

That being said, it's funny (& very strange) how pregnancy seems to be an open invitation, a flashing neon sign even, for some people to lose all common sense in what is socially appropriate to say to another human being, especially a woman.  Being pregnant seems to naturally attract attention and I know there are many women who love being in the lime light.  I am not one of them, I've just never liked being the center of attention and I've never sought out center stage, so maybe that's why I perceive certain comments as being rude.  Seeing a growing baby belly seems to be like a beacon saying "All rude, unsolicited comments should be directed right here, bring it on, I would LOVE to have you comment on my weight, my boobs, no holds barred!"   I can absolutely understand how the incredible magic and miracle of creating a life is such a beautiful thing that others feel compelled to share in the joy of it all.  For the most part, people have been overwhelmingly warm and excited for me and my growing family... 
...most people...

But then there are those others... we shall call them the "well intended weirdos" of the peanut gallery.  This list is my tribute to them and their off the wall comments, flying at pregnant women straight outta left field without warning.  Sometimes, I must admit I wanna sweetly smile & play the pregnancy hormone card, letting fly some equally inappropriate comment right back at 'em... "Oh you're getting huge!" My zinger of stinging reply, just dancing on the tip of my tongue: "Yes well, you see, I am growing a human being, what's your excuse, growing a Big Mac?" Grrr...

 

My list of no way, no how, absolutely never ever should you say or do this to a pregnant (and potential dangerously hormonal) woman that isn't a close friend or family member.  If you don't know 'em well enough to tell them secrets and hug 'em on a regular basis, it's probably not cool to say or do these things to them until you know them far better. 
Forgive my sarcasm, but here goes:

• Tummy touching without asking.  Want me to rub your tummy? I'm guessing the answer is no.  
• "Wow, your boobs are huge!"  Really, does it make anyone feel good having someone staring at their mama-jamas?  Ok, ok... there are some chicas who love this boob-gazing attention, which is why push up bras were invented & everyone knows Pamela Anderson's name.  Not all of us ladies like the eye gaze aimed at boob level though and it doesn't help that so many maternity tops are cleavage plunging, it's hard to rein in the ladies at times, Thelma & Louise have a mind of their own so give a girl a break!  
• "Wow, you must be having twins!"  I actually got this comment at work this week, after gaining a total of 8 lbs. in 23 weeks, nice, super nice.  
• "That baby is going to be a bruiser!" This happened this week also, delightfully coupled with #1, leaving me feeling all warm 'n fuzzy inside.  Ya wanna see bruises?  I can arrange that, my husband says to watch for my left hook, it's the one you gotta watch for.  
• "You're really getting big!" And your sneakers haven't seen the gym in years, but I'm not pointing that out.
• "You're too small, are you eating enough?" How is this in any way helpful?  Pregnant mamas are already worrying about meeting nutritional requirements, working hard to take care of themselves, taking disgusting prenatal vitamins that make your burps taste like fish (gross!) working hard to try & get enough sleep (on their left side because "What to Expect" says so), attempting to avoid stress, and trying to handle it all with grace... so this question will just make us feel like we're being neglectful.  This is for a doctor-patient conversation, not Joe-Schmo in the grocery store.
• "Your life is never going to be the same!"- spoken with sarcasm, leaving me thinking, OBVIOUSLY!  How could it be, your life isn't the same after getting a kitten and this is a KID.  
• "Say goodbye to all of your money!"  Nice, fabulous... noted and filed.  Is it ever okay to discuss someone's financial security?  
• "Are you disappointed about the gender?" coupled with "You could always have a girl later." Really... Are you disappointed that you have no social skills?
• You ARE breast feeding, right?"  Although I am 100% committed to breast feeding because of a lot of reasons, I also know that there are so many moms who end up heartbroken when problems (health or otherwise) arise that prevent them from breast feeding.  This is a very personal decision and I don't think it's okay to judge another mama, everyone's doing the best that they can for their baby to the best of their ability.  Research shows "breast is best", but until you walk a mile in someone else's shoes, you can't judge their decision making.  
• "You look wide."  Someone recently said this to me and before I could bite my tongue (not my strong suit) I cheerfully replied, "I'm 5 months pregnant, what's your excuse?"  Tell me dear God on what planet this would be okay to say to ANY woman EVER?  
• "Be careful, my friend's sister's cousin's daughter had a baby born with (insert terrifying condition here) let's hope your baby won't have that!"  What do you do with a comment like that, seriously?
• "I would rather die than go through labor again!"  Sharing any kind of labor horror story might not be the best idea around someone new to this club. I generally don't mind most stories as it's another woman's chance to tell her own story (she has every right) but maybe save the parts involving the words "tearing" or "ripping" or crime scene quantities of blood, 6 inch needles, a gazillion hours of pushing, etc...  Luckily I work with some amazing women who have shared beautiful birth stories and have said they would do it over again a thousand times, these are the mamas who always glow with the love of their children.  I want to be like them when I grow up. 
• "Oh I don't like that name!" Cool, don't name your child that then. 
• "You think it's bad now, wait until you're 8 months along!" Nice, almost sounds like genuine sympathy... almost.
• "Oh, it's fine to have a little wine/beer/coffee, etc.. no big deal, I did when I was pregnant and my baby is fine."  Cool, you have a little and let me focus on being the best mama possible to my baby.
• "Just wait until he/she gets here, forget all about ever sleeping again!"  I think every person is aware that babies don't keep business hours, so let me enjoy the sleep I'm getting now & be kind when I'm getting none later.  Muchas gracias!  
• "Should you be eating that?"  Should you be minding your own business?
• "You're using cloth diapers?  Good Luck, that will never work!"  The fact that some people aren't aware why this would be a wise thing to try points to their lack of environmental awareness... heck, the least we can do it try.  
• "Your husband must so so happy it's a boy!"  Yes, he is... but he would be exactly the same amount of happy if it was a girl, he's happy to be a daddy to a human being, regardless of whatever private parts it's sporting.

Maybe I sound overly sensitive to you, but I guess the moral of the story is to be kind.  If you wouldn't want someone to say it to you, then follow the Golden Rule and say something you would like to hear.  Say "Congratulations!" or "It's wonderful your baby is growing!" and tell a pregnant woman that she looks beautiful, even if she's tired, annoyed and not emanating beauty.  This Pinterest post I found sums it up quite well:

Just the thoughts of a mama who's enjoying this amazing experience, all except for some of the less than kind comments which I'm sure all preggo ladies face.  I know those who read this probably aren't the ones who would ever say any of these things, I'm just venting...
there...
Now I feel better.
Thanks friends!