25 Weeks!!!!!

April 19th-April 25th

How Far Along: 25 weeks!  Only 1.5 weeks until the third trimester!!!

Size of baby:  Your baby rivals the average rutabaga in weight -- about 1 1/2 pounds. (Length: 13 1/2 inches, head to heel.)

My baby this week: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Sleep: Sleep has been okay. My Snoogle is a life saver and I definitely would not get enough sleep without it! I still get up at least twice to pee, but that is to be expected. 

Best Moment of the Week:  SEEING my baby kick! So cool seeing my baby kick when I lifted up my shirt. 

Movement: Yes-he moves every day and throughout the day! 

Food cravings: No consistant cravings, although I am eating ice cream perhaps too much...

Gender: BOY!!!!!!

What I Miss: Salmon sushi!!!!!!!!!!!

What I'm Looking Forward To: The third trimester! 

Milestones: The baby growing so much that I can see him moving-both with and without my shirt on! 

Emotions: Feeling frustrated that I still have so long to go. 

Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, acne, braxton hicks, heart burn. 

Free Stuff!

25 weeks 1 day

Jamie and I have been lucky and blessed to receive a lot of baby items for free and today we scored big! 

Today we were given an exersaucer, a swing, a musical toy, an infant carseat, a bathtub, a baby seat, a closet organizer with matching hangers, 20 sleepers/onesies, a bib, and a washcloth all for free!!!!!!! 

From another friend, I was given a couple outfits, a picture for the nursery, a playmat, a bouncy seat, a nursing pillow, and a Jumparoo! And...we got a pack and play from someone else! 

Since I have a few duplicates of things, I can pass them on to others who need them as well! 

I have also been really thrifty and have scored awesome deals from Craigslist, Value Village, and a local thrift shop and have been able to purchase a glider with a matching ottoman, a travel system, a bassinet, a dresser, toys, shoes, clothes, and books second hand and in excellent condition! Also, I have bought several new books and clothes on sale or in baby outlet stores. 

Babies are REALLY expensive, especially the first baby because you have to buy everything. Other great ways to save, aside from buying from Craigslist, thrift stores, and second hand shops, is to make things yourself. 

I made some of the decorations for the baby's room myself and I also plan on making my own baby wipes because it is super easy! I also outsourced all of the bedding, curtains, and the diaper bag to my sister in law, who was able to make me exactly what I wanted at an awesome price! 

Also, sharing things with other moms, borrowing, and asking people for any unwanted baby items is a great way to get a lot of stuff. 

24 Weeks!!!!!

April 11th-April 18th

24 Weeks-Eggplant baby! 

How Far Along: 24 weeks!  Only 3 weeks until the third trimester!

Size of baby:  Almost a foot long (length of an ear of corn) and weighs over a pound.

My baby this week:   Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Sleep: Laying down is more uncomfortable as the baby gets bigger. Sleep has been pretty rough this week. 

Best Moment of the Week:  Feeling the baby KICK! 

Movement: Yes, I am feeling the baby move every day now and I finally felt my first kick! 

Food cravings:  No particular cravings.

Gender: BOY!!!!!!

What I Miss: Having energy. 

What I'm Looking Forward To: More sunny days and the arrival of summer! 

Milestones: Making it to the age of viability! At 24 weeks, the baby can survive outside the womb with medical assistance. 

Emotions: I've felt a huge sense of relief now that my baby is viable. Other than that, I've been feeling pretty normal. 

Symptoms:  Nausea, vomiting, heart burn, acne, exhaustion. 

Fifth Midwife Appointment!

April/17/2013

24 weeks 5 days 

So today I had my last monthly appointment and now I will have an appointment every 2-3 weeks until 36 weeks! 

Today the midwife talked about the 3 hour glucose tolerance test I have to take between now and 28 weeks to test for gestational diabetes. I've been DREADING this test because I have to fast for at least 10 hours and I won't be able to eat until after the test is finished. I just know I will be terribly nauseous and I don't know how I'm going to get that sugary drink down! Also, my big concern is that I will end up with gestational diabetes (GD) and that will come with a lot of appointments and complications. 

My midwife also took my blood pressure, which was good like always and I weighed myself and realised that I have gained five pounds in one month! I guess five pounds isn't bad considering that is the only weight I have gained yet. My uterus is measuring at exactly 26 weeks, witch is 9 days ahead but is apparently normal. We got to hear baby's heart beat and he it was the same as last month-140 BPM! Also, this time I felt him moving quite a lot while the midwife was using the doppler. 

The most exciting news is that I am able to switch hospitals and go to the hospital I really wanted to go to all along! The best thing about this hospital, is that it has a birthing tub so I can choose to have a water birth, which will be great for reducing pain and pressure during labor and delivery! 

23 Weeks!!!!!

April 5th-April 11th

23 Weeks-Ear of corn baby!

How Far Along: 23 weeks! Only 4 weeks until the third trimester!

Size of baby:  He's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango).

My baby this week:   Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world.  Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling him kick me! 

Sleep: I've been sleeping pretty badly lately. I've been getting up anywhere from 2-5 times and tossing and turning all night.

Movement: Yes. I felt my first kick this week and I can feel  him rolling around in there. He seems to move in the mornings and in the evenings-especially once I go to bed. 

Food cravings:  Majorly craving a large passion tea lemonade from Starbucks but I can't have it because it contains hibiscious, which is bad for babies. 

Gender: BOY!!!!!!

What I Miss:  Being able to sleep on my back. Whenever I lay down, I get major pelvic pain, which sucks too. 

What I'm Looking Forward To: Spending a long weekend in Seattle. 

Milestones: Feeling baby boy kick! 

Emotions: Mood wise I've been pretty level this whole pregnancy-even my husband agrees! 

Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, pelvic pain, round ligament pain, acne.