Week 27

Description (from Mayo Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy):
By your 27th week, your baby looks like a thinner, smaller, redder version of what she will look like at birth. Your baby's lungs, liver and immune system aren't yet fully mature. Your baby may be starting to recognize your voice this week, as well as your partner's. But it's probably a little hard to hear clearly. At 27 weeks, your baby is three to four times as long as he or she was at 12 weeks.

Comments:
It seems like time is just flying by now... We had the 8 week ultrasound and the 20 week ultrasound both up on the refrigerator and the difference between the two is simply amazing. And, to think, she's even bigger and more developed now!

Belly Button:
The top half is almost and outie and the bottom half is just about flat. It's so weird!!

Food Cravings:
Not necessarily a craving, but while my mom has been visiting she has remarked how funny it is when I suddenly announce "I'm hungry!" It just comes on and it's time to eat!

Diaper Decisions:
Kris, my mom, and I went to a cloth diapering product demo in St Louis on Saturday. There are soooo many different options...prefolds, fitted, pocket diapers, all-in ones...and several different manufacturer's of each type...yikes! We're thinking disposables until she fits until the medium sized diapers and always while traveling (or while out and about), but it's makes me sad to think about throwing away all those diapers the rest of the time, so cloth may be a viable option for us...

Milestone:
I had to take the glucose tolerance test this week to check for gestational diabetes (keep your fingers crossed that I passed!) After the test, my mom and I went to Bob Evans for a delicious brunch. After she had brought out our food, the waitress asked, "When are you due?" It was the first time that someone (a stranger) has asked that! Wahoo! I really do look pregnant :)
See for yourself...





The baby's room:
We've been working on paintings in the baby's room for the past few days. Here are some pictures of what we've accomplished. Mom did Sam I Am and the Fox in Socks. I did the Lorax and the trees. Kris is working on the fish from the Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Week 26

From Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy:
Your baby's eyebrows and eyelashes are now well formed. The hair on her head is longer and more plentiful. Your baby still looks red and wrinkled, but more fat is accumulating under the skin with each passing day. As your baby continues to gain weight over the next 14 weeks until birth, this wrinkly suit of skin will become a better fit.
Your baby's footprints and fingerprints are also formed. All the components that make up the eyes have developed, but your bay probably won't open her eyes for about two more weeks. By 26 weeks, your baby weights between 1 1/2 and 2 pounds.

Comments:
Not too many changes this week. Baby is still kicking and turning and rolling. It's so fun to feel and to watch.

On Sunday, Chinese New Year, we went to dim sum and it was awesome!!! We were talking
about how we can bring the baby next year. She'll be about 9 months old so I think she'll be able to handle some of the noodle wrappings, sticky buns, and jello-like desserts :) On Monday morning (Kris had the day off) we had planned to get donuts and enjoy the Olympics, but the donut shop was closed :( Of course, all day long I kept thinking about donuts, so we finally made a grocery store run that evening...Kris is the best!

Mom is coming on Friday and we'll start painting the Dr. Seuss characters on the nursery walls this weekend. I'll definitely have to post pictures after we're done.

Last, but not least, Kris surprised me with a cute gift for the baby...

Week 25

Description (from Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy):
Your baby's hands are now fully developed, complete with miniature fingernails and the ability to curl her fingers into a tiny fist. Your baby is probably using these hands this week to discover her environment. The nerve connections to your baby's hands have a long way to go, though.

Comments:
I wonder if her hands are extra tiny since mine are child-size?
We painted the baby's room white this weekend. My mom will be visiting in a few weeks and we'll paint some Dr. Seuss characters on the walls. I'm really, really looking forward to it!

Movement:
Monday night the baby stuck out a foot or elbow or hand and dragged it along my belly. Maybe she was turning around? Definitely a different feeling than all the little kicks and punches.

Not much else to report right now. I really love the second trimester. More energy (though I'm still very tired a lot) and I feel great and I get enjoy all the fun parts (kicks, looking pregnancy, etc.)

24 Weeks

Description (from Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy):
This week your baby is probably starting to get a sense of whether he or she is upside-down or right side up inside your amniotic sac. That's because your baby's inner ear, which controls balance in the body, is now developed.
By the 24th week of your pregnancy your baby is 15 inches long and weighs about 1 1/2 pounds.

Comments:
Now I have "Spinning Wheel" in my head, thinking about the baby knowing if she's right side up or upside down. I don't know though, some times it feels like she's not sure...maybe she's just going to be a gymnast!

Maternity Clothes:
I have an awesome sister-in-law!!! She found some small maternity clothes on craiglist in her area and mailed them to me. I now have three more pairs of pants, a skirt, a shirt, a wrap dress, and a coat!!! Not to mention, there were a bunch of gender-neutral clothes that Noah (our nephew) had grown out of. Kris and I spent about 1/2 an hour taking each piece out of the box one and a time and oohing and ahhing of the cuteness of each one.

Weight Gain:
I have officially gained 11 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. Quick math...that's 7 pounds since my last OB appointment (about 4 weeks ago)!!! I'm almost up to the average weight gain for this point in pregnancy.

Stretch Marks/Belly Button:
No stretch marks yet, but my belly button will probably soon be an outie. The doc said today that the dark area around it is a good indication.

Movement:
Some days she moves a lot and some days not as much (at least that I can feel). Doc says that's because there's still enough room that I don't feel all the movement and not to worry about any of it until around 28 weeks or so. Woop...there's was a kick right there....she must know I'm "talking" about here.

Best Moment of the Week:
Opening the box full of goodies from Sharon and Steve.

What I Miss:
Going more than 2 hours without getting hungry again. Speaking of...blueberries sounds really good...

What I'm Looking Forward To:
Picking up the finished baby quilt tomorrow morning from the quilter! I also finished the valance and crib skirt. I'll post pics of the completed crib set once everything's home and set up.

And...here's the bedding...
The quilters did an awesome job finishing the quilt! No stitches through any of the characters :) And, yes, that is the Lorax in the crib and the Hungry Caterpillar on the edge.

Please ignore the blue tape....we're going to paint soon...and, the brown curtain bar will be removed :)