Lennox's Room!

I was so excited to have Mom and Dad helping us with the nursery! 

The work started on Saturday...Everyone went shopping to hunt items that I knew we needed.  We started working on the nursery Saturday night and were able to get a lot accomplished.  On Sunday we resumed working on the nursery and basically finished everything.  I have one wall that is still bare and waiting for decorations.  Also, I am going to need little things for the little white shelves!  I feel so accomplished and am very thankful the room is basically done so I can relax the rest of the pregnancy.  There are only a few things that we have to have in case he were to arrive early, but other than that - we are ready for him!  I am excited for two showers we have scheduled this month by sweet friends and family to help us stock his room and closet! 

 

This is the view from the doorway to the room!  I love the glider that Nana gave us!  Mom was able to paint it to match the other nursery furniture and it really looks awesome! 

The white shelves to the left of the curtains were old shelves we had not used when we moved in.  Mom had the awesome idea to paint polka dots to match the bedding to add a little something to them! 



I debated and debated on the letters for his bed.  I had picked a few decoration ideas off Pinterest and ended up going pretty traditional using all the same style letters.  The little blue things on the end of the "L" and the "X" are tiny elephants! 



This is the wall that still needs decoration!  This was the changing table mom had painted when she came to visit us in January.  I bought the baskets from Hobby Lobby and we hung the extra valance that came with the bedding on the bottom shelf.  I thought the changing table really ended up being cute - especially since it was just one that we redid. 



Besides the letters above his bed, this is my favorite part of the nursery, and I guess that is a great thing!  I love the glider and the little bedside table.  I know I will be spending a lot of time in that chair, and I can't wait! :)

I am so thankful Mom and Dad came to help! Sweet memories were made as we worked on Lennox's room! He is already one loved little man and he isn't even here yet!

29 Weeks!

May 22 – May 28, 2012

How far along? 29 weeks

How are you measuring? 28 weeks based on my belly measurement at my May 10th appointment. 

Size of baby? The baby is measuring 15.25 inches and 2.5 pounds! - the size of a butternut squash.

Baby Development This Week? The baby is growing white fat deposits under his skin making him have energy surges.  His bone marrow is producing red blood cells.  His toe nails and fingernails are now developed.   

Heartbeat? 136 at the doctor’s appointment on May 10th.

Total weight gain/loss?  I’m thinking I may have gained a pound this week making my total weight gain 12-13 pounds.  I go to the doctor Friday, so I should have a more accurate weight.     

Maternity clothes? Yes – all the way!

Stretch marks? Not yet!

Sleep? Sleeping pretty good.  My back feels uncomfortable if I lay too long in certain positions, but I have been able to sleep pretty well! 

Best moment this week? Working on and almost completing his nursery with Mom and Dad!  I was so happy they were able to come visit us over the holiday weekend and help us with the nursery!  Dad is a master at hanging things on the wall and other projects.  Mom is really creative and had great ideas for making his nursery so cute!    

Movement? Yes, he is still moving quite a bit.  I have actually been able to feel little body parts through my belly!      

Food cravings?  I was finally able to get my snow cone this week!  While mom was here we went for a snow cone and the next day B and I went to get one!  I have a feeling now that I know the hours of the snow cone stand in our town we will be getting snow cones most of the summer!      

Gender predictions? Baby Boy – LENNOX ALLEN EARNEST!

What I miss: Still wishing that my energy level was normal.  I am also missing the milder weather of spring.  It has been pretty hot and made me pretty uncomfortable. 

What I'm looking forward to: We have a few fun things planned over the next couple weekends.  I am also happy that B is finished with school.  Sad for me that I’m not a teacher and don’t get a summer break, but B loves summer. 

How are you feeling? I had a few days this week where I felt pretty terrible.  I had to travel to Nashville for a training conference for work, and the trip really seemed to wear me out.  I also figured out that one particular prenatal vitamin really upsets my stomach (I had run out of the other kind) and I had started taking it during the trip.  Once I changed back to the other kind I felt so much better.    

Symptoms? I am feeling a little more tired this week.  I don’t know if it is third trimester or heat or a combination of both, but I feel way more exhausted just walking across the parking lot to go into a store makes me tired!   

28 Weeks

May 15 – May 21, 2012

How far along? 28 weeks

How are you measuring? 27 weeks based on my belly measurement at my last doctor’s appointment. 

Size of baby? The baby is measuring 14.8 inches and 2.25 pounds! - the size of a Chinese cabbage.

Baby Development This Week? The baby is developing a more regular sleep schedule in 20-30 minute intervals and developing more fat.  The baby update also says that his lungs are most likely mature enough that he’d probably survive if he was born now! 

 Heartbeat? 136 at the doctor’s appointment on May 10th.

Total weight gain/loss?  Based on my weekly start and ending weight I gained about .2 pounds this week.  I’m not counting this as accurate because I had a couple days within the week where I looked to have gained a pound.  I’m thinking total weight gain is around 12 pounds.   

Maternity clothes? Yes – still wearing maternity clothes and some regular dresses and flowy tops

Stretch marks? Not yet.  I definitely feel like my belly area is expanding so they may be on the way!

Sleep? Still sleeping fine. 

Best moment this week? We had a good time seeing some of our old friends at Lewis County’s graduation.  We also had a baby shower to attend on Sunday for some of our friends expecting their first baby boy in June.  It was surreal seeing all the baby stuff and attending a shower knowing that would be us soon!

Movement? He has definitely picked up the movement this week.  I don’t know if it is because he is getting bigger and stronger, or what, but I feel like I feel every movement now.  I can feel him rolling and kicking and punching and poking.  I haven’t been able to tell what body part I’m feeling, but he is definitely moving and grooving!  Barrett has been able to feel him a couple of times that even made him say, “wow”!  I think he likes feeling my belly more now that he is kicking stronger!    

Food cravings?  Still craving a snow cone.  I tried to get a snow cone all week without success!  Either the snow cone stands are closed or we can’t even find one!  I’m doing really good to contain the craving, but the first opportunity I have to get a snow cone I’m getting a BIG one!    

Gender predictions? Baby Boy!

What I miss: One slightly humorous thing I miss is being able to sit up and get out of bed without a lot of effort.  It is amazing how much the body uses its core and ab muscles in so many little “everyday” things!  I also miss being able to ride in the car without my legs getting tired.  Anything over 1.5 hours in the car and I need to stretch out a little while.    

What I'm looking forward to: Mom and Dad are coming in town this weekend to help us begin decorating the nursery!  I can’t wait!  They are bringing the small crib that we will use in our room when little man gets here, and a glider my grandmother is giving to us for the baby. 

How are you feeling? Still feeling great. 

Symptoms? I still have rounds of restless leg every now and then, but nothing major.  I have also had 1-2 rounds of heartburn and I can really tell I am getting short of breath quicker!  Other than those minor symptoms I am having an easy time!

27 Weeks

May 8 – May 14, 2012

How far along? 27 weeks

How are you measuring? 26 weeks based on my belly measurement at the doctor’s this week. 

Size of baby? The baby is measuring 14.5 inches and 2 pounds! - the size of a head of cauliflower.

Baby Development This Week? The baby is continuing to practice inhaling and exhaling.  Officially this week the baby is showing brain activity!

Heartbeat? 136 at the doctor’s appointment on May 10th.

Total weight gain/loss?  Based on my doctor’s appointment on May 10^th I have gained a total of 10 pounds.  Based on my personal weekly weights I gained .2 pounds this week (so not even a pound).  I am guessing little man will have a growth spurt here before too long in the weight department, but the doctor says my belly is growing so things look good.    

Maternity clothes? Yes.  I am really loving dresses (even though I feel like they do make me look bigger than I actually am).  They are so comfortable! 

Stretch marks? Not yet!

Sleep? No complaints in the sleep department.  Still getting up to use the restroom 2-3 times a night, but it has just gotten to be routine!

Best moment this week? Going to the doctor and getting a good report!  Also over the weekend I FINALLY cleaned out the baby’s room, including the closet!  I hope the “nesting” phase is beginning so I will have motivation to get things more ready for when little man arrives!  B and I were able to go on a dinner and movie date on Saturday night, and I know soon we won’t be able to do things like that as easy! 

Movement? I feel like I’ve felt him more this week.  I wish I could tell what position he is in by his movement, but so far I can’t tell.  I know one night this week he had to have his feet near my bladder – it was constant kicking (or punching) down low. 

Food cravings?  Still not having major cravings. 

Gender predictions? Baby Boy

What I miss: This weekend I missed my pre-pregnancy energy level.  By the time I worked all day in the house on Saturday I was totally worn out and very sore.  I really probably over-did it.  It took basically all day Sunday for me to recover! 

What I'm looking forward to: This coming weekend we have a graduation at Lewis County to attend on Friday, Saturday we are spending the day with B’s family, and Sunday we have a baby shower for some of our friends!   

How are you feeling? I felt a little run down and out over the weekend, but other than that I have been feeling good.    

Symptoms? I had a little restless leg this week along with more minor bathroom problems (sorry for too much information, but I am keeping all these updates as a journal for myself).  My stomach had been having a weird/aching/cramping feeling for a couple days, but I really think it is just everything still stretching to give little man more room.

7th Doctor's Appointment - 27 weeks

Doctor’s Appointment 5/10/12

I had my 7^th doctor’s appointment on Thursday, May 10, at 3pm.  This was my first appointment on the “every 3 week” schedule.  I went through the normal routine of checking in, giving a urine sample and weighing in with the nurse.  My weight was a pretty big surprise to me – I had actually lost a pound since my last appointment!  This makes my total weight gain for the entire pregnancy 10 pounds!  I just knew going in I had gained 3-5 pounds since my last appointment, but that wasn’t the case. 

After my weigh in it was time for my blood pressure check.  My blood pressure was almost perfect at 121/80.  After checking my blood pressure it was time to check baby’s heartbeat.  She moved the Doppler over every part of my belly and could only get my heartbeat!  Finally after a few minutes she asked if she could apply pressure to one part of my belly to try and get him to move to one side.  Finally, she found his heartbeat and it measured at 136.  I guess he was just snuggled down deep near my left hip.  She even made a comment, “Well, your baby definitely made me work today!”  I was a little nervous during the whole ordeal, but thankfully I had felt him move on the way to my appointment or it would have been a whole different story!

After the nurse left the room, I only waited a few minutes for the doctor.  After my doctor came in the room she immediately started telling me about my glucose screening test I had at my last appointment.  I knew I had passed the test, because the lab had called me and told me the day after my last appointment.  She let me know my sugars looked normal, and if anything looked to be on the low end!  That was amazing to me because I didn’t fast before the test and my usual breakfast of a bagel, cream cheese, yogurt, and carnation chocolate milk actually has quite a bit of sugar in it!  She then asked if I was having any problems and I told her everything had been fine.  She talked to me about my weight gain while she measured my belly, and told me she wasn’t concerned as long as my belly was growing.  My belly measured at 26 centimeters, which put me measuring about a week behind since I was 27 weeks along.  She told me she wasn’t concerned by this since I am consistently measuring a week behind and the baby is obviously growing. 

After she finished checked me out she asked me if I had started thinking about a pediatrician!  I knew I needed to start looking, but I guess this just made everything more real!  Needless to say, we are on the pediatrician hunt!  My doctor recommended a pediatrician group, but I would like to find one closer to our house.  Most likely, a hospital pediatrician will evaluate little man in the hospital after he is born and send the report to the pediatrician we chose near our home. 

And that was my appointment!  I scheduled my next appointment for Friday, June 1^st.  I can’t believe that I will be 30 weeks next time I go back!  This pregnancy has really flown by and I am so thankful to have a healthy baby growing inside me!     

26 Weeks

May 1 – May 7, 2012

How far along? 26 weeks

How are you measuring? 25 weeks (this is from my doctor’s appointment on April 19^th when my belly was measuring a week behind, I’m just carrying it over)

Size of baby? The baby is measuring 14. inches and 1.75 pounds! - the size of a cucumber

Baby Development This Week? The baby’s eyes are forming and soon they will open!  He also has eyelashes!  He is getting his immune system ready by soaking up my antibodies.  He is taking breaths (of amniotic fluid not air) practicing for his debut!  

Heartbeat? 145 at the doctor’s appointment on April 19th.

Total weight gain/loss?  It looks like I gained 2 more pounds this week, so my best guess is 13-14 pounds total.  I will know for sure on Thursday at my doctor’s appointment. 

Maternity clothes? Yes.  I bought a couple long dresses this week that were not maternity but I bought a size bigger for my growing belly.   

Stretch marks? No, but they may be coming soon.  I am still lotioning up and trying to do everything I can on my end to help them stay away, but I realize there is only so much I can do and a lot is genetic.  My belly is definitely growing, so I’m trying to think realistically and not have a meltdown if/when they appear!

Sleep? Sleep is going pretty good.  I am trying to enjoy this phase because I hear sleep in the third trimester is pretty rough! 

Best moment this week? Best moment this week was celebrating my niece’s 4^th birthday!  I can’t believe Aubrey is 4!  I also started my registry at Target with the help of my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.  They helped me so much, and I am thankful they helped me out!   

Movement? It seems like he has on and off days.  Sometimes I go almost 24 hours before I am sure that I feel him.  After I feel him he seems to have a REALLY active day and then goes back to being low key with hardly any movements.  I know that this next week some of my readings talk about counting fetal kicks and that you should feel the baby kick 10 times.  I know that he kicks 10 times when he has a kicking session, but he likes to go long times before starting those kicking sessions.  I have been worried a couple times, but I haven’t been so worried to call my doctor. 

Food cravings?  No major cravings this week.  I have had a few nights where I wanted a snow cone, but sadly I didn’t get it.  I am missing the TC Shaved Ice snow cones from home (Texas)!

Gender predictions? Baby Boy!

What I miss: I can’t think of anything I am missing this week!

What I'm looking forward to: Things are really gearing up the next few weeks with exciting things!  My parents are visiting at the end of this month and we have friend’s baby showers and other events to attend on the weekends.  Lots to look forward to! 

How are you feeling? Feeling good!  

Symptoms? I experienced the “pregnancy brain” that I have often heard people talk about.  I accidentally made a scheduling error at work – which I NEVER do!  I am totally blaming that on pregnancy brain! Ha! Other than that, no other major symptoms.