Week 29 Fun Mama-to-Be Facts

How far along? 29 weeks, 4 days

Total weight gain/loss: Bleh....22 lbs. Although, it does fluctuate up and down a few pounds anytime I weigh myself, so I try to tell myself it's lower since it does show up lower part of the time, ha! Hoping that I don't continue to gain like I did the past 6 weeks or so or otherwise I will FAR exceed the 30 pound goal I had my eyes set on. Baby boy is healthy and growing though, so that's what is most important to me!

Maternity clothes? Yes, no change here for the most part.

Stretch marks? Still nothing new or not that I can see anyways.....

Sleep: Not great, but could be worse. We have been diligently putting Hudson to bed in his own room every night lately, but he continues to make his way down to our bed every night as well. Usually he has only been lasting in his room for a few hours before he sneaks into our bed, so we have some work to do there. When he isn't in our bed, I actually sleep much, much better, but when he is there, he insists on sleeping by mama and wants to share my pillow and snuggle up against me as close as possible. I love snuggling with my little boy, but it's not so comfortable when you are 7 1/2 months pregnant and have a toddler digging into your back. :(

Best moment this week: Finally ordering his bedding that actually should be delivered today! Dreaming about baby boy and what he might look like....I've not only had dreams about him lately, but also been just thinking a lot in general about how he might look, how big or small he'll big, etc., etc.

Movement: Oh yeah, he's a mover and a shaker and apparently has decided to stretch his movements further as of recent. He's gone from all the way up in my ribs to way down low in my nether-regions, ha! I keep feeling like he is kicking my hoo-ha lately, lol!!! Maybe he knows that's the way out or at least it normally is! Unless he makes an early appearance, he'll be taken via c-section about 5 days or so before my due date.

Food cravings: Still craving chocolate and sweets and have been craving chips and salsa like crazy!

Gender: Still a boy we presume....

Labor Signs: Nope, but the Braxton Hicks contractions seem to be here to stay. They were so bad last Saturday night when we were at a friend's wedding that I was afraid I would have to ask David to take me to the emergency room just to make sure everything was okay and I wasn't about to go into premature labor. LOTS of them and very strong, almost painful, which BH are NOT supposed to be painful at all.

Belly Button in or out? Still officially an innie, but the top portion seems to be trying to poke or fold over some, lol!

What I miss: Being able to bend over and pick up anything without bringing on some Braxton Hicks contractions or having pains and aches attack me as a result. My skinny feet and ankles....they have disappeared this week and even flip-flops / sandals end up becoming too snug on my feet before the day is even half-way over. :(

What I am looking forward to: Baby related - starting to work on the nursery really soon! Non-baby related - wedding and Harper's dedication this weekend. We have a busy weekend ahead of us!

Weekly Wisdom: When everyone is telling you to slow down and take it easy, try to at least abide by that if even for one day or evening. I am bad about going, going, going and taking on far too much, but have been trying to take it down a notch when I can. First step will be finding a way to get to sleep sooner at least a few nights a week....lack of sleep is definitely something that doesn't normally phase me terribly bad, but now at this point in my pregnancy, it is definitely problematic.

Milestone: Finally entering the third trimester and about to be within single digit weeks left before we will meet our baby boy! Almost to the 9 week mark!

It's Coming Together....

OR at least we have somewhat of a game plan, ha!

I *think* that I mentioned a while back that we had finally found and ordered new furniture for Hudson for when we move him from his current room, which will become the nursery for the baby, to his new "big boy" room and I just wanted to show some pics of what the furniture looks like more or less along with a pic of the bedding we bought for his new bed as well. His furniture was set to take about a month to get it, so hopefully we should be hearing something from the furniture company sometime over the next week in regards to setting up a delivery date. I can't wait to finally find out when it is finally here and to get started on both of the boys' rooms. We still need to move everything that is left in Hudson's new room out and then paint before moving the furniture in. (if we do a colored accent wall or anything which we are considering) Once that is done, we can move everything else over and start decorating and finishing the final touches so that his room will be done. Baby boy's room won't be too difficult to complete since all of the furniture is in place, bedding is ordered and on it's way, so it will mostly consist of doing some painting (changing the paint around the bottom of the walls of the room under the chair rail to coordinate with the new bedding and theme) and then hanging wall decor and lastly finishing any other decorative accents before starting to fill the closet and drawers with all things tiny and blue for baby boy, hehe! So exciting I tell ya and we've got quite a bit to do before baby boy arrives in just 10 short weeks! YIKES! I know, I keep saying 10 short weeks because it is a relatively short time frame, but for me I am sure it will seem much longer between now and then. I know everything will come together, so I am trying my best not to stress as that does no good for anyone!

So, like I said, hopefully the furniture comes in within the next week or two and then we can get things started. Here are a few pics of the furniture pieces we've ordered as well as the bedding for Hudson's room. The theme isn't exactly decided for sure, but we do have some car decor and other things related to transportation that we've purchased for his room so it will likely be something along those lines.

Full sized panel bed (similar to the one above except without the storage trundle underneath) The color of the furniture in person is also quite a bit darker, richer toned wood.



Seven drawer traditional styled dresser (we did not order a mirror)



Nightstand

Striped Henley bedding from PBTeen
(liked this more than any of the current collections on PBK)

Happy Birthday Babe!

Just wanted to wish a big happy 38th birthday to my fabulous hubby!

I know that you don't like to make a big deal out of your birthday and aren't normally one for a big production or fuss or anything like that, but I just wanted to say that I hope your day is fantastic even though I know you are working and it won't be much of a relaxing or fun day for you. I love you so very, very much as does Hudson and I am so proud of you, thankful and incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful man to call my husband. You do so much for our family and although, I may not take notice and thank you enough for all that you do as much as I want to or should, I do want you to know that it is absolutely appreciated more than you'll ever know and that I am beyond grateful for all that you do and all that you are for our family. You are an amazing husband that has also become an incredible father to our son and I cannot wait to see you become a father again in just 10 short weeks. We've been through so much over the past year (not to mention past 14+ years!!) and I couldn't have imagined doing it without you.Thank you for just being you and for loving me the way you do through thick and thin, you are my rock and I love you! Happy birthday my love from the bottom of my heart! xoxoxo

H-E-L-P Needed!

Anyone have any idea where I might find something similar to the car decor shown in the photo below??? I would love to find something similar for Hudson's room, but looked online trying to locate anything remotely similar or where this photo originally came from, but with no such luck. Hudson just loves cars so much and we plan on cars being an integral part of the theme of his bedroom and I just thought this would be perfect! Any suggestions?????

29 Weeks

What's going on with both me and baby boy this week according to BabyCenter.com

How your life's changing:

Your baby's very active now. Your practitioner may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let her know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.

Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion, which in turn can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation as well.

Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy and usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth. If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Also avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your practitioner before using any over-the counter remedies during pregnancy, and let her know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.

Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy, where laying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might note that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins" lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

How your baby's growing:

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. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

Belly Pics - 28 wks 5 days & 6 days

It's been a couple of weeks since my last belly pic....here are a couple from this past week. He's getting bigger and so is mommy!

28 wks 5 days

28 wks 6 days

28 Weeks

28 weeks = HELLO third trimester!!! I am nearing the end of my pregnancy and I have to admit that I have become SO incredibly eager, anxious, excited and well, TOTALLY giddy thinking about meeting our baby boy and having him in my arms in no more than 11 weeks from now. To say it's a bit surreal even thinking about the reality of it would be a complete and total understatement to be honest. We aren't quite totally prepared as of yet, but I remain positive that everything will happen in time and that when it comes down to it, most of the things I am worrying about now aren't even of great importance in the grand scheme of things. What is important is that I have somehow managed to have a fairly uneventful and healthy pregnancy thus far and that now, it is my job to do everything in my power to remain as healthy and rested as possible in preparation to meet our little boy. I will continue to pray that I am blessed with a healthy and successful delivery when the time is right and that our son will arrive completely healthy and with no complications, God willing. Not much longer before this family of three will transform into a family of four and we cannot wait!

Here's what's going on with both baby and myself this week according to BabyCenter.com

How your life's changing:

You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.

At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)

Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.

How your baby's growing:

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.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

Week 27 Fun Mama-To-Be Facts

How far along? 27 weeks, 4 days

Total weight gain/loss: I haven't weighed myself at home lately, but as of my last dr's appt. it was 16 lbs. and that was at 24 wks 3 days. I have another appt. next Tuesday, so we shall see how much the scale has climbed in the past four weeks! I'm a bit scared since I know baby boy has gotten a lot bigger, I can feel it, but hopefully it's not more than a few pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yes, no change here for the most part.

Stretch marks? Nothing new that I am aware of....

Sleep: Still varies by night, but I am most definitely having more nights filled with tossing and turning or just general pregnancy insomnia where I just can't sleep. It's not horrible by any means though, I mean, things could be worse, right?!?!? It just gets really frustrating some days when I feel like I haven't slept a blink and I have a long day ahead of me. Last night was a holy-terror and I probably only really got about 4 hours or so. ON THE COUCH of all places!

Best moment this week: Talking to baby boy and telling him how much we cannot wait to meet him and how much he is loved already. Singing to baby boy and getting little kicks in return! I think he really loves it when I talk and sing to him.

Movement: All the time now....or at least most days he stays pretty active at different intervals during the day. There definitely seems to be *some* routine to it as well.

Food cravings: Just hungry and thirsty in general.....no new or specific cravings right now.

Gender: Still a boy we presume....

Labor Signs: Nope, still continuing to get Braxton Hicks contractions when I am too active or bend over a lot (picking up toys and stuff), so I've been told to try to limit things that cause them as much as possible.

Belly Button in or out? Still hanging "in" for dear life, but definitely showing obvious flattening now.

What I miss: Being able to walk for any given distance without starting to lose my breath because everything inside of me is squishing my poor lungs!

What I am looking forward to: Baby related - My appt. next week and maternity photos next month / Non-baby related - family photos next month

Weekly Wisdom: Sleep is over-rated???? Who am I kidding here, I am fresh out of wisdom for this week, I'm so tired I can barely think straight.

Milestone: About to finish my second trimester and head on into the third and final hoorah before baby boys arrives!

True Story.....Bathtime Addict

I just called David since I am on lunch break and he proceeds to tell me about something that happened today with Hudson that seems to further prove he is one clever little boy! Let me preface this by saying, Hudson LOVES to take baths, like seriously loves bath time and never resists taking a bath, but rather asks for them. Not your normal toddler for the most part, I mean, he throws a fit that I secretly sneak off to take baths now because a) I think he might just be too old to be bathing with mommy, but more importantly b) because mommy now has a huge belly and it is already quite difficult for me to get in and out of the jacuzzi tub by myself, not to mention trying to share a bath with an almost 3 year old active toddler. Not an easy task I promise you! In any case, he loves his baths and has apparently cleverly devised his own little sneaky way to get one even if he doesn't need one.

So, here's his new trick....
1) Ask daddy for pudding
2) Daddy gives him a pudding cup and has him sit at the dining table to eat it
3) He begins taking a few bites and does his whole "Mmm, mmmm" thing, like this is SO good
4) Proceeds to smear pudding all over face and other body parts
5) Goes to daddy and says "Hun needs a bath."

LOL! Apparently, he has figured out if he gets food all over him, particularly pudding because that had happened a few times recently, that it is a surefire way for him to get a bath pronto! Not sure if he is *really* doing it on purpose or not, but his daddy sure does suspect that's what he's doing, ha! I guess we'll see how long before he does it again, hehe!

Hook 'Em Horns!

Much to my demise (or at least during football season anyways!), I have been blessed with a husband that not only loves pro football he also loves college football as well. Lucky me, right?!?! Well, he also loves basketball, both pro and college as well, but that's whole another story....anyways, back to my point, I promise I do have one, ha!

When it comes to college football, his favorite team is the Texas Longhorns and he always enjoys watching the games and keeps up with the team from season to season. I am pretty much oblivious to anything related to college football, but figure that if you're going to be a fan for any Texas university team, it might as well be the Longhorns, right???I mean, I would have loved to have gone there and love Austin more than you can imagine, so I just roll with the punches since I know no better. So, I elect to call myself a Longhorn fan as well, although I've only seen a handful of games in my life! (I know, I have killer reasoning behind this, haha!) Well, I was recently browsing one of my favorite Etsy shops when I came across none other than the cutest custom boutique burp cloths that are actually made using the NCAA fabric of your choice and I knew immediately that I needed to order some for baby boy as a surprise for David. Just because really, but also because I always order the cutesy things I like and figured baby boy should also have some things that daddy would really like and be proud of too! So, I ordered a set of (2) Texas Longhorns burp cloths and received them last week. I didn't tell David that I had ordered them at all because I thought it was kind of a cute surprise purchase even though they were burp cloths and not a gift for him or anything. So, when they arrived in the mail last week I waited for David to get home and had Hudson take them to him and say surprise daddy! I had already told him it was something for the baby, but a surprise so he wasn't totally confused by it, but once Hudson handed them to him he said "Is this a blanket?" LOL! Um no, that would be one TINY blanket, haha! I told him no and that they were burp cloths and that I ordered for the baby since I know how much he loves the Longhorns and he then says "Oh no, these are going to be my game towels!" LOL! Apparently, he thinks they would make the perfect spirit / rally towels to swing in the air while he watches the game, hahaha! I told him "hands off" and that those are exclusively for burping the baby! Although, I wouldn't be surprised if I catch him twirling them around in the air before too long though, lol! SO funny!

Here is the Etsy shop I ordered them from in case anyone is interested in ordering some featuring their favorite team's logoed fabric - Custom Designs by Mimi.

Oh, and here is a picture of the fabric that they are made of....the other side is fluffy, soft chenille fabric. Love them!

"My Boys" watching Da Boys....the Dallas Cowboys that is!

I know, they look super excited right?!?! Well, Hudson did run around a lot earlier today jabbering about how he was going to watch "dirtball" with daddy, so I was surprised when he actually did watch it some! By the way, dirtball = football, ha! Anyways, David also taught Hudson how to saw "Go Cowboys!" and "Go Giants!".....too stinkin' cute if you ask me!!! :)

Now I just need to get Hudson a couple of jerseys for daddy's favorite teams, being the Cowboys and the Longhorns I would guess! Although, I am sure there are a few other faves as well!

27 Weeks

Another week down and rounding the last curve before officially starting the third trimester.....I can't believe that we will be meeting our baby boy in just 12 short weeks or less! I am SO excited, but we have so much to do to get prepared before little man makes his debut!

Here is what is going on with both me and baby this week according to BabyCenter.com

How your life's changing:

The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too.

It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it's not too soon to think about family planning. You'll want to have made some decisions about postpartum birth control before your baby arrives. If you're considering a tubal ligation, be aware that most states require you to sign a consent form at least 30 days beforehand. So if you'd like the option of having the surgery during your postpartum hospital stay, don't wait too much longer to discuss it with your caregiver. (You can still change your mind later.)

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

Change of Plans.....Maybe???

So, I *thought* I had it all figured out in regards to what I was wanting to do for baby boy's nursery and for the bedding that I had planned on having custom made etc., etc., but now, I am having second thoughts. In fact, I am almost entirely convinced that I want to go with the original bedding David and I found when we first found out we were having a boy, instead of the bedding ideas that I had posted on the blog previously. Several factors are swaying my decision in favor of the below bedding and decor concept vs. the custom bedding, but primarily I am just afraid that I won't love the custom bedding when it's done and then I'll be stuck with it. I was going to hire someone from Etsy to make it, so I wouldn't get to see it until it was done and there would be no hands on communication regarding the design, so that makes me nervous. I keep thinking of the what-if's - What if the fabrics don't end up looking as good together when it's done? What if it's not as cute as I envisioned? What if the quality is lacking? What if the bedding doesn't fit the crib properly? All of these things make me nervous and hesitant to move forward with the custom bedding I had created in my mind and for a while, had my heart set on. Plus, what color would we paint the nursery?? We will need to paint the lower wall under the chair rail an accenting color and I just think that ALL of the colors in the fabrics I selected for the custom bedding would be way too loud and vibrant for the room and don't really know what else would work. This brings me to a standstill and a point where I just need to make a decision and get it ordered soon, so that I can start on his room once Hudson's furniture is delivered and setup. Which, will hopefully happen sometime within the next 5 weeks or so since they said it would likely take 4 weeks or so for the furniture pieces to come in and then we have to schedule a delivery time.

In any case, I'm starting to feel a bit of anxiety about some of these "loose ends" that were things that initially I was in no hurry to rush to get done, but now that we are down to about 12 weeks before our baby boy will be here I am starting to feel a bit of pressure to get on the ball and get them taken care of just so I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that it is taken care of and it's not something remaining on my to-do list to stress and worry over. (not that bedding is of that great of importance, but you know what I mean as far as just feeling like you are prepared for the baby and not trying to rush at the last minute)

So, below are some photos of the other bedding that David and I actually found and liked right after we found out we were having another boy. We looked at it again last weekend and still really like it and think it would be really cute for our baby boy's room. I would order the cute wall canvases to coordinate and would likely order the mobile, but hanging it from the ceiling near his crib overhead rather than to fixture the piece onto the crib and then create a theme around the vintage tricycle, scooter, wagon kind of concept. Surprisingly, the cost isn't really any less than what I was going to pay for the custom bedding for the most part, so that's not really a factor more of what will look best and be easy to decorate around. As far as paint goes, we both think it would look awesome to paint the bottom of the walls the pretty blue toned color from the bedding set for a nice splash of color without it being too loud or too muted. The blue has more of a green-toned or aqua-toned base to it, so it's pretty different from the blue on the walls of the room now, but would be easy to change. Anyways, just thinking outloud here, but I really think this bedding and overall theme would be SO cute and would work really well and would also be something that I wouldn't have to worry about because I know I like it and that's it's good quality because I have seen it in person already. What do you think??? Any ideas, opinions, suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I am torn and need to make a decision soon....for my sanity if nothing else, ha!