29 weeks: On "seeing" you for the first time

* 01/27/11

Today we saw your sweet face.

And it is sweeter than anything I had dreamed of.

I went into the 4D ultrasound appointment not expecting much. After-all, most of these images all used to look the same to me. I think it takes a mama to truly see the tiny differences, and after glancing staring at our "take home" images all day, I can make out more and more little features that make you you. You are handsome. You are perfect. And might I say, so very very cute!!!

As I mentioned, I did not expect much, since I was rather hesitant about the whole 4D hype. And once we got there, you definitely let us know exactly what you thought of it as well. You did not cooperate much, kept the left side of your perfect little face tightly pressed against my uterus and hid the other side of your face with your perfect little hand :) No matter the prodding and enticing, you wouldn't budge. And even-though we got some beautiful, heart-meling images of you... they still don't do the real thing justice, and I. just. can. not. wait. to see your handsome self, face to face! Less than 11 weeks my love.

We invited Vania (my ever best friend and talented photographer) along for the occasion, and she snapped some behind the scenes shots of the ultrasound, that I am sure to forever cherish! She will also be attending and documenting sweet-peas labor and delivery! I just can not wait :)

I love these two images! Look at our faces, we are so in awe -mouths agape and all! ♥

How far along? 29 weeks

Baby's size and development ? About 3 lbs (that's what the ultrasound tech guestimated) and about 15 inches long! "Baby's brain can now control his breathing and body temperature. He can also cough, and his sucking abilities have been perfected. Look out, boobs! Your Mini's skin is looking less wrinkled as he packs on the pounds."

Changes in me? Last weekend was hard. Lennon has been moving rather consistently and vehemently for a few weeks now. But starting friday his movements became less and less and noticeably much less forcefull. I still counted about 10 movements every 2 hrs or so and I tried not worrying too much. But then came saturday, and I way overdid it when I joined the husband for a 2hr "hike" on the mountain. (he plays frisbee-golf). Once in the car, I felt a few braxton hicks contractions -nothing new. I have one or two of them ever day or so. But this time, I counted 10 within 1hr and it scared the crap out of me. I did what I was told, drank a huge glass of water (to rehydrate) and laid down on my left side until they subsided, which they thankfully did. Sunday was really weird, I was absolutely exhausted and Lennon was still rather lethargic. I had to prod him and entice him with music to move around, but he was his active self again towards the end of the night. Today -Monday- my stomach is extremely sore, especially around my belly button. I have a constant dull ache, and when I press down on the area, it actually hurts rather badly -like a sharp stabbing pain. It is not unmanageable, and on a scale I would give it a meager 1 (I dare say I have a super high pain tolerance, hopefully this will come in handy in about 11 weeks ;) and little bit is giving me plenty of movement to not worry. Thankfully I have my next check up wednesday, and I will bring all this up then. Hopefully my stomach is just sore from my growing belly which has grown substantially in the past 2 weeks...

**Update: Today is Friday and we are well into week 29 (or technically this is week 30 right........?? I STILL havn't quite figured out the weekly count here.) Wednesday was the ever anticipated appointment, and I recapped everything for the doc, who had no worry at all and said all was normal. After dr.'s orders a few weeks back, I haven't been active at all, due to the placenta previa and when I went on that hike saturday, my body must have simply freaked out a bit. Good news, though!!! We found out that the placenta previa has resolved itself! HOORAY!!! Now I can gradually begin to be active again (well, as much as the 3rd trimester will let me), have sex (haha, tmi alert mom) and a vaginal deliver is a go :)

I feel absolutely grand again (knock-on-wood) and I have the most handsomest prince growing strong inside of me!! Just wait until you see his 3D pictures ;)

Maternity clothes? I hate them. They are huge tents, unshapely sacks of fabric. I think whoever is in charge of sizing them, is trying to make pregnant women feel good. Everything runs giganourmous. I am usually a medium, but trust me, a maternity medium is like a regular XL.. no joke! I've decided that my goal in my next life is to be a maternity fashion designer. yes. ;) Not being able to buy anything for myself gives me PLENTY of reason to spoil my little man though. I never thought a pair of itsy bitsy shoes could make me so happy :)

Sleep? The usual: Getting up a million times, not being able to sleep (but I may blame that on the book I am reading at the moment ;) tossing and turning to get comfortable.......

I must say, I don't mind the sleeplessness, its the uncomfortableness that drives me batty. I think I will be well equipped to take care of my little man in the night once he's in my arms and not occupying my belly!

Best moment this past week? Seeing my son's amazingly handsome face on 3D.

Movement? He is getting so big!! I feel him all the way across my stomach now. He is still completely transverse, spreading out side to side. Sometimes he rolls around like a maniac and I wished I could glimpse inside to see just what he is doing in there. I repeat myself: I WILL MISS THIS THE MOST! But I am sure there is nothing like holding him close, nestled to my chest, drinking in his scent... feeling and seeing him move on the outside :)

Symptoms? Heartburn. Sleeplessness. Protruding freakish belly button. I wish my boobs would get the memo that I am pregnant...they better cooperate soon to feed my baby!

My stomach measures 42.5 in. around this week. That is 1.5 inches up from last, oy... is that normal?

What I miss? sushi still.

What I'm looking forward to? Holding my baby... oh and my baby shower that my ever so fab sis-in-law and mum-in-law are putting together! :)

Emotions: Very well :)

And here he is, my handsome prince:

28 weeks: 182 days ♥

*182 days with you.

Little love, we are finally embarking on the last trimester. Today marks day one of the third trimester and I could not me more thrilled. This huge milestone means that we have approximately 12 weeks left until we will glance into each others eyes for the first time. How I simply can not wait. I think the human gestation should last exactly 7 months, because I am SO READY to meet you, to see your perfect face, count your tiny toes, kiss your handsome cheeks, and shower you with all the love in the universe.

How far along? 28 weeks

Baby's size and development ? The little work in progress is now about 2.5 pounds and almost 16 inches long. His beautiful eyes are partially open now, he can blink and he even sports eye lashes :) He is also able to see the light that filters in through the womb, I know this because he kicks and moves around when i shine direct light on it :) He's busy adding new skills such as coughing, sucking, hiccuping, and taking practice breaths. The baby's sleep now includes the REM (rapid eye movement) phase — and that means he could be dreaming already. Swoon.

Changes in me? I am supposed to gain about 12 lbs this trimester, oyyyy. If that is going to be the case, I will have gained a total of 27 lbs.. be still my heart!!!

Oh well, It's all for a good cause -the best- and I plan on taking swimming classes with little love as well as go on daily walks with him. The 15 or so lbs I have gained thus far have luckily spread fairly evenly and don't bother me much. It is all part of it, right? (as long as every one of them is shed at the end!) ;)

I see the Dr. every 2 weeks from now on until week 36 when I will go in once a week! These visits absolutely do not bother me, I look much forward to them every time. Hearing his wooshing heart makes the peeing in a cup and scale tipping SO worth it ;) I went in yesterday for my glucose screening test. I was lucky and got to munch on a large candy bar and a soda instead of forcing down the drink that is rumored to be so very awful. I just got my call back that all is well and I passed. No 3-hr tolerance test for me! Wahoo :)

Maternity clothes? My order from GAP and Old Navy came in... I must say I am not impressed -Surprise! I do not know what it is about maternity clothes, but man, they are cut awful and don't fit at all! I just much rather wear "normal" clothes in a size bigger. This has worked thus far, and by god- I am going to make it work til the end! ;)

Sleep? Besides getting increasingly more uncomfortable due to having to sleep on my side with a huge basketball attached to me, little Rambo decided recently that it would be fun to keep me up at night with kicks, jabs, and punches... and they HURT! I wake up from "pain" -no joke. It is not the rib kicking that a lot of women describe, he has stays away from them thus far. But he is positioned so weird, that he kicks me right into my left side -at the very far edge of my uterus. And it's more of a "rubbing" than straight out kicking. He rubs his entire extremity along my insides. ouch ;) Does this sound like complaining? Because I don't want it to, yes -its a bit uncomfortable, but I am just so happy that he is healthy, growing strong -and seems to have a strong mind of his own already :)

Best moment this past week? Feeling him getting so much stronger and active!

Movement? I can feel him all the time now! There is at least one big kick or movement every every hour now! It is SO amazing, I can only repeat myself. I. WILL. MISS. THIS.

Symptoms? Heartburrrrrrrrn. Upon recommendation of my Dr., I switched to Zantac. Unfortunately this does not treat the heartburn, but rather prevents it and I seem to not be able to remember taking it before a meal. So I still resort to Tums when it's too late already ;) I did read though, that excessive Tums use can cause kidney stones (because of the large amounts of calcium) EEK :O So I am definitely ONLY taking it if I truly can't handle the discomfort and pain. I am going to put "growth of stomach" as a symptom from now on with measurements. Last week I measured 40 inches around, this week 41.

What I miss? SUSHI!!!

What I'm looking forward to? Seeing my little man's sweet face in 6 days!

Emotions: Up and down. This week was a down, I had plenty of reason... very personal reasons -non pregnancy related- that do not belong here. It is getting better though :)

27 weeks: Snowmageddon and Cabin Fever

This week was rather uneventful, and I must admit -rather slow. Yes, you heard me right: slow ;)

I finally figured out how to "stop" time: Alabama + 10 inches of snow +3 days of being stuck in the house = cabin fever. And we all know what cabin fever does to time.

I was genuinely bored and was wishing for my ever speeding days back in no time!

I am so glad the roads are drivable again. I just got back from my 27 week appointment and all looks grand with the little guy.

He is measuring almost a week ahead.... wow. I hope that doesn't effect my due date much, my mother won't fly in until a few days before, and I would positively be crushed if she would miss his birth!

On a lighter note, we scheduled the 3D/4D ultrasound, and in 13 short days I am going to see my little loves face again. I was kind of torn on wether to have this done or not, but because of my placenta previa, my Dr. actually thought it would be a great way to check "that little problem" out while having a bit of fun ;) (or it's all just moneymakery... I think the latter) ;)

But I don't mind, this will probably be the last ultrasound before Lennon makes his anticipated arrival (unless the placenta has not budged) and I do enjoy them seeing his sweet face so...

I bet by now he will be all cutesy-chubby-baby like -not like the anatomy scan ultrasound where he still looked like baby-skeletor. ;) and oh- i JUST can't wait.

I like these little "milestones" to look forward to. They cut the weeks and seem to make the wait until April shorter.

In other news, my blood-pressure is STILL high, despite the damn meds they put me on... they are still "watching" it... I am guessing if the Dr's are not concerned, I shouldn't be?

We also signed up for Birthing classes, Parenting classes and Breast-feeding classes this week! I am excited, and since it hasn't seemed to hit Seth yet that this little guy will inhabit our home and hearts VERY SOON, I think these classes will finally do him in ;) It's about time, I am getting kind of sad and depressed to seemingly be going through this pregnancy alone. If anyone should be there by your side- as giddy as you- it should be your spouse. But I am not going to condemn him, it takes some people longer to become a dad than others...

As for me, I am ever as excited and soaking this special time in bits by bits. With every passing minute I fall more deeply in love with my little man.

How far along? 27 weeks

Baby's size and development ? Bitsy weighs about 2.2 lbs and is about 14.5 inches long. From now on it is said, that he will gain about 0.5 lbs a week.. "He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While the lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. "

Changes in me? One big change I've notice throughout the past weeks actually, is my skin. It was horrible in the beginning, especially in the first trimester. Just bad. I think my body is finally regulating and getting used to the new surge of hormones. My skin is practically glowing -I think that's where the common saying comes from ;) For other changes, the dark vertical line below my belly button has made its appearance, "Linea Negra" they call it? Yup, its very attractive ;) The belly button protrusion has reached a halt, and he's hanging out half in half out at the moment. I sure hope it will either go back in or pop out all the way, it just looks wrong right now ;)

Maternity clothes? Heheee, I ordered a huge order of stuff from Old Navy and Gap online! They had an extravagant sale, and I got 3 shirts, 1 sweater, 1 dress (oh, and a little cutie onesie for Lennon) for under 50 bucks! I call that a steal.

Sleep? Tossing and turning and getting up a million times and tossing and turning.... rinse, wash, and repeat....

Best moment this past week? Hearing littlies heartbeat just now. It's still going strong at 140 bpm :)

Movement? He is active most of the day now. He definitely has his sleep/awake intervals and is up and moving every 40 or so minutes. I got this app for my iphone that counts baby kicks (my Dr. actually mentioned to start counting his kicks from now on) and he meets the quota well above and beyond. I adore his movements, I just can not get enough of them. "It's like my own personal brand of heroine" heheheheee

Symptoms? Sooo, I've stopped indulging in my 3 pieces of Hershey's Toffee/Almond nuggets before bed, and guess what? My nightly heartburn has disappeared. duh. I was in denial, but the nightly bouts of outrageous heartburn got too much, so changes had to be made ;) I still get it on and off during the day, but I can deal with that.

Also, I am dreading writing this, and hope I am not jinxing anything, but if the following is an indication of what my 3rd trimester will look like. i. do. not. like:

1. I have been nauseous waking up -actually puked! :O

2. I have been waking up at about 4am on the dot the past few nights, with no luck of falling back asleep

I feel grand today, so I desperately hope this was just a fluke, because those were the two main -obnoxious, day-ruining- symptoms throughout my first trimester!!!

What I miss? Being able to get up with grace -without huffing and puffing and rolling to the side or hanging on to something ;)

What I'm looking forward to? As mentioned above, the 3D ultrasound is definitely on top of the list :)

Emotions: Mh, my emotions have been interesting. Definitely skimming closer to water these days; I cry because of the silliest things. Also, my emotions have begun to ride an unpredictable rollercoaster. I was so proud of staying pretty much level headed throughout this pregnancy thus far, but I think those days are numbered. I get irritated SO easily, the slightest -silliest- things tick me off, but in return I can be elated in no time about nothing in particular....

let's end on a happy note, with a pretty picture, shall we :)

26 weeks: A new year with so much promise

Lennon, my dearest son,

we have made it 2/3 of the way, can you believe it? We are -god willing- less than 14 weeks away from meeting each other face to face and I simply can not wait.

The day you will be born will be a day of glory, a day when heaven kisses earth, a day of everything good and pure.... the day all my dreams come true!

How can you have wrapped me so entirely around your little finger already? How is it possible that one so tiny and new can have such a spell binding hold on ones heart and soul?

I am truly the luckiest to be your mother. The luckiest to have been chosen by you. My heart swells with such immense love and joy whenever I think of you. (and believe me, baby, not a minute goes by that I don't) I am constantly reminded of your existence, either by my ever growing stomach or by your magical movements within. You are getting stronger and bigger by the day and your movements reflect this. Too often do I find myself lazily laying in bed, focusing on your little kicks and tumbles, daydreaming about how life will be once you lie there next to me.

I just know it will be divinity, it will be all -and more- that I hope for. You are my perfect child, my dream come true, the one I have been longing for since before I even knew myself.

Lennon, I can not express in words how much you mean to me and how much I look forward to spending the rest of our lives together..

forever love,

mama

How far along? 26 weeks

Baby's size and development ? Littly has now completed two-thirds of his stay in Hotel Womb. He's about 1 2/3 lbs and is 14 inches long head-to-heel.

Changes in me? Nothing drastic from last weeks update :)

Maternity clothes? Ohgosh, I went to one of those maternity stores in the mall before New Years, in an attempt to find a dress for the special occasion... left very quickly, very annoyed and disgruntled. Oh, maternity fashion is indeed still what everyone makes it out to be. Why must it be so hard to find something stylish. I will petition for Anthropologie to start a maternity line, would that not be divine? I think my best bet from now on will be purchasing online. Once I hit 30 weeks I may cave in and get a nice tiny wardrobe for the remaining 10 weeks... oh and for our Las Vegas trip in late February Definitely a must. ** if you are curious, I did find a little black maternity dress for new years eve... at target!

Sleep? Still tossing and turning a whole bunch. Getting up to use the bathroom countless times. Kicking dogs off of my legs. Positioning and repositioning the body pillow just so. Waking up from bizarre dreams and insane heartburn.... all this doesn't leave much room for sleep. It is also so hard for me these days to get up, without help, from a laying position to sitting. When Seth is around, he lends me a helping hand... when he's not around, I revert to the attractive, heaving, side roll maneuver.

Best moment these past week(s)? Getting started on Lennon's nursery!! We spent a whole day with dear friends at the Ikea in Atlanta, new years day. Luckily we rented a large truck...we packed it to the brink! Unfortunately they were out of a few key pieces we had picked out for his room -and our loft- but thanks to its diversity, Ikea had other options to offer. In the end though, I am uber happy with the outcome so far. We still have a bit to go before the final reveal, but let me say: I am in love. It is exactly how I had envisioned, and will be the perfect place for my ray of sunshine. Here is a tiny sneak peek of us assembling everything :)

I received a sewing machine for Christmas from my lovely mum-in-law and I am making grand use of it. So far I have sewn (or is it sewed?) a pillow for the nursing chair, a mobile to go over his crib, flag bunting for over his crib, cute little artwork in embroidery hoops, and a fabric bin for his toys :) EEK (can you tell that I have been making much use of my week off work? ;)

Wall art and Flag bunting :)

sweet pillow I hand-stitched :)

Movement? This morning I felt the first hiccups!! I melted! What a sweet sensation. At first I thought he was just rather active, but after paying more attention and googling, I recognized the rhythmic motion of the "kicks" an realized they were hiccups! SO SWEET!

Symptoms? HEARTBURN. As I type I am battling a constant bout of it. Tums are NOT helping today.... :(

Gender? taking this out (unless something CRAZY happens ;)

What I miss? oh nothing :)

What I'm looking forward to? Let's see here.... now that we are almost finished with his nursery (this entire week was dedicated to this) I am simply looking forward to all the weeks ahead, anticipating his arrival. I realize its still a long way off, but I am enjoying every bit of it! I am so fortunate.. I realize this day and day.

Emotions: Happy! Pure Happiness.