25 Weeks

We did some productive and exciting things this past week.  We interviewed and selected the doula we will be working with (thanks to a good friend's recommendation!).  We also painted Baby B's room (and by "we" I mostly mean my mom and sister).  Unfortunately I only snapped a few photos of Ryan doing the touch ups but don't let that fool you--big thanks to baby B's future grandma and tia!  Now we  can start moving in officially and decorating.

Baby B is moving around more than ever.  I'm feeling her in all different sorts of places now too (not just the lower abdomen).

Working on the grey walls

Some of the white furniture

Ahhhh.....it's such a calming peaceful room already.  I like to just go inside, sit on the floor (because we don't have a chair yet), and imagine what it will be like when babygirl gets here.....!

24 Weeks

We are getting a wee bit uncomfortable over here.  And according the the midwife it just gets worse from here on out.  It's harder to bend over, more difficult to sleep, and I'm able to fit in less and less non-maternity clothing each day.  Most of the dresses I thought I was going to be able to wear throughout pregnancy got suddenly much shorter.  

Other more exciting news--Ryan finally felt babygirl kick!  She is moving up a storm.  Most of the time I like her little movements.  There were a few times when she did some not cool things though, like pressed on my lungs so it felt like I couldn't breath.  Or did something to make an extreme tightness in my back.  But like I said, most of the time it's pretty fun.

24 Week Bumpity Bump

Last Baby B Fetus Viewing

We had our last ultrasound yesterday.  Most people usually have there last little peak at 20 weeks but because Miss B was too shy to show her face last time we got to come back at the 24 week mark for one final viewing.  Ryan scared the daylights out of me and I was a little hysterical for the first five minutes of the screening.  Ryan and I planned to meet in the parking lot of the hospital, not realizing that you do not get cell reception in the hospital garage.  When I couldn't get a hold of him I decided to go to the waiting room and try calling from there.  Still nothing.  AND they checked me in on time.  I insisted I wanted to wait for Ryan but they insisted they needed to start.  I was so sad thinking about Ryan missing his last chance to see his little girl before birth but luckily he made it back to the room after figuring out what had happened just in the nick of time.

So happy he did too because babygirl put on quite the show for us.  At first she was extremely cooperative and the ultrasound tech was able to snap lots of good profile shots like this one:

I love this picture so much.  I think I have looked at it at least 25 times since yesterday (okay, I'm lying, I am sure it's been more like 50+).  If you look closely it looks like Baby B is smiling.  I have also decided that she still has her daddy's lips and nose but I think she has my chin, forehead, and fingers (you will see these LONG things in the next picture).

By the time the doctor came in Baby B became shy once again.  She covered her face with both her hands.  It was so cute!  She then started trying to fit both her hands in her mouth.  She was chewing on her hands and we could see her tongue sticking out as she was really going to town on her fingers.  The doctor, Ryan, and I were all laughing hysterically.  She ended the show by deciding to go to sleep with a thumb in her mouth and her other hand covering her eyes.  It seriously melted my heart.  I love her.  I am totally obsessed already.

Folks, we have a thumb sucker!  For some reason the blogger will not let me flip this picture so you will have to turn your heads to see for yourself.  And this picture also shows off Baby B's LONG fingers.  We might have a hand model in the making.  :)  Also note worthy is that Baby B is in the exact same position she was last month (head down, feet tucked in the right side of my rib cage).  I think this must mean she is pretty comfy.

Baby B looks very healthy.  She has been moving around a lot.  And I have felt her have hiccups several times.  This is not my favorite thing in the world because I think hiccups are annoying.  And to feel them in your lower stomach is just awkward.

The other good news is that I did another blood test yesterday and the results came back stating that my platelets levels have increased.  YES, you did not misread that!  They are at 124.  I am SO thankful and hopeful that this is a good sign.  This is higher than they have ever been since the first testing.  HORRAY!

We attended another group prenatal appointment.  It was Ryan's first time going.  We are bonding with our little group and one group member even brought back presents from Cambodia for the whole class. Baby B now owns a little Cambodian wall hanging with pink lizards.  So very thoughtful.  We also learned lots of interesting things.....like they might be changing the gestational diabetes test, and what to do if you get leg cramps, and that sleeping on your back is a no-no but your right side is okay (I already knew left side was best but I didn't realize back was a no-no).

We don't have any more baby activities for the next month.  In the meantime I'm sure Baby B will continue to grow.  I have gained a little more weight that I am supposed to gain....average is 12-15 and I am 16Ibs.  While Baby B grows I will try to eat less sugar and exercise more.  It will help that I am no longer sick!

23 Weeks

This past week was a rough one.  I thought I was finally recovering from the sickness I had from the week before but little did I know it was just the beginning.  Stuffy nose, headache, sore throat, watery eyes, cough, and tiredness x100 ensued.  I haven't taken any medication throughout this whole pregnancy and I didn't want to start.  So I just decided to go the al natural route with hot showers, tea, and neti pot after neti pot.  Plus work.  Ugh.  Then I started to panic.  My normal seasonal allergies pretty much disappeared when I got pregnant and I thought it was a happy side effect....but then I wondered if my sickness was the worst allergies in the world and what if this was to be my reality for my last three months.......

Thankfully I am feeling better everyday.  So I am really hoping it's not allergies.  My midwife told me the normal allergy medication I use (the only thing I have found to really work) is not safe during pregnancy. So please just be a nasty bug.

Ryan has still not felt Baby B kick yet.  I finally was able to feel her kick from the outside so I am hoping Ryan will catch one soon.  We have our last ultrasound this week.  I am so excited to see babygirl again.

Here I am with a 23 week old belly looking VERY tired

22 Weeks

Ryan was gone all week rafting and I ended up getting sick just in time for him to get back.  It was such a bummer and I'm still not feeling that great.  When he returned I didn't even recognize him!  My husband gets so incredibly tan.  I hope Baby B inherits his good skin.

I have started nesting.  The nursery is looking great.  All the furniture is set up and I have made two purchases already (a mobile for over the diaper changing table and a playmat for tummy time).  It is really hard refraining from buying everything I see.  I spend hours looking at cool products and cute baby girl clothing.  Aaahhh it just can kill you how adorable everything is out there.  Next step is painting the nursery but I am waiting for my sister to get here to help me.

I attended my first group prenatal appointment.  I decided to do group appointments because you get to build a support group of other couples who are in the same spot as you in their pregnancy and I have heard women who do this feel a lot more prepared to give birth.  Instead of appointments being 15-20 minutes they are two hours but you share the appointment with several other couples.  You still get some private time with the midwife--like to do measurements and address individual concerns, etc.   I learned that my fundal height is perfect and I gained a WHOLE lot of weight this past week.  I blame staying with my mom while Ryan was gone and eating all her good cooking.  You are supposed to gain 1Ib a week and I gained 2Ibs but I am still within the normal healthy weight gain range.

Our mission now is to find a doula.  I looked at doulas at one center and they all cost over $1000.  I am not sure we are willing to fork out that much money on a doula so I am going to continue to hunt.  Some weeks I feel super confident and do not think I need a doula at all.  The next week I start thinking that I need a doula like yesterday.  Oh pregnancy emotional rollar coaster.

Here is Ryan trying to feel Baby B kick.  No luck.  But you can see how tan he got on the river.  

Feeling sick and having a 22 week belly