He's Here!!

That's right, folks, Noah Robert was born Aug. 13 at 1:44 am weighing in at 7 lbs 2.9 oz, 18.5 inches long. He has a head full of hair and is absolutely perfect (although I'm biased).
I'll give you a long detailed birth story later, but here is the shortened version. I had to be induced because of high blood pressure, so I went in on Thursday morning, the 12th, at 6:00 am and they started me on Pitocin around 7:30 or so, 16 hours later I started pushing, and 2 1/2 hours after pushing Noah was here!
I ended up with everything I didn't want, but things have been great in spite of that. I didn't want to have to be induced, but did, and I didn't want an episiotomy, but had to have one because he was sunny side up and there was no way I was pushing him out that way without tearing big time.
He is a bit Jaundice but we are working through that with a Bili blanket and lots of time in the window.
My milk came in on yesterday morning and by last night I was engorged. It isn't fun, but thanks to a lactation consultant and a La Leche League Leader I am able to deal with it and Noah is getting plenty to eat and my breast don't feel like they are about to explode.
DH has been super great throughout all of this. I couldn't ask for a better husband and father to my child. He is the one who gets up in the middle of the night to comfort Noah and change his diapers, he's been keeping up with the house work so I can recover and gain strength back. He plays with Noah and talks to him and it makes my heart melt every time he does that. He was so great in the hospital, too, I wanted to cry as I was pushing (for more than one reason) but I thought he was so wonderful.

Anyway, I will now leave you with a few pictures of our little guy.

There is a Watermelon in my Ute!

Your Baby: Month 9

At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.

Total weight gain/loss: I am up 30 pounds. I guess I've reached my limit.

How big is baby?: Baby is the size of a watermelon. He is about 6-7 pounds now, I think.

Maternity clothes? Yep, all maternity! I can wear some non maternity sweat pants. I am now wearing DH's t-shirts, he doesn't like that I am stealing his clothes now.

Stretch marks? Yes, I thought I could hold them off, but my skin had other plans. They started out on my hips then I saw some under my belly and now there is no turning back. Ugh.

Sleep: Ugh, only ok. I wake up alot and don't sleep very hard when I do get some sleep.

Best moment this week: Making it to full term!

Movement: Yes!! He enjoys kicking my ribs and sticking his rearend out.

Food cravings: Not much these days. Sometime I just want something sweet and other times I want salty, but nothing special.

Gender: Handsome Baby Boy!

Labor Signs: Yes! Contractions all of the time, but nothing painful. I think the rule is, if they don't hurt they don't count. He has dropped now, so I am feeling more pressure on my cervix and get really sharp, stop you in your tracks, kind of pain on my cervix, too. Still all of this.

Belly Button in or out?: It's official, I have an outie now. You can even see it through my shirt. It becomes and inny again when I have a contraction.

Milestones: Full Term! We also set an induction date (more below)

New Pregnancy Symptom: Contractions

What I am looking forward to: Getting to meet my baby!

Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy the time while you have it.

Story of the week: I had an appointment on Tuesday and my blood pressure was elevated (nothing new). So after taking my BP twice the doctor decided it was in mine and the baby's best interest to set an induction date which is now Aug. 12! I will be 39 weeks 1 day. So we have just less than 2 more weeks! I can go into labor before then which I am thinking I might but just in case we have a scheduled induction. It is getting so close!
37 Weeks:

36 Weeks 3 Days

Total weight gain/loss: I am up 28 pounds, I never thought I would get to this high of a weight.

How big is baby?: Baby is the size of a small watermelon. He is about 6 pounds now, I think.

Maternity clothes? Yep, all maternity! I can wear some non maternity sweat pants. I am now wearing DH's t-shirts, he doesn't like that I am stealing his clothes now.

Stretch marks? Yes, I thought I could hold them off, but my skin had other plans. They started out on my hips then I saw some under my belly and now there is no turning back. Ugh.

Sleep: Last week was so busy that I was dead to the world during the night except for my bathroom breaks, but last night I woke up at 3:30 and couldn't get back to sleep so I got up and watched tv for an hour then slept until 8:45. I fight indigestion but I am living on Tums.

Best moment this week: Finishing his room (I'll post pictures soon)!

Movement: Yes!! I can feel him all of the time and he is getting so strong.

Food cravings: Juice, water, milk, cereal, chicken tenders and pizza! A new item is Mexican food and bread sticks.

Gender: Handsome Baby Boy!

Labor Signs: Yes! Contractions all of the time, but nothing painful. I think the rule is, if they don't hurt they don't count. He has dropped now, so I am feeling more pressure on my cervix and get really sharp, stop you in your tracks, kind of pain on my cervix, too.

Belly Button in or out?: It's official, I have an outie now. You can even see it through my shirt. It becomes and inny again when I have a contraction.

Milestones: Getting the room finished! And starting to have labor signs now.

New Pregnancy Symptom: Contractions

What I am looking forward to: Getting to meet my baby!

Weekly Wisdom: It is ok to change doctors if you need to.

Story of the Week: I have seen 3 different doctors or midwives since I've gotten pregnant. My MW told me I was had "Chronic High Blood pressure" and had me do 3 24 hour urine tests, plus gave me a really hard time about going out of town to see my family and for my baby shower at 28 weeks. After I got home from my shower he ordered me to start twice a week NSTs. I saw an OB at 34 weeks because my MW was unable to take me because they were booked, so I saw him and he said that I didn't have chronic high blood pressure but thought I might have a thyroid issue. So, great, I thought, something else to worry about. During my NSTs I have to have an ultra sound to check for fluid levels and only an OB or MW can do those. So an OB (who I've never met before) does my fluid check and says everything looks great but tells me that I am mildly Pre-Eclamptic and I need to be on partial bedrest and should probably have an protein check done once a week. WHAT? I was not pleased with that, but knew I should do what is good for the baby. He also told me to not clean my house because I need to be resting.

So, I go to my 36 week appointment to another Dr. who I've never met before. I chose to see him mostly because at this point I felt that I needed to see an OB especially since I am "mildly pre-e" and could have a thyroid issue. I walk into the exam room and he is sitting in there reading my chart introduces himself then looks at me and says, "You don't have high blood pressure, and your proteins are fine." Which means that I don't have or am anywhere close to having Pre-E. He then explains to me why he is saying this. I didn't think my blood pressure was high either since I get 3 BPs taken at each NST and they are all in normal range. He says my proteins are fine especially for the amount of urine I produced in my 24 hours.

So, after all of that, I am sticking with him. I think he knows what he is doing and I feel very comfortable with him. To be honest my MW was starting to creep me out a bit and the other doctor was good, but he was a bit rough around the edges for me. Its too bad it took me this long to find a good doctor that I like, but at least he will be the one I have my next (possibly 4) appointments with.

Now here is my 36 week picture :-)

No, I didn't fall off the face of the Earth

I'm still here, but I have been super busy lately with DH coming home, then taking the last final of my college career (Yay!), and Vacation Bible School at church.

For a quick update I've been feeling great, but I have had some contractions nothing painful, just annoying. I have also been put on partial bed rest, meaning I have to rest for at least 3-4 hours a day laying down and no more house cleaning (good luck getting me to do that, doc.) He also unofficially diagnosed me with mild Pre-E.

With all of that going on I will be shocked if I make it to 40 weeks. If I was a betting woman I would say he will be here by Aug. 4th, but I also thought my little man was a girl, too. I'm not so good with the mother's intuition yet.

Since I will be on bed rest until he gets here I promise I will do better at updating my blog.

31 Weeks!

You baby weighs between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 pounds. She continues to gain weight at a faster pace than she lengthens, which will give her those cute chubby cheeks. She's about fourteen to sixteen inches tall, although individual growth rates vary. Your baby begins to run out of room as she puts on weight. You should feel about ten kicks an hour. Some care providers suggest keeping a "kick chart" by writing down how many kicks you feel in an hour, so that you are aware if there's a decrease in activity. Other care providers may advise that as long as it feels like the baby's active, there's no need to keep notes. If you do sense a decrease in activity, try drinking a large glass of juice. If that doesn't make the baby energized, or makes her less energized than she usually would be, call your care provider.
How far along?
Source: fitpregnancy.com

30 Weeks!:

Total weight gain/loss: I am up 20 pounds. Oh Vay!

How big is baby?: Baby is the size of an Squash or pot roast depending on the source. 16-18 inches long, I think he is about 3 1/2 pounds now.

Maternity clothes? Yep, all maternity! I can wear some non maternity sweat pants. My t-shirts are too tight now, so I now wear some of DH's t-shirts.

Stretch marks? None! I bought some Bath and Body Works Body Butter today so I hope that helps ward off the stretch marks until the end!

Sleep: I have gotten to the point where my hips hurt if I lay on them for too long and I have indigestion so I have to sleep propped up now. I find that I am sleeping better now except when I wake up to go to the bathroom. Now that I'm sharing a bed again sleep is different, but still good.

Best moment this week: DH is home!! He is getting to know our little guy slowly, but it is fun watching DH's face when he can feel LO move.

Movement: Yes!! I can feel him all of the time and he is getting so strong.

Food cravings: Juice, water, milk, cereal, and pizza! I am also having a huge sandwich craving which I've indulged a few times. A new item is Mexican food and bread sticks.

Gender: Handsome Baby Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, but I feel pressure on my cervix when I'm on my feet too long. Braxton Hicks have also started a bit, not much, but some.

Belly Button in or out?: It's official, I have an outie now. You can even see it through my shirt.

Milestones: Single digits! 9 more weeks!! Wow! 6 weeks until full term. This is getting crazy.

New Pregnancy Symptom: RLP is getting intense these days. My lower back is starting to ache.

What I am looking forward to: Baby Shower on Saturday!

Weekly Wisdom: Drink lots and lots of water, especially now that the weather is HOT!

Here is my 31 week picture, sorry its blurry DH took the picture and refuses to use Autofocus.

He's Home!!

DH is finally home!! Yay! This has been a great day so far. I picked him up at the airport around 10:00 then we had some post deployment things to do on base. Once that was finally completed we went to eat lunch followed by buying a new 42" TV. DH totally deserved that after this horrific deployment and returning home travels he endured. We are now home and enjoying each other's company.

More to come later.

Appointment Update

Big news at my appointment today. As most of you probably know, I've been experiencing some high blood pressure issues since the beginning of this pregnancy. I have had two 24 hour urine tests and all of the blood work that comes along with that. Both have come back with protein in my urine, but the blood work always comes back normal. My blood pressure will be high one min. but then I'll have it rechecked and it is normal, needless to say my MW is stumped! I don't exhibit any of the other signs of Pre-E, except high blood pressure and the protein. All of this to say, I am now labeled as, "High Risk".

Since I am "High Risk" my MW wants me to come in twice a week for Non-Stress Tests (NST). I go in for the first one on the 22nd then again that Friday. From that point on I will schedule them for the next week as I go in.

My MW and I were talking about pitocin and C-Section and how I said I don't want either, then he brings up that I may have to be induced because of my high blood pressure. He says I may be able to make it to 39 weeks, but if my blood pressure stays inconsistent then I may have to be induced earlier than that. We will just go week by week and see how things progress from there.

Other than all of that, I feel great, sleepy, but really great. I am kind of surprised that I am having to go through all of this testing, but I am so glad that my MW is being proactive and taking precautions to keep me and our Little Guy safe and healthy.

P.S. DH is coming home really soon!! Stay tuned for more information on that!

30 Weeks

30 Weeks!

You baby's length is about 16 inches—about as long as a laptop computer—and she measures almost 11 inches from crown to rump. She weighs approximately 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. From now until delivery, every baby will gain weight at a more individual rate. Your baby has doubled in height over the past six weeks, and from now until delivery, she'll gain only a few more inches in length. Don't worry if she's in a strange position (what your care provider might call a "transverse lie"). There's still plenty of time for her to get settled into the head-down (cephalic) position for birth. She's floating in about 1 1/2 pints of amniotic fluid and has some room to move. Your baby's most important organ, her brain, continues to develop at a rapid pace. Her eyes are able to track light, and some researchers have theorized that exposing your belly to light may stimulate development. Try moving the beam of a flashlight slowly over your belly in a dim room, and see if she reacts.

Source: fitpregnancy.com

How far along? : 30 Weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: I am up 19 pounds.

How big is baby?: Baby is the size of an Squash or pot roast depending on the source. 15-17 inches long, I think he is about 3 pounds now.

Maternity clothes? Yep, all maternity! I can wear some non maternity sweat pants. My t-shirts are too tight now, so I now wear some of DH's t-shirts.

Stretch marks? None! Yay!

Sleep: I have gotten to the point where my hips hurt if I lay on them for too long and I have indigestion so I have to sleep propped up now. I find that I am sleeping better now except when I wake up to go to the bathroom.

Best moment this week: Finding out that all of my tests from last week came back normal (more on that next post). Also knowing that DH is on his way home! More on that later, too.

Movement: Yes!! Its like an alien in my belly.

Food cravings: Juice, water, milk, cereal, and pizza! I am also having a huge sandwich craving which I've indulged a few times. Still all of this!

Gender: Handsome Baby Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, but I feel pressure on my cervix when I'm on my feet too long. Braxton Hicks have also started a bit, not much, but some.

Belly Button in or out?: It's official, I have an outie now. You can even see it through my shirt.

Milestones: 10 weeks until due date and 7 until full term! Wow!

New Pregnancy Symptom: Nothing new this week, well, I have had an increase in indigestion.

What I am looking forward to: DH coming home soon! And another baby shower in 1 1/2 week!

Weekly Wisdom: Love your baby today and be thankful for your DH being around to support you through this time in your life.

Baby Shower!

My wonderful sister, 2 cousins, and mom hosted a baby shower for me at my parent's house which is about 8 hours away. It was a shame that DH couldn't go with me, but my sister was able to come to my house to get me and my brother drove me back home.

At the shower were some old high school friends, mostly family members, MIL and her sister, and grandmother. It was really great seeing everyone again. We got some really great things including my awesome diaper bag!! It is a Skip Hop Studio! Yay! MIL also got us our swing which is a big item that we needed. I have another baby shower on June 19, I'm so excited! I will leave you to look at some pictures that my sister took at the shower. Enjoy!

Some Yummy food with the fabulous Diaper Cake that was made for the shower
Me doing something weird with a picture of the swing MIL got for our Baby Boy! Oh yeah and you can see my diaper bag on the table!
Me sitting on my momma's lap! We were being goofy.
Part of the gift my hostesses got for the baby.
Yummy food!

29 Weeks!

Your Baby: Month 7

Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.
Source: thebump.com

How far along? : 29 Weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: I am up 18 pounds.

How big is baby?: Baby is the size of an Squash or pot roast depending on the source. 12-15 inches long, About a week and a half ago I had an ultra sound and my MW said he was 2 pounds 10 ounces, so I figure he is just under 3 pounds now.

Maternity clothes? Yep, all maternity! I can wear some sweat pants. My t-shirts still can go on my body but they are not flattering so I don't wear them too much anymore.

Stretch marks? None! Yay!

Sleep: I have gotten to the point where my hips hurt if I lay on them for too long and I have indigestion so I have to sleep propped up now.

Best moment this week: My baby shower!! I had a great time and got some really great things!

Movement: Yes!! He is getting so strong!

Food cravings: Juice, water, milk, cereal, and pizza! I am also having a huge sandwich craving which I've indulged a few times. Still all of this!

Gender: Handsome Baby Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, but I feel pressure on my cervix when I'm on my feet too long.

Belly Button in or out?: It's official, I have an outie now. You can even see it through my shirt.

Milestones: 8 weeks until I'm full term! Holy Cow!

New Pregnancy Symptom: My feet are starting to swell. After 8 hours in a car my feet became huge!

What I am looking forward to: DH coming home soon! And another baby shower in 2 weeks!

Weekly Wisdom: Love your baby today and be thankful for your DH being around to support you through this time in your life.

Here is the 29 week Belly Picture

Update on DH's Homecoming

So last week I made a post about DH possibly making it home soon and it looks like it will be happening very soon! Due to OPSEC (Operations Security) rules I can not post dates, names, or places, but I can tell you that God has certainly answered some prayers!

DH's replacement should make it to his location sometime early next week. There will be some training involved to make sure his replacement knows how to do the job and after a period of time (which is still unclear to even DH) he will get on a plane and come home!

Things are not set in stone yet even on the official end of things, but it looks like it is really happening! I am so beyond excited!

I told DH the other day that I can not believe that I am already in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy, it seems like this pregnancy has gone by so fast, but at the same time is seems his deployment has gone by so slowly, even though they are happening simultaneously.

I feel like when he gets home things are really going to come together with getting our little guy's room together, going to child birthing classes, and buying last min. things we need (such as a new car). I am just so excited for my family to come together. Ah! So excited!

Happy Third Trimester!!

Yay! I am officially in third trimester today! I am so excited and am still amazed as to how fast this pregnancy has gone.

Your baby weighs about two pounds and is about 12 to 15 inches long, about the size of a small pot roast. If your baby were born now, he would have an excellent chance (85 percent) of surviving. He still isn't fully formed and would probably not be able to breath by himself. He would need to stay in an incubator to keep his body temperature regulated, and he would have a weak liver and immune system. (Fact: Babies have more taste buds at birth than they will have later in life. Newborns can sniff out and tell the difference between their mother's milk and someone else's.)

Source: fitpregnancy.com

How far along? : 27 Weeks! 10 more weeks until I'm full term and 13 until the due date

Total weight gain/loss: I am up 16 pounds. Ugh. I should just stay off the scale.

How big is baby?: Baby is the size of an Eggplant or pot roast depending on the source. 12-15 inches long, about 2 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yep, all maternity! I can wear some sweat pants and my t-shirts that are non maternity. My t-shirts are starting to get too small, though. I may have to breakout some of DH's shirts.

Stretch marks? According to one of my readers the dark lines around my belly button are not stretch marks, so according to that, I have none!

Sleep: I am starting to get up more frequently during the night to go to the bathroom. I still toss and turn and now I am starting to wake up really hot and sweaty. My sweet little boy has been kicking me awake every morning around 6:00 am, while I love feeling him kick me, I would love that time to sleep.

Best moment this week: Getting his furniture in yesterday and really starting to get his room together and decorated!

Movement: Yes!! He is getting so strong!

Food cravings: Juice, water, milk, cereal, and pizza! I am also having a huge sandwich craving which I've indulged a few times. Tacos and Mexican food is also sounding good these days.

Gender: Handsome Baby Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, but I feel pressure on my cervix when I'm on my feet too long.

Belly Button in or out?: It's official, I have an outie now. You can even see it through my shirt.

Milestones: Making it to 3rd Trimester!

New Pregnancy Symptom: My feet are starting to swell a bit, not too bad though, I just need to up my water intake.

What I am looking forward to: My MW is giving me another ultra sound at my next appointment on Monday and my first Baby Shower next Saturday!

Weekly Wisdom: Love your baby today and be thankful for your DH being around to support you through this time in your life.

It's Here, It's Here!!

Baby Boy's Furniture That is!!! Yay!

The furniture is Million Dollar Baby and the bedding and rug is from Pottery Barn Kids. I ordered all of this furniture on March 26 and it finally came in today! Since DH is gone we decided to have it delivered and assembled. It took them 2 1/2 hours to put it all together. As soon as they left I pulled out all of the bedding and went right to work! I can hardly wait until I have my showers so I can fill the room with clothes, diapers, and other fun little boy things!

Here is a picture of the whole room.
Bookcase with a small fraction of the children's books we have. I am an elementary school teacher by degree, so I have more children's books than I can count. They will all be shelved later when DH comes home.
Combo dresser with hutch, crib, rug, and bedding.
Crib with PBK bedding again.

So Excited, but say a Prayer!

So, as most of you know, my DH is currently deployed. He left in February when I was about 14 weeks along in this pregnancy. Since the beginning we were very unsure about when he was going to be able to come home. Our hope was that he would be home in time for the birth in Aug. For the most part we had no doubt that he would be home in time for that, but I was still nervous the longer this deployment progressed and we still didn't know when he would be making it home.

I talked to DH tonight and he told me that he is almost 100% sure that he has a come home date and it is a lot sooner than what we expected! I am so excited! DH was getting down and out that he is missing so much of this pregnancy, but now he will be home soon, I hope! It is time to schedule the pedicure, hair appointment, carpet cleaners, and shopping for a new coming home outfit. I always get so excited getting ready for him to get home.

If you know anything about the military then you know things can change in an instant so this is not set in stone yet. But I am going to be saying multiple prayers a day in hopes that God bring my husband home to me when we think he may be coming home.

26 Weeks

26 Weeks!

"Your baby weighs about 1 1/2 pounds and has undergone a growth spurt in the past few weeks. From weeks twenty to twenty-eight, she almost doubles in height and now would be about a foot tall if she could stand. This week marks a major milestone in your baby's hearing and sight. Your baby's hearing system (cochlea and peripheral sensory end organs), which began fine development during week eighteen, is now completely formed, and over the next few weeks, she'll become increasingly sensitive to sound. In about a month, you'll feel her jump if she hears a sudden loud noise. Sound passes easily into your uterus, which helps her ears develop. Her eyes are almost fully formed. Did you know that all babies have blue eyes in the womb, no matter what their genetic inheritance is? A baby's eyes don't get their final color until a few months after they are born. The air sacs of the lungs, called alveoli, will be developed by the end of this week and will begin to secrete a substance called surfactant that keeps the lung tissue from sticking together." Source: Fitpregnancy.com

How far along? : 26 Weeks! One more week and I'm in third trimester! Wow! 14 weeks until due date and 11 Weeks until I'm full term.

Total weight gain/loss: This morning I was up 15 pounds, but it varies from 12-15.

How big is baby?: Baby is the size of an Eggplant. 13.5- 14.8 inches long, 1.5- 2.2 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yep, all maternity! I can wear some sweat pants and my t-shirts that are non maternity. Still this.

Stretch marks? Still just the really faint ones around my belly button.

Sleep: I'm up about 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom. About twice a week I'm awake from about 3:30-6:00 tossing and turning, then I can go back to sleep until around 8:00 or 8:30.

Best moment this week: Being informed that my furniture should be in next week!

Movement: Yes!! Although in the past two days I've noticed a decrease in movement. I guess he is starting to run out of room in there.

Food cravings: Juice, water, milk, cereal, chocolate milk, and pizza. I feel like a child with these food cravings. Tacos sound good right now, though.

Gender: Handsome Baby Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, Stay away for a while please.

Belly Button in or out?: It's official, I have an outie now. You can even see it through my shirt.

Milestones: Double digits until the due date!! 98 to go as of today!

New Pregnancy Symptom: Nothing new this week. I have a slight increase in energy this week which is nice.

What I am looking forward to: My sister coming to see me in 2 weeks! She is bringing back up to my parent's house for my Baby Shower!!

Weekly Wisdom: Life can be scary, especially when carrying a child, but know that God is in control.

Pictures!!!

Comparison pictures of Mama View. The first is 20 weeks, the second is 26 weeks.

26 Weeks!

Teenage Drivers

So I know at one point we were all teenage drivers. I now know why my parents cringed when my brother, sister, and I got behind the wheel; teenage drivers are insane!

I had bad experiences on two different occasions in the past week. Every morning I go for a walk around my subdivision. My subdivision is located off of a major highway, but it is a quiet little street that is circular. The houses are about 50 feet apart, with yards, fences, children, and pregnant women walking. But for some reason the teenagers in this subdivision decide to go 40 mph down the road dodging the cars parked on the street and pregnant women walking! I thought for sure when you see a person walking down the street you slow down, but NO, they decide to keep going 40 mph just hoping to not hit anything. I just think these young drivers don't see how their actions have an effect on other people. I know they don't think about the children playing in their yards who may try to chase a ball down the street. I thought about running after them and giving them a lecture about slowing down when they pull into a subdivision, but decided that was a job for their parents, not me. Now if I can just get their parents on the phone...

I think I'm probably overreacting, but I am just really protective of myself and my unborn child right now.

25 Weeks!

Your Baby: Month 6

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

How far along? : 25 Weeks! Only 15 to go, that freaked me out a bit yesterday.

Total weight gain/loss: I am up 13 pounds. Oy!

How big is baby?: Baby is the size of an Eggplant. 13.5- 14.8 inches long, 1.5- 2.2 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Yep, all maternity! I can wear some sweat pants and my t-shirts that are non maternity. I broke down and bought some maternity tanks, but I think they may be too small in a few weeks.

Stretch marks? My fist official stretch marks are around my belly button, nice, right? They are really light, so I hope they don't darken. Those are my only ones. *fingers crossed*

Sleep: I am starting to get up more frequently during the night to go to the bathroom. I still toss and turn and now I am starting to wake up really hot and sweaty.

Best moment this week: Knowing that every day LO stays in my belly the stronger he gets.

Movement: Yes!! I put my hand on my belly telling him to kick my hand and he did it! It is so much fun being able to play with him like that.

Food cravings: Juice, water, milk, cereal, and pizza! I also bough 3 bags of chips at the grocery store this week, so I'm thinking chips are now a craving. But I have orders to stay away from salty foods and fast food.

Gender: Handsome Baby Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, but I feel pressure on my cervix when I'm on my feet too long.

Belly Button in or out?: It's official, I have an outie now. You can even see it through my shirt.

Milestones: 15 weeks to go until due date! That seems like a milestone for me.

New Pregnancy Symptom: Back ache, ugh the back ache. I think he is going through another growth spurt.

What I am looking forward to: My MW is giving me another ultra sound at my next appointment. And my first Baby Shower in 3 weeks!!

Weekly Wisdom: Love your baby today and be thankful for your DH being around to support you through this time in your life.

My Favorite Shirt...

My all time favorite t-shirt is getting too small for me. I imagine I only have about 2-3 more weeks of being able to wear it. Mrs. G, you will recognize this shirt I'm sure. It is from freshmen year of college which was about 6 years ago. These pants DH's mom made for him while he was in college, but I took them from his dresser drawer and claimed them for myself since he never wore them. They are so comfortable!

First Nursery Project Finished!!

I am so proud of myself, I must admit. I made closet dividers! I went to a craft store and bought wooden door hangers, paint, and paint brushes. I bought a few other things, but I will go into that at another time.

When I got home I looked in baby boy's closet and there isn't a way to remove the bar where the clothes are hung, so I had to cut a slit in each door hanger (8 of them) in order for them to hang properly. So, what did I do you ask? I took a kitchen knife and used it as a saw to cut them. I know, you cooking guru's are having a heart attack at that thought, but what's a girl to do when her DH is out of the country?

After each one was cut, I painted them green front and back.

Once they were painted with 2 coats of paint each I allowed them to dry then wrote on each on the clothing size: NB, 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12 mos, 18 mos, and 24 mos.

Once white paint was dry I used some yellow paint and got creative.

So here is the finished product hanging in the closet, well, one of them anyway...

The entire project cost me about $15 including paint and brushes. The door hangers were only $1 each. I think for $15 they turned out pretty well, and hopefully they will last a long time.

Labs are Back

Yesterday I turned in my 24 hour urine test as well as had some blood work done to check for Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. My MW was supposed to call me yesterday afternoon, but not shockingly he didn't so I called him today. He said that the volume of urine I turned it was really high (It was 3,000 ml or 3 Liters). Because of the high volume my protein levels were elevated. All of my blood work came back normal, so he thinks they are high because of the volume of urine. He wants me to repeat the 24 hour urine test when I go in for my next appointment on May 24 as well as do my 1 hour glucose test.

Since my labs came back normal, for the most part, I will still be able to make the trip to see my family where they will be throwing me my first Baby Shower!! Yay! Thank you Jesus for this wonderful news and keeping me and our Little Guy healthy!