29 Weeks

How Far Along? 29 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? I have gained 2 pounds!!
Maternity clothes? I feel like I am wearing the same things all the time...
Best moment this week? Getting her  room setup and getting her bedding!! It is so exciting to get her stuff all put together.
Belly Button? It might just pop! We'll see!
Measurements? 28 Weeks
Movement? She moves a lot and I think she is head down already...I keep feeling her hiccups...down VERY low.
Food Cravings? Cereal, Chocolate, Cheese
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Sleeping all night!
What I am looking forward to? My baby shower! I can't wait to see all the pink!
Milestones? Baby already measures about 15.2 to 16.7 inches long. Right now, she weighs about 2.5 to 3.8 pounds but she's still got a ways to go -- can you believe she'll triple in weight before birth? She's getting a little cramped in there, since she's growing so fast. But you probably already realize that, since you're getting all those jabs and kicks. She's growing white fat deposits under her skin, and her energy is surging because of it. Feel a subtle twitch? It might be baby hiccupping.
Other notes?  My appointment went well this week. I will now be seen every 2 weeks. My glucose test and my hemoglobin were normal. My iron levels were actually high which is great!

28 Weeks

How Far Along? 28 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? I have an appointment next week and they say average is a pound a week at this point so I am thinking I might have gained my first pound from my pre-pregnancy weight!
Maternity clothes? My mom bought me a couple of new pants and bras which I love!!
Best moment this week? Reaching the 3rd Trimester! I know she would have a good chance of survival at this point and it relieves some of my pregnancy worries. Although I want her to cook as long as possible!

Belly Button? I am beginning to wonder if it might pop eventually. With Daniel it never did but it seems like my tummy is having to stretch a little more with this pregnancy. Probably since I am not really gaining weight. 
Measurements? We will find out next week!
Movement? She is moving a lot! More of rolls and stretches instead of kicks now.
Food Cravings? Krispy Kreme...again! Brian made a run to get me donuts on the way home from work the other night!
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Daniel being able to sit on my lap easily.
What I am looking forward to? Next weeks appointment and then I start every 2 weeks!
Milestones? 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. 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.)
 Other notes? My

27 Weeks

How Far Along? 27 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? Still sitting right at my pre-pregnancy weight.
Maternity clothes? It has to be the clothes that make me look huge...right?
Best moment this week? I registered for a few things at Target and it was fun looking at all the pink!
Belly Button? Still an innie but it is surfacing fast!
Measurements? Will find out in 2 weeks!
Movement? She moves a lot. I think she is transverse because it is really uncomfortable on my sides!
Food Cravings? Krispy Kreme donuts
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Walking stairs without hurting...I am starting to get the third trimester pains a little early.
What I am looking forward to? Meeting our little princess and seeing if she looks more like her daddy!
Milestones? 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.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.
Other notes? She seems to be so big right now! I can only imagine how I am going to feel in a few weeks! I just don't remember feeling like this this early with Daniel.

23 Months!

How Old? 23 Months

Height and Weight? Around 23 Pounds...maybe. I was looking at my baby book and I was only 19 and a half pounds at 2! Brian was about 27 pounds. I am excited to see where Daniel is. It has been a while since we weighed him and to me, it looks like he has grown quite a bit.

Teeth? He has a mouth full of teeth! It is funny to look at his pictures from a year ago and see the change in his smile.

Clothes? 18 months mainly but some 18-24 and 24 Months tops.

Words? It seems like he is repeating a lot more of what we say now. Favorite words are Eat, Fish, Steins, Choo-Choo, Shoes, and he says quite a few phrases that are not quite understandable to us. He repeats them over and over so he must know what he is talking about.

Food? He is a pretty good eater but is very adamant when he wants a certain food. He ate a Ham and Cheese Sandwich for the first time and likes it. His food intake usually looks like this on a given day:

Breakfast - Waffles, Pancakes or Oatmeal; Morning Snack - Goldfish and a Banana or Yogurt; Lunch - Sandwich or leftovers from dinner, fruit or yogurt (depending on snack) and maybe a Fruitables instead of water. Yes, I am giving him juice sometimes...I have not been giving him added sugar as much as possible but since the Fruitables have mostly vegetable juice in them so I gave in like once or twice a week); Afternoon Snack- could be goldfish, cheese, an apple, another sandwich...pretty much whatever he wants that we have; Dinner - I try to get him to eat what we are eating but it might or might not work. He loves when we have Spaghetti, Pizza, Chicken and Rice, and a few other things but I keep the Gerber Graduate Meals on hand if needed.

Activities? He loves to spin around and make himself dizzy, he has mastered putting his puzzles together, He still LOVES Trains, He loves to read books and watch his TV shows. He can feed himself with a spoon or fork pretty well, He likes it when you "get" (tickle) him and likes to do it in return, he is making noises for a car/truck/helicopter when he plays with them. It is funny because he repeats me and lets just say my noises for a car sound like something off the Jetsons! He has started throwing tantrums a little more and banging his head on the floor in frustration so mommy and daddy are trying to learn how to handle this.

What Happened? We had a good month, We went to the beach, said goodbye to our friends Alycia, Barry, Cael, Josh as they had to move to SLC, Utah. We miss them a lot and wish we still had playdates every Tuesday. We went to the Georgia Aquarium for mommy's birthday and Mia came with us. We went to the Imagine It Children's Museum of Atlanta with Aunt Jessica and Logan and had a playdate with them at the Mall. We spent a lot of time over at Mia and Poppy's house before school started back.
My Toddler This Month? If it seems like your little one's growth has slowed down dramatically compared with his first year, you're right. The average child triples his birth weight by age 1, but only gains 3 to 5 pounds in the second year. By now, your toddler also looks much less like a baby. He's upright, he's mobile, he's active, and his baby fat is melting away. The way he holds his body and moves around has changed, too. The back-and-forth gait of a young toddler has evolved into a smoother, more coordinated stride. By their second birthday, most kids can pull toys behind them and carry things while they walk, and they will begin to run. he approaching second birthday is a good time to rethink your child's safety. You've thought about childproofing before, but every stage brings new hazards as your child grows taller, more mobile, and more adventurous. Reevaluate potential dangers from his point of view. Increasingly, your toddler will be able to get into places you never dreamed possible. He may climb onto stools, tables, and counters; open containers he never showed an interest in before; and move into dangerous zones (a pool, the basement tool bench) faster than you'd think. The good news is that your child is well able to understand the meaning of "no." When he was small, you had to rely on moving dangers out of reach. That's still good advice, but by now, you should also be using your words and serious tone of voice to make clear which behaviors are not acceptable – opening up CD cases and ripping books, for example. You'll still want to keep as many potential threats out of reach as possible, though. Remove sharp knives from accessible drawers, and store medications and vitamins in childproof containers.

Where are your teeth?







26 Weeks

How Far Along? 26 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? Up 3 pounds from my last appointment! Still down 1 pound from my pre-pregnancy weight. I am 6 pounds lighter at this point than I was with Daniel.
Maternity clothes? Fitting better
Best moment this week? We finished painting Shiloh's room and I bought the letters for her wall and painted them. It is fun walking into a green and PINK room! There really is a girl coming! Also, a friend of mine had me over to go through her girls clothes. I got some really cute stuff for Shiloh to wear!
Belly Button? Still an innie but it's not quite as deep.
Measurements? 25 Weeks at this weeks appointment.
Movement? She is a mover! Her kicks are getting harder and harder!
Food Cravings? Cereal, Brownies, pizza
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? drinking water without getting heartburn! lol
What I am looking forward to? Getting the ladders and tarps out of her room tomorrow so I can start hanging the clothes in her closet.
Milestones? Baby's soaking up your antibodies, getting her immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and she'll soon be practicing the blink...perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.
Other notes? I had my appointment yesterday and everything with the baby went well. I had mentioned to my doctor that I had been having calf pain since Monday after waking up with a calf cramp. At the end of my appointment to told me that she wanted me to go the hospital to have it evaluated. Needless to say, I was shocked. She was worried I might have a blood clot and told me that a calf cramp should not last that long. So Brian met me at the ER yesterday and I had an ultrasound of my calf. 4 hours later we found out that, thank God, there is no blood clot! It looks like I just tore my muscle from the calf cramp.

25 Weeks

How Far Along? 25 Weeks 1 Day
Total weight gain/loss? According to my scale, I have gained pound or 2 since my last appointment!  YAY maybe I will back to my pre-pregnancy weight at my 26 week appointment.
Maternity clothes? Fitting better
Best moment this week? Cleaning out Shiloh's room and painting it! (pics to come)
Belly Button? Still an innie but it's not quite as deep.
Measurements? Will find out on Thursday.
Movement? She is a mover! Her kicks are getting harder and harder!
Food Cravings? Cereal, Brownies
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? drinking water without getting heartburn! lol
What I am looking forward to? Geting the letters for Shiloh's room and painting them!
Milestones? Baby's now the size of an eggplant! That oh-so-handy sense of equilibrium is kicking in, and baby's learning to distinguish right side up from upside down. She's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.  Your baby-to-be's lungs are developing rapidly, although she'd probably need a little help breathing if she were born at this point. Her respiratory system continues to develop, her nostrils are open, and she can breathe—but she won't take her first breath of air until delivery day. By your 25th week of pregnancy, her reproductive organs are formed (in boys, the testes have descended). Her skin is translucent and wrinkled, and she can hear your stomach when it gurgles and your voice when you sing. Your baby is becoming more aware of how she can move—she's wiggling her fingers and toes!

Other notes? I'm getting really excited about all this girl stuff!

24 Weeks

How Far Along? 24 Weeks 4 Days
Total weight gain/loss? According to my scale, I have gained pound or 2 since my last appointment!  YAY maybe I will back to my pre-pregnancy weight at my 26 week appointment.
Maternity clothes? My mom bought me a new outfit for my birthday!
Best moment this week?
Belly Button? Still an innie but it's not quite as deep.
Measurements? Will find out at the next appointment.
Movement? She is a mover! Her kicks are getting harder and harder!
Food Cravings? Chocolate, cereal, pizza
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Nothing at the moment.
What I am looking forward to? Painting Shiloh's room Wednesday!
Milestones? Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon. In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball. Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition. Untreated diabetes increases your risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow too large, especially in his upper body. It also raises your baby's odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure.
Other notes? I'm getting more and more excited to meet this little princess!

23 Weeks

How Far Along? 23 Weeks 6 Days (I know I am late!)
Total weight gain/loss? Still down 4 pounds. I have been at the beach all week and I am eating more but I probably did a lot more walking than I am used to.
Maternity clothes? Still love them
Best moment this week?Being at the beach and enjoying our last vacation as a family of 3
Belly Button? Still an innie but it's not quite as deep.
Measurements? Will find out at the next appointment.
Movement? She is getting big! She is moving all the time!
Food Cravings? Chocolate
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Nothing at the moment.
What I am looking forward to? Getting Shiloh's room started when we get back from the beach!
Milestones? Baby's now the size of a papaya! Again! It looks like it only changes monthly now...BOO!

Baby's little face is fully formed...minus the baby fat, of course. The next task at hand for baby: sprouting two teeny-tiny nipples!

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb. You may notice that your ankles and feet start to swell a bit in the coming weeks or months, especially at the end of the day or during the heat of summer. Sluggish circulation in your legs — coupled with changes in your blood chemistry that may cause some water retention — may result in swelling, also known as edema. Your body will get rid of the extra fluid after you have your baby, which is why you'll pee frequently and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery. In the meantime, lie on your left side or put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, and avoid sitting — or standing — in one place for long periods. Also, try to exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning) and roomy, comfortable shoes. You may be tempted to skimp on liquids to combat swelling, but you need to drink plenty of water because staying hydrated actually helps prevent fluid retention. While a certain amount of edema in your lower extremities is normal during pregnancy, excessive swelling may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia. Be sure to call your midwife or doctor if you have severe or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, swelling in your face, or puffiness around your eyes.
Other notes? We have picked out her bedding! Here is a picture!
 

 

22 Months!

How Old? 22 Months
Height and Weight? Around 22 Pounds.
Teeth? He has all of his teeth for now. The top two incisors are not all the way in so he looks like a vampire.
Clothes? 18 months
Words? Choo-Choo, Thanks, Please, Moo, Quack-Quack, Fish, Steins, Dad, Neigh, Shoes, No, Yes, "What it is" Get, and more.
Food? BBQ Sandwiches, Mac and Cheese, Bananas, Yogurt, Blueberry Waffles, Oatmeal, PB&J, Okra, Green Beans are the main things right now.
Activities? We spent a lot of time at the pool this month. He is swimming with arm floats and loves being somewhat free! Another thing he LOVES is trains! He gets so excited when we go to the mall because he can ride the train.
What Happened? This month he has impressed us with his communication skills. He will go get his bathing suit when he wants to go to the pool, get the peanut butter out of the pantry if he is craving it, bring us the remote for the TV and tell us he wants to watch "Steins" (Little Einsteins). He has gone into time out a lot more! He likes to stand on the furniture and look at us an smile when we say "no". He has started noticing his clothes more and wants to look at his shirts to see what is on them. He has also started hiding when he  is going "stinky". I have been trying to make him aware of when he has to go and it is finally paying off. I have a potty we are going to start introducing him to when we get back from the beach.
My Toddler This Month? By now your child will begin to have particular ideas about what he wants to accomplish – such as pushing a toy lawn mower down a path. When you disrupt your 22-month-old's plans, he's apt to get upset. You'll see he's pleased when he's successful and frustrated when he's not. It's all part of his burgeoning independence. Praising attempts, not just accomplishments, can help him learn to cope with disappointments. For example, if he's struggling and on the verge of tears, you might say, "I know it's hard to get that shoe on, and you're trying really hard." Or, "You look mad. Can I help you?" Mix challenging activities with those that boost your child's sense of pride, such as stacking chunky blocks or helping you water plants. Try not to rush to your child's rescue if he's mildly frustrated. Jumping in to do it for him can foster dependence and diminish his confidence. Your challenge is to balance your natural desire to help and protect your child with his need to tackle new tasks.

22 Weeks

How Far Along? 22 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? Still down 4 pounds. I weighed the same at my 22 Week appointment that I have the last 3 visits.
Maternity clothes? Still love them
Best moment this week?Talking to my doctor more in depth about my VBAC and getting her reassurance that going natural will be okay. I can just have a hep-lock (an IV but no tubes attached) and I can be mobile. I will not have to have a epidural and I am so happy! They also have a laboring tub at the hospital and I will get to use it!
Belly Button? Still an innie
Measurements? 21 Weeks
Movement? I feel her all day long! She is a very active little lady.
Food Cravings? Fries, chocolate
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Nothing! I am feeling pretty good.
What I am looking forward to? Getting Shiloh's room started when we get back from the beach!
Milestones? Baby's now the size of a papaya! Baby's settling into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.
Other notes? The doctor also told me that the baby is measuring fine and even though I have not gained weight they are not concerned. She did say I need to increase my calorie intake even if that means not actually eating more, but eating higher calorie food. That night I went to Chili's and had a Chocolate Molten Cake! I have also been having some Braxton Hicks. My doctor said it was a little early but they measured my cervix thickness and it was perfect. She just said to keep track of how many I am having and to let them know if they increase.

21 Weeks

How Far Along? 21 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? Down about 5 pounds
Maternity clothes? Love them!
Best moment this week? having our Anatomy Scan and seeing our baby girl. She was weighing in at about 11oz and around the 30th percentile.
Belly Button? Still an innie
Measurements? Will find out at my 22 week appointment.
Movement? I can feel her all the time now! She is kicking pretty hard.
Food Cravings? Saltly foods and chocolate!
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Nothing! I am feeling pretty good.
What I am looking forward to? Getting Shiloh's room started!
Milestones?  Baby's now the size of a banana! Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion, and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, if baby is a girl, her womb is now stocked up with her lifetime supply of six million eggs (the number will drop to around one million by birth).
Other notes? Can't wait to see what she looks like! Her profile picture looks a lot like Daniel's.

Shiloh Kicking Mommy!

4th of July!

We had a great 4th of July weekend! We started it on Saturday by going to Memaw's house Saturday to celebrate her 77th birthday! He had a great lunch and time with family.

Doesn't she look great!

On Sunday we headed over to Roswell to go to the Riverside Park Sprayground! We had a blast! It was only a dollar to get in and Daniel absolutely loved it!

Afterwards we went back to Mimi and Pops house with Jessica, Chris and Logan. The boys played and then we cooked out. Aunt Jessica took some pictures of the boys! They turned out great.

Yummy Corn on the Cob!

On Monday we headed over to Mia and Poppy's house. We cooked out on the grill and then went to the pool! Daniel loves the water and loves to swim by himself!

We really wanted to go see the fireworks Monday night but it started storming so we didn't get to. We had a great 4th of July!

20 Weeks!

How Far Along? 20 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? Daniel and I had a stomach virus and I lost a few more pounds :-(
Maternity clothes? Some are cute...
Best moment this week? Feeling her so much more!
Belly Button? Still an innie
Measurements? On Track
Movement? I can feel her all the time now! She is very active! Brian and my mom have felt her kick.
Food Cravings? Sweets!
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Nothing at the moment
What I am looking forward to? My anatomy scan on Wednesday! Can't wait to see how much she has grown!
Milestones?  Baby's now the size of a cantaloupe! Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.  He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the size of a cantalope. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.) He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).
Other notes? I am feeling better! The doctor put me on Zantac twice a day and it seems to be helping tremendously!

19 Weeks

How Far Along? 19 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss? At the doctors on Monday I am still the same weight as last month. down 4 pounds
Maternity clothes? Love them!
Best moment this week? Getting a bunch of girl clothes from a friend of my MIL! What a blessing!
Belly Button? Still an innie
Measurements? Had my first one on Monday and I was measuring right at 18 weeks.
Movement? I feel her in the morning and at night when I am laying down. I have felt her from the outside a couple of times too!
Food Cravings? Frosted Flakes
Gender? Team Pink
What I miss? Nothing at the moment
What I am looking forward to? My anatomy scan on July 6th! Can't wait to see how much she has grown!
Milestones?  Baby's now the size of a mango! Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.
Other notes? I can finally hear Shiloh's heartbeat on the doppler I borrowed from my SIL. It is around the 150's every time.