Appointment #8

The appointment yesterday went great! Doc says everything's still right on track. Heartbeat was going strong and my belly was measuring good! Stepping on that scale is getting scary, but it's all for a good cause, right! ;-)

32 Weeks

How our baby's growing:

By now, our baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in my uterus. I'm gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth. He's probably in the head-down position by now, with his bottom facing up. This is the comfiest way for his body to fit in my increasingly cramped womb and will make his eventual exit much easier.

Also, another doc appointment today at 2:00! Stay tuned for check-up results!

31 weeks & 4 days

Well since my camera has officially broken, I've resorted to pictures from my cell phone. Not the best, but better than nothing. Here's me trying to keep myself entertained at work by watching my huge belly stick out and twist around with Levi's every movement, which has been a lot now! I literally feel like I have an alien trying to push out of my belly. Sometimes his movements are so strong it makes me a little sick to my stomach. But it's so super neat watching it stick out and move! He's full of action all day as I sit here at my desk. Makes it hard to concentrate... all I can think about is the day he finally arrives and getting to be home all day taking care of him and kissing his sweet face!

31 Weeks

How your baby's growing:

This week, our baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's definitely moving a lot, too, so I have been having some trouble relaxing because his kicks and somersaults are getting stronger and keep me up. Good news though is all this moving is a sign that Levi is active and healthy! He's also going through major brain and nerve development these days. His irises now react to light, and all five senses are in working order. (He won't pick up anything from his nose until after birth, though -- smell is transferred through air, not amniotic fluid.)

I do have new belly pictures to post up, but my camera decided to take a dump on me last night, so I haven't been able to get them off my card just yet. Hopefully sometime this week I'll get those posted up for you all to see!

30 weeks!

How our baby's growing:

Our baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from her face.

How my life's changing:

From babycenter.com:
You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.


...well, they pretty much nailed it on the head again! I'd say pretty much all of the above is how I feel at this 30 week mark. It's like the exhausting 1st trimester all over again... but worse sleeping habits 'cause of the watermelon in my belly and the pains it makes me have. I even had to stay home from work yesterday because I got zero sleep the night before. I'm definitely ready for this part to be over. Just ready to meet the little guy!!

We also had our 7th doctor's appointment this morning. Everything looked good again, just a check up on Levi's heart beat (135) and measured my belly which was right on track for 30 weeks! Two more weeks until our next check up.

29 Weeks

How our baby's growing:

Our baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, I'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, I'll be sure to drink my milk. This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in our baby's hardening skeleton each day. His energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath his skin. And since he's growing so fast (weight will triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb. What all this means for me: More kicks and jabs to the ribs and time to welcome back the constant bathroom dashes!

New crib

The pictures are in backwards order, but Greg and Doug got it all put together last night! So we have a crib and a changing table... now we just need a baby!! (well, and a rocking chair, and a mattress, and sheets, blankets, diapers, wipes.....hmmm, guess we have a lot more to go still).

28 wks, 4 days... and counting

(Last night before bed - still feeling a little under the weather)

Not only have we finally decided on a name for our baby...
Levi Gregory Geary
But we're well on our way to getting his nursery all cleaned out and ready for furniture! Got a few pictures up on the wall (super cute Norman Rockwell pix), and the rug down on the new clean floors, so it's on to crib shopping tonight! Then once that's all put up, we can put the finishing touches in with the rest of the wall art and accessories I have...or will soon have!

Baby Levi Gregory has been doing some major moving inside my belly.
I think he's gonna be a feisty one like his Daddy...just can't sit still! :-)

(This morning, trying to get a better picture, but you just can't hide not feeling 100% ~ oh well.)

28 weeks - Third & final trimester!

How our baby's growing:

I'm in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If I'm like most women, I'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester. At this point, I'll visit my doctor every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, I'll switch to weekly visits until the little guy is born!

By this week, our baby weighs two and a quarter pounds and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through my womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

We had another check up appointment today that went perfectly well. Baby's growing as he should be and has a heart rate of 155. Love hearing that little beating heart! My glucose test came back normal, so there is no chance of gestational diabetes for me... yea!

Sleeping (and other everyday things as well) is getting a little more tough with the big belly I'm getting. Plus, I happened to catch a sinus cold this weekend, so pray for fast healing, 'cause it's miserable not being able to breath let alone sleep well!

Baby furniture shopping this weekend is in the plans! Hopefully I'll have some pics to post up next week of our newly put together nursery! Can't wait!!