29 weeks

I am now entering my 30th week of pregnancy!  Hard to believe there are less than 11 full weeks left before Hadley will be here!

Here’s a little bit about her right now. 

Baby's now the size of a squash!
Baby's energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath her skin. And since she's growing so fast (weight will triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb. What all this means for you: Get ready for some more kicks and jabs to the ribs.  Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain.

How Far Along: 29 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 18 - 20 pounds (I think – I just realized that I didn’t ask the doctor about this at my last appointment like I usually do)

Maternity Clothes: Starting to get a little tired of wearing the same thing every single day.

Best Moment this week: This was technically last week, but seeing her in 3D was awesome!  I already shared the pictures below, but I know that is something we will treasure forever!

Gender: Still a girl for all we know!  - Hadley Ann :)

Movement:  I can feel her all the time now – in addition to the jerky little kicks, I can feel her rolling around and squirming in there

Food Craving: Nothing really in particular anymore

What I miss: Just being able to do basic things without being out of breath – I discovered that I can’t grocery shop and talk on the phone anymore.  Tried that this week and was SO out of breath I had to stop and rest for a minute!

Sleep: Still not too much trouble here – I wake up once or twice a night still, sometimes because of Hadley kicking, sometimes to go to the bathroom – but I typically don’t have too much trouble getting back to sleep.

What I am looking forward to: We have our tour of labor & delivery scheduled for next week.  Should be fun to see where we will actually bring Hadley into the world!

Belly Button: Still in, but hanging on by a thread

Symptoms: Still feeling pretty good – no big complaints here :) Although I have  noticed that the fatigue from the first trimester is starting to come back a bit.  Naps are my friend. :)

And here’s the latest belly picture…

Show Us Your Life: Nurseries & Kid’s Rooms

I’m a day late on this, and I don’t actually have the room ready to show off yet, so I thought I’d do a quick post on our choices so far for Hadley’s nursery. 

Here is the room right after we painted and had gotten in the crib/dresser:

Walking in…  this is a small room so it’s tough to take a good picture of it.  Paint color is Portobello by Sherwin Williams

Crib and Dresser are the Salerno line by Pali

This corner by the window is where the glider will go…

Looking back out towards the door (don’t mind the fan – I told you this was right after we painted!) 

I have the bedding already, but the bumper is in the process of being monogrammed by my friend Keely (check out her etsy shop, The Buggy Boutique – she makes the cutest stuff!) – so I thought I’d just share pictures of some of the other things we plan to do in here…

Here’s the bedding: It’s the scallop pique nursery bedding from Pottery Barn Kids.  I am using different sheets than what’s shown, adding a different monogram, thanks to Keely, and changing out the ties as well. 

Here’s the glider we ordered:  It’s the Newco Taylor Classic Swivel Glider – ordered from Babies R Us.  I’m thinking we might have to order the ottoman that goes with it too for those late night feedings.

I’m still trying to find a rug I like for a good price, and same with window treatments, a book shelf and I think a cubbie system to help organize her closet.  Here are a couple of my ideas so far…

  Rugs: I’d love to get one of these in a round shape – but those seem to be so much more expensive!

Window Treatments:  The wall her window is on actually has a vaulted ceiling, so I’m trying to find a solution to being able to have a cornice board up there and hanging drapes from inside, otherwise I may just do a roman shade or some other type of shade. 

Decorations:

I’m going to try to paint a canvas with Proverbs 3:24 " When you lie down you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep with be sweet” on it to go over her crib.  If I can’t make it look cute enough I may try to find someone on etsy to do it for me!   I’m also painting a little H that I’m going to cover with scrapbook paper to go on one of her shelves, and I’m going to try to make my own closet-clothing organizers based on the idea I saw here -- http://blissfullydomestic.com/2009/baby-closet-dividers – and maybe a bow holder as well.  Hopefully I will have time to get all these crafts done with the holidays coming! 

I guess that’s about all I have to show – we don’t have a bookshelf picked out yet either, so no pictures for that yet.  Hopefully I’ll have some more progress on the nursery soon and can show off the final product! 

Thanks for stopping by!  Check out the other links on Kelly’s Korner for some more kid room/nursery inspiration!

3D Ultrasound – 28 weeks & 2 days

This morning we had an appointment for a 3D ultrasound.  This was elective, so we had to pay for it ourselves, but I think it was totally worth it.  We got some great shots (although some are more clear than others.)

Hadley was snuggled up with her “pillow” most of the time, like in the picture below.  She was asleep at first, but a couple big yawns and stretches later and we could tell we woke her up (the ultrasound tech had me bring a Dr. Pepper with me so we could get her moving around).

Stretchin’ out.  Love these little legs and feet! 

Little tiny ear

The first photos we got of her, her lips were all puckered up like this.   Mmmm… Dr. Pepper… this stuff is sweet!

Big yawn!  Ugh – do I have to wake up? 

I think this is the best full shot we got of her face.  I can’t wait to compare these to her first “outside” baby pics! 

We don’t have another doctor’s appointment until the first week of November.  At my last appointment, they pretty much said we are on “cruise control” until the 36th week or so.  I’ll try to be a little more regular with the belly pictures too, since I am definitely growing each week!

YOU are beautiful

I heard this song on the radio in my car the other day and literally started crying listening to the lyrics.  I love that this is the message God has for us – even on our worst days.  I hope this encourages you today!  I pray that everyday of her life Hadley will know how beautiful and treasured she is both in our eyes and the eyes of her heavenly Father.

27 weeks (+2 days)

I am 27 weeks and 2 days (so in my 28th week) today, but the picture was taken yesterday, so we’ll just round it off and say this is my 27th week post.  Depending on who you talk to, this is the start of the 3rd trimester!  Crazy!

Here’s a little bit about what’s going on with Hadley in there…

Baby's lungs and immune system are maturing this week as baby prepares for her grand entrance. If she were born today she would have an 85 percent chance of surviving as her lungs are capable of breathing air (with medical assistance, of course). Other exciting developments:
Baby's done a lot of growing over the past few months. Her length has more than doubled in the past 15 weeks! And that's not the only thing growing—baby's brain tissue and neurons are all developing at a rapid pace. Her brain waves are now firing away just like those of a newborn baby.  Your baby now weighs in at approximately 14½ inches and just over 2 pounds, or about the size of that roast you made last time your in-laws were in town.

How Far Along: 27 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 18 pounds (I think – I just realized that I didn’t ask the doctor about this at my last appointment like I usually do)

Maternity Clothes: Yes and yes – although that one pair of jeans is still holdin on!

Best Moment this week: Praise God that the ultrasound tech said she didn’t see any CPCs in her brain and saw NOTHING of concern with her kidneys anymore!  Usually the doctor talks about the ultrasound results with us, but I trust the tech at the doctor’s office too, and don’t think she would have said anything if there was still concern.  Such an answer to prayer! 

Gender: Still a girl for all we know! :)

Movement:  I can feel Hadley all the time now – in addition to the jerky little kicks, I can feel her rolling around and squirming in there

Food Craving: Nothing really in particular anymore

What I miss: Just being able to do basic things without being out of breath – I discovered that I can’t grocery shop and talk on the phone anymore.  Tried that this week and was SO out of breath I had to stop and rest for a minute!

Sleep: Still not too much trouble here – I wake up once or twice a night still, sometimes because of Hadley kicking, sometimes to go to the bathroom – but I typically don’t have too much trouble getting back to sleep.

What I am looking forward to: Our 3-D Ultrasound next week!!

Belly Button: Still in, but hanging on by a thread

Symptoms: Still feeling pretty good – no big complaints here :)

Other than, of course, my sprained ankle, which is not DIRECTLY related to pregnancy.  I say *directly* because I think that had I not been pregnant and off balance because of my big belly, I probably would have just tripped instead of falling down and spraining my ankle!  I slipped last week on our hardwood floors and sprained it, but it is slowly getting easier to walk on. 

And here’s the latest belly picture…

Show Us Your Life: Office

I really should be having Matt write this post, since this has been his room to “decorate” and everything in this room (with the exception of some of my teaching stuff in the desk) is his. 

Either way, here is our study/office!  These pictures were all taken not long after we moved in, although not much as changed in this actual room so I decided not to take any new pictures. 

Looking in through the french doors.  Matt’s parents gave us this desk when we moved in – yay!  In case you’re wondering, yes, we do actually have a desk chair, although we didn’t when we first got the desk. 

  Matt decided to make sure he had just about every inch of wall space covered in here so he could get as much use out all of his “bachelor pad” decorations as possible.

Again, ignore the folding chair, that’s not really what Matt has to sit on when he works from home anymore. :)

  

Hopefully these home posts aren’t too boring for you.  I’ve got another bump picture to post next, so if you’re tired of these Show Us Your Life posts, stay tuned! :) 

Show Us Your Life: Kitchens

I’m really glad I’ve had this each week to ensure that I get a blog post up!  I’ve always known this about myself, but it’s abundantly clear on this blog that I need deadlines to get something done! 

So this week’s room on Kelly’s Korner is kitchens.  I really like our kitchen (although if I had my way, I’d paint our cabinets white – I love white kitchens).  I also have really struggled with what to do above our cabinets.  We have really high ceilings in the kitchen, so the space from the top of the cabinets to the ceiling is bigger than most, making it a decorating dilemma.   I’d love to add crown molding (I think it would help with the height issue some) and paint the walls up there eventually… but that’s quite a ways down the to-do list. 

This is what you see when you’re standing in the dining room.  The family room and breakfast nook are to the right.  I didn’t take these pictures recently, and I couldn’t figure out what looked off about this at first.  Then I realized that I have since added a wrought iron scrolly thing (that’s the technical term for it) above the pantry door.  It helps to make that space not look so bare.

This is the view from the family room.  The dining room is to the left across the hall from the kitchen.  We still need to get barstools for the island – I can’t believe we’ve lived here a yea and a half and still don’t have any!   These last two are the view from the breakfast nook (which is open to the family room).  I love our granite – it hides messes so well though that I have to remind myself to wipe it down regularly.  I actually have hardware for the cabinets too, but haven’t found the time to install it yet!    And last but not least – here is the breakfast nook…

Thanks for looking!  :)  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

25 Weeks

I am now in my 26th week of this pregnancy, so I thought I should probably post another bump picture!  I pulled a little information about what’s going on with Hadley in there this week and next…
Taste buds are developing at this point and the baby even is able to distinguish sweet tastes [umm… I think she might come out ONLY wanting chocolate given the amount of chocolate I’ve been craving lately].  Blood vessels are developing in the lungs to prepare for their vital function after birth, but for now they are filled with amniotic fluid and are practicing breathing movements.  Breathing is controlled by the nervous system.
If you were to shine a flashlight on your abdomen, the baby will turn their head toward the light  because the optic nerve is now working.  Fingerprints, toenails and fingernails are fully formed and the spine is straightening out.  Bones are continuing to harden at this time.
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga [cause everyone knows what the average rutabaga weighs, right?], but 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.

Here’s some quick information on me – more for my memories than anything else – and the bump picture.
How Far Along: 25 weeks and 1 day
Total Weight Gain: 15 pounds
Maternity Clothes: Yes and yes – although that one pair of jeans is still holdin on!
Best Moment this week: Pregnancy related – finding out that I do NOT have gestational diabetes.  I have to admit that I was a little worried because I have had a serious sweet tooth through the second trimester
Gender: Still a girl for all we know! :)
Movement:  I can feel Hadley all the time now – in addition to the jerky little kicks, I can feel her rolling around and squirming in there
Food Craving: Nothing really in particular anymore
What I miss: Just being able to do basic things without being out of breath – cleaning the house seriously takes all of my energy out of me!
Sleep: Still not too much trouble here – I wake up once or twice a night still, sometimes because of Hadley kicking, sometimes to go to the bathroom – but I typically don’t have too much trouble getting back to sleep.
What I am looking forward to: Our next appointment/ultrasound and seeing her sweet face – praying and praying that the cyst on her brain and fluid on her kidney have gone away!
Belly Button: Still in, but hanging on by a thread
Symptoms: Still feeling pretty good – no big complaints here :)

 

Show Us Your Life: Dining Rooms

Once again, I’m going to participate in Kelly’s tour, and this week it’s showing dining rooms.  If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t have blogged at all in the last two weeks – I guess I need to get on it!  I promise I will have a baby bump pic and maybe a nursery update coming soon.  :) 

Anyways, our dining room is a pretty small room, so I don’t have a ton of pictures to share, but I’m looking forward to seeing other’s for inspiration! 

I’d still like to paint in here eventually – although I don’t know what color yet – and I would like to get cream colored slip covers for the parson’s chairs.  I think this room is too small to have 8 chairs around the table on a regular basis, but I love that with the style of the trestle table I can eventually have that in a bigger room. 

I LOVE our dining room table.  It’s the Verona Trestle Table from World Market and is the perfect combination of being slightly worn/farmhouse style and formal enough for our taste. (We’re not very formal people as you can tell.)   I didn’t like the chairs that went with it, so I ordered these Parson’s chairs from Overstock.com – can’t go wrong with a good deal!

 

This picture is a little bit dark, but I know I always wonder where people got things in their home, so here’s a quick run-down (besides the table and chairs which I just told you about):  Rug: Ballard Designs; bar: Target; curtains: I honestly can’t remember – they are either from Pottery Barn or from Ethan Allen

  

Ok – that’s enough of one room from 5 slightly different angles :)  Thanks for stopping by!