31 Weeks and CHRISTMAS!

31 Week Christmas Belly!

Another week has come and gone and with it brings a few updates! I *think* I had slight Braxton Hicks on Christmas Eve, but I honestly have no idea. It was a cramp in my stomach, not like a menstrual cramp, but more of a tight discomfort. It didn't last long, but it was uncomfortable. Also, little bub is getting the hiccups more and more! It worries me although I know it's totally normal. On Christmas Eve he had them 4 times! I know I would be annoyed, especially since his are rapid and not normal like ours. They happen every 1-2 seconds, poor little guy. I just want my snookums to be content as a clam in there!

Onto Christmas happenings! My mom, Scotty and Garrett are in FL so we spent time with them last weekend (I think I mentioned that in my previous post). Also, Jake's Dad ventured up to VA to visit family so really the only family we saw was Jake's mom and Noah. We had Christmas Eve early on the 23rd because Noah headed up to VA also. We had dinner and just relaxed at Jake's mom's house. On the 24th me, Jake and his mom woke up, had breakfast and relaxed until it was time to go to the 2pm service, which was AMAAAZZZING. A drum line happened.. need I say more? Ha we love our church, service really delivered :) After that Jake and I grabbed some Starbucks and got a few things from the grocery store and headed home to be alone at last! This year since all of our extra $ has to go to the delivery of this baby we were pretty tight. We called this Christmas our "merry LITTLE Christmas" because we didn't do much. We didn't even get a tree! We know Christmas isn't about how big your tree is or how many gifts you can afford, so it didn't really bother us.. we made the most with what we have! We know next year will be better, so taking one for the team isn't so bad ;) We wrapped our gifts for one another in the living room with a divider made of blankets between us so we could still be together and talk haha, it was funny. We were listening to Elvis and Johnny Cash Christmas music and discussing traditions we'd like to start with Levi next year. It was a sweet night. We finished by watching A Christmas Story! Christmas day, we slept in.. last year ever to do that :/ Got up, I made eggs and bacon, we read the Bible and opened our stockings and gifts. The rest of the day was spent relaxing doing our own thing. It's actually 2:30pm Christmas Day as I write this, so the day isn't finished but I can't imagine much else will be happening haha. Here's some pics!

Total weight gain: 18-20 range still

Symptoms: HEARTBURN... go back to hell from which you came! I may have had my first mini episode of Braxton Hicks, not entirely sure

Maternity clothes: nothing new

Stretch marks: no

Sleep: eh.. so so

Best moment this week: feeling his precious little hiccups.. and they are usually in my left lower "quadrant" which is good.. means his head is down there! Also, spending Christmas with my wonderful husband for the last time before he is forever a Dad!

Miss anything?: NOT having heartburn

Movement: he moves from side to side, and lifts my belly up quite a bit. But the random jabbing has slowed down a bit

Food cravings: not this week

Food aversions: not really

Belly button: flat

Wedding ring: fitting normal, sometimes tight at night. 

Mood: good mood this week!

Looking forward to: time to buckle down on his nursery!!! Also, our hypnobabies class starts on Jan 6.. so ready!!

Baby bump: normal and with a line!

Here is what a 31 week fetus looks like...

Click here to learn about pregnancy at 31 weeks

Merry Christmas from us and the doggies, Reese and Pugsley!

"We're Expecting" Video

Well, it's been a long time coming.. but I've FINALLY compiled all of the videos of us telling our family and the kids I watch that we were expecting! Oh also, the very beginning is me filming myself reading the test... I had a feeling I was pregnant so I thought I better film it just in case! Excuse the sobbing :) Since we filmed everything ourselves, the quality isn't the greatest being it's hard to act like you're not filming someone when you are haha. So the camera is all over the place, but you can mostly get the gist!

Thanks for watching!

xox We Three Kings

30 Weeks

10...20...30!!!

*PS this blue wall is the accent wall in his room where his crib will be.. the rest of the walls are gray. This wall still needs one more coat, but you get the idea!

Hitting 30 weeks was kind of like, "OMG, we're getting close" because you are 10 weeks away!! It's so crazy! I was thinking to myself "10 more weekends", "10 more Wednesdays" haha. It's just so strange to think he will be here before we know it! I think little man has gotten into the head down position, doesn't mean he'll stay there.. but hopefully he does. I definitely feel more pressure and more pushing against my bladder which makes me think his head has found its cozy home. Stay head down baby.. no breeching allowed!

Also, something hilarious we've been trying to do lately.. meet our "surrogate" baby (he has no name, we just call him "Owl Baby"). We want our dogs to start getting used to us holding a little munchkin, so this was the best we could do haha. They are seriously curious and want to sniff and explore. After a few minutes they start to lose interest. We'll see how they do when Owl Baby turns into little Levi :)

Total weight gain: 18-20 range

Symptoms: still heartburn.. and a little pressure "down there", that line (linea nigra) is faint, but there from my belly button down. 

Maternity clothes: nothing new

Stretch marks: no

Sleep: unpredictable lol

Best moment this week: although feeling pressure down below isn't comfortable, it makes me happy because that means we're getting close! I'm also hoping he's in the head down position.. we'll find out at the next appointment I guess!

Miss anything?: changing positions while trying to sleep without feeling like I'm 300 pounds

Movement: movement is starting to slow down a little.. to be expected at this stage in the game when he's running out of room! Plus I read they sleep more when they get closer to labor. 

Food cravings: Bought some Lucky Charms at the store... OH YES I DID. Saw 'em, needed 'em, got 'em. 

Food aversions: if you asked me "Hey, let's go to Smithfields or Dickey's" I'd be like NO. Idk why but BBQ just doesn't sound appealing. It's really the only thing I can say I don't want. 

Belly button: flat.. still no pop

Wedding ring: fitting normal, sometimes tight at night. 

Mood: well, I'd like to think normal.. the other day Jake said I was acting a little whack-o and told me to "relax". Look, I was relaxed.. him telling me to relax was about to set. me. off. Love you hunny!

Looking forward to: Christmas and getting his nursery put together! We've at least got most of the painting done. We need to find a dresser so I can officially "nest". 

Baby bump: normal size I suppose!

Check this out.. 30 week lil' fetus.. how adorable!

Click here to learn all about a 30 week fetus

Thanks for reading!

xox We Three Kings

Weeks 28 & 29

Well, I'm hoping these "dual week" blog posts aren't the new trend.. especially now that we're in the home stretch I am really going to try and be adamant about a weekly post!

Since I last wrote a post, I had my AMAZING baby shower. It couldn't have gone better than it did. I am thankful to everyone who helped make it happen and so blessed by all who came out to support us in this new venture! There were a few people who couldn't make it due to illness, pre-labor and just the chaos of life.. I wish everyone could of come but it is what it is! Many who weren't there sent kind words and some even sent gifts... you all really are too sweet! It was a very long weekend, prepping and preparing. We set up Saturday (mom, Amanda, Margaret and Jake and I) and had to make some last minute food items Saturday night. Then we set up/got ready 4 hours before the shower, had the shower, then cleaned up/tore down for another 2 hours. WHEW, I was spent. But it was worth EVERY ounce of hard work and planning. It was exactly the shower I envisioned, hence why I planned my own shower. I'm just OCD when it comes to party planning, but I really outdid myself LOL! We are just so blessed, I can't say it enough! All of the pics are on my Facebook page, so I'm not going to put them all on here, maybe just one for the heck of it!

We also, in that same weekend (before setting up for the shower on Satruday) took some maternity pics.. courtesy of Amanda. Those are all up on my Facebook as well. Here are a few of my favorites!

It was really fun taking all of these pics, but it certainly wore me out! Haha.

During these weeks, Jake's coworkers threw him a little baby shower at work! How adorable are they?! They decorated a conference room, played some games and gave Jake a manly diaper bag stocked with essentials/goodies. If any of you Quintiles people are reading.. THANK YOU!!!!

Let's talk business!

Total weight gain: 18 pounds

Symptoms: heartburn seems to be getting worse, TUMS doesn't help.. and I'm getting mixed signals that I'm even allowed to take anything else. Ugh, so I must suffer! I already had that SI joint pain in my butt.. but now my lower back is starting to hurt a little more.

Maternity clothes: one new sweater from Old Navy (it was on clearance) It actually is a size X-Small, which I do NOT wear.. but it fits, kind of tight on the arms, but I make it work.. hey for 6 bucks!

Stretch marks: no

Sleep: good and bad.. just depends!

Best moment this week: pretty sure I felt little man have the hiccups! It was so darn adorable.. but I felt bad for him cuz they were super fast.. like every 3-5 seconds haha. Poor thing couldn't catch a break! Also, my SHOWER!!!!! Gosh, it was the best!

Miss anything?: a glass of wine please! I will have to settle for sparkling cider.. I feel like I'm in the 5th grade again haha. 

Movement: Yep.. as usual! He rolls a lot now.. instead of the usual jab, I can see my belly move like a water bed haha. 

Food cravings: Had to have a Peppermint Chocolate Chip milkshake from Chick Fil A.. mm mmm mm!!!

Food aversions: no

Belly button: flat, but certainly not popped.. also getting the linea nigra (sorry but I do not find that line cute)

Wedding ring: fitting normal, sometimes tight at night. 

Mood: Jake says I don't act anything like he thought I would act while pregnant.. so that's good! I have my moments of irritability though. 

Looking forward to: Christmas.. going to spend Christmas day home alone, just the two of us for our last Christmas alone EVER (so weird) 

Baby bump: I like it :)

The average 29 week fetus is 15.2-16.7 inches long and 2.5-3.8 pounds... like an acorn squash! Awwwwww!

Thanks for reading!

xox We Three Kings

Week 26 & 27

Well, it's another one of those instances where I combined weeks.. such is life! With a trip to Asheville, Thanksgiving and preparing for my shower, it has been a little hectic! So I will give you a two week re-cap. First.. some pictures!

On the left is Amy, me and Morgan on our Asheville trip. Amy is due Feb 2, Morgan is Jan 30 and I am Feb 20.. pretty cool huh? And the black and white photo is just me enjoying my precious bump. Baby is still as active as ever, if not more! I was laying on the couch the other day, and he moved so "violently" (I hate to use that word, but I honestly don't know any other way to describe it) that my mid section moved back and forth on the couch! It didn't hurt or anything, but it was surprising to say the least. He has these little sessions for about a minute where he is moving pretty hardcore. It makes you wonder what he's thinking.. maybe "get me outta here!"... I have no idea! Jake and I sure do get a kick out of it though, and apparently so does Levi haha. We have finally begun the process of getting his room cleared out. I'm sure we will be painting it and starting the process within the next couple of weeks. I of course will be posting lots of pics! So stay tuned. 

Ok, enough blab... let's get down to the nitty gritty (Nacho Libre style)

Total weight gain: 16 pounds at my last appointment

Symptoms: not really anything different. Sleeping is becoming really uncomfortable. I move positions every 30 minutes it seems like. 

Maternity clothes: nothing new

Stretch marks: no

Sleep: I have good and bad nights

Best moment this week: got to attend a friend's baby shower.. makes me very excited for mine in a few days! Also, Thanksgiving was nice :)

Miss anything?: being able to roll over in bed without engaging in a full work out session haha

Movement: yea, like non stop

Food cravings: nothing in particular

Food aversions: no

Belly button: stretching out and less concave

Wedding ring: fitting normal, sometimes tight

Mood: pretty normal, but I can get irritated quite easily

Looking forward to: my baby shower! Can't wait to see how it all comes together.. my Mom and I have worked very hard!

Baby bump: bumpalicious lol

Thanks for reading!

xo