The Third Trimester

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) 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 your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.





How far along? 28 weeks- the home stretch!

Total weight gain/loss: Holding at 20 lbs.

Favorite flavor Tic-Tac? Orange

Stretch marks? Nothing new to speak of.

Sleep: Once again, I am able to sleep. The cats are doing their best to keep this from happening.

Best moment this week: Getting a bunch of work done on the house.

Movement: moves.

Food cravings: A Magical Mystery Tour from Mellow Mushroom.

Belly Button in or out? Still in. YAY!

What I miss: My hips not hurting...

What I am looking forward to: Ridding myself of my sciatic vein much like one would de-vein a shrimp.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't give up.

Milestones: I think the nesting bug is back, and here to stay.

Please Take A Minute

And go check out this auction:)

http://www.mommiesfundingresearch.blogspot.com

27 Weeks

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he 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 him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.





AND the 27 Weeks Survey! (I edited the boring questions with some new ones)

How far along? 27 down, 13-10 to go! (sometimes babies come early, and I like to be dramatic)

Total weight gain/loss: Found those two I lost last week.

If you could be on any television show, past or present, what would it be? You Can't Do That On Television or Wipeout.

Stretch marks? No new ones! Woohoo!

Sleep: After a week of getting 4 hours of fitful sleep, I have finally slept two nights in a row for 8 hours, without getting up to pee even once! Don't hate.

Best moment this week: Floating in the lake. Man, did that feel good on my hips!

Movement: is slow.

Food cravings: I have no appetite this week, oddly enough.

Astrology Signs: Virgo, unless I can keep my legs crossed 2 extra days.

Belly Button in or out? Running out of bellybutton.

What I miss: Winter.

What I am looking forward to: Setting up the crib!

Weekly Wisdom: Pregnancy hormones can make you a crazy person. Before you say something out loud, pratice saying it three times over in your head. If it still sounds ok to say, go for it.

Milestones: Going to do my GD test this Thursday.

26 Weeks Pic

And boy, is it hot outside! My ankles are paying dearly! This picture was taken this morning, and for some reason after seeing this, it's hit me really hard that I will be a mom soon. And I'm freaking out.

Mooo!

Baby Supplies

Most of my time lately has been taken up by a never ending crochet project, so I took a breather from that and made a few side projects over the past two days. The top pic is of some burp cloths I fancied up with some Amy Butler fabric I've been hoarding, and the other is a changing mat. It's canvas/Amy Butler fabric, and it matches my canvas/green diaper bag. I recycled an old towel as the batting, so it has plenty of extra cushion (however I learned that sewing machine needles aren't crazy about sewing through two layers of canvas plus a bath towel, and they will show their displeasure with you in the final 4 inches of your project by breaking in two and jamming up your sewing machine.)

And the bottom picture (please excuse the blur) is another burp cloth made from some more material I've been stingy with and a Peepee Teepee. I've seen them in Uncommon Goods, but I'm cheap and I hate to buy something I know I can make.

Do's and Don't of Infant Care

(borrowed from another site)

Becoming a good parent means much more than knowing a lot about babies. Ask pediatric doctors or nurses what it was like for them to be new parents. They will tell you that all their knowledge about babies was not enough to keep them from being overwhelmed by their own babies.

All new parents feel the same way. All new parents work at knowing, understanding, and loving their babies. If you want to learn all about your newborn baby, and be able to respond to his/her needs appropriately - it is going to take a lot of your time.

In case you’re a young mother or father, having difficulties in putting the baby to sleep or feeding him, these instructions are the clearest you can get.

Here are some dos and don’ts when it comes to caring for the baby!

I LOVE This Rug!

I'm thinking I could pull this off in Sid's room, but if I don't put it in his room, I'm definitely going to put it in mine.



Second runner up for his room is



Both carpets come from Flor.com as separate tiles that you peice together. I think this will be a god-send in a nursery simply for the ease of cleaning. Spill something? Just pop the tile up and throw it in the bathtub.

26 Weeks

And I offically have only 98 days to go! For some reason, I thought today was the 100 days left mark, but I have been corrected by that snarky little baby-ticker down at the bottom of this page that I in fact only lack 98 days. And my palms are now sweaty.

Onto the update.

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.


If only my stomach were that flat...

AND for the survey, that has become somewhat monotonous, but I still continue to fill it out every week ;p

How far along? 26 down, 14 to go!

Total weight gain/loss: Somewhere last week I lost 2 lbs, putting me at 18 lbs total.

Maternity clothes? Yes. I'll omit this question next week, since I've already taken 20 seconds to repond to it, and those are 20 seconds I'll never get back.

Stretch marks? Ugh, yes... and not letting up.

Sleep: Getting better. I think I am now sleep walking, because I haven't woken up once in the past 3 days to go to the bathroom.

Best moment this week: Brian was soooo helpful around the house this past Saturday.

Movement: Getting into a pattern. He's still sleeping all day and going nuts when it's my bedtime.

Food cravings: Edy's fruit bars, but the grape ones this week. And seafood, especially raw oysters.

Gender: See answer to the maternity clothes.

Labor Signs: Nada

Belly Button in or out? In and stretching.

What I miss: Raspberry lambic.

What I am looking forward to: Getting the nursery ready. Still.

Weekly Wisdom: When your back starts to hurt, that's a good time to stop.

Milestones: Sid had the hiccups yesterday. Poor little dude:(

Whats going on with the Dawsons

We're kicking into high gear with getting work done on the house. I'm looking forward to getting the nursery done, but first we are finishing up our gameroom- a project that has been in the works ever since we bought our house. Once we get that room done, we will be able to move some of the furniture from upstairs dowstairs (like the foosball table and one of the couches) and then we will be able to move the furniture from the computer room (soon to be nursery) into the dining room/study. Whew, that was a mouthful- or since I'm typing, I should say handful! All that is really left to be done on the gameroom is painting, tiling the floors, and moving the furniture down, but that in itself will be a pretty big project. Once we are done with that, I will finally be able to start work on the nursery. Brian and I have already ripped the carpet out, but the floor is in need of refinishing. We haven't decided on a color yet, but I'm thinking a light shade of blue. I have decided on blue, brown, and orange for the main colors of the bedding/decor.

In un-baby related news, Brian and I are back in school. I just completed my first semester back and will be taking an online class this fall at Calhoun (going back and making up all the grades that I did poorly on the first go-round) and hopefully in the next year or so I will be transferring to Athens State. Brian has been accepted into UAH for the fall semester and I'm very proud of him:) We're enjoying the summer the best we can before the fall when out world will be knocked off it's axis. And we're planning our Babymoon for late this August down in Gulf Shores, so we've got a full plate for the rest of this summer!

2 Year Anniversary

Today is our 2 year anniversary! As many of you know, June 9th is a special day for our family. Along with sharing today with my Aunt Janice's birthday, it is also my parents 30th anniversary, and would have been my grandparents 53rd anniversary. I am very honored to share such a special day and hope I have as many years of laughter and happiness as they have.






Playing Tippy Cup after the wedding, because I am just THAT classy! (A-Team forever!)
The Honeymoon at Mom and Dad's beach house.
Tom and Brian- dressed to kill;)

25 Weeks Survey

How far along? 25 weeks down, 15 to go! (wow- that's kinda scary!)

Total weight gain/loss: lots- 20 lbs so far:/

Maternity clothes? Still in 'em. Don't see this changing. Ever.

Stretch marks? Yes, Brian lovingly pointed some out I hadn't noticed yet.

Sleep: Yes please!

Best moment this week: Sid getting antsy about the cat sleeping on my tummy. Not sure if he was trying to play or trying to kick Lucky off of my stomach.

Movement: Still mostly active when I'm going to bed. He's a night owl!

Food cravings: Edy's Strawberry fruit bars, Sonic Strawberry cream slush, strawberry jam, strawberries in general- but oddly, strawberry milk makes me want to gag.

Gender: Still a boy ( man, I gotta find a survey that mixes it up a bit!)

Labor Signs: Some BH, but they've gone away since I've been drinking over a 100oz of water a day.

Belly Button in or out? In and holding.

What I miss: Moving with ease.

What I am looking forward to: Getting the nursery ready.

Weekly Wisdom: Drink as much water as humanly possible. Then have one more glass.

Milestones: Nothing new this week, but getting closer to the 3rd trimester.

25 Weeks

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Week 24 Survey

I did one of these a while back, but thought it would be fun to do one each week now that I'm starting to see (and feel) lots of changes:)

How far along? 24 Weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: Enough! I just stand backwards on the scale at the Dr's office now so I can't see.
Maternity clothes? still in 'em.
Stretch marks? Three huge ones right along my scar I got when I had my kidney removed.
Sleep: What is that?
Movement: Starting to feel stronger kicks. He plays soccer with my bladder every night around 10:00.
Food cravings: Strawberry anything.
Gender: Still a boy.
Labor Signs: No.
Belly Button in or out? Still in.
What I miss: Lambic
What I am looking forward to: Lambic
Weekly Wisdom: I have none this week. I let Brian borrow it.
Milestones: Feeling Sid flipping around when he's trying to get comfy.

24 Weeks

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.