Entering the home stretch

My feet: let me show you them - 25 weeks

Making kissy faces for Mom - 25 weeks

Peanut has had a busy month with lots to report! His room is finally done and looking beautiful, thanks to Mom and Dad. Somehow we pulled off the lattice pattern on the accent wall and got all the furniture set up. Peanut got a comfy armchair glider from his grandparents and his crib, dresser and changing table (which we've come to refer to as the poop station) from Mom and Dad. Sometime later I'll have to post the construction pictures and go into more detail about that fiasco, but onto more interesting things for now!

Peanut went to his first Bele Chere and behaved well for the festivities. He enjoys music and crowds and kicks a lot when he's around either one - so he was pretty excited all weekend. He enjoyed several lemonades and couldn't seem to get enough of it. We walked around a lot which proved to be difficult on the feet. Carrying around a big belly in the July heat isn't all it's cracked up to be, but we had fun nonetheless.

Last week, the 'nut and his folks traveled 6 hours to the coast to enjoy a week on Ocean Isle Beach. We had a detour initially, as Peanut's great-grandfather passed away, and this was stressful and difficult on everyone. We had hoped to visit him during our vacation and show off larval Peanut but unfortunately the circumstances were a lot different. Peanut agreed that the funeral service was beautiful - he danced every time music played. He brought comfort to Mom and Dad during a sad time with his dance by reminding us of the good things to come.

The beach was fantastic. Peanut loves swimming in the pool, but not so much in the ocean. A man after my own heart. We were a bit nervous when the waves crashed over us, and unfortunately with my new shape, I got knocked over more than once. I'm a little more "front-heavy" than I used to be I guess. We did a lot of sunbathing and laying around and got to spend time with lots of family. Peanut kicked his grandmother, great aunts, aunts, and cousins and made everyone laugh with his Peanut antics. During our stay, the Turners got a SURPRISE baby shower that was completely unexpected and lots of fun. He got several items he needed and everything was beautiful. Somehow we got it all in the car and set it up last weekend. We are almost completely stocked up on baby items!

We are entering the 3rd and final trimester this week (if you don't count the 4th tri!) and are getting to be huge. I got my first "Are you expecting twins?" comment over the weekend and felt sad about it. I can't believe this belly has 13 more weeks of growing to do - I don't see how it could get any bigger. Last night I realized that I have stretch marks under my belly and I got very upset about this. When I showed Jacob he told me they've been there for weeks and he hoped I wouldn't notice. I guess cocoa butter isn't the answer after all. Peanut's kicks are getting stronger and can be seen from across the room now. He stretches from my lower belly to just underneath my ribcage and will sometimes kick and punch at the same time, allowing me to map out his whereabouts. He is still head down but will flip from the left side to the right about once a day, which is the weirdest feeling ever. So the official countdown is on - 94 days and counting...

July 10th - 22 weeks and feeling better

 

In the last couple weeks, we've done absolutely nothing to prepare the nursery while I recover from being sick.  The walls are still uneven, and they still aren't completely painted.  I'm hoping we can get that finished this weekend but we'll see!  Last week, Peanut went to his first 4th of July parade in Avery County and it was fantastic.  He kicked a lot when the emergency vehicles drove by with their sirens blaring so I'm thinking he had a good time.  

He's been kicking a lot lately, and even though it could be felt on the outside since Father's Day (his little present to Dad), now you can SEE him on the outside.  It's awesome!  He's kicking as high as an inch above my navel, and they get stronger every day.  I can sit and watch it for hours.  I'm thinking in a few weeks his movement is gonna go from cute to painful so I'm savoring it now :)

Mom had a grand total of 3 visits to the hospital in the last couple of weeks with complications from... food poisoning.  Who knew it could be so troublesome?  The silver lining to all of that was we got to see our little Peanut on ultrasound twice.  During the first scan, Mom wasn't feeling well at all and had just concluded a 30 minute full abdominal scan so Peanut was not amused.  By the time we got to see him, the little guy had both of his hands over his ears as if to say "Make it stop!"  Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of this because the printer was broken.  The second time, he was more comfortable.  He is getting so big and his facial features are becoming easier to see - it's been amazing to get glimpses of him along the way.

During our visit with the Turners last weekend, Peanut got another gift he will regret when he is 16 - an ADORABLE onesie with a Peanut on it and a hat to match.  He is never going to live this name down.  I can't wait until he's big enough for this little outfit.  I'm taking pictures and showing them to all of his future girlfriends.  We did come up with a real boy name last week but won't tell anyone until he's here.  I'm in love with this name and so thrilled that Dad agreed to it!  Dad picked the middle name and the whole package is very nice.  He will have a strong name to live up to.

So things are going well and Mom is trying to enjoy the last part of the second trimester.  The rumor is that the 3rd isn't all it's cracked up to be.  We've got about another month to go before the 3rd trimester countdown begins!  I can't believe it.  However, the belly is a constant reminder that we're in the second half of this thing - check this bad boy out:

I call this one "The Jolly Green Giant"

We're halfway there!

June 16th: 18.5 weeks

What a handsome little man! This is our guy at 18.5 weeks, getting bigger and stronger and more interesting to look at. Our anatomy scan went well with everything in its place, and he decided to flash his goods once more, confirming yet again that he is all boy. The techs and the doctor think this is funny every time because Peanut is so proud. He wiggled and danced throughout the ultrasound, despite Mom's best attempt at avoiding sugary food the night before. This is completely normal however. He moves non-stop which does not look good for us when he gets here. We will most definitely have our hands full.

Pregnancy has gone fairly well until week 19. Mom got into some bad food which landed her in the hospital for 2 days, re-hydrating and recovering from a wicked case of food poisoning. Peanut was fine, but not so happy throughout the ordeal. He bounced back rather nicely and Mom is still recovering a week later. At the doctor's appointment this morning, Mom was officially put on bedrest for the rest of the week in order to recover completely. Aside from that, everything else looks pretty good. Weight gain at 20.5 weeks is a staggering 15 pounds, however in a month it has stayed the same. Despite this, my pants keep getting tighter as Peanut grows outward.

So we're officially halfway done cooking the little guy and it won't be long until he is on the outside. Construction started on the nursery last week and is a definite work in progress. We hung an awesome fan and got the four walls painted a beautiful baby blue and white. We are hoping to paint a geometric pattern onto an accent wall and still figuring out (2 weeks later) how to make the math work out, as all four of our 50-year old walls are settled, slanted and curved. Stay tuned for the results on that one. We started window shopping for furniture and decorations but haven't bought anything big yet. Peanut's wardrobe is getting bigger as clearance items come up and Mom and Dad bought him his very own bouncer last weekend. At this rate, he'll have everything he needs by the time he's here. It won't be long until November!

18 weeks and all's well

So it's been awhile since my last update.  I started a new job at the end of April and have been pretty wrapped up in that for awhile.  Here's the summary:

13 weeks:

Here is Peanut floating around and being 13 weeks gestated.  This visit went well - with a heartbeat in the 150's.  We couldn't see much because this ultrasound was about as bad as the last one, but Peanut is looking more like a grasshopper and less like a "peanut".  This week was a small victory because it meant we were officially out of the first trimester and a third of the way done!  We finally announced to the world that Peanut existed this week.

Things continued to progress well and Mom is still feeling fine.  Cravings are now caesar salad and hot soup.  It is acceptable to eat these items at every meal.  The belly continues to grow and regular pants are definitely no longer an option.  Strangers are starting to notice Peanut.

16.5 weeks:

We went to a 3D/4D ultrasound place to get some interesting shots of Peanut and to determine what flavor human we're making.  Within 30 seconds, Peanut showed the world that he is ALL BOY! 

 We are totally thrilled by this and spent the rest of the day talking about names, little league, and Spiderman-themed birthday parties.  

17 weeks:

Mom had a checkup with the doctor to have blood work done and to hear Peanut's little heartbeat on the doppler.  Peanut's heart is beating away at 135 beats per minute and it is stronger and louder than ever.  We get another peak at him next week to have the doctor confirm his manhood and to measure all his parts to make sure he is growing well.  At the last visit he was measuring 4 days ahead so he's starting to take after Dad - bigger than average.  This is an unfortunate development for Mom, who is smaller than average.  This makes for a big belly.

Check out the amazing belly growth already:

13 weeks: 

17 weeks:

YIKES!!