33 weeks

Wow, I just downloaded the pictures of me at 33 weeks and I am so much bigger than the last time I posted! I didn't realize it until I went back to compare! Check out the belly!


Dave was goofing off...


Our doctor's appointment this week went well. The heartbeat is still great and Dr. Ferrier predicts that Emma will be around 7 lbs. I'm pleasantly surprised that she thinks she'll be that small!

I'm feeling fairly good these days aside from the back aches and hard time sleeping. The heartburn is back but I've learned to rely on Tums so it's bearable. I'm not as hungry as I thought I'd be but I guess that's good since I'm not gaining tons of weight. It'll be easier to lose!

We're getting ready for Christmas here but we're not feeling in the spirit like we want. We decided to not get a tree this year since we waited so long and the holidays crept up on us. We'll be going to Dave's parents house so we figure we'll take it all in while we're there. The plan for me is to sleep, read, watch movies and catch up on some R & R while I can. Work has been really quite manageable but I still find myself tired often so it will be a nice break.

We've gotten most of our Christmas shopping done with just a few gifts left to buy. I always wait until the last few days and hope that someday I'll learn. I guess having a child will teach me to plan and prepare much better so maybe there's hope after all.

For New Years I think we're going to go to a friend's house in Ashburn. It's a trek out there but will be nice to see all our friends and not be in a smokey bar for a change. I'm not sure how long I'll last but I'm going to give it m all since it's my last year pre-momhood. My cousin Scott and his girlfriend Jen are also coming into town for a few days around New Years so we'll get to see each other. Jen is also pregnant so at least I won't be the only one not able to drink!

Cooper is doing better although we had another incident the other night where he got very lethargic and mopey. We changed his diet back to chicken and rice and he seemed to be doing better but now he won't eat his regular food. I think we're going to have to experiment with new food - we're guessing that's the cause for his digestive problems. For the time being we're supplementing his food with parmesan cheese. Wow he's spoiled!

If I don't post before Christmas I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and stays safe! We're sending love and wished your way!

And lastly... here's the update for this week:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Love to all!

32 weeks

Wow, just 8 weeks to go and it's still hard to believe. With the stress of the holidays and work these days I know it's going to fly by. Being an impatient person these past 7 or so months has been difficult, but I couldn't imagine Emma coming any sooner. I know parents can never be truly prepared but I'm sure another month would do me just fine. :)

Things are getting harder to do. Getting in and out of the car is challenging nowadays and long bouts on my feet are pretty hard on my back. Oh, and of course... sleeping. I can't ever seem to get comfortable and when I do finally find that perfect spot it seems I just lay there waiting to fall back asleep. I do feel pretty good in the mornings though so that's when I try to get everything done. Come lunch time all I want to do is veg out.

We started our Christmas shopping last night, finally. We didn't come home with much but got a nice dinner out of it and some time away from the house. Even at 3:45 in the afternoon stores were crowded. Why didn't I start this weeks and weeks ago? Never fails, even when you're pregnant I guess.

I have a massage, pedicure, manicure and makeup day at Liz Arden this Friday and I am sooo excited. Dave gave me this gift certificate for my birthday two years ago and I am just now getting around to using it. I feel horrible about it and am not quite sure why I waited so long but now that it's scheduled I am really looking forward to it.

I am on a listserv with some girls all due the same week as me with their first children and this morning I checked the post to see that one of the girls had her baby yesterday at 31 weeks. It's a really scary story and I just hope she and her daughter recover quickly. She went in for a scheduled appointment with her doctor only to find out the baby's heart rate was dropping. They rushed her in for an emergency c-section after 3 drops in the heart rate. I can't imagine what would have happened had she not been there for that appointment when she was. We have an appointment on Thursday and I am going to talk to my doctor about signs. It's scary to think what could be happening without me knowing.

Here's the update for this week:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Everyone keeps asking so I'll let the world know, I've only gained 17 lbs. I'm REALLY happy about it and pray that the next 8 weeks are as steady. If all goes well I'm looking to gain only 25-30 lbs. total. Thanks Emma!!! I think the weight has mostly been in my belly and hips so I'll be spending a lot of time walking when she's born!

I'll post pics as soon... I think I've popped quite a bit since last time.

love to all!

Poor Coop

Last night was pretty rough. We came home from dinner and soon after Cooper started throwing up. He was acting like he had something caught in his throat and wouldn't stop hacking and dry heaving even after his stomach was empty. He wanted to go outside but all he did was eat grass, a sign he really wasn't feeling well. After a few hours he started calming down but still paced the living room and was acting very sad and sick. All he wanted to do was cuddle and be pet.

We decided since he was somewhat calm and only occasionally dry heaving that we'd wait until the morning to determine if we needed to go to the vet. At 2am Dave woke up to see Cooper sitting up staring at him. He hadn't been sleeping and was obviously very uncomfortable. We decided it would be best to go to the animal ER.

At 4 Dave came home with Coop - he had an x-ray that determined he doesn't have anything lodged in his throat, but is very very dehydrated and gassy. Something he ate must have made his pretty sick. He got a shot of fluids and some pain meds. $400 later he is home, but has to eat only bland foods like rice and chicken for four days and take medication to stop the heaving. Poor guy, he never seems to get a break, and neither does our wallet!!!

Pray for our little guy that he gets better and feels like himself soon. :(

9 weeks left!!!

I can hardly believe it, only 9 weeks to go! I think the panic is going to set in real soon. I just watched two episodes of A Baby Story and man I'm not sure I'm ready for this!

Things are starting to change very rabidly with me lately, as I growing bigger and bigger each day. I'm having a harder time getting up and down from the couch but surprisingly I am sleeping a whole lot better. Rolling over is a different story, but I'm not waking up as much. I get tired really easily but I take frequent breaks. The heartburn has subsided and the headaches are gone so I guess I'm patiently waiting for the next milestone... backaches maybe?

We started birthing classes last week at the hospital. We go three hours every week for three weeks. Most of what we've learned I know already, but it's nice for Dave to hear it. He's a really good sport and gets a gold medal for the massage part of the class. He hates it but he's doing a good job of hiding his true feelings :)

We spent all weekend working feverishly on the kitchen and cleaning the house. I even washed the wood floors on my hands and knees! The kitchen looks great and we are so happy we did it... now all we need to do it resand the floors and put in the new cabinets (once we get around to ordering them!!!) We also need to order the granite but can't do that until all the cabinets are in.

Here's Dave hard at work tearing down the bar...

We got it torn down on Saturday and Sunday we spend the day patching drywall and putting things back to normal. Cooper was a big help...


Here's what it looks like now:


Our plan is to paint the table legs and chairs black and get a new rug.. .but I'm sure that will come later. The best part, we ate dinner at the table today!

Here's the update for this week:
This week, your 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 probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Happy Monday everyone!

30 weeks

I'm a slacker, I know. Can I blame it on Thanksgiving? Or that I am so tired and busy that my days just fly by? Yeah, that works.

30 weeks isn't all that bad. I feel pregnant and the heartburn is still there with a vengance, but this baby in the belly thing is pretty easy. (I say that now...) I'm starting to have a harder time sleeping but I'm taking the positive approach and telling myself it's in preparation for February. Dave is being so helpful with Cooper and let's me sleep in (which is awesome!!!!) so I have him to thank for me not being as grumpy as I could be. Thanks hon.

We go to the doc every two weeks now. It seems too soon but I guess it's crunch time so it's necessary. We also start our birthing classes this week, fun! We're taking them at Inova Alexandria Hospital which is where I'll be delivering. We also have a tour scheduled for December so we'll be familiar with the hospital. Man, it's fast approaching!

Here's my 30 week photo:

Thanksgiving was great, my dad and step mom came to visit. We ate a lot, played lots of games and worked on the kitchen which is starting to look awesome. We also visited Montpelier, President Madison's home in Orange, VA. My sister-in-law Su works there as a docent and we got to get the tour of the house and grounds from her. The home was owned by the DuPont family until 1984 and they are now returning it to it's former glory... it's down to its bear bones now but still fun to see.

Here are some pics from Montpelier:


Scott is coming over tonight to help move the slab of granite from the bar. Once that's done we'll be able to move the remaining cabinets, tear down the half wall and put the table in. It already feels very wide open in there and we have so much more cabinet space!


Here's a pic of the new cabinet wall, this used to be the dining room. We're going to put more base cabinets where that chair is.


Almost done with the curtains and bed skirt for Emma's room and once I get them done I'll post some picures of that as well. It's starting to look really nice. Dad and Lynn bought us the side table for her room as well as some butterfly picture hangers for Christmas (yes, early!!!), Mom gave me some antique doll dresses and Bill and Barbara gave us an adorable frame with her name in it that I still need to hang... it looks like I have a ton to do in there!

I have so many people to thank for all the clothes donations for Emma. She's already spoiled and she isn't even born yet! Her closet and two dressers are completely full and it's about 90% 0-6 month clothes! Now I really need a bigger house! I can't wait to dress her in some of the outfits she has, they are absolutely adorable!

And lastly, here's the 30 week update:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.

Love to all!

28 weeks - Yeah Third Trimester!!!!

Hi everyone. We're officially starting the third trimester today and let me tell you, I definitely feel the difference. I have not been sleeping, am VERY emotional and am sore all over. I've been having Braxton-Hicks contractions a lot lately especially when I walk. I guess my body is preparing for Emma's arrival. I'm trying to take it easy these days because the last thing I need it to be put on bed rest!

The house is a disaster. We're trying to do so many things at once and it's very trying on me. I've started to nest a little bit and can't stand all the junk laying around. Last night Dave finished the shelves in one of our closets and we're starting to put things away. I know that in time it will all find it's place, but man it's hard having boxes next to your chair while you're trying to get things done. Much relief to me we're tossing a bunch of stuff, finding new homes for other stuff and just generally cleaning house. We plan to start the kitchen this week but who knows!

Time is flying by... 12 weeks and counting! I went to Babies R Us this past weekend and ordered our glider and about freaked out on the woman when she told me it takes 10-12 weeks to get here. Good grief, I need more time! But, thankfully, I got it ordered and I can check that off my list. I'm still searching for the perfect rug (that's not $450) but haven't found it yet.

Emma is a lot more active these days but only kicks when I'm calm. I guess that's my sign to relax more. Dave is able to feel her move a lot more but she's still very shy toward him. He still hasn't seen her move but once she gets a bit bigger I'm sure he will.

Here's the update for this week:

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

After this week I'll be going to the doc every two weeks until my 36th week. I got a call that my glucose test came back negative so I'm clear for diabetes, but I am anemic and have to take an iron pill every night. It hasn't been easy, I throw up on iron so I have to make sure my stomach is very full and should be drinking lots more water, which is still very hard for me to do. In the past I have had bouts of RLS, restless leg syndrome, so hopefully the iron will work for that too. I get my Rhogam shot for Rh negative blood on Thursday so we'll be clear until delivery if Emma has Rh positive blood.

Hope everyone is doing well!

27 weeks

Gooly how time flies! I can't believe I'm already at 27 weeks! The real countdown starts now... 13 weeks left!

I am sorry I haven't posted in a while. Last week was a doozie. I had two printers totally screw up two jobs, had a bazillion things to do and pretty much had a breakdown at the end of the week. I decided that I needed a weekend to myself and did just that... I didn't work at all this past weekend and it felt great!!! I'm paying for the hard work I did on the house though, I'm sore all over! If only I could soak in a hot tub right now!

This weekend Dave and I worked like mad people on our house. Our current projects include: redoing the kitchen, building shelves in the basement closet, Emma's nursery and eventually the bathroom. I'm starting to wonder how we're going to get it all done in such little time. Oh, and we just finished the office too.. we finished painting, put up another desk and rearranged everything, it looks great and it very functional now.

I worked this past weekend on Emma's room and and very happy with the results. I was going to buy a decal for the wall from Pottery barn Kids but decided last minute to try painting it myself. I'm so glad I did, I love it more than the one I could have ordered. Here's what I did...

Here's the rug I think we're going to get to tie it all together... it's from Pottery Barn.


I've been feeling pretty good these days, just more pregnant and a lot less energized. I feel like Emma has doubled in size since week 24 and I'm pretty sure I look like it too. I can't get out of cars easily anymore and small household projects like laundry are daunting. I even had to have Dave help me tie my shoe the other day. How pathetic is that!

Emma kicks a lot these days and I love to watch my belly move. It brings a smile to my face every time. I think she's shy toward her daddy though, everytime he stops to watch she stops kicking. It's actually funny and I can see her in there saying "ha ha daddy!".

Copper is doing well just not completely himself these days. He's been on so much medication fro mhis hot spot that he's sleeping a lot and not eating much. We give him cheese on his food but these days that's not even enough. Spoiled dog. He came back from the park this morning and must have bitten his tongue, Dave said hes mouth was full of blood. Good thing I didn't see it, I would have been freaking out! That's all I need! He's fine now, just sleeping upstairs in his bed. Awe....

Well, works beckons. I hope everyone is doing well!