33 weeks

I know, I know!  I'm a slacker! 

See what had happened was the holidays!  And then, you know being back and getting back into our schedule here and stuff.  But I'm making up for it right now!

So the holidays!  Great times!  Baby Shower and Christmas!  It was a fun and much needed holiday! 

Yeah, the belly... I believe I was 30 weeks at this point.

But my absolute favorite pic is the cake.  Not we didn't eat the rest of the word Congradulations. My mom ran out of room and icing.  She gets an A for effort!

And another fav...

My Grandmother and me!

Ray Ray has been busy! But you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out how, because this tired preggo is turning in early!

27 weeks

Here we are again!  Another week!

• We had an appointment this week.  All is well with Ray Ray! Me, on the other hand... that's a different story.  Ray Ray weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with legs extended. The baby is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing their eyes, and perhaps even sucking their fingers.  At least that's what babycenter says. 
• Ray Ray is moving a lot!  Feeling the movement down low a lot.  They said it was ok at our appointment, so no worries!
• I have a cold/sinus infection.  Started with scratchy throat last Wednesday night and now it's stuffy nose city!  Ick!  And of course I can't take a thing!  So it's been all about lemon/honey/water and Vick's vapor rub.  Oh yeah.
• How could I forget!  I took the 1 hour Gestational Diabetes test yesterday.  It was the nastiest juice I've ever had to drink.  I hope I don't have to repeat that anytime soon!  They said no news is good news, so let's hope we don't hear from the office this week!

26 weeks!!!

So Ray Ray is about a pound and two-thirds and measures about 14 inches.

This week:

• We're 3 weeks into our Bradley Method classes.  It's lots of info, but I'm sure everything we're learning is going to come in really handy.  I'm still looking around at the other moms and comparing bellies.  Interesting group of folks.
• I think I had a Braxton Hicks yesterday.  All I know was it was a weird cramp.  Didn't last long though.
• The kicks have been getting pretty hard.  And Ray Ray still moves like crazy, right before it's time for me to go to bed.  Yesterday, Johnny saw my stomach jump.  Weird!
• Bathroom trips?  Every two-three hours. Fun.

25 weeks!

I know, I know, I missed a week.  I was so tired last week.  It was all I could do to get up, go to work and come home.  Little bit more energy this week, so here I am!

So what's new this week?

• Ray Ray is about 13 1/2 inches and weighs about a pound and a half.  Apparently the baby is starting to pack on the baby fat, which is just great, because I'm packing it on too!  Awesome! (Can you detect the slight sarcasm?) 
• Ray Ray is having the time of their life in there!  Non-stop movement and kicks and punches and wiggles.  Fun, especially at night when we are trying to sleep.  Because of course I want Johnny to feel everything, so I'll grab his hand all the time. 
• Oh!  How's Johnny?  He's good!  He keeps saying he only has 3 more months of quality sleep and wants to maximize every minute of it.  Doesn't help that I always grab his hand to feel Ray Ray!  But he likes it, especially the super punches.
• Childbirth classes are neat.  We've been to two so far.  Johnny is going to be a great birth coach.  Even now, he reminds me to do my exercises and eat my veggies.  Even though the classes are on Friday, it's such a wonderful way to end the week.
• Oh! I set up my first registry.  We went to Babies R' Us last week (thanks Sheewayne and Demi!) and spent awhile (ok, a few hours) getting Ray Ray set up!  I've also been on Amazon.com setting up a registry.  I've started an online one at Target, but will go to the store soon to officially set it up.  I will probably hit Baby Depot and Pottery Barn Kids before it's all over.
• A coworker asked me this today, and so I'll share it here:  My belly button has not begun to poke out..  Thank God.  I've liked having an "innie" all these years.
• Ok, a friend at church asked this, so I'll share here: No stretch marks yet.  WOOHOOO!!!  Though she did say one day she woke up and BAM, one stretch mark.  She told me to rub cocoa butter and olive oil on my belly.  My first bit of belly advice.  Awesome!

Well, Ray Ray is ready for the nightly workout session... Translation:  "Mommy, go lay down."

23 weeks

We're at 23 weeks! Yay!

So what's going on this week?  Ray Ray is having a busy week! Well, I went to my first prenatal yoga class last night.  And I'm so sore today!  Dude, I wasn't ready!  Downward dog is the devil!  My neck, my back, my hips... oh the pain!  Ray Ray was the youngest one there.  The closest preggo there was 26 weeks.  The others were between 30 and 35 weeks.  I think I'll be back next week.  I must conquer the dog!

A prenatal swim class I found starts tomorrow.  Slight problem with that.  I don't have a preggo bathing suit!  I have the two piece numbers I wore in St. Martin this summer, but not sure if that's going to work.  We'll see.

Our birthing class starts this Friday.  Looking forward to learning more and meeting other preggos!

How's Ray Ray?  Kicking (and punching) up a storm! Especially right now!

22 weeks

I know I'm two days late on this update, but here you go anyway!

Ray Ray is at 11 inches and almost 1 lb.  Our baby was starting to look like a miniature newborn!  The lips, eyelids and eyebrows are becoming more distinct and there are toothbuds there too!

We had our monthly appointment today.  Very good news all around!  Ray Ray is right where he/she should be, looks good, feels good, and sounds good!  She told me I can cruise on in!  And Lord willing, that's what we'll do!

What's going on this week??

• 
  
  I've not started a registry or bought a thing yet.  I think I'm overwhelmed.  Johnny and I went to a store and walked through the baby section and after about a minute, we ran away!  There's so much to know and use, and know how to use!  I'll try it again soon.  I promise!  I have been looking online though, I have narrowed down the crib at least, I think.  The travel system, totally different story.  Moving on before I stress myself out.
  
  
  
• 
  
  The baby is kicking, a lot!
  
  
  
• 
  
  I'm tired and sleepy.  What else is new!  I've overslept at least twice this week.
  
  
  

See you next week!

21 weeks

Here we are at another week!

Ray Ray now weighs 3/4 of a pound and from head to rump is about 10 1/2 inches long, about the length of a carrot.  The little taps I started feeling a few weeks ago have turn into full fledged kicks and nudges.  So much so, that Johnny is feeling them now, which he loves!

This week:

• 
  
  I have a pimple the size of Texas on the side of my nose thanks to Ray Ray.  If it didn't go down this morning, I seriously wasn't going to work.  Luckily all of the things I did last night worked!  It's not as big and icky looking. 
  
  
  
• 
  
  I get sleepy at the drop of a hat.  Like right now.... ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......
  
  
  
• 
  
  I'm not sleeping well.  I keep waking up and haven't been able to get to sleep when I want to.  Apparently Ray Ray has nudged their head into my left side wants to stay there.  I didn't know the baby was that high!  At the ultrasoound, I'm like "Why are you putting the thingy that far up?"  Apparently that's where the baby's head was.  Doesn't make for comfortable left-side sleeping position.
  
  
  

I must tell you this.  There is this guy I work with...  When he first found out I was pregnant, he would call me "Little Mama".  He would say things like "Good morning Little Mama!"  "Hey, Little Mama!"  I actually liked that, especially the little part.  But these days, he'll say, "Hey, Lit...Hey Mama!"  He's been cutting the Little part short.  What's up with that?

The kids I work with, seem to think Ray Ray is a girl.  What say you?

20 weeks!!!

We are halfway there people!

And yeah, I don't know what's going on with my hand in that picture. It's hard taking self photos!!

This week, Ray Ray weighs about 10 oz, and is developing the layers of her skin. She is also practicing swallowing, and is digesting, which is producing the lovely meconium that we will experience along with the first diaper change. Good to know, right?

So what do I have going on this week?

** leg cramps at night. Super annoying.
** Headaches here and there.

This has been a blessed pregnancy thus far, and I hope it continues that way! Except for that awful bout with morning sickness, I can't complain.

I've been focused on having a stress-free pregnancy and on making good choices for our growing family. Even my students are focused on my health. One day this past week, they were getting on my nerves (by giving me every answer but the right one!). One of my students said, "Let's get it right, we are stressing Ray Ray out!" I could have hugged him, except for the fact that he seems to always have a nasty cold.

Speaking of colds and making good choices... About this swine flu. I'm thinking that I will not get the vaccination. They have yet to test it on pregnant women, and are basically just waiting to see how many miscarraiges happen before they can give an accurate view of its results. In terms of the regular flu shot... the jury is still out on that one to. I've never taken one, and I've only had the flu once as an adult... that I know of. I've got to think a little more on that one.

19 weeks

How am I?

Tired! Luckily that's my only uncomfortable symptom this week. Oh, and a few headaches here and there.
The baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom. She's tapping me more often, trying to let me know that she's there.

Why am I saying she? First, we still don't know the sex. And we didn't have our ultrasound last week. They rescheduled it for next week. I'm saying "she" because I've been saying "he" and Johnny had been saying "she". We've switched up for the month of October, so I'm now saying she.

But at our last appointment, the heartbeat apparently registered at a girl's rate. I think that's an old wives tale. We shall see!

Week 18

Head to rump, the baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that I'm starting to feel about once a day.

Our ultrasound is Thursday. Exciting!

Nothing much to report other than I'm super tired these days, so I'm off to bed!

Apparently I'm 17 weeks

I'd like to think I'm in my 18th week and I've completed 17 weeks. Or could I just say that I'm 4 months? In any case, that's how far along I am at this point.

But apparently by now, Ray Ray's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — his/her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. He/She weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and is around 5 inches long from head to bottom. Ray Ray can move his/her joints, and his/her sweat glands are starting to develop.

So, here I am as of today:

Tried to fix the fuzziness, but oh well.

An update for you...
I felt the baby move! It was tapping me from the inside! And then yesterday, if felt like it literally shivered inside! So, being the dork that I am, I shivered too! And, of course, once I told Johnny, he shivered too! He reallywants to feel it move. Hopefully one day soon he will!



Birthday wishes!!
Today's my brother's birthday! Happy Birthday Boy!!!