29 weeks

So 29 weeks today and it's flying by! I can'tbelieve he's going to be here in 11 weeks or sooner! I had my glucose test last Monday and received my results last Friday, I PASSED! I was a little bit worried because I have low blood sugar (hypogylycemia) and it can flip and diabetes runs on my mom's side of the family. Happy that I can still enjoy my ice cream! :)

Not much else has been going on, just enjoying my summer break and trying to relax while I can. Moving about is getting tougher, Dan laughs at me when I groan getting off the couch. We have a big couch that you tend to sink into which is tough to get off of when preggo. I also now have to wake up at night every time I need to roll over since it's such an ordeal now. However, Landon is very active which is bittersweet. I love feeling him move and it's constant reassurance that everything is ok however sometimes it's a bit painful!

Oh, my dad has also recently sent a few care packages for Landon that we are super excited about. They have included everything from clothes and toys to healthcare things for baby! Thanks Dad!

Here are my 29 week belly pics. Sorry about the PJs, it got to be about 9pm and I realized I still hadn't taken my belly pic. Which also means it was after a full day of food!

Here is what is going on with Landon and I this week:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Your baby's very active now. Your healthcare provider may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let your provider know if you ever notice that your baby is becoming less active. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion. Sluggish digestion can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation. Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy. This happens when lying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might notice that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins," lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

28 weeks - third trimester!

So today I'm 28 weeks, which puts me into my third trimester! It's all coming so fast! Below are a couple of belly pictures from today, one from the side and one from the front.

So Dan is still laid off from ironworking, but he has recently gotten a job at a nightclub downtown as a bouncer. He is still able to collect some of his unemployment since it's only part time, but it's pretty crappy hours. He works 4 nights a week from 10:30pm - 2:30am plus drive time but the money is needed. I've been doing workshops since school got out for extra money as well. Just trying to stock up before I go on materninty leave.

I had my 28 week appointment yesterday and actually lost a pound! I think part of it is that I usually go to the doctor in the late afternoon (after eating a few meals) and yesterday I went at 8:30am after only a bagel and some juice. Oh well! I had to do my glucose test to check for gestational diabetes, so that was interesting. They had me drink an orange drink that tasted like flat orange soda with extra sugar and then took my blood an hour later. I will be able to call tomorrow to get my results so hopefully all is well. I also start going to the doctor every 2 weeks now.

Here is what is going on with Landon and I 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 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.

You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.

27 weeks

So depending on which book you look at I'm in my third trimester today or next week, but either way time is flying! I went to the doctor yesterday because I've had this really annoying cough lately. The last time I went to the doctor they told me it was a virus that my body would have to fight off. However, here I am 3 weeks later with the same cough! So I went back and they told me the same thing, it's just taking my body longer to fight it off because I'm pregnant, which compromises my immune system.
While I was there they listened to Landon's heartbeat. She asked me how he was laying and I told her based on where I'm getting most of my kicks (he seems to be laying diagonally with his head up near my ribs on the right hand side and feet down a bit below my left hip). She used that to guess where his chest would be and we were right on! Although he didn't want to stay still! The doctor couldn't stop laughing because he wouldn't stop squirming around! I swear this kid doesn't sleep, he's constantly on the move!
They also took my weight (boo!) and I'm now at the weight I was before I got pregnant. I guess I can't be mad about that since, if I hadn't lost the weight, I'd be a lot more! I'm thinking I need to give up the Butterfinger Blizzards I've been getting on a weekly basis though!
Oh and I'm going to get a MUCH needed haircut tomorrow. I haven't gotten a haircut since September, so I have a lot of hair to get rid of! I'm thinking about a good 8-9 inches are going. Maybe then at my next doctor's appointment I'll have lost weight from having cut my hair! Lol

Here is what is going on with Landon and I this week:
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.
The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too.

26 weeks

So I'm 26 weeks today and school is almost out! Woo hoo!! Dan's still laid off (boo!) but he's been doing side work helping people move. He posted an ad on Craigslist and has gotten quite a few responses. He's already helped 2 people move and has 3 more moves set up for this weekend!

Landon is a squirmer! It used to be he only moved when I was sitting or laying down. He's now moving when I'm standing, especially if he hears loud noises. The other day I swear he was just spinning in circles because my whole stomach was moving!

I also got word today that my cousin Lindsey had her little girl this morning, which made me want mine that much more. Guess I'll just have to wait about 14 more weeks. Below is my 26 week belly picture.... I feel like I'm getting huge!

We got a gift from my mom this week! She bought us our pack n' play and our baby monitors. We're so excited! We plan on using it as a bassinet in our bedroom, especially since it has a changing table.

Here is what is going on with Landon and me this week:

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 your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus — which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your abdomen.

25 weeks

I still can't believe that I only have 15 weeks left! Time is flying by! Little Landon is definitely on the move. I've read that between 24-28 weeks they are the most active (since they still have enough room to move and most reflexes are developed) and holy cow they weren't lying! Dan got to feel him again the other day as Landon was punching me and rolling around. I think it freaked Dan out a little bit.
School is almost out for me. The last day for students is June 10th and the last day for teachers is June 11th. I'm VERY excited! I have a bunch of workshops that I'll be taking throughout June for extra money, which is fine, I just need a break from the students!
Dan has been laid off for a few weeks now and he's starting to go a bit crazy. He's been trying to find side work to do but it's tough. He's heard a rumor that he could be going back to work soon, so we're keeping our fingers crossed!
Yesterday for Memorial Day we went to St. Petersburg Beach with some of our friends and had a great time! We had a big canopy that we could sit under to stay cool (especially since we had 2 toddlers with us) and a BBQ so we made hot dogs and hamburgers on the beach. It made Dan even more excited for Landon to come. He was playing in the water with the toddlers and watching them play in the sand and was getting SO excited, it was really cute! I did get a slight burn on my legs and shoulders and so did Dan, but we had a great time still!

Here is what is going on with Landon and me this week:
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.

Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement. Have you started thinking about baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. You may want to consider family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Atticus, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.