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.