32 week picture and update

Wow - here we are. . .32 weeks. . . just about 8 weeks to go until Miss Ellery's due date. EEK!!

I'm in freak out mode..mostly because December is going to be SOO busy with the holidays and stuff and will probably just fly right by!!!

Ellery's pretty much all set for clothes and other necessitites - we just need to bring the crib home from my parents and finish setting up her room (oh yeah and that bureau we ordered coming in would be FANTASTIC too )

As far as me - I'm feeling pretty darn good. . still have the groin pain, especially if I've been doing a lot of walking and when I'm in bed at night rolling over is *SO* painful!!! But I'll get through it! Dr. Freedman says I'm doing phenomenally well and everything seems pretty much on Target. At yesterday's appointment I was measuring 34 weeks - which I guess is fine. . blood pressure's been fantastic. . .weight. . well I'm up another 5 pounds which is a total of 35 pounds. .ack. But I know it's worth it. Baby Ellery is happy and healthy (as far as we know :) ) so all is well! Oh. . and the peeing thing is really my only complaint. I pee constantly.....and those who know me not pregnant know I'm similar to a camel. . I usually only go once or twice a day. . .so several million trips to the bathroom a day (okay. . I exaggerate but only SLIGHTLY :) ) are pretty annoying. Again. .if that's the only problem. . I'll gladly take it.

so without further ado. . here's me (I look ginormous next to the tree lol)

32 weeks (from Babycenter)

How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby probably weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long. Her and fingernails have grown in completely. Some babies have a head of hair already; others have only peach fuzz. Your baby is taking up a lot of space in your uterus, but those tight quarters shouldn't reduce her activity level. You may have heard that it's normal for babies to slow down later in pregnancy, but that's not true. If you notice any reduction in your baby's movements, call your healthcare provider.

How your life's changing:
Your blood volume (the plasma plus red blood cells) is now about 40 to 50 percent greater than before you became pregnant to accommodate the needs of you and your baby. (This extra amount also helps make up for any blood you'll lose when giving birth.) You're also gaining a pound a week now, and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and adding pressure on your abdomen, you may be dealing with heartburn more often or feeling a little short of breath. To help with shortness of breath, try eating smaller quantities more often (rather than three daily feasts) and sleeping propped up. Those smaller meals should help with the heartburn, too.
As your baby grows, the increasing concentration of weight in your growing belly causes a change in your posture and a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, your abdominal muscles are stretching, hormones are making your ligaments more lax, and your growing uterus may even press on some nerves. All of this can contribute to low back pain and possibly to some pain in your buttocks and thighs as well. Let your caregiver know if you have severe pain or feel numbness or tingling in your legs.

Our second set of maternity pics

for your viewing pleasure :)

www.dandoke.com
click on proofs and ordering
type in palmer in the search function..
it's the ones from 11/22
password is: 32697

i need to pick one for our christmas cards...any input would be great

in the "not for cards" category..i'm in LOVE with #21 and #12

i won't tell you which ones i am thinking about for our christmas card...

31 weeks!

How your baby's growing: This week, your baby measures about 16 inches long. He weighs a little over 3 pounds and is headed for a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and he's beginning to accumulate a layer of fat underneath his skin in preparation for life as a newborn. As a result, his arms, legs, and body are filling out.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. Some expectant moms experience this leaking, others don't; either way, it's perfectly normal and you can rest assured that your body is doing what it's meant to do. If you're leaking, you may want to tuck some nursing pads in your bra to protect your clothes. And if you plan to breastfeed, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. If your current bra is too snug, go ahead and wear the nursing bra now. (When shopping, choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now to accommodate the swelling that will take place when your milk comes in.)

Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Some women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Lasting from 30 to 60 seconds, they're nonrhythmic and irregular and, at this point in your pregnancy, they should be infrequent and not painful. (When you're within a few weeks of your due date, it's normal for Braxton Hicks contractions to become more frequent and even somewhat painful; in fact, they're often called "false labor" because sometimes it can be hard to tell them from the real thing.) Until 37 weeks, though, your baby is still premature. So if you're getting frequent contractions (even if they don't hurt), it may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have an increase or change in vaginal discharge (especially if it's watery, mucus-like, or pink or tinged with blood), abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping, more than four contractions in an hour, an increase in pressure in the pelvic area, or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before.

If you're having a boy, you and your partner will want to take some time to think about whether or not to have your baby circumcised. Find out what the procedure involves.

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2 months from tomorrow - thanksgiving - is my official due date..which of course means NOTHING . . but still :) it's important to note!

Still feeling fantastic. . nothing to report or complain about...although I did wake up today sneezing and stuffy. . ANOTHER cold. . I was JUST sick like 2 weeks ago....sigh.....but if this is the worst. . .I'll take it!

I hope everyone has a wonderful turkey day with family and/or friends - I know that when I count my blessings this year . . the health of my family and my daughter (OMG so weird to say) will be at the top of my list.... I couldn't ask for anything more!!!

MORE shopping

okay. . I admit it. .I'm addicted. It's sick actually. We had $$ from gifts and a gift card to Kohl's....plus 97.00 worth of returns to Babies R Us . . so we went shopping today!!!!

here are the results!!

John picked out the onesie and pants. .the shirt was on clearance at old navy:
the squirrel sweater was 6.00 at old navy and the sleep and plays were on sale for 5.00 at Kohl's

the 2 outfits on the left were 2 for 14.00 (i think) at Kohl's and the yellow outfit is Carters and was on clearance for 6.00 at BRU:
all 3 outfits are Carter's and were on sale at kohl's as well:
STEALS of the day. . jeans and khakis were 2.24 each at target and the sleeper was 2.98 at Target!
Newborn outfit and gowns plus bibs (it says daddy :) ) and socks. .plus the cutest booties that look like mary janes :)

more shower pics!!!

Here you go:


http://www.winkflash.com/photo/public.aspx?u=kermie19756

30 weeks and a doctor's appointment

From Babycenter:

How your baby's growing: Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and fills out your uterus. Her eyes open and close, she's able to distinguish between light and dark, and she can even follow a light source back and forth. Once 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 a visual acuity of only 20/400 — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. ("Normal" vision in adults is 20/20.)

How your life's changing:
You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having any trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsy, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, your balance is off and your joints are loosened, thanks to pregnancy hormones. Those loose joints can actually cause your feet to grow a shoe size --permanently.

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and your hormones may result in a revisit of those ups and downs you felt in the first few months. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent, but if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly anxious or irritable, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 10 percent of expectant women who battle mild to moderate depression during their pregnancies.

And if you think you might like some kind of pain relief for labor and delivery, now's a good time to look into your options.
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30 weeks - about 70 days left until little Ellery makes her grand entrance.....wow. at the beginning of this whole adventure 30 weeks seemed SOOOO far away. . and it's just flown by. . I think with the holidays coming and stuff the rest is going to fly by as well. . ..perhaps not the last 3 weeks or so. .but until then!!!

Last night I went through and literally inventoried all of Ellery's clothes and stuff. . . we have almost NO newborn and 0-3 stuff so we'll be buying some of those sleep and plays that Carter's makes etc. to fill in the gaps. Not taking the tags off either, especially the newborn stuff. . .what if she's chubby??? :) So Saturday it'll be off to Babies R Us to return the 2 extra bumbo seats we got and a few other things (2nd yellow crib sheet for one) and fill in the "boring" stuff - mattress pads, boppy cover, bottles etc.

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday afternoon. Everything looks great!!! I gained 3 pounds in the past 3 weeks - not bad I guess - better than freakin' 14 pounds!!!! I looked at my last WW weigh in (yes I still carry that booklet around with me LOL) and I'm up 29 pounds since then. . . darn 14 pounds. . . I hate every one of them ROFL. Still not bad I guess . . for being almost 8 months pregnant LOL

We heard her heartbeat again. . perfect as always....Dr. Freedman advised me to have the flu shot (which I've already made an appointment for here at work) and John will call his doctor also to get one (since Ellery will be born in RSV and flu/cold season). So now that I'm at 30 weeks my appointments go to every 2 weeks! Yikes! :)

the aftermath of the shower

All of our gifts (except the big stuff - that's at my parents) is home and in Ellery's room. . Holy crapola!!!

after taking inventory we STILL have stuff to buy. . I can't believe it!!! The things we need off the top of my head: bottles, drop ins, nipples, pacifiers, a slipcover for the boppy, changing pad covers, mattress pads, pack and play sheets, more recieving blankets - a lot of little stuff .. which I am *SO* greatful for!!!

We have some things to return - we ended up with 3 bumbo seats. . so 2 are going back to the store and we'll get some of the stuff listed above :)

we also need to buy infant tylenol, gas drops etc.

AND (who would have thought) we need to buy clothes!!!! lol everyone gave us clothes (pretty much) but it was awesome - such a range of sizes so we don't have too much of anything. . so now we get to fill in the gaps (YAY!!!!) we need jammies definately (we have like 1 pair ROFL) and some other little outfits for 0-3 months .. I think that's all we're going to buy for now and then see how big she is.

wow...so much to do still.. ...

Shower time!!!

Yesterday was the baby shower that my parents threw for us.

It honestly was such a great day, filled with love and laughter. John, Ellery and I are so lucky to have so many people around us who love us and wanted to come celebrate with us!

My friend Michelle was kind enough to take pictures for us so that no one had to worry about having a camera - THANK YOU Michelle!!!!

here are some fun shots from the day:

The loot (some of it):

John looks THRILLED doesn't he???

oh. . i want THIS one in poster size!!!
The favors were packets of Margartia and Cosmopolitan mix:

The happy parents to be (man i totally do NOT look pregnant ROFL):

CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!! (thanks to my mom for baking them all and my aunt for decorating them all - broken wrist and all!)
Centerpieces:

So there you go! We are so overwhelmed with stuff right now. . . . we started going through last night. . hung up most of the clothes she got (a nice range of sizes too . .I think we need some more newborn stuff though as well as stuff like those fuzzy sleep and plays etc.). There are just a few things we still need. .the basics - bottles etc. Everyone was SO generous that some of the smaller stuff got overlooked. .which is FINE with me :) I'd rather buy bottles than a car seat any day :)

so all in all it was a simply fantastic day!!!

29 weeks!!!

From Babycenter:

How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds 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 accommodate his brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester. To keep yourself and him well nourished, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium. (About 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton — which is now hardening — every day.)
How your life's changing:
You should be able to feel your baby's movements strongly now. Pay attention to the kicks and nudges, and let your practitioner know if you ever notice a decrease in activity. She may ask you to do fetal kick counts to make sure everything's okay.Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage again. 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 your digestive process, which can cause gas, especially after a big meal. Another problem you can credit to your growing uterus (and constipation) is hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids — which are simply swollen blood vessels in your rectal area — are very common during pregnancy and usually clear up soon after delivery. If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath and applying a hot pad or cold compresses medicated with a little witch hazel to the affected area. Also avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your practitioner before using any over-the counter remedies during pregnancy, and let her know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.A small number of women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy. When they lie on their backs, they get a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes them feel dizzy until they change position. You might note that you get dizzy if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid getting the spins, move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

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wow. 29 weeks. .. I know I say this practically EVERY week but it seems like I took that test YESTERDAY. and here we are. . almost done!!!

nothing much going on. . . just the status quo. Our shower is this Sunday which I am *SO* ridiculously excited about. I can't wait. I'll be sure to share pictures :) :) :)

28 week pic (and a comparison)

Here I am at 28 weeks:

And a shot of me wearing the same shirt . . taken in Sept. sometime

honestly now, (and you won't hurt my feelings :) ) do i look ANY different???

28 weeks

from Babycenter:

How your baby's growing: By this week, your baby weighs a little over 2 pounds and measures about 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open her eyes — which now sport lashes — and she'll turn her head toward a continuous, bright light from the outside. Her fat layers are beginning to form, too, as she gets ready for life outside the womb.

How your life's changing:

You're in the home stretch! The third trimester starts this week and lasts until 40 weeks. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.Do your legs feel creepy-crawly at night? Tingling in your lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them is known as restless legs syndrome (RLS), and it can make it hard to relax when you're settling in. No one knows what causes RLS, but it's common among pregnant women. Try cutting down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse, and massage your calves when they feel tense. Some studies also show that taking iron supplements helps ease your discomfort.At this point, you may visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks; then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending upon your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis, plus cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea during your third trimester, to be certain of your status before delivery. (Identifying and treating these infections is crucial for your health and your baby's.) And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll receive an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. If your baby's biological father is also Rh negative, the shot isn't necessary, but most practitioners will do it routinely rather than test the father. (You'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth if your baby is Rh positive.)Many dads worry about watching childbirth. "We don't like childbirth," writer Rick Epstein says. "It's spooky and iffy and it takes too long. Also it hurts, and we don't like to see that."

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home stretch eh?? certainly doesn't feel like it ROFL. 28 weeks - 7 months. . holy CRAP. I didn't realize how QUICKLY this entire pregnancy was going to go. I can't believe it. Although it's provided me with a few too many aches and pains for my liking (although i know i'm getting off easy) . . . I'm going to miss being pregnant. There's something so intimate about having Ellery inside of me. . . feeling her move. .etc. it's like our own private "thing". Granted it'll be much more fun when she's really HERE. . but I think i'll miss being pregnant.

I have a wicked cold that's just kicking my arse right now. . . .i'm taking the only thing I can - sudafed....but it does nothing .. .I just take it so I can PRETEND it's working :). it's all in the mind people. . all in the mind :)

next post will have my 28 week pic in it. . .. :)

betcha can't wait :) :)