Week 33

Here's the blurb from my What to Expect When You're Expecting book for Week 33: "Baby's gaining weight almost as fast as you are these days (averaging out to about a half a pound a week), which puts the grand total so far at more than 4 1/2 pounds. Still, your baby has plenty of growing up (and out) to do. She may grow a full inch this week alone and may come close to doubling in weight by D-day. And with that much baby inside your uterus now, your amniotic fluid level has maxed out (there's no room for more fluid now). Which explains why those pokes and kicks are sometimes extremely uncomfortable: There's less fluid to cushion the blows. Antibodies are also being passed from you to your baby as your little one continues to develop her own immune system. These antibodies will definitely come in handy on the outside and will protect your baby-to-be from many of those playground germs." I still can't believe how quickly this is flying by (at least for now), and I am getting so excited!!! Physically, there's not a whole lot new to report... The only thing I've really noticed in the last few days is that it really is getting harder to reach my feet, like to tie my shoes or paint my toenails. And I'm having a harder time picking things up off the floor, like the many things I clumsily drop or the tennis ball when I'm playing fetch with the pups. Richard is doing well (still in Kuwait) and is getting super excited as well. We get to talk about every other day or so on instant messenger online and through emails, so we're able to pretty well keep each other current on all of life's happenings. Please keep up your thoughts and prayers for this soldier, husband, and daddy-to-be! :) Here's the most recent picture of me (us!) at a full 32 weeks! *8 weeks (give or take) to go!*

30 Week Appointment

Well I just got home from seeing my midwife and everything looks great as usual. My glucose testing results were good (which I knew from the "no news is good news" policy) and my uterus is measuring about the right size for how far along I am. My blood pressure is good, my weight gain is good (another 4 lbs since last appointment) and I'm feeling great! Baby's heart rate was at about 140 bpm today and she seems to be head down. And no stretch marks so far! I am so excited to meet this little girl! I already love her so much! Oh, and I went to a breastfeeding class yesterday. It was very informative and will hopefully help me get off to a great start when Baby arrives.

Daddy update: Richard left Sunday. He called me Monday from Germany and said they were just waiting to fly out again for Kuwait. They're in Kuwait now and will be for about a week and half or two before they go to Iraq for the duration of the 12 months. It feels weird but is settling into a new kind of normal already without him here. I'm so glad to have BB and Pancake around - we play, go for walks (which I need to be doing anyway), go to the park, etc. And of course I have plenty of awesome and supportive ladies around who are in the same boat as me.

Well, here's a "goodbye kiss for baby" picture. Love you all!

29+ weeks!

I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has been flying by since I got past the first trimester of morning sickness! The whole second trimester went by in what felt like a couple weeks and so far the third trimester is ticking right along too. (Though I'm sure time will seem to stop completely when I get down to the last couple weeks, hehe.) I have still been substituting every day I'm needed and have been pretty good at finding ways to keep by body feeling supported and rested enough. I have also been eating really well and hope I haven't been gaining weight as rapidly as I did in my last 4 weeks between midwife appointments. :)

In the Daddy news... Richard has still not left for Iraq. At the end of last week they were saying it would be today or tomorrow. Now yesterday they said it will probably be Saturday or even Monday or Tuesday of next week. While we're obviously grateful for every extra minute we get together right now, it's emotionally wearing to prepare for the separation and then be told 'not quite yet.' That just means we have to breathe easy for another day or two and then prepare again. So we're just in this hurry up and wait pattern. Also, right now Richard is thinking he will try to come home for R&R in March or April. Baby will be about 3 or 4 months old, so that will be a little more interactive time for him to spend with her. I can't wait for them to meet!

Here's my 29 week picture! I have an appointment next Thursday and will update again then!

Dragging a Little

Well I filled in as a substitute teacher 4 out of 5 days this week and ran errands on my off day. I can feel a definite difference in my body as far as physical energy and stamina after this week. I don't think I mentioned it in my last post, but at my last appointment my weight was up about 16 or 17 pounds from my pre-pregnancy normal. So I guess it makes sense that after being on my feet all day with a strange distribution of all that extra weight, my feet and back are tired and aching (although I have not experienced any swelling yet). I know it will only get worse (and I will have to make myself rest a little more) as baby and I continue to grow... I guess it just feels a little overwhelming because these unpleasantries came on pretty quickly - just in the last week and a half or so. I read somewhere that women have to get more and more uncomfortable until eventually by the end of the pregnancy they would do anything to be "unpregnant," otherwise they wouldn't have the grit and determination to go through the labor and delivery process. I think at this rate I will be ready to do anything to get this little rascal into the world. :)

In other news, there will be a Deployment Ceremony next Tuesday... and then Richard will be leaving in about 2 weeks. They are trained up and prepared and are overall ready to go. I don't know that it has fully hit me yet... I feel like I'm as mentally and otherwise prepared as I can be but I think emotions may run wild when I actually drive him to their point of departure. Prayers please!!!

Okay I guess that's all for now... more to come in the near future! ~Danelle

27 Weeks!

Evet (Richard's mom) is here! She flew in Thursday afternoon and will be heading home Sunday afternoon. I had another appointment yesterday and she and Richard both came with me. Everything looks and sounds great as usual. Baby Girl's heartrate is around 170 bpm, and my measurements correspond just right with how far along I am (pubic bone to top of uterus in inches is about equal to how many weeks pregnant I am). I will be going to the lab next week to do my glucose testing so that should be fun. My midwife also gave me an adjustable support belt which will help with the low back and pelvic discomfort I've been experiencing during exercise and long days of substituting. Oh yeah, AND I got 2 pairs of maternity pants that are comfy and cute! Now that it's getting cooler, my capris and shorts are just not cutting it anymore. And I won't be able to get away with wearing long shirts over my rubberband closed, unzipped regular pants for much longer, hehe. Richard is still scheduled to deploy sometime in the beginning of October... so we went and got a video camera yesterday to record all the momentous occassions he will not be here to witness during Baby's first year. The camera's really cool and I will be able to send him videos and pictures via email while he's gone. :) I know it's been too long since the last belly picture - I've been trying to do every 2-3 weeks and now it's been 4... oops... Anyway, here's my 27 week picture! Love you all! ~Danelle

25+ Weeks and Feeling Great!

So I'm about 25 1/2 weeks today and feel awesome. I've still been walking almost daily and have been trying to continue eating healthy. I have an appointment with my midwife next Friday, so we'll see where my weight gain is at that point. Here's what's happening in this 26th week according to my What to Expect When You're Expecting book: "Your baby now weighs a full 2 pounds and measures in at 9+ inches long (crown to rump = head to butt). Your baby's eyes are beginning to open. The eyelids have been fused for the past few months (so the retina could develop). So, your baby is now able to see -- though there's not much to see in the dark confines of her uterine home. But with the heightened sense of sight and hearing that your baby now possesses, you may notice an increase in activity when your baby sees a bright light or hears a loud noise." Amazing, isn't it? And speaking of activity, Baby's movements have changed in the last week or so too. I am still feeling little jolting kicks and punches but am also feeling more complete movements across my belly. This morning I felt what I think was a foot move like 4 or 5 inches across me. I love this baby girl so much already! I can't believe I'll be meeting her in about 3 months!
Bad Foods: none really (besides ones that I normally don't care for)
Cravings: CEREAL!!!
Exercise: walking 30-45 minutes most days
Daddy: excited :) - still deploying in early October :(

23 Weeks

Well we've been having a lot of fun accumulating the baby basics and starting to decorate the nursery. It's really coming together - I can't wait to see the finished product. I've been having a harder time sleeping lately - partly because I can't turn my brain off, partly because I can't get comfortable, and partly because I have to go to the bathroom about 4 times a night. BB seems to be hanging around me a little more than usual lately too. When we're at home she's normal, but when we go to the park or somewhere else she doesn't like to venture too far away from me. She's not like super protective or anything, she's just a little more anxious like she's looking out for me. She and Pancake are both going to be great "big sisters." :) Anyway, I don't have much else to report... Here's my 23 week picture: