31 weeks

I just got out of the shower- sorry, no face shots today! But, here are my belly shots from this week. I am going to try and do them every week as opposed to every other week since we are getting close to Chase's arrival!

Chase has had the hiccups several times a day, every day. In fact, he has them as I am typing this right now! I read that it is a sign of a healthy, mature baby, so that makes me happy! See below:

"First of all, only more mature fetuses hiccup in the womb because their central nervous system is adequately developed in order to allow this to happen. It is believed that the fetus breathes in amniotic fluid or drinks it. When this happens and the amniotic fluid enters and exists the fetus lungs then the diaphram contracts and hiccups results. Fetal hiccups appear to be extremely normal and almost all moms will feel the babies hiccups at least once if not on a regular basis. Keep in mind that when your fetus is hiccupping there is nothing wrong. You dont need to call your doctor or midwife, unless you feel something else is going on, and you dont need to freak out. Simply relax and enjoy feeling your baby move inside you."

31 weeks

31 weeks bare belly

Back to school, back to school......

This morning felt like freshman year of college all over again! That, or our weekend at Engaged Encounter (the weekend long class we had to take before being married in the Catholic church). We had our very first childbirth/care class today. It began at 9am and went until 1pm. Thank goodness we were allowed to bring snacks and drinks. I ate 3 snacks during that 4 hour window of time! I wont starve, that's for sure! We also had bathroom breaks every hour. That was kind of funny because at the end of each hour, all 12 pregnant moms were running to use the restroom.

We have two more of these classes and one breastfeeding class. We have to bring two pillows and a blanket to each class. We are supposed to wear sweat pants or comfortable clothes, which is perfect for me!

Today's class was interesting and we are so glad we signed up. We learned a lot in just one day. Today we learned about the stages of labor and breathing/relaxation techniques. My favorite part of the whole day was laying on my blanket with both pillows, and having Matt massage my back. It was so relaxing! The instructor taught all of the Dads how to read Mom's body. I had to tense up a part of my body and Matt had to find it. We are supposed to practice this so that during labor, they are able to read our minds/bodies! Ha! Imagine that! The instructor told the Dads that they are supposed to learn what we want before we want it. I like her way of thinking!

We also learned how to use a stability ball (aka "birthing ball"). That is definitely going on the list of must haves for the hospital bag! It releases so much tension in your back. My other favorite part of the class was breathing techniques. We sat on the floor with our husbands behind us, and we practiced breathing in and out. We did counts of 3 and counts of 4. The counts of 3 worked well for me. It was so relaxing!

We learned how to use music to calm the senses. I think we are going to start playing spa music at night before bed, and condition my brain to relax when I hear it. You can use any kind of music that you want, I just happen to be a spa kind of girl!

Now the only part we didn't enjoy was the real life video of a natural birth. YUCK! We were cringing. They showed everything. And I mean, EVERYTHING! We saw the crowning, the baby being delivered, the placenta being delivered, and the worst, the placenta being inspected in a little tub. It was not what we wanted to see first thing in the morning. I don't think anyone should see that. There are some things you just don't want to know. That was one of them!

Next week is our breastfeeding class. Wish us luck! I will be sure to update you! Next weekend, not only do we have class, but it is my family baby shower! I am so excited that I can hardly stand it!

30 weeks

I am a little over 30 weeks along now. I had to take pics tonight to show you how big this belly is. We just at at Rio Grande (Uncle Julio's) so perhaps that is why I am so large? Yeah, I didn't think you would take that excuse.

Chase has had the hiccups lately. It cracks me up! He is also kicking. rolling, and growing everyday. It's no wonder my back and sciatic nerve are killing me! I am carrying some large cargo. I have trouble getting off the couch and out of bed. If I have to pick something up off the floor, I wince. I am learning to just leave whatever it is on the floor because it isn't worth the pain and effort to bend over anymore. If I have to squat or if I am sitting on the floor, Matt has to hoist me up. It makes me feel so unattractive!

It's labor day weekend and we have made so much progress in the house. We have gone through 3 closets and gotten rid of junk that we don't need or use anymore. We also went through the storage shelves in the basement and organized everything. We now have everything in it's place and it feels so good. Now we know where everything is. My next challenge is to go through the thousands of photos that I have in boxes down there. I swear, I must have taken photos every weekend of college. I chalk it up to being in a sorority where all we knew was to pose for photos. We had a photographer at every social and event for Pete's sake! It was like our own form of paparazzi!

Ok, on to the belly pics!

30 weeks

30 weeks

Becky and KK threw me a baby shower with all of my girlfriends last weekend. It was beautiful! Every detail was adorable! Becky is so creative. She made candy labels and water bottle labels expecially for the shower to match the invitation. There was a little bit of chaos at the beginning because while everyone was on their way to the 3:30 shower, Becly and KK's power was out! So we had to change plans at the last minute and have everyone over to Sean and Aelin's house. Thank goodness Aelin keeps the house so perfect and ready for company 24/7. It was gorgeous and actually turned out perfect there. Their house is so nice for entertaining. I felt like a princess all day. I got so many adorable outfits and things for Chase. I came home and washed everything and put it all away in his dresser and closet already. I couldn't be more excited!

It was nice to have Julia there too! She is about 2 weeks or so behind me and we were showing off our bellies together! I love having her to talk to as we go through all the stages of pregnancy together!

I am 29 weeks here

Liz and Emma made the best cupcakes! I ATE THREE OF THEM!

Becky made little martini glasses of pickles and ice cream! She made sure it was Breyer's Chocolate Ice Cream (my favorite pregnancy craving). I don't like pickles really, but it was a cute pregnancy staple!

Here are some pics of the cute bottled water and candy bars:

I will post a few more pics once I get them from the rest of the girls :)

Chase's latest baby pics

Helloooooooo, pregnancy brain! I also have pics from Chase's photo shoot a week and a half ago! We got some amazing closeups of his cute lil face and of his hiney :) haha! We have another appointment in a few weeks which will be his last set of baby photos until he is in our arms! I can't wait!

getting grumpy at us for taking so many pics

showing off his woo woos

cute profile

29 weeks

I forgot to post my belly pic from 29 weeks! I am so terrible at keeping up with my blog! I have been so busy scrapbooking lately. Below is a pic from 29 weeks (please don't ask me if I having twins! Yes, I am carrying ONE single child). Oh, and the reason I am looking away from the camera is b/c it was late at night, I had zippy makeup on, and I felt huge. But I promise I am happy as can be! I love being pregnant! I promise! =)

29 weeks

I made it to my 3rd Trimester

I just started my 3rd trimester! I am 27 weeks pregnant and happy as a clam!

I must say that I secretly enjoyed every minute of my glucose screening test. I had been dreading it for weeks because I thought about how much it would stink to be told I have gestational diabetes. I can't imagine life without chocolate ice cream every night. Anyways, I woke up and ate egg whites and two pieces of wheat toast. About an hour later, I went to the Lab Corp in Bethesda. I walked in and the nice man at the front desk smiled and handed my the dreadful 50 grams of glucose in a fruit drink. He told me I had 5 minutes exactly to finish it off. Now, after everything I have ever heard about this drink, I was not looking forward to my first swig. I heard it is the sweetest, nastiest drink and it tastes like syrup. I took a deep breath and took my first sip. OMG! It was DELICIOUS! It was so tasty that I chugged it. I couldn't get enough of it! I was licking my lips for minutes after it was empty. It tasted like fruit punch gatorade. I swear, I could have drank a liter of it.

I handed my empty bottle to the nice man at the front desk and he escorted me to a private room with a leather recliner. He told me to relax for an hour and then they would do my bloodwork. (you have to wait the full hour for the glucose to enter your bloodstream). I brought a book with me and researched high chairs and baby mattresses.. It was so relaxing with the AC blowing on me. I remember Chase bouncing around in my belly the whole time from the insane amount of sugar I had just drank. I have never felt him kick like that!

I passed with a 96 and the cut of is 130, so I passed with flying colors! No gestational diabetes for this mama! But I found out that my iron was a tad bit low, so the doctor wants me to take iron supplements on top of my prenatal vitamin.

Other than that, I have no updates. I have to wait until my birthday (one more week) to see Chase. I am so excited to see how much he has grown. Especially since last month, we didn't get to see much because I got sick. I have my regular monthly OB check up next Thursday. Those appoinments are pretty uneventful. We basically just check my weight, blood pressure, and Chase's heart beat. I am not excited about seeing the numbers on the scale. WAIT until you see the size of my belly below! Brace yourselves, people! It's a big one!

27 weeks

27 weeks (I am starting to rethink the bare belly shots)

About 26 weeks

I have been terrible with keeping up with my posts! I have some pics from my 25 week belly and a comparison between 22 and 25 weeks. It is a big difference! I also have so pics of some of the stuff we got from Pottery Barn. We went over to my friend Jennifer's house after she had hew new son, Owen, and fell in love with a frame that she had. So of course, we had to get one for Chase. It is so cute! We also got a custom Bundle Me which will keep him warm this fall and winter. It is adorable. It is basically a sleeping bag that straps onto his stroller and car seat. It is so cozy that I wish they made these for adults!

I have to fill you in on my most embarrassing moment thus far. My mother in law drove all the way from Gettysburg, PA to come with me to see her newest grandson on the big screen last week. We couldn't wait! For months we have been telling her about how amazing the ultrasounds are and how it is in 3D/4D.

I had to have my cervix length measured first which is kind of a private situation because you have to get naked from the waist down. So I decided it would be most comfortable for me to have that done first and then have Betty Lou come afterwards for the belly sonogram.

All went well with my cervix but the sonographer wanted me to keep the paper sheet around my waste (and not get dressed) because the doctor might have to take a look at my cervix again before we left. So I am thinking, Ok...no biggie. I will just make sure I don't move around too much. I would hate to moon my mother in law.

It was a HOT summer day and the doctor's office didn't seem to have the AC working up to par. The ultrasound room, brutally hot. The sonographer was complaining about how hot is was which made me feel better because I couldn't stand it! I was drenched in sweat at this point. So she calls Betty Lou into the room and it got even hotter. 3 people in a small ultrasound room plus the fact that it was already roasting is a cause for concern with a pregnant lady.

The sonographer squirted the hot gel all over my belly and started the measurements. This is usually my favorite part because I know I am going to get the opportunity to stare at my little man on the big screen for about 40 minutes. However, this time, I couldn't wait for her to be done. I was so uncomfortable. I was hot, dizzy, and she was pressing down on my tummy so hard. I was so nauseous. After about 5 minutes of seeing spots, I stopped her and asked her for water. I told her I felt like I was going to faint. Betty Lou held my hand and they had me sit up for a minute. I thought the moment had passed, so we carried on.

I am trying to hold out for as long as possible. All I wanted was to see Chase on the screen moving and measuring okay. But I couldn't stand the heat and nausea. Just as we are about to capture a profile picture of his face, I frantically jump out of the bed, and throw up in the tiny little sink while clutching my paper sheet around my waist. I know my mother in law got a great shot of me naked. What a show! A naked pregnant woman throwing up! YUCK! It was so embarrassing. After I threw up, we had to keep going because they had to measure Chase's kidney...which is still dilated :( It smelled and was awkward for everyone involved...especially ME!

After I got sick, Chase wouldn't turn around. He was facing my chest. So we couldn't get a good shot. We didn't even get to see his face. We didn't see him in 3D/4D either. It was so disappointing. So basically Betty Lou drove all the way to Rockville, she didn't get to see her grandson very well, and she got to watch me throw up half naked! Gosh, I wish I could re-do that whole day and tell them to move us to a different room with better AC.

I am glad it is behind me. The good news out of this whole saga is that I don't have to go back to the high rosk doctor until August 24th (my birthday). I hear that we will get great shots of him then because he will be chubbier and more newborn looking. We are looking forward to this appointment! I am going to call ahead and make sure that they have adequate AC in the room they intend me to use.

Ok, well here are some pics:

25 weeks

22 weeks vs 25 weeks

His Bundle Me

His picture frame with each month