31 Weeks

How far along: 31 weeks
Size comparison:  Baby is the size of a coconut.  16 inches long and weighs 3.3 pounds... And supposedly heading into a growth spurt!

Baby nickname:  H., Little H., Baby H.  Can you sense a theme, here?
Baby bump:  Definitely growing!  Bryce and I can often see how the baby is positioned, and we can definitely see when he/she is all curled up because it makes a nice lump on my stomach.  So funny!

Gender Prediction:  Still going with boy... But I'm really dying to find out.

Weight gain: 25 pounds... ish.  Honestly, I vary between 23-25 pounds depending on when I weigh myself, how much water I've had to drink, and if I have used the bathroom recently or not.  I am a little bummed because 25 pounds is the total I wanted to gain for the pregnancy... and I still have 8.5 weeks to go.  Yikes!

Maternity clothes:  I love dresses.  They fit and are super comfy... So I will likely be living in them until H. arrives. 

Stretch marks: None.  Although I've noted some skin darkening around my belly button (they say this can occur all over the body, including the face.  Luckily that's not the case for me so far.)  My linea nigra has now extended from the top of my belly button to a couple inches under my rib cage.

Belly button in or out:  Staying in.

Wedding rings on or off:  Wedding band is on.

Sleep:  I average about three trips to the bathroom per night.  I'll let you decide how I'm sleeping.

Best moment this week:  On my feet all day with minimal swelling.  I will take it as a pregnancy win!   

Worst moment this week:  Went to my first wedding while pregnant... Not only was I one of three total sober party-goers, but my heartburn was OOC (out of control) so I couldn't eat, and I looked/felt like a whale.  Ummm... I also woke up the next morning feeling like I had a wicked hangover.  WTF?!

Miss anything:  Drinking and dancing like a fool at weddings.  

Movement:  We still get a kick out of seeing the baby move inside my tummy!  H. must still be breech, because when I'm not feeling the movements in the middle of my stomach, they are down very low, as well as, off to the right of my stomach (same as they were when we had our sonogram indicating a breech babe.)

Cravings:  Cream cheese...  Especially when used in grape salad!  Not much else that I'm craving these days.

Queasy or sick:  Diet modifications are helping but not controlling things 100%... 

Labor signs:  No.  

Happy or moody:  Happy!  Baby is healthy and apparently very happy... Which makes for a very happy momma!

Looking forward to:  Maternity pictures!  I decided at the last minute I needed to have some maternity pics, so I contacted our newborn photographer and she fit us in for the first week of April!

30 Weeks

How far along: 30 weeks (okay okay, damn well close to 31... but better late than never, right?!  All questions will be answered to reflect week 30!)
Size comparison:  Baby is the size of a cabbage.  15.7 inches long and weights almost 3 pounds.

Baby nickname:  Chupa
Baby bump:  I have strangers commenting on my bump alllll the time.  It's usually "So when's the baby due?"  Once I just want to say "Oh, no baby... Just fat!" 

Gender Prediction:  I'm pretty much ready to put his name up in his room.

Weight gain: 23 pounds.  Ugh.

Maternity clothes:  Still not fitting into all maternity clothes (pants) perfectly...  But I have found a love for maxi dresses.  Thank goodness for our warmer weather! 

Stretch marks: No.

Belly button in or out:  Still standing strong and staying in.

Wedding rings on or off:  Wedding band on.

Sleep: Between baby Hawk partying all night, my heartburn/reflux and frequent bathroom breaks...  Not good.

Best moment this week:  Grandma and Pappy Sandusky came for a visit and spent pretty much all of Saturday cleaning our carpets and rearranging our living room.  So thankful Chupa will have a clean space to roll around on.   

Worst moment this week:  Work sucks when you're exhausted.

Miss anything:  Beers, bars and basketball... It's March Madness!

Movement:  I love watching my belly move when the baby moves :)

Cravings:  Nothing.  Anything that doesn't give me heartburn.  I could eat cereal with milk for every meal.

Queasy or sick:  My heartburn/reflux/acid and sour stomach is so bad it's almost as bad as morning sickness... My doctor said it will likely get worse the further along I get.  Tums are my new BFF and I've had to make some major diet modifications. 

Labor signs:  No... and thankful for that!  Baby's gotta keep cooking until at least 37 weeks!  

Happy or moody:  Happy!  Tired, but happy.

Looking forward to:  My upcoming baby showers in Omaha and Dubuque!  So excited to celebrate the upcoming arrival of my little peanut with my family and closest friends!!  Everything is happening so so fast, and I can't wait!

29 Weeks

How far along: 29 weeks
Size comparison:  Baby is the size of a butternut squash - just over 15 inches long and 2.5 pounds.

Baby nickname:  Chupa
Baby bump:  Getting larger by the day! 

Gender Prediction:  Boy.  Although after the shenanigans the baby pulled during the 3D/4D ultrasound, I might lean a little toward the girl side ;-)

Weight gain: 21 pounds.  WHERE is the weight coming from?!

Maternity clothes:  I reached a new milestone today... My maternity pants are just a bit too big, and my belts obviously don't fit, so, I had to borrow my husbands belt.  Yep, true story. 

Stretch marks: Still knocking on wood.

Belly button in or out:  Somewhat in.

Wedding rings on or off:  Wedding still standing strong.

Sleep: Not good.  Not good at all.  I'm fairly sure you can see the exhaustion on my face in the above picture.

Best moment this week:  Our ultrasound!!  It was so good to see our little peanut!!!  I cannot wait to meet him/her! :) :) :)

Worst moment this week:  I'm really, really tired.

Miss anything:  Sleep.  Feeling comfortable.  The ability to stand on my feet all day.  Drinking a glass of wine after a ridiculous day at work.

Movement:  All the time!!  Except when we want it...  I've been feeling somewhat painful kicks on my left side and down low.  Baby is getting strong.

Cravings:  Nothing, really.  There isn't much that sounds good when everything gives you heartburn.

Queasy or sick:  Exhausted.  I'd love more than two hours of sleep at a time.  Isn't this the time when I'm supposed to be getting my rest?  I guess it's just good prep for Bryce and me.

Labor signs:  Nothing so far! Thank God!  

Happy or moody:  Happy!!

Looking forward to:  Sleeping.

Presenting Baby Hawk, Round 2

We caved.  There was no way we could stand not seeing our baby from week 20 until birth.  So, today we went in for an optional 3D ultrasound.  Excellent life decision!  It was absolutely worth everything to see our little babe again, this time in such ridiculous amounts of detail it's almost frightening.

What we learned today?  Not the gender.  Bryce wasn't caving on that.  The very first thing he said to me today about the appointment was "They know that we don't want to know the sex, right?"  No luck for this momma.  However, Chupa is a stubborn little one.  Very, very stubborn.  Currently breech, and very unwilling to move.  Turns out, he is very comfy with his feet resting snugly on his forehead with his little tiny fingers wrapped firmly around his toes and feet.  He/she/it moves all night long, until the one hour that we want movement... And... We get nothing.  Yeah, I've known for a while that I will have my hands full.  Also, babe's got some hair, and more than the average 29 week old babe (it would be easier for me to show you in person).

Luckily, our sonographer was amazing.  She spent extra time with us over our allotted appointment time so we could get some images of the babe's face, put me in several different positions to try and encourage movement, and was pretty hilarious, to boot.  I'm so thankful for her time and talents, because we finally got some fabulous images of Chupa's face.  You know I had tears streaming down my own face.

Pretty sure that the babe will look mostly like Bryce, especially his eyes and nose.  We vote my mouth.  But really, what the hell do we know?  We're lucky if we can identify half of the body parts during these exams.  What do you think?

Alas, a random sampling of the beautiful images:  

This is basically what we saw for the first 15 minutes.  A mess of hands and feet in front of the face.

A little better... (Semi-decent shot of left eye with foot in front of face)

Thinking about maybe moving - hand on forehead.  You can see the left eye, part of nose and mouth.

Finally starting to reveal his/her face, but really not happy about it...  Check out that frown.

Big yawn!  Not at all impressed with this exam.  Maybe he/she shouldn't stay up all night partying.  What was it that my mom used to tell me as a teen?  "Up all night, sleep all day!"

Pinky wrapped around the bottom of the foot... Letting go!

 It's a face!  (You can't tell me this doesn't look like Bryce...)

 Or this....

Orrrr this..... 

 Really just wants to nap.

More feet!

Those are definitely Mom's lips.

Well folks, hope you enjoyed Baby Hawk's 3D preview.  We loved every second!  I am sure I will look at these pictures every day for the next 74 days.  We are so excited to meet our little Chupa!

28 Weeks

How far along: 28 weeks (3rd trimester!)
Size comparison:  Baby is the size of an eggplant, approximately 14.8 inches long and 2 1/4 pounds.  Baby H. also now has eyelashes... Which hopefully are just like Daddy's.  :)

Baby nickname:  Chupa
Baby bump:  I feel like the sides of my stomach are really starting to pop out now, too. 

Gender Prediction:  Boy.

Weight gain: I will find out at my doctors appointment tomorrow (Thursday.)  20+ pounds for sure.

Maternity clothes: Some maternity clothes and anything comfy.  I'm so thankful that I can (barely) zip up my winter coats, however, my time is limited.  Spring needs to come soon or I am afraid I am going to have one cold belly.

Stretch marks: Nothing yet....

Belly button in or out:  Umm... In?  Maybe more "flat" than "in."

Wedding rings on or off:  Wedding band on.

Sleep: The past couple nights I've been getting up more frequently for a bathroom break...  However, when I am out, I am out.

Best moment this week:  My recent blood test revealed I am anemic, which I am hoping might be part of the reason I am feeling so exhausted.  My physician prescribed iron pills, so maybe that will get me feeling less like a zombie and more like a human.  I have also thoroughly enjoyed throwing out pretty much everything I can get my hands on.  Pitch, then clean! 

Worst moment this week:  Experiencing first hand just how bad reflux and heartburn can truly be.  I feel like my esophagus and stomach are on fire.

Miss anything:  Comfortably tying my shoes.  Not having to pee every time I stand up.  Also on the list, Spring and beer gardens.

Movement:  Chupa's new favorite target is now apparently Mom's ribs.

Cravings:  Ugh.  Anything that doesn't give me heartburn.  

Queasy or sick:  Still exhausted with major heartburn.  Anything citrus or acidic will give me immediate pain.  I can't stand the thought of anything tomato based.

Labor signs:  NO.

Happy or moody:  In the words of my boy Pharrell, I'm "feelin' like a room without a roof... because I'm happy!"  Yeah, I never really got that line either.

Looking forward to:  Lent.  Filet O' Fish at McDonalds!  It's the only time of year I eat them.  I am sure I will only be able to tolerate one throughout the entire Lenten season... But I will enjoy every.last.morsel.

Nursery Update!

The nursery is shaping up quite nicely, if I do so say myself!  It is very.... white...  And I couldn't be happier with how it is turning out.  We still need to hang pictures and artwork on the walls (some of what is currently on top of the dresser will go on the wall behind the glider), gold letters for Chupa's real name above the crib, garland and possibly a mirror above the dresser, and then appropriate colored accents which will be purchased after Chupa is born.  Honestly though, I would be pleased as pie leaving it all white and gold.  Shocked, I'm sure! ;-)

Metallic gold polka dot sheets!

Someone thinks this is his room...

I am beyond excited to put some things up on the walls and finish the room!  I can't wait to share the final product with everyone!