Black Friday Fun!

My typical idea of the perfect Black Friday has NOTHING to do with shopping. In fact, I usually boycott the whole idea of going out with all those hostile crowds and waking up WAAAAAY too early (or not even going to bed at all). Those are two of some of my least favorite things... large crowds & waking up early! Normally, we don't go anywhere we just enjoy our day at home. A few years ago we went out to Lowes around 4 or so to look for area rugs... we spent about 5 minutes to get there, and 10 minutes in the store.... and about 5 minutes back home.... and we didn't buy a single thing!!

Anyway, this year we had another idea... and waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more fun. We had our 3d ultrasound!! And boy was that fun!! Of course, it would have been even more fun if the little darling would have cooperated a little bit. But she's still as precious as ever! We got to see her yawn quite a few times. (Which, does that mean she got my sleep gene?) She even stuck her tongue out at one point... now that was cute! We got a little smirk picture! It was GREAT!

After the ultrasound the 12 of us (who went to the ultrasound) went out to lunch, then Jer's side headed back to our house for a little nursery renovation! We did some laundry, sorted clothing, moved the bed and dresser, and played with the baby monitor. It was highly productive! Then, we went out to dinner! (hehehe)

My favorite picture... she has her daddy's smirk!

And that my friends is an excellent way to spend Black Friday!

Thankful for being 33 weeks!

Your baby is as big as a pineapple, and she's starting to shed her downy hair, called lanugo.

Baby's Length: 17.20 in.

Baby's Weight: 4.23 lbs.

Our baby doesn't have much elbow room these days -- that's probably going to mean fewer elbow jabs to the ribs for me. Because space in my uterus is running out, our baby becomes less active at this point in the pregnancy. I may also notice that her movements are affected by my daily routine -- how much and when I eat, what position I am in and sounds from the world outside can all affect my baby's activity level.

She's also rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Not sure... somewhere between 12-15 lbs. And probably today (Thanksgiving when I'm writing this), It's at least 20. hahaha... Jellee and I enjoyed Thanksgiving meals today!!
Maternity clothes? yep!
Stretch marks? not that I've seen
Sleep: Other than getting up at night for a bathroom run... sleep this week has actually been GREAT! Still dealing with the numbness, but... it's ok. I enjoy being lulled to sleep by soft (or not so soft) kicks... and being greeted each morning with kicks as well. I have gone back to regularly taking an afternoon nap... it's been a few weeks since I "needed" a nap. I haven't taken one every day this week, but if I'm home around 2-5ish... you can bet that somewhere in there there is an hour-ish block of time that is getting a nap.
Best moment this week: Taking a walk around the block with Jeremy a couple times this week.
Movement: Lots! Pretty much any time I'm sitting/laying still. Sometimes I don't even have to be THAT still either.
Food cravings: Anything...
Gender: Girl!!! (Or so they say... hopefully our 3d ultrasound will confirm this suspicion)
Name: We talked about a name, randomly, that we didn't hate. (<--Our random name from last week, is really growing on me... could it be??) :-) Either way, we will probably not be announcing it until she is really here.
Labor Signs: Nope... at least not that I know of... definitely getting some random tightening which I have been told are the great Braxton Hicks contractions... but, honestly, if I'm not sitting still, I do not notice them.
Belly Button in or out? In, but definitely flattening out. I'm pretty sure it will stay in though at this point.
What I miss: sleeping on my stomach, Starbuck's Chai Tea Latte, eating carbs during the day.
What I am looking forward to: 3d Ultrasound, and baby shower next week
Weekly Wisdom: Use my energy to be productive with baby stuff


Well this week was a pretty good week. FAR less eventful than last week. On Tuesday we had a follow-up appointment just to check on the sweet inner princess and to confirm that all the fun from last Friday was just "fake fun" and that those contractions didn't actually do anything. So, as it was, when all my labs came back, they decided that I had an asymptomatic UTI and that's what was causing the contractions. So on Monday night, I started a round of antibiotics... and honestly after a few days, I haven't really felt any tightness at all... so... that's a good thing. It means little miss Jellee is happy and content to stay where she is for a little while longer! (At least 2-4 weeks....)

I have also been extremely blessed this week by the kindness and thoughtfulness of my very own husband. It's been so nice to be pampered. He has been extremely helpful in so many little ways... it just takes my breath away. It just solidifies what I've known for a while... he's going to be a great dad!

As mentioned before, I am writing this the night of Thanksgiving (the even of 33 weeks officially) because tomorrow is going to be quite busy. Tomorrow around noon we are scheduled to have a 3d ultrasound. I am very excited about this!! It will be so neat to see what our little jewel looks like... although I suspect she'll be slightly squishy looking since she's very quickly running out of room. Haha... But it will be fun. I also hope that they can confirm that she is indeed a she.... I'm not expecting any surprises, but if we're going to be surprised, it would be great to find out before the big baby shower!! hahaha... After the ultrasound, my wonderful sister-in-law and I are probably going to tackle some of the baby's room. Doing laundry and getting things organized... and maybe even moving the furniture around a bit so that I can enjoy the set up instead of tolerating the set up. (hehe) So tomorrow will be busy... busy.

Other than that, we enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving with our families. It was full of good food, and laughter. I spent the morning compiling a list of things I was thankful for. Even though it was 100 things, I probably could have gone on and on for at least another 100. :-) God has been soo good to us. There is so much that I have to be thankful for. One of the things I mentioned was my glucose meter. While I do despise it, I'm also thankful for it. I'm thankful for a method with which to keep me accountable. I am thankful that conditions such as gestational diabetes can be found, and monitored. I also look forward to another week or so of good readings... so that our hopeful goal of going down to testing twice a day may actually be realized. I also find it a whole time of growth for me. Those of you who know me, know I am quite the freakazoid when it comes to needles... and especially so when it comes to self inflicting pain... while I will admit, I do not like it one bit, and it still causes a bit of anxiety... I have come to realize just how much my love for my baby is... that this little one has me soooo wrapped around her finger, that I am willing to do whatever it is to ensure her health and safety, no matter the discomfort it may cause me. I may never be a fan of needles... and I may always be a freakazoid, but... God is still working on me and making me stronger and stronger each day through different experiences.

Well,this is the off week for pictures, we seem to do one every 2 weeks. So.. I will leave you with the thought that we're a month away from Christmas... and there is SOOOO much to do!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe and family-filled Thanksgiving!

Thanks for checking in on us!

100 things to be thankful for.....

Every time someone asks "What are you thankful for?" I usually give them a list of maybe 5 or 6 things and top it off with "... and the list could go on and on." So last night in between wakefulness and sleep, I decided I should try to make a list of at least 100 things that I am thankful for. Soooo, here is my list. These aren't in any particular order. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

100 Things I Am Thankful For (2011)

1. Being saved by grace, through faith in my Lord
2. A godly husband
3. A healthy baby in the works
4. A home
5. A job that I love
6. A job where I feel appreciated
7. Grandparents who have been married 61 years!
8. Parents who have been married 36 years!
9. A car that has been paid off for a while.
10. A car that will be paid off in February.
11. My education
12. My church home.
13. Friends with a bunch of wisdom
14. My washing machine
15. 2 legs that can walk
16. The ability to hear
17. Wise doctors
18. My midwife
19. A boss with whom I can enjoy working
20. The Caribbean
21. My dishwasher
22. The ability to still sleep fairly comfortably
23. Friends with medical knowledge
24. (Even though I sort of despise it) My glucose meter that keeps me accountable
25. The Lord meeting our needs each and every month financially
26. My crazy weird dog
27. My sister-in-law, her husband and her beautiful children
28. Heat in our home
29. My husband's c-pap machine
30. A thoughtful husband who goes out of his way to ensure my comfort
31. A much improved relationship with family
32. Food on the table, and extra in the fridge
33. The sunshine
34. 2 other brother-in-laws who are awesome!
35. My comfy pair of maternity blue jeans
36. Generous friends who have donated to little Miss Jellee
37. Generous family who have already spoiled our unborn baby
38. Running water
39. Email
40.Cell phones
41. Internet
42. Fresh towels
43. Blogs
44. Medical technology
45. Police Officers
46. Dave Ramsey
47. Friends with the gift of encouraging
48. A squirmy baby in the making
49. My hair straightener
50. A husband who gives unlimited hugs
51. Parents who are there to listen
52. My scale (also keeps me accountable)
53. The cook at work who spoils me!
54. A listening ear
55. An awesome sister-in-law who is always willing to help out
56. Coats for the winter
57. Hardwood floors
58. Friends who are throwing me a baby shower
59. Friends who are coming to the baby shower
60. Tulips
61. Health
62. Good blood glucose readings
63. Reruns on tv from my childhood
64. My experience teaching
65. My voice
66. A husband who balances me out
67. A mom and dad who make me laugh
68. A twin sister
69. Ceiling fans
70. Friends who call "just to see how I'm doing."
71. Pretty smelling candles
72. Moisturizing lotion
73. Lysol wipes
74. Warm blankets
75. Jersey sheets
76. Baby crib & dresser
77. Winter gloves
78. Health insurance
79. Food that brings my blood sugar down
80. My neighbors
81. Pictures to preserve memories
82. In-laws that have been a great example to my husband and I
83. Residents where I work, who are genuinely concerned about the baby
84. Co-workers who stay "on-call" in case I can't make it to work
85. The soothing music app on my husband's phone
86. Coupons
87. Marriage
88. Baseball
89. Cousins who I get closer to each and every year.
90. The power of prayer
91. Central air
92. Experiences traveling
93. Friends who pray
94. Random chocolatey things
95. Shoes on my feet
96. Date night!
97. Laughter
98. Splenda
99. A husband who can pack a bag speedily
100. My older sister whom I look up to

Again, these are in no particular order....

Soo... what are you thankful for? Have you shared your list with anyone?

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow, we're at 33 weeks! Stay tuned for your weekly update!

32 weeks, and going strong!!

Your baby is the size of a jicama, and by now all of her major organs, except for her lungs, are fully functioning.

Baby's Length: 16.69 in.

Baby's Weight: 3.75 lbs.

By now, our baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) (she's more than likely bigger than her mama was at birth weight) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in my uterus (and pretty much everywhere else in my thoracic cavity). I'm gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz) (<---- could this be the cause of my recurring heartburn/reflux?). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 15 lbs...according to my last dr. appointment...but I may be back down to 13 since I've been walking a lot this week to help keep the blood sugar down.
Maternity clothes? yep!
Stretch marks? not that I've seen
Sleep: Other than getting up at night for a bathroom run... sleep this week has actually been GREAT! Still dealing with the numbness, but... it's ok. I enjoy being lulled to sleep by soft (or not so soft) kicks... and being greeted each morning with kicks as well. I have gone back to regularly taking an afternoon nap... it's been a few weeks since I "needed" a nap. I haven't taken one every day this week, but if I'm home around 2-5ish... you can bet that somewhere in there there is an hour-ish block of time that is getting a nap.
Best moment this week: Sunday
Movement: Lots! Pretty much any time I'm sitting/laying still. Sometimes I don't even have to be THAT still either.
Food cravings: Anything... although this week I seem to really enjoy anything with cinnamon. (Which is good, because cinnamon is supposed to help regulate blood sugar.). I am also enjoying that my nightly routine seems to be eat a yummy dessert later in the evening, and my blood sugar is better in the morning. (DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT FACT ONE BIT, but I'll take it) I don't usually eat anything desserty during the day, but at night has been GREAT!!
Gender: Girl!!! (Or so they say...)
Name: We talked about a name, randomly, that we didn't hate. (<--Our random name from last week, is really growing on me... could it be??) :-) Either way, we will probably not be announcing it until she is really here.
Labor Signs: Nope... at least not that I know of.
Belly Button in or out? In, but definitely flattening out.
What I miss: sleeping on my stomach, Starbuck's Chai Tea Latte, eating carbs during the day.

What I am looking forward to: An evening without heartburn/reflux (whatever it is that is plaguing me.) And eating a meal without having anxiety that I will then have to stab myself 2 hours later.
Weekly Wisdom: Don't feel bad about taking a nap if you're tired.

I always write my posts usually on Thursday evening so they are ready to post for Friday. So this post is no different... except I had an appointment with my midwife this morning at 8:30am. It is now 5:39pm... and I've been home for about 15 minutes. :-)

As it was, my blood pressure was good this morning. The baby was measuring at the correct size. The urinalysis came back fine. My blood sugar log looked good. Everything was going great! In fact my midwife was so pleased with my blood sugar counts, that she said if I can keep it up for the next week, then I can go down to 2 sticks a day instead of 4. Soo... everything was going great... then they took the baby's hear rate. It was a little slow... they said she might have been sleeping. So they wanted to put me on some monitors for a little bit. So I sat in a [cold] room and was monitored for 30-45 minutes. During this time, the monitors showed that I was having contractions every 4 minutes or so. Contractions I wasn't feeling, by the way.

So then, that led to a few internal exams (lucky me)... and then orders to go straight to the hospital where the other midwife was expecting me. So I called Jer (who as always, is a fabulous husband), and told him what was up. (Of course, this would be the day I would forget my cell phone at home.) So I arrived there about 11 am.

I had the pleasure of being hooked up, yet again, to monitors for the next hour or so. Gave them my test bags (that were taken at the office), gave them yet another urine sample. And sat and waited. Jer got there around 12.... bringing my lifeline...aka my cell phone.

Then they so graciously gave me a complementary bag of IV fluids... still being monitored.... while waiting for the test results to come back.

After bag 1, the midwife came back... we talked. My test results looked good. I got yet another internal exam (again, lucky, lucky me) to determine that I still hadn't dilated any.... then told I should be given another half bag of fluids at a ridiculous rate... and that I could leave after that.

Soo... all this fun in 1 day. I'm exhausted. However, the baby checked out fine. Good strong heartbeat. (They said she was the most well behaved baby on the floor. And no, she wasn't the only baby.) She still does not like monitors... as she kicked it several times. (Making Jer and I laugh.) But for now, I have no restrictions. I'm not going to work the weekend... and I will just take it easy. We are thanking and praising God for keep our little girl and myself safe today. We're grateful to be home, resting in our own bed (or on the couch, as it may apply).

So, keep praying for us. We want to go AT LEAST another 2 weeks to 34... but obviously 35+ is better. So, lets pray for NO ACTION until she's fully cooked!! I know, life out here must sound exciting... but we'd like our baby to be well done, not rare. So, pray for us. We'd all appreciate it. So, now since all of this came about today, I get to go every week to the doctor now.

So... we'll see how all that goes.

32 Weeks

Thanks for checking in on us.

31 weeks!

Our baby is as long as a bunch of bok choy, and she now turns her head from side to side.

Baby's Length: 16.18 in.

Baby's Weight: 3.31 lbs.

Our baby is gaining more weight than height at this point. Because she's too big to stretch out (but I think she still tries!!), she's now forced into the fetal position, which she'll stay in until birth. This week also boasts some exciting reproductive developments

.

This week, our baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's moving a lot, too, so I may have trouble sleeping because she kicks and somersaults keeping me up (but I haven't noticed missing any sleep. I do notice that when I go to sleep... I feel kicks, when I wake up in the middle of the night... I feel kicks, and when I wake up, I feel kicks. It's actually quite relaxing to me to feel.). Tak

e comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy. Growth begins to slow a teeny bit, and the brain goes through a period of rapid development. The only major organ left to fully develop is the lungs.

How far along? 31 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 15 lbs...according to my last dr. appointment...but I may be back down to 13 since I've been walking a lot this week to help keep the blood sugar down.
Maternity clothes? yep!
Stretch marks? not that I've seen
Sleep: Other than getting up at night for a bathroom run... sleep this week has actually been GREAT! Still dealing with the numbness, but... it's ok. I enjoy being lulled to sleep by soft (or not so soft) kicks... and being greeted each morning with kicks as well.

Best moment this week: Getting our crib & dresser!! I LOVE it!!
Movement: (Decided to change this up a little bit this week.) She's still moving around a lot! This week during birth class, I was sitting with my arms crossed laying on my belly. (Usually I don't do this, because it's uncomfortable.) A few minutes later, my arm was visibly lifted/kicked off my belly. It was kind of funny, and yet, very odd feeling!
Food cravings: Anything... although this week I seem to really enjoy anything with cinnamon. (Which is good, because cinnamon is supposed to help regulate blood sugar.)
Gender: Girl!!! (Or so they say...)
Name: We talked about a name, randomly, that we didn't hate. Soo

oo...We're working on it... I think we have our back-up boy name if she turns out to be a he... but we're struggling more with girly names. I think we have a middle name... but, the first name, a little more tricky. :-) Either way, we will probably not be announcing it until she is really here.
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In, but definitely flattening out.

What I miss: sleeping on my stomach, and Starbucks Chai Tea Latte (if anyone wants to bring me one at the hospital, after I give birth when you visit... feel free. That would be delicious!! I realllllllllly miss those!)
What I am looking forward to: Baby Shower in December!!
Weekly Wisdom: Teach your children to be content with what they get and have. They don't need the top of the line, name brands. If you teach them this, then they will be content when they do get things... anything. Which, I would like... I would like to have a content and grateful child!!

Well, this week has been an emotional roller coaster, but we have leveled out! It started out on Monday with my less than stellar doctor's appointment. Normally, these are my favorite times of the month (now visits are every two weeks). I came in knowing that I failed the 3 hour glucose tolerance test, but I didn't know how that would impact me. It started off with my blood pressure being taken. While it wasn't "high" it was higher than they like for mothers with gestational diabetes. This lead to the conversation of "what to watch for." We don't want to head into the territory of preeclempsia, because that could be dangerous for both of us. The only way for preeclempsia to be cured is to deliver the baby. (Which before that would mean, bed rest.) Then, that conversation lead to the pressure to not consider anything but

an epidural. While I've always said I'm not set in stone one way or the other, we have been preparing and practicing all we can for a natural childbirth. Then, when I was measured I was measuring slightly larger than what I should be... so that wasn't a good thing either. It was a very discouraging appointment to say the least. Although, with everything there is a silver lining, right?? Her heart rate was very good! Nice and strong, and the right number of beats. And, the midwife said she thought that her head was down. Soo... we did get some good news. After my appointment with the midwife, I had my gestational "diabetes education" with a nurse. Which "education" is a word I should use loosely. It involved learning how to

stab myself, and use my blood glucose meter. (To which I had a small panic attack, and was definitely crying by the time it was all over. I just don't do well stabbing myself.) I left the appointment holding back as many tears as possible. (Poor woman at the front desk.) Then I went to work. After my 1st shift at work I went to the pharmacy to drop off my prescription for lancets and test strips. I went after my 2nd shift to pick them up. Only to be told by the pharmacy tech that she needed my other insurance... my primary insurance. To which I informed her I didn't have any other insurance... this IS my primary. She called the insurance company who wouldn't talk to me, and wouldn't tell h

er who they thought I had... and who couldn't resolve the issue. So I left the pharmacy very upset and frustrated... and once again, crying. Jer was very wonderful to me that evening showering me with hugs, and calming me down. (God sooooo blessed me when he put us together.) The next day, after sleeping it all off, had me in a better mood. It was 70+ outside, and I was off work. So, I went for a nice long walk to our voting place. It was a good time to pray, and really enjoy the outside. (Which most of you know, I'm not really an outside person.) I stopped at the pharmacy again, because Jer called the insurance this morning, and they said there is no reason I should have been denied b/c they weren't showing another insurance. So, after voting, I stopped by there... waited a few minutes to have the pharmacist stick his head out and say "its being denied." I called Jer... long story short, our insurance doesn't want to cover the testing supplies from a retail pharmacy. If they are going to cover it, it involved en

rolling in their diabetes wellness program, and then getting the stuff from a mail-order pharmacy.... the process could take up to 3 weeks. Soo.. I have 9 weeks left, and we could take 3 weeks off of that?! What the heck!! So I called the doctors office and explained the situation (to which they probably think I'm lying), and they couldn't believe that our insurance would do that since it's not for "diabetes" but rather for "gestational diabetes" which is usually a temporary. Then, later that day I had an appointment with a nutritionist, whi

ch my mom said would be a waste of time, and my midwife said I needed to keep. I went there, met with the nutritionist. My appointment consisted of her handing me a pamphlet that she had written on (without explaining what she was writing), and giving me a diabetic exchange booklet. She asked me if I was checking my blood sugar. I told her yes. She looked at me and said "Well... I don't think I have anything to worry about with you." and then sent me on my way. I think my consultation may have been 7 minutes... mmmmmmmaybe. It really was a huge waste of time. But the irony, is my insurance had no problem paying for that consultation... and yet, they won't pay for the testing supplies that I need! Then, on Wednesday, I got a call from the nurse I had been working with... she called the pharmacy rep who gave them the free supplies (starter kits including meter, test strips and lancets), and explained my stupid situation. He brought by some more free samples. So I have enough to last easily 50 days

. Which as of last night I have 63 days left. So, now I doubt we'll even enroll in the program with our insurance.

So... that was a bulk of my week. Crazy up and down. But we got through it. My finger tips are quite sore, so please pray for that. There is one finger that still feels like t

here are shards of glass stuck in it (or something similar). It's just not very pleasant.

Anyway, this weekend is Youth explosion at our church, so I need to finish prepping for the students that we will have stay at our house.

I will try to post pictures of our crib and dresser soon. I can't find the micro sd adapter that I can put directly into my computer... so until I do find it, the pictures are stuck on my phone.

I also wanted to say Happy Veterans' Day to Jellee and I's favorite veteran! Thank you, Jeremy for serving our country faithfully. We really are proud of you! I promise to instill in our baby girl (and other children) the pride they have when they talk about our military personel, for their selflessness and their sacrifice. Even before Jell-bell was a glimmer in our eye, you were an example to her through your service to our country! We love you and appreciate your dedication. It is because of men and women just like you, that we can enjoy this great nation. Thank you, dear, for your service!! You are our hero!!

I thought this picture would be appropriate because when Jer was stationed in
Japan he fell in love with a restaurant called Coco's Curry. (And since
I couldn't find a picture of him in his military attire, this will just
have to do.)

Thanks for checking in on us! Remember to keep us in your prayers!! Thanks!

30 week picture!!

This picture was taken last night. I am 30 weeks in this picture.
10-ish more weeks to go!
Grow, baby girl, grow!!

75% well done....

If I were a steak, I'd say we're at "medium" temperature. hahaha.... OR for those of you who prefer it in in weeks, we're at 30 weeks. IF you'd prefer to kick it old school, then Tuesday marks exactly 7 months. Sooo, there's the "how far along we are" stats.

Your baby is the size of a large cabbage, and by now he has developed all five senses.

Baby's Length: 15.71 in.

Baby's Weight: 2.91 lbs.

Our baby hasn't gained much weight or height this week, as most of her energy's been channeled to brain development. Our baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus.

Big news for baby's brain this week: It's starting to wrinkle and fold and looks like something that grew in the back of your fridge. This is due to the rapid growth of your little genius's brain cells. Other highlights this week:

Fingernails and toenails are finally finished—causing her parents great fear and anguish the first time they try to cut those little daggers! Plus, the bone marrow is completely in charge of red-blood-cell production now. This is a good thing!

She is starting to shed her lanugo—the downy hair that was covering her skin. Now that she's chubbier and better able to regulate her body temp, she doesn't need to sport a fur coat 24/7.

"I spy an umbilical cord and the inside of my mom's uterus!" When our baby is awake, her eyes are now wide open and she's whittling away the hours looking around, checking out his rather dark, limited environs. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after 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 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How far along? 30 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 13 lbs...according to my last dr. appointment...(slightly frightened for the next one....we'll see)
Maternity clothes? yep!
Stretch marks? not that I've seen
Sleep: Other than getting up at night for a bathroom run... sleep this week has actually been GREAT! Still dealing with the numbness, but... it's ok.
Best moment this week: Hearing the words... "Your crib and dresser are in." So... hopefully this week, we can get some progress made in the baby's room.
Movement: She moves around a lot! She's a wild girl!! L.O.V.E. it!! It's still funny she doesn't really like people touching my belly, she often will kick less... but if you wait for it, you can usually get a kick or two. Or if you'd rather just watch, you can see it! I have found myself being lulled to sleep by some fun, gentle kicks. I've also found that if I'm not getting a bunch of kicks before I sleep, then if I take some REALLY large deep breaths... she "wakes up." And does then starts kicking a bunch. (Revenge maybe?) hahaha... I love it though!
Food cravings: Nothing in particular, just food when we're hungry. On the top of the list is diet, caffeine free pop... (I found a 12 pack in my basement of diet, caffeine free coke... no idea when it arrived, how it got there, or anything about it... but I'm glad its here!! Also it's nice because it's out of the way, and out of sight, therefore out of mind.... so I haven't been going to town, only because I have to actually really WANT it. Haha... it's good to have a little self control forced on you.)
Gender: Girl!!! (Or so they say...)
Name:We're working on it... I think we have our back-up boy name if she turns out to be a he... but we're struggling more with girly names. I think we have a middle name... but, the first name, a little more tricky. :-) Either way, we will probably not be announcing it until she is really here.
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In, but definitely flattening out.
What I miss: sleeping on my stomach <----- still what I miss the most!
What I am looking forward to: Baby Shower in December!!
Weekly Wisdom: Do I have any this week? eh... I don't know that I do....

Well, this week has been ok. Not too much to discuss. We've kept Jeremy busy with people needing computers fixed. So, I've been appreciative that my back hasn't been as sore this week as it was in the past week(s). (Because when my back hurts we watch tv upstairs where the heating pad is when he fixes computers, in this case, he's downstairs in the living room.)

We have an upcoming appointment on Monday morning (8am no less!). At the last appointment the midwife said that after this appointment we would start going to twice a month appointments. Welcome to the homestretch!! On Tuesday we're supposed to meet with a nutritionist about the whole gestational diabetes issue. I'm not too hopeful that she'll tell me anything new that I don't already know (remember, 2 diabetic parents?). But, I'll go... we'll see! Maybe I'll learn something.

Bradley classes are going well. We're learning a lot. Although, I wish I were more diligent with the exercises than I actually am. The classes have been good and very informative.

We also took our hospital tour...and other than the women took 20-30 minutes showing us HOW to get to the maternity ward... that was also a very good experience. The only thing that was weird was that the women said they don't let you plug in electronics. "All we need is one person to not take care of their electrical cord, then there's a spark, and the whole hospital is in jeopardy." A little paranoid, no?

Anyway, we have 10 weeks to go!!

Thanks for checking in with us this week! Later this evening I'll be posting a 30 week picture. Stay tuned.