39 week quiz (and belly pic)

How far along? 39 weeks

How big is baby? Probably close to 8 pounds.

Weight gain? Roughly 32.  Three of those pounds came last week, so I'm just avoiding the scale at home this week and making sure I get plenty of fluids (which oddly enough helps fight fluid retention).

Stretch Marks? Nothing new here.

Maternity clothes? I kept a few items I'm wearing the most, and sent the others home to my parents basement.  Guess that means I don't plan on staying in them too long after Karson arrives!

Sleep? Boo.  My 4 oclock waking hour continues, and the time it takes me to get back to sleep is stretching.  Also, we tried flipping our mattress to a firmer side to help me have some leverage when I'm trying to roll or get out.  I'm not sold on the change yet.

Cravings?  Yesterday while at the mall with Justin, we rounded the corner and pretty much ran to Auntie Anne's once we smelled those delicious pretzels!  YUM!  I've got to learn how to make those at home!

Nursery update? :-D  I enjoy sitting in the glider for now.  Can't wait until Karson is here to hang out in there too!

Movement? Hiccups are becoming more regular.  And the doctor told me the "foot" I keep feeling and touching is more likely an elbow.  Whoops.

High point? Being snowed/iced in without power.  Thought this would be the low point?  Well, Justin stayed home until we were sure I could get out of the house on my own should an amergency arise.  So while he was home with me we made hot chocolate on the camping stove, kept warm with a propane heater, and played cards.  It was super fun!

Low point? Total havoc being wreaked on my body!

What am I looking forward to? Karson's arrival! 

What do I miss? Warm weather!

Doctor Update: Coming on Wednesday!

Here's me at 39 weeks...

Compare to the 37 week photo here.

37 Week Update (and a belly pic)

How far along? 37 weeks and 2 days

How big is baby? Maybe close to seven pounds?

Weight gain? Holding at 29!  .:does small premature victory dance:.

Stretch Marks? Just those same couple of small ones I've noticed the last couple of weeks.

Maternity clothes? Outgrowing a few things.  My belly is starting to stick way OUT.  See the pic below.

Sleep? Sigh.  Dear sweet sleep, I remember you old friend.  I did sleep better Monday night, and actually had a little energy on Tuesday.  A pleasant surprise. 

Cravings? Still fruit!  In addition to jello salad, a morning clementine (or 2), I've recently added Cherry pie and grapes to the routine.   And of course I had an old favorite one night this week...ROOT BEER FLOAT!

Nursery update? Nursery is DONE.  Planes are HUNG!  I am HAPPY!  Check out those links if you missed the posts.

Movement? Yes.  But it's different.  There will be longer periods of "quiet", and then his normal crazy active phases.  I spoke with the doctor about this today and he said that is normal.  For one, he is getting larger, and moving around may become more difficult.  For another...he has a more regular and peaceful sleeping pattern starting to form.   But the long quiet periods are not cool, Karson, not cool.  He's kicking like crazy as I type this though.  AND...we felt him have the hiccups for the first time Saturday night.  Too cute.

High point? Finally getting those airplanes hung!  A successful 37 week appt!

Low point?  Having a round of Braxton Hicks on Thursday afternoon and in the middle of the night Thursday...while home alone!  

What am I looking forward to? Um...having a baby soon? .:Yikes!:.

What do I miss? Having energy.  Not knowing what indigestion felt like.

Doctor Update:  My BP and weight gain, and Karson's heart rate were all good.  Today I had my first cervix check.  Visit this link if you don't know what these mean.
Dilation: 1-2 cm
Effacement: 50%
Station: -2

He said that was great progress for week 37.  In short, my body IS preparing which is a good sign.  He also pointed out that my cervix would be very "induceable", should Karson become stubborn and hold out past his due date.

What does all that mean?  Who knows!  Karson could come tomorrow, or he could hold out until past the due date.  These measurements can change in a hurry, or become stagnant.  In fact, I might have the exact same measurements next week.  But the good news is things are kicking in to motion on their own, and the stage is setting for Karson's arrival!


Here's me at 37 weeks on Monday evening.  I'll try to remember to wear that shirt for the photo from now on.  That might make it easier to compare and figure out when he's noticeably lower!  Karson looks like he's trying to escape via my belly button!

36 week update

How far along?  36 weeks and 3 days.

How big is baby? Over six pounds! (We think...who knows!)

Weight gain? 29 as of the last Doc weigh in.  If Karson arrives immediately, I can say I gained less than 30!  If he takes his time...I may gain 40!  It seems I'm starting to swell a tad.  I've even decided not to put my rings back on until we're done.  Hopefully the swelling won't get worse.

Stretch Marks? I think I have a couple of small ones now.  Boo!

Maternity clothes? Nothing new to report here. Except that I look frumpy in everything.  And my plan to make both normal and maternity clothes fit in the closet has officially turned it in to a disaster zone.

Sleep? Getting much worse in a hurry.  There were a couple of crampy nights last week where I got less than four hours of sleep, and most of that came on a couch.  I now use five pillows. (What?)  I'm up at least once or twice for potty breaks, and I CONTINUE to wake up during the 4:00 am hour every night!  (What is that about?)

Cravings? Fruit!  I even made a jello fruit salad, which I don't normally have much interest in.  I bought Clementines and have been eating those at breakfast too. And I had a hankering for OJ, which of course gave me heartburn.  Also...Chinese!  Mac N Cheese!  Food in general...

Nursery update? Finishing touches are going on the airplanes now!  Everything else is done, and in fact I have the photos of the nursery uploaded and am just waiting on the right time to post.  I want ONE shot of the airplanes once we get them hung.  So I should have pics posted for you by this weekend. 

Movement? Still a busy guy, but there are fewer kicks and more rolls and pushes.   I can identify a hand on my lower left side pretty often.  Or is it a foot by his face?

High point? Getting the nursery finished, and walls decorated.

Low point? A crampy, sleepless 48 hours last week.

What am I looking forward to? Visitors this weekend!  Finally getting these airplanes hung!

What do I miss? Seeing my own feet.  Being able to put on shoes and socks without grunting.  Sleeping through the night.  Wearing contacts.  Pants with buttons.  High Heels.  Having the option to tan.  Eating spicy foods.  Mt Dew.  Ruh Roh...sounds like I'm wearing down!!!


No belly pic this week since my photographer is unavailable.  Also, I never seem to think of it until I'm in full lounge mode.  But since I'll be doing these updates weekly now, you won't have to wait very long for a 37 week pic!

34 week quiz and a belly pic

How far along? 34 weeks and 3 days!

How big is baby? Possibly as large as six pounds???  More on that in a different post.

Weight gain? I'm at 27 total now.  BUT...I managed to only gain two pounds during the two and a half week stretch that included our Christmas celebrations and traveling food.  So...I call that a win!

Stretch Marks? Still no...

Maternity clothes? I bought a little sweater/cardi/thing from Charlotte Russe. It is not maternity, but I've convinced myself it improves every outfit and may be seen wearing it every day for the rest of my life.

Sleep? It comes and goes.  Mostly goes.

Cravings? No.  But some favorite treats over break include: movie theater popcorn, dad's biscuits and gravy, red velvet dessert roll, root beer floats with the Rinkers...(seriously, 2 pounds is impressive the more I look back...)

Nursery update? Bookshelf arrived and is assembled and decorated!  We need to hang wall stuff, then we're done!  We've also assembled and "stocked" the pack n play, as well as the swing.  Justin is putting the high chair together as I type!  Pics coming soon!

Movement? Yep!

High point? Christmas with the families, and getting to meet our new niece!

Low point? Too much time in a car.

What am I looking forward to? A long series of weekends at home!

What do I miss? Weighing less than Justin...  :-(

32 Weeks quiz! (And Belly Pic)

How far along? 32 weeks!

How big is baby? The doctor did some squeezing and guessing and came up with 4-4.5 pounds. 

Weight gain? Ruh Roh.  I'm at 25 pounds gained now.  Not horrible, but I've gained more the last four weeks than I have gained in any prior 4 week period.  Not a good trend to set as we head in to Christmas!  I always gain weight during Christmas anyway!  Oh well, tis the season?

Stretch Marks? Still no...

Maternity clothes? I have a new maternity coat thanks to an early Christmas present from Jared and Crystal!  Karson is especially grateful as my other coats were no longer buttoning, leaving my belly (and therefore his home) a little exposed.

Sleep? It's overrated...right?  Sigh.

Cravings? Maybe popcorn.  But that's always been a favorite.  And Root Beer Floats are now a nice occasional treat in this house! 

Nursery update? Thanks to a gift card from cousin Sharon we finally bought a book case from Target!  Sounds like a strange update but until we decided on a book case, and therefore the arrangement in the corner, and therefore the arrangement of the "stuff" for the walls...we were on hold.  So when it arrives, we're ready to do final arrangements and decorate the walls and be done!  But might not get to it until January...

Movement? Oh yeah!

High point? Anniversary celebration with Hubs.

Low point? Can't think of one.  That's a good thing though...right?

What am I looking forward to? Christmas!

What do I miss? Being able to see to zipper my coat?

And here's me at 32 weeks!

30 Week Quiz

How far along? 30 weeks! (And one day)

How big is baby?  Umm...3.5 pounds and 15-16 inches.  Can you tell I'm making that up?

Weight gain? 22.6  Not bad overall, but if you're paying attention you'll note that's a jump from last time.  I blame Nan's dressing patties and Dee Dee's cupcakes.  Clearly I am but a mere victim.

Stretch Marks? Not yet!!! (Whoop Whoop!)

Maternity clothes? Yep.  Also bought a new robe for the hospital.  May have to look in to an inexpensive winter coat if I plan to keep my belly warm...

Sleep?  Blah - Getting worse.  I generally roll on to my back and wake myself up at least 5-6 times per night.  I'm still somehow avoiding night time bathroom trips.  But I generally don't start my day feeling rested.

Cravings? Another pumpkin cheesecake was sent back with me from KY.  Expect another big weight gain next update.  :-)

Nursery update? Lots!  We're making headway on laundering and putting away his 0-3 clothes, organizing the next sizes, and putting things in their places.  I found a lamp for the glider corner, and am in search of a bookshelf.  We're also ready to hang things on the walls.  I'll "reveal" a final update once all is finished.

Movement? Still a mover and a shaker! 

High point? Showers in WV and KY!

Low point? ANOTHER UTI.  Booo!  The good news is it doesn't appear to be a kidney infection, which we feared based on some recent back pain.

What am I looking forward to? An anniversary celebration with the hubs.  Justin completing his pilot license requirements.  Getting the nursery finalized.

What do I miss?  Wearing contacts on a regular basis.  Diet Dr. Pepper.

28 week quiz (and belly pic!)

How far along? 28 weeks!

How big is baby? Hard to say.  The estimates start varying now from site to site.  But my doctor estimated 3 pounds.

Weight gain? 18.6 at Friday's appointment.  Very happy with that!  But we'll see how I fare with the holidays...

Stretch Marks? Not yet!!!

Maternity clothes? While looking for clothes for our photo session, I discovered a few items from Auburn I had previously missed.  New favorites include a short sleeved red sweater, and a black and gray casual shirt.

Sleep? I'm hanging in there.  I don't wake up to go to the bathroom, so I'll count that as a success story.  I was officially woken up by Karson for the first time I believe.  Sunday morning I was dreaming about drums (no, really) and woke up to feel strong kicks on each side of my belly.  Who knows what he was doing in there!

Cravings? Not pregnancy related, but thanks to Dad's pumpkin cheesecake I have a new favorite dessert.

Nursery update? No updates since the 25 week quiz really.  We hung curtains. Otherwise I'm waiting until our two upcoming showers are over to start laundering, organizing and putting away. 

Movement? This little guy is crazy!  I think he's a drummer.  And he still likes to get in to a weird position and stick what I think is his rear end out really far.  It's always on my right side.  I'll get a photo one of these times.

High point? Two!  1) We took some maternity photos this past weekend, that I'm anxious to share with you once they are available.  2) Decorating for Christmas!

Low point? Soreness.  I may have overdone it a bit between the Christmas decorating, the driving, and the photo session.  I finally had some pain and soreness Saturday evening.  But a long night's rest seemed to help a lot.  I also think it was related to a growth spurt I can tell happened the last couple of weeks.

What am I looking forward to? Gaining 10 pounds this holiday season and doing so guilt free! ;-)

Here's a 28 week belly photo...with our main tree as a backdrop!  (Quite a growth spurt this time I think!)

25 Week Quiz

How far along?  25 weeks and one day!

How big is baby? About 14 inches, and roughly two pounds!

Weight gain? .:Drum Roll....:.  14.8!  That's right!  I avoided seeing 160 at the Doctor's office by .2 for one more appointment!  .:Crowd Cheers!:.  However, thanks to some yummy treats at the baby shower...I saw it when I returned home this weekend.  .:Crowd Groans:.

Stretch Marks? Not yet!  But I've started that itchiness...argh.

Maternity clothes? Exclusively maternity pants.  I can still wear some of my usual shirts, but quite frankly, I enjoy wearing clothes that say "I'm pregnant!".  Even if they also say "I'm sloppy and eat a lot!".  I was also in need of new boots for winter, and instead of buying them, decided to buy something comfortable, and less expensive in case my feet grow (.:gasp:. ...can you imagine...).  The end result was a pair of super comfy black Clarks from an outlet we passed last weekend.  Cool points - no.  Comfort points - yes!  I'm not swelling yet, but I imagine I'll eventually be grateful for my ugly comfortable shoes!

Oh - I am sleeping in the same old stuff I've always slept in, but my mid section often peeks/hangs out.  It's not a sexy look. 

Sleep? I'm now a three pillow kind of gal.  It seems to be working.  Even if I'm crowding Justin a bit.  :-)

Cravings? Nothing in particular, but I can remember craving popcorn recently.  Although I did that before...

Nursery update? Lots of updates since the last quiz!  New ceiling fan, ottoman, crib, mattress, bedding, name for wall, storage unit, new furniture arrangement.  So much!  We're still only two planes in to the six plane set we're making to hang from the ceiling.  But we're saving that activity for days when we can't get out, watch football, nap or otherwise completely procrastinate.

Movement? Karson is a mover and a shaker!  He's kicking me now!  The funniest is when he seems to push hard against the right part of my stomach.  This happens in particular when I'm first laying down at night and am somewhat on my back watching tv.  It looks a little like an alien might break out of there.  If he does that now - I can't imagine the havoc he will be wreaking when he gets big!

High point? A baby shower with Crystal this weekend.  Brittney, Vicki, Rachel, Cheryl and Laurie, as well as Crystal's mom and a couple of coworkers helped us both celebrate!  It was a fun crew!  And we will never look at Raisinettes the same! 

Low point? I can't recall one off hand.  I will say that I feel pregnant today.  For the first time since the first few weeks, I'm doing that "I need to pee" every 15 minutes dance. Not fun.  Maybe it's just where Karson is positioned.  Of course, after scurrying to the bathroom, I realize it is in vain and I imagined it.  I hope that's temporary!  I'm also out of breath today.  It could be from a newly bigger belly, or it could be from running up and down the stairs for the unnecessary bathroom breaks!

Other: Justin and I just booked anniversary plans.  That may seem irrelevant, but since it's our last pre-kid anniversary, we've decided to make an effort to do something special.  I'm excited!

And for your viewing pleasure...a 25 week belly pic!

20 week quiz

(Ultrasound pics and more Dr visit info here.)

How far along? 20 weeks, 4 days.

How big is baby? About 10.5 inches from head to heel.  According to the ultrasound measurements baby now weighs a full pound!

Weight gain? 10.8 pounds!!!  (According to the doctor's scales yesterday).  I had guessed closer to 13...but I'm not a medical professional.  :-)  Anyway, 9-11 are recommended by this stage, so I'm either on track, or barely above.  Either way, I'm happy!

Stretch Marks? Too soon! But I feel pulling more now.

Maternity clothes? At work this week someone said “Melody is all dressed up!” I replied “Melody outgrew her pants!”. I officially had to retire the bella band and move on to maternity clothes for work. My best fitting article of clothing is a black skirt from Jill W. I will be wearing it often until I grow in to some of the later term maternity dress pants.  I'm also loving dresses.

Sleep? Still trying to master the art of staying on my side during the night.  I'm doing better! 

Cravings? Still loving pizza, (I try to limit my intake for those of you gasping). I’ve also drank my weight in cran-apple juice for the UTI I’ve had. But it has seemed particularly delicious this time!

Nursery update? I'm ready!  We'll have family visitors the next two weekends, so we might put them to work!  I'm buying a blanket in the plane bedding online today so we can make sure we're happy with the pattern/colors.

Movement? YYEEESSSS! Frequent now. And getting stronger all the time! Justin has even gotten to feel the baby several times!

High point?  Seeing a healthy thriving baby boy on the ultrasound.

Low point? UTI!

Other: Belly Button is still an innie. But it’s becoming wide and more shallow. Looks a bit odd if you asked me, but I imagine I should reserve my belly button critical comments for when it starts popping out! 

Also, I brought in some celebratory snacks this morning...(no wonder baby has a big belly?)

Quiz: Week 16

I saw this on another mommy blog and loved the idea.  I've made a few edits, but I plan to update this regularly throughout the pregnancy.  Sometimes...belly photos may be included as well.

How far along? 16 weeks today!


How big is baby? Nearly 5 inches long from crown to rump, and now weighing 3+ ounces.

Weight gain? I hovered at five pounds forEVER.  I jumped to 9 and seem to be hanging out there for a while.

Stretch Marks? Too soon!

Maternity clothes? I have a pair of jeans from Old Navy that I love and wear often.  After a weekend with Erin I realize I need more dresses!  I'm also a fan of bella bands!  Thanks to those bands, I'm still wearing all of my old dress pants.

Sleep? I'm still sleeping ok, I just want more of it.  I'm trying to stop sleeping on my back, but that's proving to be difficult.  I may need a body pillow or something to wedge me up on my left side. 

Cravings? I fell in love with an Apple Bacon Pizza in Lexington, and already had to make one of my own last night.  Justin liked it too, so I suspect I'll be making it again and again!

Nursery update?  Still awaiting gender news, but I've "sketched" out a plan.

Movement?  I *might* have felt a few tiny flutters last night when I was going to bed.  It might have also been regular stomach stuff.  To be determined...

High point? Jordan patting my belly (ahem...and boobs) and saying we were allowed to have a boy and name it Karson.

Low point? Mysteriously jumping from 5 to 9 pounds gained.

Other: I bought a couple of small items on sale at Kohl's this weekend (shhh).  My favorite is a yellow footed PJ set that says "mommy loves me".   And I sure do.