Week 40

Well, this is my first time writing a 40 week post! Elliot was born on his due date so this is new territory. I feel huge & uncomfortable & have no idea what is keeping him... I'd say right now most of my struggle is with my attitude. I don't want to be pregnant anymore, I want to hold my baby, & I don't like waiting! So I'm praying for patience & joy every day. Sometimes that is evident, & sometimes it's not, unfortunately.

Fruit/Veggie

Small pumpkin (weight)

Size

20 inches, 7.5 lbs (let's be real, my baby is bigger)

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

This guy is COOKED. Let's go dude!

Best Moment this Week

This weekend my family came in for Bethany's dedication. My mom took me to get a MUCH needed pedicure (pregnancy has been really hard on my tootsies!) & we had a yummy family dinner at a local dive, The Cove.

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

He is fairly quiet all day, then pretty active starting around 9 or 10 at night. Makes falling asleep pretty difficult, on top of not being comfortable & not being able to get mentally sleepy.

Food Craving

I'm so over food. I don't like how often I have to eat (fortunately I'm not gaining weight anymore, & even lost a pound this week). I would say I'm indulging a little more than normal these days since I know I'm close to being done (then it's lose weight time!).

Sleep

I'm having a hard time falling asleep these days, both at night & for my naps. Once I'm asleep, I am pretty well out, except for mornings like today when I had that after-4:30 a.m. insomnia.

What I am looking forward to

Well, besides the obvious looking forward to having Jack outside of my belly, this change in the weather & seeing pumpkins out at the stores is making me excited for fall. It is by FAR my favorite season. I'm hoping we'll be able to get out to the Pumpkin Patch this year (assuming I am feeling up to it) & am starting to plan Elliot's birthday party. Now that Elliot's older, it will be fun to do fallish things with him, like carving pumpkins.

Symptoms

Braxton Hicks/cramping in the front & in my back/contractions, fatigue, not sleeping as well (or as much, really)

To Do - NOTHING! We are ready for you, little man!

-Finish Elliot's room (buy bookcase, buy lamp, make up top bunk, move in his clothes/books/toys)
-Move Elliot to new room - he's done great!

-Get out baby clothes, burp rags, etc. & wash
-Wash newborn diapers
-Raise crib & attach mobile
-Fill out hospital pre-admittance paperwork

-Print birth plan & get signed by midwives
-Pack hospital bag including getting postpartum supplies ready
-Put together pack-n-play in bedroom
-Put together swing & bouncer
-Install infant carseat
-Check/replace necessary newborn supplies: pacis, bottles/nipples, pump parts

-Buy Elliot a big brother gift from Jack to give him at the hospital

Week 39

Fruit/Veggie

Mini watermelon (weight)

Size

20 inches, over 7 lbs (let's be real, mine's probably over 9 by now)

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

Jack's just getting fatter at this point.... yikes! Come on little guy, come soon & be nice to Mama!

Best Moment this Week

We took Elliot to the Shrine Circus last weekend. (I should mention that morning Josh took Elliot to get a haircut & go to lunch so I could rest since I had been up that night with contractions, & I took a 2.5 hour nap which was awesome!) Elliot loved seeing the elephants, tigers, & poodles at the circus, & for some reason thought the motocross part was hilarious. Josh really enjoyed it too, & I had to look away from some of the acrobatic parts because I was so nervous & sweaty, afraid that they were going to fall to their deaths right in front of my eyes.

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Jack has been pretty squirmy. He seems lower than Elliot ever was, but I still wouldn't say he has "dropped." Maybe because his head is huge like his brother's was? We shall see!

Food Craving

I will say I have had a bit of a craving for childhood cereals lately. I had Kix last week & Corn Pops this week. I had to resist from buying Cocoa Puffs... ridiculous. I keep telling myself I WILL go back to my normal, healthy self after pregnancy!!

Sleep

Well, it's 5:19 am & I'm blogging. I've been up since 4:30... can't sleep. I am taking more potty breaks now which stinks. I am getting a nap every day to ensure that I am as rested as possible.

What I am looking forward to

We have no more fun things planned... I'm just looking forward to having this baby! This waiting game seriously gets me every time. There is no way to know when he's going to come! We are praying it's soon. Since Elliot was so big, it's easy to assume Jack will be big too, & labor will be easier if he comes sooner. Not to mention I'm just ready to not be pregnant anymore!

Symptoms

Fatigue, Braxton Hicks/cramps/contractions

To Do - NOTHING! We are ready for you, little man!

-Finish Elliot's room (buy bookcase, buy lamp, make up top bunk, move in his clothes/books/toys)
-Move Elliot to new room - he's done great!

-Get out baby clothes, burp rags, etc. & wash
-Wash newborn diapers
-Raise crib & attach mobile
-Fill out hospital pre-admittance paperwork

-Print birth plan & get signed by midwives
-Pack hospital bag including getting postpartum supplies ready
-Put together pack-n-play in bedroom
-Put together swing & bouncer
-Install infant carseat
-Check/replace necessary newborn supplies: pacis, bottles/nipples, pump parts

-Buy Elliot a big brother gift from Jack to give him at the hospital

Week 38

Fruit/Veggie

Leek (length)

Size

19.5 inches, about 6.8 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

At this point it's basically the same... he's ready for the outside world, just getting fatter the longer he's in there!

Best Moment this Week

We had a fun Labor Day Weekend (see below). On Monday, we took Elliot to the Wildlife Ranch where you drive through & see lots of exotic animals. Some of them come up to your car, knowing they will get fed, which can be hilarious! It scared Elliot though when they got super close. There is also a petting zoo & some caged animals in one area. He loved the deer (& anything that looked like a deer) & the monkeys. We then went to a local Mexican food place, then that afternoon went to Academy & then out to Chinese food with Tyler & Kelsy & Bethany. It was a very fun weekend!

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Same... he moves every now & then, but for the most part seems pretty squished in there.

Food Craving

I wouldn't say I've had any cravings lately.

Sleep

I'm still sleeping okay, with the exception of a couple nights a week probably. So, pretty good really, compared to last time. It is uncomfortable to switch sides because I feel so big, & usually the movement causes a contraction.

What I am looking forward to

Jack coming! I'm feeling quite impatient. A couple of weeks feels like forever!!

Symptoms

Braxton Hicks/cramping in the front & in my back/contractions, fatigue, easily upset stomach.

To Do - NOTHING! We are ready for you, little man!

-Finish Elliot's room (buy bookcase, buy lamp, make up top bunk, move in his clothes/books/toys)
-Move Elliot to new room - he's done great!

-Get out baby clothes, burp rags, etc. & wash
-Wash newborn diapers
-Raise crib & attach mobile
-Fill out hospital pre-admittance paperwork

-Print birth plan & get signed by midwives
-Pack hospital bag including getting postpartum supplies ready
-Put together pack-n-play in bedroom
-Put together swing & bouncer
-Install infant carseat
-Check/replace necessary newborn supplies: pacis, bottles/nipples, pump parts

-Buy Elliot a big brother gift from Jack to give him at the hospital

Week 37

Fruit/Veggie

Swiss chard (weight)

Size

Over 19 inches, about 6 1/3 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He is now full term & his lungs are likely now able to fully adjust to life outside the womb!

Best Moment this Week

Honestly, this past week was rough! Elliot had some kind of virus that left me doing a LOT of diaper & clothes laundry, then I'm not sure if I got what he had, but I had almost a week of feeling really cruddy (just now starting to feel a little better) & food running completely through me. Kind of concerning when what you eat is supposed to nourish two people! So it hasn't been great around here.

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Jack seems to have slowed down a lot in the moving. I'm guessing he's running out of room. I think he wants more room, since he tends to stick his limbs straight out my side, which hurts! We'll see if he likes to spread out once he's out here in the real world.

Food Craving

Yuck. Food & I have NOT gotten along this week.

Sleep

I'm actually sleeping decently - better than I did at this point with Elliot. Maybe because I'm not able to relax as much during the day so I'm more tired at night. I do still have trouble falling back to sleep if I wake up around 4-5ish, but I eventually do before my alarm goes off at 6 (though I usually don't get up until closer to 6:30).

What I am looking forward to

I'm ready to have this little fellow! (Though I do feel like I'm in a bit of denial that I actually WILL go into labor & birth this little guy & do the whole newborn thing again - having a toddler is so distracting!) We do have a couple of fun things planned for this weekend - yay for Labor Day!

Symptoms

Fatigue, Braxton Hicks/contractions/cramps, upset stomach. Going to the chiropractor has fixed my sciatic pain (the pain that went down my right leg to my foot) & has almost completely removed my lower back pain - it still hurts every now & then but not near as bad. I'm sold on chiropractic care!

To Do - NOTHING! We are ready for you, little man!

-Finish Elliot's room (buy bookcase, buy lamp, make up top bunk, move in his clothes/books/toys)
-Move Elliot to new room - he's done great!

-Get out baby clothes, burp rags, etc. & wash
-Wash newborn diapers
-Raise crib & attach mobile
-Fill out hospital pre-admittance paperwork

-Print birth plan & get signed by midwives
-Pack hospital bag including getting postpartum supplies ready
-Put together pack-n-play in bedroom
-Put together swing & bouncer
-Install infant carseat
-Check/replace necessary newborn supplies: pacis, bottles/nipples, pump parts

-Buy Elliot a big brother gift from Jack to give him at the hospital

Week 36

Fruit/Veggie

Crenshaw melon (weight) - I don't know what that is

Size

Over 18.5 inches, about 6 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He's shedding most of the downy hair that covered his body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. He will be full term next week!

Best Moment this Week

Hmm, it's been a pretty average week with good moments & bad moments. Nothing specific. :)

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Jack has been fairly active this week (compared to usual, anyways). I believe he moved a little lower in the past couple of days, too.

Food Craving

No cravings I can think of. Food still kind of grosses me out a lot of the time.

Sleep

Sleep is continuing to get more uncomfortable. I wake up a lot, & have a hard time getting back to sleep. If I'm up a while, I start to get hungry/nauseous so I have to get up & drink some apple juice in order to get back to sleep.

What I am looking forward to

We are looking to take Elliot to the circus, so that will be fun! I also have some fun dates planned with friends over the next couple of weeks.

Symptoms

My hip/back/foot pain has been off & on; I think the chiropractor is helping. My stomach is upset easily, not sleeping well, Braxton Hicks/cramping.

-Finish Elliot's room (buy bookcase, buy lamp, make up top bunk, move in his clothes/books/toys)
-Move Elliot to new room - he's done great!

-Get out baby clothes, burp rags, etc. & wash
-Wash newborn diapers
-Raise crib & attach mobile
-Fill out hospital pre-admittance paperwork

-Print birth plan & get signed by midwives
-Pack hospital bag including getting postpartum supplies ready - I only have a couple of items left to get together; almost done!
-Put together pack-n-play in bedroom
-Put together swing (together, but needs to be put in our room) & bouncer
-Install infant carseat
-Check/replace necessary newborn supplies: pacis, bottles/nipples, pump parts (need to be sterilized)

-Buy Elliot a big brother gift from Jack to give him at the hospital

Week 35

Fruit/Veggie

Honeydew melon (weight)

Size

Over 18 inches, about 5.25 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

His kidneys are fully developed now, & his liver can process some waste products.

Best Moment this Week

Josh & I got to go to a wedding this weekend of a friend from Midland, & got to catch up with some of the parents of our friends from our high school church days (& my friend Kristin was there too!). It was great to spend time with them all. Also great - our house is being cleaned right now! Josh wonderfully hired a woman to deep clean our house (we've never had anyone else clean our house before), which is GREAT for my desire for things to be clean, but also my intense exhaustion & back pain. I am very thankful & glad that all that nitty-gritty stuff will be clean as we start off our family of four.

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

I think Jack is starting to get more into position for labor - his bottom is sticking out more & I rarely feel his feet poking out on the sides of my stomach, which means he is hanging out with his back facing forward, which is good for labor.

Food Craving

I had an unhealthy craving this week - pop tarts! Oh golly. I gave in. I'm so ashamed!

Sleep

Same trend as the past few weeks - between my shoulders, lower back, hips, & stomach, it's hard to get comfortable. I'm SO tired when I wake up in the mornings.

What I am looking forward to

I'm enjoying not having much on our schedule these days. Our weekends are open for the most part so we are able to have a good mix of fun family time as well as productive time. I think we'll try to do a few more fun things with Elliot before Jack is born - indoors, of course. :)

Symptoms

Fatigue, Braxton Hicks/cramping, back/shoulder/hip pain, slight swelling, & my foot pain is now occasionally entire-right-leg pain. I went to a chiropractor tomorrow & got adjusted - my hips were out of alignment - so I'm hoping that helps. I go back Friday.

To Do List

-Finish Elliot's room (buy bookcase, buy lamp, make up top bunk, move in his clothes/books/toys)
-Move Elliot to new room - he's done great!

-Get out baby clothes, burp rags, etc. & wash
-Wash newborn diapers
-Raise crib & attach mobile
-Fill out hospital pre-admittance paperwork

-Print birth plan & get signed by midwives
-Pack hospital bag (around 36 weeks) including getting postpartum supplies ready
-Put together pack-n-play in bedroom
-Put together swing & bouncer
-Install infant carseat
-Check/replace necessary newborn supplies: pacis, bottles/nipples, pump parts

-Buy Elliot a big brother gift from Jack to give him at the hospital

Week 34

Fruit/Veggie

Cantaloupe (weight)

Size

Almost 18 inches, about 4.75 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

His fat layers - which he'll need to regulate his body temperature once he's born - are filling out, making him rounder. His central nervous system is maturing & his lungs are continuing to mature as well.

Best Moment this Week

We had a great weekend with Zac & Cara. They loved on Elliot (& he loved them just as much) which was so great to see, since they mean so much to us but haven't been able to see Elliot in person since he was 2 months old. I have also gotten a lot done this week which is nice!

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Same old thing! This little guy is very consistent.

Food Craving

I have been eating a lot of grapes & white peaches recently (it's been a great grape season! nice & crispy). Besides that, blech, not a big fan of food still. Which is frustrating when I feel like I'm constantly hungry.

Sleep

Going down the drain that's for sure! I'm really uncomfortable so it takes a while to get to sleep. I sleep pretty hard still, minus potty breaks, unless I wake in the early morning (after 3ish) & then I have a hard time getting back to sleep.

What I am looking forward to

One day... I will wear jeans & a t-shirt again. That is very exciting to me!

Symptoms

Fatigue, back pain, shoulder pain when sleeping, Braxton Hicks, & a new one: foot pain. My metatarsal has been hurting for two weeks now & it's gotten a lot worse this week. Exercise is painful now, & I'm limping a lot. I'm hoping it's something that will go away after Jack is born... I'll be talking to my midwives about it this week.

To Do List

-Finish Elliot's room (buy bookcase, buy lamp, make up top bunk, move in his clothes/books/toys)
-Move Elliot to new room - he's done great!

-Get out baby clothes, burp rags, etc. & wash
-Wash newborn diapers
-Raise crib & attach mobile
-Fill out hospital pre-admittance paperwork (will finish up after my appointment Thurs, hopefully)

-Print birth plan & get signed by midwives
-Pack hospital bag (around 36 weeks) including getting postpartum supplies ready
-Put together pack-n-play in bedroom
-Put together swing & bouncer
-Install infant carseat
-Check/replace necessary newborn supplies: pacis, bottles/nipples, pump parts

-Buy Elliot a big brother gift from Jack to give him at the hospital

Week 33

Fruit/Veggie

Pineapple (weight)

Size

Over 17 inches, over 4 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He's rapidly losing that wrinkled alien look & his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move & slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (Hopefully they will do some overlapping, unlike Elliot who came out with a perfectly round head - though it looks nice, it hurts!)

Best Moment this Week

I got my massage Saturday which was nice - especially after Elliot's first puking episode Friday night. I do NOT do throw up y'all. I cannot emphasize that enough. Fortunately Mommy-mode kicked in so I was able to deal with it all (including cleaning the carseat - EW). Let's hope it's a LONG time before that happens again!

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Jack moved a little further down this week, which caused a LOT of uncomfortableness (not a word, but whatever) for me Monday. Besides that, it's been the same ole thing.

Food Craving

No cravings. I do drink a lot of water though; I'm always so thirsty & have to have water available at all times.

Sleep

I hit a new degree of uncomfortable with my lower back & hip pain, so I had to bust out the dumb pregnancy pillow. I don't like it at all because it's so big & hard to work around when I turn over, but it does help me sleep at this point so I'll deal with it for the next few weeks.

What I am looking forward to

Our good friends Zac & Cara will be here this weekend - we haven't seen them since their wedding over 1.5 years ago since they live overseas now. It will be fun!

Symptoms

Fatigue, lower back/shoulder/hip pain (the back pain is a lot worse now), occasional joint pain, Braxton Hicks & cramping. I get quite uncomfortable by the evening & just can't do as much as I could before.

To Do List

-Finish Elliot's room (buy bookcase, buy lamp, make up top bunk, move in his clothes/books/toys)
-Move Elliot to new room - next week!

-Get out baby clothes, burp rags, etc. & wash
-Wash newborn diapers
-Raise crib & attach mobile
-Fill out hospital pre-admittance paperwork (done online, but need to sign some stuff at the hospital next week)

-Print birth plan & get signed by midwives (got it printed & ready for my appointments)
-Pack hospital bag (around 36 weeks) including getting postpartum supplies ready
-Put together pack-n-play in bedroom
-Put together swing & bouncer
-Install infant carseat
-Check/replace necessary newborn supplies: pacis, bottles/nipples, pump parts

-Buy Elliot a big brother gift from Jack to give him at the hospital

Week 32

Fruit/Veggie
Large jicama (weight)

Size
About 16.7 inches, 3.75 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)
He'll gain a third to half of his birth weight over the next 7 weeks. He now has toenails, fingernails, & real hair.

Best Moment this Week
I loved spending time with Haley on Friday; we always have fun & good encouraging spiritual conversations - two components of a good friendship! We got a lot done in Elliot's room too. It's starting to come together. I have moved some of his toys in his room, organized by crates, & moved a lot of stuff out of it. My mom graciously came & painted three of the walls (we left a chocolate brown accent wall). Getting closer!

Gender
BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement
This guy is still hanging out largely with his feet on the right side, so not moving around too much but wiggling & stretching plenty.

Food Craving
I can't think of anything I've been craving...

Sleep
My naps are so weird - Elliot wakes me up & I wonder if I fell asleep at all. I don't feel rested but I know if I didn't nap I'd be just plain exhausted. I'm starting to hit the insomnia a bit; if I wake up around 4 or 5 to go to the bathroom, it seems I have a hard time getting back to sleep (if I do at all).

What I am looking forward to
I'm getting my prenatal massage this Saturday - WAHOO! I can't wait. I also am just looking forward to Jack being here - getting to see what he looks like, learning his little personality, etc.

Symptoms
Fatigue, back pain, knee pain (I always have a little bit since I have bad knees, but it's been worse lately), Braxton Hicks, round ligament pain (stretching)

To Do

This is for my own sake. It kind of hit recently that we have to start thinking about a lot of these things, so I'm trying to get my mind focused on them. This pregnancy has been different in that we aren't consumed by all things baby - we are a little preoccupied! But I do believe September is creeping up on us which means I have some things I need to get done.

(I know by only blogging about pregnancy I have narrowed down my readership to about 3 people; perhaps one day I will blog about more than that!)

To Do List

-Finish Elliot's room (buy bookcase, buy lamp, make up top bunk, move in his clothes/books/toys, get shelving for closet)
-Move Elliot to new room - 2 weeks & counting!

-Get out baby clothes, burp rags, etc. & wash
-Wash newborn diapers
-Raise crib & attach mobile
-Fill out hospital pre-admittance paperwork (planning on doing this at my 34 wk appt)
-Pack hospital bag (around 36 weeks) including getting postpartum supplies ready
-Put together pack-n-play in bedroom
-Put together swing & bouncer
-Install infant carseat
-Check/replace necessary newborn supplies: pacis, bottles/nipples, pump parts, et

-Buy Elliot a big brother gift from Jack to give him at the hospitalc.

Week 31

Fruit/Veggie

Four navel oranges (weight)

Size

Over 16 inches, 3.3 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, & his arms, legs & body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin.

Best Moment this Week

I had a mini baby shower last weekend with a small group of friends. My first shower was big, & I really enjoyed it, but this was fun in a different way; we all just sat around & talked & laughed & ate food. We obviously don't need much stuff this time around, but I appreciate that my friends gave me an opportunity to celebrate Jack & I feel blessed by them.

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

During the day things are pretty much the same, but at night I am aware of how much bigger Jack is getting, when I'm laying still trying to sleep & he is wiggling. He also has moved back down quite a bit - I'm not struggling with lung room anymore like I was a couple of weeks ago.

Food Craving

Still not really loving food much. For the most part, I'm pretty sick of it. I did have a delicious egg salad sandwich this weekend at Bird Bakery (if you SA folk haven't been there yet, go try it!).

Sleep

I'm sleeping okay. Having a little trouble falling asleep, but I have gone back to taking an hour(ish) long nap every day - I just have a hard time staying somewhat energetic (& not super grumpy) if I don't.

What I am looking forward to

One of my best friends, Haley, is coming in town Friday & we get to hang out all day! I have missed her friendship since they moved to Houston but whenever we see them, we are able to fall right back where we left off.

Symptoms

Fatigue, back pain, hip pain, stomach issues, Braxton Hicks.

Week 30

Fruit/Veggie

Head of cabbage

Size

About 15.7 inches, almost 3 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision.

Best Moment this Week

I've been able to check a lot of things off the to-do list this week, which has been really nice. Otherwise, honestly, it's been a rough week! Mainly just due to pregnancy - I haven't had a ton of patience for things so I find myself easily frustrated, annoyed, disappointed, etc. Oh, pregnancy hormones! So lovely.

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

He's pretty consistent these days - I feel body parts pushing out at the top of my stomach a lot during the day, but he's still overall pretty chill, & so far doesn't really kick, just squirms & stretches, which is like Elliot was.

Food Craving

Blech. This week I have turned a corner & food just sounds gross a lot of the time. I feel like I eat the same old things over & over. My stomach has easily been upset this week too with no obvious reason. I know I dealt with this in the last trimester with Elliot too, just not sure if it'll stick around or not.

Sleep

I'm sleeping a little better this week than I have the past couple of weeks. I still find myself uncomfortable at times, but I'm OUT otherwise. I'm waking up 3-4 times a night to go to the bathroom, & I realized I look pretty ridiculous crawling out of bed & walking to the bathroom - with the back pain, stomach cramping from the instant movement, & my left eye that always feels dry as sandpaper when I wake up (weird), I probably look similar to a seasick pirate.

What I am looking forward to

The past couple of days, I have realized I'm really looking forward to wearing jeans again - the non-maternity kind. Silly, but that is the one kind of clothing I really miss when I'm pregnant.

Symptoms

Fatigue, back pain, upset stomach, shortness of breath, knee pain.

Week 29

Fruit/Veggie

Butternut squash (weight)

Size

Over 15 inches, 2.5 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

His muscles & lungs are continuing to mature, & his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in his hardening skeleton each day.

Best Moment this Week

Ummm... I'm kind of having a hard time remembering much of the past week. Josh has had to work a lot lately, which has been rough because some days he doesn't make it home until after Elliot is in bed, which means I get no break. But, the Lord has been gracious & has given Elliot & I some good days so I'm not completely exhausted by the end of the day.

We have had a really productive weekend so far... yesterday Josh took Elliot to a store so I went out (by myself!! I slowly walked the aisles of Target :) ) & ended up buying bedding for the bunk beds - check that off the list! We have made some progress on cleaning out Elliot's new room as well, & Josh closed up the hole that a pesky squirrel has used to get into our attic. We're heading out to run some errands this afternoon. I'm thankful for a relaxing but productive weekend at home!

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Jack's movement has slowed back down. About a month ago he had ramped it up a bit during his growth spurt, but now he is pretty chill again. My midwives believe his head is down, which is a new experience for me since Elliot was breech until week 35 & just kept moving & flipping all around until then. Jack seems very comfortable as he is, which is nice!

Food Craving

I have been enjoying peaches & nectarines lately, yum. I have been craving the chocolate chip macaroon cookies that we had in Rhode Island... I will probably make them soon. I will say the cravings have not been very intense the past couple of weeks.

Sleep

It's been harder to fall asleep at night, so I have nixed the super-naps & have attempted to take short, 30 minute naps instead. I'm still exhausted when I wake up in the morning. I wake more during the night now due to being uncomfortable - lower back pain, hip pain, & shoulder pain.

What I am looking forward to

I know, boring, but - still looking forward to getting Elliot's room done & all his stuff moved over so I can bust out the baby stuff again. Some of my friends are throwing me a small shower with some church friends next weekend, so I'm looking forward to that too!

Symptoms

Fatigue, back/shoulder/hip pain, shortness of breath, less stomach room.

Week 28

Fruit/Veggie

Chinese cabbage (weight)

Size

Almost 15 inches, 2.25 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through the womb.

Best Moment this Week

Sunday was Josh's birthday, & we got to go to our old church in Midland since we were there for the weekend. On the ride home, Elliot was unexpectedly content (after a few recent longer car rides that were not so pleasant) & Josh & I were able to have a lot of good conversation. It was just all in all a good day together!

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Jack, over the past month or so, has moved up (can't remember if I have mentioned that or not yet), I believe much higher than Elliot ever hung out. It's getting harder to breathe, & I almost have to sit up completely to be (slightly) comfortable. I can tell when he moves lower too - it's like this weird sinking feeling & all of a sudden I have more space for my lungs & stomach.

Food Craving

I got my desired Oscar's Super Burrito this weekend - yum! Also had Rosa's for the third time in a week. :) (Gotta get my fill while I can!) Now, I want a burger. Gotta make that happen soon...

Sleep

I am EXHAUSTED when I wake up. It's SO hard to get out of bed. I still sleep pretty hard when I'm out, so that's good. But it just doesn't seem to be enough.

What I am looking forward to

The past couple of days, I have just wanted Jack to be here already! So, there's that. We are picking up the bunk bed this weekend so we'll hopefully get going more on Elliot's room.

Symptoms

Fatigue, shortness of breath, back pain (now sometimes not just when I sit or lay down, but when I'm walking around - I believe it's my slipped disk acting up, I remember it from last time too)

Week 27

Fruit/Veggie

Head of Cauliflower (weight)

Size

14 1/2 inches, almost 2 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He's sleeping & waking at regular intervals, opening & closing his eyes, & perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, his brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning - with a lot of medical help - if he were born now.

Best Moment this Week

I got to eat Rosa's! Yes that is superficial, but it was delicious. Time for them to head south to San Antonio! I also got my glucose test out of the way & had a good appointment; my midwife believes that Jack is head down which is great. He can still turn obviously, but it's good to know he can get there - Elliot had me worried until 35 weeks that he'd be stuck breech!

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Jack's feet were on the right side of my stomach for several days in a row - I felt one poking out a few times. He seems quite squirmy, & gives a few kicks & jabs every now & then, though they aren't painful yet.

Food Craving

Mexican food, which I got three times last weekend! ha. But eating Rosa's made me think about my favorite bean & cheese burrito ever, from Oscar's Super Burrito... I used to have them in high school all the time. SO GOOD.

Sleep

Sleep just isn't great anymore. As soon as I can situate my hips, my upper back & shoulders start hurting. When I wake up to turn over, I realize I have to go to the bathroom. I wake up in the mornings feeling like I haven't rested well, still very tired & could easily spend a couple more hours in bed. Naps used to be really nice, but now I feel as though I barely fall asleep by the time Elliot wakes up, even though I'm pretty sure I do sleep. I guess good sleep is gone for a while!

What I am looking forward to

Continuing to work on Elliot's big boy room. We sold a good chunk of the guest room furniture, but there is a lot of stuff from the closet & the drawers in there that needs to be put away somewhere else, so we're going to have to get creative with making space elsewhere. It'll be nice once his room is done & I can pull out all the baby stuff (clothes, newborn diapers, etc.) for the nursery again.

Symptoms

Fatigue (lots), back pain, shoulder pain, cramping during my workout.

Week 26

Fruit/Veggie

English Hothouse Cucumber

Size

14 inches, 1.75 lbs

Baby Changes (Source: BabyCenter.com.)

He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat.

Best Moment this Week

It's going to sound really lame, but Sunday night Josh & I got into a "clean out" mood & we got rid of a LOT of stuff. I cleaned out some things from Elliot's bathroom that we didn't need, & Josh got rid of a lot of clothes & shoes. I took several bags of stuff to Goodwill the next day, & gave some away to people through this online group called Freecycle. I love getting rid of things! I can't explain it, but I don't like to have things lying around the house that we don't use, & we definitely need to be making space right now as everything in the guest room will get shifted to other places. It's a step in the right direction!

Gender

BOY! Jack Wesley.

Movement

Jack is still moving around a lot more now. I can't quite tell how he's positioned yet, but he's taking up a good amount of space in there.

Food Craving

Still loving those CHERRIES! Yumm.

Sleep

Sleep is going downhill pretty fast. I have a hard time getting comfortable - my lower back hurts, & then my shoulders start to hurt since I can't straighten them out while laying down. Napping is getting harder. But, once I'm out at night, I'm out for good (minus potty breaks).

What I am looking forward to

Getting Elliot's big boy room ready! We just found some bunk beds on craigslist that we like. I have been looking for over a month & haven't seen anything we wanted. We will pick them up in a couple of weeks, so I need to get rid of the guest room furniture & get things cleared out in there!

Symptoms

Fatigue, back pain, water retention, starting to have Braxton Hicks contractions a bit, especially when working out - definitely having to slow it down now. I feel the third trimester coming on, for sure!