Tummy Tuesday 29 Weeks

Sylvia is now around 2.5 pounds and just over 15 inches long- approximately the size of a butternut squash. Her muscles and lungs are still maturing and her head is getting bigger to make room for her growing brain. Her facial muscles are fully functional now and she can smile, especially when she is asleep. Sylvia can now kick, grasp and stretch, but soon she will start running out of room. Savoring all the sweet lithe kicks and rolls now, because all too soon I know she will be here in my arms and not my belly.

And momma is doing great! This must be the phase I remember so well when I say I love being pregnant. The only real complaint I have is that I am hot, but hey, aren't we all? It's in the high 90's every day- for the love! Other than my expanding belly just getting in the way I have little to no pregnancy symptoms or pains- no heart burn- no leg cramps- no back pain-no insomnia. Also soaking every minute of this up because all too soon I know I will be uncomfortable.

Tummy Tuesday 28 Weeks

This pregnancy has been almost identical to my other pregnancies with the girls, textbook I dare say.  Weight gain the same, symptoms the same, cravings the same, etc. But Sylvia's movements remind me so much of Mary Claire's. More fluid and all out front, lots of rolls with very little kicks and jabs. By this point I was already pretty uncomfortable with Margaret- her movements were more like karate kicks than a dancing ballerina, and I could feel her kicking toward my back and tailbone more that kicking out front. Not sure what that means? Maybe Margaret was lower in my belly, or some how positioned differently, or maybe it's because Margaret was 2 pounds bigger and 3 inches longer? If that's the case- that means Sylvia might be a tiny, little thing like Mary Claire. Only time will tell... Although, this pregnancy is similar to Margaret's in that I still do not have the dark line down my belly, yet. 

Although I am still suffering from severe pregnancy brain, or is it mom brain? Who knows? Regardless, I can't remember squat. But every now and then I get moments of pure genius. This being one of them.

Box fan blowing directly on me at night. PURE GENIUS! I don't think I have slept this good in months. HEAVENLY, I tell you.

My next appointment will be the last monthly appointment. Then we will be moving to 2 week appointments. Home stretch.... Hard to believe. Maybe I should start preparing for her arrival? So much to do, and approx. 12 weeks to do it in.

- Pre-register at the hospital

- Make "nursery"

- Organize and clean hand-me downs/ decide with needs replacing

- Buy additional items Sylvia needs

- Order breast pump

I'm sure there is more (oh, so much more) but thinking about it is overwhelming... so right now we are good with a box of discounted diapers and a cute hospital hat. Hopefully nesting will set in soon and I can start getting somethings done.

Baby Sylvia is now just over 2 pounds and almost 15 inches long, about the size of an eggplant. She can now blink her eyes batting those sweet little eyelashes that have recently appeared. Her toes have now caught up with her fingers to include little nails at the tips- that I can't wait to paint! Oh the joys of having girls!

Tummy Tuesday 27 weeks

Can you tell you it was a long, hot day today?

Momma had a good week. Very little back pain, heart burn, or insomnia- and only the occasional  night time leg cramps. My baby bump is getting bigger and more in my way, but not uncomfortable, yet anyway. Pregnancy Brain has again shown it's ugly head. It's a real thing- very very real.

Sylvia is now around 2 pounds and 14.5 inches long. She is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and possibly sucking her finger or thumb. Her brain is very active, and her lungs are functional but still very immature.

I have had a few questions about her "nursery". I say "nursery" because she isn't really getting one. Does that make me a bad mom? or just the mother of 3 kids? 

This is the current state of her "nursery"

The older girls will eventually share a room, but Margaret is just not quite ready for a big girl bed yet. So long term Sylvia will have her very own nursery, but at first she will be in Chases' closet. Each of us has a good sized walk-in closet that has outlets and air vents so until Margaret is ready for a big girl bed Mommy and Daddy will share a closet and we will turn Chases' closet into a "nursery". Plus it will be nice to have her close to us, and not on the other side of the house. 

Tummy Tuesday 26 weeks

I'm claiming this as the beginning of the third trimeter! 

One, because there are differing timelines- some say 25 weeks, some say 27, so let's split the difference and say now. 

Two, because I am beginning to get the 3rd trimester aches and pains. Nothing too bad yet, but I can now claim heartburn, back aches, and insomnia as pregnancy symptoms. Some days I still feel great, others I am ready to tap out around 2pm. 

I had another doctor appointment today- Glucose test... whamp whaaaamp. But its funny how your perspective changes over time because I was actually looking forward to it. I had an hour to sit BY MYSELF and read a magazine while I waited for time to do the blood draw. It was like a mini vacation. :) Only problem was I remembered it was glucose test test day AFTER I licked the cinnamon roll icing container clean at breakfast. OOPS.... not my finest moment. 

and I wore my new maternity shirt too...

side note- I did put on real pants. 

Doc said all is well. Heart rate was normal (143bpm), belly was normal (22inches), and weight was good (a lady never tells her weight, lets just say up 25 pounds). Also got the pertussis booster to prevent whopping cough. Something about cocooning effect it will have on Sylvia. Whatever you need to do doc to keep my baby safe and healthy.

Sylvia is now 14 inches long and weighs 1.75 pounds. Her lungs are fully formed, but not quite ready for the outside world. She is breathing in and out small amount of amniotic fluid to prepare them to breath air. And her hearing is becoming more and more acute. She can now discern difference voices- she knows my voice verses her daddy's, and sisters.