32 Weeks

We'll actually be 33 weeks tomorrow, but it has been a CRAZY week and I'm just now getting these pictures loaded onto the computer.  Things are going great with the baby and we couldn't be more thrilled. We had our ultrasound on Monday and the specialist gave us the all clear to stop having ultrasounds unless something else comes up - woohoo! We still may have to have one at 38/39 weeks to determine position, but this baby is placenta back instead of placenta front and I can often times feel the baby's position myself so I'm sure the Doctor could tell. He also said that he didn't see any reason to change my due date even though the baby is measuring big. Another blessing! He said all the organs looked beautiful, especially the heart which was also great to hear. We took Grace with us to the appointment and she cried most of the time. We couldn't really figure out why, but at least the next time she gets to see her little brother or sister it will be in person, without someone putting a scary wand over my belly.

Before I dive into baby pictures, I have to post a picture of my big girl. I found this super cute smocked dress at a consignment sale this spring and I couldn't wait to get her in it. She LOVED wearing it and didn't want to take it off all day. She was playing with Scotty after lunch (you can see the animal crackers in her hands) and she just looked so pretty I had to snap a few shots. I wish it hadn't been 95 degrees, I would have loved to do a mini shoot outside, perhaps another day. Anyway, here's my favorite...isn't she stunning? :)

Now onto the baby pictures. We didn't have a very long ultrasound this time since they were mainly taking measurements, but we did get a few good pictures of our little bean...

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Face & hands

Finally, here are some belly shots. When I look in the mirror, every single time, I say "whoa - that's a big belly." I don't remember thinking that with Grace, but I FEEL huge with this kid. I posted a picture of me at 32 weeks with Grace (in the red shirt below) for comparison, I am much, much bigger this time around. It's fine with me except that I've had to buy a few more pieces of clothing since I was probably this size when I delivered and I still have quite a few weeks to go. Oh well, it's all worth it and I can't wait to have the payoff of having my beautiful child in my arms!

29 Weeks

Somehow I didn't publish this post 2 weeks ago, and we forgot to take 28 week belly shots.  SO, I'll post 32 week belly shots with the photos from our next ultrasound in another week or so.

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Holy cow, and just like that we've finished our 1st week in our 3rd trimester!  We can hardly believe that we are less than 3 months away from meeting this precious child.  I am feeling the baby all the time with kicks so strong that it often takes my breath away...I LOVE it!  Grace often comes up to me and pulls my shirt, looks at me and says "baby" and then hugs, kisses & tickles my tummy, it's really sweet.  I think she can feel the baby kicking her when we I am giving her a bottle before nap & bedtime as the baby is always moving when big sister is laying beside him/her.  I am really enjoying these last few weeks where the 3 of is are together in this way.  It's almost surreal to think about having them both in my arms and to be able to hold them at the same time...I can't wait!

I finally feel "nested" now that we have the new dresser put together and all the gender neutral layette washed, folded and put away.  The dresser is technically going to be Grace's when we move her into her big girl room around Christmas, but for now it has all the baby things in it and I am so excited.  The dresser was a gift from Nana and my friend Bethany helped me put it together.  Not that David wasn't willing to help, it just worked out that way.  :)  It was fun having Bethany help since I helped do her nursery when baby Tyler came early.  I do have quite a bit of shopping we need to do for things we still need, but thankfully the list isn't too long since we did everything gender neutral with Grace.  Ironically, most of what we need is for Grace, not the baby - I guess that's just the beginning of being baby #2, poor kid.  :)  We did get a new double stroller from Grandma and Grandpa is going to buy Grace's big girl bed so most of the really big stuff is taken care of.

We had our monthly ultrasound May 16 with the specialists we saw with Grace and we felt MUCH better after our appointment.  The Doctors there actually come into the ultrasound room and look at the baby with us, they are very thorough which we appreciate.  The baby is still measuring ahead, for which we are grateful.  Here's hoping I get the chance to try for that VBAC.  :)  The baby was putting on quite a show for us, grabbing his/her feet and smiling at us.  Everything looks great and we get to go back again at 32 weeks for another peek at our sweet one.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of our little bean at 28 1/2 weeks!

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Baby's Face, smiling!

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Hands grabbing feet

20 Weeks!

We were 20 weeks on St. Patrick's Day.  David & I were both sick that night and Friday, so it was Sunday before we finally got some pictures.  I can't believe it's been 20 weeks already and we are half way to meeting our new addition.  I am feeling him/her move all the time and I love it...especially when I am holding Grace and I feel the baby move.  Something about feeling Grace & this new precious life at the same time that just blows me away.  The baby particularly moves when I'm giving Grace her bottle at night.  I didn't feel too connected to the baby early in the pregnancy, but those days are over.  I think I just needed the baby's movements to make the pregnancy "feel" real.  :)  Yesterday David was able to feel the baby move for the first time.  As much as I love to feel the baby move, I equally LOVE to see Daddy's face as he rests his hand on my belly and feels his precious child for the first time...

Anyway, here are some belly shots we took yesterday.

For comparison purposes, here I am at 20 weeks with Grace.

Here is the baby at 20 weeks too!  These are the pictures from the ultrasound last week.  We didn't get a ton of great pictures because the baby still wasn't facing sideways or forward, but the tech got us a two really cute ones.

Baby smiled at us!  :)

Oh and Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Here's a flashback to last year and one of my favorite pictures of Grace & I.

It's a...

...healthy baby!  LOL, we had our big ultrasound yesterday, but of course we didn't find out the sex.  :)  Good thing we didn't want to know because this little one was being difficult and the tech couldn't even see.  The baby was transverse and rear facing, so we'll have to go back in a month or so for them to check the heart and all that other good stuff.  I'm measuring a week ahead, which is nothing but good news as far as I'm concerned.  They won't change my due date for just a week, and any extra time I have between when this baby could potentially come and when they will schedule a c-section is a gift in my eyes.  We really want to try a VBAC, but since most babies come at 41.5 weeks and they will schedule a c-section at 40.5 weeks, the extra week could make a difference.  Of course, it could also just mean I need to stop buying newborn sized diapers, lol. Our little one was just a moving and a shaking and had the hiccups 3 times during our ultrasound and the tech said everything looked fabulous.  

We did finally get a few pictures of this precious one.  None of them are really great, but it is nice to have some pictures of our sweet little bean.  Hopefully next time he/she will be more cooperative and we can get some great photos.  :)  Until then, please meet our sweet Baby Bilbo!

This one kinda creeps me out a bit, but the eyes are to the left and the mouth is to the right.  I'm sure he/she will be cuter  in color.  :)