38 weeks!

*38 weeks, holding my two boys!*

How Far Along?  38 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yep!

Sleep? Good, but feeling more tired than before.

Best Moment of the Week? Swimming two days in a row!

Movement? Yes! Trying to remember to do kick counts!

What I miss? Nothing, but I am trying to enjoy these last days of having a little life growing inside of me instead of looking to the future. This is (likely) my last pregnancy so I have to remind myself that even though I am more uncomfortable, I have to delight in these little wiggles and kicks!

Symptoms: Still puffy feet, and limbs falling asleep at night :-) More Charley Horses at night, which is NOT so fun!

What I’m looking forward to? A four day weekend with Julian, a date night, and just enjoying these last peaceful days as a family of 3. 

Milestones: Baby has a nice and firm grasp. Also, we are GBS negative! Praise God that I won't have to have an antibiotic IV during labor!

Emotions: Excited and a little nervous, but trying to be focused on the NOW, and on the joy of pregnancy and our little family. 

37 weeks

37 weeks!

Some of our DIY maternity shots: 

How Far Along?  37 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Of course

Sleep? Really good, although I wake up tired!

Best Moment of the Week? We had our home visit from Claudia, our birth assistant. It was great to see her, and go over the details for the birth! It also was a little crazy to think that it will happen very soon. Praying for a smooth and quick birth!!! We also had a check at our (now weekly) midwife appointment and I am already 1 cm dilated. Yay!

Movement? Yes, little wiggles - our little guy is running out of room! 

What I miss? I am starting to miss moving around comfortably, and thinking about how it will feel to be more active again!

Symptoms: My feet are nice and puffy, and my back often is sore. I have to remember to do back stretches and to relax a little more often.

What I’m looking forward to? Taking some more maternity pictures - we took a few, but I want to get some professional (JC Penney) pics taken so we have really nice shots!

Milestones: Baby is finishing up some more brain and lung development to be ready for delivery!

Emotions: Excited and anxious about the delivery! 

36 weeks!

*36 week bump after a nice lunch in Shirlington!*

*Sammy loved the fountain*

*Happy Father's Day, Papi!*

*Baby is the size of romaine lettuce*

How Far Along?  36 weeks. We have entered the 9th month!

Maternity Clothes? Definitely!

Sleep? Pretty good - I am trying to enjoy it and stock up while I can!

Best Moment of the Week? Celebrating Father's Day with the best Papi to my two boys!

Movement? Yes, lots of wiggles!

What I miss? Moving around easily!

Symptoms: Feeling about the same, but more pressure when I stand up, and more discomfort. My hips are often sore, as is my back, and today Baby is kicking my ribs a lot!

What I’m looking forward to? Our next midwife appointment, at the end of the week. 

Milestones: Baby is shedding his fuzzy layer, and making meconium (first poops!).

Emotions: Happy, and very much in the nesting stage. I want to clean and organize everything!!!!

35 weeks!

*35 weeks at a baby shower for friend, Carolina, who is 33 weeks here. We were all of the pregnant ladies attending!*

*Baby is the size of a honeydew!*

How Far Along?  35 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yes!

Sleep? Pretty good - I've been having really entertaining dreams, like Julian and I being astronauts to Mars! 

Best Moment of the Week? Well, it wasn't the best, but it was a memorable moment in that we had to take Sammy to the ER for the first time. :-( He cut his forehead after falling off of his bed while trying to put his water cup on his shelf. Scary and crazy, and we had to go back 5 days after when he fell down a couple of stairs! No me gusta.

Movement? Yes! Getting a little more uncomfortable to sit with Sammy in my lap. 

What I miss? Nothing!

Symptoms: Same as before! I feel a little pressure when I stand up with baby, which means he is dropping, which is normal.

What I’m looking forward to? Getting everything ready. I feel like there is a lot to do, but that I have plenty of time. But I just realized we are exactly a month away from the due date! Yikes!

Milestones: Baby's liver is working! And kidneys!

Emotions: I'm feeling the need to clean, bake, and organize! Hello, nesting! :-)

34 weeks!

Sammy has been into making sad faces for the camera. He thinks it's so funny!

Baby is the size of a honeydew melon!

How Far Along?  34 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yes!

Sleep? Actually, not bad! 

Best Moment of the Week? At the end of 33 weeks we had a nice midwife appointment. It reminded me that we needed to get everything together! They told me to order my birth kit ASAP. So, I did, and also went out and got everything (or nearly everything) on the list to have at home.

Movement? Yes! Wiggly little guy more than kicks, though.

What I miss? Nothing!

Symptoms: Same as before!

What I’m looking forward to? Getting things together for the home birth. I've got a tub and have been cleaning/organizing our house, little by little. It is hard to do with a toddler, though! :-)

Milestones: Baby is adding fat under his skin layers.

Emotions: Happy, and getting nervous about the birth!

33 weeks!

Sammy feeding a strawberry to Baby. Julian got me the shirt for my birthday, and Sammy loved it!

Happy family, strawberry picking! Sammy is helping Baby say "cheese!" :-)

Baby is the size of a pineapple!

How Far Along?  33 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yes!

Sleep? Still getting up to pee 2 times a night, and Sammy has been waking up at least once the last several nights. So, not great, but not awful either.

Best Moment of the Week? We had a great long weekend! It was so awesome to have Papi home for 4 days in a row. We went strawberry picking, to the beach (Lake Anna), to church and a BBQ, and then had a lazy day at home.

Movement? A lot of wiggles, especially when I am sitting down. Although when I go for walks in the evening, he likes to move a lot, too! It gives my Braxton-Hicks contractions!

What I miss? Really, nothing!

Symptoms: Still less heartburn and more back pain. It often hurts to get up, so I am trying to do more back stretches to help.

What I’m looking forward to? Getting ready - we did a lot of little things over the long weekend. I found some more cloth diapers that I had forgotten about (although I forget if they fit well...), and got a wrap from ebay that I have been wanting! Yay! We also talked a lot about a second car... Praying that we will get the car we need, when we need it!

Also looking forward to a midwife appointment later this week!

Milestones: Baby is chunking up and his bones are getting ready - hardening for the outside world!

Emotions: Happy, and definitely trying to get my nest on. I have to get going on our "to-do" list of buying/preparing things for the home birth!

32 weeks!

32 weeks!

At the park on my birthday!

My lovely family. Sammy did not take his eyes off of the birthday cake! 

Baby is the size of a jicama!

How Far Along?  32 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yes!

Sleep? Not quite as good - I have been needing to pee in the middle of the night more than usual, and just feel so thirsty! Plus Sammy has been waking up in the middle of the night asking for Mami. Since I'm getting up to pee, it's not the end of the world, but it does take more time to get back to sleep!

Best Moment of the Week? My birthday! I felt very loved by my boys, friends, and family.

Movement? Yes! We have a pretty wiggly little guy.

What I miss? My back is getting sore more often, so I miss moving around quickly and easily.

Symptoms: A little less heartburn, but more back pain. I have to be extra careful moving around and picking up Sammy so that I don't hurt it too much.

What I’m looking forward to? Getting more things ready, and the long Memorial Day weekend coming up!

Milestones: Baby is gaining a lot of weight, has fingernails, toenails, and hair!

Emotions: Happy! 

31 weeks!

31 weeks!

With my lovely students!

They made such delicious food. 

Baby is the size of a coconut!

How Far Along?  31 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yes!

Sleep? Pretty good! Sammy has been skipping some naps, and to make up for it, he has been sleeping in. A couple of days, I woke up before him! It was nice to get a head start on the day.

Best Moment of the Week? My ESL 33 students threw us a beautiful and thoughtful baby shower. It was so wonderful to see them all and talk to them, and they cooked us delicious food! It was a great honor.

Movement? Yes! Baby is moving a lot!

What I miss? Nothing!

Symptoms: Same as before - heartburn, feeling tired, back pain, etc. But all in all, I am pretty comfortable.

What I’m looking forward to? Mimi is coming to visit, and will help us organize a little bit more for Baby's arrival. Yay!

Milestones: Baby is about to hit a growth spurt, and is moving a lot.

Emotions: Happy!

30 weeks!

30 weeks, day 2 - After teaching my last ESL 33 class of the semester!

On the boat in Annapolis!

On Mother's Day, with all of the Gonzalez men :-) 

Baby is the size of a cabbage

How Far Along?  30 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yes, for sure!

Sleep? Pretty good, other than our night on the sailboat, and some late nights to enjoy our final days with Papito. But, I did have one night where I didn't even wake up to pee! It was amazing! 

Best Moment of the Week? Going to the midwife and hearing Baby's heartbeat (144 beats). He is growing nicely, and it is so good to hear his little heart!

Movement? Yes! He had quite the party in my belly tonight. He is head down, which is awesome, and has been kicking the right side of my belly. Sammy was exactly the same!

What I miss? Nothing! Although I would have liked to give a real toast to Papito instead of just sparkling cider. Papito left this week after spending the last 6 weeks with us. He did a great job finishing all of the major work in the basement - it is awesome! Now we just have a lot of little things to finish and organize before Baby comes.

Symptoms: Starting to feel extra tired. I fell asleep playing with Sammy yesterday! It didn't last long, though. Also, my arms fall asleep while sleeping - this has been happening every so often for the last few weeks, but I forgot to add it earlier.

What I’m looking forward to? Getting the house more in shape, and getting things ready. I have a little over a month left to get things ready for the home birth, so that is a reality check! 

Milestones: Baby is growing a lot, and his eyesight is improving slowly but surely. When he is born, he'll be able to see more or less clearly to my face. Love it!

Emotions: Feeling so grateful for a healthy pregnancy and baby, and just praying that God continues to show favor to our little one, and that he will arrive super healthy. 

29 weeks!

Sammy wanted to get in the picture!

check out Sammy's headband!

Baby is the size of a butternut squash!

How Far Along?  29 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yep!

Sleep? Pretty good!

Best Moment of the Week? Well, I'm writing this late, but I remember jogging that week and being happy that I could go a full mile (and a little more) without having to pee!

Movement? Yep! So fun to feel him wiggle! 

What I miss? Nothing!

Symptoms: Still the same, nothing new.

What I’m looking forward to? Going into the 30s next week! hehe

Milestones: Baby is growing a lot, especially his brain and his bones.

Emotions: Happy!

28 weeks!

28 weeks!

Baby is the size of an eggplant!

It's funny - the night that we turned 28 weeks, I dreamt about having the baby. I looked back at our old pregnancy blog posts, and I had started dreaming of having a baby around the same time in my pregnancy with Sammy!

How Far Along?  28 weeks - now in the 3rd trimester!!

Maternity Clothes? Yep!

Sleep? Pretty good! 

Best Moment of the Week? Getting the results that my glucose level is good - I don't have to fast or take the long test! Woohoo!

Movement? Yep! Lots of kicking especially when I am trying to nurse Sammy to sleep. I probably notice it more then because I am more still then.

What I miss? Nothing - feeling good!

Symptoms: Lower back pain has been kicking in if I am bending over too much. My hips are often sore too, so it is a good reminder to try and take it easy. I was glad I was still able to go for a mile jog this week, though!

What I’m looking forward to? More appointments, and figuring out the details leading up to the birth and after baby is born. I'm thinking a lot about naptime, and trying to enjoy this last month(ish) of nursing Sammy to sleep and cuddling with him when he wakes up. I know it will probably not be possible once the baby comes so a month ahead of time I'm going to try and change his nap routine if it doesn't happen naturally.... 

Milestones: We are in the 3rd trimester! Baby now has eyelashes!

Emotions: Happy, but it's feeling so much more real now that we are in the 3rd trimester. We still have time, but we had a week of big decisions (go back to work in the fall, preschool for Sammy, changing naptimes, making a registry, etc). The weeks seem to be flying by! 

27 weeks

27 weeks, day 7! I had to use the flash because I had forgotten to take the picture during the daytime. Whoops! 

Baby is the size of cauliflower!

How Far Along?  27 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yep! 

Sleep? Pretty good. Sammy has been waking up early though, which has been a little bit rough.

Best Moment of the Week? On the last day of the week, we had our midwife appointment! Baby is measuring well, and his heartbeat is strong (152 beats).

Movement? Yes, and it's getting bigger. I love seeming my bump jump!

What I miss? Nothing, really.

Symptoms: Starting to feel more tired. I would love an afternoon nap, and bedtime at 10 feels super late.

What I’m looking forward to? Planning a little more. We have some big(ish) decisions ahead (preschool for Sammy? teaching for me? second car? etc). So, praying for wisdom and looking forward to getting things a little more squared away.

Milestones: Baby can open and close his eyes!

Emotions: Feeling happy, but surprised that this is already the last week in our second trimester! It is going by very quickly. 

26 weeks!

26 weeks! 

Baby is the length of a leek!

How Far Along?  26 weeks

Maternity Clothes? Yes! No longer in the big jeans. I got some maternity jeans at Goodwill and love them.

Sleep? Pretty good, actually! Loving the deep pregnancy dreams.

Best Moment of the Week? Baby kicking Papi while I laid beside him, hehe

Movement? Yes! Getting bigger. Sometimes I can see my belly twitch.

What I miss? Nothing!

Symptoms: Same as before, nothing really new.

What I’m looking forward to? Our next midwife appointment, which is next week, I think!

Milestones: Baby can hear Papi and Sammy now! And he hears from Sammy a lot! He loves telling stories to Baby! I love it!

Emotions: Feeling very comfortable and happy.

Weeks 24 and 25

Whoops - forgot to do Week 24! It was Easter week!

Happy Easter! 24 weeks

Walking in the woods, eating the "snacks" Sammy is sharing. 24 weeks!

Baby is the size of an ear of corn - 24 weeks

25 weeks! Sammy loves chapstick, haha

25 weeks

Baby is the size of a rutabaga

How Far Along?  25 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yes! Or, my "big" jeans with a rubber band to hold them shut. I wish the weather would warm up! I need a better pair of maternity pants because right now I don't have any that fit me comfortably, other than yoga pants. I can only get away with those at home or on quick trips to the store! 

Sleep? Actually, very good recently! 

Best Moment of the Week? Papito came! He is making magic happen in our basement. It's great to have him here, and great to know that our house will be more ready for baby! Also, we celebrated our 8 year anniversary!

Movement? Yep, every day! I am loving some of the bigger movements!

What I miss? Nothing.

Symptoms: Nothing new, and I think I'm getting more used to the heartburn. My back gets a little sore now if I overdo it, so I'm trying to be more careful. Also getting a little more tired!

What I’m looking forward to? Sammy feeling a kick. He says he has felt it sometimes but I'm not really sure.

Milestones: Baby is getting some fat under his skin! And growing hair!

Emotions: Happy :-)

23 weeks!

23 weeks, sporting one of the new tops from Goodwill!

With Sammy, who just woke up from a nap :-)

Still able to job, but my muscles tense a lot so I have to do a combo of walking/jogging/stretching.

Baby is the size of a large mango (which seems to me to be smaller than a spaghetti squash....)

How Far Along?  23 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Yes, but I am still wearing my "big" pants. They are getting tight though, so this might be the last week!

Sleep? Pretty decent. I have been hungry when I wake up in the middle of the night, which makes it harder to go back to sleep.

Best Moment of the Week? Well just at the end of 22 weeks Sammy and I went for a long bike ride (8 miles!), and also to a midwife appointment. It is fun to ride with Sammy, knowing that our days of riding together on a bike, just the two of us, are coming to a close.

Movement? Yes! Lots of little kicks, and when I walk really fast or move a lot, I feel Braxton-Hicks contractions and it feels like baby is rolling a little. 

What I miss? Nothing!

Symptoms: Still heartburn, and feeling tired. I have been wanting to fall asleep in the afternoons, and have been adding a tiny bit of regular coffee to my decaf in the morning. The coffee gives me heartburn, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make!

What I’m looking forward to? Warmer weather so I can wear my maternity skirt every day. But really, I'm just enjoying each day! It's so nice outside, and I feel so blessed!

Milestones: Baby is noticing noise and music more. Which is awesome because Sammy sings and plays drums (or other instruments) all day long. :-)

Emotions: Happy!

22 weeks!

22 weeks!

Baby is the size of spaghetti squash! 

How Far Along?  22 weeks!

Maternity Clothes? Starting to wear more, but can still make it with my "big" regular pants. I went to Goodwill and got a pair of pants and a couple new maternity tops, though! The pants are SO comfy!

Sleep? Good! Sammy has been sleeping well, and since the time change for daylight savings, he was sleeping until 7:30 instead of 6:30. So, I did, too! :-)

Best Moment of the Week? Hmm... well, I got the news that the contracting project I was working on would be put on hold, so I don't have the extra work/stress anymore. And I went out for a night of solo shopping, and came back just in time for bedtime prayers. It was so nice!

Movement? Yep, little kicks every day!

What I miss? Nothing!

Symptoms: Still heartburn, and feeling a little sleepier than usual.

What I’m looking forward to? My belly growing, and warmer weather!

Milestones: Baby is forming tiny tooth buds!

Emotions: Happy!

21 weeks!

21 weeks!

Baby is the size of a carrot! 

How Far Along?  21 weeks! 

Maternity Clothes? I'm still using a combo of bigger clothes and smaller maternity clothes. The maternity tops are nice, but the pants don't quite stay up over my belly yet.

Sleep? Pretty good! 

Best Moment of the Week? More kicks. Sammy has been hugging, kissing, and sharing toys with Baby every day.

Movement? Yes! It's wonderful! 

What I miss? Nothing, really.

Symptoms: Still the heartburn! I'm getting a little more used to it... maybe we will have a very hairy baby!

What I’m looking forward to? Now that we're more than halfway through and we know the baby is a boy, I am looking forward to getting things a little more organized and ready for his arrival. I started reading a tiny bit about double strollers, and have begun purging the house through freecycle... little by little! There are things that we kept when we purged while pregnant with Sammy that we haven't used in over 2 years.... So those things are going! :-) 

Milestones: Baby is growing eyebrows!

Emotions: Happy, but also nervous - this week I will have my root canal. I'm so happy to get it over with, but I'm nervous for myself (I hate dental work, and I hate that I have to get another root canal), and also for little baby! I know they say it's fine for the baby and won't harm him, but I can't help but worry. Praying a lot this week!