24-25 weeks

I've been such a bad blogger for the past 2 weeks (but really all summer), so I've gotta squeak this post in before I turn 26w tomorrow! Things have been going well & I've been feeling great! We had our first educational class at the hospital two weekends ago (Childbirth) and it went really well. G is going to be an amazing labor partner, which I'm so thankful for! I'll admit that I'm still very anxious/nervous about the whole birthing process, but I just keep telling myself that we'll take it one contraction at a time and go from there. G (and our friend Jeff) even got to wear the pregnancy suit at class (I'll have to put the pic in!!!). Tonight, we've got breastfeeding class (which I have to admit I'm somewhat nervous about because that's one thing that I really, REALLY want to be able to do successfully), and this weekend we have Baby Care 101.

We've also been making a ton of headway with the nursery. We had picked up the changing table, which G & our BIL carried upstairs (HEAVY!) & then last weekend, G & my dad went to pick up the crib and dresser, which they set up. My mom ordered the glider and the crib mattress, which both came yesterday & I have an order in for wall letters for above the crib! The nursery is really almost done! Everyone thinks I'm just obsessed with getting it done, but in reality, once school starts, we know that it's nearly impossible to get things accomplished, so it was really our goal to have most of it finished by the time the school year started!

I had my glucose test on Monday & I haven't heard anything back, which I'm assuming is good news! It wasn't half as bad as I had heard it could be & they even let me leave to go shopping (Kohl's is right next door, so I could walk)! I bought H six new summer outfits for next year for just $15 out-of pocket (one cute little sundress was seriously only $2.40!)! It was great & they are so adorable! I love buying clothes for her!

We also got an unexpected check in the mail for a supposed over-payment at my RE's office from more than two years ago, so we called right away to schedule our 3D ultrasound! We had been wanting to get one done, but had been having a bit of a struggle justifying the cost. The check in the mail made us feel like we had hit the lottery! So the 3D ultrasound is coming up in just two weeks, Sept. 9th & we're so excited to be able to see her again!

And now for some pictures...

Baby Giveaways!!

I've stumbled across a ton of baby giveaways, so I wanted to throw them out there for all my mommies & mommies-to-be!

Happily Southern is giving away a Planet Wise wet/dry bag from Planet Wise (ends 8/28).

Grovia diaper goodies at The Cloth Diaper Whisperer

TinyTush hemp fitted at 29Diapers

One Little Mister is giving away a $20 Gift Card to Bellalojo Baby (ends 9/5).

23 weeks!

Another week, another update! Things have been going great & I still have no reason for complaints! I had developed some back pain while camping, which I was hoping and praying was just related to sitting in camp chairs, picnic table benches & sleeping in a camper. Lucky for me, it seems that's all it was (whew!). We had a lot of fun camping, but I was bummed that I had to miss the one hike that Gregg & Jenna went on. I went on it last time (in June) & I knew it would just be too strenuous for me this time around (climbing over fallen trees, etc), so they took some good pics for me & told me that they talked about me while I was gone because I'm always the line leader & apparently I'm braver than either of them because they're both afraid of walking into spider webs....haha

When we came back from camping, Mom and I did some shopping to get supplies for my shower, which is now in the works (WOW!!). As luck would have it, we found plates, napkins & tablecloths at Big Lots! - they only had them in two colors & wouldn't you know it, they were MY colors - magenta & bright green! It was meant to be! We also bought some invitations at the dollar store, but then found ones later that we both liked better - they looked like onesies with little ducks on them, but we thought they needed a little dressing up. We went to the craft section & found these adorable little daisies on a strip of ribbon - in magenta and bright green! - so we got those to hot glue onto the bottom! Too stinkin' cute! And my mom's neighbor is going to make us little footprint cookies for favors & a pink and green cake! Wow - everything is actually starting to materialize...

We had a great appt. yesterday. Little Hadley's heartbeat sounded good & I reached a new milestone: belly measurements! I'm carrying small, which the CRNP said is to be expected with my stature. I got orders for bloodwork & the fated glucose test in a couple of weeks. After the appointment, we headed over to BRU & Target & started those registries. All I can say is that I'm SO glad I was prepared. I had never been inside a BRU before and if I hadn't done my research & known exactly what I wanted to register for there & what I wanted to register for elsewhere, I would have been completely overwhelmed...G was kind of in shock at all of it, but he too was SO glad that I was prepared! They're running a special on the furniture that we want (buy all 3 pieces, save 20% on the crib) through next week, so we're going tomorrow to purchase all of those pieces. G's parents are getting us the crib & changing table & we're getting the dresser. My parents are getting the rocker & then we'll have to see what we still need from there! We can't wait to get the room all set up for our little princess!

22 weeks!

Today was an exciting day! We got to see little Hadley again! My cousin (studying to be an ultrasound tech) gave us an ultrasound so she could get some practice. Hadley was all over the place again, but Michelle's teacher did confirm that Hadley is a Hadley and not a Gracin, despite the fact that she wouldn't be still long enough for us to get a pic to prove it.

I'm feeling great & the little one is moving around like crazy every night. I have been having a little more back pain than before & I've been getting a weird, tingly feeling at one area on my skin, at the bottom of my ribcage on the left. Very strange - I'll have to ask the dr. about that one next week. I've also been having some of what I think are Braxton Hicks contractions, just every once in a while. Otherwise, I've got no complaints and everything has been going smoothly!!

21 weeks!

Nothing really new to report these days, which I suppose is a good thing. I have been feeling a TON of movement, mostly at night. Sometimes it is really strong that it makes me stop what I'm doing...I can't even imagine how it will feel four months from now! WOW! I haven't had any real cravings, per se, but I have been eating a ton of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from our garden, so I sure hope little Hadley likes those down the road when she can eat (not via me!).

We spent part of last week at the shore & that was a lot of fun, though I spent a great deal inside due to the heat. I did get out to the beach a couple of times, so we got a few pics...

I just put a call in to my OB's office to get a permission slip (of sorts) that would allow my cousin (who is studying to be an ultrasound tech) to do an educational ultrasound on me sometime next week. It would be really cool for her, I'm sure, and I really want my parents and my other cousin to be able to be in on that since they're usually so far away and don't get to experience any of that first-hand. We'll be up that way for our 2nd camping trip of the summer, so I figured we might as well squeeze everything in that we can!

Finally, the GTG with my IF friends last weekend was AWESOME! We had such a great time shopping in the city, sightseeing, talking, eating, you name it! It was so great to meet them, but truth be told, it really didn't feel like we were all meeting for the first time...it was like catching up with old friends! What a great time! (I updated the post below w/ my 20w belly pic since it was taken at the GTG)!

It's a....

GIRL! I was SHOCKED as I told Gregg that I was 90% sure we were having a boy! We both shed some tears & were so incredibly happy!

Little Hadley was adorable (we even got a yawn) and the doctor said she looked perfect (we thought so, too! Her heartbeat was 157 bpm and we're pretty sure she's going to be a little gymnast...just look at these legs up over her head!

I'll admit that I was a little disappointed that the u/s tech didn't give us a "girl" ultrasound shot, but I'm working on getting one elsewhere.

I've been feeling tons of movement in there lately which is SO exciting, and Gregg gets in at least one good kick a night!

I had an amazing time over the weekend and got all sorts of wonderful baby gifts for our little girl from my IF friends at our GTG. What amazing women - I had an awesome time & can't wait until we can do it again!

20 week belly

19 (almost 20) weeks!

Wow! There are times, like now, when I feel like this pregnancy is just flying by! Tomorrow, at 19w6days, we have our BIG ultrasound to check for the gender & more importantly check on the vital organs, count fingers & toes, etc. I'm going to be like those kids on the Disney World commercial..."we're too excited to sleep!" The good news is that our appointment is bright and early at 8AM, so I won't have to wait around all day long! And I might go out to Kohl's while G is at his class and buy our very first (official) baby purchase! I promise to post pics if we do!

I've been feeling more movement, which is so cool! G got to feel it once, but it's so irregular at this point that I'll say "oh I just felt it HERE" and then he'll put his hand there and wait a few minutes, but baby's gone back to sleep. Oh well, all in good time.

Here's a pic from last week when I was just turning 19 weeks! I love the pregnant belly! And for my friends that were wondering, I'm still wearing my normal non-maternity clothes, but I couldn't do it if not for my Bella Band - it's my life-saver & I hope I can wear it for at least another month because it really makes my wardrobe SO much more versatile. Hey, Bella Band, can I do a commercial for you?? :)