Sadie's 1 month check up and Christmas Pics.

Sadie went to the doctor today. She gained almost 2 lbs and grew 2 1/2 inches. So, now she's 21 1/2 in. long and weighs 9.2 lbs.

Dr. said she's growing like a champ! He said she's doing great!!!

We spent Christmas with Craig's mom, Mary and sister, Dana. We had a great time!!! Here are some pics we took while they were here!

Daddy and daughter hangin' out

With Aunt Dana

Aunt Dana spoiling our little girl

Just chillin'

Nonna and Sadie and Lily or Leap...

Dana feeding the munchkin

Sadie's Christmas Eve debut...PERFECT!!!

Sadie made her debut into the musical world last night, Christmas Eve 2008. Mom played Mary, Dad played Joseph, and Sadie played the most wonderful little Jesus ever. She slept all the way through the 1st and 2nd services. Last service, she got the hiccups and then got a little irritated that they wouldn't go away. But she did pretty well. Pastor just kept on going and wove in her little sounds and fusses into his sermon. Mom and Dad did not have lines (thank goodness), but I felt as though I should have a microphone in my hand...it felt very odd not to sing while I was up there. We walked around the perimeter of the sanctuary first pregnant (a scarf wadded up under my dress). Then as a couple with a new baby and up onto the stage. We sat and just looked at our Baby Jesus lovingly. Everyone just raved about what a good baby Sadie was, and we were even jokingly accused of giving her Nyquil. haha. nope...just a sleeper. And of course, as soon as we thought we were home free with her not being fussy, she started up minutes after we layed her down sleeping. We were up until 1:30. We slept until about 6:15 am this Christmas morning.
Merry Christmas everyone. Pics to follow of our day with Nonna and Aunt Dana and Meme and Papah.

Sadie's Musical Debut... Christmas Eve 2008

Tonight, Sadie gets to play Baby Jesus in our Christmas Musical at church. Of course, mommy and daddy are playing a silent Mary and Joseph. It feels REALLY weird to not be singing this year. Do you know how hard it is for me to sit on stage and NOT SING??? So strange! But, we just have to look lovingly at our 'Baby Jesus'. I think we can probably do that!!! :) Pictures to come of our little actress!! And mommy and daddy dressed up, too, of course!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

Sadie's First Family Christmas (Anderson)

What once was a family of 6, is now a family of 18!!!

Sadie's all bundled up and ready to go to Meme and Papah's...

Meme and Papah with all the grandbabies...

Sadie, her Meme, and cousin Alex

We had a GREAT Anderson family Christmas!!! Sadie got to hang out with her Meme and Papah, her Aunts and Uncles, and all of her cousins!!! She pretty much slept through the whole crazy ordeal. She awoke long enough for her Aunt Vaughna to see that she's probably going to have blue eyes. And, HALLELUJAH!!! She pooped for the first time in 2 days. Aunt Vaughna actually VOLUNTEERED to change her... she's a professional mommy! Everyone got to hold her and love on her. All heck broke loose as everyone was leaving, though... She had HAD ENOUGH!! I didn't want to drive home while she was wailing, so we put her on a heating pad long enough to calm her down. We drove home, she was silent, and I just knew she was asleep. Nope, her beautiful eyes wide awake when we pulled into the driveway. We walked in, changed her diaper, fussed a little longer, and finally fell asleep around 12:45, maybe 1. After a while, you stop looking at the clock and just close your eyes and pray she falls asleep soon. I actually had fallen asleep patting her on the back, and woke up to a silent, sleeping baby. We slept until about 4:30 ish. We got up and ate and changed her diaper again. Went back to bed around 5:45. We slept until 9:45 ish...not too bad.

She slept a lot today... She fussed a littler earlier than normal tonight. Fine by us, the earlier and more she fusses, the more tired she'll be for bed time.

Tomorrow, mommy goes in for her 1 month checkup with HER doctor. I'm excited to take her and show her to all the staff. They're all anxious to see her, since I didn't take her in when I went to get my blood work done. WHICH, by the way, came back negative for Hep B, but it showed I have an immunity to the antibody for the Hep B shot... could mean my body will neglect the series. We'll see.

Daddy gets off of work at 12 on Christmas Eve, we're so excited to hang out with him in the middle of the week. Nonna and Aunt Dana will be here on Christmas day. Aunt Dana is SO READY to meet and hold her first niece!!! We're ready to see them, too.

Here are some random pics I took a couple of days ago. I needed to see if the outfit would still fit her... she was wide awake and alert for her modeling job. Her shirt says "I love grandma". Nonna bought it for her.

"Santa Baby...leave a present under the tree, for me, been an awful good girl..."

I had to post these pics of Sadie in her Christmas outfit (She spewed formula just moments later...guess she didn't like this outfit!) and the other of her with Santa. Santa (my teacher friend, Melissa's, dad) dressed up as Santa at school today, had to get her with him! He was a GREAT looking Santa!!! Thanks Mr. Wilson, I mean, Santa Claus!!

My students got to stand in the foyer of the school and look in the window of the office at Sadie. They just went crazy over her... We talked about inherited traits and learned characteristics in Science before I left. They mentioned that she didn't receive many inherited traits from me!! HA! At least they remembered!!

Then we went to her Daycare Christmas party at Marie White's house (Nana). She met all of the daycare kids and their mommies. Craig came with me to check it all out. We're sold! Not looking forward to her first day of daycare, but we know she'll be in GREAT hands.

Then, we took Sadie to meet our pastor's wife, Jeri. She's been out sick for a while and can't go out into public. She was so excited to meet Sadie, and so glad we thought to bring her over. She slept A LOT yesterday.

Then... all heck broke loose last night. We went to bed about 11:30, and stayed up until 2:30 - crying! Not just a whiny cry. The cry that makes your heart wrench...mommy cried too... Just couldn't do anything to make her feel better. We finally got her asleep by laying her on the heating pad on my chest... finally we got her to lay by herself. Got up again at 6 am. Went back to sleep about 7:45 to 9:45. Mommy and Daddy are very tired today!!! Hopefully we'll get some good sleep tonight. We have my family Christmas tomorrow at Mom and Dad's house, but church first. I told Craig we may skip church if we have another night like last night. Wish us luck... good night!!

An Elfyourself video of SADIE!!!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/RM7ebl1imBzmvODIWdKC

Click on the link above to watch Sadie dance DISCO!!

First Christmas Pictures

Okay, so she wasn't so crazy about the hat...but she's so darn cute!!! Took about an hour to find some cute faces, not agitated ones. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Spewing milk from nostrils!!!

Wow!!! I have a newfound definition of "Projectile". This girl can blow 2 or more ounces of milk straight out of her nose, both nostrils, and her mouth in no time! Even better, mommy gets to wear most of it, and in her hair!! Lovely smell after a few hours of not getting to shower... Craig must think I'm so hot. From giant pregnant lady, to old formula smelling lady... I have a whole new respect for the shower now...

Here are a couple of pics AFTER the volcano erupted - She cleans up good...but mommy does not get to... :)

And of course, I'm sporting my Aunt Dana shirt and my I love Daddy bib...

Mom's first driving experience with the Doodle Bug

Today was kind of stressful, because I had to get Sadie and I ready to get HER screening done at Arlington Memorial and MY lab work done at my Dr. office. During my stay at the hospital, my blood work came back with a showing of Hep B. Didn't have it before the baby came, but then all of the sudden, it was there. They kept saying I was a "Non-confirmed Positive". Non-confirmed b/c all of my other lab work previously came back negative. Positive b/c it was in my blood stream. Of course, they gave her all she needed to vaccinate her against it.

Before we left, I had to get her Car seat Base in my car...that went well, thank goodness. She also ate 4 OZ. of milk!!! Good golly, she was hungry. She's only been eating 2 oz. every 2 hours. Now she's sleeping longer at night and eating more...yea!

Driving with her was a little easier than I had imagined. It helped that my mom sat in the back seat, prepared to give her whatever she may need. She did great!! We went to the hospital first, got her blood work done...she's not a fan of the heel pricking, and squeezing of her heel to get a whole lot of blood out...but she did really good. This was her 5th time to get her heel pricked for blood work.

We were only in there maybe 15 minutes, then off we went to Mommy's dr. She stayed in the car b/c the COOOLD wind was just blowing too hard. I'm so glad Mom was with me... The wind almost knocked me off the sidewalk, I can only imagine carrying her in her car seat...ick.
She was sacked out. I fed her, thinking she'd be starving. She only took an oz. She's still sacked out, but I have a feeling she'll wake up raring to go soon.

Mommy is tired, today, but I'm not sure why...I slept as much as she did last night. 10:30 to 11:50, 12:30 to 4:20, and 5:30 to 9. I don't have ANY trouble getting to sleep these days. If I could just teach her to push through those gas pains without screaming... we'd be GREAT! We're getting there.

Our First Church Experience...

This is us, getting ready for church for our very first time. Mommy got up at 8 a.m. and Daddy watched the little one while Mom got ready. Once Mom got ready, it was Sadie's turn. Daddy helped give a bath and dress the princess. She was supposed to have pink tights on, but Mommy and Daddy didn't want to totally make her hate us forever. So, socks worked.

Once we got in the doors (maybe 4 feet into the front doors), we were bombarded with hugs, and comments like "Oh my gosh, look at all that hair" and "Wow, she looks just like Craig" and "Oh my goodness, she's just beautiful". All things we have heard and KNEW, of course, but still fun to hear some more.

We finally got into the sanctuary, and she was visited some more by others. Church started and she slept pretty well through the music (all stuff she was used to hearing, of course). Once it quieted down a bit, she started grunting and moaning as if she needed to take a poopy. She got pretty loud, so Mommy took her out for just a few minutes. And of course, we missed Pastor Richard announcing her presence at church, but I didn't feel like we needed to introduce everyone to her set of lungs she obviously inherited from me. :) She slept in Mommy's arms, but stretched a whole lot, too, making funny noises.

Finally, we got to the end of church, we put her in her seat, and EVERYONE came running. We almost had to stay the next service, too...people just kept coming up and adoring her! We didn't mind at all. We stayed out in the link for a long while talking and continuing to show her off, and finally left at about 12.

We got home, took her dress and bloomers off, and fed her and put her in her swing. Mommy and Sadie slept for about 3 hours straight. We were exhausted. Daddy was tired, too.

It was a great day! And we had so much fun introducing her to our church family... Everyone just loved her, and she made Mommy and Daddy so proud.

The night from ....

This is SO Craig's child!!! Look at their faces... just identical. So sweet!!! Just a few hours before the night from 'you know where'. We were awake for almost 5 hours with a fussy baby who needed so badly to take a poopy. Bless her little heart. She was in so much pain. And by the looks of it, she should have cried. SOLID! I know she felt so absolutely relieved.

Can you believe this is my topic of conversation today?? The little things in baby world that make mommy happy!

The labor and delivery experience.... WOW!

So, I haven't really had the chance to go into full detail of my birthing experience of the most beautiful little girl in the whole world...bias? No way!! I really am so in love with her. I love staring at her and holding her and feeding her, and yes, even staying up for a full 3 hours b/c of bad gas with her... Or finding every place in the house possible for her to sleep comfortably...um, that would be in mommy and daddy's arms, of course. Cradle? Crib? Yeah right. Someone has got to invent pretend human arms to put around my child so mommy can get some sleep...b/c she has got our number... She knows what she wants, and well, she gets it. We did, however, have her sleep in a wedge last night... 2 hours in it, 1 hour out of it, 1 hour in it, 3 1/2 hours in it...YEP!! She slept from 2:30 to 6 am STRAIGHT this morning... Thanks to my sister who brought the wedge over last night AND to Mylacon...gas reliever!!! A friend of a friend of mine called it "Jesus in a Bottle". It is pretty great stuff. And Miss Tooty over here, is resting much better b/c of it.

Okay, so I digressed a little...back to the beginning.

We went into the hospital Tuesday night, November 25th to check in. They immediately got me started on a little bitty pill that they stuck right up next to my Cervix... Couldn't feel the little tablet, but I sure felt them putting it up there...lovely thought, I know. It was used to soften the cervix and get it ready to dilate more...I was already at a 1 when we checked in. Again at 2:30, they put another tablet in me... That really got me going to start me on Pitosin, to induce labor. I didn't feel any contractions at all until about 10 in the morning... At first, it just felt like I was really working my abs hard, and they were kind of sore. Then about 11, WOW! Up to a 4, and then quickly up to a 5... That was NOT FUN!!! The anesthesioligist had an emergency C Section and emergency delivery, and I was told I wasn't top priority b/c me and Sadie were doing so well...hahha.... They gave me bit of a pain reliever to "take the edge off"... Um...if they took the edge OFF, I'd hate to feel the EDGE!!! B/c good gracious, I thought I was going to absolutely die. No cussing, no yelling, just lots of breathing. Lots of holding onto Craig's hand - he was AMAZING by the way...he just stood there and endured all of my grunting and moaning... helped me breathe and rubbed my back...so sweet. We also had the absolute BEST NURSE EVER, Erin Peterson... absolutely a God-send!!! She was so great, and so nice, and so helpful. Just loved her to death, and hated seeing her leave that night...I wish I could've kept her.

Epidural time!!! That was not fun either. Between the contractions and them sticking the epidural in me...well, lets just say I was in the worst amount of pain I believe I have ever had, ruptured spleen, broken ribs, all ten toes broken...all nothing compared to this!! But once it kicked in, and my other pain meds were making me sleepy, I took about a 2 hour nap, I think...Craig can't remember, and well...I can't either. The nurse woke me up, asked if I could push... I couldn't feel a thing...NOTHING from the waist down. Couldn't move my toes, bend my knees...I pinched myself...nothing. It left a bruise later...but I felt nothing. The strangest feeling.

Pushing!! the nurse had Craig hold one leg and I held the other, felt like a ton... and I pushed like I had never pushed before...and couldn't feel a thing...so it was kind of hard to push... I'm not going to tell you what Erin told me to pretend to be pushing for...but it worked... She started coming and coming and coming. After 4 or 5 big pushes during contractions, Erin could see Sadie's dark hair. Craig, as weak stomached as he is, even grabbed a glimpse accidentally... bless his heart...I didn't want to see it either...God put that area down there for a reason...so my eyes could not see. Dr. Parrill came in, not my dr., but a dr. in the offices I go to, she had me do a few more pushes as well... then all of the sudden...there she was. 40 minutes of pushing, and this gorgeous, chunky, dark haired, healthy lunged baby came out of me... Just the most amazing feeling anyone could ever experience.

Afterwards: I held her immediately...she was GORGEOUS!!!! And chunky! And just amazing! They started cleaning her up and doing what they do over there... and started noticing that she wasn't breathing correctly. She'd take a big breath, then stop, then breathe again, then stop. Her coloring was beginning to turn "dusky" as they put it. So they took her for a little bit, examined her, and brought her back...she just needed a little help.

The rest of the day was great! We held her and loved on her and just adored God's little miracle! They kept her in the nursery most of the night. Every time she started smacking her lips or sucking her thumb, they'd bring her in to feed. Unfortunately, mommy didn't have much to give her and she wouldn't latch on long enough to get much. She lost 1 pound in 2 days, so we started her on formula to get some meat on her little skinny bones. It's amazing what 1 pound will do to a little 8 lb. chunk. She was so skinny...I was so sad, but she gained 4 oz. in one day on the formula. Finally, mommy got her milk in on Sunday, and immediately started pumping, but tried very hard to get her to latch on...not interested. Once she had the bottle, I wasn't satisfying her at all. I don't mind, I thought I would, but as long as she's getting the nutrients that she needs, that's all I care about. I haven't weighed her since Monday at the pediatrician. She was up to 7 lb. 6 1/2 oz. She's growing again.

Home:

She's wonderful!!! Sleeps a lot during the day, but has a lot of gas at night! THANK goodness for Mylacon and all of my girlfriends that told me about it. Her dr. said that it was fine, and she's doing much better and sleeping much better.

She's my doodle bug!!! I love her so very much!!!

I'm a new mommy!!!

I can't even explain how wonderful my life is...God really did bless us with the most precious little girl ever!!! The pictures explain it all!!!

2 more days...

I can't even begin to tell you all of the different feelings I have right now. We're in adrenalin mode cleaning around the house, trying to get it clean for baby and guests and just so we won't have to do anything once she's here. I'm nervous, excited, emotional, jittery, etc... I, above all, am so very thankful to God that He's gotten me through this amazing journey with absolutely no difficulty (no serious difficulty, anyway...just what comes with being pregnant). The first 7 months were such a breeze, my growing tummy is all I had to go on (besides the sonograms and dr. stuff). Then feeling her move inside of me (pretty much every single day) was another showing of proof for me... Then SCHOOL started...and then I really felt pregnant. While the days would drag, it really went by fast for me. God's truly blessed us! I know He'll be holding my hand in the next couple of days, I just hope I don't forget to thank Him and ask for His aid in my delivery. I'll say it again, as I've said before, God has entrusted in us this amazing job of parenthood. He has given US the chance to raise a child in His name, in this uncertain world. I can not express how happy and humbled we are to raise this child in a Christian home. It's been an amazing journey!! I know that the REAL journey is ahead of us... the long and winding road of Parenting! Wow!!!

Just a few more days...

I went to the doctor yesterday, got a sonogram, she weighs 7 lbs 6 oz already and is 20 1/4 inches long. She's a big girl! Who knows what she'll weigh when we go in to induce?! We go in Tuesday night at 7:30, and they will start me on Cytotec. They will induce Wednesday morning. I'm super excited - if she cooperates on Wednesday, she will be born on her Mommy's birthday!!! YEA!! What a fun birthday present and HUGE gift from God the day before Thanksgiving. We are beside ourselves. We can not wait to see this beautiful little being that God has created and we've been blessed enough to help her grow inside of me.
I think I'll take ONE LAST PICTURE before I go to the hospital or maybe even at the hospital...we'll see.
We won't be delivered by my dr., but it will be a dr. in her office that I was going to go see for my appt. on Tuesday (if I weren't being induced). They're all super neat people, and I'm just glad it's a doctor I know, or that she knows and trusts.
We're going to be kind of busy the next few days getting her bag, and my bag, and Craig's bag packed... cleaning and picking up around the house and getting things in order for her to come home. Our sweet little kitty, Jaspurr, won't know what hit him, so we will be making sure that we introduce a blanket of her's before we introduce him to her. He's known for a while now that his mommy has been going through a lot of changes. Even my nephew, Ethan, was really receptive to me last night, and let me hold him and hug on him when he got hurt...babies just know a mommy when they see them. :)
Keep us in your prayers that everything goes smoothly and that this beautiful baby girl will be born safely.
Thank you to my faithful viewers/readers...you guys have helped me a ton through this process!!! Obviously I will continue with a brand new blog when the baby girl gets home. Yea!! Miss Sadie is on her way!!!

37 weeks...HOME STRETCH!!!!

So, I'm feeling anxious, antsy, overwhelmed, excited, and any other synonym that goes along with those... We went shopping this weekend with FREE MONEY! It was so much fun to come out with bags of stuff and know that we did not spend a dime of our own. We purchased a lot of things off of the registry that we need now...just to be prepared. We're both in the process of cleaning, organizing, getting ready for baby. We're packing our hospital bags and about to get Miss Sadie's bag packed, too. I have about a thousand thank you cards to write...not complaining...at least we have thank you's to send out. We've been truly blessed on the outpouring of everyone's gifts!!! Giving us things we forgot to register for, or things we just didn't think about, or just adorable outfits that we probably wouldn't have purchased ourselves. The room is really coming together. We got our shelves from the choir last week and our diaper changing table from Craig's aunts...they look great in the room!! He's been BUSTING HIS BEHIND getting things ready for Miss Sadie to come. I don't know how anyone could do this alone...I'm so thankful for him and all he's doing. He's really taking this 'daddy' thing in full stride...I just know he's going to be amazing! While we are so ready for her to be here, we're not quite as READY as we'd like to be (and you all say in one accord "You never will be...". I know that...but we want everything to be just perfect when she gets home.
Fun info below... anxiously awaiting our dr. appt. on Friday!!!!! I'll let you all know how that goes when we go! Love you all!

Your pregnancy: 37 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood) in the toilet or in your undies, labor is probably a few days away — or less. (If you have heavier spotting or bleeding, call your caregiver immediately.) Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics.It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy.

Swollen!!!!!!!!

another view...

My TRANKS (tree trunk ankles)

Just adorable...

One of my 4th grade girls said, "Oh my gosh! I've never seen legs look like that before! They're so big, they look kind of like my grandma's legs!" One of those kids you really want to be truthful back for a moment, but I just smiled and said "I know, just a part of having a baby..."

Lacy didn't think they were very bad last time I took a picture...this better? :) Love you Lace!

Good Dr. Appt...

Dr. said that I get a sonogram next week. Originally she said no more unless there are complications. But she's worried that Miss Sadie might be too big before Thanksgiving and doesn't want me to go into labor over Thanksgiving week and have to use whatever on call doctors are just there... So, she said if Baby is 8 lbs. or bigger (good gracious, I hope not), then she'll take her the next Monday. If below 7 1/2 lbs. she'll hold off until after Thanksgiving week.

My blood pressure was a little elevated, nothing huge. But it explains my GIGANTOR ankles and feet. I weighed something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime, but she said I'm carrying like 2 gallons of extra water weight around. So I felt a little better.

I thought I lost my mucus plug yesterday in the shower, she said maybe just a little bit of it, but not all. And no big deal if it does. Some people lose theirs up to 6 weeks ahead of time.

My cervix is really soft, and feels like I'm ready to start dilating. :)

Just thought I'd update you!!!

36 weeks pic

36 weeks

Miss Sadie...36 weeks...bring on the baby!!!

No comments today, just read everything below on How Life is Changing...it's right on!! Pictures tomorrow...we'll see. :)

Your pregnancy: 36 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.

Dr. appointment

Went to the dr. yesterday. Everything looks good. She felt the cervix, said it's really soft and will probably start dilating soon. I asked her about a date, early or on time...she said, "When she feels like coming, she'll come." I'm having a lot of braxton hicks today... My feet were so unbelievably swollen last night, it was disgusting. I asked her abou that...she said my blood pressure is perfect, so I'm just retaining water. (Like a camel evidently). Whatever fungus was mentioned in the BabyCenter blog, I tested negative...yea! All's well... just a matter of time.

35 weeks....just getting by...

I'm swollen, I'm hurting, and I'm soooooooooo ready to have this sweet little girl in my arms and OUT of my belly!!! I'm going to the dr. once a week now. I have an appt. tomorrow, next Thursday the 13th, and Friday the 21st (my LAST day of work - wahoo!!!). Lots of things are getting harder to do... But I know that I'm going to have a beautiful baby in the next 3 to 5 weeks (I pray it's Thanksgiving week...). We're just getting things organized around here. I'm working in my classroom to get it organized, too and ready for my sub. I can't even walk to the bathroom without another teacher stopping to touch my belly and tell me they don't think I'm going to make it... :) I don't mind them touching my belly...I'm just ready to have a real baby to touch. Singing is getting SO hard...but she just loves it... the drums get her moving and she's gonna be either deaf or really rhythmic when she comes out. :)

Your pregnancy: 35 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who'll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won't follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process.

34 weeks...feeling like a very slow, waddling, front-humped whale!!!

Your pregnancy: 34 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short). Up to one percent of pregnant women develop PUPPP, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. See your practitioner so she can make sure it's not a more serious problem, provide treatment to make you more comfortable, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary. Also be sure to call her if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don't have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.

Baby Shower!!

GREAT shower yesterday!!!!! Loved it, loved it, loved it! Had a blast! DeDe (Sadie's Godmother and Shower-thrower) had everyone decorate burp cloths with puff paint. We played a cute little game...turned out to be hilarious! The food and decaf coffee was fabulous. I had 3 friends from 3 phases of my life there...it was so cool! My high school best friend, Bonnie was there...SO excited to see her! My college roomie, Andria was there...always love seeing her even though we live 25 minutes from each other. All my newest and greatest friends from church were there...
Mother-in-law, Aunt-in-law, Mom, Sister Vaughna, Sister-in-law Tracy, and two sweet nieces Alex and Abby were there.

It was GREAT to see everyone. Sadie got the CUTEST clothes ever...she's going to be very well dressed! Better than mommy.

Got a lot of great stuff...only have to take back a few things...but that's not THEIR fault - Target and Babies 'R' Us are not doing a very good job of taking things off of the registry.

It was such a cool day (besides getting lost on the way...it's okay to be late to your own party, right?)

Thanks to everyone who came and to those who didn't but sent gifts!!! You are all wonderful and sweet people and I'm so blessed to have you in my life.

LAST week's shower was very intimate...my old teaching buddies Dee and Shelle threw it for me in Waxahachie. It was small, but so much fun. Great food (again) and great gifts. We decorated onesies with puff paint. Sadie is going to be puff painted all over the place. Thanks girls for throwing that for me. I loved every minute of it.

33 weeks pic

So, I'm thinking after we're done taking prego pictures, after the baby is born, we'll take "on our way to skinny" pictures. HA!

Here are my swollen ankles...and my flip flop tan. At least my toes are done... :)

Soooo ready... Miss Sadie at 33 weeks

It's as if the Baby Center people are writing about ME personally!! I had a really rough night last night trying to get comfortable and get to sleep. I just finally broke down (hormones, I'm sure) from frustration. Sadly, standing the the most comfortable position for me right now. She crushes my organs and moves every time I breathe in or out...obviously b/c my lungs are moving her out of the way.

I saw a side shot of me at church singing yesterday...can we say MOOOOOO.... seriously. Singing is getting difficult, talking for any amount of time (teaching) is getting hard...I can't breathe right now.

Yesterday was the worst I've felt since I first got pregnant. The pain down below is 10 times worse than it was. I realized as I turned over in bed a few nights ago, it's taking all my leg strength to get me turned over at night...so the muscles being used are muscles I've never felt before... therefore, that feeling like I fell on the bar of a boy bike is horrible. I'd feel much better if there were a real explanation for it, like I got kicked in between the legs or actually fell on a boy bike. But the "stretching" and new muscle use thing...just seems unreal.

I come home overwhelmingly tired and worn out. School, church, the store... it all takes a toll right now.

I know that when this is ALL over, I'm going to look back and wonder where the time went. I think the only reason I'm complaining so much right now is because up until now, it's been so easy. God's just getting me ready for the hardships of parenthood... Baby Bootcamp. I'm already trained on the waking up for 2 - 3 hours in the middle of the night... I have the lack of sleep thing down. The stresses of being a mommy...well, that will come later. I guess being a teacher of 22 little turkeys is pretty good training, but I get to give them back to their parents! :)

Okay, I'm done complaining. Pictures coming soon. Here's what the experts say:

Your pregnancy: 33 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.Many women are still feeling sexy at this stage — and their partners often agree. You may need to make some adjustments, but for most women, sex during pregnancy is fine right up until their water breaks or their labor starts.

Miss Sadie...making things a bit difficult!!

Happy things: I know Sadie will be here really soon!! I feel her move a lot and I love watching it. The Lord has blessed us with a large baby, I just know it.
Complaints: This ridiculous rash; This horrible pain down below that feels like I fell on a boy's bike; the leg cramps; the constant feeling that I need to pee and then nothing comes out b/c I just went 5 minutes ago; sleeping/turning over at night is painful.

Comments: While the complaints are outweighing the happy things, we are still so excited about this time. 8 weeks seems like a stretch...only God knows how long it will be. I think I'll have Craig take pics weekly now... if we can remember.

Your pregnancy: 32 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Baby Sadie - HUGE!!!!! and dropping!!!!

31 weeks!!!!!

Okay, here's the new pic! You can tell I've dropped quite a bit since the last time. There's a joke going on at school AND church - everyone's "Prepared to help me deliver and have brought all the supplies needed to help!" Hahahahaha!!! I have to admit, it's getting MUCH harder to NOT WADDLE!

Did I tell you about the RASH I have? Ugh!! It's red, itchy, and HOT! It burns so bad, but lures me in by itching. Then it starts stinging. Aloe Vera is just not everywhere it needs to be....I'm going to have to carry it around in a cooler. :)

My friend DeDe (our worship arts director at church) said she actually got a couple of e-mails from people after I sang on Sunday telling her they're not sure I should be up there singing... Did they not like our song?? Are you kidding me? I promise I'll let you all know when I CAN'T do it anymore. Gracious. What's funny, is it's the OLDER ladies... Did they not used to "plow the fields in 900 degree weather at 9 months and carried they're other 5 kids on their backs"? I could've sworn those were the stories we heard when we complained about something....and now they don't want me to sing b/c it looks like I'm about to go into labor... I need to show them pictures of my sisters and mom when they were prego. Granted, they have a few inches on me, but we just make big babies in our family!!!

I TOTALLY loved the attention a few months ago, when I was just starting to look pregnant. Now, it's getting old!

Miss Sadie just moves like crazy all the time!

Your pregnancy: 31 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Singing...

I sang my last special today for a long time. I have one more Sunday of Praise Team. And I'll get to sing with DeDe's band OneWill on Nov. 1 for Fall Festival. Super excited about that. I don't know how I'm going to be when I actually have to sit in the church seats with everyone else and sing from there... I always feel so ... well...like I'm missing out on a huge blessing. I LOVE to sing, and feel weird when I can't lead. I know the Praise Team will get along great without me, but I'll miss the rehearsals and all that stuff. I just love to sing for the Lord, and I'm so blessed to be able to birth His little miracle in 9 weeks. I'm just going to miss it all.

Yesterday morning, Craig and I drove to Waco to meet his dad and stepmom so they could give us our baby gifts that we didn't get to receive in Houston b/c of the hurricane. GREAT stuff!!! They were blown away at how much I had grown since July...big surprise. :)

Last night, we went to dinner with some very dear friends and asked them if they would be Sadie's Godparents. This was a VERY big deal for Craig, b/c of his Catholic/Italian upbringing and I thought it was a great idea. Jeff and DeDe Jones (our worship leader and her husband and two amazing people that we love so very, very much) will be GREAT Godparents and will love Sadie like she's their own.

2 showers coming up:
October 18th in Waxahachie - my old teacher buddies from years past.
October 25th in Trophy Club - DeDe's throwing me a shower for my family, Craig's family and our closest friends from church and around the area.
and in November, my 4th grade team will be throwing my school shower...

SO excited!

That's it for now! I'm off to write thank you notes!!! Picture coming this week!!!

Baby Sadie - Getting BIG!!

Went to the doctor today for a check up. Her heartbeat was 154 today. Got my Rogam shot today, I'm O- and Craig is B+, so this will make sure that our blood will not make her blood act up. We wanted to know when our next sonogram would be...as of right now, she's very healthy, so Dr. Finke said unless there are complications, we won't have one. And we really can't afford a 3D or 4D sonogram. So I guess we'll just see her when she comes out. I guess we could take a 30 week picture tonight... Some clothes make me look bigger/smaller than others. Who knows how I look today...no comments, maybe everyone is getting bored with it. I'm not bored yet, just ready to see her!!! :)

Your pregnancy: 30 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)See what your baby looks like this week.

29 weeks - BIG baby Sadie!!

Baby Sadie is beginning to resemble an alien daily as she moves across my tummy. She's making it hard to sing and walk and get out of bed and walk and move...and walk... :)
We finally finished the border in the baby room, and Craig and I went to get our S-A-D-I-E letters and I've started painting them. We also found 3 piggy banks that match the room perfectly, 1 cow, 1 sheep, and 1 chicken! Isn't that random? Thought it was too good to be true. Her first banks! Car FUND!!! College FUND!!! and Wedding FUND!!! Oh MY!
I don't feel any bigger than I did last week, but I can tell by the sharp pains in my lower abdomen that I'm definitely stretching. I'm having a hard time thinking that in 11 or (hopefully less) weeks we will have a new baby in this house. So surreal and strange to think about it. We are so excited!!!

Your pregnancy: 29 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Baby Room...so far...

So here's a sneak peek of the baby room. We still need the glider rocker and changing table in there, but this is the gist of the theme. Barn animals... we thought it was so cute. Mom bought all of our baby room decor for us... THANKS MOM!!!

28 weeks along Picture

Okay, okay, so I tried on my coral shirt...no go... I would have to cut it off if I tried to put it on. So...here it is... 28 weeks along. So far I've heard several totally different statements... "Oh my, are you having twins?" or "Has your doctor really looked to see if there's just one baby?" My answer to that one is - no, my doctor doesn't believe in listening for 2 heart beats or looking on the sonogram for 2 bodies. And here's my favorite, "I think your doctor got the date wrong." Yes, she's an idiot. I'm due tomorrow. As for the positive one, "You're not that big, but you do look like you're carrying a boy." Thank you to those, and I think the "looking" like you're carrying a boy or girl is dumb. It looks like I'm carrying a BABY. :) As you can tell, the comments are laughable at most. I'm not letting it get to me... some people are just really dumb sometimes. Gotta love 'em.

BABY SADIE - 12 weeks away!!!!!

Well, here we are, third trimester. Time is truly flying. Thanks to Hurricane Ike, no Houston shower was had...I'm sad about it. But I'm so glad everyone we know and love is safe and was not hurt. Their physical things may have been, but family wasn't.
I went to the doctor last Thursday for my glucose screening. They didn't tell me how to eat that day, so I went about my business and ate like normal. They called Friday and said my sugar was a little elevated and my iron was low. So, now I'm taking iron supplements, and NOW they are having me come back this Wednesday for the 3 hour glucose test. I have a feeling everything will come back normal, once I fast for 12 hours. I'm thinking positively.
She moves all over the place, more than usual. This morning, I woke up to her rhythmically punching my bladder and both sides of my stomach. She must have had some big time hiccups! As soon as I got up, she quit. Maybe she just didn't like how I was laying. :)
My back is still giving me fits, but once I get up and moving, it seems to get better. Some days are unbearable, some I'm just fine. I can really feel some strange movements, like parts of her moving across my belly and getting to watch them is fascinating!!! This is such a cool time in my pregnancy. I'm savoring every moment of it b/c I know it will go by so fast. Craig will take a picture of me tonight. I'll try on my coral shirt, but I don't know if it will fit. :)

Your pregnancy: 28 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.

Miss Sadie - 90 days to go!!!!! Home Stretch!

Sadly, we may not get to go to Houston this weekend for our first Baby Shower. Hurricane Ike could wait a few more days or just stop altogether...which would be great!!! We really don't want to miss our shower, nor can we postpone, b/c after October, I won't be able to travel long distances anymore. :(
As for the information below, I've added a few red comments to AGREE with what it's saying. Glad I'm a textbook pregnancy! :)
90 days to go...holy cow.

Your pregnancy: 27 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups (EVERYDAY!!!), which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back (NO DOUBT!!!), for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then (YES!!!). They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too.It may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but it's not too soon to think about family planning. You'll want to have made some decisions about postpartum birth control before your baby arrives. If you're considering a tubal ligation, be aware that most states require you to sign a consent form at least 30 days beforehand. So if you'd like the option of having the surgery during your postpartum hospital stay, don't wait too much longer to discuss it with your caregiver. (You can still change your mind later.)

Sadie - 26 weeks down, 14 to go...

Had a good weekend! We got her baby book, so cute. And a new book called "Baby Wise". We got some cute thank you notes, and some scrapbooking stuff for the baby book. She moved all day yesterday. Especially in church. She loves the music. Craig finally got to see her move in my tummy without touching it. It's a weird feeling to watch her move, not just feel her move. But just a really cool way for God to tell me that He's doing great things with her! We'll take another picture soon, it seems like I grow every single day now.

Your pregnancy: 26 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. 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. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.See what your baby looks like this week.

SADIE - My little busy body!

Started back to school on Monday. I wasn't sure how Miss Sadie would react to my schedule, but she's doing well. I think the sound of all the kids voices makes her happy...I hope. She better get used to it. :) Everything's fine, the kids love asking questions about her and wondering what she's doing. I do have a lot more energy than I thought I would, so that's a God-send.

Your pregnancy: 25 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growingHead to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

New Pic - 24 Weeks

Here I am...24 weeks. Not sure how much longer I can wear this shirt, but I'll try it again in 6 weeks. :)

Miss Sadie - 24 weeks - and MOVING all the time!!!

Sadie is a really active baby!! I am starting to feel stronger kicks and punches now... She likes to rest her head right above my belly button, especially when I'm singing! That makes singing a little harder, but I think she really likes the sounds of the band around her!
I'm feeling more and more pregnant everyday! My back makes it harder to get up out of bed and out of my chair. I'm carrying her "like it's a boy" as everyone says. Neh...she's just a little version of Craig! :)

Your pregnancy: 24 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Sadie Elaine - 23 Weeks along

She's just a mover and a shaker!!! She only moves when I lay down to rest and when I've got my hands on my tummy, she sits real still when Craig puts his hand on my tummy. However, the other night, I could feel her doing a summersalt in my stomach, and he couldn't feel it. It think it's a lot easier for me to feel it on the outside, b/c I feel it on the inside.

Went to the Dr. today. Strong heartbeat: 160 bpm. Told her about my back pain and sleepless nights and HEARTBURN!!! All normal.

Trying to get the curtains for the baby room sewn right now. That's contributing to my back pain, but they're turning out cute.

I have most of what I need to work on the room...we just have some moving furniture to do...this weekend I suspect?

I'll try to have a new pic up this week. xoxoxo

Your pregnancy: 23 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

Baby Sadie - 22 weeks along!

Everyday that I wake up now, I've grown more!!! It's getting harder to sleep, turn over, get comfortable, and just get to sleep. The clothes I wore at the beginning of the pregnancy are now getting snug - they were hand-me-downs from my skinny sister and sister-in-law, who were little when they were prego. Someone actually asked me if I'm having twins! Men! If his wife had been there, she would've hit him, I'm sure...I almost did! I pray I have the energy to get my classroom in order before school starts. I'd love to just say, "What doesn't get done, doesn't get done". But those who know me, know better. New pictures of the tummy will come soon, but I'm going to have to wear a different shirt, the coral one is getting snug in the tummy! ;)

Your pregnancy: 22 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.See what your baby looks like this week.

Sadie Elaine's Update - our baby Carrot

I really felt Miss Sadie dancing around a lot this past weekend, especially when I lay down to rest. Her Great-Mimi fed her very well, so she was pretty happy. While singing in a show with OneWill this past Friday, she was rather busy...she may be a little scared of all the noise (I stood next to the drums), or she'll just come out a really rhythmic baby. Hopefully she won't develop her daddy's musical sensibility. :)

Here's the babycenter.com update for the week:

21 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.See what your baby looks like this week.

Sonogram at 19 weeks -

Miss Sadie - hiding her girl parts! She didn't want to give herself up! We finally poked and prodded her enough, she spread those little legs just long enough for our technician to get a quick picture. All the little pictures are her body parts, including the girl parts. They are probably too small for you to read. One is of her hand, her femur, the top of her skull (cranium), her spine is visible in a couple of them, and one is measuring her heart rate of 150 bpm.

20 weeks - FINALLY! A BANANA!!! :)

Your pregnancy: 20 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. SHE's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom (She's actually about 8 inches long already - looks like we're going to have a tall one!!!)and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Baby Danklefs NEWS!!!

It's a GIRL!!! Sadie Elaine or Sadie Elizabeth is still on track for December 8! She weighs 9 oz. and is 8 inches long. All of her organs, fingers, toes, bones, etc are just the way they should be!!

My "heirloom tomato" - 19 weeks

We go tomorrow for our sonogram - we will let everyone know what we will be having. Just know, it will either be a Sadie or a J.T. :)

Your pregnancy: 19 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, taking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom —about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

The Baby Bell Pepper - 18 weeks along

Your pregnancy: 18 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!