bump check: 27 weeks

Hello third trimester! You heard me, two down, only one to go. This week I am gracing you with my typical headless shot, as well as one that actually includes my face. I know you're excited. And I apologize in advance for the slightly longish post.



Our baby girl is nearing two pounds and is around 14.5 inches from head to heel. She is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, her brain is very active. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning - with a lot of medical help - if she were born now. And any rhythmic movements that I might feel could possibly be the baby getting the hiccups. Hopefully she doesn't get them as bad as I do.

This week at my doctors appointment I got to have the lovely glucose tolerance test. Good news? I passed, yahoo! Bad news? I almost passed out after she drew my blood. It was all going fine and dandy, I was just holding the gauze on where she stuck me, and all the sudden I felt really dizzy. The nurse turned around and by the tone in her voice I obviously didn't look good. So they had to lay me down and put a cold cloth on my head yadda yadda yadda. Way to go me.

The rest of the doctors appointment went well. Baby J's heart rate is in the 130s, and both of us are doing fine. The doctor did say my belly was measuring a little bit big... she didn't say by how much, but that we would just keep an eye on it. Hopefully that means we will get to meet our little girl just a bit earlier than planned. Not too early though!

Here I am with my lovely orange glucose drink. The first few sips weren't so bad, but the drink definitely wasn't tasty. I had to chug the last of it in like a minute because it took me the whole five they allow you to get it down.


Because I'm measuring a little bit big and because I need my rhogam shot at 28 weeks, my appointments will now be every two weeks instead of every four. I feel like that will make the rest of the pregnancy go by quickly.

And random tidbit? I'm blaming my 2+ pound weight gain this week on my assistant, who so lovingly stocked our 'teacher cabinet' at work with chocolate, jelly beans and chips. Thanks Kenzie!! (You know I am enjoying every bit of that chocolate :o)

How far along: 27 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: +12.5 pounds
Maternity clothes: some of my maternity work pants are getting tight...
Stretch marks?: still none
Sleep: if only I could sleep on my stomach...
Best moment this week: passing the glucose test
Movement: she is definitely getting stronger and stronger
Food cravings: fruit
Gender: girl
What I miss: good skin
Milestones: making it to the third trimester!

a tasty meal

Well you know that on New Years Eve Chris and I decided against leaving the house. However we did make a lovely dinner.


Ok it may not look like the most amazing meal you've ever had, but it was rather delicious. We had maple balsamic glazed pork tenderloin, garlic herb mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli with Italian dressing. The pork was amazingly tender. It was a little complicated to make, in regards to the fact that there were several steps, but I wouldn't say it was hard. I think these two recipes are the only online recipes that I have followed exactly.

Enjoy!

we have ruffles

Chris hung the curtains up in the nursery for me last week :o). When they first went up I thought they were a bit much, but they are definitely growing on me. Plus I think once we get furniture and everything else in there, the curtains won't appear so bold.


What do you think?

Nutella Fudge

Got a case of the Mondays? If so, I think you should take 10 minutes out of your day and make this delicious fudge. It is so easy!!!

The recipe is courtesy of nestie Laurentian. Saturday when Chris woke up I told him someone had posted a recipe for Nutella fudge, and his only response was "yes please!" So here is the simple and delicious recipe...


Ingredients
1 (12 ounce) bag of milk chocolate chips
1/2 (13 ounce) jar Nutella
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)

Directions
1. Butter a nine inch square pan.
2. Optional step: Spread walnuts out on a sheet of foil and pop into 350 degree oven for 5-8 minutes, until nuts are golden and fragrant. Coarsely chop nuts and set aside.
3. In a 1 quart glass bowl, combine the chocolate chips, Nutella, sweetened condensed milk and salt.
4. Microwave mixture for three minutes, taking it out halfway through and stirring well. Return to microwave for the remaining time.
5. Remove bowl from microwave and stir in vanilla and nuts.
6. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Chill for two hours.

We actually used semisweet chocolate chips on accident, and didn't include the walnuts, but it was still delicious! Definitely something you should try.

our pet door

Here is a quick look at the installation of our pet door:






Right now we have the flap off of the pet door because we are having a hard time getting Sophia to go through it. She'll push on it with her paws, but won't use enough force to actually shove it open. Max on the other hand body slams the thing. I'm pretty sure it freaks him out to go through it, so he just wants to do it as fast as possible.

It is pretty funny, because they often scare each other going in and out. The past couple of days we will see one of them walking around the family room with their tail all fluffed up. You know that they either just tried to go to the basement, or came back up.

So far so good. We have moved their cat box just inside the door in the pictures, and their food is downstairs in the basement. No accidents yet! Keep your fingers crossed for us :o).

bump check: 26 weeks

So my belly has gotten big enough that I can't sleep in my own t-shirts (they are either really tight, or end up rolled up over my belly), and it no longer fits in the box I had previously used for cropping. Next week I might have to actually do my hair and put on some make-up so my head can be in the picture.

Oh and just so we are all aware, I'm down to double digits until my due date. 98 days to be precise. (My ticker on the blog is a day off, I'm not sure why.) April is coming faster than I can handle!


Our baby girl should weigh over a pound and a half, and measure 14 inches from head to heel. No wonder she can kick me in my bladder while headbutting me in the ribs... Her ears are continuing to develop and become more sensitive. So much so that she can probably hear conversations that Chris and I are having. She is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air.

How far along: 26 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: +10 pounds
Maternity clothes: of course
Stretch marks?: still none
Sleep: I can usually get a good five hours, beyond that it is touch and go
Best moment this week: eating some delicious fondue :o)
Movement: some days I call her the wiggle monster
Food cravings: fruit
Gender: girl
What I miss: my good skin
Milestones: double digits till my due date!

bring on 2010

So the past two years of my life have been rather eventful. In 2008 I graduated from college, got married moved to Kansas City, started teaching at a preschool and launched my invitation design business. In 2009 we purchased our first home and have spent a good chunk of time renovating it, and of course found out I was pregnant.

2010 is promising to be just as eventful. I'm not sure what it has in store, but for now I know we are expecting our first little one and that in itself will make it a year to remember.

And because only the cool kids celebrate the new year at home in their sweats watching bad TV, here are a few shots of Chris and I hanging out last night...




May 2010 be filled with joy and excitement for everyone!