27 weeks

      Right now I am changing. My body is changing in so many ways. One, I think my ribcage is expanding! My bras(even my bigger one) is hurting my ribcage. Even going without, hurts! I think my ribcage is getting bigger. My ankles/feet are starting to hurt and swell by the end of the day. My belly is getting huge! I can't believe my bump! I look in the mirror and smile. I can't believe in 3 months I will have a baby boy! 

      Thankfully, my nightmares(knock on wood) have dissipated. I am sleeping pretty well besides my back/hip pain and having to get up 3 times to pee! I am not nauseous anymore. For the most part, I am feeling good. Sure I have aches and pains and get tired easily and may break down and cry, BUT I am feeling pretty good and praising God for this little miracle! I'll take all these little things for my miracle. I better believe I remind him everyday of the love I have for him! :)

      I am so excited and a little nervous about being a mommy! I'm so excited to finally being a mom! I feel like I've always been suppose to be a mom. But the idea of being a mom is also scary! I am going to be responsible for a fragile little boy! Eeekkk! God gave me a big job! There is so much information out there about what you should and shouldn't do. Both sides to one type of feeding/diapering/birthing can have pros and cons. How do you decide which one is right? I have a lot of advice being thrown at me and a lot of this is best, how do you decide what is right for you without feeling guilty. I feel like overwhelmed by the different ways of parenting and raising kids. Do you cloth diaper or do disposables? Do you have a natural birth or use drugs? Do you breastfeed or not? AHHHHHH!!!! So many decisions and so much information on each way. I realize that only Travis and I can make these decisions, but it makes my head hurt!

Stats! How far along? 27 weeks
How big is baby? Rutabaga (about 13.6-14.8 inches and 1.5-2.2 pounds)
How I'm feeling? Very Emotional and Exhausted  
What I'm most excited about: I can't wait to see what kind of personality he has!
Weight? 222 lbs.
How I'm changing? My bump is growing, ankles are starting to swell, and ribcage is getting bigger(I think)
What I miss?  Being able to move easily.
Symptoms? tired, hip/back pain, heartburn, emotional, cankles 

Cravings? Anything sweet!
Highlights this week:  We got my crib and changing table!
Something I've done to prepare for baby: Put some more finishing touches on my registry!
 Special moment: Hearing my nieces and nephews talk about their new cousin! :)

26 weeks(or 98 days left)

       This past weekend, my husband and I went to Target and Burlington Coat Factory and tried to finish up our baby registry. My husband is a nut and he acted like a four year old! He kept scanning me with the scan gun. He thought he was funny. We were up and about all day. I was exhausted at the end of the day! I was so tired Saturday night. I am starting to get tired a lot easier.
    I am sooo frustrated with Target right now! I wanted to finish up my registry on Sunday, but I can't get onto my baby registry! It irks me so much. I have been trying since Friday(as I tried to check it before we went)! It's been almost a whole week. They need to fix this. I wrote them and they wrote back that they were sorry but are having issues with their website! I just want it to work!
    I have finished cleaning out my nursery! Everything not baby related, except a bed, is out!!! Wahoo!! My husband anchored the bookshelf in the nursery to the wall. It is not going to fall. He also changed the doorknob so it can't be locked. We finally picked out our crib and changing table. My mother-in-law is buying it for us.  I am so excited to get them and set them up! This is what we picked out:

Delta Canton Convertible Crib in Cherry Espresso

South Shore Angel Changing Table Chocolate Espresso

        I am definitely pregnant! I am an emotional melt-down with my husband today! I have been so exhausted after school. I've been trying to clean out the nursery, clean my house(I have family coming down), making dinner, and fitting in school work and my classwork, but it's just not all getting done!! I started getting frustrated with my husband and had a melt down. I don't know how women who are pregnant with number 2, 3, or 4 do it! I really don't! I'm exhausted and I only have to do things for me! I am thankful for being pregnant. I am so willing to be exhausted for Eli. I just wasn't expecting to feel this tired! But it's sooo worth it! I'm done complaining! :)

Stats! How far along? 26 weeks
How big is baby? Lettuce (about 13.6-14.8 inches and 1.5-2.2 pounds)
How I'm feeling? Very Emotional and Exhausted What I'm most excited about: Honestly, I just can't wait to meet him! Weight? 220.8 lbs.
How I'm changing? My bump is getting larger everyday.
What I miss? Feeling normal,  but this is sooo worth it!
Symptoms? tired, hip/back pain, heartburn, emotional Cravings? Anything sweet!
Highlights this week: Picked out my crib and changing table. Added a lot of things to my registry with my husband. Something I've done to prepare for baby: I finally finished cleaning the nursery out. We only have to break down the bed and get the crib and changing table. My husband secured the bookshelf to the wall with L-brackets. It will not fall! We added a lot of things to our registry. Special moment: Just enjoying him moving. My husband, if he is quick, can feel Eli move and sometimes can see him move! :)

25 weeks and Dr. Apt.

      Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment. It wasn't anything special. I gained 2 pounds in a month, which he said was very respectable(as I gained 7 lbs at my last appointment). I've only gained 9 pounds this pregnancy. I have another appointment in 3 weeks and will do my Glucose Tolerance Test for gestational diabetes. My fungal height was right on. Elijah's heartbeat was very strong and loud! :) I knew he was doing well, but it's still special to hear his heartbeat!
      We are starting to get a lot of hand-me down things! So exciting. We got a box and a big bag of clothes of 12 months- 3T from a friend. My sister keeps finding things her boys grew out of! It's amazing. Then my mother-in-law bought a bunch of adorable clothes for him! My mom sent Elijah his first football too! So excited!
    I've been thinking about what Elijah's personality will be a lot lately. I had a friend tell me to pray for a boy who sleeps. I've been doing that! But I wonder if he will fall in Travis' and my footsteps and be more laid back, calmer personality or is he going to be a spitfire. I hope he has Travis' humor and mild personality. I also hope he gets his eyes and nose! I'm so excited to meet him!
       I am so excited and thankful for this little miracle. I thank God for him everyday. I thank him and smile every-time Elijah moves and makes his presence know. If you think about the miracle of making a baby, it's amazing. Only God could orchestrate this amazing gift! This is how I know God is real! The miracle of making a baby and all the intricate details are amazing! :) So amazed everyday!

Psalm 139: 13-16:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made your works are wonderful I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Stats! How far along? 25 weeks
How big is baby? Cauliflower (about 13-14 inches and 1.5-2 pounds)
How I'm feeling? Emotional and Exhausted
What I'm most excited about: Honestly, I just can't wait to meet him!
Weight? 218 lbs.
How I'm changing? My baby bump is getting huge. People and strangers are starting to comment on my bump. I've been told I have a cute baby bump. I always smile hearing this knowing that I never thought I'd be here, blessed by a little tiny baby boy!
What I miss? Being able to bend over easily! 
Symptoms? tired, nightmares, hip/back pain, heartburn  
Cravings? Anything sweet!
Highlights this week: Seeing him move my belly! He is quite strong and is moving my belly quite a bit!
Something I've done to prepare for baby: I have been slowly cleaning out the nursery. I put together some of my sister's hand-me-down activity things to make sure they all still worked and have all there pieces. This weekend, my husband and I are going to try to finish our registry.
Special moment: He has started moving a lot at night. Around 3-4 am he starts moving and kicking me. I swear he is having his private dance party in my stomach!

24 weeks

         Eli is moving a lot! I mean a lot, especially on the weekends when I am a little lazy! Travis felt him for the first time this week, granted it was at 5:30 in the morning and he was half asleep, but he felt him! He said it felt like a muscle spasm. Eli has also been doing karate in my stomach, or else it feels that way! Yesterday, my husband and I watched him actually move my stomach! It was crazy! I love being able to feel him. I told my husband that it was a good thing I knew I was pregnant, because if I didn't all the moving around would freak me out!
       I have been struggling with nightmares lately. I'm told that they are from my lovely hormones! I have had terrible nightmares about something happening to me, the baby, or my husband! It's awful! I woke up in tears a couple times. I have also been awake for 2 hours in the middle of the night unable to go back to sleep! I'm hoping these go away soon!
        Monday I called and signed up for breastfeeding and birthing classes! I can not believe in 4 months, I'll have a baby boy! We waited so long to have a baby in our arms and here we are so close! This time is flying right by!

Stats! How far along? 24 weeks
How big is baby? Cantaloupe (12 inches and over a 1 pound)
How I'm feeling? Moody, Emotional, tired Weight? 215.8 lbs.
How I'm changing? My baby bump is getting big. I get out of breath easily.
What I miss? Being able to bend over easily! Being able to take cold medicine!!!
Symptoms? tired, nightmares, hip/back pain, heartburn Cravings? Anything sweet!
Highlights this week:Travis being able to feel him! :)