27 Weeks

How Far Along: 27 Weeks  

Size of baby: Head of lettuce (15 inches, 2.5 lbs)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still just +8, although I'm feeling larger this week.

Maternity Clothes: Everything now. I'm still enjoying normal sized shoes....although some of those are pretty tight now.  Example- I've been really wanting those tacky nursing clogs to wear at work.  Today was a scrub sale at the hospital and they had those shoes on sale there.  Too bad I couldn't even think about squeezing my foot into the largest size they make.  So it's confirmed- I've got amazon woman sized large, swollen feet. 

Gender: GIRL!  Avery Grace has already stolen our hearts!

Movement: I experienced baby hiccups for the first time.  I wasn't sure at first what it was, but after some quick googling, found out Little Avery was indeed hiccuping.  She's gotten quite "violent" in her punches too.  I was singing at church on Sunday and apparently she wanted to remind me she was there and gave me a real good strong punch in the diaphragm before the song started which resulted in me being unable to catch my breath through the entire first verse.  I'm going to remember this and we're going to have a talk about it in about 12 weeks.  :)

Sleep: Still gone.  I'm reminded of a Montgomery Gentry song at this moment, "Gone like a freight train, gone like yesterday, gone like a soldier in the Civil War, bang bang.  Gone like a 59 Cadillac, like all the good things that ain't ever coming back, it's gone."  Hopefully the purchase of new mattress helps this situation.  I'm tired of the "Ricky & Lucy" sleeping arrangement going on in this household.

What I miss: Sleep. 

Cravings: Sweet tea- big time.  I finally wised up and bought tea to make at home.

Symptoms: Fatigue, appetite like a sumo wrestler, and Braxton Hicks.  The whole BH thing is new for me.  It's a weird sensation to say the least. I'm sure it's just as uncomfortable to see.  From my view from above, it looks like she scrunches in a ball and moves to either side and just stays there for a few seconds and then returns to her favored position...under my ribs and diagonal. 

Best Moment/Most Interesting Moment this week: The "bump" getting noticed by strangers.  One of the frequent patient's at work asked me "When are you due?"  Well, he'd joked around with me before so I figured I'd return the favor and responded, "What are you talking about?"  I've never seen a man's face so stinkin red before.  All he could say was, "Oh man, oh man, oh man."  I finally told him my due date and told him that asking that question is risky business.  He agreed. :)

What I'm Looking Forward To: 28 week appointment on Friday!  Avery's due date may change....we'll see!

26 Weeks

(Aside from feeling like I look like a busted can of biscuits, this bump picture really shows the little Miss Avery Grace)

How Far Along: 26 Weeks  

Size of baby: Cucumber (15 inches, 2.2 lbs) 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +8.  Avery Grace is packing on the pounds.  :)

Maternity Clothes: Everything now. I'm still enjoying normal sized shoes....although some of those are pretty tight now. 

Gender: GIRL!  Avery Grace has already stolen our hearts!

Movement: More predictable now.  I can tell where she's positioned by her movements.  She loves to be breech, feet at my lower left side and head in my upper right side....nestled right under my diaphragm.  

Sleep: Gone.  My ability to sleep is still gone.  Although, in the course of the past week I've gone from waking up every 45 minutes to every 2 hours as of last night.  I called and got advice as to what I can take sleep aid wise to help and the doctor recommended Unisom.  The first night I took it I'm pretty sure I had my first episode of sleep walking.  Actually, I'm more than pretty sure, it happened.  We'll just leave it at that....just know that funny things did happen.  And it involved cereal.  And sweatpants.

What I miss: Sleep. 

Cravings: Sweet tea- big time.

Symptoms: Fatigue.  I hit a wall of exhaustion around 1:30pm every day.  Not sure if it's from lack of sleep or I'm really just that tired.

Best Moment/Most Interesting Moment this week: Avery Grace's first shower!  We are extremely blessed to have some wonderful Godly ladies that were willing to pour into our lives and host this wonderful shower!  I only hope Avery understands when she's old enough how much she is already loved by so many precious people.

24-25 Week Update

How Far Along: 25 Weeks  

Size of baby: Eggplant 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +6 still.  According the doctor at my most recent appointment, I'm nearly not gaining enough weight.  I don't think I've ever been told such news in the history of, well, ever. 

Maternity Clothes: Everything now. I'm still enjoying normal sized shoes. 

Gender: GIRL!  Avery Grace has already stolen our hearts!

Movement: Avery is a night owl.  She loves the hours of 9pm to 3am.

Sleep: Gone.  My ability to sleep is gone.  :(  

What I miss: Nothing this week...surprisingly. 

Cravings: Orange juice, sweet tea, and milk.

Symptoms: Fatigue and occasional headache.

Best Moment/Most Interesting Moment this week: Going to my follow up appointment this week.  Avery is growing so fast!  She's all legs (like her mama).  Next appointment is at 28 weeks!

23 Weeks

How Far Along: 23 Weeks.  

Size of baby: Ear of corn. (8.5 inches; 1.5 pounds) 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +6 total this week. 

Maternity Clothes: Everything now. I'm still enjoying normal sized shoes. 

Gender: GIRL!  Avery Grace has already stolen our hearts!

Movement: Movement is all the time still.  Avery loves church.  She seems to go on a kick marathon during Pastor Danny's sermons.

Sleep: Still consistently waking up to go to the bathroom.  

What I miss: Nothing this week...surprisingly. 

Cravings: Orange juice, sweet tea, and milk.

Symptoms: Fatigue and occasional headache.

Best Moment/Most Interesting Moment this week: Rough week with the gimp hand.  Went to the hand specialist on Wednesday morning and was told it was indeed an avulsion fracture (I'll spare you the gory details, but it involves the ripping away of bone fragment and tearing of tendons...).  I'm in the sweet and stylish splint you can see in the bump picture for up to 12 weeks.  YIKES!  
I'm definitely looking forward to my next ultrasound appointment coming up this Wednesday.

22 Weeks

**No picture this week, I'm lucky to get this posted with my gimp hand.** :(

How Far Along: 22 Weeks.  

Size of baby: Papaya. (8 inches; 1.2 pounds) 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still just +5 according to the scales that were unpacked from their box this week. 

Maternity Clothes: Everything now. I'm still enjoying normal sized shoes. 

Gender: GIRL!  Avery Grace has already stolen our hearts!

Movement: Movement is all the time, especially in the morning when I wake up, around lunch time, and at night.  Her kicks are getting to be more visible from the outside.  Jacob hasn't seen them, but I have.  She gets kick shy when he gets around.  Go figure.

Sleep: Still consistently waking up to go to the bathroom.  

What I miss: Nothing this week...surprisingly. 

Cravings: Orange juice, sweet tea.

Symptoms: Still complexion problems, fatigue, and occasional headache.

Best Moment/Most Interesting Moment this week: Officially breaking my left hand on Friday at work.  I didn't fall so Avery most likely didn't even know anything happened.  Lucky her...  Follow up with hand specialist is on Wednesday.

21 Weeks

How Far Along: 21 Weeks.  

Size of baby: Spaghetti squash. (8 inches; 1 pound) 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +5 lbs according to the doctor.  I think it's more after the numerous feasts that have happened during the course of the holiday....and there's more to come.

Maternity Clothes: Everything now. I'm still enjoying normal sized shoes. 

Gender: So excited to reveal HER name TOMORROW!

Movement: She moves multiple times.  We found out this week after nearly breaking my hand that she's just like her mama...doesn't like being cold.  She let me know that by kicking so hard it was visible from the outside. 

Sleep: Still consistently waking up to go to the bathroom.  I thought I had it figured out that if I didn't drink anything after around 7 I wouldn't have to get up.  Not the case.  

What I miss: After missing those Starbucks holiday drinks so bad, someone at work let me in on a secret....they make them in decaf! I've thoroughly enjoyed my DECAF Gingerbread Latte yesterday.  Heaven in a cup I tell you.  Heaven in a cup.

Cravings: Orange juice.  Jacob was even sweet enough to run to the store and get me some earlier in the week around 10pm at night.  I guess I'll keep him around.  :) 

Symptoms: There's an old wives tale that says that if you feel like someone is robbing you of your beauty, you're probably carrying a girl.  Well, this week I'm feeling like an ugly duckling.  I've had numerous people tell me otherwise, but still.  I'm kinda tired of waking up to a new village of "people" on my face every few days.  I'm not 15 anymore people.

Best Moment/Most Interesting Moment this week: Finishing up Christmas shopping, starting our holiday family visits, getting outfits for sweet baby girl in the mail!

20 Weeks

How Far Along: 20 Weeks.  

Size of baby: Banana (7in, 11oz)....BUT- little one measured in at 12oz at our ultrasound. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +5 lbs according to the doctor.  I think it's less than what's expected but the doctor didn't seem too concerned.

Maternity Clothes: Mostly everything now.  I'm caving and ordering maternity scrubs.  Lordy lord it's come to that.  :)  Another friend at work today told me, "You know, you really shouldn't be swallowing basketballs."  

Gender: It's a GIRL!!!  We'll reveal her name after Christmas...so if you know already....no spilling the beans.  It's been AWESOME being able to call her by her name and not just "Baby T" or "it".  

Movement: TONS!  I've really enjoyed feeling her multiple times daily.  Jacob and I got to actually SEE her moving during our ultrasound.  She attempted to climb my uterus at one point, she obviously knew where she was going.  

Sleep: Pretty good this week.  I've been waking up consistently between 12:30 and 1:00 to go to the bathroom.  Looks like those days are back.  Baby girl likes to stand and dance on my bladder.  It's been confirmed- I've got pictures.  

What I miss: For some reason, this week, I'm missing Starbucks holiday drinks.

Cravings: Still iced Tea.  I've only given in a couple of times.  

Symptoms: Nothing this week.  It's definitely a continued welcome break.

Best Moment/Most Interesting Moment this week: Going for our 20 week ultrasound and finding out that Baby T is "without at doubt" a GIRL!