Belly shots

I really like the above shot! Crazy that my belly button might actually become an "outie"!


So, this week, I've got some fun belly pictures. Ryan and I actually had a free evening at home, and decided to try our luck being artsy. Neither of us is a photographer, but I thought some good shots of the baby girl inside my belly would be fun to look back on. Sorry if the partial nudity of my belly offends anyone. ;-) But, I honestly think that pregnancy is such an amazing miracle and such a beautiful experience to be involved in. So, we gave it a shot. This helps you see the expansion of my stomach without clothes masking the growth.
Today marks the 25 week mark. The last few nights, Ryan has been having dreams about our baby girl and he gets really excited to tell me what kind of mischief she is getting into in his dreams. I think it is making him excited to be a dad! I am really looking forward to meeting our little one. For now, I will continue to enjoy her little kicks and jabs!

kicking

So, I am almost at 25 weeks. I am starting to feel some minor aches and pains that come along with pregnancy. My lower back and hips sometimes ache and sleeping has been more difficult. I am a stomach sleeper, so sleeping on my side is hard. But, I know things could be a whole lot worse, so I am thankful that I am feeling as well as I am! I am feeling our baby girl kick a lot more now. Most of the time it is an exciting reassurance that she is doing well, but sometimes she kind of hurts me! Yesterday, she was really putting pressure on my bladder and it felt like she was yanking on a kidney. But, when we laid down to go to bed, she was kicking like a little swimmer! I put Ryan's hand on the lower, right side of my belly and he felt a really good, strong kick! It was a really fun little moment, Ryan being able to feel his little daughter for the first time. We were both laughing and enjoying it. She kicked a few more times after that, but with less force. I am glad that she is growing stronger and made a successful attempt to say hi to her daddy.
I went to the doctor on Friday for a checkup. My blood pressure, urine and everything seems healthy. The heartbeat is about at 152. The doctor had to look way down low with the doppler to find the heartbeat. She said my baby girl seems to be snuggled up way down low, burrowed in right on top of my bladder. So, I was reassured that I might not have to deal with much heartburn, but that I might lose control of my bladder a bit! Yay!
She is snuggling down low- she is going to be cuddly and snuggly just like her daddy! We'll have to master the swaddling technique to make her feel at home when she joins us in the outside world.
We are getting more and more excited to meet our little one. Rebecca gave us an adorable outfit last night for the baby. I just want to be able to have her and try on her cute, new outfits. Soon enough though!
We registered for some remaining baby gear/furniture yesterday at Walmart, and we also have an online registry at Target. So, those are available for those of you who have asked or who are interested.

24 weeks

This is me at 24 weeks. I am feeling round. I am also feeling my baby girl kicking a lot more now, which is an awesome feeling. Aside from a few severe charlie horse pains at night, all is going well. Soon, we'll register for the remaining baby items we are hoping for soon.

Here is me at 23 weeks before a really long day of conferences. The baby and I were super tired when it was all said and done. I actually came down with a bad cold this week and am trying to fight that off. Poor baby girl is dealing with all of my coughing and sneezing and lack of sleep. Hopefully, I can kick this soon. I have been drinking fluids since the moment I woke up. 

  You can also see the new shelves that Ryan built in the second picture. I have already filled some of the drawers up. We love the nursery. My mom came by today to see it, and bring some new clothes for the baby girl. She also brought a picture of my grandma from when my grandma was a baby. This will be wonderful in the nursery, because we are naming our daughter after my grandma, who I adored and respected so much. 

  This week, I tried prenatal yoga for the first time. I enjoyed it more than I expected I would. I have never been a yoga person, always preferring to run or bikeride. But, the yoga poses seem to be challenging and a good way for me to build flexibility and strength. Two of the other women in the class are also due in May.  I think I will continue going on Wednesdays. 

  Not much else to report. I'm just trying to beat this cold so that I can get my energy back.

nursery!

So, Ryan and I have been working on our nursery this weekend and it looks amazing! Pictures don't do its cuteness justice, so you'll have to come see it in person! The polka dots look great and it is such a fun room to be in. Ryan is currently working on putting together a set of white, cube shelves that will have pink, green, and blue drawers in them. What an awesome room to get to hang out in. I think our little girl will love it! And, it is so cute, it might even make waking up multiple times during the night to soothe a crying baby better- if I can hang out in the polka dot room with my cozy glider!

mom, this is the dress

Momma got me some maternity clothes on clearance from Kohls months ago. I can finally wear them. I felt like I was wearing a potato sack all day, but I got lots of compliments. It is strange that something so wide fits me! One of my students from last year came up to me and said, "Maestra, estas bonita, y gordita!"- which translates to "teacher, you're pretty- and a little fat". It made me laugh as I explained to her that getting fat, is just what happens when you are growing a baby inside. 

  

21 weeks

Still not in my maternity clothes in this pic. But, my skirt was feeling snug!