Belly pics

Sorry in advance, these pics are in reverse order: most recent to the very beginning of this pregnancy. The descriptions between pics are for the pic above the words.

32 weeks(last week)=19 lbs total

28 weeks=15 lbs total

23 weeks=7.6 lbs total

17 weeks=2.6 lbs total

0 weeks

Baby Stuff

I"ll have to take a new/better pic in the morning, but here is the back of my 1st quilt. Bought a pre-sewn patchwork panel w/applique at JoAnne's, added batting inside and a muslin backing via pillowcase method, then did stitch in the ditch around the patches & appliques.

Will also start taking pics of & posting other baby things I've made these past couple months.

Update

Down to 3 baby names. Thanks to all who particpated in my name poll email. It may just come down to picking one of the names at the hospital. It will either be: Sean Mitchell/Michael, Brent Michael, or Douglas Scott. In the meantime, the running gag name is: Justin Case, as in "we saved all this baby stuff in the garage for Justin Case." The sad part is, I almost like that name.

Other news: can't remember if I've mentioned it or not, but we're going to rebuild the enclosed patio into a functional room, part of which will be where the baby will be sleeping. The city has just approved our plans, and now we need to start meeting w/contractors & try to get this thing rebuilt before the baby comes.

Finally coming up on the end of month 6 next week & hitting the 3rd trimester. This week is week 26. Weight gain is good, albeit slighly lower than of where I should be. I chalk it up to the morning sickness not completely ending till week 17-20(which is why I was sure we were having a girl before we found out), and having to keep up with 3 very busy-body kids. Baby is still growing/measuring on schedule though, I can't explain that one with the the weight gain being what it is. At my last appointment a couple weeks ago, I was told my belly was actually measuring 2 weeks ahead. I know it's wrong to think about now, but I'm already strategizing a plan to get all the weight off within a few months of the baby being born, nothing crazy or extreme.

Starting to nest a little bit. Will be posting pics of the things I've made so far. Some went to a girlfriend who, hopefully, has had her 1st baby by now--her due date is in 5 days. Lots of people we know also expecting: St. Clairs, Holmstroms, Fischers, Hansens, a couple of old friends of mine, and one of my brothers & his wife.

Will also post some pics of my ever growing belly. People are saying I'm finally starting to show. I, on the other hand, feel like I started showing back at 8 weeks and am feeling rather front-heavy. Have had some Braxton Hicks contractions start around 20 weeks or so, mostly self-inflicted. I just get busy & dehydrated. I have to force myself to sit down & drink enough water. It's hard when I'm so busy.

Happy belated birthday Drew!

Well, only belated in that I'm late in posting about it. Drew turned 3 this past Friday, Feb. 19th. The Saturday before, the 12th, one of Tom's sisters & his mom helped us throw a small birthday party for him. This was his first birthday party. Thanks to our friends the LeBarons, Kings & Weavers for coming.

The kids: made fruit loop necklaces, found buried treasure in some play sand, played a magnetic fishing game & musical chairs, had pizza & cake (our 1st ever, and probably last, store bought cake--can't believe how expensive it was!) & opened presents. We all had a good time.

Pics courtesy of Tom's sister.

Drew was also really happy to get sent a Spin & Fix Thomas from Grandma & Grandpa Lewis. He had been asking about it since before Christmas, and Target pulled it out of their stores to online only while we were on Christmas vacation.

The Power of the Internet!

I have been so stuck on figuring out names. I finally did an online search last night, while Tom was putting the kids to bed. I stumbled upon this site:

http://www.babynamegenie.com/baby-name-generator/

A lot of the names it's suggested so far, I don't care for, but it's getting me thinking more. The website also gives options of finding a first name if you have a middle name picked out or vice versa. Which, that's my dilemma: putting the first & middle names together.

I've finally figured out a few names I really like(Grant, Brent, Douglas, and a few others), but I don't think Tom's so crazy about them.

New Baby

Very cute in all the pics we got today(9 printed on an 8x10, and a cd with over 75), our newest kept his hands close to his head. This first is my favorite. The last is just him cuddling up inside me & going back to sleep.

Final answer:

It's a boy. Tom, Ivy and I are a little disappointed--really hoping for a girl. They tried to check for us last week, but it was really hard to tell. The baby was rolled up into a ball, and they had said maybe boy, but they weren't sure. Have to say, that's the only kid of ours who did that. Ivy, Collin & Andrew were much more cooperative. I'm taking some extra time just to spend with Ivy these next few days.

We'll be taking the kids to see a 3-d ultrasound in a few days, so next week I'll post some of those pics when we get them.

I notice that there's a lot more room in the garage now. Once I found out it was a boy, I pulled out all the girl clothes we had been holding onto since Ivy outgrew them and we'll be passing them off to a friend who could really use them.

We're also getting started on having our patio rebuilt, so it 1)won't have a leaky roof when it rains hard(the outside wall also warped after our week long rain a couple weeks ago) & 2)it'll be the new baby's room. We haven't really started too much on that yet, just thinking/talking with some friends about the process and drawing up some preliminary ideas.

I guess I should start pulling out the baby name book we have. It takes forever for me to find first & middle names for boys that sound okay together. Much easier to tell on girl's name if it sounds good or not.