Koetje Family

How far along?  29 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Acorn Squash
Total weight gain/loss: 11 lbs. according to dr. appt.
Size of belly: 30 cm. and a smidge
Baby’s heartbeat: 138 bpm
Best moment this week:  Getting all my packages in!  The nesting bug has hit me but it is more in getting things we need and finding a spot more than cleaning right now.  I got two packages full of cloth diapers, some sleepers, and some nursing necessities.  It is getting so real to see cloth diapers in my dresser and sleepers in my closet, I love it! 🙂  Wes keeps laughing that every time I open something I squeal with excitement!
Miss Anything? Not really.  Minor things like touching my toes, picking stuff up of the floor, and shaving comfortably are all challenges but challenges I don’t mind because I have a very healthy, active baby growing bigger and bigger!
Oh, I can think of one… cooler weather or at least less humidity!! This GA humid summer may melt me literally! 🙂
Movement: The movement has definitely gotten to the point that I can feel it even as I walk around!  It used to be that baby would be really active but I would only feel it when I was paying attention or sitting still.  Now I will be walking and BAM, hello little one! 🙂
Food cravings: fruit!  We still had some in the house but not enough, so Wes and I went to the store and bought a ton of fruit.. it’s gone already 🙂 Peaches, strawberries, watermelon, apples, and bananas have been the favorites!
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Popcorn made me a little queasy one night, but that is about it.
Gender prediction:  I’m still thinking boy.
Labor Signs: nope
Symptoms:  major hip pain, achy shoulders, can’t get comfy, exhausted, can’t get a deep breath, and a hearty appetite.
Belly Button in or out? Might as well just say flat at this point.  There is not really an ‘in’ to it now  🙂
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and hot!  This week has been better than last week.  I think the weather has so much to do with it.  Last week it was still pretty cloudy and rainy but this week the sun has come back out!  I love beautiful sunny days, just not the heat and humidity that is coming with it.
Looking forward to:  Being able to tell what position the baby is in.  It has been so hard to tell because I feel little jabs and movement literally all over my belly.. low, high, right and left.  We went to the doc this week and he could tell where the back was but couldn’t tell if the baby’s head was up or down.  He said I needed to get a little bigger for him to tell without pushing so hard it will hurt to find out.  I’m so excited to be able to feel and tell what is a leg vs. an arm and a head vs. a butt! 🙂
Doctor Update: As before, this is currently being used as my pregnancy journal so this info is more for me to be able to remember than anything.  Feel free to see how we are doing though! 🙂  My blood pressure is still looking good at 98/60 this week.  I have been gaining weight steadily but not a ton.  In the two weeks between my last two appointments, I had only gained 2 lbs.!  My belly is still measuring about a week ahead and as long as it doesn’t get too big and we keep having a smooth pregnancy, we won’t have another ultra sound.  The doctor is happy to see that I haven’t been swelling.  His words “Wow, you still have ankles! That’s good!” 🙂 I passed my glucose test which tests to see if I have Gestational Diabetes.  I only had to do the one-hour test and I passed with flying colors.  They want my numbers when they draw me blood to be under 130 and I was 97, which isn’t surprising that my body knows what to do with sugar! 🙂  I still have really low iron, technically anemic, so I have to start really watching to be sure I’m getting iron rich foods in my diet since I’m already on iron supplements and it is still low.  Baby is still really strong and growing well with a heartbeat of 138 bpm.

How far along?  28 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Eggplant
Total weight gain/loss: 10 lbs.
Best moment this week:  I have to brag on my hubby this week for making my birthday so special!  He stayed home from work all afternoon and got a lot of things done for me.  He took me out, bought me cupcakes and flowers, and really spent so much time with me!  I love him so much!
This week we also had our pediatric consult, which went really well.  It is getting so real now that we have our pediatrician and we pre registered at the hospital!
Miss Anything? Being comfortable!  I’m starting to get to the uncomfortable stage.  I know I have a long way to go and it is just going to get worse, but I am definitely entering it!
Movement: Each week I think this baby can’t move any more and it just keeps surprising me.  Every morning when I wake up, baby has a little dance party in my belly  🙂 I love feeling it move around so much!  Wes loves playing games with it already. 🙂
Food cravings: overall this whole pregnancy has been sweets.. this week, brownies!
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Every once in a while my calcium pill will make me sick as it goes down.  Very random and it doesn’t continue but for what ever reason, I am having a hard time getting it down this week.
Gender prediction:  I know last week I was thinking it could still be a girl, but this week it is all boy thoughts! 🙂
Labor Signs: nope
Symptoms:  major hip pain, achy back and can’t get comfy, exhausted (I didn’t know I could sleep this much!), can’t get a deep breath, and a hearty appetite.
Belly Button in or out? In, although it is starting to look more flat and very stretched!  We think part of it is starting to come out… depending on the shirt you can see it.  Technically it is still just in/flat.
Wedding rings on or off? On.. I check to be sure I can get them off every day so I don’t get stuck and have to get them cut!  I’m hoping I can wear them the whole time.  Luckily I haven’t been swelling at all so far!
Happy or Moody most of the time: I have been a little more moody this week and I don’t know why.  I was talking with a friend about it this week and it is like my body has been taken over and I can just tell even before talking to anyone that I am moody even when I don’t want to be!  It is so weird to be in a bad mood for no reason and not want to be in a bad mood and just can’t help it.
Looking forward to:  I am so excited to get our cloth diapers in that I have ordered and start cleaning out our closet to fit little one’s things!  I need to start making this apartment look like a baby is on the way!  We are hoping to have a house before baby comes, but it isn’t a guarantee we will find something so I need to be prepared here first!  It could get interesting trying to fit a baby in this tiny apartment but I’m up to the challenge (at least for a small amount of time)!

How far along?  27 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Rutabaga
Total weight gain/loss: 9 lbs. according to dr. appt.
Size of belly: 28 cm.
Baby’s heartbeat: 142 bpm
Best moment this week:  Having so much time with Wes over the holiday weekend!  Since this Fourth of July weekend was rained out, we watched movies, went shopping for baby, and spent some time with m parents to celebrate my birthday early.
Miss Anything? Not pregnant related, but I am missing my lotion.  To keep my poison ivy dried out I can’t moisturize my skin.  I just feel like my skin is thirsty, so hoping the poison ivy starts clearing up!
Movement: Baby has probably been the most active this week of any so far.  Wes was watching my belly and the baby started moving.  He said “its like your belly is doing the wave!” 🙂
Food cravings: watermelon and sweets! Brownie batter (minus the egg) is the best!
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not this week, feeling good!
Gender prediction:  Since I have been so stuck on thinking it is a boy, I have gotten excited this week thinking it could be a girl still.  I don’t know why but this week I’m starting waver and think it could be either!
Labor Signs: nope
Symptoms:  major hip pain, achy back and can’t get comfy, exhausted, and a hearty appetite.
Belly Button in or out? In, although it is starting to look more flat and very stretched!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy for the most part.  There have been a few days that I have been moody for no reason.  It’s like I get up knowing myself that I am moody and not sure why or how to stop.  It’s a little weird not wanting to be moody but knowing you are, it’s like I’m not in control of my emotions and body.
Looking forward to:  Starting to get more of my cloth diapers!  I’m so excited to invest and start getting my fluff mail in and collection going! 🙂

How far along?  26 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Head of lettuce
Total weight gain/loss: probably still about 10lbs.
Best moment this week:  Spending some time with Wes’ family and getting to celebrate our little one with our first shower!  It was so good to see his family along with some of his aunts and friends.
Miss Anything? Nothing really this week.  I still have a hard time getting comfortable but that’s just part of it!
Movement: So much movement!  Now if I am eating on the couch or somewhere that my plate is on my lap/belly, the baby will kick it and move it! 🙂
Food cravings: Watermelon and m&ms 🙂
Anything making you queasy or sick:  Not this week, feeling good!
Gender prediction:  Still thinking the same.
Labor Signs: nope
Symptoms:  major hip pain, achy back and can’t get comfy, it’s now rare to get to sleep through the night, and a hearty appetite.
Belly Button in or out? In, although it is starting to look more flat
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Well, I have poison ivy. 🙁 I must have gotten it from where we take Simba to play.  In trying to stay completely med free through pregnancy, I am not even using Cortizone cream so I am having to find other methods to help handle the itching!  So far rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, drying it out with a hair dryer and Burt’s Bees poison ivy soap is helping so much!  I really hope that it starts healing soon!  I was bummed that I didn’t get to play and hold my nieces so I wouldn’t spread it on to them. 🙁  So I have been happy for the most part this week but just a little uncomfortable!
Looking forward to:  Getting more stuff for baby!  Now that we are starting to hit 3^rd tri, Wes is starting to even feel like we need to be collecting some stuff for baby so let the shopping begin!! 🙂

How far along?  25 Weeks
Size of Baby:  Cauliflower
Total weight gain/loss: 10lbs.
Best moment this week:  Spending some much needed time with hubby!  We have had most of the discussions we have needed to have about baby’s arrival this week along with a lunch date!  I also loved the night that Wes was talking to little one and telling it to move and kick him and s/he did!  Let the games begin 🙂
Miss Anything? Comfort when relaxing!  My hips have been so achy and sore.  I’m starting the stage of not being able to get comfy sitting or laying down because of my hips.  This is going to be a long 3 more months if I can’t figure this out!
Movement: This week baby decided to jump on the bed, no joke!  I was laying on my side and I felt major kicks on the side that was touching the bed but was seeing it on the opposite side my belly!  It was awesome and pretty hilarious. 🙂
Food cravings: sherbert!  I may or may not have already gone through 2 tubs in about a week 🙂
Anything making you queasy or sick:  I am slowly learning more things about my iron pill.  I have to take it on an empty stomach but apparently not totally empty.  If I take it when I first get up, after about 30 min (suppose to wait an hour to eat) I get really nauseous.  However if I wait and take it the 2 hrs after breakfast, I am fine for the hour.  Really weird but I’m learning.  This is the one vitamin that has too many rules and facets to it that it is taking me a while to figure out.
Gender prediction:  The majority of people I talk to all think boy since I am carrying lower.  I am still trying to not get my hopes up one way or the other but I tend to agree.
Labor Signs: maybe starting Braxton Hicks contractions… not sure though
Symptoms:  major hip pain, minor cramping, Braxton Hicks contractions, always peeing, minor leg cramps, and a hearty appetite.
Belly Button in or out? In, although it is starting to look more flat
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy all week!
Looking forward to:  I get to see my beautiful nieces in a few days!  I’m so excited to see them and spend some time with Wes’ family.  We haven’t been up there since we announced to them back in Feb. and probably won’t be back up until Christmas time.