Twenty-Six

This has been another crazy week for our family. Glen and I are just trying to cope with all of the surprises and craziness.

On Saturday, Glen was in a wedding and I attended with friends Shea an Emily. The wedding was for our good friends Erica and Matt and it was absolutely gorgeous. The weather was perfect, the colors were lovely and most importantly, the food was fantastic! The wedding theme was a Victorian Theme with gold, ivory and peach colors. Glen looked great in his tux and I seemed to have gotten a lot of attention. All I really wanted to do was sit down and eat my cake but I kept getting interrupted. I couldn’t believe how much attention I was getting, even from random strangers. Everyone wanted to ask about the baby on the way and touch my belly. I guess my belly had a sign on it that read “rub me”, or at least that is what it felt like. This was really the first time that so many people were so curious and interested in my pregnancy. I’ve heard of people gravitating to a belly, but I have never witnessed it before. My thoughts on the experience? I’m not going to lie, I adore the attention but it did make it difficult to leave or even do simple things like make a dash to the restroom or walk up to the fondue pots. Glen and I, along with friends Emily and Shea, had a fantastic time together. Here are a few photos from the wedding. 

As tradition goes, we spent Easter at my Mom and Pap Tom’s house. The grounds were very wet and soggy, so we had to hold our annual Easter egg hunt in my Mom’s yard. Glen and I brought cupcakes with peeps on them and we had ham and cheesy potatoes for lunch. 

I couldn’t get enough of that ham. At one point my sister, Jess, told me that the baby wants to eat vegetables. Probably because she saw that I was eating half of the ham and the salt is very dehydrating. Glen and I had a great time, even though we were exhausted. We got home at a decent time and got to watch a movie before we called it a night. Here’s a photo of Jess and I with our baby belly’s (Jess is due exactly two weeks before me)

 Monday night was spent at the Senator’s game with friends Ian and Shea. It was a gorgeous night for a baseball game. Glen and I had gotten the tickets through Groupon for $6 each. We had no money to spend at the ball game, so we ate before we went and just enjoyed 1 drink each (him a beer and me a slush puppy). While we were there we checked out the upcoming events and the boys were especially excited to see the “monkey rodeo” where monkeys ride dogs. That event is on July 14^th, so if I’m not too large and uncomfortable by then, I will definitely be attending with the boys.

Glen and I came home Monday night to discover that our air conditioner was on the fritz. The house was around 80 degrees and this isn’t exactly ideal for someone who is 6 months pregnant. We ended up hooking up some fans and opening the windows which definitely helped. The air conditioner still isn’t fixed but we’ve been making due without it. It’s been very hot and uncomfortable but we have to remain patient. Glen found that the squirrels that were left into our attic by the siding contractors ate through a bunch of the air conditioner wiring and duct work. Basically all of our air is being blown into our attic. We’re working on getting some quotes from HVAC companies and working with the siding company to get the problem resolved. Glen and I don’t discuss it much, but we are struggling financially and this is just another setback. We’re hoping that we can work through it and be back on our feet soon. Glen is working all weekend and I signed up to do two photography gigs for extra cash so we can at least get groceries. I really do believe in that saying “when it rains, it pours”. We’ve definitely seen a downfall happen all at once on quite a few occasions.

My baby project of the week was installing a curtain rod and hemming the curtains I purchased for the baby’s room. Glen and I wanted to add more color into the room and make it a little less “adult”, so we picked some colorful curtains. We also agreed on some decorations and wall art for the room to make it a little more suitable for a baby boy. For now, you can enjoy looking at these curtains and as we add to the room, I’ll update the blog. 

For helping Shea work on his resume, he presented Glen and me with a very cool baby gift as a “thank you”. It was greatly appreciated but definitely not expected. He picked out two of the cutest baby t-shirts ever! The baby will be able to fit into these perfectly next Summer. One is an AC/DC shirt and the other is a KISS shirt. Pictured below. 

I don’t have too much to add with baby happenings except for that I had a doctor’s appointment and this was the first time she had the opportunity to measure my belly. I’m happy to announce that I measured right on target. The baby was quite active, so she didn’t even need to take the heartbeat of the baby. She could literally just watch him kick through my skin. For those who may not know what that looks like, I attached a short video of the baby kicking. You’ll see a big ripple, and that’s all baby!

So, what does it feel like? Well, sometimes it startles me and other times it tickles. Sometimes it has a pattern (hiccups maybe?) and other times it’s just all over the place. It doesn’t hurt or feel uncomfortable unless the baby is dancing on my bladder. I guess most of all it reminds me of when you’re focused on something else and someone taps you on the shoulder and it scares you a little. Sometimes I’ll be sitting down, reading, writing, whatever, and I’ll get this little nudge and it wakes me up, so to speak. 

Twenty-Five

The week started out with our quest to find a chair for the nursery. I visited many stores and reclined in many chairs. I picked out a few favorites, but I wasn’t 100% sold on the expense and the size of the chairs. Most chairs were between the $350 and $550 range and they were all a little too big for the nursery. Although I’d love to lounge in a La-Z-Boy, it was a little impractical for the space we were working with. As a last effort, I hopped on Craigslist and did a quick chair search. I found a grainy picture of a petite brown glider/recliner. I called the owner and asked a million questions until I was convinced that I wanted to see it in person. Glen was less than thrilled about the 20 minute drive to Halifax and tried to convince me that a chair in the nursery was completely unnecessary. I don’t really think he believes that, I just think he wanted to do something rather than travel to look at a chair. After some convincing, Glen finally agreed to go with me to check it out. I was completely surprised with how much I liked the chair in person. It is comfortable, swivels, rocks and reclines. The color is dark brown and the fabric is soft and cuddly. We ended up offering the owner $25.00 for the chair and brought it home! I cleaned it up a bit and it looks like it’s brand new. Glen put up a fight about the travel time to get the chair, but after we got it in our nursery, I think he was pretty pleased with the purchase. Anakin also loves hoping up in the chair. Here are some photos of Glen enjoying the new chair. 

 

 

 

This weekend was extremely productive. My Mom and Step Dad came down to help us with some house stuff and to assist us with some nursery projects. Glen and Jerry worked on installing  chair rail in the nursery and trim in the nursery, the hallway and the bathroom. They both worked extremely hard and the outcome is beautiful. Here are some photos of Glen and Jerry working on the nursery. 

 

 

On Saturday my Mom and I were kicked out of the house because we were “jinxing” the work being done. So, we decided to go out in the rain and hit up the outlets. I made a pretty interesting purchase. I purchased some ‘granny panties’ from the Jockey store. I was convinced that I could just wear my cute underwear throughout my pregnancy but they started to grow tight and be uncomfortable. I couldn’t believe how comfortable granny panties are! Also, I love putting on a fresh pair of underwear or socks, it’s such a great feeling! My Mom and I decided to stop at the Coach Outlet store before we ventured home. I saw a lot of cute purses that I wanted, but tried to stay away from making any big purchases. At one point I told my Mom that we should leave the store before we buy new bags and she refused to leave until she found a new Spring bag. With all of those beautiful bags, who could blame her? The store was packed and the other customers were running around laughing and smiling. I think new bags put every woman in a good mood. The men just roamed around, eyes glazed over in boredom. Just when I decided not to make any purchases for the good of our bank account, I realized that Coach sold diaper bags. I went over and checked them out and fell in love with a blue Coach diaper bag. The bags were 50% off and we had an additional 30% off coupon, so it was hard to resist the temptation of a great bag at a great price. I ended up coming home with the diaper bag. I blame this purchase on the boys for kicking us out of the house and forcing us to go shopping. Here’s a picture of me with my new diaper bag.

 

 

 

That evening, we went out for Jerry’s birthday to one of his favorite restaurants, Cracker Barrel. We all had big meals and practically licked our plates dry. I think all of the house work (and shopping) tired everyone out. We ended up calling it a night shortly after our return home.

 

We were all early to rise the next morning. Once we filled our bellies with coffee we got to working on the nursery right away. I helped in any way that I could by filling holes and painting. My Mom stained a shelf and painted some miscellaneous items. Glen was a pro at the saw and trimmed the entire hallway and bathroom by himself while Jerry finished up in the nursery. Mom and I cleaned around the boys and just tried to help in any way we could, although I know we were probably more in the way than anything. The outcome? The nursery, hallway and bathroom are all trimmed. They look a million times better. The chair rail in the nursery turned out great! We even replaced the heaters and receptacles. Everyone worked so hard and I can’t thank them enough. I’m really proud of Glen for catching on so fast and I thank Jerry for the motivation and encouragement he gave Glen. They really worked so very hard on making this happen and I just can’t thank them enough. Here are some pictures of the ‘almost’ completed nursery. 

 

 

 

 

My Mom brought our stroller and we were able to unpack it and connect the car seat that my Dad and Step Mom bought for the baby together. The car seat clicks into place perfectly and the stroller is so smooth and compact! At one point or another each of us would walk by the stroller and take it for a little spin around the house. I think everyone is really excited to push the baby around in it in just a few months. Here is the stroller/car seat combination. 

 

 

 

My Mom and I also officially registered at Babies R Us this weekend. It was a very overwhelming experience and I’m kind of glad that I don’t have to do this again. Towards the end of our journey I was just scanning miscellaneous toys because I was completely brain dead. I feel like we got a lot of the good basics and doing a lot of research and reading reviews really helped us narrow down the selection for the registry. The only item yet to add is the baby’s Playard, which we will hopefully do before the end of the month. 

 

 

Weeks 25-28 (Month 6): Eggplant

Average size: 13.6-14.8 inches, 1.5-2.2 lb.

 

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes. 

 

Twenty-Four

I’m a little late with my update this week, but only because I’ve been so busy! ‘Nesting’ has totally taken over my life. My eyes are transforming into Mommy eyes, which means that I see things that I haven’t ever seen before. I actually took an old tooth brush and scrubbed my cabinet doors in the kitchen, focusing on the little nooks and cranies of the cabinet lip. Every time I open a window, I’m instantly disgusted by the dirt build up and have to give it some instant attention. I even took a sponge and cleaned the little valleys that lay between the walls and the trim. Opening closets in my house is quite dangerous right now because it’s just a constant reminder that I need to go through and re-organize everything inside. Oh, and Glen definitely feels my wrath when I use the mop on the floor and he instantly drags dirt in the house. I end up on my hands and knees with a paper towel following him around. Mommy eyes have taken over my life so much, that I look around the house and all I see is a never ending pile of things to do. I guess that most pregnant women go through this; or I have to believe that any way to justify my crazy. The thought behind everything is that I want my baby to arrive in the safest, cleanest, happiest home possible and I’ll do anything to ensure that it happens. Is the baby going to care that the wall behind the garbage can has a food particle splashed on it? Or that the couch has a collection of crumbs hiding beneath its cushions? Of course not! But, for some reason I care.

I feel big….really big. I know that people probably look at me and think that I look small. Actually today, I’m wearing a black and white floral shirt, which is really cute but it kind of makes me feel like a cow…with giant utters. It’s really weird; shirts that I thought that would last me my entire pregnancy are growing tight and getting shorter. I’ll be lucky if some of them last me another month. If I’m walking around too much, like if I’m cleaning or shopping, my stomach starts to feel very hard and heavy. My baby is only a little over a pound and I just don’t understand how I could be feeling so heavy. The weight is starting to come on a little faster now and it’s getting a little challenging lifting myself up off the floor by myself.

This week is the first week I saw my baby move. It was pretty amazing and a little creepy at the same time. I was laying on my back in bed one morning and I just saw poking at my stomach. It kind of reminded me of the scene in Spaceballs where the alien is busting through the woman’s skin. Feeling and seeing the baby move is my absolute favorite part about being pregnant. I know I always say that, but it just makes me so happy when I feel or see him move. I know that he’s in there safe and warm.

At this point in my pregnancy, my cravings have gone away (for the most part). There is nothing that I HAVE TO HAVE RIGHT NOW! I’m a little bit more flexible although earlier this week I just had to have a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough for dinner. My body is naturally craving fruits and vegetables. Things I used to love such as chocolate, sweets and candy are no longer appealing to me. I’m often weary about eating red meat as well. I mostly stick with chicken or seafood. I thinks it’s pretty cool that my body is telling me what I should and shouldn’t eat. I also notice that if I get too hot that I get a little queasy and if I’m around a chemical or cleaner, I’ll start to sneeze. Pretty cool, huh?

I attached some pictures from my company’s annual meeting showing off my bump!

Twenty-Three

Glen finished painting the baby’s room this weekend and we had our furniture delivered on Saturday morning. It’s even more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. We washed all of baby Charron’s clothes and put them away. I even ironed a few button down shirts of his and put them on little kid-sized hangers. Everything is so cute and little! I go in his room every day now. It just makes me feel really happy to be in there. I just love looking around and opening the dresser drawers with the newly put away clothes and playing with his little socks. Luckily we haven’t found a chair yet, so I’m not temped to sit in there. It’s just really neat to have the room some-what put together and to go in there and imagine what it’s going to be like when the baby gets here. 

This week Glen is going to finish up the room by painting the closet and installing the closet door. Then we can start to put the baby gear away in the closet. We are also looking to order blinds this week so that the baby has some shade. Glen and I found a perfect shelf that we want to stain and put up this week. It has hooks to we can display baby Charron’s hats. Glen and I decided not to  concentrate on a baby theme and keep it pretty neutral. We’re really hoping to go to a car show this year and snap some photos of some antique cars to frame.

Glen and I made some pretty exciting decisions this week. We decided to call our contractor in to finish our steps and to work on our closet. Last Summer, a pipe burst above our closet and leaked water through the drywall and onto the floor. There are some soft spots and moldy spots in the closet that we feel is a priority to fix before it spreads. We also decided that we are going to clean out the basement and have new carpet installed. We took some steps this weekend to agree on what should and should not be in the basement and we also installed a door in the kitchen leading the basement to prevent the animals from going down there. We don’t currently use that room in our house because the carpet is so disgusting and we have a lot of storage items down there. We both agreed that it would be nice to have a family/tv room that we could feel comfortable in and spend a lot of our time in as a family. We will feel much more comfortable having the baby lay on the carpet and it will be better for him once he starts to roll over, crawl and walk. Plus, we can store his swing and toys down there and use it as a “play room” to some degree. Maybe this is what some people refer to as “nesting”. We just want to prepare the house for the baby as much as we can before he arrives. 

My First "Bump" Comparison photo comparing my belly at 15 weeks and 23 weeks. 

 

This weeks bump photo (Side & Front view)