29 weeks, How'd this happen??

I'm still surprised at how fast all of this is going, I'll say it again, it seems like just a few weeks ago we found out we were pregnant.

This past week has been very good. We had our 28 week visit on Friday and on Monday we had our last ultrasound with the specialist. The visit with the OB went well, more questions, and more reassurance that everything was normal and he is doing good. At our ultrasound on Monday they were able to see everything they needed to with his heart. Usually, since February 15th, when we leave they want to schedule another ultrasound, but not on this visit. It was a bittersweet moment. It's been great to see him every four weeks, but knowing he's healthy and not having to make that additional stop to schedule another ultrasound was a good feeling too. I'm not sure when we'll get to see him again though which kind of makes me sad. I was lying on the table while the lady was rubbing the transducer around, yes I know the official name now, looking at him and thinking about our first ultrasound at 10 weeks and was amazed at how much our little boy has grown. When we first saw him he was barely an inch long and now he is a bit over 15 inches. All of this is truly a miracle.

On Saturday night we went over to our friends house for a little party. Before we left, I was trying to find something to wear (I think I changed outfits about three times) and once I did I needed help just tying my shoes. I called for Marcus, he was downstairs at the time, and he helped me get them tied. We had to go pick up some drinks and chips for the party and on our way to the way to the grocery store I was thinking about how I was pregnant and no one else at the party was and how I couldn't even tie my shoes without help and almost had a breakdown right then and there. Then, I opened my phone to see how we were doing on time and when I did there he was. The 3D ultrasound picture is my wallpaper and suddenly none of it mattered. I didn't care that none of my clothes seemed to fit (although I know they do), that I can barely tie my shoes now, and everything seems swollen. He was there looking cute as can be and seeing him was all I needed to make me smile again. Once we got to the house they surprised us with a few things we had registered for for him. It was a wonderful surprise and we appreciated it soooo much : )

We leave on Friday to take a road trip to see our family in New Mexico. I'll keep this updated as best I can. Thanks for reading and keeping up with us!!!

Third trimester...maybe?

Ok, so from the various pregnancy books that I have and the weekly updates I receive, I am either one week away from, at the beginning, or one week into my third trimester. I'm not really sure which one it is, but for arguments sake, we'll say I've just entered my final trimester. We've had some welcome and not so welcome changes in the past couple of weeks regardless.

Welcome changes include the following:

• My desire to eat meat again. Maybe I am indeed in my third trimester. I was driving home one day and had the strongest desire for a McDonald's cheeseburger (unhealthy I know) and was thinking that since I was on my way home anyway I might as well pick one up. I still have some of my morning sickness medicine so if it made me nauseous I could take a pill then. Oh my goodness it was wonderful. I made some chili this week too, yes I realize it's May, but I had wanted some to eat for so long that it didn't really matter. We even went out and got steak last night. It was the best meal I've had in a very long time.
• The incredible, edible egg is now back in my diet. Marcus used to either have to douse his eggs in hot sauce or eat his eggs in the kitchen because the smell was so nauseating. But, once again, they seem to have come back into my diet in welcome fashion. I'm not too great at cooking eggs, but he is always more than willing to cook some for me. Also, I'm now a fan of turkey bacon : )
• I've read that at a certain point, babies can come to know their mother's voice and I like to think he does now. I feel somewhat guilty when I'm reading and not reading aloud so he can hear me and I think he now can. If I start reading and he has been fairly calm he'll wake up and roll around a bit or if he has been super duper active sometimes the reading will even calm him down. It was a very cool moment when all of this started happening.

Maybe not so welcome:

• Sleeping is becoming more and more difficult. Between him wanting to practice his kicking and punching skills at all hours of the day and night and the return of heartburn sleeping is becoming more and more challenging. I've read that if you try and lay on your side while sleeping it helps and the baby is more likely to be docile, not so with my sweet boy. I'm not supposed to sleep on my back so I'm pretty much out of options and at his mercy for when he decides to move around. This also means more fatigue during the day. I thought that was something we only had to go through in the first trimester, nope. My mom got really bad leg cramps with me and so far I've surpassed that joy (I should probably find some wood to knock on now).
  
• Soreness. Enough said. My lower back is not feeling that great. I read that it can hurt if you sit too long, walk around too much, and lift or bend more than you should. My concern now is what is there left to do. That list pretty much describes anything I could/would do on a daily basis. I'm thinking it's pretty much inevitable now. I gently suggested Marcus might want to get me a prenatal massage as a present for Mother's Day and I think he got the hint. I'm pretty excited for that.

Our 28 week visit is on Friday. From now until July we will have them every two weeks and once July comes we'll have visits once a week until he is born. I never thought I'd enjoy doctor's visits as much as I do right now : )