Letter to Peanut - 29 Weeks

Dear Peanut-

Lately your movements have changed from quick little jabs and kicks, to more of a rolling, pushing motion. I can tell you are getting bigger and don't have quite as much room to play. The other night while I was sitting on the couch I felt my whole stomach shift to the left, and when I put my hand on my stomach I could feel a hard body part - it felt like your head. This has really kicked my dreams into overdrive. I dream about you every night, and I am getting more and more excited to meet you. For some reason I feel so much closer to you and I can't wait to see you with your dad! I don't think he knows what's coming. There's just something about a little girl and her dad. You will think he is the funniest, bravest, most handsome man in the world (and you will be right).

My stomach is definitely growing right along with you. Every night I look for stretch marks - knock on wood - there are none yet. My feet and ankles are definitely fat and swollen! Last night your dad couldn't believe how puffy they were. He said my ankles might be the place I get stretch marks - hardy har, very funny.

Your room is really coming along! We picked out your glider a couple of days ago, and will be able to pick it up in a couple of weeks. I have a feeling that you and I are going to be spending a lot of time in it together. Your bedding is on your crib, your curtains are hung and a lot of your clothes are in your dresser. Now we just need to decorate the walls.

Also, you officially have a name. About three years ago, when your dad and I were just dating, we picked your name. We knew we both loved it but when I actually got pregnant we really wanted to make sure so we went through hundreds of options. Your dad hated them all. We could not agree on a single other name. So we decided this must be because your name was determined years ago :-)

27 Weeks - Third Trimester!

Lucy helping Dad put the crib together

How Far Along: I have officially entered my third trimester at 27 weeks - 13 to go!
Size of the Baby: Little girl is weighing in at over 2 pounds and 16 inches in length. About the size of a head of cauliflower? However, at my doctor's appointment yesterday - I am measuring at 29 weeks (2 weeks ahead of schedule -gulp).
Stretch marks: Not yet! I keep dreading their appearance, and continue to slather on coco butter every evening.
Weight gain: I think I've gained right around 20 pounds! I read that the average weight gain at this point in pregnancy is between 17 and 24 pounds - so I'm smack dab in the middle.
Best Moment of the Week: Passing the glucose tolerance test! I was required to drink 10oz of this extremely sweet liquid in five minutes time. It's so sweet it burns your throat. Then I had to wait for an hour in the waiting room before they drew my blood to determine if my body processes sugar efficiently. About 20 minutes after drinking it, I started to feel cracked out. I got really hot and fidgety and hated it. About 10 minutes after that, my blood sugar crashed and I cannot explain how tired I felt. After they drew my blood, I sped home and fell asleep for two and a half hours. I woke up with a lingering headache, but I got the call from my doctor that I passed! No gestational diabetes for me :-)

They did tell me that my blood work shows I am anemic, and recommended I start taking an iron supplement. This would explain why I feel so tired and sluggish all.the.time. I guess I just assumed that I had normal pregnancy fatigue :-)

Movement: it is truly the most amazing feeling. Her movements are getting stronger by the day. They are no longer just quick little jabs, but it's like she's stretching and pushing on the inside of me. Brandon and I watch my stomach move every night. I love that he can feel her every day now.
Belly Button in or out: it's still an innie, but it's getting wider and flatter :-/
Labor Signs: None. While we were traveling, and running from one gate to another, my stomach would tighten and feel kind of uncomfortable. I'm wondering if these sensations are Braxton Hicks?
Wedding ring on or off: On normally, but I didn't bother wearing it to St. Thomas since the humidity made me swell up like a whale.
What I am looking forward to: My baby shower is in exactly one month - I'm so excited!
Nursery: The nursery is all painted and the crib and dresser are set up! I'm still on the hunt for a glider, and then it will just be decorating the walls, and getting the closet organized. I'll share pictures when there is more to show! 

Babymoon - 26 Weeks

Brandon and I had the opportunity to go to St. Thomas last year for our one year anniversary, and for those of you that follow me on Instagram know, we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend our 2nd anniversary there this October as well! The only difference is that this year, the trip served as our babymoon as well. Here are some pictures from our trip. 

A lot of rum punch was had - just not by me!

We took the ferry over to St. John and drove around the island discovering different gems. We went to Trunk Bay to snorkel, and later discovered an amazing restaurant with the most AMAZING view. Brandon enjoyed a few "dirty monkeys".

Gorgeous Trunk Bay behind us

Trunk Bay

B enjoying a "dirty monkey" with a view of St. John at Chateau Bordeaux 

On our actual anniversary, Brandon and I spent the day driving around St. Thomas. We discovered Hull Bay where we did more laying in the sand and floating in the warm Caribbean water!

Cheers to two years!

One of my favorites days was going island hopping by boat :-) We had a captain take us from island to island. Brandon researched and found a catamaran which is SUCH a smooth ride for a pregnant woman. Even in choppy waters, it glided smoothly over the swell. We went back to White Bay - the MOST gorgeous beach in the world which is on Jost Van Dyke Island, and home to our favorite spot - the Soggy Dollar Bar. We had lunch at Myett's on Tortola Island.

I got so many compliments on my starfish cuff by The Oxford Trunk!

This trip was exactly what I needed. To get away from work, and school and spend eight days floating in the ocean was incredible for my body! It was the first week in awhile that my back hasn't hurt. But let me tell you, CANKLES have arrived! My feet and ankles are so fat! The humid weather definitely didn't help.

I have a couple more weeks of school and then hopefully I'll be back to blogging more regularly!