30 Week Checkup

I had my 30 (almost 31) week appointment today. All went very well.

Logan's heartbeat is really good...still strong!

I'm still measuring about the same...a little big.

I met the last female doctor. She was nice...seemed a bit 'get in, get out'....but whatever. Now I just have 3 male doctors to meet and then I've met them all....whew!

I am on bi-weekly visits now, so I will go back Friday, September 11th (moved it to Friday so I can meet with a different doc) in the afternoon.

I asked when non-stress tests start (every doctor seems to start them at different times, depending on how the pregnancy is going...some don't do it at all). I start them at 36 weeks...so essentially 3 more visits. I'm excited mainly for the reason that I'll get to hear his heartbeat for a longer period of time. And of course, it means that it is getting closer...which is so exciting to me!

Until next time... :)

Week 30

Holy smokers....30 weeks down!!!!!  Wow....only 10 more weeks to go (give or take...).  We're so excited!

This is going by so quickly....and we're enjoying every possible minute of it.....and there is still so much to do......and we also cannot wait to meet him.  :)

This week the swelling in my feet did go down....and in my hands, so that's good.  My feet do swell during the day, but after some elevation they do go back to their normal size.

This past weekend we visited the fam up in Wisconsin.  We had a great time hanging by the pool on Saturday.  I believe everybody got a chance to feel Logan kick....it took a couple tries though as he seemed to get some 'stage fright'.  I think it was just that I was getting up and down and he typically moves when I'm just relaxing (like right now....he's moving around like crazy).  :)  Love it!

Here is a 30-week picture: 

1st Destruction of what is likely to be many more...

I am working from home today and ran into Logan's room to grab something.....I neglected to shut the door and heard Buddy being 'really quiet' downstairs with a slight ripping sound (never a good thing)....I saw something ripped apart and as soon as he heard me say 'Buddy' he dropped it and walked away with his tail between his legs.

My sister-in-law gave me a few leftover newborn diapers from my niece...and I had them neatly tucked in the diaper holder on the Pack N Play. And yes, Buddy apparently quickly sniffed it out and thought, "Mmmm...this has a nice texture...let me tear it to shreds".

I fear the items that this 'puppy' will try and snag from poor Logan.

Week 29

Hooray!!!  I'm just so excited.Friday was pretty exciting.  John got home before me and told me that we received something for Logan.  I ran up to his room and....we got his mattress!  I've never been so excited to see a mattress.  :)  Yay...now he has a place to sleep.

Then....not 15 minutes later, the doorbell rang and we received our first shower gift!!!!  We got our Pack 'n' Play!!!!!!!!  It was from some of my neighbors from my old neighborhood....Leslie &  Jan and her daughters, Christen & Jackie that I played with through grade school and junior high...thank you!  OH my gosh....I was downright giddy.  :)  John and I immediately took it out of the box and put it together.  It looks great.....we both cannot WAIT for Logan to come..I 'practiced' putting Logan in and taking him out.  We examined the whole thing and put it in his room until I'm home.  Buddy was extremely excited as well.  He sniffed everything and tried very hard to pull down the little bears that hang from the top of the pack n play.

Here is a picture of Logan's Pack 'n' Play and of course, our gorgeous Golden, Buddy, in Logan's room.

After we assembled the Pack N Play....we headed down to my parents for the weekend for a family reunion with my Mom's 2 sisters and their families.  It was so great.....we had so much fun.  This was the first time all 3 families have gotten together.....ever...or at least since we've all been married.

Here is a picture of my cousin Meghan with her baby boy, Miles....who was born in May.....me, who is due Nov. 1st and my cousin Jen who is due Jan. 25 (um, yeah, in the picture you can't see her belly...she barely has one).  :)  And um, yes, I look big!!!!!

Here is a picture of John and I:

And here is a picture of the whole clan:

From left to right: Adam (Lauren's boyfriend), Lauren, Jen, Justin, Aunt Wendy, Uncle Joe, Meghan with Miles, Skip, Alexis, Aunt Barb, Uncle Wayne, Melissa with Isabella, James with Jakob, Michael, Steven, Dawn, TJ, John, Me with Logan, Mom & Dad...whew!

This weekend started something new for me....swelling...ugh.  So I spent some of my time with my feet up.  I'm currently still swollen...and sometimes my hands join my feet in the swelling department.  I rigged a chair underneath my desk at work so I can elevate.  I am lowering the sodium in my diet....and chugging way more water than I have been this whole pregnancy.

I've been reading Logan stories at night and tonight Buddy came and laid down next to me as if he was really listening to my story....and he got up just as I said 'The End'....it was really cute.  :)

Well the Olympics are over for tonight...so time for bed!

3D Pictures

So here are the 6 best pictures we got from the 3D ultrasound.

This is probably my favorite...he just looks so peaceful. :)

Here was one of the first pictures....you see more of the top of his head (peach fuzz for hair) and his cute little nose....and his handsome chin. :)

Here is Logan showing off his muscles!!!!

Here's another peaceful picture of him and his chubby cheeks. :)

This is where he was covering up his face with his legs and an arm!!! Stinker!

And here is a picture of his 'big' feet! :)

3D Ultrasound

So, John posted the video of our 3D ultrasound before I was able to type my story. :) He was just so excited to share it.

It was a very cool experience and I'm very glad we did it. We really didn't know what to expect, but we were pleased with the experience.

The video is 11:28 minutes long. Some parts are a little mushy as she's moving it....and when you see my belly 'seizing' or wiggling like crazy...it is the ultrasound tech...she was trying to get him to turn his face or move his arm off his face. Logan was probably thinking 'earthquake!!!!!'. haha!

Logan is still a BOY! (A few people from work were teasing me that 'you never know'....yeah, well now we do for sure!!!!!)

He moved a lot....I would see and feel the kick or punch at the same time.

His heartrate was 144.

He showed us his face...then he would sometimes cover it up with his arm...and at one point (minute 1:46) with both legs and an arm...little stinker...I told him to get used to pictures, cuz we will take a lot of them!!!

In the video around minute 1:20 you will see the 2D ultrasound and the mouse pointing to a layer of 'white'....that is the peach fuzz on his little head. :) Apparently, at least this early, you can't tell how much hair is there on the 3D.

AT 3:17 the u/s tech is pointing out the umbilical chord. (You will also see this as little 'bubbles throughout the video.)

Around 3:43 she is showing.....uh....'him'. So he was hiding the 'twig', but she is showcasing (with the mouse), his 'berries'. (She showcases this again at 6:29)

At 6:45 you see his cute little...I mean, big feet! :)

At 7:15 she pauses on his heart to get his heartbeat. We got to hear it at the time, but she didn't record the sound.

Around 8:10 he is showing off his ear (who wouldn't, right?!?). :) And what a cute ear it is!!! Then he proceeds to show off his baby muscles in his right arm!!! What a stud. :)

The place itself was like going to a spa....painted in warm colors, it had spa-like music playing in the waiting room and in the ultrasound room.....the bed I laid on was a memory-foam (type) with a cushy fabric.....John sat on a stool, however if we would've brought family along (which we'd do in the future) there is a couch to sit on...it is a fairly big room. And instead of crowding around a little computer screen, they have it projected onto the wall...so we saw him nice and big!

It was very cool and I'd recommend it to everybody!

Pictures

Here is a belly shot at 28 Weeks:

Here are the stages of painting Logan's room from 'tan' to 'aqua-chintz' to match his bedding (which I forgot to take a picture of it against the wall...I will do that this week)....a middle........and an after...(notice the handsome guard dog in the last picture).

Week 28

Yay!  Week 28.....7 month mark!

This week some important things happened.

We ordered Logan's crib furniture.  We went with the Monterey set from JCPenny.  The only bummer is that it is currently Backordered....Although it was initially due to ship on September 19th...now we're down to September 10th...so that's great.  We got a crib (duh) with a solid back, a dresser/changer with a hutch and a chest...all in cherry...it'll look great in his room.  In this house, the room is a little small, so it may be a little cramped, but we won't be in this house forever.  :)

We, meaning John, also painted Logan's room just yesterday.  The color we chose "aqua chintz" from Glidden.  We decided to paint all 4 walls this color.  We figure with the white trim and closet doors...paired with the dark cherry furniture, it'll look great.  And then of course with some wall hangings.  :)  Right now, without the furniture, the room looks very bright and kind of makes me want to go for a swim.  And especially compared to the rest of the house (every wall in our house is a color...some tan, some muted yellow, some dark red, some brown, some green, etc.)....but regardless they are all a muted earth tone....so walking into Logan's room is quite bright!   But it's great and it looks very 'boy'....

We are very excited to get the furniture in there and see it all put together.

I have some pictures...that I'll post tomorrow....

I also called about 'breathing' classes and such....so now we have to plan out our weekends and then schedule those classes.  :)

So, all in all it was a great week.

Tuesday.....is the big day.....the 3D ultrasound...can't wait!!!!!!  I hope he cooperates.  :)

Well...time for bed!!!!

Week 27

Here I am at Week 27....and feeling great. We are currently in the midst of deciding how to paint Logan's room and which crib furniture set to purchase. John and I, at this time, which we knew an interior decorator.....neither of us are very good at picking out colors for walls. Our house was all painted when we moved in.....we love it, but never would have put all those colors on the walls!

All of that aside, this is actually a landmark week...and my brother, James and sister-in-law, Melissa know the exact reason why. They were pregnant with their first daughter and Melissa actually gave birth to Alexis on exactly the day of the 27th week. I couldn't imagine giving birth right now.

Alexis Gabrielle was born January 16, 2001 and was immediately put into the NICU. She weighed 2 pounds and was 14 inches long. She was such a little fighter and ended up staying in the hospital for quite some time...James & Melissa visited her every day. When Alexis came home, she came home with lots of monitors that would beep if there was a potential problem...they beeped a lot, but she was fine. In the end, Alexis had to start wearing glasses before she was one year old....other than that, or including that, she is a perfect angel! She is such a little miracle. She is our Goddaughter and we love her soooo much! She will be 8 years old in January...it's hard to believe that so much time has gone by. :)

Oh...and right now, according to babycenter.com, Logan weighs about 2 pounds...about the head of a cauliflower). :)

Only one more week until my 3D ultrasound!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sooooooooooo excited!!!!!

26.5 Checkup

Ah...I can't believe I forgot to post about my appt.! I think I had called and told a few family members, so I guess I had felt like I typed it out. Thanks Melissa for the reminder. :)

All went well.

Logan's Heartbeat is 154 bpm. It was funny it took her a little longer to get his heartbeat because he wouldn't stay still. He would kick the doppler and then move away.... He does that at first when we listen to his heartbeat with our microphone thingy. I think at first, he thinks it's a game...or perhaps he's just annoyed. I like to think he likes playing games. :)

The 'tingly' sensation at the top of my rib cage, she said, is probably him sitting on a nerve or something. Nothing to be concerned about. I just massage it and it goes away.

I met a new doctor....the 3rd female doctor. She shook my hand (unlike the last appt. doc) and asked for questions...although after my first one, she thought I was done...silly girl! :) But she was very friendly. :)

I am measuring 27 weeks, for being 26 weeks (although my visits are towards the middle/end anyway). She says that it's just fine. :)

They gave me the orders for the glucose test. The nurse warned me how sugary the drink was and icky....and to drink lots of water beforehand and make sure I eat and all... Well I just went next door and did the test right then and there. Really, I didn't think it was all that bad. I was given a choice of flavor (I was expecting no flavor)....so I chose Fruit Punch. It was like drinking sugary Gatorade. I downed it fairly quickly and sat for an hour writing up my training plan for a girl at my office that will handle my duties while I'm on maternity leave. Then I got my blood taken and bam, that was it.

I was told no news is good news....and I haven't heard anything...so all appears to be well on that front.

My next appointment is Thursday, August 28th and I will meet the last female doctor (there are 4). After this appointment I will start going every 2 weeks!!!! Ah! Exciting!!!

Belly Button

Haha....okay so this is funny....and exciting.

Lately my belly button has been flattening out, which has been really cool to see and feel. It is weird...but like my friend Abbey said, you are more drawn to want to touch it. haha!!

But today....as I was getting ready for bed, I noticed that there is a little part of my belly button that has popped out. When I wear a tighter shirt, you can still an indentation of my belly button, but I imagine that soon the whole thing my pop... But it was both cool and weird to see a little part pop out. :)

Whew....another little landmark! :)

Bedding!!!

Late Sunday night I received an email from JCPenny that Logan's bedding had been shipped....since then I've been tracking the packages every hour.....and today at 3, just as I was getting ready to leave work, I saw that they had been delivered.

After a lovely hour and fifteen minute commute there they were....2 boxes ready to be opened. I raced in the house and pulled the boxes in. I don't know who seemed more excited at the time about the boxes...me....or Buddy...he was sniffing around like a crazy dog! :)

I pulled everything out and it was just perfect! We got the bumper pad....sheet....2 valances....hamper....diaper stacker.....dust ruffle....and the comforter. I noticed that the blue in the set was baby blue and a bit more of a blue-aqua. That was nice to see....as there are many accessories in baby blue, but I was starting to get nervous if everything on the bedding was aqua.

I immediately ran upstairs and laid it all out on the floor (no furniture yet...that'll be picked out this week). Then I ironed every item....and for those of you that know me....I purposefully don't buy clothing if it needs ironed.

I hung the valance and re-laid everything out on the floor. It looks great!!! I am very excited!!! John was glad to see that we got the bedding as well.....he normally doesn't enjoy painting, however, he's looking forward to painting Logan's room. So we just need to brainstorm how exactly to paint the room....do we do just one color or two? Add a chair rail? Just leave one color and then decor? Oh the decisions....

I have narrowed crib sets down to a few....hopefully we can get that ordered this week...and with all hope, it can be delivered within the next week or two. We are doing 'grow with me furniture'...so this will be furniture that he'll have for a long time. The changer is typically a dresser or a nightstand....then some other sets come with a dresser or chest...some with a hutch on top of the changer....or a separate bookshelf. So it is finding the right design on the crib....that turns into a toddler bed (with rails) and eventually a double bed.

Hopefully we'll find it soon. Until then, I'll enjoy looking at the bedset......on the floor of an empty room. haha!!! ;)

Week 26

Saturday marked 26 weeks.

I am sill feeling quite amazing. :) I am just loving being pregnant!!!!! However, I am daydreaming a lot about 'when Logan arrives' and how much things will change. Currently....sure I'm bigger and proud to show it.....and our conversations have all been centered around Logan and all kinds of baby things....but thinking about all the changes that will take place....is exciting. :) And it seems to be coming closer and closer...quicker and quicker. :)

I could (& I'm sure John could too) do without the emotional side some days. It just seems that some days I can by teary about something sooo dumb. John has been great though. He's typically not a very sympathetic guy....but he's been very understanding lately and I really appreciate it.

I also have become a bit more obsessed about a 'clean house'...my biggest problem is Buddy, our Golden Retriever. Sure, he's pretty much the cutest dog ever and I love him to death...but the shedding is something I would love to see stop. I did buy the Furminator and that does do an amzing job at getting all the extra hair out before it hits the carpet for furniture....but it seems that no matter how much I get, there is still more. And it is shedding season due to the warm temps, but still...it is frustrating. Ah well.... :)

My doctor appt. is tomorrow morning. I have been getting a weird tingling sensation right above/around my ribs....like they are 'falling asleep' or something....it's weird...so I'm going to see if they say anything interesting about that. Otherwise, I will get orders for a glucose test....and I'll get to hear the heartbeat again. :)

Till tomorrow...

Heartbeat

So about 2 months ago, John and I bought a 'microphone' set from Babies R Us. It came with 2 classical CD's and two little speakers, a belly belt (so I don't have to hold the speakers on my tummy) and it came with 2 sets of headphone with a 'heartbeat microphone finder' (so John and I can listen at the same time). I use the CDs and speakers a few times a week....and at least twice a week we try hard to find the heartbeat, but have been unsuccessful. We also threw away the instruction booklet and clearly on the heartbeat finder it says 'You must read the instructions first'. It is not that it is difficult to plug in headphones and turn up the volume, but as far as placement on my belly....it can be tricky (apparently).

So we were in Babies R Us yesterday....John broke into the box and read the instructions. So we tried it last night and voila!!!! We were able to listen to the heartbeat for about a half hour....as we were falling asleep in bed. I had to eat 3 hours beforehand, lay flat, be relaxed and be in a completely quiet environment. It was really cool and we can't believe that we hadn't heard it before. It's funny because you can tell when he's moving (besides me feeling it or seeing it on my belly) because the heartbeat will get much louder as he's moving and then it goes back to faint, but nonetheless it's always there. We were smiling and laughing last night while listening to it. Ah, the cool stuff that they have out there now to be so much more involved (especially for 1st time mothers...and especially those of us that have waited for soooo long and are a bit obsessed about it all!!!).

I love it!!!!!