Week 29+

Well I had my 29th week prenatal check up yesterday and all is well with baby and I. Let's just say, I've had no problems in the weight gain arena, baby's heart beat is beating well and my belly is measuring right at 29 weeks. She moves during regular period throughout the day such as the in the morning after I eat breakfast (8:00 am) and around the the time I get off work (3:00 pm) and again at night when I'm laying down on my left side of course :-) there she is kicking me in my side. This was my first 2 week appointment my next one will be in 2 weeks which makes this part of my pregnancy fly by. As a matter of fact they have all my appointments up to 36 weeks scheduled...that's crazy! I can't believe in 2 weeks I will be entering into my 8th month of pregnancy.
As far as mommy, I'm back to feeling exhausted, I'm back in love with the recliner I got from my SIL that she used when she was on bed rest. Where as I got back used to cooking and cleaning as well as teaching, that now all seems overwhelming just thinking about it. I'm using the bathroom about 10-15 minutes after drinking anything. I feel like I've been holding it for hours to only let out a wee bit and to have to go in a few minutes. This is also keeping me up at night. Some days are better than others, but I'm so blessed to have this opportunity and I think God daily for this blessing. This is something only God can create.
Here's what our LO looks like in my womb and more about 29th week of pregnancy.

***I would LOVE to take more belly shots for you all, I haven't taken any since 24 weeks but since I can't find my charger for my battery for my camera my camera is dead!***

Free Choice. . .A modern hippie? :-)

Since my pregnancy there are things that I've read or came across that has spark an interest in me. Some are the common interest while other works for some and not so for others. For, me it's more so what works for me and my husband and soon to be child, and if others benefit from it, glad I can help! :-) So even before I got pregnant, I knew I wanted to to breastfeed. I still will love the option to try but until our LO (little one) arrives, I will have to see how it goes for the two of us. Other than that, I don't feel there's much to discuss, for me the pros out way the cons, and if God allows my body to naturally produce for my child then I will be happy and blessed to do so. Nonetheless, I guess I should mention that when I say breastfeed, I mean when I'm feeding our little one. I don't want to take away the bonding from Ray or not allow our child to feel secure with her dad by solely breastfeeding myself. I do plan to pump and introduce a couple of bottles a day so that the opportunity for dad and whoever else to feed and bond with our LO.

Another decision I've made is that I want to use cloth diapers instead of disposables. After doing some research, it really became apparent that this is such a good idea. I'm not surprised by the opinions of others about this decision because I know how I felt the first time I had to change a child that mom chose to use cloth diapers, but after her first diaper change, I came to realize, it was not worst than a disposable and if anything just as easy.

**First off, cloth diapers have come soooooooooooooooo far.** Many of you are thinking of the old cloth diapers which are called "pre-folds" that Gerber now sells are diapers/burp cloths....however the new cloth diapers require no pins, needles, or folding. The kind of cloth diaper I plan to use are BunGenius 3.0 and Bumkins to ease into cloth diapers. They snap on in the same way as a disposable, and have a waterproof lining and absorbent removable insert. You can read all about them at their site. Plus they are super cute! I like the white, but I think I'd throw in some pink or designs to match with outfits!

Because I can not say it any better than a follow blogger Jess...I will quote what she had to say about cloth diapers...She wrote this at 3-4 months and now she is currently using them on her 4 month old son. "They are much more economical than disposable diapers. I really like how this site breaks it down. Basically, for a baby in diapers until two-and-a-half, you're looking at spending $2,500+ per child on disposable diapers. You can spend anywhere from $300 to $1,000 on cloth diapers (depending on how fancy or not you want them), and use them for all of your children. I have to admit, this is a huge motivation for me. Even though we can afford disposables, it makes so much more sense to invest that money elsewhere... like in a college fund for our child!*Cloth diapers encourage better hygiene and earlier toilet training. Because disposable diapers are mutant-ly absorbent, moms tend to change them less often. This leads to more diaper rash (as does the plastic-y material), and more bacteria / uncleanliness overall. Cloth is more breathable and soft, and babies have much less diaper rash because of it. Also, because disposables hold so much liquid, a baby can't sense that they're wet as well. As a result, they are less motivated to start using the toilet, since they associate urinating in their diaper as a way to relive themselves and not be uncomfortable. (A baby in diapers longer also = more $ and more waste, and possibly even lower self-esteem... think 4-yr old in diapers.) So, while cloth diapers are very absorbent and prevent leaks, your baby is still able to identify that they're wet. And being privy to wetness is great motivation to potty train sooner!*They are easier to clean than you'd think. For an infant that is exclusively breastfeeding, any waste can remain in the diaper - which you just fold up and put in your diaper hamper. When you're ready, you just throw your load of diapers in. When they start eating food, you just dump solids into the toilet first. This site has a good info about cleaning / caring for cloth diapers. There are also washing instructions on the bumGenius website, or on the site of whatever manufacturer you choose.*Disposable diapers result in ~1 ton of waste per child! Just thinking for myself, I'd like to have between two and four kids! And all of that is going into landfills. Now, I wouldn't call myself particularly "green" or anything (we recycle and in general I try not to be wasteful), but cloth diapers seem like something that could make a really positive impact. Someone at our small group made a comment a couple weeks ago, that even though we don't need to be extremist about it, as Christians we should all be environmentalists to some extent. God entrusted us with this world to take care of, and in a lot of ways we could / should be doing a better job. I thought that was a really neat and important thought, and I think this could be a good way for me to do that.Okay... I think those are all of my points about cloth diapers. Now, I wouldn't judge people for using disposables. I just think that helping to get the info out there can be help to change how we think. I know that once the baby comes, I will be able to stay home a lot as well as bring the baby to work with me... and I know that will help tremendously in being able to do cloth so easily. But anyway, something for all you moms / future moms to consider!" ~Jess

So that's my hippie moment....I'll be back this week to update you on week 29!

Oops....Week 28 has come and gone!

Well since tomorrow I hit the 29 week mark I figured I may need an update for week 28! Week 28 is smooth sailing for both baby and me. There are a few pregnancy things I have noticed. It is getting harder and harder to stand on my feet daily although the alternate sitting also tends to cause my bottom to ache if I sit too long therefore I'm constantly going from sitting to standing back to sitting. I had my glucose screening last week and I passed with flying colors. YIPPEE!! I feel baby girl moving all the time and they are getting stronger and stronger as the weeks pass one. Daddy felt her today and said, "Wow, I've never felt her move like that before." We've also started visiting pediatricians. We visited one last week, which I really liked a lot! I'm visiting one more next week where my sister in law takes her two girls. In order to leave somethings to talk about later this week I will cut this update short.
**One biggest shock this week, is that Ray and I thought we had a name picked out and all of a sudden this week, he decided he found another name he like....good thing I haven't told the world the other name yet! Funny this is, the name Ray picked out is a name I thought I would use even before this little one (LO) was conceived....maybe that's a sign***
Here's what going on in 28 weeks and a picture inside
*Pictures and more blogs to come this week!**

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27+ Weeks and Happy Birthday Ray!

So this week I enter into my 27th week of pregnancy putting me in my 3rd and final trimester. I have gain 20lbs so far :-/ and feeling the effects of it. Because I'm on my feet a lot at work, they are typically burning by the end of the day, although not much swelling at all if any. I think I got my first whiff of pregnancy hot flashes today. As some of you may know, we got about 6 inches of snow last weekend and as of today a week later, we had 80 degree weather and boy was I hot. It didn't help that the school system has not turned on the A/C yet so on days like today, the sun beams into my classroom even with the blinds closed and makes my room a sauna. I was sooooooooooo miserably hot and sweaty today. I'm so happy I don't have to go all summer caring a baby because I don't think I could take it. So for my 27th week, things have been great. I can tell our baby girl is getting bigger and heavier because I feel more pressure on my bladder and when I go to stand up after sitting for a while.

This week I will also have my 1 hr Glucose Test (to test for gestational diabetes) done Thursday. This is a test where they give you a orange soda-like drink called "glucola" I have to drink the drink in 5 mins and then in one hour they will take my blood. Based off of the results they will determine if I have GD which I am believing that I will not, in Jesus name.

Also in my 27th week, my hubby Ray celebrates his 26th birthday today! Happy Birthday Babe!! We did the usual, open gifts and card and went to dinner. For all those who called, Ray mentioned on the way home from dinner, "today was a great birthday!"

Here's what is going on at 27 weeks and picture.

Down to double digit days

I'm now in week 26 and I'm down to double digit days. 98 days until my expected due date! I will post a more detailed blog later this week! WHOO HOO almost there!