26 Weeks.

I'm actually 26w1d as I post this....
But the pics are from yesterday, taken by Gage, who was sitting right.next.to.me on the couch.
He thinks it is funny that I can set things on the belly now....
I'm happy to report that yesterday's afternoon snack was celery. {We won't even talk about my craving for a peanut butter chocolate chip sandwich, which I totally made, and totally ate. It was awesome.}

The bump at 26 weeks (though, it seems much bigger than a 'bump' these days)...

Size of Baby: According to thebump.com, our baby is about the size of a head of lettuce!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 17 pounds from the start of this pregnancy. But, let's not forget the 17 pounds I gained during IVF....So, that's 34 pounds. I'm carrying around 34 extra pounds that I'm not used to carrying! But, the dr's office is only counting the 17 pounds gained DURING pregnancy. So, that at least makes me feel better now. It won't make me feel better when I'm working off the extra 17 pounds when this pregnancy is over!

Maternity Clothes: Yes, please.

Belly Button In/Out: In.

Labor Signs: Not really. I've had some Braxton Hicks contractions already, but they are so random. They are also so few & far between, that it's not anything I'm concerned about.

Movement: Yes. Hubby and Gage have now both felt it too, so that's awesome. What's not awesome? 3 & 4 am are this little girl's favorite time of day! Her kicks wake me up. Future Rockette? Future gymnast? Future black belt? I don't know. I just know that she's got some kind of internal clock that tells her that 3-4am is the magic play hour. UGH!

Sleep: Eh. I'm waking up at least once a night to use the restroom. If I go to bed in my bedroom, I usually move to the couch around 3-4am (see the above explanation about movement for reasoning on this), so that I can watch tv for a bit without waking anyone up. Then, I fall asleep usually around 5 with the morning news on TV, and Gage and Daddy wake me in the morning. Sometimes, I just sleep on the couch from the onset of the evening. My back feels so supported when I sleep on the couch.  AND---I now snore. I'm like some kind of hard-core snorer these days. I've literally woken myself up from my own snoring. It's bad. {Thanks, baby!}

Cravings/Aversions: Meat is still not my favorite. That explains my low iron results, even though I am on supplements. I mostly want to eat anything that I see a commercial for, or randomly think of. I want lots and lots of junk food. Isn't that so terrible!? But, overall, I'm a big fan of veggies, so I have no problem eating salads and veggies. Meats are the problem...

Feeling: Ready to have the baby furniture.

Best Moment this Week: Ordering the dresser for the nursery.

What I Miss: Sleeping through the night. Showering and then blowdrying my hair without taking a break to rest in between activities. I miss walking long distances without my back starting to hurt.

What I am Looking Forward To: The arrival of THIS:

It's the dresser for the nursery. We still have to get: the crib, the dresser topper, the bookcase, & select a rocker. We've got just about everything picked out, but not the rocker. AND---the bedding arrived! The nursery will be cream & white with this crib & bedding:

I also got this for the nursery when I was shopping with Jess this weekend...

So, I guess you could say that I am looking forward to decorating the nursery!
...and um....here's her closet so far....

Can you see that I have a weakness for baby girl clothes!?!?
Baby Milestones: Well, according to parentsconnect.com, "Air sacks are developing in your baby's lungs, which means it just might be possible for your baby to take a breath at the end of this week. The air sacks  (alveoli) will continue to grow for the next nine years. The membrane that keeps the alveoli separate from the blood vessels is now thin enough to allow for that oxygen–carbon dioxide exchange we call breathing. Other highlights this week:

The retina completes the development of its normal layers this week—all the better to see you with. Well not you, per se, because her eyes are still sealed shut and it's really dark in there, but your baby's eyes are now fully developed."


It's wonderful to know that every week that goes by, she has a better chance for survival. Maybe it's weird that I think about that. I can't help it. I think about it. She could now live outside of my body if she had to.



Next Appointment: March 7th. Oh yippy, I get my Rhogam injection.

Have I mentioned yet that we have a c-section date?
Well, we do!
It was so wild that at my last appointment, I wasn't even going to bring it up. I figured I'd wait until I was with my regular OB to set the date. Well, I was seeing one of his partners that day. She said that we should go get things on the books! Wooohoooo. If all goes as planned, Baby Girl will make her arrival at 39w3d!  {that's in 92 days, but hey, who's counting!?}

UPDATED: Belly pics during the 26th week....