32 weeks and still 38 inches

From 1-24-09 Due Date

My hips have been hurting every night now. So a pillow between my knees and Extra Strength Tylenol during the night are some of my new best friends. I have also had my first few nights of "wee hour" acid reflux. So I feel like an old lady now. You should see my nightstand when I go to bed with a glass of water, 2 Tylenol's sitting out, and 2 Maalox sitting out - yep, that is me.

Babycenter says: "By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth."

From 11-28-08 Chattanooga Tgiving and Shower

We had a good weekend in Chattanooga for Thanksgiving. We were blessed with a baby shower that included both sides of Jeremy's family. See more photos here.

We went to the doctor today. We saw Dr. Mackenzie in the rotation for the first time. The baby's heartbeat was about 130. He also didn't want to guess on the baby's birth weight, but he did say that it would NOT be a 9 lb. baby. I guess that means it could be 7 lb, 8 lb, or even 10 lbs - ha ha! He also said that the baby was head down and most likely to stay! YEAH! He let Jeremy and I feel the head in position below my belly button, which was really cool!

AND today was my last day at work! YEAH! Holiday season, nesting, and fun - here I come!

31 weeks and 38 inches

From 1-24-09 Due Date

so my belly grew 1 1/2 inches this week and now I am 38 inches around :) crazy!

Babycenter says "This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy."

From 11-18-08 SSN and AO showers

From 11-18-08 SSN and AO showers

We were blessed with 2 more baby showers this week. Jeremy's office, SS Nesbitt, was very generous and our community group, Alpha and Omega, honored me at a Baby Mama's Night Out.

From 1-24-09 Due Date

I was also excited to put all the books that we received at our Birmingham shower on the baby's shelf. It looks so cute and ready for Baby Long.

A friend had shared this prayer with me awhile back and I just love it for Baby Long:
"Father, cause _____'s identity to be firmly rooted and established in Christ's love, and give ____ the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (Eph. 3:17-18). Show _____ that he/she is fearfully and wonderfully made, and that Your works are wonderful. Teach him/her that he/she is precious and valuable in Your sight (Ps. 139:14; Isa. 43:4). I pray that the hope that ____ has in Jesus Christ would be an anchor for his/her soul, firm and secure (Heb. 9:16)."

From 11-22-08 Our House (before-afters)

From 11-22-08 Our House (before-afters)

Jeremy has been doing more house renovations this week. He finished taking down the boarder in in the kitchen and the guest bathroom upstairs. Then on Saturday, Jeremy also painted the whole kitchen. It was a huge task and he did an awesome job. It looks so good and we love the color!

30 weeks and 36 1/2 inches around

From 1-24-09 Due Date

This is a special "Weekly" photo because Molly (19 mo) and Jen were in town from Baltimore, so Molly just had to be in this pix with me this week. Also, I have started measuring around my stomach and it was 36 1/2 inches this week. Let's see what it gets up to (ha-ha!).

I also uploaded more of the 4D pix from this past Wendesday. Click here.

From 1-24-09 Due Date

We also had our Infant CPR class on Wednesday night.

Babycenter says..."Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)"

From 11-16-08 Bham Baby Shower Weekend

From 11-16-08 Bham Baby Shower Weekend

My sister, Molly, and parents came in from Thurs - Monday and we had a blast together making memories! We also had a Birmingham Baby Shower this weekend. This is a photo of my hostesses: Sarah Craft, Michelle Batson, Jennifer Sellers (my sister), and Kathy Harris. Jeremy and I were very blessed and overwhelmed by the generosity of our family and friends. See more photos here.

Baby Long's 4D Ultrasound Pictures

We just got done with our 4D Ultrasound. It was amazing - praise the Lord. I can't wait to hold this little one! Baby Long cooperated VERY well, thankfully! We got some great shots. These are only 4 of the 27 they took and they are all GREAT! We also have a 30 minute DVD of the whole time the ultrasound teck was looking at Baby Long and taking photos.

Smiling and sweet nose!

Frowning and chubby cheeks!

Open Mouth and cute lips!

Little Hand!

29 Weeks

From 1-24-09 Due Date

This has been a good week. I have experienced some of the first moments of shortness of breath and heart rate increasing after meals. I am sure this is only the beginning - being short and having a short torso isn't going to help with this.

From 1-24-09 Due Date

We had our Child Birthing Class all day on Saturday from 9a-4p. A little bit of the time was spent learning to relax during a contraction. The lights were down, mood music on, and we used the pillows we brought to lean against. To simulate a contraction our instructor, Candice, gave us a wooden close pen. She asked us to put it on our ear lobe for 1 minute. Well, that seemed like the longest minute not because it hurt (it did), but because the room was quiet and just as Jeremy put his "contraction" on his ear lobe he said "This hurts like hell." How was I supposed to not laugh for one minute while other people are trying to relax through their "contraction". Then Jeremy said "be quiet, stop laughing" - well that didn't help and I just couldn't stop.

babycenter.com says "Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day."

From 9-19-08 Our House (before-afters)

This week we also had the tile in our kitchen, guest bathroom, and master bathroom finished. We are very happy with it and it looks great! See more photos here.

We Heard Hiccups

Yesterday, we had our 28 week dr. apt. I have started rotating around to the other drs. in the practice, so I saw Dr. Radbill for the first time. They listened to the heartbeat and it was 159. Also, while they were listening the baby had the hiccups. It was so cute and cool! Dr. Radbill said I was measuring on schedule and everything looked great!

At 12:30a on Monday night, I woke up thinking that I had a yeast infections. I called my nurse Tuesday morning and since I was going in that afternoon (thankfully!) she said the dr. would just check me then. Well, no infections - he said it was just "pregnancy". I am feeling "normal" today, so all is well.

Tuesday night, I (Jeremy didn't go with me) also went to the Breastfeeding class that the hospital offers. It was informative and good. I am glad to have gone.

Next Wed. (11/12) at 8am, we have our 4D ultrasound. I will keep you all updated and hopefully post pix next week sometime.

A Fun Engagement

Our friends, Brian and Kathy, got engaged this weekend. We knew Brian Shinnick from Auburn and then met Kathy when we moved to Birmingham in 2000. We had set them up 2 years ago. They actually tailgated with my parents at the AU/Ole Miss game on their first date. Brian had called us a few weeks ago and encouraged us to go to the game and we are so glad we were there. We are so excited for them and think they are perfect together! Congrats!

From 11-1-08 AU vs Ole Miss, K&B Engagement

View more photos here.

28 weeks

From 1-24-09 Due Date

This has been a full week and weekend. Last Sunday, a couple from our church brought us this handmade cradle to use for Baby Long. It is beautiful and will be so useful with a 2 story house. On Monday, I started sleeping with a pillow between my legs at night. My hips have been sore while sleeping, so this is helping. On Wednesday around lunchtime, I felt my first kick to the ribs. I have not felt much since then, but I guess Baby Long is getting taller and bigger.

From 1-24-09 Due Date

Jeremy also sang to the baby for the first time this week. He was right up on my stomach singing the Auburn fight song and doing the Weagle, Weagle cheer. He also had 2 voices to talk to the baby in - a sweet one if it is a girl and a manly one if it is a boy. Too cute!

This weekend, I finished the baby blanket that I was making for Baby Long. It is stripe and once he/she comes I will add knit their monogram to the large cream section in either terquoise or red and then add either terquoise or red minky dot fabric to the back. I am so excited about it!

From 1-24-09 Due Date

babycenter.com says: "By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world."

Tate (17 mo) and Molly (19 mo) were both Ladybugs for Halloween. I also went to a Halloween Party that had some of the Alpha and Omega tots dressed up. Click here to see more photos.

From 10-31-08 Halloween - TateMolly

From 10-31-08 Halloween - TateMolly

On Halloween Day my costume was a "Baby Present". I only wore it for a few minutes to get a discount at "In the Making" knit shop - 25% off! It was worth it.

From 1-24-09 Due Date