*27 weeks*

27 weeks...which means, 3rd TRIMESTER FOR THIS MOMMA!!!

 

So this week was a realy good one!! Saturday was one of my best friend's baby showers!! Daryl stayed home and cleaned up and prepared for his friend, Zach, to come visit for a few days. After the shower, Mom and I, along with my Aunt Debbie and cousin Dawn, headed to Williamsburg to the outlets to go baby shopping!! Oh. My. Gosh. I was in heaven!! Everything was on sale, plus it was tax free weekend, so my baby girl got SOOO MANY NEW OUTFITS!!! I spent around $250, but she got like 10 new outfits, a coat, gowns, and 3 pairs of shoes (including pink Converse)! We had a blast!!! I was gone from about 9am until 11pm...my feet were soooo fat and swollen and my body hurt when I got home, but it was worth it!! Sunday morning, Zach arrived and stayed for three days...Daryl was pretty happy to have a friend around :)  Steph and Tim Urban came out to our house and we cooked out. Nice little Sunday!!

I started getting pretty worried at work on Monday morning because I hadn't felt much movement from Camryn since early Saturday morning. I talked to a few friends and they assured me that it was normal. Later that day...she was WIDEEEE OPEN. Thank the Lord!! But then, oddly, I developed a rash...kind of hive-like, just on my belly. Weird, huh?? I decided to wait to see if it went away... I worked Tuesday, too, and the hives were still there. I called the doctor's office and they instructed me to stop using the lotion I was using (Tummy Butter) and to get Cortizone cream and Benadryl. I did, and it helped the itching, but it's just an ugly rash!! I didn't wear my compression stockings Tuesday because they come up high on my belly and I figured that might irritate my hives...sooo, my feet were VERY swollen come Tuesday night!! Wowza!!

Wednesday we got our replacement baby furniture (and they took back the damaged pieces). It's just BEAUTIFUL!! We got sooo excited that we took all Cam's clothes out and took the tags off and arranged them by colors. We went and got Ivory Snow detergent and washed them ALL on Thursday and put onesies/soft pants in drawers and hung up outfits and sleepers. Her room is sure coming along and it's beautiful!!

Daryl started painting Thursday, and it looks AMAZING. It really is coming along and now we can't wait for the hardwood floors!! Pictures to come next week!!

We are vigorously looking for the perfect babysitter/daycare arrangement. If Daryl can get his classes for just Tuesday and Thursday in the spring, I can ask to work EITHER Tuesday or Thursday and only have to take Cam one day per week. So, Momma is trying to decide if she can go to 4 days per week at work...I am surely praying!! It'd be amazing!!

Well, let's see. This week... I got lots of rest!! We set our baby shower date...it was going to be October 1, but now it's September 11, a Sunday. It's the day after my cousin's wedding so alot of my family will be here from out of town!! Pretty excited...just 4 weeks away!! Well, here are the weekly fun facts...see ya at 28, with 3D/4D Ultrasound pictures and news on my glucose test!!

**How far along? 27 down, 13ish to go!!

**Total weight gain/loss: +3 AGAIN. Total weight gain so far= ENOUGH.

**How Big is Baby?  Getting bigger!! Over 2lb and 15" long now!!

**Maternity clothes? Oh yeahhhhh.

**Stretch marks? Yup...they're soo ugly  :(

**Best moment this week: After her lull...when she started REALLLLLY kicking!!!

**Movement: Yupp!! Still mostly after meals and late at night.

**Food cravings:  Hmmm...sadly, just junk food. Bad girl, I know.

**Nausea/vomitting? Not really?

**Gender: BABY GIRL!!!

**Labor Signs: Nope

**Belly Button in or out? It's just flat??

**Sleep: Up every 3hours to go pee... and it's probably only going to get worse!

*26 weeks*

Me at 26 weeks!! Bout to go to a baby shower and then go shoppppping for my little princess!!! <3

Soooo, this past week FLEW by. That's probably why I am writing my blog late...because so much seems to be going on right now!!


Work this past week was just same 'ol. Nothing too exciting except that I got really tired at work and ate lunch super late every day. Yeah yeah. The compression stockings are realllly helping me! I do still get swollen ankles, but they are sooo much worse if I go without wearing them at work!

I'm not going to lie..I ate horrible this week. It was kind of a "eat whatever I want that is in sight" kind of week. Eeek. That is probably why I gained 3lbs. :( Sorry, poor body! I LOVEEE pizza for some reason!! I could eat it everyday if possible!!

Saturday, Daryl, Mom, and I went to a play called 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' in Richmond for Daryl's theater class. It, surprisingly was pretty good!! He had to write a paper for it so it was sort of a necessity! We of course went to lunch and did a little shopping afterwards, and Cam got NEW clothes. Go figure!! haha This baby girl has more clothes than Daryl and me combined!! Daryl finished his online classes Friday and is SOOO relieved!! And, SO AM I!! haha

We went Friday and interviewed our babysitter, Charity! She is such a sweetheart and I know we will be so thrilled with her. She is a pediatric nurse that I used to work with. She had her baby girl in February and decided to not come back to work afterwards, so I asked it she'd be interested in babysitting for us once or twice a week starting this January. If Daryl can get his classes on just Tues and Thurs, it will only be one day per week!! So, that would be good for us!!

Well, there's just not alot to say about this week...so here are the small details. See ya at 27!!

**How far along? 26 down, 14ish to go!!

**Total weight gain/loss: +3 lb this week. Ugh. Making up for last week I guess.

**How Big is Baby?  She is growing like it's her job!! 2 lbs and 14 inches long!!

**Maternity clothes? Oh yeah...and I'm about to reitre my tshirts lol. They all show my belly!!

**Stretch marks? Yup...it is what it is.

**Best moment this week: Just her PROFOUND kicking!!!! :)

**Movement: Yupp!! Mostly after meals and late at night still!! Kicks, punches, jabs, flips!!

**Food cravings:  PIZZA

**Nausea/vomitting? Just the usual indigestion!!

**Gender: BABY GIRL!!!

**Labor Signs: Nope

**Belly Button in or out? It's just flat??

**Sleep: Not quite as good this week :( DEFINITELY not on my back...I can't breathe!! Daryl says I struggle to breathe on my back, actually!! And it scares him...poor thing!!!

**25 weeks!!**

 

25 weeks!! It's getting closer and closer...so hard to believe  :)

Well, this past week kind of flew by to me? Looking back, I'm not really sure where it went??

I worked the weekend, and had to float to OB and work in the nursery with the babies!! It was no big deal because working with small newborns is just a nice little practice for me :) I of course swelled again, pretty bad by Sunday night, I might add. Major resting was in store for that night, but come Monday, we were excited yet again!!

~Monday was our 24 weeks appt which was really no big deal. Camryn's heartrate was 150s again (per the norm). HeHe. My blood pressure was great (for me anyways)...128/72! My doctor was VERY pleased and was not worried about my swelling too much yet...just suggested I wear compression hose at work and rest on my days off. No problem!! Got the hose and they worked great actually...not PERCECT, but I notice a big difference at work. I went to the gastro doctor afterwards because for about the past year, after almost every meal, I get a rapid heartrate for about 45 mins, then if I don't eat atleast 2-3hrs after that, I get low blood sugar attacks (I mentioned that a few weeks ago). They drew some blood and are having me do a 24hr urine...well, the blood came back that I am anemic and have low potassium!! This stuff never ends :( So, I have to call my ob-gyn after the weekend is over to let her know that and see what our next move is. GREATTTTTT. Atleast that explains the exhaustion and heart palpitations.

I rested ALOT Tues and Wed, and got a pedicure (Daryl insisted I do this, so I didn't argue!! Haha). Worked Thursday and Friday. Same 'ol same 'ol. Daryl has been super stressed about school lately, as his level 201 Spanish class is very overwhelming and time-consuming...not to mention this teacher has given the students a COMPLETE semester's worth of work and having them complete it in a 3-week summer course. I just cannot wait for next weekend so that he will be done and able to relax. When hubby's stressed, I get stressed too. Poor thing :(

We decided to paint our whole house before Cammie arrives!! Tan and redish-maroon. Daryl is starting that next weekend and is pretty excited!! One of his buddies from the USMC who lives in Columbus is coming to visit him for a few days next week too, so he has alot to look forward to. Thank goodness!! :)

Ok, for the smaller things...I LOVE PIZZA and PEACHES!! All I want is pizza with a peach for dessert. Strange, I know. But they're soooo good to me right now!! Camryn did FLIPS on Sunday and Monday night!! Daryl felt her again with his hand. She is moving alot and I love it :)

Well, here are the weekly info stats!! See ya at 26!!

**How far along? 25 down, 15ish to go!!

**Total weight gain/loss: +1 lb this week <<sigh of relief>>. Oh Dear Lord please let it stay like that from here on out!! haha 

**How Big is Baby?  She grew alot this week!! Now about 1.5ish lbs and over 13.5inches long...imagine a loaf of bread!!

 

**Maternity clothes? ONLY. haha.

**Stretch marks? Yup...I think they're developing on my belly some now, too. Ughhhh.

**Best moment this week: Hearing her heartbeat again and Daryl smiling when he SAW her kick my belly!!

**Movement: Yupp!! Mostly after meals and late at night still!! Kicks, punches, jabs, flips!!

**Food cravings:  PIZZA...and big 'ol peaches! :)

**Nausea/vomitting? Just the usual indigestion!! TUMS <3

**Gender: BABY GIRL!!!

**Labor Signs: Nope...think I may be experiencing some Braxton Hicks at times??

**Belly Button in or out? It's just flat??

**Sleep: Not quite as good this week :( DEFINITELY not on my back...I can't breathe!!



*24 WeEkS*

Holy cow!! So this week is a milestone!!

24 weeks is the week that a baby is considered "viable" outside of the womb if born early.

Yup, 24 weeks down...16 to go! It's kind of hard to believe!!

So I'm not really sure where this past week went? It went really fast for some reason?!

Sunday, Daryl and I made the trip to Chesterfield and did Camryn's baby registry! We went to Target first and scanned alot of 'fun' stuff, like clothes and extras that aren't necessarily 'needed', but definitely wanted! We then went to Babies 'R Us where the real registering began! Pack 'n play, stroller, high chair, swing, monitor, etc...those are the necessities!! We were pretty tired after, but sooo excited!! :) Cam's crib set came Monday...SOOO EXCITING!! It is just beautiful!! Except for the imperfections, and I mean..a crack in the wood in the changing tower, a hole in the back of the dresser...what the world?! Momma called and complained and they are replacing them in the next 2 weeks! Kind of can't wait to get her clothes in the dressers and her crib bedding set up in the crib!! I worked a night shift Monday night...talk about eww!! I forgot how much I hated it. My ankles were bad...2+ pitting edema. The nurse I worked with couldn't believe it. So, my obgyn is definitely going to be seeing some pictures of my feet next week!!

Otherwise...I am just so happy :) I can't wait to hold my baby girl! She still kicks alot, mainly after meals and before bedtime. I just love this little girl! I am still getting some palpitations if I don't drink enough water throughout the day, and get short of breath if I lay on my back (uterus presses against my vena cava and diaphragm). So, I just do what will be best for Camryn and me!! People still make comments, but I just don't care anymore. My life has way too much good stuff going on to worry about those negative people!! Speaking of...we have set a date for my big family/friends baby shower, which will be Sunday, October 2nd! SET THE DATE!! Stoked!! <3

Well, next week I can update on my doctor's appt and such, so check back in! Sorry this week wasn't too exciting... not alot going on!!

**How far along? 24 down, 16ish to go!!

**Total weight gain/loss: Not TOO bad this week...+ about 1.5 lbs.

**How Big is Baby? She is about one foot long and over 1.3 lbs...imagine the size of an ear of corn!!

**Maternity clothes? OH yeah...I still wear some regular shirts, though.

**Stretch marks? Yup...I have a new small one on my belly where my belly button ring used to be...7 yrs ago?? haha

**Best moment this week: Just those kicks!!! LOVE them  :)

**Movement: Yupp!! Mostly after meals and late at night!!

**Food cravings: Chocolate...and big 'ol peaches! :)

**Nausea/vomitting? Just the usual indigestion!! TUMS <3

**Gender: BABY GIRL!!!

**Labor Signs: Nope

**Belly Button in or out? It's just flat??

**Sleep: Pretty good these days...until she jumps on my bladder and I run to the bathroom!! haha

*23 Weeks*

Another week down!!

Week 23...so, ehh, about 16-17 weeks to go?

 Maybe a little sooner??

118ish DAYS UNTIL 11/11/11!! <3

This past week went by VERY fast!! Time flies when you're having fun!!

Saturday, my younger sister, Lauren, and my 10-week old nephew (whom I had never met) came in from TX to spend the week with family! Mom and Dad, and Daryl and I went to the Lynchburg airport to pick them up and brought them back home. I don't think I have ever seen my dad smile as much as he did when he had his grandson in his arms. It was a sweet moment  :) I grabbed my sister and just hugged her. I miss her soooo much!! So, we got all their luggage and went back to mom and dad's and had dinner. Daryl and I went home to get some sleep and prepare for Sunday.... So, Sunday, mom and dad had a huge cookout with family and a few friends so that everyone could see Lauren and meet baby Connor. It was a great day!! Lots of family and fun and FOOD!! I ate wayyy to much that day! I tried to stay inside as much as possible which was pointless, because my feet swelled, YET AGAIN. It's hopeless. Then Monday, after we slept ALOT Sunday night (late), I just had to head back over to their house to see Lauren and Connor again. I just wanted to spend every available moment with them!!


Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday I worked. Not alot to say about it. Same 'ol same 'ol. Feet swelled. What's new. But I was EXHAUSTED at work from the long weekend, so that was a bit rough. But I got through it and here I am!! After work Friday, Daryl and I headed to mom and dad's to have dinner and say bye to Lauren and Connor. ROUGH NIGHT. I just didn't want to let go. We all cried alot...but I just try to keep telling myself that I will see them again in just 2.5 months at my baby shower!! (My feet were super swollen from work Friday night and I sat indian style to eat dinner. Afterwards, I stepped down and my foot had molded to how I was sitting..it looked like an alien. My mom and sister are getting worried so I am going to mention this swelling to my doctor at my appt on July 25th!)


So, as for me, this week flew by! We had a lot going on! I was very emotional. Anything and everything could make me cry! That's rough...especially after I get ready to go out somewhere and a song on the radio makes me cry! Ahh!! So, I felt heartburn for the first time. OUCH!! I took a couple Tums and laid down and it went away. But that stuff is no joke!! I realllly love orange Gatorade for some reason? It's just delicious to me  :)  Daryl FINALLY felt baby girl kick! It was awesome... we were laying in bed one night and she was just kicking and punching and I grabbed his hand and put it on my belly and he felt her twice!! Soo awesome!! At work, my belly (all the ligaments at the lower abdomen) and back began hurting pretty bad. I am going to go this weekend to buy a maternity belly supporter to see if that helps...crossing my fingers!!


Andddddd here's my little "whineyness" for the week. I am just getting plain 'ol sick and tired of people telling me that my belly is "huge" or "Oh my gosh you're ONLY 23 weeks?!" or "Will you make it to 40 weeks?!" Ok, thanks, is that a compliment? One OB nurse at work looked at my belly and got wide eyed, so I pulled up my top and showed her my belly (I had on maternity scrub pants), and she goes "Ohhhh nevermind, you are just carrying her extra high. Your belly isn't that big, Bonz". THANK YOU!!! haha

Well, here are Week 23's good 'ol stats...see ya next week and at our next appt!!

**How far along? 23 down, 17ish to go!!

**Total weight gain/loss: Not TOO bad...+2 lbs AND we had a huge cookout. Fluid and swelling still pretty bad too!!

**How Big is Baby? She is about 11ish" still and over 1.1lbs !!

**Maternity clothes? OH yeah...I still wear some regular shirts, though.

**Stretch marks? Yup. Whatev.

**Best moment this week: Daryl finally feeling her kick!!

**Movement: Yupp!! Mostly in the morning and late at night!!

**Food cravings: Orange Gatorade and fruit :)

**Nausea/vomitting? Just the usual indigestion...and heartburn!! TUMS <3

**Gender: BABY GIRL!!!

**Labor Signs: Nope

**Belly Button in or out? In...but it's not as deep as it used to be?

**Sleep: Pretty good these days!!

*22 Weeks*

So, 22 down, 18 to go (technically...hopefully it will be a tad sooner, say, just 16 to go)!?



So, thinking about it, I really only have 4 months left! That's crazy! Time is kind of flying right now... maybe because there is just so much going on. Either way, I am ok with that!!

Well, this past week was a pretty good one! My best friend/Maid of Honor/cousin, CJ, had her baby boy, Shane, on Saturday, July 2. He was a whopping 8lbs12oz and was 22.5" long! Below is a picture of him with myself and Daryl holding him...he is just precious! It makes me even MORE excited to have my baby girl in my arms! He would just smile in his sleep and he was a snuggler! CJ looks great, already lost 20lbs...I sure hope that happens to me! HaHa

Work was decent. I didn't get to do anything fun for the 4th of July because I worked all weekend...that's ok, because it rained on the 4th so I didn't feel too left out! Of course, I had fat feet at the end of the long days and I noticed this week that it is starting to get swollen and tight up my calves...that kind of stinks! Same 'ol.

Tuesday was a "pamper myself" kind of day. Hubby was at school, so I went out and did a few things for 'me'. He and I never do that really, so I just decided to. As you can see from the pics above, I cut it short with layers and bangs and got hilites and lowlites. I love it! It gave me alot of volume and makes me feel a little more mature! I also got my long needed pedicure. So yes, it was a pretty good day!

I scheduled our Maternity Pictures to be done on Sunday, September 11!! That will be fun :) And then, we got a call and JcPenney will be delivering Cam's crib set (finally!) on Monday, July 18th!! It's all starting to come together!!!


Ok, so for the little tid bits of the week... I notice that my meals have to be smaller because I seem to get fuller quicker. If I overeat (and by overeat I mean two bites too many), I feel terrible. So, I eat slower and pay attention to my tunmy now! I LOVED Oreo Mint ice cream this week!! Mom, Daryl and I went shopping Saturday afternoon at the little Belk in town and mom bought Cam some new clothes (go figure!), and one of the onesie long sleeved/feet outfits was a mint green and brown, and it made me just HAVE TO HAVE mint ice cream! So needless to say, that was really good! HaHa. Ok, so this next tid bit is probably TMI...but I have been sneezing alot lately, which I heard can be quite common...well I did this week once and tinkled. I mean, come on! No one told me about THAT part! So, the fun REALLY begins now! GREAT.


Sooooo anywho. Here are this past week's fun 'ol stats. See ya at 23!!!

**How far along? 22 down, 18 to go!!

**Total weight gain/loss: Not TOO horrible I guess. +3ish pounds this week...It's really kinda of hard to say though, really, because I went up 5lbs after working two days straight, then weighed myself the day after (after resting), and I went back down 2lbs. That's how bad my fluid levels are.

**How Big is Baby? She is about 11" long and weighs about 1 whole pound! She is said to be comparable to a spaghetti squash? AND...if we could see her, she would resemble a newborn (just MUCH thinner with no baby fat). Cool, huh?!

**Maternity clothes? OH yeah...I still wear some regular shirts, though.

**Stretch marks? Yup. Whatev.

**Best moment this week: Just continuing to feel my precious girl kick me...and knowing my best friend's baby boy is healthy!!

**Movement: Yupp!! Mostly at night time, still. Daryl continues to put his hand on my belly to try to feel her, but she always stops after he put his hand there. Stubborn lil girl!!

**Food cravings: Chocolate milk and Oreo Mint Ice Cream!!...and the usual, fruit!

**Nausea/vomitting? Just the usual indigestion...TUMS are the best right now!!

**Gender: BABY GIRL!!!

**Labor Signs: Nope

**Belly Button in or out? In...but it's not as deep as it used to be?

**Sleep: Pretty good these days!!

*21 Weeks*



21 weeks...just 19 to go!! I guess technically I could start the countdown... instead of counting up!!

*I feel like I'm really looking huge for 21 weeks?*

The past week wasn't bad at all for the most part. Daryl and I went out Saturday evening and chose the paint color for Camryn's nursery and he was so excited that he stayed up most of the night and painted! It's a light green, so pretty! Now I  cannot wait to order the wall decal to put on it as well! The color is soothing, but brightens the room, so it was a great choice!


One of my dear friends that I became very close to in NC while Daryl was in the USMC...Brandy, gave birth to her baby boy on Tuesday, June 28! She and her husband finally became pregnant after over 2 years of trying, and their baby was healthy and handsome! Daryl and I really could not be happier for them... everyone is having their babies...make me so anxious now!! :)


Well, I had my first vivid BABY dream this week...except, it's not exactly the one I would have chosen for myself! I dreamt that my poor baby was born with a deformed nose :( It looks perfect in the UltraSound pictures, so I am praying it was just a nightmare! But I did dream, for the second time in the past few weeks, that she was born on October 28, 2011. That would make her exactly 2 weeks early at 38 weeks...I wouldn't be too opposed to that!! :) We will seeee!!!


I worked Sunday and Monday, then had Tuesday through Thursday off. It was sooo nice and very much needed! I relaxed ALOT while Daryl was in school. Sort of an uneventful week, I would say, though. I still get sooo aggravated at comments people make...the "Are you going to make it to 40 weeks, girl?" and "Wow, you're too early to be so swollen!". I just wanna smack 'em in the face...I am completely in LOVE with my daughter already and can't wait to meet her...but to be honest, pregnancy for me has not been fun, really. I have very oily skin, oily/flat hair, pimples everywhere, skin tags (wtf?), swollen feet that sometimes turn a really pretty hue of purple if I am on them too long in the heat, crazy hormonal mood swings, and not to mention, if I don't eat a Fiber One bar every day with Fiber One yogurt, FORGET the potty...so, that's why I want November to get here ASAP. But as my momma says, "Harder pregnancies mean easier labors, and vice versa". Hope that's true for me!! But needless to say, through it all, my husband has been soooo patient and understanding. I'm really not sure what I would do without that man   :)

Like I said, not too much exciting information from this week. Here are this week's stats...see ya at 22!!

**How far along? 21 weeks... 19 to go!!

**Total weight gain/loss: Pheeww!! Just +1.5lbs this week! ...so we'll say +20 total, give or take a pound depending on a few things <aheem> ...which I am content with right now. I hope it stays just +1 per week, now.

**How Big is Baby? 10.5 inches long and weighs 12oz... comparable to a large banana! <Alot of different websites say different weights/sizes, so I am going to stick to a certain one, now>.

**Maternity clothes? And no other!!

**Stretch marks? Unfortunately, yes...but they are the "battle wounds of pregnancy". I'll take that! haha

**Best moment this week: Just continuing to feel my precious girl kick me :)

**Movement: Yupp!! Mostly at night time, though.

**Food cravings: Chocolate milk!!

**Nausea/vomitting? Just the usual indigestion

**Gender: BABY GIRL!!!

**Labor Signs: Nope

**Belly Button in or out? In...but it's not as deep as it used to be?

**Sleep: Pretty good these days!!

**Quick note...we are all continuing to pray for my parent's dog, Fred, who went missing on Tuesday. He is not the kind of pup who runs off and doesn't come home. In fact, he knows my parents' land probably better than they do! He has heart and thyroid problems and is on daily medication for it...so, we are getting increasingly more worried. We are beginning to accept that he is most likely in Doggy Heaven, now :*( We love you  Fred Dog.**