27 Weeks

HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER!!

 I know I say this each week, but where is the time going!? This little man is going to be here before we know it, I sure hope we're ready! (I guess I should probably register...both at the hospital and for baby items...in an attempt to prepare us for his arrival.) 

A new song obsession + lonesome nights in a hotel room (I was in Chicago for work for a few days) = new Flipagram slideshow!

 

I've watched it more times that I care to admit, but it's fun to take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about the fun times that led us to where we are...husband and wife and parents-to-be! Louis V can look back on it someday and see how young and fun his parents once were. ;)

This week...

Berta put in time as a working girl 

(more like a snoring girl)

 

Decided next to me wasn't close enough, she needed to be on top of me

Wrigley and Berta laid on the guilt trip when I left town 

(and Wrigley did his best to prevent me from packing) 

Izzy and Berta showed that we're still waiting for Spring

I got to see my wifey in Chicago!!

 

I came home to a care package from a great friend, Danielle, who happens to be a super-mama of 3 (so she's a wealth of baby knowledge!)

 

And Izzy was just being Izzy

That's our week in a frozen nutshell!

Kicking off Trimester #3 with some Q&A:

How far along: 27 weeks! Third tri, here we come!
Baby is the size of a: Head of cauliflower/cucumber - he's over 2 lbs and about 15" long. He is registering brain activity now, probably at an Einstein level like his mama (thank you, online IQ test, for giving me that designation. I'll let dad tell you his designation if he's willing. ;))

Maternity clothes: Same story here, but I did score some great items in Chicago that will hopefully take me through the home stretch!

Stretch marks: Nope.

Belly button in or out: In, barely?!

Sleep: Been feeling a bit more tired these days, so sleep is doing me well. Interruptions from bathroom breaks and leg cramps, but mostly good!

Best moment this week: Lots of great moments -- first and foremost, I was offered and accepted a new job with Russell Construction! My dad and I are joining forces with the great company so they can develop and advance their foothold in real estate. A very exciting opportunity that starts on Monday!! Also, I got to see two great friends while in Chicago. Catching up with Meg and Katy were definitely highlights of the week! Last but not least, I may have added a pair of gorgeous shoes to my closet and that always qualifies as a "best moment". 

Worst moment this week: Freezing my face off walking downtown Chicago. This winter is THE WORST.

Miss anything: Not especially, just REALLY anxious for warm weather.

Movement: Louis V is partying like crazy in there these days! Day, night, it doesn't matter to him, he's just kickin' it...literally. Also, I felt his little hiccups for the first time last night, it was so adorable!

Cravings: I swear Diet Coke tastes better when you're pregnant. 

Queasy or sick: Feeling pretty darn good still.
Baby items of the week: LV now has a "King of the Castle" onesie that is oh-so-fitting...although Dad might beg to differ. He will also be telling the world that "Someone in Chicago loves me" thanks to the great onesie from Meg. Lastly, the care package from Danielle was amazing--she even sent a detailed email of what was included and why. GOLD to a new-to-motherhood mama like me!!

Looking forward to: Starting my new job! And, hopefully, starting to register for the little guy!

*I apologize if I forgot anyone/anything...I've had a busy day thus far, but wanted to get this posted to make Baba's day! ;)

Week 26

While our weekly count grows higher, our daily countdown is dwindling. As of yesterday, we officially hit single digits for days left until Louis V's due date! 

I hope he knows that the end date is non-negotiable, I am not interested in a holdover.

Although, I am willing to entertain the idea of him vacating early...as long as it's not on May 17th! 

The big news this week is that our house is officially on the market! You know, because the idea of moving and being homeless for several months is a really good idea when you're pregnant/have a newborn. Aside from those minor details, we're really excited about the plan to build the home where we'll start our new life as a family of 7! 

(Yes, I count my pets. And yes, Ian, they are coming with.) 

 We have our first showing on Saturday, wish us luck!

We received the most creative, hilarious and adorable gift this week courtesy of Aunt Jannine (with creative assistance from Cousin Kristina). It came from the T-Shirt Deli in Chicago -- if you've never seen or heard of this place,  you should definitely check it out: http://www.tshirtdeli.com/. 

Your order comes like this: 

And inside we found this:

 SO FABULOUS! This could not be more perfect. :) Move over, artist formerly known as Prince, the baby formally known as Louis V is on his way! 

Monday marked the one year anniversary of Grandma Smith's passing. She is missed dearly and I'm so sad that she will never get to see me as a mom or meet our little guy. But, we continue to cherish the wonderful memories we have of her and I am SO incredibly fortunate to have made so many during my 18+ years as her neighbor. We love and miss you, Grandma!

 

Other than that, we're just hanging out...

...and still digging out...

  ...while we wait for Spring! 

I'll warn you now, this week's Q&A is pretty lame. 

Turns out, week 26 is basically week 25 on repeat.

How far along: 26 weeks

Baby is the size of a: head of lettuce - there isn't much in the way of baby growth this week, he's about the same size he was last week. (Boring!) But, the network of nerves in his ears is better developed and more sensitive this week... so, I hope he enjoyed my rendition of One Direction's "Story of my Life" at the top of my lungs on the way home from work the other day. ;) Also, his eyes are gearing up to open and he now has eyelashes! (Glad one of us does, mine seem to be MIA lately.)

Weight gain: The doctor's scale told me 25lbs today. I may have to take the advice of Sarah S. and get on backwards from now on!

Maternity clothes: Still the same wardrobe--maternity pants, regular tops. 

Stretch marks: Nope.

Belly button in or out: In, but very shallow! (Still.)

Sleep: The body pillow has been fabulous! I could've done without him using my ribs as monkey bars last night though.

Best moment this week: Hearing his little heartbeat this morning and having my mom along for the fun! (Fingers crossed that I pass the glucose test.)

Worst moment this week: The brutal acid reflux (or whatever it is) I get when I bend over and when I lay down for bed. The blizzard on Monday wasn't fun either.

Miss anything: Having a tan!

Movement: He's a mover! People say that the kicks will get old after awhile, but for now I will continue to enjoy each and every one he gives me. :) (Although, I would prefer it if he would leave my ribs alone, that isn't as fun.)

Cravings: Sweets, but probably no more than I usually do. I could really use a cookie cake with extra frosting!

Queasy or sick: I've had a few moments of feeling "eh" these past couple days/during the night, but nothing too terrible. Still incredibly thankful for the ease of this pregnancy!
Baby items of the week: The creative and adorable onesie shown above, obviously, and I pulled the trigger on the first batch of outfits from Zulily.

They were all too perfect to pass up!

 Looking forward to: Volunteering at the Up With Families retreat Saturday night. And, hopefully, selling our house soon!

BONUS PHOTO:

In honor of Love Your Pet Day, here are our oh-so-lovable pets:

I kinda, sorta love them just a little. :)

Our Little Valentine at 25 Weeks!

Happy (almost) Valentine's Day!

 

Since babies don't come with instructions, we're just going to give it the ol' college try. ;) 

My mom tried to tell me that kids are easier than pets (she lied, I know, she just wanted local grandkids without fur)...I am hoping though that all the pet parenting at least counts for something as we prepare to advance from four legs to two! 

(They do wake me up during the night, require me to clean up vomit and I have to tend to Berta's booty, so I think I'm somewhat ready.)

We're feeling lots of love at Week 25! 

Since the last post, I received an AWESOME care package in the mail from my amazing brother, sis-in-law, nephew and niece:

 It included some fabulous maternity clothes (because the shopping/options in Vegas are wayyy better than in Iowa), a fantastic onesie for Louis V from Jason ("Sorry girls I only date models") which actually came from Kitson in L.A. (again, clothes are cooler out West), adorable Instagram magnets of Carson and Sam (which now hang next to my other favorite magnet) and last but not least, VEGAS magazine featuring the one and only, Britney. :) This box of joy made my day...and made the cats' day as well (although I'm sure that's not what Courtney had in mind when she sent it) -- thankful and happy campers! 

This week also included...

 a little crafting  

 Now we've got a chalkboard sign to count up the weeks and a chalkboard sign to count down the days. Today we're at 105!

a little walking

We FINALLY got above 0 degrees, so I decided to take Berta out to do a little snow mountain climbing. 

and a little tax prep

 Wrigley said we didn't need an accountant this year, he would handle our filing (or least keep the paperwork from walking away)...now if only he was deductible, too!

Kip, however, finds taxes incredibly boring--he thinks we should give more money to him in the form of toys and less money to the government in the form of taxes.

 Can't say I disagree...and taxes make me want to nap, too. 

And now for the Q&A to close out the second trimester!!!

How far along: 25 weeks

Baby is the size of a: Rutabaga or head of cauliflower. (Side note: I had to Google "rutabaga" because I had no clue what the heck it was...and after seeing the results, I'm confused because it seems smaller than a cantaloupe! These fruit/veggie size comparisons aren't an exact science, that's for sure.) What is not confusing is that my uterus is the size of a soccer ball...and I can tell! Louis V ranges from 13.6 to 14.8 inches long and weighs anywhere from 1.5 lbs to 2.5 lbs. This week's developments include open nostrils, a sense of equilibrium (he knows which way is up and which way is down), gaining fat (join the club, baby) and growing hair!!

Weight gain: I'm definitely up a few more pounds. 

Maternity clothes: Pretty much wearing maternity jeans, pants and leggings exclusively (elastic at the waist is my friend), but still rocking mostly non-maternity tops.

Stretch marks: None to speak of.

Belly button in or out: In, but very shallow!

Sleep: Some nights are better than others. One app tells me that trouble sleeping around week 25 is a common complaint among moms-to-be. Good prep for the baby's arrival, I guess! I did get a sweet body pillow from my sister-in-law, Monica, last night--seemed to work great. Big thanks to the Dport Belbys for dropping it off for me to use!

Best moment this week: Probably giving Ian his Playstation 4. I figured he deserved one last toy before Louis V gets them all. :)

Worst moment this week: Waking up at 3:45 AM Tuesday morning and never falling back asleep, ugh. Also, my sweet Grammy had a minor heart attack, but by the time I found out about it she was already on the road to recovery (and asking the hospital staff for bacon) -- she's back home and doing great, VERY thankful for that!! We love you, Grammy!!

Miss anything: Getting multiple refills on my Diet Mt. Dew! (Update: I don't miss that anymore, I had a had several today. Oops.)

Movement: The fact that his "house" is the size of a soccer ball makes sense because he's sure kicking it like one! I think I felt my first uterus contraction the other night as well...very strange feeling!

Cravings: Swedish Fish Jelly Beans..but I guess it's not really a craving when you just start eating them as soon as you see them. A new creation I just had to try, well worth it!

Queasy or sick: Not really, but I do get the wonderful feeling of acid in my esophagus when I bend over. Not uncommon considering my little man is displacing my digestive system.
Baby items of the week: I started researching items for the registry, exciting and overwhelming! Also, the owner of Ross' Restaurant (a Bettendorf, IA landmark) gave me an adorable onesie for our little guy. So sweet!

Looking forward to: Putting our house on the market!!

I hope everyone has a fabulous Valentine's Day!! And if you find yourself alone and grumpy on this love-filled holiday, maybe this will inspire you to find that special someone:

Couldn't resist. :)

24 Weeks

 24 Weeks!

It is extremely hard to believe that we are a few short weeks away from trimester #3 and just a few months away from Louis V's arrival! I can't say it enough, this pregnancy is FLYING by. Kind of scary!

(Sorry that the frame is crooked in the first photo! It's driving me crazy, but there's nothing I can do about it now.)

This photo was just too cute not to share and it shows just how cute the Belby boys are! We can't wait to add to the photo before too long. 

Ethan, Alden, Carter, Dylan and Jack will make great big cousins to our little guy! The 6th man is on the way. :)
 

This week was more of the same at our house:

  Izzy got comfy to watch the Super Bowl.

Berta rested up for the Puppy Bowl.

Wrigley parked himself in front of the vent to stay warm.

 Izzy got bored keeping Ian's neck warm and decided to see if the Broncos looked any better from this angle. (They didn't.)

 Berta prepared to take flight like a Seahawk! (I'm convinced she could fly with those bad boys, she's just too lazy to do so.)

Kip partied too hard.

(If it weren't for these feisty furballs, I'm not sure how we'd entertain ourselves during this terrible, never-ending winter. As you can see, we aren't getting out much these days!)

Is it in the genes? 

I'm wondering if my love of all things furry (and scaly and buggy and...) will be passed down to Louis V?! As you can see, pets have brought a smile to my face since I was too young to pick out my own hairstyle and glasses. ;) A little Throwback Thursday to my very first pet, Tigger. I was one happy 6 year old that Christmas!

I see lots of similar photos with our little boy and our little four-legged rascals in the future. Hopefully, it doesn't end up more like this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/28/cats-fight-kids-video_n_4681253.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

And to the answers you've been dying to know for the week. ;)

How far along: 24 weeks
Baby is the size of a: an ear of corn, how fitting for this Iowa baby! (Another app says he's a cantelope, which I also find yummy.) Size-wise, there isn't much change this week, he's gone from almost a foot long to a foot long (and I can't type that without singing the Subway song, dang those commercials!!) and has gained a whopping 4 oz (hopefully I'm that lucky!) The big developments are that his lungs are fully developed (although not quite ready to work outside the womb) and his skin is less translucent and more pink (thanks to newly formed capillaries), so he's looking more like the baby we'll see in May with each week!

Weight gain: I don't think there's been too much change this week, maybe a pound? 

Maternity clothes: I FINALLY found some things that fit! Third time was a charm for ordering work pants, so no more drafts coming through my unzipped pants. I scored a great pair of jeans from Ebay and also found some cute tops online. I'm slowly starting to not hate getting dressed in the morning now that I have bump-approved clothes. The best find, however, are the Gap supersoft maternity leggings...AMAZING. 

 


















Berta wants a pair, too. And she also wants to know why my belly is bigger than hers now, but I get to eat all day and she does not.

I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority here, but I've never been much of a leggings girl. However, that has now changed given the incredible comfort level these provide, plus they are very versatile and allow me to have more outfits for less money (which makes them husband approved, right Ian?) 

Stretch marks: Still lucking out in this department.

Belly button in or out: In, but definitely flatter.

Sleep: I think the sore back is going to be a constant until the baby arrives, so I'll stop griping about it. Lately, my issue has been waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back asleep for hours. Apparently, my brain thinks 2AM-4AM is the best time to think about everything under the sun. Not cool, brain. Not cool.

Best moment this week: Probably when those maternity pants/clothes actually fit when I put them on, what a relief.

Worst moment this week: Watching Iowa shoot free throws. (And trying to get my sick kitty better, fingers crossed!) *Guess this one can pretty much stay the same, dang Hawks! I hate losing to the Buckeyes. The good news is that (knock on wood) Wrigley seems to be better thanks to the 'roids the vet put him on. Not good for A-Rod, but great for Wrigley!

Miss anything: Champagne. I should probably stop following Veuve on Instagram for the time being.

Movement: Louis V seems to have kicked it up a notch this week (no pun intended)--I think he likes to do somersaults in there now! And I think we've got a little Buffalo Bills fan in the making because while we were watching a DVD of the Comeback, he was fist-pumping and doing touchdown dances like crazy! Either that or he was showing off for Ian's hand on my belly. ;) (For those who don't know, this is the Comeback:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Comeback_%28American_football%29) 
I love feeling my little guy playing around in there, it's so cute!

Cravings: Nothing new here, I guess he's pretty boring and is content with what I feed him. He must like candy, too. :) 

Queasy or sick: Nada. But, I do seem to have developed some acid reflux. I had to Google it to see what it felt like, but it appears to be pretty common in preggos. Wonderful.
Baby items of the week: While not technically for the baby, we did register for the childbirth class this week. We can't wait to spend 3 hours of 4 Monday nights in a row learning about the pain I'm going to go through...yikes.

Looking forward to: Sadly, I don't have much to look forward to this week. It's still cold and snowy and my next doctor's appointment is the glucose test. I guess I'm looking forward to getting that over with!