29 Week Update!

How far along are you?
~29 weeks, 1 day!

Only 11 weeks left! Wowza!

According to Babycenter...

"Your baby is as big as a butternut squash, weightwise -- about 2 1/2 pounds. (Length: a tad over 15 inches, head to heel.)"

What symptoms are you experiencing?

~Horribly aching hands. :(

~Swelling

~Uncomfortable sleep

How are you feeling?

~Seriously my hands ache so badly that it has brought me to tears several times.

~I'm definitely worn out at the end of the day --swollen and exhausted

~It's been really hot and humid lately--that's been rough too. :)

~I'm looking to schedule a massage....and alleviate some of the swelling and achiness!

Any Midwife/Doctor appointments/ultrasounds/tests this past week and how did they go?

~Nothing this week. Next week back for regular OB appointment --every 2 weeks now. :)

Anything big happening in your personal life (moving, work related, family, etc.)?

~Nothing really big. Just a lot of nesting. :)

Any fears or hopes you want to get off your chest?

~Yesterday, I couldn't remember when I had felt her move last and was a little panicky in the evening, but she started moving and let me know she was ok.

Any belly pics or ultrasound photos from this week?

Any food cravings?

~Red meat
~water! *normally I hate drinking water, but I have craved it like nobody's business this pregnancy!
~cheese

Tell us your favorite thing about your pregnancy this week.

~G and I went on a date and also to work on our registry. :) We had a really good time!

What has been the most surprising thing about this pregnancy?

~I can't believe we're 29 weeks and so close to the end!!
~I also cannot believe how badly my hands hurt each day --not a symptom I anticipated AT.ALL.

Baby brain moment of the week?

~I don't have a particular moment this week, but I cannot tell you the number of times I will walk upstairs or into another room to do something and have no idea why I'm there.

Random Question of the Week:

Have your (sleep) dreams changed since becoming pregnant?
~Not really. I have had a couple pregnancy dreams that have been strange, but for the most part, nothing out of the ordinary. :)

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Getting to Know You

Click http://www.mannland5.com/ to link up with Keely for this bloghop!

1. Have you ever snooped around someone else's house?
~Never through drawers or things like that, but when I was younger and would babysit or housesit, I definitely walked around and looked at all the rooms, closets etc.

2. Can guys and girls be friends? ( thanks Jen!)




~I think the above video is true in younger years when you're single. :)  I believe men and women can be friends, yes. However, there are inappropriate things once you're married/involved.


3. Can you curl your tongue?

4. Have you ever stolen anything?
Whne I was 3, I stole a Hershey's bar from the grocery store. My mom made me return the half-eaten candy to the manager and tell him what I had done. Lesson learned.

5. Would you rather talk on the phone or text?
I love to talk on the phone to G when we're not together, to my mom and a few other people, but text and email makes for easy multi-tasking!! I've also recently started on Skype and I love it!!! With my family all over the world, it is AMAZING!

6. Memorial Day plans?
Family hang out! Love it!!

7. What do you do to relax?
Hanging on the porch, bubble bath, writing.

8. Do you do anything to honor those that have died fighting for our freedom?
I have many family members who served, friends STILL serving and G also served. I always make sure to thank the people I know and strangers I see for their service all the time. Memorial Day is spent for us usually talking about those serving past and present while we spend it together.

Waaaaa....

My hands ache so badly that it made me cry two different times today.

My feet, ankles, hands and arms are so swollen, I could replace the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.

I don't know if I can survive this pain in my hands, wrists, and fingers for 11 more weeks...

I am a wimp.

1st Follow Friday

Welcome to the very first NEW Friday Follow hosted by Tami at Hearts Make Families, Harriet at Harriet and Friends, and Ian at The Daily Dose of Reality!

It's an invitation you to join every Friday to get more blog followers and to find many interesting blogs that you like. This is all about sharing and having fun.

Click on the "Follow Friday" button at the top to link up and find new blogs to read. You never know the connections you may find! :)

Thanks for stopping by and taking a minute to read about my pregnancy, my thoughts and my family!

We Will Rock You!

Today is my son's half birthday. :)  My baby boy is 10 1/2!  

He's celebrating with a field trip with his class!

Last night was his end of the year band concert. He has grown up so much in the last year and to watch him last night has made me so proud.

They played together as a concert band...in the winter concert, they played more as sectionals.
They've grown so much as a band together this year!

We had a really good time together as a family too!

G and I were really proud of A!
One of my favorite things is watching R watching A during these concerts...she's such a proud sister and I love how excited she claps when they finish each song!

A and his 1st band teacher

My swelling is out.of.control.

Monday Minute...*snort* Edition

<a href="http://batcrapcrazy.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac13/CheapskateDesigns/daffyprayer.png" /></a>

1 - Do you *snort*?
~Never. Not a snorter at all.

2 - Our friend, has a nickname and it's Daffy.  What's your nickname?
~ When my youngest brother was little --he's 8 years younger--he couldn't say "Stephanie" so he called me "Tessie". That stuck for a long time. When my other younger brother --3 years younger--was little, HE couldn't say "Stephanie" so he called me "Tabenny".  My dad called me that until he died in 1995.
G has a few. "Babe" is the text nickname. But, funny enough that one is only in text.

3 - Do you know sign language?
~Waaaaaaay back in the mid 70s, my parents put me in a pilot preschool program at the Western PA School for the Deaf. The school wanted to integrate hearing kids and deaf kids. (I can hear.) I was fluent in sign language at the age of 3.   But just like anything, a skill like that that isn't used, gets lost. :(  So, I do know the alphabet --thanks to my son's preschool 7 years ago and sign being a part of his curriculum.  He was sooooo cute at the age of 4 signing The Star Spangled Banner!! 

4 - What's a sample convo from your hood?
I went browsing through the archives of my life...
~Musings from my classroom in the ghetto where I was very blessed to teach:

-5 yr. old boy: "I watched Long Order last night."
me: "Law and Order??"
boy: "NO! Long Order" (yes, it's law & order)
me: "That's a grown-up show"
boy: "My mom says I can watch that or Prison Break"
me: "Those are scary shows. Tell your mom you want to watch cartoons"

-We were discussing what sports we all liked best and one boy told me he was going to tell his mom that I loved baseball. So when he left that afternoon I said, "What are you going to tell your mom that I love?"
His response: "Me." (This is why I teach)

-Question to each student: "What did you do this past weekend?"
5 yr. old girl: "I played hide and sink."

-Long Order boy: "I wanna be called Stanley"
me: "Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?"

-Cleaning the tables with shaving cream one day, had a boy with a high pitched voice say, "Uh oh!" as he stood at the table with shaving cream all over his hands. I asked, "What's the matter?" He just stood and looked at me and then I realized his shorts were down around his ankles. I asked my aide to come over to help since I also had shaving cream on my hands. She helped him pull up his shorts and looked at me and said, "He doesn't have any underwear on!" hahahaha I asked his mom if he gets himself dressed and she said yes and he doesn't like to wear underwear!
(I love teaching kindergarten!! )

5-  Do you sleep with electronic devices - i.e. laptop, Blackberry, iPhone, etc?
~Blackberry on the nightstand. I use it as my alarm, my clock, my connection. :) I, too, find that blinking message light hard to ignore...

Head over to Ian's to link up!

Getting to Know You

Click http://www.mannland5.com/ to link up with Keely for this bloghop!

1. Do you have a fetish?
~Not really, I don't think. Boring, but true.

2. Do you sing in the shower?
~On occasion. However, I'm usually tired when I'm showering, so I get it, do my business and get out.

3. Who was your first crush?
~My 1st crush was my daddy. ♥ I was gonna marry him. He'd put my feet on top of his and we'd dance around our livingroom.  I love and miss him more than I can say. Later this week, marks the 15th anniversary of his death...

 4. What do you think is the best manly trait a guy could have?
~When I got divorced, I made a list of things that I wanted in a person. I came across the list recently. I was fortunate enough to find a man who met every one of the criteria on that list.
The one thing that comes to mind for this answer is a man who would lay down his life for me. I found him. ♥

5. Do you sleep naked?
~I used to. Now, there's way too much getting up and peeing in the middle of the night and too much activity with kids.  So, it's a trade off.  Sleeping naked led to the kids??


6. What do you do when (you think) no one is looking?
~I talk outloud to myself. :)


7. What's the first thing you do when you go online?
~Check my email.


8. Summer is.....?
~...the time when our babygirl will be born!
We love to sit out on our porch together and save the world. G and I have had many all-nighters on our front porch talking. It's one of my favorite parts of summer.

3rd Trimester! 28 Weeks Baby!

How far along are you?
~28 weeks!!! 3rd trimester!!! SOOOOOOO excited!! Homestretch!
According to Babycenter....my little Chinese cabbage this week:

"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."

What symptoms are you experiencing?
~swelling
~pain under my right rib
~general uncomfortableness
~ carpal tunnel still making my hands fall asleep

How are you feeling?
~Pretty uncomfortable at the end of each day
~Not sleeping fantastic :(


Any Midwife/Doctor appointments/ultrasounds/tests this past week and how did they go?
~Regular check up this past Monday in addition to the glucose test. I passed the 1 hour test!!!!
Woo hoo! I fully expected to have to take the 3 hour test because I never pass, but I did!
I'm measuring right on schedule, Lily's heartbeat was good and strong in the 150s --like usual. Blood pressure was good, weight gain was 7lbs for a total off 15lb entire pregnancy so far.


Anything big happening in your personal life (moving, work related, family, etc.)?
~We're working on the house and the baby's stuff, picked a baby shower date finally, dealing with stepdaughter drama, summer schedules, and a sick Daddy. It's been a hectic week. :)

Any fears or hopes you want to get off your chest?
~I've been following the blogs of a couple pregnant women that were in my online due date group whose babies did not make it. It is so heartbreaking and I am so touched by what these women are going through and how brave they are to share their vulnerability.  It has brought some worry to me again about my own pregnancy and I'm just a little bit anxious and trying to keep it in check.

Any belly pics or ultrasound photos from this week?

7 months have passed...3 more to go!

Any food cravings?
~Special K with Red Berries
~bananas
~brownies
~water
~cheese

Tell us your favorite thing about your pregnancy this week.
~Passing the 1 hour glucose test!!! You have no idea how happy I am to FINALLY not have to take the 3 hour one! **Notice the big bruise on my right arm in the pic with the 7....that's from the blood draw. I bruise really easily.

What has been the most surprising thing about this pregnancy?
~Honestly, the amount of pain this carpal tunnel (I know I complain about this EVERY week) has brought. It hurts sooooooo badly. It hurts to write, to drive, make a fist --anything I have to close my hand for. And of course, it IS my right hand --you know the one that I use the most.

Baby brain moment of the week?
~Funny thing is, I thought earlier this week, "I have to remember this for my baby brain moment of the week!" But, alas I can't remember. I look for my keys...they're in my hand, I look for my phone...I'm on it. You know, the usual for this pregnancy for me.

Random Question of the Week:
When are you planning to go on maternity leave and how long before you return to work if at all?
~I hope to work right up until delivery --give or take a week. That's the plan. :)  We're working on our plan for me to return to teaching. I'm excited about the possibilities and flexiblity!! Lots of pregger teachers right now. :)

My 1st Born...Is There Room For More?

I've felt very scattered lately. Too many thoughts swirling in my head. Lots of happy thoughts about our baby and our life. Also lots of reflection about the past.  It's not all coherent and it's kind of frustrating that I can't seem to get it focused. 

Lots of thoughts about my kids.

My amazingly sweet, funny son who is truly a light in my life has been a subject swirling...

When I first found out I was pregnant with this baby last December, I was so torn between wanting a boy or a girl.

G is an only child --and a big part of me wanted a boy to carry on his name. But there was a part of me who has a boy in my life who has had to share everything for the last 2 1/2 years while we fought in family court for my stepdaughter and up until then, it had always been just A and I since he was little.

A and I have always been close and the part of me that didn't want this baby to be a boy was wrapped in not wanting him to have to share anything else.  It still brings tears to my eyes thinking about how much I love him and about having to share me with another son. 

There's a lot I can't really explain fully just because it's just too intriciate, but he's a kid who has tried to find his place in a family made up of blended people on BOTH sides of his life. He knows he's loved and loves both of the fathers in his life.  There had just been so much time, energy, effort, emotion invested in family court for 2 1/2 years, that we had to work a 1000 times over to ensure A wasn't lacking for anything.  He's not a dumb kid by any means and he could see the times when we had deadlines to meet and we had to do something at a different time or plans changed etc. 

Fortunately, he and I have always talked and he doesn't fear asking me questions or telling me how he feels. Thank God. That's the security of my love for him.  I'm grateful he truly knows and I have worked very hard to ensure he always has.

After a long time and the court order that followed the custody trial, G and I were done. We had done everything we could possibly do --what we had sought in family court was awarded and now the focus of our lives could be ALL of us and not just one.  We both agreed that we had spent plenty of time focused on just R and we had to integrate that into our lives and not the imminent piece any longer. It's honestly still a struggle for R where she is not the center of the world, but rather a part of ours. Albeit an important part, without a doubt.

Back to A, and this new baby...finding out this baby is a girl didn't even matter because of all the worry we had been through with our genetic testing. We simply didn't care at all --boy or girl. All that mattered was the baby being ok. So, as quickly as I began my back and forth about my son having to share with another son, the struggle was over. We were all just happy she is healthy.

A asks me how big his baby sister is, feels her move, hugs my belly each night before bed, reads to her, sings her songs, asks me what I need carried --the laundry to the basement, the groceries from the car etc. -- he's very connected to his baby sister so much already.  I don't fear not being able to love this baby as much as I love him or him struggling to find his place...at all.

A is my 1st born and will always have a uniquely connected part of me that no other child ever will. I could never truly express how I feel about him because there are not enough words.  I was forever changed by his place in my life.

Just the other day we were driving down the road and a song came on that I haven't heard in a long time. I looked at this 10 1/2 year old boy in the back seat and I said, "I used to sing this to you when you were a baby."  Instantly tears filled my eyes. 

He looked at me with this, "Ugh, Mom" expression and went back to reading his book.

I sang along, tears streaming down my face reminiscing about him as an infant. It's a "love song", but when I hear it, it takes me back to Franklin, TN in 1999 and 2000, and me holding this precious gift in my arms and I knew love in a way I had never known before.

I'm eternally grateful and so very proud to be HIS mom.

November 27, 1999 ♥

This is the song that takes me back...

Right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be,

Click on the box above to link up at Shell's for this bloghop and connection...

Doc Update and Daddy Cravings

Doctor's appointment today....regular OB checkup. 27 weeks, 2 days.  In addition to the regular weight, blood pressure, heartbeat, measuring my belly stuff, I also had to do the 1 hour glucose test. Blech.

I will say the glucose drink is A THOUSAND times better than it was when I was pregnant with A, 11 years ago. But, I DREAD the blood draw.

I have crap veins. You can't see 'em and no matter how much water I drink ---I drink water all day long -- still super faint veins.  On top of that, once they finally find them, I bruise super easily. Like, as soon as the needle goes in, the bruise starts to show. Wimp. 

I'm glad all the nurses like me.  They checked me in, sent me to the lab to drink the sugar crap and then back for my appointment, so my 1 hour waiting time was spent usefully.  Doctor came in, checked my belly --measuring right on schedule, we listened to Lily's heartbeat- 154bpm ♥ , talked about anything going on with me --carpal tunnel crap, heartburn etc. and then scheduled my new appointment for 2 WEEKS from today!

I cannot believe we're already at the time to go every 2 weeks instead of every month!!!

My blood pressure was normal and I have gained 7 pounds since last month for a grand total of 15 pounds. Funny about my 7lb. weight gain in one month when I had only gained 8 total in the previous 6 months! hahaha! I've been hungry a lot and Lily is growing as she should be, so I'm ok with it.

So, 2 more weeks until next doctor appointment and 4 more weeks until next growth scan.

After that, I went back to have my blood drawn and was pretty nauseated about her doing it. :(  That hasn't happened in a long time.  I don't like needles...at all, so I just usually suck it up and turn my head. Today was yucky.  Like I said, I don't usually pass the 1 hour test, so I expect the call to say I failed and need to schedule the 3 hour torture.

Good appointment overall!

Later this afternoon, I got a text from G (who's at work) that says: "Can u do me a favor? Go to get 2 bags of vlasic dill seeds and one bag of david jumbos. And a blue gatorade or orange? A snickers bar too".

WHO is pregnant????  I told you before he's completely in tune and experiencing this pregnancy! My pregnant man

Monday Monkey Minute

Click on scary face to link up!

MISSION: MONKEY

<center><a href="http://www.mypixiedreams.com" target="_blank" title="DDoR"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G98Ex_ahfI0VG0r7HbY6OcbQxjUFTLnsXJVKWaBiQ4J0d88ALvEE0doyNpmZIJZ-A51HQmlnqR6XOGSS_6BFPvqGi1TxsyRDFrzeP9W5JyP1GYoEf852D9dLseR9ieXv4Swh5kq_h5s/s200/pixieprayers.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>

Have you ever peed in the shower/bath/pool?
~I have never peed in the pool or the bath to my knowledge (I can't speak for the time when I was little enough that I have no recollection. :) ) 
I have peed in the shower, but didn't ever do it until I was pregnant with my son 11 years ago. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!

What is your biggest pet peeve?
~Liars and lying.  Seriously I hate it.
~On a smaller scale....poor GRAMMAR! Seriously. Grammar Police

What's the story behind your blog title?

~We miscarried (after a surprise pregnancy --not trying) early last July and when I told G that we were pregnant, I had said --since we were not trying and since the Penguins had just won the Stanley Cup, "Well, looks like we got one past the goalie too!"  We're a hockey-loving family, it stuck. Then when we found out we were pregnant with Lily, it just seemed right to name my new blog to record my pregnancy.


What is your definition of success?
~Happiness, love and peace. I've lived long enough and had enough life experience to know that those things are what truly matter.

If you were famous, what would you want to be famous for?
~I would want to be a country music star. :)  I moved to Nashville at the age of 22 to sing my heart out. Best decision I ever made.  Wasn't famous to anyone other than my family and friends, but I love singing and that would be the famous path I would take.

(circa 1996)

Getting to Know You!

Click http://www.mannland5.com/ to link up with Keely for this bloghop!

1. The most expensive thing hanging in my closet is.....?
~My college graduation gown....all the blood, sweat, tears and time ---not to mention money--- that went into my college education is by far the most expensive thing hanging in my closet. :)  And worth every bit.

2. Have you ever played a team sport?
~Grew up playing softball from age 6 to 18 and then umpired from 18-22.  In my 30s I played on work softball teams too. I played volleyball some, basketball (I hate basketball), and powder puff football each year too. I grew up in a very active sports family!

3. If you were a bug, what kind would you be?
~I asked my 10 year old son this question...his answer: "Mom, of course you'd be a ladybug because they're good luck and so peaceful."  I love this kid!

4. Where on your body is the worst place to get sunburned? (thanks Ian)
I decided to answer this based on experience rather than what I think would be the worst!
When I was 21, my family went on vacation to California and I fell asleep on the beach on my stomach. The bottom of my swimsuit exposed just enough of the side of my butt cheeks that didn't get sunscreened. I was burned so badly it hurt to sit down to pee the rest of the vacation! Dumb. It hurt soooo bad!

5. Are you happy?
~I am happy. It's funny how simple a word "happy" is.... Yes, we have stress and crap in our lives, but I have a son whom I adore, a stepdaughter I love as my own, am carrying the love of my life's child and have been lucky enough to find that love. I am happy.


6. People are always abbreviating..are there any abbreviations that make your skin crawl when people use them?
~ I hate when LOL is used after everyfreakingthing!!! Lol lol lol lol lol   Guess what? Less is more! If you're "lol"ing about everyf'ing thing then you lose your credibility.

7. Do you love where you live..or could you live anywhere?
~hahahahahhaha! We talk about this all the time. The ONLY reason we live in Pittsburgh is because of R. We hate it. We try to find positives about it and there are a few --the Penguins, people are generally friendly, fishing --but she is the reason we are here and she's worth it.

8. What, if any, extreme measures do you go to to keep yourself from overeating when you're full?
~Nothing extreme. I learned to just stop. And thank God I'm pregnant so I can eat again soon. :)

27 weeks!

How far along are you?
27 weeks! Almost time for the 3rd trimester!! Woo hoo!!!
According to Babycenter this week's fruit or vegetable of choice to compare my baby to is a:

What symptoms are you experiencing?
~Carpal Tunnel Never Ending Annoying
~Baby brain
~Fatigue
~Heartburn a couple times this week


How are you feeling?
~Aside from always being tired and people noticing my waddling, I'm good. Literally just tired...ALL. THE. TIME.

Any Midwife/Doctor appointments/ultrasounds/tests this past week and how did they go?
~Growth scan ultrasound yesterday! All is well and Lily is 2lbs. 3oz. now!  Growth Scan info and pics


Anything big happening in your personal life (moving, work related, family, etc.)?
~My mom leaves today and not to see her again until August...due date time. 

Any fears or hopes you want to get off your chest?
~I have recently been reading about a lot of pretty yucky stuff online that has affected me...a baby having cancer, Nashville flooding, a girl I follwed on her blog losing her baby at 24 weeks, another woman I followed having low amniotic fluid and her baby dying at 20 something weeks too....so I have been emotionally overwhelmed with worry again. I pray a lot and am so grateful ---never taking forgranted---how blessed I am to be carrying this baby girl and her growing healthily inside me.

Any belly pics or ultrasound photos from this week?

Any food cravings?
~water
~bbq sauce -- with ribs, pulled pork
~salad
~ice cream

Tell us your favorite thing about your pregnancy this week.
~Favorite thing this week was definitely the ultrasound! I ♥ seeing her!

What has been the most surprising thing about this pregnancy?
I seriously cannot believe we only have 13 weeks left!!!

Baby brain moment of the week?
~I can't remember anything. Anything. It's annoying.

Random Question of the Week:
How has your growing body affected you mentally or emotionally so far this pregnancy if at all?
~I honestly feel fine about my growing body! I am more concerned about her growing and being healthy so I'm not stressed about it. G and I have our plan in place for losing weight and getting healthy after she's born!The only really frustrating part is trying to sleep or move around, but that's more physically irritating than anything.

My Blossoming Lily...

This morning we had our next growth scan to keep on measuring Lily in ultrasound to make sure she's growing as she should be since we have placental mosaicism. 

Here's info about where the genetic testing began: http://gotonepastgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/03/its-girl.html
and the placental mosaicism (why we do the growth scans): http://gotonepastgoalie.blogspot.com/2010/03/1st-big-photoshoot.html

4 weeks ago when we were there, Lily weighed in at 1 pound, 3 ounces.
Today, she weighs in at 2 pounds, 3 ounces! Grow baby grow!!!  Her heart was pumping strong and beating at 156 bpm! It just makes me happy to see her in there getting bigger and bigger. ♥ 

She moved sides of my belly since last time and her head is now underneath my right rib this time (last time was under the left). Good to know that it is her feet I feel low kicking the crap out of my bladder everyday. I am grateful to be able to feel her move and I recognize her more active periods are fairly patterned now.

They measure her kidneys, her belly, her head, her heart and a myriad of other things. My only concern is if she is growing appropriately and measures on time. She is!

My mom came with me to this ultrasound...and despite having 3 children of her own, has never been to an ultrasound. When I was pregnant with A, I lived in TN and she in AZ, so she was never at an ultrasound and when she was pregnant with my brothers and me, they didn't do them. She bought herself a cutie little picture frame at the hospital gift shop to be able to put her ultrasound picture from today in.

Lily has big feet like her daddy: ♥

The ultrasound tech tried to get a 3D scan of her face, but....
Lily apparently loves to keep her hand up by her face...as we've seen in every ultrasound. Basically we see her elbow in this picture as she appears to be getting ready to cover her face with her forearm. So, she wasn't able to get the 3D scan. I think it will be neat to see if she likes her hand near her face after she's born.

Happy Mama,

26 weeks

How far along are you?
~26 weeks, 2 days!

According to BabyCenter....I am carrying a baby the length of an English cucumber... (those are SOOOOO good!)

What symptoms are you experiencing?
~I have had heartburn again a few times this past week. :(
~Due to allergies...lots of sneezing which leads to lots of peeing due to Lily sitting on my bladder.
~Carpal Tunnel Annoying
~Super uncomfortable sleep!

How are you feeling?
~Aside from the above that I just listed, I've been pretty good. Happy to be 26 weeks, sneezing my head off with allergies I have never had, I'm super tired today and Lily seems to think that is code to move nonstop.

Any Midwife/Doctor appointments/ultrasounds/tests this past week and how did they go?
~Nothing this past week, but growth scan ultrasound scheduled for this Friday! Excited for my mom to be there too!
When I was pregnant with A, I lived in TN (still far away from her) and she was never at an ultrasound, so this will be our first together. :)

Anything big happening in your personal life (moving, work related, family, etc.)?
~Mom here visiting
~Working on next year's work plan...when to go back, to sub or seek full-time position...logistics etc.


Any fears or hopes you want to get off your chest?
~Looking forward to this week's growth scan and hearing how Lily is measuring. Overall, not terribly worried because she's been great the whole pregnancy, but still lingering thoughts...after everything we've been through with our miscarriage and testing early this pregnancy. (I have been talking about what we've experienced a lot this week with my mom and I think that's why it's back in the forefront of my mind.)

Any belly pics or ultrasound photos from this week?

Any food cravings?
~pepperoni rolls from my Grandma's
~water like it's my job
~salad, salad and more salad

Tell us your favorite thing about your pregnancy this week.
~My mom feeling this amazing little baby kick!

What has been the most surprising thing about this pregnancy?
~Only 14 Saturdays remain!!!! What????? 

Baby brain moment of the week?
~Driving out to a family friend's house...should have taken me about 40 minutes. Took me an hour and a half because I went the wrong way. TWICE! (I have a phenomenal sense of direction....not pregnant, so this was so frustrating for me!)

Random Question of the Week:
Tell me about your belly button! How has it changed if at all?
~Pre-pregnancy, my belly button is really deep. It is currently working it's way flat.

Housing a super active baby,