Week 24 Update!

Baby Update...

Week 24:

It's another week full of exciting developments for your magical growing baby!

Just take a look at the checklist for this week: 1) ears: done; 2) fingernails: done; 3) (if you have a boy) testicles: taking their 3-4 day trip from the abdominal wall to the scrotum; and 4) lungs walls: secreting “surfactant”.

What’s surfactant? It's basically what it sounds like: a surface-activated fat that helps your baby's little lungs inflate (where inflate = fill with air not get more expensive for no understandable reason).

In the meantime, your submerged baby is still breathing in their amniotic fluid (and a bit of pee), preparing and rehearsing their lungs for an oxygen-filled life outside the womb.

By the end of this week, your wee womb-squatter will be weighing in at a whopping 2 lbs and 14 inches long.

All this new weight means your tiny baby is actually starting to fill out their skin, but they're not anywhere near their adorable fat-baby potential.

Most of the fetal “filling out” is coming up in that long awaited (and slightly dreaded?) third trimester. Woo-hoo! Get ready!

Mommy Update...

Sleep: So, so. Finally bought a body pillow (Walmart for $9.99) and it does help a lot. I always wake up with left hip pain but it goes away pretty quickly.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, loving the maternity and non-maternity tank tops. Hit up the Target clearance rack and got two more pairs of black yoga pants… ahh heaven!

Food cravings: Iced tea with lemon, Vanilla ice cream, bagels with cream cheese, and McDonalds Egg and Cheese Biscuits.

Food aversions: The past couple weeks I haven’t been as attracted to Taco Bell, pizza or tomato based pasta? Weird…

Symptoms I have: Have had a hard time breathing in certain positions, especially after I eat. I almost always have to lie down.

Doctor’s Appointment: Just had one on 9/5, next one is 10/3… just a few days before the big game!

Movement: Yes, this child is kicking the crap outta me!

Belly Button: Innie.

Gender: BOY!!!!!!

What I’m looking forward to:

Baby shower planning is in the works… very excited to finalize those plans. Also, we are going to an LSU game at The Swamp on 10/6… 7 months pregnant and at a football game? Why not!

What I miss: Being able to shave my legs or paint my toes and breathe at the same time!

6 months already?!?... and we announce his name!

The time is REALLY getting away from me! I cannot believe we are at the 6 month mark already. Getting close to the third trimester already... one book I'm reading has it at 24 weeks but most are around the 27 week mark. 

I think the most overwhelming thing for me so far has been, not the changes your body goes through, but how quickly the whole thing flies by. 

Since my last update we have had a few exciting things going on. First off, we have picked a name for our little man....

Jacob Douglas MacDonald.

Jacob comes from the bible character... or Jacob Hester from LSU (depending on which one of us you ask). Douglas was Bruce's father's name. His nickname will be J.D, which is also my Dad and Brother's initials.

We painted the nursery/kids room over Labor Day weekend. We chose a charcoal grey since we are doing a jungle theme and hope to get an awesome wall decal off of Etsy (if we have the funds). I am slowly working on stenciling the inside of the kids closet with jungle vines, and hope to do the back of the door, and inside the windows also. So far, so good.

Here are some Belly Bump update photos as I know we are a little behind! All photos have been taken past the 20 week mark.

This is the most recent Belly Bump - Week 24 taken yesterday....

Up next is the official Week 24 Update!

***THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT***

It's a....

BOY!!!!!

I'm so excited I'm gonna get my "little man"!

Isn't he perfectly handsome?!?

He was so excited to meet us, he wriggled around like crazy! He even gave us a little wave... look at those perfect fingers.





Week 19 Bump

Week 19 Stats

Sleep: Good, having a hard time not sleeping on my back though. I might have to break down and buy a Snoogle.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, still wearing my sundresses also. Bought a few paris of jean/capris off eBay and loved them. Also bought a Bellaband so i can wear my non maternity jeans. The ones my thighs and butt still fit in anyway.

Food cravings: Cold water, apples, pasta.

Food aversions: Sour foods.

Symptoms I have: Been having more of the stretching pains lately in my stomach and sides. And the typical, uncomfortable symptoms that come from being large.

Doctor’s Appointment: August 10, Ultrasound August 14!

Movement: Yes, at least once a day though it is still pretty light.

Belly Button: Innie.

Gender: Unknown - I'm STILL convinced it's a girl though.

What I’m looking forward to: Finding out what were having, and that everything is healthy!

What I miss: Not being hot all the time. This Florida heat is killing me.

Time flies!

I can't believe we are on week 19 already! Almost halfway there. 

I have been slacking in the blogging department, but we have had a lot going on in our family. My grandpa passed away last week of brain cancer that he had just been diagnosed with at the end of May. My mom has been up north taking care of him in his final days, but she will finally be coming home tomorrow. We have invited her to come to our ultrasound appointment which is next Tuesday (can't believe it's here already!), so I'm glad she will be home for that. 

I have a routine check up on Friday, and I'm really wanting to see how much weight I have gained. According to the last time I weighed myself (this past weekend), I was only up 8 pounds total. I'm really happy that I have keep my weight in check, just anxious for the ultra sound to see that everything is growing properly as I feel like I should be MUCH bigger for almost 20 weeks. But then what do I know, I have never been pregnant before... and I'm quite sure I will make up for it towards the end :)

Yesterday was our anniversary, three years have just flown by! I can honestly say it has only gotten better and better, I couldn't ask for a better husband. I'm not sure if he realizes how wonderful and supportive he is, or how awesome he makes me feel. Day to day life can be super challenging but he makes it a lot easier on me. I think we are a great team, and I'm very excited to raise our child together.

Week 15 Update with Bump Photo

Week 15 Baby Bump

My week in summary... 

How far along: 15 weeks

Baby's size: An orange.

Sleep: Good. Except for the fact that in New Jersey the sun is up at 5:30 am, so I didn't get much sleep while I was there.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, lots of non-maternity dresses still. Also got my first pair of maternity jeans, and I must say I am in LOVE. Picked up some maternity tanks from Macy's in NJ for $6.99.

Food cravings: WATER!

Food aversions: None.

Symptoms I have: When I stand for too long I get some minor leg and lower back discomfort. Also when I wake up in the morning my back seems a little out of wack.

Doctor’s Appointment: July 12. Tomorrow!

Movement: YES! What I thought might be movement before, is definitely movement now! It is not all the time, or super powerful, but if I sit still long enough I can feel Baby Mac fluttering around in there. Very cool.

Belly Button: Innie.

Gender: Unknown - I'm STILL convinced it's a girl though.

What I’m looking forward to: Picking a name. So far husband & I are worlds apart.

What I miss: I was super homesick while away. Glad to be home!






Another update to come soon, sorry this week was so late! Dr. appointment tomorrow, and week 16 starts Friday!

4th of July Weekend New Jersey Photos

I flew to New Jersey July 4th to see my grandpa who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I wasn't too keen on flying at all during the pregnancy, but he most likely only has a few more months and I was very glad I got to go and see him. 

I flew from Ft. Myers to Newark, and in both airports they use the new "full body" scanners. After researching the pro's and con's I decided that I would NOT be going through. In Ft. Myers I requested a pat down, and the TSA was very accommodating. I did not feel that it was invasive in any way. I realize many people have had negative experiences with the airport security, so I feel fortunate in this regard. When we went through security in Newark they had the option of the full body scan, or simply walking through a metal detector, so I chose the latter.

To save money I opted not to check a bag (additional $50 with United), and for the first time in my life got everything into a carry on. It helps that most of what I'm wearing at this point is sundresses.

Here are some photo's from my trip....