29 Weeks

This has been a good pregnant week. I have been able to rest and not worry about doing too much and at the same time get a lot done. How does that even work? haha.

I talked with my Doctor this week and I passed my glucose test (!!!!) and my iron level looks good. :) Praise the Lord!

I was also able to sign up for our birthing/CPR/breastfeeding classes. I am glad I did because we're running out of time. And next Friday I meet our potential Pediatrician. This all seems way too real all of a sudden. It's happening!!

I quit my gym membership, it was getting real hard to move this belly around... or for me to move around it. Who wants to be my walking partner?

Oh and can I just say, as I write this I am sipping coffee, brewed at home. Ohhh yeah! Haven't enjoyed that in 7 months! It feels good. :)

Our Winnie is growing bigger and bigger. I can feel it as she jabs me on both sides of my belly! She is about the size of an acorn squash and weighs up to 2.5 - 3.8 lbs and will most likely double or triple in weight by birth. She is only a short 11 weeks away. We can't wait to meet our tiny one. :)

How far along: 29 weeks and 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: 18 + lbs
Maternity clothes: Yes and Taylor's t-shirts [picture above]
Stretch marks: None
Sleep: I just woke up this morning at 8:45. Hallelujah! No really, sleep is continuing to go well, though Winnie has been waking me up with hard movements in the middle of dead sleep a lot this week... I'm okay with it, it just startles me.
Best moment this week: Not baby related, but I can't wait for our Good Friday Service and then Church on Sunday!!!!! Celebrating my Savior!!! 
Miss anything: Again, not baby related, but Delaware and my family. I want to visit them and see them, but have to wait until little missy arrives. It will be soon. I'm missing those 3 little boys I love so dear.
Movement: So much movement. I love laying on my side and seeing and feeling her push out, brings me joy!
Food cravings: Earlier this week: Cereal, cheddar cheese and Italian ice. Yesterday, chocolate chip muffins, to which I indulged. :)
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Gender: Girl!!!
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks
Symptoms: Sciatica, heartburn, cramps and hot flashes. I had a crazy hot flash the other day, I was sweating all of a sudden and Taylor told me it wasn't hot in the house, then about 10 minutes of being hot I got goose bumps because I was freezing. Haha!
Belly button in or out: Pretty much out.
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy :)
Looking forward to: My mom coming into town for a week on Tuesday!! I'm so ready for our pedicure date!!! :)

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend. Enjoy our Risen Savior!!!

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, 

the righteous for the unrighteous, 

that he might bring us to God."

1 Peter 3:18

28 Weeks

Third trimester has arrived, less than 12 weeks to go!!

I had my glucose test yesterday. That orange popsicle/soda/juice wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good either... Here's to hoping I'm gestational diabetes free and don't need to go in for the 3 hour appointment.

Don't click on the picture because for
some reason it freezes the blog. Sorry!! 

My Winifred is the size of an  Eggplant and is developing more fat so her wrinkly skin will start getting smoother. Her lungs are more mature and if she were born now she would be able to survive, though, we want her to stay in a little longer! :)


How far along: 28 weeks and 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: 18 lbs ...eeek! I was having a 'hard' time with this because I weighed myself before I left for my appointment and I had only gained total 14 lbs, but on the way to my glucose test I had a pb&j [momma was hungry] and then drank all that orange junk, and THEN got weighed again. Somehow gaining 4 lbs? haha. I'll go with the Dr.'s scale. I guess 18 lbs isn't that bad?! There is a baby in there!!
Maternity clothes: Yes
Stretch marks: None
Sleep: Getting to bed is the hard part, but once I'm asleep I am fantastic... Except when I all of a sudden get real hot in the middle of the night and start yanking covers off the entire bed. Makes for good conversation the next day with my hubby. haha!
Best moment this week: Hearing miss Winnie's heartbeat. Nurse said it was around 134! <3
Miss anything: Taking super hot baths, especially with all this achiness.
Movement: Baby's got moves! She tends to start moving once I'm awake and then it's off and on throughout the day. She is most active at night before bed, but I am able to sleep through it.
Food cravings: Cold. Popsicles, frozen smoothies, ice water.
Anything making you queasy or sick: No
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Gender: Girl!!!
Labor Signs: Dr. said I may be experiencing minor Braxton Hicks.
Symptoms: Sciatica - real bad. My legs cramp up and go numb a lot these days, especially at  night. And with craving dairy all last week [and still some this week], makes sense, because I have a lack of calcium... Time to get a calcium supplement and stretch it out.
Belly button in or out: Getting flatter and pushing my ring out. I'm keeping it in as long as possible.
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY!!!! But, I have been crying easier these days. I heard a very sweet story on the radio and cried the whole way home.. and then cried trying to tell it to Taylor. haha! All he says is, "Someones pregnant!!!" [in a sweet singing voice].
Looking forward to: My baby shower!!!!! [I still have a month to wait, but it's so exciting] :)

Weekend with my mom & dad

This past weekend was quick and exhausting. More exhausting for my dad and Taylor because they were unloading the truck and loading a storage unit for us, with a ton of heavy furniture. Thank you again!!! 


Mom and dad drove up from Florida, bringing us some of grandma's stuff she has for us. We got a dining room set, bedroom set, lots of chairs, and some nick-knacks. I am excited to find a spot for each item. :)

We then took mom and dad to the Gibson Mill. Ever been there Charlotte folk? It is wonderful! Half of our furniture is from that place. We found a window mirror, some matching coasters to ones we got from my Great Aunt, and a dresser that we have a fun project for. :) A project Taylor is super excited about... will update on that at a later date. I love that Taylor enjoys DIY projects with me!!!

We enjoyed some short but sweet time with the Brown's. I love when both of our families are together.

First time mom & dad have seen my belly [in person] since I was 12 weeks!

We enjoyed fellowship, dinner out, lots of walking and moving things around, and rest all in a days time. We are blessed!! I love my parents and they are so kind to have made this trip. My mom will be here for a week the 1st of April. I am looking forward to our time together. :)

Ruta-baby

Happy last week of my 2nd trimester! So long energy, it's been real.

Winifred keeps a smile on my face all day long. One of my favorite moments is looking at her picture on the fridge. It gets me every time. Seeing those sonogram pictures of her snuggled up in mommy makes me melt.

At the end of last week and this week I have experienced more lower back pain than usual and some tightening spots in my belly. Braxton Hicks??

Stretching out in Flow class has become a little more challenging... gravity is starting to take over and though balancing isn't the issue, holding positions for longer periods of time is getting harder. I'll keep going to class for now, but who knows how long it will last.

Taylor and I watched a natural birth video this past week. I just kept saying "oh my gosh, oh my gosh oh my gosh" haha! It wasn't of a real person, just a computer showing from the side, how the hips turn and the cervix opens when dilated. It really is amazing, but kind of freaked me out. I also watched a live video of getting an epidural.... why do I do this to myself? It's about that time for me to really think hard on how I'd like to deliver Miss Winnie. We shall see.

My mom is my hero! She had all 3 of us natural, and told me a few weeks ago she was in labor with my sister for 3 days!!!! Yes, 3 days! YIKES. Christina, hug mom! 

Winifred is the size of a rutabaga, around 13.6 - 14.8 inches and 1.5 - 2.5 pounds. Her tiny brain is now showing brain activity and continuing to develop. She is able to practice inhaling and exhaling, not air, but amniotic fluid, preparing her for life outside of mommy.

How far along: 27 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 12 lbs
Maternity clothes: Yes, and enjoying them!
Stretch marks: None
Sleep: Sleep is going well. Turning from side to side tends to bring pressure and pain, but once I'm situated I am usually knocked out.
Best moment this week: Having time at home with Taylor, enjoying our time just the 2 of us. It's been fantastic having free nights. :)
Miss anything: Nothing really.
Movement: She moves and flips and I can't tell what hard part is her head or her bum. haha. I am feeling her more on both sides of my belly too!
Food cravings: Chick-fil-a lemonade all.day.long. Also, I've craved chocolate milk for a while now, but I won't drink it cuz I just know it will make me gag. So I've been eating cheese and ice cream to fix the dairy craving.
Anything making you queasy or sick: No :)
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Gender: Girl!!!
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: Lower back pain and Braxton Hicks.
Belly button in or out: In-ish
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY!!!!
Looking forward to: My parents will be here tomorrow(!!), and I made an appointment to do a tour with a pediatrician, I am excited to meet her.

26 Weeks

Winnie's eyes are going to be opening soon. 

Will she have blue eyes like her mommy or brown eyes like her daddy???

How far along: 26 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 12 lbs
Maternity clothes: Yes, and I think my 'sisterhood' pants have seen their last days, for now.
Stretch marks: None
Sleep: It's starting to get uncomfortable late night/early morning.
Best moment this week: Winnie's cousin is a BOY!!!!!!
Miss anything: Coffee and being able to bend over to put socks on without it hurting...
Movement: She is moving around so much. Taylor has been able to see her push out my belly which is exciting!! I am starting to recognize her awake times - 7:30ish am (or really whenever I wake up), 9 am, 4:30 pm, and 9 pm (for a while) - though I am sure she is awake at other points of the day, that's just when I notice. I love it! Last night I felt Winnie movie on both sides of my stomach. It was wild feeling her stretch out like that!
Food cravings: Nothing
Anything making you queasy or sick: No :)
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Gender: Girl!!!
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: Leg and lower back pain, some heartburn and being super tired.
Belly button in or out: In-ish
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy :)
Looking forward to: My mom and dad visiting next weekend!!

25 weeks

She is now the size of a Cauliflower.

Winifred is becoming my little jumpin bean. TheBump says she is enjoying her new sense of equilibrium and can now know if she is upside down or right side up. Amazing!! Isn't God amazing?!!! Think about babies and how they grow. It is ALL God! Here is a part of one of my favorite Psalms.

Psalm 139: 13-16
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

Amen!

She is getting so much lovin' from her Daddy already.
 Taylor talks to her, sings to her, and reads to her. Be Still My Soul! 

How far along: 25 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 11.6 + lbs
Maternity clothes: Yes
Stretch marks: None
Sleep: I am sleeping great!!
Best moment this week: Seeing Winnie push out. I don't know what body part it was, but it was incredible!
Miss anything: Having more energy. It hasn't been that bad, but I could always use some more. :)
Movement: I saw a part of Winnie push out my belly this week. It's sooo weird and amazing and beautiful all at the same time. I feel her rolling around in there all the time.
Food cravings: Earlier this week I craved Kale Soup. And I have been craving ice cream a lot too. And Starburst Jelly beans! Yum :)
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Gender: Girl!!!
Labor Signs: None
Symptoms: The other day I experienced tingling sensations in my hands and arms during Flow class. Hopefully that was okay?
Belly button in or out: In-ish
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy :)
Looking forward to: My mom and dad visiting in 2 weeks!!! It will be a quick visit, they are dropping furniture off that my grandma Mosa is giving to us. I can't wait to see them! :)


Here are a few Pinterest pictures that are inspiring me for our bub's room:

One wall with light grey stripe

Dresser changing table

Wall art

Beautiful rug 

We shall see what I come up with... I like grey, white, yellow, purple, and mint. Mint is a recent like, so we'll see if it happens. :)


As I write this blog I am listening to Chris Tomlin's Burning Lights CD and Winnie is moving all over the place. I don't think there is enough room for her dance moves. Haha!

Got a bunch of pushes and rolls and twists when these songs played.