32 Weeks

Over the next 8 weeks, Lily will gain roughly one-third to half of her body weight - probably about another 4 pounds! She's now sporting toe and finger nails, real hair, and she's even getting smoother skin as she plumps up. I continue to feel and realize the results of her getting bigger. I find myself getting short of breath and even heart burn is popping up more frequently. I've even felt the occasional Braxton Hicks contraction. Thankfully nothing too bad and I am just taking it in stride - it means she's growing!

At our last doctor visit he confirmed she was still head down and would probably (hopefully!!) remain that way until I deliver. The doc walked his hands over my tummy and pointed out the rest of Lily's position. A few times since then it has been really neat to associate her different movements with specific parts of her body. A couple of days ago, while we were relaxing on the couch, I watched her roll a bit and her little butt was sticking straight out of my stomach! We got a good laugh out of that. We both poked, grabbed, and pinched at her little tush.

Baby's got back! Sir Mix-a-Lot would be proud.

This last week I experience another first - my first prenatal massage! I've been having some trouble sleeping, my back aches, my rib was giving me trouble... and boy did I feel like a whole new person after getting that massage. I also got an adjustment with my lovely chiropractor - It did wonders! I was a whole new me. I'm hoping to repeat that process as I need and have my fingers crossed that it will continue to be as successful.

This weekend we had the opportunity to celebrate Jeremy's first Father's Day. While there is some debate as to whether or not expecting parents get to celebrate these days - they do in our house. It isn't huge fan-fair, but I am not going to miss an opportunity to tell Jeremy exactly what he means to us. Saturday was a fun day out and about. We took Jerry (Jeremy's dad) with us to see the King Tut exhibit at the Seattle Center. It was amazing to see such beautiful pieces and a bit bewildering to imagine how long they've been around. We enjoyed a tasty lunch with a round of beers (root beer for me!) at The Ram and then it was home for a little R&R before dinner.

Jerry came up and our good friend Ryan came over and we enjoyed chili and cornbread made in the dutch oven. It was the first time we'd done it this way and OH MAN was it delish! To top the evening off we enjoyed some tasty homemade peanut butter cookies made by yours truly. Sunday was a great day of relaxation. We only left the house to go grocery shopping and otherwise spent most of the day snuggled on the sofa while it rained cats and dogs outside. Thank you to Chris for coming up and helping us finish the leftovers!  

Jeremy, we sure do hope that you enjoyed your first Father's Day. I cannot wait to continue to celebrate them with you over the years to come. You take such amazing care of us. I could not be more grateful to have you in our lives. I'm continually in wonder at the amazing father you've already become and I am so anxious and excited for you to meet your baby girl. 

Here I am, sporting the 32 week belly:

31 Weeks

At 31 Weeks little miss Lily is measuring in at approximately a whopping 18 inches and weighing in at about 3 1/2 pounds.

We had our doctors visit on Friday and they will now be taking place every two weeks instead of monthly! Her heart sounded great and Dr. Nicolov said we were both looking great. Yay! He also wrote me a prescription for a prenatal massage to help with some of the aches and pains I've been having. Can't wait to get that on the calendar. My rib (remember when I displaced it a few months back?) has been giving me some trouble and - as it true for most women - my back is getting sore from the strain. Hopefully nothing a chiropractor trip and a massage won't help. All pretty standard stuff (minus the rib part...) so I'll take it!

On Wednesday of last week we also got a chance to tour the hospital. Thankfully I don't have to labor or deliver in a general hospital. Our local hospital has a whole separate complex - the Pavilion for Women and Children. It's a great facility and we are both very comfortable there. Our guide walked us through the check-in process, showed us a few different rooms and in general got us familiar with the process. It was short and sweet, but nice to see none the less. We've already gotten our registration paperwork taken care of and we also signed up to attend a couple classes.

This weekend was a lot of fun. Saturday was pretty relaxing, but with the help of Rachel, I did get started on the crib skirt! The fabric is all cut and starting to be sewn together. I plan to work on what I can throughout the week this week. I'm ready to see it in her room.

Sunday we got to do a bit of relaxing in the morning and then it was off to a wedding! One of my dear friends from high school, Haley, was married at Cama Beach state park on Camano Island. If you've not been there before, I highly recommend it. The park is new (opened in 2008 after the land - formerly a private resort - was donated to the state) and the setting was gorgeous for a wedding. It was great to spend time with our friends. The weather even decided to cooperate so that Haley and Miles could be married on the beach. I am thrilled to see my friend so in love and to a man that clearly adores her above all others. Haley and Miles met while she was serving in the Peace Corp in St. Lucia. Their story is adorable and I love that he's moved here to be with her. Congrats you two!

31 weeks:

 

30 Weeks

30 Weeks... Three-Zero... Wow!

Here I am:

This week Lily is about 3 pounds and 17 inches long. I am definitely noticing her weight and size. My tummy is getting bigger and by the end of the day I feel the strain in my lower back. Not to mention how funny it is for me to get in and out of bed or a low chair. Jeremy often gets a good chuckle while he lends me a hand in getting up. Speaking of getting up... I'm doing that a lot now as well, since Lily clearly finds it amusing to use my bladder as a soccer ball! Even as things become more cumbersome I wouldn't change a thing. I could not feel more blessed to have this experience. We've waited quite some time for this sweet little girl and she's worth each extra trip to the bathroom. Lol

Our weekend was hugely productive. Jeremy was very sweet and took me to Ikea on a Saturday. His intentions may have been more to provide me with a spending chaperone, but I'll take it! We picked up a floating shelf, rug, sheer curtains, mirror, frames and even an accent table. Quite a score! After a stop at Home Depot, the rest of our day was spent working in Lily's nursery.

Jeremy hung the shelf above the window (which will also hold the rods for the window treatments):

We also got our adorable prints matted, framed, and hung on the wall:

Aren't they adorable?? I love that our pups are in Lily's room.

We put together the end table and topped it with an adorable lamp we found (and an old alarm clock):

And lastly, we hung the floating shelf that will house some books and other treasures:

Our vision is taking shape and it is really starting to come together! It is such a calm space, filled with features we love, and we love spending time in there. The room will translate well for a future kiddo and even a big kid room. Beside the fact it is on the small size (closet too), there isn't a single thing in there I don't love. Okay, maybe the carpet isn't my favorite... but now I'm being picky.

 My happy place.

A couple photos of us just lounging around - but I promise we were working hard! So were our helpers. We have a few more decor pieces to hang and we have bedding, curtains, and a few other accents to add, but I'd call those final touches!

This week we have our appointment, which will now be taking place every two weeks instead of monthly, doing the hospital tour, and taking care of our pre-registration. I imagine that is going to make it feel even more real.

Tick - Tock! Only about 10 weeks left.

29 Weeks

This week Lily is about 2 1/2 pounds and about 15 inches long head to heel. She's still working to build up her lungs and her head is getting bigger (hopefully not too big!) to accommodate her growing brain. She is getting bigger and is quite an active little girl! We've been highly entertained watching my belly move while she does her water aerobics.

This weekend I picked up sewing materials to get started on her bedding. I'm hoping the project gets underway very soon. We've also assembled and started painting the shelf that will go above the window (and hold the curtain rods). One more coat of paint and we hope to have it hanging up tomorrow! I even scored a great deal on curtain rods at Ross this weekend. Now if I could just find curtains, or fabric to make them... the hunt continues!

Sleep can be tricky some nights, finding a comfortable position, getting up a couple times a night, and sometimes waking up a bit sore. I am starting to work in more stretching and even a regular date with my lovely heating pad. My good pal Rachel saved my life this week when she gave me a wedge for my belly. The support when I lay on my side makes a world of difference - thanks, Rach! I'm certain it will continue to come in handy as I get bigger.

Here I am at 29 Weeks:

And just for fun, a little comparison:

What a difference!

28 Weeks

This week starts our third, and final, trimester!

(yes, that noise you hear is me breathing deeply into a paper bag)

Little Lily is weighing in over two pounds now and is almost 15 inches long. She is growing very quickly these days. Her eyesight is continuing to develop and she is even growing eyelashes and eyebrows now. Outside of those finer details, she is just working to pack on the pounds and increase her brain development. All things that are critical for her as a soon-to-be outside baby.

We are both very excited to be starting this next phase of pregnancy. Lily is a constant topic of conversation in our house. Between the little house projects, stocking up to prepare for this new family member, trying to figure out my leave options at work, how to handle introducing her to the dogs, etc.... she's always on our minds. Already this little girl has changed our world. We are so grateful and are not taking a single moment of this for granted.

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a warehouse sale for baby shoes. I went with my dear pal Rachel and she and I (and by 'she and I', of course I mean our daughters) scored some very very cute shoes:

Just a sampling - baby shoes kill me every time. 

We also spent some quality time with my family on Sunday. My dad was in town and we all got together for lunch and a bonfire. We got to see a few of my uncles I hadn't seen in quite awhile, my mom and sister were there, and most importantly (no offense everyone else!) some good quality time with my grandma. I love a lazy Sunday with nothing better to do than eat watermelon and burgers next to the fire. We shared a thousand laughs, like we always do, and my grandma Shirley gave us this:

She handmade this beautiful blanket for Lily. Yes, I cried when she gave it to me... and I may have again when we got home. I love it so much. It is gorgeous and simply perfect. There have been a few of these overwhelming moments where I feel so blessed and grateful that Lily has such an amazing support system already - this was one of them. Boy are we lucky. We love you Grams, thank you!!

Reminder: to read all of our other weekly updates, please click the header "Scott Family Escapades" above and it will take you to the main page. Sorry for any link confusion!

27 Weeks

Wow - 27 weeks! The final week of our second trimester.

Lily is now almost two pounds and should be about 14 1/2 inches long head to toe. She is now opening and closing her eyes, and breathing amniotic fluid. Even her brain is showing increased activity - already working on becoming a genius. While things still need to mature, she is basically a functioning little person! It's amazing to think about all of that happening in my tummy right now...

This last week we shared a new experience - hiccups! While out to dinner one night, I felt the regular rhythm of her tiny hiccups. Had I not been paying attention I may not have noticed, but it was fun to think about. They are very common, can occur multiple times a day, and will get stronger as she gets bigger.

The nursery is really coming along. Wednesday afternoon Lily's dresser was delivered. Jeremy did a great job putting it together and there are already little clothes in the drawers! Also, on Saturday morning we went to Babies R Us first thing and picked up our glider. It is an amazing piece of furniture and I am really looking forward to the hours Jeremy and I will get to spend with Lily in that chair. I already spent an hour in the glider, sitting in the sunshine and snuggled up with a book.

We've now got all of her furniture! We still have shelving to make and install, and definitely some wall decor to figure out, bedding to make and/or purchase... but all in all we're in good shape!

I couldn't possibly finish our weekly update without mentioning Mothers Day. What a special day and a new perspective for me. I have always loved celebrating my own wonderful mama and to be included in those festivities was a real blessing, albeit a bit surreal. :) Jeremy woke me up with sweet card (have I mentioned lately how lucky I am? Good.), had made reservations, and took us all to The Farmhouse - a tasty restaurant about an hour north of us - for breakfast. We stuffed ourselves silly, and did a little antique shopping, before we came home and I got to relax most of the day in the sunshine while Jeremy tackled a few of his projects.

I hope that all of you Moms out there (new moms, veterans, grandmas, those still trying to conceive, expecting moms, step moms, dog mamas, etc) got to enjoy some relaxation this weekend. The weather here was stunning and it made the day all that more special.

Edited to add:
I realized that I didn't have a photo of the glider! It is a cell phone photo, but here it is:

26 Weeks

At 26 weeks, Lily is about 1 2/3 pounds and about 14 inches long. This week the nerves in her ears are more developed and is able to hear us as we chat. Her eyes are forming and she has eyelashes now. It won't be long before she's opening them.

We got good news about both our dresser and glider - we should have them both within the week! Also, in the mail this week we received the fabric we'll be using the make most of Lily's crib bedding. Not all of the pieces will go into the bedding, but also a few pillows and other accepts in the room.

I love the colors and patterns we've chosen:

We have the materials now to start making the shelf that will be above the window and we've starting to shop for other shelving and frames. We also purchased a couple prints this weekend from an Australian artist on Etsy. Aren't they adorable? Our Lacey and Harley!

  You can find her site here: Wallfry

Her space is really starting to take shape in our minds and it is exciting to see each piece come together. Not too long from now it will be ready and waiting for her!

We have an appointment this week and are looking forward to a little peek at Lily. She's moving around like crazy now and I am even able to feel her in multiple places at once. Just another wonderful sign that she's filling up the space in there! Only 14 more weeks of growing left before we get to see her sweet face.