Maternity Pictures

   In my last post, I wrote about how I had taken maternity pictures with a friend. Today, I got the disk with all the pictures on it!(:

My sister and I met my photographer at hobby lobby so we could make a flower crown for the shoot. Neither of us had ever made a flower crown before, so we were hoping for the best.

As I was driving towards are destination, it started to lightly drizzle. We were all hoping that the sun would just stay out a little bit longer and that it would not rain. Thank goodness we were blessed with the perfect light and day.

We were all sweating from it being a tad too hot, but this shoot was so enjoyable. Before taking pictures, my friend had asked if I would mind getting in the water, and I replied, "why not, let's do it!"

I am so so pleased with how these pictures turned out, and I know I am going to enjoy looking back at them in the future.

This one is one of my favorites!(:

I adore this one as well, I think our flower crowns turned out really well!

My friend wanted to incorporate my baby's name somehow, and my sister suggested writing it in the sand. This picture ended up looking so good. Although I am right-handed, maybe that is why the stick looks so delicate in my left hand!;)

This is my other top favorite, I just feel like it looks so beautiful. I feel like some women struggle with the way they look when they are pregnant and start getting "fat." I honestly have loved it so far. I feel so beautiful, and I am so happy.

I am really hoping that Ryder has blue/grey eyes like me!

Thank you, Rebecca for coming with me to my maternity shoot. Hopefully you enjoyed it, and I know you are going to be an amazing aunt when Ryder is born!(:

This picture was the last picture we took. We were running out of time and light, so we just snapped the picture and hoped for the best. This ended up being one of my favorites!

34 weeks!

   Ryder can dream! I'm not sure what he would dream about, but babies start REM sleeping after 30 weeks or so. He is most likely dreaming about me and probably people I'm around a lot. Ryder recognizes voices and knows the difference between voices as well. He also recognizes songs that I sing or hum a lot. He will probably recognize a few books that I read out loud too (Like Moo, Baa, LaLaLa being that it's Cherith's favorite book, so Ryder will definitely recognize that book!).

   With about 6 weeks to go, Ryder weighs almost 5 pounds and is 16-18 inches in length. He is almost the size he will be when he is born. It is crazy to think that he will be born in such a short period of time! 

   I am so excited to put up a post of maternity pictures sometime this week. I had a friend of mine take my pictures, and she did amazing. I am so pleased with the end results. I will be getting a disk of my pictures, so I will put them all up later. My sister, Rebecca, came with me to help out, and we took pictures on a dock and in actual water.

How far along: 34 weeks

Gender: Little boy(:

Weight gain: 18 lbs. 

Maternity clothes: I wish I had a nice pair of maternity jeans, but at this point, I'd only be in them for 6 more weeks..

Stretch marks: None

Belly button in or out: Still flat, maybe it won't ever pop out.

Sleep: I have no real complaints about sleep this week, except if people keep calling the house phone in the morning time, I am going to take the phone off the hook before I go to bed at night. I have an old fifties phone in my room, and it rings very loudly (I'm gonna have to somehow turn off the ringer before Ryder is born for sure!!). 

Best moment this week: Taking maternity pictures and getting mail. I absolutely adore snail mail. Getting packages in the mail is one of those simple things in life that means so much.(: 

   I won these two beanies for Ryder, they are seriously the cutest! I adore the colors, and they are so soft too! Look up @twolittlekings on Instagram if you want to get adorable beanies for your baby.(:

   I won these two headbands from @violetboutique on Instagram. These are so cute. I got one for Cherith (my baby sister) and my other sister/mom/me. We will be able to match on gameday (Roll Tide!!!).

   I won these two bracelets from @mikayloveinc. I cannot wait to wear them, and this lighting does not do them justice. The colors are storm and oxblood. The lady who makes them is so nice too; I love it when shop owners are personable and sweet.

   This is my new favorite bracelet! I bought it and a matching one that says "Mimi" for my mom. I wanna buy one that says Ryder or has his initials eventually. This bracelet was made by @brinandbell.(:

Miss anything: I don't miss too much this much. Ryder is starting to press on my bladder more and more, thus more bathroom trips than usual. It's like first trimester all over again, except my stomach is slightly bigger..(:

Movement: Still a lot of movement, the other day it looked like he was pressing against the middle of my stomach, my belly looked pointed where he was pushing. He has been kicking my ribs quite a bit this past week as well.

Cravings: This week I've craved toaster streudals (which I've eaten too many of them this week!), Mediterranean food, and Waffle House.. 

Looking forward to: My baby shower, I'm so excited for it. I'm also just ready for it to pass, because it's my next goal moment I guess. I know that after my baby shower, Ryder will be here very soon. My room is almost all put together too. I just need curtains and a rocking chair, and the rest of what I need for my room are just small knick knacks. I also need to put some things up on the wall so that the walls don't look so drear. I'll put the crib together after the baby shower. 

   I feel like I've written a lot this post, hopefully y'all don't mind! I'm sure I'll have plenty to write about as the day of Ryder's arrival nears. I know I've left out some things, but I'm sure I'll cover them in the next post or so!(:

xx

   

Sleeping with your Baby

   When someone says "co-sleeping," most people picture a baby sleeping in the same bed as their mother. To be exact, 75% of mothers think it is only sleeping in the same bed as the baby (which is what I will be doing). Although the actual definition of "co-sleeping" is "sleeping in close proximity of your baby." Thus, a mother who has her baby in the same room as her is technically co-sleeping.

   Co-sleeping has been a bit controversial in the past, but recently thoughts as well as attitudes have changed about the subject. Pediatricians actually recommend it 7 more times today than they did 2 years ago, and 3 out of 4 mothers actually co-sleep with their baby. 

   The top three reasons women co-sleep are because of attachment to the baby (43%), closeness to the baby (68%), and breastfeeding (69%). Most mothers are very attached to their babies, especially first-time mothers (I know I already am!). I want my baby close to me, and I also plan on breastfeeding. So all three reasons apply to me!

   (I hope you enjoy this throwback;) )

   There are pros and cons to co-sleeping. Some pros are the fact that both parties (momma and baby) get more sleep, both parties bond more with each other, there is simple soothing involved, and there is a decreased risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). 

   

   If a mother is breastfeeding, co-sleeping can be such a help. When a baby wakes up in the middle of the night crying, it's much easier to just pull a baby close and start breastfeeding. Neither mother nor baby lose much sleep because of the proximity and minimal movement/disturbment. That is also where simple soothing comes into play. If baby starts fussing, a mother just has to comfort her baby by patting them; again, saving sleep.

   There are a few cons as well. Parents get less rest, less freedom, and sometimes the baby can become over-dependent. If the baby gets used to sleeping only when mom or dad are asleep, then parents can sometimes lose freedom of being up while baby sleeps. 

   I know around the town I live in, there are a quite a few billboards that say, "don't ever sleep with your baby." There are some people who shouldn't sleep with their babies in the bed with them. People who are heavy sleepers, smokers, and drinkers. 

   Some people are heavy sleepers, which can be a problem because they aren't aware. I used to be a heavy sleeper until I became pregnant. Now I wake up if I hear the lightest noise. 

   Some people smoke and drink. That is the lifestyle that they have chosen, and they need to make responsible choices. If someone passes out, they are obviously not aware. Not only are they not in their right mind, but they have then become a heavy sleeper as well.

    When babies are in the womb, they're used to the mother's heartbeat, breathing pattern, and even smell. If a mother chooses to co-sleep, it is good for the baby because his breathing and heartbeat will match the mothers. Being right next to the mother regulates both,  and being so close to mother makes many babies feel more safe. This is one reason the risk of SIDS decreases. In a few studies that have been done, babies who co-sleep often cry less than babies who sleep in a different room as well.

   I hope that I will stay a light sleeper after Ryder is born. I'd love to co-sleep with him, and have him in the bed with me. I'm planning on breastfeeding, and as long as I am aware, it will be much easier with him so close. 

    I hope I was informative, and if anyone has questions, let me know! If I don't know the answer, I will gladly do some research and figure it out. If you read all the way through, thank you for reading my somewhat boring post!;) Y'all da best!

xx

33 weeks(:

   I am 33 weeks today, and I started my day off eating toaster streudals (and they were the best things ever!!). This week has been such a good week. I took maternity pictures, I got a crib, and I went to the doctor yesterday.

   

   I am so glad I got the opportunity to take maternity pictures. When Ryder is older and I can look back and see what I looked like when I was pregnant with him will be fun. My photographer was amazing, she was super sweet and the whole shoot was so comfortable. She had never shot maternity pictures before, so I was happy to help her get some practice. I'm hoping she can take pictures of Ryder when he is born as well.(: She is editing pictures this week, but I'll be able to put up the final pictures in the next blog or two!

   I got a crib this week! Which is amazing after having a few things with furniture and housing not work out lately. I wrote a small (at least I think it's small) blog post about my crib, so I won't write too much in this post. I love waking up and seeing a crib in my room. In just a few short weeks, there will be a baby in there!(:

   I had a doctor appointment yesterday, and I am seeing my doctor every two weeks now. My doctor said that everything looks good, and his heartbeat is perfect. I don't think I'll be getting another ultrasound the rest of my pregnancy, which is kind of sad. I really want to see my baby again. 

   I finished my heart afghan for Ryder this week. I adore it, and I love how beautiful I turned out! I'm not gonna be working for about 12 weeks because of maternity leave. I think I'm going to make some afghans to sell. I'll be selling them for about $65 for a 27x30, and $115 for a 40x43. I enjoy crocheting, and it will help me pay bills while I'm off work.(:

   This kitty really liked my blanket too!(:

How far along: 33 weeks

Gender: Boy

Weight gain: 18 lbs. is how much I've gained according to the doctor's scale yesterday

Maternity clothes: I have two full drawers of maternity clothes, and I'm having to wear the pants now. My stretchy pants are getting kinda snug now..

Stretch marks: No stretch marks

Belly button in or out: Flat !

Sleep: I'm sleeping, Ryder keeps getting the hiccups and moving a lot which wakes me up and keeps me up too. I love him moving, but it would be nice to sleep a bit more too !

Best moment this week: Getting my crib, and I received goodies in the mail.

 

   I got this teether and star tag blanket this week. They are both so cute, I can't wait for him to use them. If you follow @sew_much_love on Instagram, she is who made these for me, and she did such a good job.(:

Miss anything: I'm not missing too much this week. I just wish I wasn't so tired, which I know that isn't going to get any better as the weeks go on.

Movement: It is insane how much he moves. I wish I could catch it on camera, but he knows when I turn on the video, it's uncanny really, haha.

Cravings: I craved a Philly cheese steak sandwhich earlier this week, maybe I'll get one this week. Me and my sister got five guys the other day, and it was seriously the perfect burger. I've been craving toaster streudals this week and I have five boxes of them in my freezer..... But they are made with real fruit.. At least that's what the box says!;) 

Looking forward to: Invitations were sent out this past week for my baby shower. I'm so excited for my baby shower. I'll start washing his clothes and putting our hospital bags together the day after my baby shower! 

   I know this is a seemingly silly request, but pray I find a nice, pretty comforter for my bed. I also need a rug, side tables, and curtains. Just pray that I will find the perfect finishing items for my room (and pray I don't spend too much money!). 

xx

   

A Blessing in a Crib

   I know this doesn't look like much, but I needed a crib. I thought I had one, but it was broken and unusable once we put it together. I was very happy to have had a crib, but now I was crib-less..

   I had talked to my mom a bit about how I didn't necessarily need a crib at first. My mom has the bassinet that she used for me. We figured we would keep our eyes open for a crib, and I could use the bassinet while he was little. I was completely okay with the idea of using the bassinet for a few months, but I figured I'd go look at cribs to know what I was dealing with.

    So while I was looking at cribs and prices, I got super discouraged. I wanted to cry because I didn't have the money for the type of crib I was wanting. I got into my car and gave myself a pep talk. I started praying that I'd be happy with whatever I ended up getting. I had come to terms with that as long as I had a safe crib, it didn't matter about other things (like the fact that it might end up being the ugliest crib there was). 

   God is good though. He knew I was struggling with this seemingly small problem and He provided. I found this insanely nice crib and got an amazing deal on it as well. I know God knew what I wanted and needed. This crib makes me so happy, and it is going to be a constant reminder of how blessed I am every time I look at it. God doesn't always provide what we necessarily want, but He did this time for me. 

   I can't wait to put everything together. I'll be getting a mattress and sheets in the next month, and in about two months, there will be a little baby boy in it. Y'all don't understand how happy I am right now.

xx

32 weeks !!

   It's September, which means next month (NEXT MONTH) is October. Most of y'all are probably saying, "well, duh Hannah, that is the month after September," but Ryder is due in October! He is due at the end of October, so he might end up being born in November, but it's getting so close! I have eight more weeks till Ryder's due date, although only four more weeks till I'm technically full term!(:

   In my last blog post, I wrote how my baby sister and I were not feeling too well. It took us a few more days to get over the worse of it all, but we are mostly all better now. 

   At the moment, I am living with my parents. I was hoping to have my own place, but it just hasn't worked out at all. I've been discouraged about it every now and again, but especially after this weekend, I'm glad to be right where I am. It is going to be so nice having my mom here to help with the baby, and I know I'm going to be so thankful for my parents. This weekend, we renovated my room to get it ready for me and Ryder.

   I've slept in a twin bed my whole life, as of last night, I have a full bed. It is literally amazing, and I have so much room to stretch out!(: The walls in my room and bathroom were a deep red and a mustard yellow, now my walls are antique white with one grey accent wall. My bathroom is the same color as the accent wall! 

This is the before color.

   I'm not going to put up pictures till it is all finished, but here is a sneak peek. This is in my bathroom, I love the light grey color. It looks so fresh and clean. I cannot wait to finish getting all my furniture and decorate the bare walls.

   I went antique shopping and found these drawers for Ryder. I saw them and thought they were perfect. I even talked down the price just a little bit, which means I paid less than what the seller was originally wanting. I would have never thought I'd have so much together last week!

   Now all I need is a crib! If anyone wants to help a momma bear out, I'm not picky. I just want something that is safe and will look good in my room! 

   Me and my brother in the top picture.(:

   Sunday lunch at Bagelheads. I went to lunch after church with one old friend and one new friend. That potato and cheddar soup and cinnamon raisin bagel were amazing!! Now, on to the fun survey! I only read this part on some people's blogs (so I understand if this is all you care about, haha)! 

How far along: 32 weeks

Gender: Boy(:

Weight gain: About 16 lbs. it will be interesting to see how much I gained when I go to the doctor next week, especially after losing a couple of lbs last week

Maternity clothes: I don't think I wore any maternity clothes this last week.. Ha, I need to go through all my clothes this next week!

Stretch marks: Still none, I am considering myself lucky so far(:

Belly button in or out: Flat as flat can be

Sleep: I actually slept pretty well this last week, although I've become such a light sleeper, which is not a bad thing since I am planning on co-sleeping (which I will try to write about this week!) 

Best moment this week: I finished Ryder's matching baby afghan, and I won quite a few Instagram contests, I also have my room almost put together, and honestly, yesterday and today, I've been on the brink of tears from being so happy and feeling just so, so blessed. 

Miss anything: I miss bending down! I'm officially admitting that it is such a chore to bend down, once I'm down, I have to make sure that there is nothing else that needs to done while I'm down! I miss sleeping on my stomach too...

Movement: So much movement and I absolutely adore it. I think him moving is one of my favorite things about being pregnant.

Cravings: I've been craving waffles this week, I know that people make fun of Waffle House, but I love it !! The hashbrowns and waffles are just so good.. (And now I might have to go get a waffle before I go to bed, it's a good thing they are open all night :D)

Looking forward to: Having my baby shower! Invitations should be sent out soon, and then I will need to tell people who don't get invitations about it. I am excited, the date for my baby shower will be in about three weeks. I am hopefully taking maternity picture soon too! 

   I still have so much to do, but I'm a happy momma. God is being so good to me and Ryder. I pray that I will just remember that every good thing is sent from Above!(: Pray that I will find a crib soon, and that the rest of my room will come together nicely. Pray that I also get all my paper work done for work, hospital, etc. 

   Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers!

xx

31 Weeks

   I know I am a day late, but it has been a rough last few days. It was a bad week, it just wasn't the best week either. I worked quite a bit, which is gradually getting a little bit harder. There are no sit down jobs, so I am on my feet the whole time at work. By the time my shift is over, my feet and hips and back just ache. The good thing about being on my feet at work though is that I am constantly moving, thus I am exercising. 

   I had a really nice pool day with my sister a few days ago. It was so enjoyable, and the sun felt wonderful. A few of my friends joined us after a while and we grilled out for dinner. 

   Monday morning I didn't feel good at all, and neither did my little sister. We ran some errands that needed to be ran, and I tried to help my mom by watching my sister a bit. I think we both are just having an icky beginning to the week, because neither of us feel good today either. 

   I went to the Dr. on Monday and heard Ryder's heartbeat again. I adore hearing his little heartbeat.<3 

How far along: 31 weeks

Gender: Boy

Weight gain: 16 lbs. I've lost about four lbs. in tha past week or so. I was kind of surprised when I stepped on the scale at the dr. yesterday. 

Maternity clothes: Half the week I wear regular clothes, and the other half is maternity.

Stretch marks: No stretch marks or varicose veins (thank goodness)!

Belly button in or out: Flat still, I wonder if it will pop out or not..

Sleep: No better. I shouldn't complain too much because I sleep, just not well.

Best moment this week: There were no best moments really, I enjoyed my pool day a lot, oh, I felt Ryder hiccup for the first time. It was one of my not-so-good days, and I was just moping when I felt him hiccuping. It changed my mood immediately and made me so happy(:

Miss anything: I miss being able to move without my back hurting

Movement: He has gotten to where he does flips and moves all around, I really do love it so much.

Cravings: Abita root beer, seriously, it's so good! And I will probably go to steak and shake this week, because I've been craving a good burger, fries, and milkshake.. (Let me know if you wanna join!) ;)

Looking forward to: Having this baby out (I'm probably going to say this every weeks from here on out). I'm looking forward to having my room done and getting the rest of Ryder's things together as well.

   I got a lot of comments about how big I was from strangers this week (which I don't feel like I am thatt big..) but I am glad people notice, I like talking about my baby. Hopefully the rest of this week will be better than the first half! 

   Pray that my sister and I will both feel better. Also pray that Ryder will stay healthy and continue growing! One of my friends had her baby this past week as well. Her baby girl is beautiful, and I am so happy for her! (But goodness, do I really have to wait nine more weeks for Ryder!? Ha)

xx

Those do what?!

   God is incredible. He literally thought of everything when it comes to women and pregnancy. I could talk about a lot of different ways that a woman's body is amazing, but I want to touch on the subject of breastfeeding.

   "Breast is best" has recently become a very popular saying. Breastfeeding has become a fad (which isn't a bad thing!). It is great that people are putting so much thought into naturally feeding their babies. There are so many different benefits to breastfeeding your baby.

   Pediatricians recommend breastfeeding for at least a year. 77% of women will start out breastfeeding in the USA, but by 6 months only 47% are still breastfeeding. Only 25% of American women are breastfeeding at the recommended year mark. 

   Some women feel like they don't produce enough milk when they first give birth, but they usually are producing just enough! At first, colostrum is produced, it a very nutrient-rich substance that is very important for a newborn baby. A newborn baby's stomach is also the size of a cherry, this the 5-7 milliliters being produced at first is the perfect amount.

   Breastmilk is actually a living substance. It contains antibodies, white blood cells, digestive enzymes, and it helps develop and strengthen the immune system for baby. It lowers both mother and baby's health risks. It also has over 300 MORE ingredients than formula. 

   It is also a money-saver (which is always a plus!). Breastfeeding can save an average of $2000-$4000 a year. It also burns 300-500 calories a day (hello weight loss!!). It also helps mom's uterus shrink back down to normal size and prevents too much blood loss. Another great benefit is the fact that breastfeeding releases oxytocin, otherwise known as the love hormone, for both mommy and baby. This gives both a natural high, relieves stress, and promotes bonding and relaxation.

   One of my favorite facts about a mother's milk is the fact that it can change specifically to meet your baby's needs. Breasts can detect a one degree difference in the temperature of your baby, and it can cool down or warm up in order to adjust baby's temperature. In the summer, or when it is hot, Breastmilk will have more water in it to prevent dehydration for baby, and if the baby has a fever, Breastmilk will produce more water as well.

   Baby's who breastfeed are typically smarter and healthier. They are less likely to be picky eaters because they can subtly taste what mom eats when they breastfeed. They are less likely to be allergic to some food items the longer they breastfeed as well. 

   Breastfeeding is a completely natural and beautiful thing. I plan on exclusively breastfeeding for as long as possible. Hopefully 'as long as possible' will be at least six months or so (a year would be amazing though). I know it will be hard, especially since I will be working, but it won't be impossible. 

   If one can breastfeed, I think she should. I understand though that some women are just unable to breastfeed, and they have to use formula. Formula has come a long way, and many babies are just fine using formula. Science is truly amazing, and I'm glad that people who can't breastfeed are doing what is best for their baby.

   I got through one informative blog post, I feel like I learned a lot from looking up resources and reading other blogs. Hopefully you learned something you didn't know before!(:

xx

   

30 weeks !!

   I am 30 weeks today! I cannot believe I have finally hit 30. Only 10 more weeks to go. I really want time to speed up a bit, but at the same time.. I have so much to do!

   I am renovating my room, which involves painting, a new bed, and setting up a crib. It also involves getting rid of some things and putting other things away in boxes. I hate getting rid/packing up things, because everything has a meaning and I am so sentimental. 

   I am super excited though, because I've come across super nice furniture for a great deal. So although I don't really have a place to put furniture right now, when I get my own place, I honestly shouldn't have to buy almost any furniture. I know I'm probably putting the cart before the horse, but I think I'm making some great decisions and will be thankful when I get my own place and have furniture. 

   I bought a fujifilm instax camera this past week. I love the idea of having one chance to take a photo. It just feels so much more real. I got the camera for the pregnancy and for after Ryder is born. I wanted real pictures that I could hold in my hand!(: 

   Ryder is around 3lbs. this week and around 15 in. or so. I feel him move so much now. My sister is actually laying her head on my stomach and feeling him move as I write this.(: 

How far along: 30 weeks

Gender: Boy(:

Weight gain: 20 lbs. I go to the doctor on Monday, hopefully I haven't gained too much more. I did a really bad job with the soda this week... I might have had more than one or two sodas... Whoops!

Maternity clothes: I found a bag of maternity clothes that had been misplaced early on, so I have some new pieces added to my maternity wardrobe.

Stretch marks: None

Belly button in or out: Flat as a pancake

Sleep: One day I will be able to sleep again. Ryder moves so much now, and it will keep me up. It is increasingly getting harder to get comfortable as well.

Best moment this week: Nothing in particular this week. An all around good week. I felt better (yay for no longer feeling sickly), I had good work days, I enjoy everyone I work with, my days off have been spent in peace, and I finished my big afghan. I have accumulated furniture, and I also won another Instagram contest (I seriously love Instagram contests). I won credit to an etsy store that sells really cute bracelets, I'll have to put a picture up after I get them. So again, pretty good week.

Miss anything: Just the usual; sleep, not having heartburn, etc.

Movement: So much movement. I absolutely adore how much he moves, it is one of my favorite things about being pregnant!

Cravings: Not a lot of cravings, although I did eat whataburger for three different meals..(no judging!) 

Looking forward to: My baby being here! And I'm ready to have everything ready for him to be here. I can't wait for the baby shower, which will be mid-September; or my doctor appointment, which will be Monday.

   I have a lot going on the next ten weeks (and actually many weeks after as well..). I want to start blogging more than once a week, and write about some things I plan on doing and why (such as breast feeding, baby-wearing, and co-sleeping). I can then blog again about whether I did everything I wanted to do or not, and why it did/did not work later on.

   Pray that my appointment will go well, and that Ryder is growing perfectly. Pray I find a place to put everything, and that I am smart in organizing and getting ready for Ryder to be here. Again, I can't thank you enough if you read my blog.(:

   This picture is in honor of Ryder being as big as a pineapple last week!(:

xx

29 weeks!

   29 weeks, about 11 to go.

   7 months, about 2 1/2 to go.

   203 days, about 77 to go.

   About 200 tums (between me and my dad), and who knows how many more tums we will consume!

    

   I am to the point where I kinda want time to speed up a bit. I can't wait to have a little baby in my arms! Ryder is about the size of a pineapple this week and he is only getting bigger. I bought a pineapple when I was at the store today because it looked really good (and because my baby is the size of a PINEAPPLE!).

   A lot of people have been commenting about my tummy this past week. Everyone wants to know when I'm due and what I'm having. I've had conversations for the first time with some people I've seen come into where I work for over a year! It's fun.(: I love talking to people about my baby, and everyone says I have a glow (which who doesn't wanna be told they are glowing!).

How far along: 29 weeks

Gender: Boy

Weight gain: 20 lbs. I did really well in not drinking soda this week. I went to the movies with my dad and he offered to buy popcorn and soda.. So I got a coke (which I was not gonna turn down such kindness from my father!). Other than that one coke.. I did not drink any soda this past week!(:

Maternity clothes: I'm wearing maternity clothes, but my jeans still fit at times. Sometimes they fit when I first get dressed and halfway through the day they end up unbuttoned.

Stretch marks: Still no stretch marks.

Belly button in or out: Neitherr, it is flat!!

Sleep: I have been sick this past week, so I kept waking up because I couldn't breathe through my nose. I even took a little bit of Benedryl this week because my sinuses were so bad, and I still didn't get good sleep:( 

Best moment this week: This week went by smoothly, I have a lot coming up though. I have no favorite or best moments this week, it was just a good week. (Besides being sick..)

Miss anything: Sleep, and I miss when I didn't have to take tums. Heartburn and indigestion are awful!

Movement: A lot of movement. I haven't felt him hiccup yet, and I really hope I will feel that before he is born.

Cravings: No cravings this week, except I have craved a good burger two or three times this week. Not a McDonald's burger, more like a Whataburger burger!

Looking forward to: Packing the bags for the hospital and having my baby shower and getting my room ready for my baby and I. 

   I feel like this week was kind of boring.. A very uneventful week, but still busy. I worked a lot, and there are a lot of changes happening at my work. Pray that all the changes going on will be better for the store and the people who work there. Also pray I get everything done and stay calm. I want to do so much, but I need to remember to enjoy time and take things in stride. I don't need to make more work for myself than necessary.

   I will leave y'all with how big Ryder's hand is this week!(:

xx

28 weeks(:

   28 weeks is upon us. Ryder is the around the size of a coconut. He is also able to cough, pretend breath (suck in and out amniotic fluid), and dream. I remember when my little sister was a newborn and would smile in her sleep, and she must have been dreaming. I can't wait to see Ryder smile in his sleep once he is born.(:

   I feel like this week flew by. My family and I finished our church conference (which was amazing), and we went to Hurricane Harbor for our fun day on Friday. Hurricane Harbor is the six flags water park in Texas. We usually go to an amusement park each year, but my dad was nice and chose a water park since me and mom weren't able to really ride any rides. I can't wait to be able to ride a roller coaster again though! 

   We got home late Saturday night, and it was actually nice to sleep in my own bed after a week of hotel beds. Ryder has been kicking up a storm lately, which means he is growing. Starting this week, I'm supposed to count how many times he kicks in an hour. 

  I got a lot of goodies this week as well. I got a sweatshirt from lovedbyhannahandeli.com (you can follow her on Instagram if you'd like, @lovedbyhannahandeli). The sweatshirt is one of the softest ones I own, and it says "Mama Bear," which I think is perfect for me!(:

   I also received my crochet bow ties in the mail from @dapperbabywear (her name on Instagram). She has a little etsy shop, and I had my package when I got home. She was so sweet and addressed the package to me and Ryder, and she also wrote me a sweet little card!

   I forgot to mention that I got my diaper bag last week. I was able to go to a Vera Bradley store and get it. I got my mom one when my little sister was born, and she has used it so much and loved it. It's not only big and durable, but I think it's so pretty too! My mom got me the matching bottle carrier for it as well!(:

How far along: 28 weeks

Gender: Boy!!

Weight gain: 20 lbs... I went from gaining no weight to this! At the doctor yesterday I was told to watch my weight, yikes! I used to never drink soda, and I'm going to cut it out again because it isn't good for me anyways.

Maternity clothes: I got a maternity dress from target the other day, and I love wearing my kimonos with tank tops too(:

Stretch marks: Nopee

Belly button in or out: I don't have an outie, but I don't really have an innie either.. My belly button is kind of just flat, I think it is really funny looking actually!

Sleep: My belly is in my way just about no matter what, and I wake up two, three, twenty times a night... I'm either uncomfortable, or Ryder decides he wants me to be awake with him, or I just have to use the bathroom. I would love a good night's sleep before my baby arrives.. (Laugh it up everyone who knows how I can usually sleep just about anywhere at anytime..)

Best moment this week: I loved Texas, I know I said I liked it last week, but Texas was just a really great place I thought. I also passed my glucose test, which is good!

Miss anything: Sleep, and medicine. I haven't really needed medicine at all, and I'm not a medicine taker, but I've gotten really congested the past few days, and my head, throat, and ears have been bothering me really badly. Hopefully I will feel better soon, because I don't want to have to take any medicine.

Movement: I can now see my bump twitch and move a bit from the outside! My friend who really wanted to feel him in Texas actually ended up feeling him, which made both of us very happy(:

Cravings: A few, I am really in the mood for soup, but that's also because I don't feel good I think. I still have had the anti-cravings this week. I've had really bad indigestion/heart burn this week, at least I think that is what it is. My stomach will just hurt sometimes, and I'm not sure if it is a specific food that is causing it or just an overall pregnancy symptom that is just gonna happen whether I like it or not.

Looking forward to: I've really been thinking about my baby this week (which he is on my mind almost all the time, but extra this week!). I can't wait to hold him and see him. I love being pregnant, but the idea of holding my little baby and touching his soft skin makes me anxious to have him here. I really can't wait for October to get here!(:

   Thank you for all the prayers coming my way. Ryder is measuring perfectly according to my latest ultrasound, and im healthy. Pray that this continues to be the case! I also have a lot of things to figure out, and I hope I can get everything in order before my baby gets here! So here is a typical bathroom selfie from Sunday to end you with.(:

xx