Week 26 Update

How Far Along? 26 weeks

I'm not really sure where this came from but since Thanksgiving I have popped!  This was my view of the menu on Tuesday night.  Hello SG!  Mommy LOVES YOU!!

Size? 

Baby is:

Maternity Clothes? 

I am either going to only wear sweat pants from now on or splurge on some good maternity jeans.  I cannot find any store in my immediate location (Lord help me if I have to go downtown right now) that sale maternity pants.  They all have online sites where you can order them but nothing in store.  I placed a big ASOS order over a week ago...please hurry!  :) 

Weight Gain?  Not sure about any gain since the last appointment but I feel good.  And yes, Rob, adding apple juice and OJ does add additional calories if you have not been previously drinking it.  Thank you, Doctor. HAHA.

Look at how much baby girl has grown in 13 weeks!  

Stretch Marks? Nope.  Using the Burt's Bees Momma Tummy Lotion twice a day.

Gender? A precious baby GIRL!    

Sleep?  Sleeping really well, thank goodness!  I toss and turn a few times during the night and even in those few moments of being awake Baby Girl is moving or, as Kyle refers to it, "ripping around in there..."  

Movement? All the time.  It is glorious and I miss it when it doesn't happen for a little bit.  She should be doing some turning in the next week or so and I am looking forward to those new feelings.

Food Cravings? Nothing. I am loving all of the homemade treats that my students brought in this week!  
     

Anything making you queasy or sick? No, thank goodness. 

Labor signs? No!  Still have 14 weeks to go! 

Belly button in or out? She's not visible through my clothes but after I workout or eat a lot she kind of looks like a turtle poking its head out. Strange and possibly TMI?
  

Wedding rings, on or off? On.  I will be really sad when/if the answer to this changes. 

What I Miss? Nothing really.

Symptoms?  A few aches and pains from what I am assuming is stretching and growing.  

Happy or Moody? SUPER happy!  I wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning SG...your Mommy loves you...your Daddy loves you...JESUS loves you...and then I go through the names of all of her grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  

  

Best Moment of the Week? 

-Getting to see Little brother Rob Ray and Angela for a few hours before their trip to Alinea.
-All of the new movements from Baby Girl
-Christmas time at my new school.  Oh the love and appreciation that comes from the families and faculty.  I am blessed.  
-Dinner with Toes, Reno, and Kyle Friday night and being taken back to old times when it was just us, plus JohnJohn, on Newport Ave.   

Looking forward to... 
-Flying into Memphis tomorrow morning to begin working in the nursery bedding.
-Christmas Eve and Day traditions with the Rays, Moores, and Dahlems. 
-Celebrating Jesus' birthday! 

Sweet things and Life in General:

I had the privilege of picking up some of my old students from school on Monday and spending the evening with them.  We purchased gifts for some local families in need and LOVED being able to select items for their new home and that we thought they would enjoy playing with together.  These kids y'all, what giving hearts!  Even though they could very well have been in the same boat in terms of being on the receiving end, they spent so much time carefully choosing each gift and making sure that the budget we had to work with provided the most bang for their buck.  We ate a grand meal at the Sonic and then delivered the goodies to our friend Mrs. Dye who, with her husband, runs the non-profit Vision Nehemiah and hosts young men and boys in their home for various periods of time.  We took many pictures and each time they rotated who got to touch the baby. 
 Suggested baby names: Precious, Miracle, Heaven, Blessing, Dionate, and Alex.