32 Weeks Pregnant

Today I am 32 weeks pregnant….wow! Time has flown. Adaline is set to come very soon and I, in many ways, feel completely unprepared. Her room is not done, parts of the house I wanted organized are not finished, I am still working on her baby blanket, and there about a million things I still need to buy to be ready for the big day. Even with all of that, I can’t wait to see her, finally. She has been swimming around in my belly for 32 weeks now and I have felt her for the last 12 and I know that I am going to love being her mom.

According the website “What to Expect When you are Expecting”, Adaline should be about 19 inches long and round 4 lbs. She is curled-up because she is probably starting to get a little cramped inside my belly. She should be getting ready to settle into the head-down position in preparation for childbirth. She is also getting into her sleep cycles, 20 to 40 minutes long, multiple times during the day.

Adaline’s activity at night has settle down some, she is not as active, but I think her favorite position is when I lay down because almost every time I put my feet up she is moving around inside my belly.

We are now going to the doctor every two weeks, I had an appointment last week and Dr. Haskett measured my belly to be 33 cm even though I only gain 1 lbs since my last appointment my belly has grown quite a few cm. I am interested to see what the new measurement will be next Friday. We will have one more two week appointment in mid February and then after that Cory and I will be seeing Dr. Haskett each week for the remainder of the pregnancy.

Grandma Kathy is planning on coming to Utah on March 14 or 15 if I have not gone into labor yet. With Adaline due on the 17^th of March mom should be here in plenty of time to provide Cory and I with extra support and knowledge leading up to the delivery. We are so grateful that she is willing to come stay with us for a couple weeks to help with Adaline. If I happen to go into labor early and mom can’t make it, I know that Cory is going to be an excellent coach. He has been watching Youtube videos on childbirth, some I think have surprised him, but he says he is not really worried about the labor and delivery.

We started our birthing class this week and are learning helpful tools to get Cory and I prepped for natural child birth. I do not want to use any drugs for the labor and delivery other than maybe Tylenol and I am hoping the methods we are learning in our birthing class will help us to accomplish this goal. Brio Birthing is the class we are taking and 83% of students are able to have a natural childbirth without the need for medication. We are hoping we fall into the 83% instead of the 17% J but we will have to see. You always have to be open to all options and Cory and I are not going to be closed minded on any of the options that we will have.

31 Weeks Pregnant

Adaline is around 18 inches long and weighin in around 3 lbs. She is growing and so am I. I did not gain any weight between my last doctor's appointment and this appointment but my tummy grew. I am measuring around 33 cm and so am a little bigger than typical 31 weeks pregnant. Dr. Hasket said he will keep an eye on that but things are looking great right now.

Adaline is continuing her late night romps through mommy's stomach but I love each moment because I know she is doing well. Anytime I don't feel her for a while I get nervous but usually I feel her pretty soon after I say a prayer asking Heavenly Father to protect and then she moves!

These moments are so incredible. I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who has give me the opportunity to become a mother.

29 Weeks Pregnant

Adaline is 17 inches tall now and getting close to 3 lbs. She most likely will double in weight by the time her due date rolls round and could get close to triple the weight. Her wrinkled skin is smoothing out as more fat deposits under her skin surface. She has fat deposit under skin weeks ago to help regulate her temperature but now she is going to be storing fat so she can have the strength for motor skills one she is born.

We had a great time at Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Brewer; we stayed at Bridgette and Cody’s home where Cory was a four day jungle gym for Brindy, Kaely, and Brynna.  Cory is going to be such a good daddy. He really likes to play with the girls and is always willing to read a story, have them sit on his lap, and they even used necklaces on him during church. The latter reminded me of dad. Cynthia and I would sit on dad’s lap during church and we would dress him up with our necklaces, hair bows, and earrings. Many times hanging them over his glasses and provided great enjoyment for the whole ward. I can see Cory having the same calm and gentle nature as my dad. If this past Sunday is any indicator he is going to be great with Adaline.

For Christmas Adaline got some wonderful gifts. Mischa gave her a onezy from Bagdad and my wonderful sisters threw me a baby shower. I now have lots of cute outfits to deck her out in her first couple of months. Bridgette also gave me two boxes full of baby cloths so we have a great start to clothing our little one. Cynthia gave us a wonderful car chair and mom and my sisters gave me money to get what I need for Adaline.  My cousins and Aunts provided me with blankets, outfits, and baby essentials that will help this new mom take care of her precious little baby J

Cory and I hope this New Year is full of joy and happiness for all our loved ones. We pray our Heavenly Father will pour down his riches blessing upon each of you.
 

28 Weeks Pregnant - Christmas is only in 6 days!

Little Adaline is now 16 inches from top to toe and she is weighing in around 2.5 lbs. I feel her each morning and night and sometimes in between (night and morning mostly :). Any time I am active I don't feel her move much but as soon as I sit down to put up my feet or try to sleep she is ready for some action!

According the website Adaline is now experiencing REM sleep which is the dream state. I wonder what she dreams about. It would be interesting to know what she is dreaming about and if I sense her dreams or she senses mine and they are similar. Her only knowledge of this existence is what she knew before she came here to earth to be in my body and her experience in the womb. Could she be dreaming of Heaven? Could she somehow still be communicating or talking with those on the other side when she sleeps? Often revelations come to us in dreams; it would not be hard to imagine she is cramming her last learning sessions in the pre-existence before she comes to earth. It is kind of interesting to think about.

Also she is learning to blink, cough, suck more intensely, and to breathe. All of which she will need to be able to do when she is born. She is also getting ready for birth by trying out the proper position for labor with her head down. The funny thing is I wonder if she ever get a headache with being upside down so much or if like in outer space, she doesn't feel the effects of gravity because she is surround by water. Another funny thing to think about :)!

I can't believe Christmas is only 6 days away. Finishing gifts and getting everything wrapped will be the focus for the next two days. Then on Wednesday Cory and I will start our journey to Arizona. We will be staying the night in St. George with Grandma and Grandpa Ross before finishing the journey on Thursday. I love the Christmas season. This one has gone way too fast. I love the music, the lights, the traditions, and the opportunities to visit with family and friends.

Being pregnant has brought a very special feeling to this Christmas holiday. I understand a little of what Mary must have felt being pregnant and getting ready to go on a long journey. In no way am I attempting to compare a comfortable car with a donkey but I have reflected on Mary and what she must have been going through on the journey to Bethlehem long ago. She knew she was the mother of the Son of God, the One foreordained to come to this earth as proclaimed by prophets of old. I have to wonder thought if those were the thoughts running through her mind at the time, or if like me, she worried about how the journey would affect her baby, would she be comfortable, would she go into to labor, could there be complications, or did she enjoy all of the little moments with her child to be. She knew it was a boy so did she talk to him, sing to him, rub her belly when he was active inside her, she think about what His life would be like, or what she hoped His life would be like. Did she look at her husband and the kindness, patience, love, and utter devotion he must have felt for her? These have been some of my thoughts in the last few weeks and have helped me look at some of the little things Cory does for me and what my Father in Heaven continually does for me. As I have reflected on this incredible season where we rejoice on the birth of our Savior and Redeemer, do we remember the mother Mary? I feel closer to her than ever before in my life. I have an incredibly deepen appreciation for her sacrifice and devotion to her calling. She was the choicest woman because she is the mother of the Savior of the World. She has provided me with an incredible example of how to be as a mother. Kind, attentive, patient, humble, spiritual, teachable, and always willing to do that which my Father in Heaven would have me do. I am so grateful for this chance to become a mother and pray I will raise Adaline to always seek to walk in righteous and to rely upon a loving and kind Father in Heaven.

Merriest of Christmas' wishes and many blessings from Heaven to you!

27 Weeks Pregnant - Welcome to the Third Trimester

 

Now from head to toe Adaline is measuring an amazing 15 inches (Crazy) and at just over two pounds she has doubled in weight from four weeks ago. She is now developing her hearing and a network of nevers to ears mature. She should be able to hear sounds but they will be muffled because of the creamy coating of vernix covering both ears.

Cory and I are hoping she will recognize our voices when she is born J.   A fun game to play with baby, according to the website, is to shine a flash light on my belly and see if she will react to the light. Last night while in bed Cory got his work flashlight out, it has a small high intensity beam, and moved it around my tummy in a light show for Adaline. She was really active before he got the flash light out, kicking and moving, but then when daddy put the light on her, she became totally still. I have to wonder what she thought as she saw this light moving around her. Cory made shapes and squiggles and I hope she was enjoying the strange new experience. After Cory put the flash light way Adaline became active again about 6/7 minutes later.

I wrote Adaline a lullaby. I used the music from Mary’s Lullaby in the children’s primary song book but I re-wrote the words to be specific to Adaline. It was fun and I have been singing it to her every day.

Grandpa Brewer suggested that I read to Adaline and so Cory and I have been reading the scriptures to her at night while we are in bed and I also I have started Parley P. Pratt’s Autobiography and am reading that aloud to her. We listen to music, church talks, and Christmas songs so hopefully she will have a great love for reading, music, and things of the gospel.

26 Weeks Pregnant

Adaline’s eyes are now open – they have been closed for the past few months so the retina could develop. Now she is looking about and probably trying to figure out her environment out little better. She is more active than she has been, she would only be active when I would lay down but now she let me know she is there multiple times throughout the day.

The website suggests that I shine a flash light onto my belly and see if she reacts. I guess that will have to be something Cory and I try tonight. The website says she might kick in response “Get that light out of my eyes!”

Also they say the baby’s brain-wave activity is kicking in. She is able to hear noise but can also now respond to them, maybe not in works, but her pulse can increase and also her activity.

Currently Adaline is about nine inches tall and weighs about two pounds and soon she will probably start to fill a little cramped. There will still be some room for her to perform cartwheels and somersaults in my tummy.

25 Weeks Pregnant

Ok little Adaline is now the size of two juiceboxes high and she weights about four juiceboxs (don't ask me that is how the website described her). Her skin is starting to turn pink as blood capillaries are forming under her skin. Her lungs are still developing and air sacs (also lined with capillaries) will develop in her lungs, getting them ready for that first breath! She will begin in a few weeks to practice breathing the amniotic fluid as training for living in the real world. Her little nostrils are starting to open and her vocal cords are getting ready. (Hmm..I wonder if babies cue in womb.)

My back hurts more now than it has in the past weeks. Sleeping is much more of a challenge because I can't seem to get comfortable. Other than a little heartburn each night and the sleepless nights I am doing really well. The belly is really sticking out now...no mistake that I am pregnant :)

Cory enjoys saying hello to his little girl and gives my belly kisses as he talks to her. I know he is going to be a great daddy. He can't wait for the day he can spoil her and I know she will have him wrapped around her finger.

I am working on her quilt right now. It is zoo animals, like hippos, monkeys, lions, zebras, and the like. I am hand quilting the blanket and it will be nice and warm for her to stay warm on the way home from the hospital. I also finished two crocheted blankets for her as well.

With Christmas coming I can't help but feel that the time has flown. I can not believe that in just a few months she will be here. It is kind of scarry and really exciting. I am looking forward to being a mom and I hope I do as well of job with that my own mom did with me.