26 weeks...3rd trimester is getting closer!

How's momma feeling: Doing just fine this week. A little tired on Monday:), but I think we're back into the swing of things. I've gotten to walk to work most days this week and that has been refreshing and a good way to start the day. It's been pretty steady at work this week so that has been super nice (and fun!). 
Size of baby: She's getting chubbier:)...in the best sense of the word. She's about 1 2/3 - 2 lb. and about 14 inches long (about the size of a scallion). 
Cravings: I've been in the mood for Asian food this week...I finally got some Thai food on Wednesday at work. It was so yummy!! I love all the food we get at work...definitely a perk of the job, especially when pregnant!
Aversions: Tomato"y" sauce type stuff has not sounded good this week. And the fishy smell was not enjoyable to me either this week; I can still eat it, but the smell...ick!
Sleep: Trying to catch up from this past weekend but still sleeping pretty soundly. I still get about 8-9 hours a night. It was hard for me to sleep the night we got into Marion (3 a.m. last Saturday morning:))...I think I was just excited for the weekend!!
Exercise: Been mostly at the gym this week...on the stair step and elliptical and watching The Food Network:). I love "Chopped"! There was another pregnant lady in there this week...you go girl! I love looking out and watching for pregnant ladies...is that weird?
Clothes: My amazing cousin gave me lots of maternity clothes when we visited last weekend; I have been enjoying wearing those this week! Dresses, shirts, pants...the real deal! THANKS so much, Cuz!! They're wonderful!
Looking forward to: Organizing and putting everything away from this weekend. There wasn't much time this week to do it, so, hopefully, this weekend we'll get it all done!
Something fun: I'm starting a "mommy" type class this week (I forget what it's called) through a local organization. We meet on random Saturdays, and it's one-on-one. We learn all sorts of stuff...lactation stuff, soothing stuff, labor stuff, bathing stuff, etc. I'm looking forward to it. Also, we're in the nursery this week! Silly, I know, but I just love the little ones at church; it's so much fun to spend time with them!!
FYI: You all are so awesome! Thank you so much for being there for Tom and I this past weekend. We had such a fun weekend...the wedding was beautiful, the showers were perfect, the time with family/exchanging gifts for pasts birthdays/special days/etc. was so special. We wish we would have had more time to chat and catch up as the weekend went by so fast, but we are grateful that we were able to get away a couple of days to see everyone! Know you are all loved!! Thank you for sharing in the joy of our little girl with us!
Thank you, Lord, for: Such a wonderful, blessed time in Indiana/Ohio this past weekend. We have such amazing family and friends who are supporting us in the journey of parenthood. It was so special to see everyone and share our daughter with them. We are so so blessed.

25 week pictures...Holiday Week!!

Loose black shirts are not the best for pregnant pictures...

I'm trying to show you how big she's getting!

Better...but guess you'll have to wait till you see us in person...shortly!

Tom putting together our new highchair

Happy 4th of July!!

I'm kind of nerd when it comes to red, white, and blue...Go USA!

Our 4th of July tradition...

In case you can't read it, it says ICE CREAM:)

It WAS really good!

Perfect treat for a pregnant momma on a HOT holiday!

25 weeks...see a lot of you soon!!

How's momma feeling: Doing well! Thankfully, it rained a lot this week, so it wasn't as hot as it could have been. But on those hot days...woowee! You can definitely tell a difference between a hot day being pregnant vs. not. 
Size of baby: She's about the size of a rutabaga (whatever that is)...about 1.5 lbs. and 13.5 inches long. Her skin is becoming thicker and less transparent.

Cravings: Not neccessarily a craving, but I have been getting that weird taste in my mouth more often this week, so I've been chewing a lot of gum or finding candy to suck on. I also was kind of hoping for some Asian food this week...
Aversions: Hot stuff (temperature wise). I packed some soup this week, and it took me until about 3 p.m. before I convinced myself that I was hungry enough to eat it; I didn't really want it. 
Sleep: I used to really want to sleep on my back but would do my best to side sleep. Now, I actually prefer to sleep on my side...interesting! Must be that growing little one inside. It's amazing how our bodies know what is best for us.
Exercise: Noticed this week that I have to do some modified versions of some of the moves for the class and videos that I do. Just part of it!
Clothes: I went to Target a few times this week...I've realized that waiting just a few days can really drop an item's price. Got a new summer dress on sale!! I love deals!
Looking forward to: Sharing her kicks and tumbles with our family this weekend!! 
Something fun: Going to Indiana for a wedding and showers this weekend! Can't wait to see everyone and can't wait for them to see our growing little girl. 
We had a great time meeting up with our veterinary friend this past Sunday. Got to talk lots of dairy over a nice lunch and COLD ice cream (it was a warm day!!). We are so thankful for continued friendships over the years. 
FYI: I find it interesting that over the last two weeks, I saw a change in people's responses to my growing stomach. Four or five individuals actually asked or assumed that I was pregnant and said something to me. Ha! I love it. Most people, both men and women alike, will say that they never ask if a woman is pregnant (we've all heard stories where this backfired on someone or perhaps it even happened to you), but I kind of am grateful at this point for those brave individuals. Being pregnant, I would rather have someone ask instead of assuming that I have been enjoying too many chocolate chip cookies or just staring at my stomach "inconspicuously". Let's just get it out in the open. I'm sure this will change once baby comes, but I plan to enjoy it for the next few months. I do think it would be funny to say "No, I'm actually not pregnant" when someone asks to see his/her reaction...maybe if the right situation comes up:). (Of course, I would eventually correct myself:))
Some of the assumptions...
- "Are you pregnant?" (standing more than 6 feet away from each in other amongst a large group of people)
- "I didn't know about this." (looking at/directing attention to my stomach)
- "I'm looking at you right now...I think you might have something to share."
- "Are you expecting?" (mouthing it while touching her stomach; I had been touching my stomach, so it was kind of a give-away)
Thank you, Lord, for: A trip to see family and friends, time in the car together, energy to go through so much in our apartment, and a day off this week (Happy 4th of July)! We can't wait for this weekend!!

Week 24 Pictures...

We've started a pile in our living room to take back to Indiana to store for awhile (thank you, Gramps and Grams Lewton).

These are the cleared shelves that result!

And our book case has more room for baby books/stuff! YAY!

24 weeks!

Skirt/dress combo...wore it as a dress today...nice and roomy!

Week 24...one week till we're in the Midwest!

How's momma feeling: I am still feeling well. I feel like I'm getting tired a bit earlier these days (could be because I'm getting up early). Appetite has lessened since the weather has gotten warm, but my fluid intake has increased! Yay for bathroom breaks! Last Sunday in church was difficult. Our church doesn't have air conditioning, so I just tried not to move, to hold my hair up, and to drink water (thankfully, I took some with me). I wore a long skirt, so I tried pulling it up a bit (not too much under the circumstances:)). I think I might just wear my swimsuit this week:), or maybe I'll just wear a shorter outfit, wear my hair up, sit in the back (we were toward the front), and bring MORE water...might be more appropriate than a bathing suit. 
Size of baby: She's about the size of an ear of corn and has probably gained about 1/4 a lb. since last week, so now she's probably a little over 1 lb. and around a foot long. If I'm remembering correctly, I believe I had a dream last night where she was weighed (in the womb I think), and she was around 9 lb. 5 oz. (the scale kept changing, but I think it went back to a 9 lb. weight)...it was just a dream...it was just a dream....it was just a dream?:)
Cravings: Cold stuff or picnic type foods...since it's now warm, things from the oven or stove aren't sounding all that "refreshing".
Aversions: The stuff in our fridge:). I made 3 different things this past weekend for the week and by last night, I didn't want any of them. I just wanted a sandwich:). Thankfully, Tom has dinner four nights a week with the people in the program he's in for 6 weeks this summer and brings home a plate for lunch for himself for the next day. I just ate that instead;)...He was so sweet to share!
Sleep: Sleep has been great this week. I definitely sleep with pillows galore now, and it helps. I switch sides a few times during the night, but it's nothing to mess up my sleep too much. As long as I have all my pillows to put between my legs, to hug on to, and sometimes to put behind my back, I'm great! Along with that good night's rest, I am waking up between 6 and 6:30 a.m. Tom is already up by then since he has already been to get milk from the dairy for school, but I usually feel rested and am ready to start the day. You can get a lot more done when you get up at 6 on the weekends:).
Exercise: I'm grateful I can still balance ok.
Clothes: Went shopping with my friend this week and didn't get a thing. I'll have to keep looking. I have come to realize that being pregnant I DEFINITELY want my clothes (especially pants) to fit and feel right. I also want things that will fit me when I'm huge:).
Looking forward to: Getting to see friends and family in a week! Woohoo! It will be a quick trip but definitely can't wait! 
Something fun: Tom and I get to meet up with one of our veterinary friends from the Univ. of Wisconsin this weekend. It will be super nice to see him and catch up. He and his family let me stay at his home when Tom and I went to visit the Univ. of Wisconsin (when Tom was looking at schools), and it's been nice to keep in touch since.  (don't know why this section won't unbold)
FYI: (new section) There seems to be differing opinions on the breakdown of pregnancy by week/month/trimester. I always got confused when pregnant women would say how many weeks they were...I wanted to know months, but now that I'm pregnant, I realize now that the weeks are what you care about (months are the confusing part:)). Here's a simple chart. Most of them seem to lay out pregnancy is this format. Some start with month 0 instead of month 1. When you think about it, since each month is not necessarily 4 weeks, it can get confusing. 

 
 
Thank you, Lord, for: Kicks and tumbles...I just love feeling her moving all around, and I love watching her kick! It's so good to know daily that she's in there. I just love it! (no kicks at night...yet:))

23 week pictures!

I went with Tom to collect milk (his summer job) on his birthday!

This is where he fills up the milk containers (at the school's dairy).

This is where he picks up the empty containers for the next day.

Father's Day breakfast burritos...LOADED! (the prenatal vitamins were not included in the burritos:))

22 weeks and 4 days

New skirt from my momma...Thanks, Mom! (We don't normally keep our lamps on the floor, but to the left is the start of our "take to Indiana" pile.:))

23 weeks!!

Gotta get every angle! (actually, just working around the sun!)

23 weeks...17ish to go!

How's momma feeling: Feeling well! I'll have random moments of feeling icky, but it only lasts for a short time. I read something last week that stated that I only have "18 weeks to go"...holy cow...let's NOT look at it that way. Saying "I am such and such weeks" seems a bit more on the encouraging side than "you only have such and such weeks to go". I know that's still a lot of time, but WOW! It just puts it into perspective. I'm sure when I'm farther along, I'll want to say "I only have such as such weeks to go", but we're not to that point quite yet.
Size of baby: About a pound or a little over and more than 11 inches long. She's about the size of a large mango (but way cuter). She can hear sound (woohoo, Zumba!) and is sleeping about 12-14 hours a day. 
Cravings: Ummm...this week it's kind of been chocolate...just a piece here and there to satisfy my sweet tooth or help take the weird taste out of my mouth. YUM! And also...I crave things that we don't have at the house or what is packed in my lunch. I want what other people have or what restaurants have or what I imagine restaurants have. I've held off, but it's hard:). I wonder if people are starting to get creeped out by me asking what they are eating....ha!
Aversions: Nothing major is coming to mind. I still get a "nothingness"/weird taste in my mouth from time to time, and water is still not desirable in the mornings to me, but for the  most part, nothing sets me off (at least not this week). 
Sleep: I've been getting good sleep this week - I get to sleep in until 7! I haven't been exhausted when we've gone to bet, but I've fallen to sleep quickly which is nice. When I'm hot I get a bit fidgety, or when I don't have all the pillows I want, I get a bit fidgety (ha!), but  that's not every night:)...thank goodness!
Exercise: Tom and I usually drive to school/work together, but this week we had to drive separate because of the rotation that Tom is on, so I've had the opportunity to walk to and from work everyday. The walk to work (downhill) is quite nice...still cool in the mornings. The walk from work (uphill) is a bit more work...especially when that sun is shining! I just take it slow if necessary and enjoy the time of thinking, calling/texting people, or praying. 
Clothes: One of my friends and I are going  shopping next week. (we've been planning to forever) I hope to find a pair of shorts and maybe a couple tops for my growing belly. Even some of the clothes I already bought as maternity clothes won't fit for too much longer. I also noticed this week that some of my shirts are not fully going over my tummy...haha! She's definitely growing! 
Got a new skirt from my mom a couple weeks ago! Wore it this week! Love it!! Nice and roomy!! (pictures above)
Looking forward to: A weekend with zero plans! It will be wonderful! We're working on making a pile to take back with us to Indiana to store for the few months we'll still be here until Tom graduates. We have to make room for baby. Hopefully, we can make a really good dent this weekend! 
Something fun: I felt her!! Last Thursday, I was able to actually realize she was moving around and saw my stomach move...a few times even! It was so special and so beautiful! I got teary-eyed. Since then, I've felt her every day (lots!) which has confirmed that it actually was her. I think I had felt her before this (now that I know what it feels like), but I just didn't realize it at the time. Tom got to see and feel her on Saturday night for the first time. It was such a cool experience! I love watching for her and cherishing those special moments of knowing she's there. 
FYI: (new section) 
We decided about a month ago that we are going to do cloth diapers. Met with friends who gave us tutorials, and we also took a little class on them...we're looking forward to the adventure.
We are working on names, but do not have one at this point. We do plan to keep it a secret though until she is born...we have to maintain some level of the unknown (like there's not enough "unknown" already, Olivia!?).
Thank you, Lord, for: A special "1st" Father's Day (I know everyone has their own opinion of whether your "1st" Father's Day is when the baby is the womb or out of the womb, so putting it in quotes hopefully encompasses all opinions:))! Thank you to all of you who showered Tom with encouragement and blessings on this special day. He loved them, and we had fun reading all your words of wisdom (I had friends and family email me a sentence or two of fatherly encouragement - I was hoping for 25 since it was his 25th birthday, but I received way more - THANK YOU! I put it all together, and he had to guess who had written each one.) We also enjoyed some yummy Father's Day breakfast burritos (picture above) and had a day full of practical and fun things.