Week 29

Week 29 has come and gone! It's hard to believe that next week will already be week 30! My goodness, time is really slipping away!

Anyhow, the highlight of this week was attending the "Celtic Woman" concert with my parents & Andy. I know what you're thinking..."Celtic Woman?! That sounds so nerdy, so corny, so boring." But guess what? It was actually a LOT of fun! Since I was a young girl, my parents & I would watch the group on television every time we could. Their beautiful voices, elegant dances, and gorgeous costumes were always fascinating to me! And being of Irish & Scottish descent, I felt extra-connected to their music--it is, after all, a large part of my heritage!

So when we recently learned that they would be performing in Richmond, Ky (a very short drive for us), we jumped at the opportunity! We swiftly purchased four tickets and before long, the big day had arrived! We dressed in our prettiest attire, drove to Richmond, and claimed our seats just as the concert was beginning! The next two hours were filled with gorgeous Irish melodies, intricate step dances, and huge, dreamy, ball gown costumes! Even the stage lighting and props were impressive! Perhaps most fun, though, was feeling Grayson tumble around in my belly each time a lively, fast song was played! I sure hope he was enjoying it and not trying to escape from the noise!

After the concert we enjoyed a delicious hibachi-style meal at the local Japanese restaurant (don't worry, I thoroughly checked on the ingredients before eating!) before heading to Lexington, where Dad & Andy loaded our new dresser from Denise. (The dresser was so large that we couldn't fit it into our SUV, so Dad's truck was our saving grace!) Finally, after unloading the dresser, we snuggled down for a long evening of sleep!

The only disappointment of the week was that our Natural Labor class was cancelled due to flooding. I'm sure we'll make up the session next week, so stay tuned for more updates on that!

Here's our weekly update:

How Far Along: 29 weeks 

Total Weight Gain: 17.5 lbs 

Stretchmarks: None 

Sleep: Great

Best Moment this Week: Feeling Grayson tumble around to Irish jigs!

Movement: Oh yes!

Gender: Baby boy 

Labor Signs: None 

Belly Button: In :-)

What I Miss: Nothing

What I am Looking Forward to:  Next week's Natural Labor class!

Milestones:  Weighing in at around 2 1/2 pounds and over 15 or 16" long, Grayson is accumulating "white fat" under his skin. This fat can be used as an energy source later for our growing boy. He has also formed teeth buds for his permanent teeth and is getting stronger by the day!

29 Weeks

Til Next Time,

Hugs & Kisses,

A Southern Sweetheart

Week 28

This week was exciting on many, many levels! Firstly, we had our big 28-week appointment! This brought with it the dreaded gestational diabetes check! I had heard so many women describe the oral glucose tolerance test with such vehement distaste that I was expecting a disastrous experience. Thankfully, though, the Glucola liquid wasn't nearly as terrible as I had heard--I would liken it to a very sweet orange-flavored kool-aid drink--and so I quickly downed the beverage before meeting with my doctor.

All seemed to be right on track with our baby boy--which was quite a relief for this Mama! His heart rate was in the mid-150's as he squirmed to avoid the Doppler probe! My blood pressure continues to be nice and low and my weight gain is right on track, so I am again feeling very, very blessed. After the appointment I reported back to the lab to have my blood drawn and for the first time began to feel a bit...yucky. I would imagine that's exactly how one would feel after eating too many doughnuts or candy on an empty stomach...I'm merely speculating on how that would feel, of course ;-) So after the blood draw, being in desperate need of some blood-sugar-stabilizing protein, I found my way to the nearby Denny's for scrambled eggs and chicken sausage. I had never been so thankful for protein in my life, haha!

Aside from the appointment, Andy & I attended our first Natural Labor class. We learned about the benefits of laboring naturally (less medicinal-related side effects, more alert mother & baby upon delivery, quicker recovery, etc.) as well as some stretches and breathing techniques to help us (or rather me, haha) cope with labor. This class only strengthened my desire for a medicine-free birth and I felt more empowered than ever before! It was also quite refreshing to be surrounded by other expectant parents who shared this desire! Honestly, more often than not I've been told how "crazy" and "unrealistic" I am to hope for a medicine-free labor. But not in this group of women, oh no! Here the ladies were proud and enthusiastic about laboring naturally and I just loved it!

Later in the week I performed my first pelvic exam on a real patient! This experience was quite different than I had expected. In some ways I was expecting it to be a bit awkward or uncomfortable but, surprisingly, it wasn't! I tried my best to make the sweet young standardized patient feel comfortable as I talked her through the procedure. Before either of us realized it, I had finished the exam and she reported no discomfort! I was beyond thrilled! Maybe obstetrics & gynecology is in my future?! I have always been interested in the specialty, so I guess we'll see!

Below is our update!

How Far Along: 28 weeks 

Total Weight Gain: 16 lbs 

Stretchmarks: None 

Sleep: Pretty solid, especially after a long day on my feet.

Best Moment this Week: Learning that our baby boy is growing just perfectly and that natural labor is definitely possible!

Movement: Yep, especially when I lie quietly on my left side ;-)

Gender: Baby boy 

Labor Signs: None 

Belly Button: In :-)

What I Miss: Nothing

What I am Looking Forward to:  Next week's Natural Labor class!

Milestones:  We are officially in the third trimester! I cannot believe that in 12 short weeks we'll be holding our baby! Grayson probably weighs around 2 1/4 pounds and is about 15" long! This means he's about as big as a large eggplant :-) His little eyes boast cute eyelashes and he can probably see the light that filters into my uterus. He continues to add some chub to those adorable little cheeks which his Mommy & Daddy just cannot wait to kiss!

28 Weeks

(sorry, no picture this week!)

 

Til Next Time,

Hugs & Kisses,

A Southern Sweetheart

Week 27

This week passed pretty quickly for us, mainly because we had a very special guest for the week. Andy's Mom, Denise, came down from Minnesota to spend some quality time with the two of us and boy did we enjoy it! It was, of course, the first time that Denise had seen our new home, as well as the first time that she had visited our new town. This made it extra fun to show her the local restaurants, stores, and beautiful parks.

While Denise was visiting she surprised us with a very, very generous baby gift--a brand new dresser for Grayson! One evening, the three of us journeyed back to our old stomping grounds in the "big city" (Lexington, haha!), where we shopped for just the right piece. Since we already had a beautiful crib from my sister, we were desperately trying to find a coordinating, if not matching, dresser. Well, for those of you who are also trying to save money by mixing and matching furniture, just know that there are about 1 million different shades of cherry furniture and your odds of piecing together a perfectly matching set are, well, slim to none. We ended up with a gorgeous, dark cherry double dresser which is the perfect height for a changing station but I must be honest...it doesn't match the crib, like, at all! Ah well. They're both lovely and thankfully they're on opposite walls so they don't seem to clash too terribly at this time. And truly, all that really matters is that we have plenty of storage, a cozy crib, a comfortable changing station, and most importantly, a healthy baby boy :-)

After our time with Denise, Andy & I finished up taxes (woo-hoo, right?!) and prepared for our 28 week appointment! It truly seems that time is flying ever so quickly! I've noticed that with each passing day I feel more and more attached to my sweet baby. Every time I look down and see my growing bump I feel extra warm and fuzzy, like God has reached down and placed him there--a warm, cozy ray of sunshine in my belly--just for Andy & I. I praise him every day for our baby and for the joy that he is already bringing into our lives!

Our update:

How Far Along: 27 weeks 

Total Weight Gain: 15 lbs 

Stretchmarks: None 

Sleep: Great, as long as I use a pillow under my belly--otherwise my muscles feel stretched and achy!

Best Moment this Week: Spending time with Denise and shopping for our boy's room!

Movement: Definitely!

Gender: Baby boy 

Labor Signs: None 

Belly Button: In :-)

What I Miss: Nothing

What I am Looking Forward to: Our 28 week appointment and entering the third trimester!

Milestones:  My uterus has swollen to the size of a basketball and baby Grayson is filling it up quite nicely now, at the size of about 14.5" and 2 pounds! He's doubled in weight from four weeks ago! His favorite activities now seem to include doing somersaults and hiccuping--lots :-) I can't wait to kiss those adorable little legs and cheeks in a few short months!

27 Weeks

Til Next Time, 

Hugs & Kisses,

A Southern Sweetheart

Week 26

This week was all about school! I had several exams to prepare for along with our final group meeting for ICM. My days were packed with studying, studying, studying! I was able to sneak in a little break on the weekend, though, to attend my cousin Missy's wedding. Mom, Andy & I traveled together to Louisville for Missy & Andrew's afternoon soiree. The ceremony was held in Missy & Andrew's church in downtown Louisville while the reception was held at another local church's gymnasium. Their ceremony had plenty of unique touches, including a superhero-dressed ring-bearer and a superhero-themed recessional song! Those special touches definitely illustrated their fun personalities!

Following the ceremony, we visited with family at their casual reception where grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup were on the menu. After dinner, we played in their fun photo booth before heading home. Baby Grayson seemed to enjoy the cake (haha!) but maybe not the music--it was a tad loud for this Mama & Baby, I think. Overall, though, we had a blast and although I didn't know Andrew prior to their wedding day, he seemed to have a similar personality to Missy and the two shared an enthusiasm for life that was beyond fun to witness! Congrats you two!

Here's our weekly update!

How Far Along: 26 weeks 

Total Weight Gain: 13 lbs 

Stretchmarks: None 

Sleep: Great, as long as I use a pillow under my growing tummy :-)

Best Moment this Week: Taking fun pictures in the photo booth and eating yummy cake at Missy's wedding!

Movement: Yes, our boy loves to kick up a storm, especially after Mommy eats sugar ;-)

Gender: Baby boy 

Labor Signs: None 

Belly Button: In :-)

What I Miss: Nothing

What I am Looking Forward to: Finishing up this school year!

Milestones:  Baby boy has been busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid this week. These "practice breaths" are prepping his little lungs for life outside the womb, although they won't be fully ready for many weeks. The nerves in his tiny ears are much more sensitive now, too, so he can discern sounds more easily. He weighs in at about 1 and 2/3 lbs and is about 14" long!

26 Weeks

Til Next Time,
Hugs & Kisses,
A Southern Sweetheart

Week 25

This week was moving week for the Parr household! Together with our great friend, Tyler, Andy & I loaded all of our belongings into one huge rental truck and made the exciting journey to our new home! Along the way, though, the most hilarious thing happened (well, at least it seems hilarious now)--I accidentally took the keys to our old residence with me to our new home...while Andy & Tyler were still there AND our old house was still half-full of valuables! Unfortunately this meant that Andy & Tyler couldn't leave because our old home would be left unlocked for rummaging pillagers to explore! So, of course, I immediately turned around and made the 45 minute drive back to our old home, all the while feeling like a big ditz...haha! To this day I'll blame that lapse in judgement on "pregnancy brain," but my sweet husband loves to call me a "closet blonde" (no offense to all of my beautiful blonde friends!), so I'm sure I'll never live that mistake down! Anyhow, our lock restored (and my pride trashed!), we all headed toward the new house where family was eagerly waiting to help us unload the moving truck. Many hours, countless boxes, and more than a few sore backs later, the truck was empty! A big, big thanks to our helpers--we REALLY couldn't have done it without you! Now on to the next task...unpacking it all! Let the fun begin ;-)

Our old town house, finally empty!

 Our new home, full of furniture & boxes! Boy, oh, boy, I'll be one busy lady!

Here's our weekly update:

How Far Along: 25 weeks 

Total Weight Gain: 11 lbs 

Stretchmarks: None 

Sleep: Solid 

Best Moment this Week: Spending our first night in the new house

Movement: Yep, lots!

Gender: Baby boy 

Labor Signs: None 

Belly Button: In :-)

What I Miss: Being able to lift heavy boxes and move furniture...I don't like asking for help!

What I am Looking Forward to: Decorating our baby boy's room and just nesting!

Milestones:  Grayson is now about as big as a rutabaga (about 13.5" long and 1.5 lbs heavy) and is finally starting to accumulate some fat. His skin is looking more plump and less translucent with each passing day! Finally, he's growing hair--but we'll have to wait til his birthday to discover it's color!

25 Weeks

Til Next Time,
Hugs & Kisses,
A Southern Sweetheart

Week 24

This week was busy, busy, busy! Andy & I have been looking for our next home, as our current lease ends early this summer. Since I will be completing my medical school rotations outside of Lexington, (and Andy already works in another city) we're preparing to not only move into a new home, but a new city! After much research and house-hunting, we stumbled upon a newly-renovated two-story home about 30 minutes from my rotations and 45 minutes from Andy's office! Believing that this could finally be "the one," we visited the home and immediately fell in love! While it was certainly not the newest of homes, it felt cozy and comfy to us. With around 2,000 sq feet and a massive back yard, we felt confident that it was plenty of room for the four of us (Andy, Baby Grayson, our pup Lily, & I). Also, since we will be new to the area, we love the fact that we can rent the home for a year or two before we decide where to purchase. We applied for the home and were approved that very evening! The only issue? Our current lease in Lexington doesn't expire until June 30, and our new lease begins in April. In order to avoid crazy penalty fees, we decided to sub-lease our current residence. Thankfully we found a great sub-lessee (an old-friend, Kelly) and were able to begin packing for our big move immediately! And pack we did! We spent every evening this past week sorting through our bookshelves, tossing and donating unwanted items, and packing box after box! And we're only about halfway done!!! (Being 24 weeks pregnant does limit my ability to lift heavy items, so the process is definitely going slower than it otherwise would have.) We feel so happy and blessed that things are falling into place though! So stay tuned for pictures of our new adventure!

Here are a few photos of our new home and our weekly update!

Entryway

Living Room

Another couple shots of the living room (We LOVE the hardwood!)

Dining Room

Kitchen--yes, it's very outdated, but since we're renting we didn't want to make any major changes, so I guess we'll live with it for now. :-/ At least there's plenty of storage space!

Library/Den/Study Area
(yes, there is no central heating or air, but there are numerous wall-mounts, so we hope we'll stay cool & comfy this summer!)

 Downstairs Bath--check out that retro green! Haha!

Guest Bath Upstairs--more retro green! We plan to run with it because we obviously can't re-tile a rented bathroom.

Guest Bedroom

Grayson's Room :-)

Our Master Bedroom

Ensuite Master Bath

 Stay tuned for the "after" photos of our fully furnished, decorated home!

How Far Along: 24 weeks 

Total Weight Gain: 10 lbs 

Stretchmarks: None 

Sleep: Solid 

Best Moment this Week: Finding our new home :-)

Movement: Yes, all the time! 

Gender: Baby boy 

Labor Signs: None 

Belly Button: In :-)

What I Miss: Nothing

What I am Looking Forward to: Getting to carry my boy around everywhere with me and enjoying his movements for four more wonderful months! 

Milestones:  At about 1 1/3 lbs and 12" long, Grayson is growing little by little! It's hard to imagine but he's about the size of a long ear of corn now! His little lungs are developing bronchioles and alveoli, as well as surfactant, which will be crucial to his post-natal breathing abilities. His skin is still translucent, but will slowly become more opaque over the next few weeks. We love him so much already!

24 Weeks

Til Next Time,
Hugs & Kisses,
A Southern Sweetheart

Week 23

Week 23 was a special week for this Mama as we celebrated my birthday! Before the big celebration, though, I spent the first half of the week studying for our upcoming Psychiatry exam and interviewing patients in the Emergency Department. After Friday morning's psych final I was surprised with a visit from my wonderful Mom who swept me away for a day of fun! Our adventures included a visit to Graham's, a local Western-wear store where we laughed away an hour or two over the women's cowboy boot section, and a delicious dinner of freshly grilled goodies! The rest of the weekend passed ever too quickly but included a wonderful birthday celebration with my family. We enjoyed a wonderful meal of meatloaf, herbed potatoes, and fresh veggies, as well as a delicious birthday cake! Finally, on Sunday evening Andy & I enjoyed a relaxing night at the movies where we saw "Oz, the Great & Powerful!" It's so hard to believe that at my next birthday I'll be holding our sweet baby boy! I feel so blessed!

Below are a few pictures from this week as well as our update!

Enjoying my birthday with my sweet nephew, Owen!

Beautiful birthday roses from my sweetheart!

How Far Along: 23 weeks
Total Weight Gain: 7 lbs
Stretchmarks: None
Sleep: Solid
Best Moment this Week: Enjoying my birthday with my family!
Movement: Yes, he's our little wildcat!
Gender: Baby boy
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button: In :-)
What I Miss: Nothing
What I am Looking Forward to: Taking our next childbirth/parenting class
Milestones: Grayson weighs just over a pound and is about 11 inches long! I can't believe he's grown so much already! He is now aware of my movements and can probably even tell when Mommy's dancing :-)

23 Weeks

 

 

Til Next Time, 

Hugs & Kisses,

A Southern Sweetheart