Watch it grow...32 weeks!

How far along? 32 weeks

Size of Baby Baker: Measuring roughly 16.5 inches long, she now weighs about 4 1/2 pounds! And from this week, until 2 weeks before birth, she will gain about a half pound every week. (according to familyplanning.com)

Total weight gain/loss: Maybe up 2 more pounds so about 18? (since I was down a pound last time) Will know for sure when I go back on Jan 5th

Maternity clothes? Some of my regulars are actually getting a bit snug but I will truck on through till February even if I have to start wearing my XL pj's to work. Just kidding... kind of. But I am determined not to buy any more maternity clothes at this stage in the game. Good thing there are only 6 other people in my office and I can shut the door! :-)

Best moment this week:Being pregnant at Christmas! What a magical time of year anyway and being pregnant just made it more special. I  really tried to just relax and take in all in but in all honestly I couldn't help but think about how fun next Christmas will be with a 9 month old! I can't wait.

Worst Moment: Nothing
Symptoms: I forgot to mention this last week but I ran into my first REAL episode of heart burn week before last after eating Mexican one night. Until now, food hadn't really bothered me much but that night I thought the world was coming to an end and I am pretty sure MM felt the same way. I had gone to dinner with some girls and we ate at a Mexican restaurant that I usually go to. I ordered nothing out of my normal choices and felt great afterward. Then it hit... about 12:30 that night when I woke up. Worse part, I had NO TUMS at all in the house! My throat was burning, my stomach was hurting and MM was all over the place! So, no more Mexican till after little missy gets here! Even though I love it. Now I just watch what I eat closely especially at night when I know I will be laying down soon.

Miss Anything? Maybe some red wine again but that is just because the holidays and New Years is coming up.

Movement: She is a dancing machine lately! She moves all throughout the day and gets the hiccups at least once a day.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Just have my days of being tired but I listen to my body and rest and then I feel tons better!

Have you started to show yet?:Of course but I will say that I was a bit disappointed in my Christmas cards this year. (see photo below)  I choose a photo with Bella in it because all of my customers make comments on her when she is in the photo. Even people who ignore me the rest of the year. Well I guess I shouldn't have worn a black shirt because not one person has said anything about me being pregnant. I guess they just think I packed on a few pounds since last year's Christmas card. And then the other night I had a break down because I can't believe I didn't put Baby Mary-Miller's name on the card too. I guess it just slipped my mind but that would have made the pregnancy thing more obvious to those that were unsure. Plus I received 2 Christmas cards in the mail from 2 other pregnant friends that added their baby's name. First guilt trip as a mother! I can't believe I left her off... I am sure my hormones had nothing to do with this thinking! But still I wish, I had included her too! :-(

Gender : GIRL! Mary-Miller Dunlap Baker

What is Baby Baker up to?

She is sleeping approximately 90 to 95 percent of the day. (if this is true then she is just like her daddy and moves alot while she sleeps!) Most of his wrinkles are disappearing, especially on his face, as more fat is deposited under his skin. Her hair is becoming thicker with each passing week and you may even be able to see it on an ultrasound! (we did!) She will also begin to settle in the head-down position, as his birth is fast approaching. (she is!)

In other Baker News... We are looking forward to a weekend at home getting some things checked off our "to do" list! This excites me way more than it should!

Our cute Christmas Card missing our sweet baby's name :-(... 

tell me I am crazy and it is the hormones talking!!!!!!!!

Watch it grow...31 weeks!

How far along? 31 weeks

Size of Baby Baker: She weighed in at 3 lbs 12 oz on Monday. Putting her in the 56% percentile, just a wee bit above average.

Total weight gain/loss: Actually went down a pound since last Dr visit but I think it was just because of my clothing. Last time I was all bundled up and this time I just had on a little dress with tights. The weather is crazy down here. I am sure this will change at the next Dr. visit post-Christmas!

Maternity clothes? Have to have them! TMI ALERT.... also invested in some maternity undies that I love! :-)

Best moment this week: Seeing her sweet, beautiful, little face in the 4D ultrasound. Her little lips, cheeks, eye lids, hands... I could go on and on! She has the prettiest little lips and the most precious chunky cheeks! Not really sure how she is looking like but I will see who my mom thinks when she gets to see the photos. I am pretty sure she has Ted's lips and my cheeks. (especially if we were to look at my "chip monk cheek" photos from when I was about 10!)

Worst Moment: A little tired but nothing this week!
Symptoms: Bleeding gums, thirstiness and tiredness. I could drink gallons of water! Not much swelling this week, guess that water is helping with that!

Miss Anything? Doing my own pedicures I guess. But then again, not really because it is just a good excuse that I have to go get them done!

Movement: As we were able to see during the 4D, she moves all the time. Based on how she is positioned, head down, I think I am feeling her little punches the most. I feel her on both sides at the same time alot and that looks to be where her arms and hands are located.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No, some days I just feel tired and don't have alot of energy but I don't feel sick. I think that also has alot to do with the holiday season.

Have you started to show yet?:Yep... growing by the day!

Gender : GIRL! Mary-Miller Dunlap Baker

What is Baby Baker up to? She is moving around quite a bit in there! It's not uncommon for her continuous movements, which may feel like somersaults, to be keeping me up at night. Her arms, legs and body are also filling out as she continues to develop fat underneath her skin, making those kicks and prods feel even stronger than last week. You may even see an arm or a foot move slowly across your belly! 
And from this week, until 2 weeks before birth, she will gain about a half pound every week.

In other Baker News...Headed home today to rest and enjoy Christmas! 

Can't wait to just relax for a few days!

And here is my favorite pictures of her from the 4D:

 Look at that precious little face. I just stare at it and can't believe that is her!

 Posing with her hand under her chin.

 "No more pictures, please"

Watch it grow...30 weeks!

How far along? 30 weeks

Size of Baby Baker: Close to 15 1/2 inches long and almost 3 lbs - We will find out for sure what our little girl is on Monday when we go for the 4D ultrasound.

Total weight gain/loss: Haven't weighed since last Dr. visit.

Maternity clothes? Love them! Also love XL flannel pj's! 

Best moment this week: Still just feeling her move all the time. I think I will miss it so much when she is actually here.

Worst Moment:  Still nothing! I guess I could say a bit of moodiness some but I usually can snap out of it pretty quick. (thanks to my sweet husband!)
Symptoms (*new category I wish I would have added long ago): My feet have started to swell just a bit during the afternoon. I think it is just from sitting at my desk. I get up at least once an hour, usually more, to walk around but when you have 50% more fluid in your body than normal, I figure some swelling is just going to happen.

Miss Anything? Nothing too much this week. I guess maybe my tummy muscles. Giving up off the couch or out of bed is getting to be more and more of a challenge.

Movement: Still all over. I can't really tell where I think her head or feet are but she is just everywhere. I guess we will know that better on Monday as well.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nothing! Although, I will say I don't like to clean the house too much. I get tired really fast and sometimes when I am overly tired I feel sick. So I try to avoid too much cleaning! :-)

Have you started to show yet?:The little check out lady at Publix yesterday said to me "Baby doll, you just popped out overnight!" Made me so happy!

Gender : GIRL! Mary-Miller Dunlap Baker

What is Baby Baker up to?  
By 30 weeks, her eyelids open and close. She will keep her eyes closed for most of the day though. When her eyes are open, she will be able to track light inside of your womb, though her vision isn't "perfect" or 20/20. Lanugo, or fine hair that once covered her body, will start falling off this week.

In other Baker News...We are just gearing up for Christmas next week. I can't believe it is almost here and I can't believe next Christmas we will have a 10 month old! Craziness! Other than that, not much going on. Just ready to relax during the holidays with family.

Mini Holiday/Maternity Photo Shoot

Yesterday we had Mary Keeley McAllister come out and take some photos of our growing little family for our Christmas cards. (better "later" than never) I am not big on the whole maternity photo shoot thing but I did want some professional photos of us while I was pregnant. I could have waited a little longer till I was a big bigger but I thought why not just kill two birds with one stone and make them our Christmas Cards too. I love how they turned out! And I can't get over how well Bella did. Merry Christmas!

Watch it grow...29 weeks!

How far along? 29 weeks

Size of Baby Baker: Measuring roughly 15 inches long, she weighs close to 2.5lbs.

Total weight gain/loss: Right at 16.5lbs from Dr's scales yesterday. Only 2.5 lbs through Thanksgiving!

Maternity clothes? Can't live without them. I am gong to try my hardest not to buy anything else since we only have just over 10 weeks to go, but the bigger I get, the harder it is to do that.

Best moment this week: Just feeling her move around all the time. One day I was sitting in a chair texting Ted, my arms were kind of resting on the top part of my belly and she was kicking so hard that it was moving my arms! So cute.

Worst Moment:  Nada!

Miss Anything? Red Wine! I love having a glass of red wine on a cold night by the fire. But my chocolate milk is somewhat doing the trick! :-) (paired with some protein of course for the diabetes!)

Movement: All over the place! Up in my ribs, on my side... everywhere! She also has had the hiccups this week which is so funny to feel. Ted could feel them last night and he couldn't believe it. It has also felt her kick HARD and couldn't believe it either. So fun!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Feeling great still!

Have you started to show yet?:It is so funny because while I have, what I feel to be, a huge belly, I still could kind of hide it if I wanted. Just depends on what I am wearing.

Gender : GIRL! Mary-Miller Dunlap Baker

What is Baby Baker up to?  
By 29 weeks, her brain can control her body's temperature. Her eyes can move in her sockets and her muscles and lungs continue to mature. Her bone marrow is now producing red blood cells and fat continues to develop under his skin.

In other Baker News...The nursery is pretty much complete. But still not "photo" ready yet. We did pick up the rocking chair that got reupholstered and it looks great. This chair has been in my family forever so I think it is need that we will get to use it in the nursery.

We got our stroller and car seat in this week and I love them! I think the travel system is so important because it is something that you use every single day so I was all about making things as easy as possible.

I have also started our stock pile of diapers. Thanks to my dear friend Mrs. Smith, we already have a good little stash going. I was unsure on how I wanted to go about our "stock piling" of the diapers... what brand to buy, what if she was allergic to them, what if they leaked, etc. But I have heard nothing but good things of Pampers Swaddlers so that is what we are going with. And if you order from Diapers.com, they have a 365 return policy! Craziness! Not to mention GREAT sales. From my research good price on diapers would be about 19 cents to 21 cents per diaper. At Diapers.com the other day I paid, $29.99 for a 140 making them about .21 cents each and then at CVS the other day I paid, $14.24 for 92 making them about .15 cents each. It was 25% off site wide and I had a $5 coupon. Plus with Diapers.com you can go through Ebates and get some cash back. Not to mention all is free shipping! I still have some to learning to do in the diaper game but not too bad so far. And in case you want to get in on these deals as well... here are my referral links for Ebates and at Diapers.com just use my email address of mkbaker01@yahoo.com. Thanks!

I also wanted to share her baby book with you. I got it right before our couple's shower a few weeks ago and I love it! It has pages in it that will get us all the way up to 5 years old.  I think I had shared that I was going to use some banners from our wedding to have the book made but long story short, she did the wrong monogram on it when I first went to get it! I was not a happy camper. So instead of messing up more of the banners (I have like 6, which I use for table runners and such) I just bought more of the fabric. So it is the same fabric as our wedding banners but just not made from our wedding banners. Oh well, it was the thought that counted.

The little pink one is just a photo album. I did the opposite so they would coordinate. And I did the different style monogram because the one on the pink album, the "fancy" monogram wouldn't have worked with the ribbon on the book and I thought the ribbon was needed to girlie it up some since it was a tan color. I know once Miss Priss gets here these small things will not matter at all with diaper changes, feedings, etc. I don't live in a TOTAL fantasy world. But I have had fun doing all these small things along the way before she is here.

Deck the halls...

...with boughs of holly.

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Tis the season to be jolly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Just a few snapshots of this year's decor. I didn't put out everything because I am pretty sure I won't feel like taking it all down in about 3 to 4 weeks.So we will hold out to go all out next year when MM is here!Can't wait!

Front Porch

Tree

Thanks to pinterest for this idea! And I don't have to worry with smashed bows!

 

Close up of gifts with labels that I made.

The Mantel

The little bar cart in the kitchen.

(yes, this is very not baby proof but we have some time before we have to worry with that)

Watch it grow... 28 weeks!

 Sorry for the missing 27 week post, we were out of town for Thanksgiving and I just never got around to it. Plus I think it is neat to see the difference in 2 weeks instead of just the 1.

How far along? 28 weeks... Hello 3rd Trimester!

Size of Baby Baker: Just under 15 inches long and about 2 1/4 lbs

Total weight gain/loss: As of November 23rd aka Pre-Thanksgiving... 14lbs! (from Dr's office scale)

Maternity clothes? Love the dresses, tights and scarves! I really like being pregnant in the winter. You have extra installation to keep you warm and the clothes are pretty easy. I actually still wear a lot of my regular dresses but maternity tights are a must!

Best moment this week: Ted being able to feel and see Miss Wiggle Worm really show off her skills. Every time he would try to feel her "bursts" of energy she would stop! But he was finally able to feel them Tuesday night of this week. He couldn't believe it!
Also, the Dr. said I could go from checking my blood sugar every day to every other day since my numbers were looking so good. I have had to adjust my diet just a tad but nothing majorly.

Worst Moment:  Nothing really... just having to test my blood sugar four times a day but now that it is just every other day, it really isn't that bad.

Miss Anything? Being able to get out of bed like a normal person. I would hate to see what I look like rolling out of bed. The tummy muscles are pretty much gone at this point. And paint my toe nails. I gave myself a little pedi right before Thanksgiving and I am pretty sure that is the last one I will be doing myself for awhile.

Movement: She is a night owl! And she loves it when I lay down so she has all that room to move about.And I think she had the hiccups this morning. I kept feeling little "thump" over and and over again in the same spot before I "rolled" out of bed.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope... feeling great!

Have you started to show yet?:Absolutely!

Gender : GIRL! Mary-Miller Dunlap Baker

What is Baby Baker up to?  
At 28 weeks, she  can recognize my voice! Her eyes continue to develop this week and her brain is developing millions of neurons. The hair on her head continues to grow. Muscle tone in her body steadily develops, and even though her lungs are now capable of breathing air, it would be difficult for her if she were born now.

In other Baker News....I can not decided about a crib bumper and it is driving me nuts! I keep seeing where they shouldn't be used anymore. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Stroller bought from gift card and money given at baby shower. I ordered online on Cyber Monday and got about $50 off an free shipping. We dicided to go with the Britax B Agile. This one:

This and the car seat is something else that had me up at night thinking about! Glad to finally make a decision and stick to it!

I am headed to pick up the crib mattress today and then I think most "big" things will be taken care of. I know once the holidays are over, it will be here before we know it!

We also have our first baby class at the hospital tonight. "Entering your 3rd Trimester". And then Saturday we have our "Comprehensive Childbirth Class", which is 4 hours. I think Ted nearly had a stroke when I told him how long it was going to be. Should be interesting...

Nursery is still coming along and once finished I will upload pictures. I just need to get some pillows made and then decide about the bumper. Also need to figure out what I want above the crib. I am thinking her monogram painted but we will see. Here is her little closet so far. (we have clothes folded in her chest as well)

One of Ted's friends sent her some outfits... the ones with black and gray. Ted was very excited to see something other than pink hanging in her closet!