75%

Wow! It's the big 30 week mark. 75% done. 10 weeks left.

We'll commemorate this momentous milestone by taking a journey. to the past.

Flash back 26 weeks ago, to February 26. McKay had been on a business trip and said I wasn't allowed to pee on any sticks until he came back. When he did, I was ready.

positive! 4 weeks pregnant

Over the next bundle of weeks, I did my best to take a picture a week of my growing profile. I only missed a handful of photo shoots. Here's a timeline of my baby bump.

click image to enlarge

And now - about 6 months, a BYU diploma, and two seasons later - here I am at 30 weeks!

The baby is growing and moving like crazy. It's fun to see little wiggles and jolts coming from my belly. It's hard to believe that there are ten more weeks of growth left in this child - and in my body!

I'm really enjoying this stage of things. Although my lungs and ribs feel a bit crowded, I'm grateful for the occasional discomfort. My baby girl is growing healthy and strong. I couldn't wish for anything more.

10 weeks ago we found out we were expecting a girl. And 10 weeks before that we were listening to Steve Jobs announce the iPad from our basement apartment. In the next 10 weeks we'll celebrate the best season of the year and get ready for our little one to arrive. Happy three quarters!

twenty nine + shower

I had my first baby shower last night - thanks to my in-laws!

Wendy and Monta were the treat champs. We sipped pink lemonade and enjoyed cupcakes and ice cream with peaches and chocolate sauce. Mmmmmm!

I got some essentials: onesies, hats, bibs, blankets

and some luxuries: Cuddle-U, diaper genie, cash, and . . . the car seat I've had my eye on (coming soon)!

And, feast your eyes on these:

tiny + pink = inevitably cute! It's crazy & exciting to think of actually putting little feet into those shoes, or guiding tiny wiggly arms through mini onesie arm-holes. Wow.

In less than 11 weeks she'll be here! I'm 29 weeks along. My belly is growing. The baby has found out how to kick my bladder! I had my first charlie horse the other night that pulled me out of blissful slumber. And my first thought as I tried to move my leg was "there's no way I could deliver natural!" Ha ha! I guess I'm freaked about labor.

Weekly pics

Baby stats for the week: she's getting a bit fatter and her brain is getting those little grooves this week! She's starting to lose that white fuzzy hair covering her body as her brain and circulatory system are able to regulate her body temperature now. Pretty cool.

We are excited to have her here. But until then we'll keep watching movies every night and napping when we feel like it. It's only a matter of time before those luxuries are a thing of the past!

28 weeks, 12 to go!

Another Wednesday! Another week. This week we begin the 12 week countdown. For some reason 12 weeks seems short. Much shorter than 13 weeks . . .

Fun facts for the week: the baby is 17 inches long! She probably won't get too much taller before she is born, but she'll easily double, and maybe even triple her weight before making her debut into our family. She's about 3 pounds right now.

She's been moving around a lot and her movements are getting bigger/stronger/more noticeable. She's quite the active kid! Especially at night. And so it beings, right? Maybe we can change her nocturnal habits . . . or maybe she'll change ours!

Not too much else to report. I've been moderately consistent in my gym attendance, which I'll count as a success! Swimming is the dream exercise for pregnancy, FYI. I've also been doing some low-impact weight lifting. Partly for health, and mostly because I'm freaked out about delivering a baby out of shape!

And now for this week's picture:

And finally - anyone out there have any thoughts/recommendations on childbirth classes? What's good? What's a waste of time? What's relevant?

third trimester!!

27 weeks!! Welcome to trimester three! Wow, here already? And yet, I've been pregnant for half a year . . . does that sound like a long time to anyone else? It's funny how time can play tricks - I can't decide if the time has flown by or not. I have a feeling the rest of my life is going to feel like this.

Let's start the fun! There are some cool baby stats for the week:

Our little girl may be dreaming this week! Brain wave activity, including REM sleep cycles, have been measured in third trimester babies. Wow! I wonder what she's dreaming about . . .

She's weighing in at around 2.5 pounds and about 16 inches long (like a little snake!). That seems long for such a lightweight.

Coughing, blinking, sucking and breathing are talents that are being refined this week. Her lungs have matured enough that her chances of survival are pretty good if she should decide to come this early. Although we strongly advise against this! Stay in there for a while, baby!

Mom stats for the week:

I'm growing!

My ribs often feel as if they are being pulled apart. Especially when I'm driving. Hmmmm . . .

I'm starting to get uncomfortable doing anything other than lying on my side! My bed is my most favorite place to be these days :)

My tailbone hates me after three hours of church - two of which are spent on a piano bench!

But life's not all uncomfortable! Out little girl is moving around a lot which is a lot of fun. I can't identify them yet, but I'm starting to feel body parts trying to push their way out of my skin!

My bellybutton is starting to disappear!

Sometimes my belly looks lopsided - like she's curled up on one half of my body.

Oh my gosh, as I write this I'm seeing movement from the outside for the first time! She must be kickboxing in there right now - maybe to remind me to go to the gym. Wow! And thanks to the iPhone 4, McKay and I just got off a FaceTime phone call where she did a little dance for her dad to see. Awesome. What a fun moment to kick off trimester 3 (my lucky number) and August (my birthday month)!

And now, for the pics of the week

It's fun to see the votes coming in on the name poll! Our decision is about 99% made (including middle name), but of course we'll keep that under wraps for a while. Wouldn't want to sway the votes!

Happy T3!