Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Hello Third Trimester!

  • How far along? 28 weeks
  • Baby is the size of a: an eggplant. Very fitting this week...something PURPLE! 
  • Total weight gain/loss: 22.4 lbs
  • The Bump: amazes Scott every day, me too- but I live with it, and he is much more vocal about it (i.e. "Wow you are, like, REALLY pregnant!")
  • Symptoms: Heartburn (found a new form of relief, GUM!, thanks Anne and Jen :) My pelvic joint pain has been getting worse- fun stuff ;)
  • Food Cravings: I never really like Krispy Kreme donuts until now...thanks to my loving husband. Warm one of those puppies up for a few seconds...HEAVEN. 
  • Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: I did get quite nauseous while getting my eyebrows waxed...never had that happen before!
  • Sleep: eh
  • What I miss: I could really go for a few good beers
  • Weddings Rings On or Off: On
  • Any Names Picked Out Yet: Lincoln
  • Gender: Boy
  • Movement: moving quite frequently now, it's a mix of gentle rolls and strong kicks
  • Maternity Clothes: wearing a mix of 'regular' clothes and maternity clothes
  • Best Moment of the Week: Had our Dr appt last week, passed the Glucose test! (anything under 140 is good and I got 73), was informed everything is going great and got to hear his little heartbeat again :)  Not pregnancy related, but getting to tour the Ravens training facility, the week before they go to the Super Bowl, was pretty neat! Seeing Scott talk to Lincoln through my belly button, because he 'might be able to hear better' that way, also puts a big smile on my face.
  • What I’m excited about/looking forward to: Getting more of the nursery put together :) Only one more 4 week Dr appt- then we switch to every 2 week Dr visits! That means its getting close!!!! (holy cow)

  • 
    Yowsa belly!

    28 weeks on the 50! Visiting the Ravens Under Armour Performance Center.


    


    Friday, January 25, 2013

    What's in a name?

    Names are important. They shape us and they give us roots to our family. It's not a simple task to pick a name for a baby, it requires a lot of thought. There were nights where Scott and I would converse for minutes at a time saying nothing but names.

    "William?"
    "No"
    "Jackson?"
    "Ashton?"
    "Nah, Aiden?"
    "*head shake*"

    And on and on it would go until one of us tired first. Then there's the decision about the name origin; Will it be a family name? A famous name? New age or retro? A made up name?! There's also the big debate on WHO gets to name the baby- Will mom and dad take turns (which makes for an unsaid agreement that there will even be a second baby)?, Will one parent pick the first name and one parent pick the middle name?, Will one parent get all of the naming rights?

    Soon after we found out we were pregnant, Scott called "dibs" on naming the baby. Those were his actual words. "I call dibs."
    "On what?" I asked.
    "On naming the baby"
    My response? "You can't call dibs on that!!"

    We didn't really discuss name possibilities for several weeks. We didn't even talk about the concept of names. And then we learned the sex of the baby. It's a boy- let the games begin! And so, after much deliberation, a name was chosen.

    Lincoln was one of the very first names (possible even THE first) that Scott suggested. I really, really liked it, but it just felt wrong deciding on a name so early on, without exploring the possibility of other names, so the game continued. There were a few others that we liked, but we kept going back to Lincoln (English in origin, meaning Lake Colony- obviously we did not choose it for its meaning!) and it just felt right. It was not a common name, but not one that was 'out there' like Thunder or Espn. It felt like a strong name and sounded good with LaCoss. We were on our way home from from Baltimore, throwing names around and the name Lincoln Jackson came up, I suggested Lincoln Jay instead and Scott said, "OK, that's it! That's the name!" and so it was done! Jay is my fathers middle name. My father, like all of our parents (we are pretty lucky!), is a great parent and person, and an amazing grandparent and I really loved the idea of our son carrying a piece of my father with him. Now our son would have a piece of everyone, Lincoln from me and Scott, Jay from my side of the family and LaCoss from Scott's side- carrying on the LaCoss name for another generation.

    Once the name was officially decided upon, it was too hard to keep secret! We lasted a few weeks but the excitement was just too much for us. It feels really nice saying and hearing the name and we can't wait to meet Lincoln, our precious baby!


    27 Weeks Preggo


    Do you have a neat or funny story about how your name was chosen? Let's hear it!










    Wednesday, January 16, 2013

    14 Weeks to go!

    My 26th week has only just begun and so many great things have happened!

    This past weekend Scott and I started registering for our baby things. We took a trip to Baby's-R-Us and, with Scott wielding the scanning gun, we started on our way. It was fun to look at all of the baby things- especially anything little or cute, and Scott had fun getting to scan the items! It was also a little overwhelming but we knew that we didn't have to finish in one day, one visit, and so we did what we could (before I got cranky and hungry!). It is amazing all of the things that baby will need, and all of the crazy inventions that have just got to be unnecessary (this article comes to mind). The best part of our trip (aside from lunch at Boston Market afterwards)? We got special parking!



    On Sunday I took my first pre-natal yoga class, with Mountain High Yoga. It was a really great experience and I am hoping to be able to attend weekly from now on. Meeting other mommies-to-be, sharing our experiences, and practicing yoga together was really neat! Aside from the obvious health benefits of yoga, the class will also help me learn stretches to help ease specific pregnancy pains, good breathing techniques for labor as well as working on my ability to focus and concentrate.

    I had to take the glucose 'challenge' (as LabCorp refers to it) this week and it was really not that bad! Everyone said how horrible it was, warned me to try to keep it down at all costs, and talked about the disgusting syrup I would have to drink. Basically you have 5 minutes to down a small amount of a glucose drink, then wait an hour before your blood is drawn. This checks on how your body processes sugar. The drink was not as bad as everyone told me that it would be. It was extremely sugary, of course, and somewhat thick, but I had no problem drinking it in the 5 minutes. At least that's another pregnancy-related medical test that I can check off my list!

    All gone!


    This week I have also been inspired to start a 'labor playlist'. I am slowly adding songs to it that I think will either help me concentrate/meditate or get me amped up!  Whether or not we will actually play it, is one thing, but it's been fun adding songs to it so far. I will probably just continue to add songs to it until sometime in April. Let me know if you have suggestions and once it is finished I will share it with you!

    Another thing this week that brings a smile to my face is the nursery! Scott and my dad started painting the nursery (Bermuda Sand) and it's really exciting to think that we have finally started creating that space for our little one.

    Men at work


    On another note- the Ravens and the 49ers are one more step closer to the Superbowl- woohoo! I support the Ravens and Scott is a loyal 49ers fan, so we are hoping for a Harbaugh Superbowl! The Patriots better be prepared for a beatdown this weekend against the Ravens (Sorry Grandad ;) 

    Lincoln (yep- not keeping his name a secret anymore!) is starting to move more frequently throughout the day instead of just at bedtime. I think I may have felt some hiccups, too! He weighs close to two pounds and his eyes are starting to open. He is also absorbing my antibodies, preparing his immune system for life in this world.


    Wednesday, January 9, 2013

    A few of my favorite things

     

    In my 25th week of pregnancy, just as I start getting used to my belly, it goes and changes on me! My shoe size has gone up one whole size, I get out of breathe coming up our back stairs (which, for the record are very steep and there are about 20 of them), I feel strains and soreness even though I haven't hit up the gym, I get surprised when my stream of urine lasts longer than 3 seconds (TMI?), that evil dark line going up my belly is starting to show its face and I find myself getting emotional very easily. I have also officially dipped my belly into my food. Twice. I am still really enjoying being pregnant, but I also know that the hardest part is yet to come! I am also getting really nervous about giving birth, but glad that I will have Scott there to blame for all of this try to keep me calm. After 25 weeks of being preggo- here are a few of my favorite things.

    25 Week Faves


    Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil- the description says that it 'deters stretch marks'. I would love it even more if it said prevent! The entire line of products is awesome.
    Skinny Girl Mommy Conditioning Belly Butter- nothing worse than an itchy belly. Well, I could think of a few things, but this stuff feels great!
    Target Mossimo Long and Lean Tanks- these tanks were a wardrobe staple for me even before pregnancy. They come in lots of colors, are extra long and are great for layering and sleeping. And they're only $8!
    Welch's fruit snacks- like candy! Good thing I don't already have a child in the house that I would have to share these with.
    Bearpaw Emma Tall boots- not as expensive as Uggs (which don't really fit my large calves anyways) but they are just as cute, super comfy and warm and fit my growing feet! I also have the Sarah boots which are cute too!
    Leacho Total Body Pillow- this is great and keeps me from tossing and turning (most nights). Plus, there are like 10 different positons that you can use and it doesn't take up too much more room in the bed (Scott has even admitted to sleeping against it too). I would highly recommend this pillow!


    About Baby LaCoss at 25 weeks:

    His lungs are getting primed and ready for that very first breath he will take once he is born and his nostrils are unclogging and allowing him to begin to practice breathing. Fat is accumulating and blood capillaries are giving his skin a pink hue.  Baby LaCoss is gearing up for the big day! 



    Wednesday, January 2, 2013

    Resolutions for my son

    My baby boy,

    New years resolutions. People make them. Break them. Stick with them and feel proud. Falter at them and feel defeated. Fail and realize that maybe it wasn't something that they wanted bad enough. I want you to know that you do not need the beginning of a new year to resolve to make changes that you want in your life. You can decide to make changes any day that you want, because life is constantly changing and to be successful in life you must be flexible, resilient and stand firm for whatever it is that you believe in and love.

    However, if you decide to make new years resolutions, please know that whether you accomplish them or not, success is not always measured by one years time and that you are always capable of getting up and trying again. It is what your father and I will expect from you; to try again at anything you wish to succeed in.

    I usually do not make new years resolutions, but this is what I resolve for you:

    I resolve to love you with all of my heart, forever and always.
    I resolve to be there for you.
    I resolve to keep my calm through crying and screaming fits that you might will have. (And when I fail, I will keep trying!)
    I resolve to love your father and not keep score of the # of poopy diapers each of us has changed.
    I resolve to be the best mother to you that I can be, so please bear with us - we've never done this before.

    Love you - to the moon and back,
    Mom


    2013 is going to be a big year for us, bringing a new baby into our lives. We will face hardships and incredible joys. I will tackle being a mommy while taking on work and school, and surely be grateful for having a wonderful husband and family. We will be tested and tried, but be given the most amazing gift at the same time. 2013 is going to be a big year for us. Ready or not, here we go!


    16 weeks to go!

    This week Baby LaCoss' inner ear is developed, therefore giving him a sense of balance, and so he is able to tell whether he is upside down or right side up in there. His face is almost completely formed, even his little eyelashes (which I am hoping he gets from his father- long beautiful lashes). He is now gaining weight at an average of 6 ounces per week and I am only getting bigger and bigger!
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