Letter to baby #3

I know I have some weekly updates to catch up on but that will happen later...

Dear baby,

   You are due to arrive in ONE week!!  I am so excited and ready to meet you ~ you can even come early if you want to!  Over the last few weeks, Daddy and I have been very busy making sure everything is ready for your big arrival.  Your nursery is all set and I am IN LOVE with it.  I usually go in there once a day, especially at night, to sit in the glider and read to you or listen to music with you.  It's so peaceful and calming and I cannot wait for you to enjoy it too.  We've got bags packed, car seat installed, and all your clothes washed.  Now we just need YOU!

   My dear baby, these last 39 weeks have been the most amazing time of my life.  I've loved every minute of growing you and taking care of you inside of me.  You've been pretty easy on me and I'm so very grateful for that :)  Let's keep it going once you're in my arms too, okay?!  I hope you know how very special you are to me and how much I love you already.  I know that once you are in my arms, that love will grow leaps and bounds.

   You were so helpful waiting to arrive until after Uncle Tom's wedding in Thailand.  Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Becky got back home yesterday,so...let's meet in person now!  Daddy and I are ready and so are a lot of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends!

I love you baby and cannot wait to meet you!
Mommy

Week Thirty-Six

Week Thirty-Six

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a crenshaw melon

Total weight gain:  +22 pounds (according to my 35 week dr. appt ~ my 36 week appt isn't until Friday)

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Water and chocolate

Sleep: Same as before ~ getting a little rougher between bathroom breaks and trying to roll over ~ this  big belly is tricky to move comfortably.

I can't live without: Sleep and relaxation

I miss: Same stuff: sleeping on my belly, comfortably bending over while sitting, and I could kinda go for an adult beverage! 

I am looking forward to: Our final ultrasound on Friday!! Can't believe this will be the last time we see baby until he/she is in our arms!!

Milestones: Baby's considered full term at the end of this week!

Movement: Still lots of movement, but since there is limited space, baby isn't doing somersaults as much, but more jabs and kicks.

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised! 

Labor Signs: Just some Braxton Hicks but nothing too serious.

Week Thirty-Five

Week Thirty-Five

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a honeydew melon

Total weight gain:  +22 pounds (according to my 35 week dr. appt)

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Nothing major

Sleep: Same as before ~ getting a little rougher between bathroom breaks and trying to roll over ~ this  big belly is tricky to move comfortably.

I can't live without: Sleep and relaxation

I miss: Same stuff: sleeping on my belly, comfortably bending over while sitting, and I could kinda go for an adult beverage! 

I am looking forward to: Getting the nursery all set up this week! Thank you fall break and my mama! Final ultrasound next Friday!

Milestones: Baby's kidneys are fully developed and his/her liver can process waste. Baby had a nice, strong heartbeat of 139 beats/minute.  On Mama's side, we're onto weekly doctor's appointments!!

Movement: Still lots of movement, but since there is limited space, baby isn't doing somersaults as much, but more jabs and kicks.

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised! 

Labor Signs: I think I've experienced some Braxton Hicks but nothing too serious.

Week Thirty-Four

Week Thirty-Four

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a cantaloupe

Total weight gain:  +19 pounds (keeping this until my next doctor's appt)

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Nothing major more than ice cold water

Sleep: Getting a little rougher between bathroom breaks and trying to roll over ~ this  big belly is tricky to move comfortably.

I can't live without: Comfy clothes and shoes, our comfy new couch!

I miss: Same stuff: sleeping on my belly, comfortably bending over while sitting, and I could kinda go for an adult beverage! 

I am looking forward to: Baby shower!!

Milestones: Baby's fat layers are filling him/her out and lungs are maturing!

Movement: At all times of the day but baby is certainly running out of room ~ more jabs and poke outs than kicks

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised! 

Labor Signs: I think I've experienced some Braxton Hicks but nothing too serious.

Not a very attractive picture that Mike took, but it will have to do!

Weekly Catch Up

Oh boy! Closing on a house and moving in sure takes up a lot of time, hence, the weekly catch up!  (Pictures will be added soon!)


Week Thirty-One

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a four navel oranges

Total weight gain:  +16 pounds (keeping this until my next doctor's appt)

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Ice cold water

Sleep: All good, sleeping through the night with 1-2 bathroom breaks. 

I can't live without: Help from people (aka, family and friends with moving packing!)

I miss: Same stuff: sleeping on my belly, comfortably bending over while sitting - this belly is starting to get in the way!

I am looking forward to: Closing on our house on Friday!!!

Milestones: Baby's turning his/her head from side to side, arms, legs, and body are plumping up!

Movement: At all times of the day!

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised! 

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

Week Thirty-Two

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a large jicama

Total weight gain:  +19 pounds (went to the dr. today)

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Ice cold water

Sleep: All good, sleeping through the night with 1-2 bathroom breaks. 

I can't live without: Help from family & friends with our move and my student teacher ~ not sure how I can get my potty breaks in once she leaves!

I miss: Being able to help with the move ~ I hate that I just have to stand there, direct, and unpack "easy" boxes

I am looking forward to: Being in our house for good and working on the nursery!

Milestones: Baby has fingernails, toenails, and hair!  Also, he/she is gaining about a 1/2 pound a week to get ready for birth!

Movement: At all times of the day and getting more jabs and body parts sticking out!   Sometimes a little uncomfortable.

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised! 

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

Week Thirty-Three

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a pineapple

Total weight gain:  +19 pounds 

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Ice cold water, crackers

Sleep: All good, sleeping through the night with 1-2 bathroom breaks. 

I can't live without: Water and my student teacher still!

I miss: Sleeping on my belly, not having to go to the bathroom every twenty minutes or whenever I stand up!

I am looking forward to: Our childbirth class on Saturday!

Milestones: Baby's skeleton is hardening and he/she is quickly losing the "wrinkled, alien look."

Movement: Lots and lots!  My tummy is like a mini wave at times ~ during our move, I was on the couch and my mom, Jean, and Becky could all watch my belly just move like crazy!

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised! 

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

Week Thirty ~ Ten Weeks Left!!

Week Thirty

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a head of cabbage

Total weight gain:  +16 pounds (keeping this until my next doctor's appt)

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Peanut Butter M&Ms and ice cold water

Sleep: All good, sleeping through the night with 1-2 bathroom breaks. 

I can't live without: Help from people (aka, my mama with moving packing!)

I miss: Same stuff: sleeping on my belly, comfortably bending over while sitting - this belly is starting to get in the way!

I am looking forward to: Our "babymoon" trip to Michigan for a friend's wedding this weekend!

Milestones: Baby's body and brain are getting bigger daily! This week, baby's brain is starting to look like one!

Movement: At all times of the day!

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised! 

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

Week Twenty-Nine

Week Twenty-Nine

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a butternut squash

Total weight gain:  +16 pounds (keeping this until my next doctor's appt)

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Still sweets!

Sleep: All good, sleeping through the night with 1-2 bathroom breaks. 

I can't live without: Help from people (aka, my mama with moving packing!)

I miss: Same stuff: sleeping on my belly, comfortably bending over while sitting - this belly is starting to get in the way!

I am looking forward to: Packing for our move and closing on our house! Every passing week that makes us closer to meeting our little one!

Milestones: Baby's lungs and muscles are continuing to mature and his/her head is growing bigger to make room for his/her growing brain! And we got our first baby shower gift in the mail ~ Mike's aunts got our travel system so we're all set for a car seat and stroller!

Movement: All the time and I love it.  This belly is moving all over and it makes me giggle!

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised! 

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

(Not the most attractive picture of me, but it'll do!)

Dear Baby

To my dear little baby ~

   Just eleven short weeks until we finally get to meet you! And let me tell you, Daddy and I cannot wait!  While we wait we are going to spend that time getting ready for your arrival.  We're moving into our first home and we'll spend time getting it just perfect to bring you home.  We've scheduled our birthing class and hospital tour so we can be prepared for the big day. Our baby shower is scheduled and I just know we'll be showered with many wonderful things for you. We already got a gift today! All of  Daddy's aunts got us the travel system we registered for so we are all set to bring you home and take you for walks!

  In the meantime, I love spending some quiet moments with you, while you are still in my belly.  I love to lay on the couch or in bed and talk to you or watch/feel you move around.  And boy oh boy, do you move lately!  It's amazing to feel and see ~ you're making all kinds of movement in there. (Even as I type this!)  Sometimes it freaks Daddy out!

  Baby, I know I type this a lot and I tell you it all the time, but we love you so much already! Sometimes, I just look at Daddy and think "Wow! We made this baby!" and then I cannot wait to meet you! And we aren't the only ones that cannot wait to meet you ~ grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, etc.  Every one wants to meet Baby VerSchave.  And I can't blame them ~ you're already an awesome baby.

Love you lots,
Mommy

Week Twenty-Eight ~ Hello Third Trimester!!

Week Twenty-Eight

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a Chinese cabbage

Total weight gain:  +16 pounds 

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Sweets - this week it was Twizzlers

Sleep: All good, sleeping through the night with 1-2 bathroom breaks. 

I can't live without: Water, maternity clothes, comfy shoes

I miss: Same stuff: sleeping on my belly, comfortably bending over while sitting - this belly is starting to get in the way!

I am looking forward to: Packing for our move and closing on our house! Plus, baby's growing so much more now, so my belly will too!

Milestones: Baby's blinking his/her eyes, adding more fat to his/her body, and developing billions on neurons in his/her brain. And we have made it to the third trimester! Only 12 weeks until we get to meet our little one and I cannot wait! Ready for these weeks to fly by :)

Movement: All the time and I love it.  Baby is getting stronger with the kicks and sometimes it seems like he/she is doing gymnastics or building a fort in there! Mike's able to feel more kicks now and he freaks out every time!

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised! At my 28 week Dr. appointment, she listened for the heartbeat (146 bpm) and asked if I knew what we were having. When I said it we were keeping it a surprise, she said "I'm getting the boy vibe!"  

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

Week Twenty-Seven

Week Twenty-Seven

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a head of cauliflower

Total weight gain:  +15 pounds (won't change it until after my next dr.'s appointment)

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Nothing major

Sleep: All good, sleeping through the night with 1-2 bathroom breaks. Fighting a cold now though that makes it a little uncomfortable but nothing major.

I can't live without: Water, maternity clothes, comfy shoes

I miss: Same stuff: sleeping on my belly, comfortably bending over while sitting - this belly is starting to get in the way!

I am looking forward to: Next dr.'s appointment on Tuesday, starting to pack for our big move!

Milestones: Baby's is sleeping/waking at regular intervals, opening/shutting eyes, and his/her brain is very active now!  As for me, I passed the 1 hour glucose test ~ hallelujah for no gestational diabetes!

Movement: All the time and I love it!

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised!

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

Baby bump 80's style :)

Our New House!

I am so excited to share that Mike and I have bought a house!! And we are so very excited!

We knew we wanted to get a house before Baby VerSchave came, so we started the house hunting process this summer.  We probably saw around 20-30 houses and were not sold on any of them ~ none felt like "home."  While Mike was growing impatient, I tried telling him that our house was out there ~ we just needed  to be patient. After getting pregnant took a little longer than we thought it would, I've learned that everything happens for a reason and at the right time.  God has a plan for us and it will all work out.

Finally, we found it.  Our home! Where we will bring our baby home, watch him/her take his/her first steps, and where we will welcome future children and build countless memories.  I cannot wait! This house is perfect for us.  As we walked around the night we saw it, Mike and I just kept looking at each other like "wow!"  I fell in love with the remodeled kitchen, Mike loves the finished basement.  I love all kinds of things about this house and cannot wait to make it "our home."

Our closing is one month from today, on September 28th and it will give us plenty of time to get it all ready for Baby VerSchave's arrival!  I'll have my two week break in October to get lots of nesting done (hopefully with the help of my mama!) We'll be able to get the nursery all set and have everything ready!  It will be fall (my fav!) thus not too hot (hopefully) for all the moving we'll be doing ~ baseball season will be over, the school year will be in full effect ~ see...God's plan!  Perfect timing for Mike and I!

Not only am I excited to bring baby home, I am so excited to be done with apartment living!  Don't get me wrong ~ I've been so lucky with the amazing apartment I've called home for the last 6 years and I will miss it once I'm gone.  But the idea of not having to schlep laundry back and  forth to my parents, have kitchen cabinet/counter space, and central air is so exciting.

In the weeks leading up to the closing, I get stressed with all the emails, paperwork, inspections, etc. but then I start to dream about the months after the closing and the stress lifts away.  Decorating for fall...our first trick or treaters...bringing home baby...the holidays...being cozy warm on a snowy winter day...

can.not.wait.

Week Twenty-Six

Week Twenty-Six

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the length of an English hothouse cucumber! (Whatever that is!)

Total weight gain:  +15 pounds (can't change it until after my next dr.'s appointment)

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Anything sweet ~ Oreos, peanut butter granola bars, etc.

Sleep: Getting better each night ~ might have something to do with the fact that I'm back at school and second graders wear me out!

I can't live without: Water, maternity clothes, comfy shoes

I miss: Same as last week: sleeping on my belly! Comfortably bending over while sitting - this belly is starting to get in the way!

I am looking forward to: Finishing our baby registry this weekend ~ can't wait to get that checked off my to-do list!

Milestones: Baby's eyes are beginning to open! 

Movement: Lots more every day ~ even during the school day and at all kinds of times. Mike's getting to feel more kicks too!

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised!

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

Week Twenty-Five

Week Twenty-Five

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of your average rutabaga!

Total weight gain:  +15 pounds

Morning Sickness: None! 

Cravings: Oreos and Wheat Thins

Sleep: Good and bad, depending on the night!

I can't live without: Water, maternity clothes

I miss: Sleeping on my belly! Comfortably bending over while sitting - this belly is starting to get in the way!

I am looking forward to: Continuing to plan for the next few super exciting months!

Milestones: According to babycenter.com, baby's getting more fat and hair is beginning to grow.

Movement: Moving at different times of the day and they are getting stronger!  I love when I'm just sitting at work, especially if my students are at lunch or prep, and I'll just feel a kick! It's like baby is saying "Hi Mommy!"

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised!

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

Dear Baby (Letter #2)

My dear baby,

The last letter I wrote to you was a long time ago!  Boy, have you grown since then (Mommy has too!) You are all kinds of fun already and we haven't even met you yet.  You are moving more and more every day and I absolutely love to feel you!  You love to move when I'm laying down or if I lay on my left side.  You'll move around at other times too, but those seem to be your favorite times.  And just in the last couple days, I'm starting to see you move too!

Everybody is so excited to meet you!  Your grandmas and aunts are busy planning a baby shower for you and I just know you will get showered with all kinds of wonderful gifts and love.  I know the next few weeks and months will go by so fast and I cannot wait!  Until then, Daddy and I will continue to get ready for you ~ buy stuff, read, take a hospital tour, etc.

I love you little one and cannot wait to meet you!

Love,
Your Mommy

Week Twenty-Four

Week Twenty-Four

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the length of an ear of corn.

Total weight gain:  +15 pounds

Morning Sickness: None! And the random bits of nauseousness is slowly subsiding!

Cravings: Anything sweet and Wheat Thins

Sleep: Good and bad, depending on the night!

I can't live without: Water, maternity clothes

I miss: Sleeping on my belly! Comfortably bending over while sitting - this belly is starting to get in the way!

I am looking forward to: Continuing to grow and for a few fun happenings in our lives ~ will share in time! :

Milestones: According to babycenter.com, baby's brain and taste buds are growing.  His/her lungs are developing "branches" as well.  At our 24 week appointment, baby had a nice, strong heart beat of 145 beats/minute!

Movement: Moving at different times of the day and they are getting stronger!  Mike finally got to feel the baby kick!!  We were laying bed on Sunday and the baby was moving so I grabbed his hand.  Every kick I'd look at him, but he wasn't feeling them yet.  Then there were two little thumps that he felt but ended up convincing himself that it was my pulse or his (???) A few seconds later, baby gave two strong kicks and Mike said, "OH!! What was that?!?!"  Baby!!  

At our 24 week doctor's appointment, my dr. went to listen to the heartbeat and as soon as she put the monitor on my belly, baby kicked it!  Baby was kicking away as she was getting a heart rate ~ she even had to move over some because of all the movement!

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised!

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!

Week Twenty-Three

Week Twenty-Three

Due Date: November 27, 2012

How Big is Baby: He/she is the size of a large mango

Total weight gain:  +6 pounds (Going to keep this until my next dr. appt)

Morning Sickness: None! And the random bits of nauseousness is slowly subsiding!

Cravings: Nothing new

Sleep: Getting better!

I can't live without: Water, maternity clothes

I miss: Sleeping on my belly! I think this is probably my least favorite part of being pregnant.

I am looking forward to: Picking up our crib next week, adding more to our registry, 24 week Dr. appt.

Milestones: According to babycenter.com, baby can feel me dance! And the loud noises he/she hears (aka, Mike and Wrigley!) are becoming familiar now so he/she should be used to it by the time he/she is here!

Movement: Still lots more movement at various times of the day, mainly when I'm laying down or just sitting.  Mike still can't feel any kicks yet, but I assured him he will soon!

Gender: Still thinking a boy, but we'll be surprised!

Labor Signs: It’s far too soon for this!