31 Weeks

Today I am 31 weeks pregnant. There is no new fruit comparison this week. Hudson is still roughly the size of a squash.

Well I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. I had lost a pound from the previous appointment which makes my total weight gain now at 10 pounds. The doctor was not concerned with this at all. My blood pressure was still very good. Hudson's heart rate was 150 beats per minute and he is still measuring ahead. From around 18 weeks he has been measuring around 2 cm ahead and yesterday at my appointment he measured 3 weeks ahead. My doctor decided to do an ultrasound to check his growth and to see if: 1)he is just a big baby, 2)I have a lot of fluid, or 3)if my due date is off. I am praying it is that we are actually 2-3 weeks off on the due date, and he will be here even sooner than we thought. We have thought all along that we conceived two weeks ahead of what he measured at the very first ultrasound.

This weekend is Memorial Weekend. We are headed to the lake for the first time this summer and I am so excited! We plan on doing some fishing, swimming, and grilling. I will probably be in the air conditioning or water most of the weekend or I would be way too hot with this big o' belly! Some family friends will be at the cabin on Sunday that we haven't seen for 3-4 years so I am very excited to see them.

Hudson is still a super active boy who kicks and rolls alot. Brandon finally got to feel him last night at the Springfield Cardinals game. He was the last of my side to feel him!! I have 1.5 days of school left next Tuesday and Wednesday. I am happy for the summer and a break. I can't wait to sleep in on Thursday morning!! It has been a great year, and I just found out I will be back at Cowden next year for sure which makes me VERY HAPPY! I love my principal, co-workers, and the kids.

At 31 weeks, Hudson is over 16 inches long and weighs around 3.3 pounds. He will be having a growth spurt very soon! He can turn his head from side-to-side and he is beginning to plump up in his arms, legs, and body as fat accumulates underneath his skin. It states on baby center's website that he may be so active now at night that he will wake me up due to his punches and somersaults. This is a good sign that he is active and healthy!

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 31 weeks 0 days
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +10 (-1 from last appointment)
Maternity Clothes: Yes almost exclusively
Best Moment this week: Hearing his heartbeat and having Brandon feel him move
Gender: Boy- Hudson Ray Elliott
Movement: Most active he has been
Food Craving: ice cream, fruit, cheez-its, sushi (but not eating sushi, Panera, cheese
What I miss: Sleeping through the night and not experiencing pain
Sleep: Still pretty good but having to get up to use the restroom or change positions.
What I am looking forward to: Being out of school and being able to relax the last few months of my pregnancy
Belly Button: Starting to poke out but hasn't popped yet
Symptoms: Pubic, upper leg, and back pain, growing belly, using the bathroom constantly, stretch marks, belly button starting to poke out, and heartburn/indigestion.
Note: Going to the lake for the first time this summer and so excited!

5.5 days

I have 5.5 days of school left and 3 days of therapy services left. I am going to Special Olympics on Friday with my entire school to cheer on the athletes. Monday is a holiday and the last two days of school I am taking for myself to get some paperwork and things in order before my maternity leave at the beginning of next school year. That's it.....just wanted to share. Can you tell I am excited??

The only time 1 + 1 = 3

Family photo at the Penrose Wedding

Week 30 Photo

30 Weeks

Today is the 30 week mark! I can't believe that we have approximately 10 weeks left until we meet our baby boy. Hudson is super active flipping, rolling, and kicking in my belly. It is such a great feeling! He has not caused me any pain yet from his kicks. I am still experiencing some back, pubic, and upper leg pain but that comes and goes and is not constant. I have had alot of indigestion and heartburn lately so tums are my best friend right now.

My staff at Cowden had our baby shower on Wednesday. Casey, our counselor is also pregnant and is due 5 days after me so we had a joint shower. It was nice and we got so many wonderful gifts. I have 6.5 days left of school for this year. I can't believe it is almost over and summer is here. I am not doing summer school so I will have from June 2 until after my maternity leave is over until I go back to work. This first year has been a good one that has gone by fast but a stressful one at that. I am looking forward to being able to relax the last few months of my pregnancy before Hudson gets here.

At 30 weeks, Hudson is around 15.7 inches long and weighs approximately 3 pounds. There is around a pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounding him at this point in the pregnancy but this volume will decrease as he gets bigger and there is less room. Hudson's eyesight is still developing. His vision is not very good right now and after he is born he will continue to keep his eyes closed for much of the day. When Hudson is born, his eyesight will be around 20/400 (normal adult is 20/20) so he can only see a few inches from his face.

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 30 weeks 0 days
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +11
Maternity Clothes: Yes almost exclusively
Best Moment this week: Our baby shower at work
Gender: Boy- Hudson Ray Elliott
Movement: Hardest it has been
Food Craving: ice cream, fruit, cheez-its, sushi (but not eating sushi, Panera, cheese
What I miss: Sleeping through the night and not experiencing pain
Sleep: Still pretty good but having to get up to use the restroom or change positions.
What I am looking forward to: Being out of school and being able to relax the last few months of my pregnancy
Belly Button: In but looking more and more like it may pop out
Symptoms: Pubic, upper leg, and back pain, growing belly, using the bathroom constantly, stretch marks, and heartburn/indigestion.
Note: Still want Brandon to feel Hudson move. My sister and Brandon return from their honeymoon tomorrow and I can't wait to see them.

Week 29 Photo

29 Weeks.........Our squash

I am 29 weeks now. I am feeling alright. I have been experiencing some pubic, upper leg, and back pain. This is common and nothing to worry about but something that is quite painful. I have found myself a couple of times almost in tears due to not being able to move without pain.....this is usually when I am trying to roll over or get out of bed. This could be because he is a bigger baby, my scoliosis, or just the way he is positioned. I think it occurs more when I have been on my feet all day. Hudson is continuing to move and kick frequently. My mom and dad both got to feel Hudson this weekend. Dad got to feel him for the first time, and I was so excited!

At 29 weeks, Hudson is approximately the size of a squash. He is around 2 1/2 pounds and a little over 15 inches long. He is growing rapidly now and his energy is surging. This is due to white fat deposits beneath the skin. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain. Everyday at this point about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited into Hudson's skeleton, which is now hardening. With all of the growth that occurs this trimester, his nutritional needs reach their peak.

My sister and Brandon were married on Friday. It was a beautiful ceremony and a fun indoor/outdoor reception. I got to see many friends and family members that I hadn't seen in a while. My sister was stunning, and I am so happy for them both.

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 29 weeks 1 day
Total Weight Gain/Loss: +11
Maternity Clothes: Yes almost exclusively
Best Moment this week: Celebrating my sister and Brandon's wedding, and having my dad feel Hudson kick for the first time
Gender: Boy- Hudson Ray Elliott
Movement: Hardest it has been
Food Craving: Andy's ice cream, fruit, cheez-its, sushi (but not eating sushi, Panera
What I miss: Sleeping through the night and not experiencing pain
Sleep: Still pretty good but having to get up to use the restroom or change positions.
What I am looking forward to: Work baby shower on May 19th
Belly Button: In
Symptoms: Pubic, upper leg, and back pain, growing belly, using the bathroom constantly, and heartburn/indigestion.
Note: Still want Brandon to feel Hudson move. I am so thankful for my co-workers at Holland for throwing me a surprise shower for Hudson.