It's been far too long.....

I wish I was better at keeping up with these things. Hopefully this will be my promise to start doing so! :) Today marks the start of week 29. Last week I reached the third-trimester mark. So far, I'd say I've had it pretty easy with this pregnancy. The latest development is that of acid reflux, which started at about 23 weeks. It's the most terrible thing I've ever experienced! I have to go to bed sitting upright about 75% of the time. I think the trick is not eating a few hours before bed, but sometimes that can be difficult because I get hungry.

My little "baby bump" is not so much a "bump" anymore--but more of a ginormous belly carrying a 16-inch 3 pound baby. :) I can't believe we're already at week 29. Getting SO super excited to meet our baby girl. Hopefully this weekend we will finish the nursery and I'll get some pics posted of that.

The most special thing right now is watching my stomach move all around when Ali shifts. I no longer feel flutters--these are full on karate chops! I love it though, it's just such a special bond between mommy and baby. And I love that she goes everywhere with me and gets to do everything I do as well. Feeling pretty blessed these days. Here are some pictures of my growing baby bump!

It's official.....

Baby L is a GIRL!! :) We are so beyond excited! And suddenly, I have this urge to shop shop shop.....think pink! It's also official that we've picked out a name.....little Alissa Kate, and we'll call her Ali. 21 more weeks to go until we get to meet our little miracle. :) The pictures are both of me at 18.5 weeks and little Ali's profile at 18.5 weeks. I think she's already the most precious baby girl EVER!

It was a wonderful Christmas!

It really was "the most wonderful time of the year". I was able to take a few days off of work to spend some extra time with Chet, Holly, and Lauran this year. I can't believe how big Lauran is getting and how much she talks! :) She is adorable, and absolutely hilarious. We had the whole entire family together, too. Mom, Dad, Luke, Kahlen, Holly, Chet, Lauran, Sean, myself, and of course Baby Peanut. Christmas Eve we spent playing games together and I enjoyed a small glass of red wine.....delicious! Got lots of fun new gifts for Peanut as well as some gift cards, books, clothes, and kitchen items for myself. I did get one present that I'm NOT fond of--A COLD. Ugh. And there's not a lot I can take while pregnant so I guess hot tea and Tylenol it is! We cannot wait for next year when we have an actual BABY to spoil as well, not just one growing in my tummy. We have our next sonogram on January 4th and I'm hoping we will get the confirmation on whether Peanut really is a girl or not. If so.....I think we've picked out her name for sure. I'm trying to decide if I want to keep it a secret until she is born or not. I think that would be fun, but not sure if we would be able to go without slipping up! Hope everyone had a blessed holiday as well.

A little inconclusive but.....

Today we had a sonogram at 16 weeks. The technician wasn't able to tell for sure, but she did say that if she had to guess, she'd say we're having a girl! :) She kept going back to the "three lines" and also said that if it was a boy, it might be more obvious. So, I don't want to get my hopes up and wont go out and buy a whole new wardrobe for a baby girl, but I have a little feeling it might just be a girl.....

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes.....

As you can see, some changes are taking place! From 9 weeks to 12 weeks to 15 weeks.....the baby bump is growing! :) We have a sonogram on Tuesday--I will be 16 weeks--so I'm really hoping little Baby Peanut decides to show us what it is. It may be a bit too early, but I hope Peanut cooperates because that would just be an amazing Christmas gift to Sean and I.....

The start of a little baby bump.....

Well, it's happened. I have the beginnings of a baby bump! This picture was taken on Thanksgiving and I was 12 weeks and 2 days along. One thing is for sure.....my pants are getting tight around the waist! Thank goodness for the BellaBand. You wear it around your waist and it conceals the fact that your pants aren't buttoned. I feel like it's too early to start looking for maternity pants, so for now--this will do! :)

Who's in there? And other things.....

So I'm already dying to know who's in there--a boy or girl?! We get to find out the sex of the baby on January 19th--less than two months away now. But I'm just so curious. I have had 4 dreams that it's a boy and 1 dream that it's a girl. I'm not sure why I feel like it's a boy, but that's just my gut feeling. I just hope Peanut cooperates on that day so we know! Thanksgiving is two days away and boy am I excited! I think I'm most excited for some hot turkey and mashed potatoes. Yum! Because it is almost Thanksgiving, here are a few things I'm thankful for this year:
-A nice roof over our heads
-A healthy pregnancy
-Healthy families
-Loving, caring families
-Steady jobs
-Savings
-Good friends
-Adding a new member to our family in 6 months

Also.....because Thursday is Thanksgiving and I have Friday off work, that means it's Christmas decorating time!!!!! I can't wait to get the tree up and decorated, the stockings hanging from the fireplace, evergreen strewn about the banisters, a nice big wreath on the door, some pretty poinsettias for the table, and some yummy smelling Christmas candles. I know everyone is different, but I don't believe in putting up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. There's just something about the day or two afterwards--you have one holiday out of the way, and it's time to move on to the next one. Otherwise I feel like it's kind of skipping out on poor little Thanksgiving. :)

More later!