7 Down, 2 To Go

We have finished month 7 and week 31!! Here's what was going on this past week:

"Week 31: Though your baby still has 3 to 5 pounds more to gain before delivery, he or she is weighing in at an impressive 3-plus pounds this week. And at 18 inches long (give or take a couple because fetuses this age come in all sizes), your baby is quickly approaching his or her birth length. Also developing at an impressive clip these days: your baby's brain connections (baby has to make trillions of them). And he or she is able to put that complex web of brain connections to good use, too- already processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses. Your brainy baby is also a sleepy one, putting in longer stretches of snooze time, specifically in REM sleep- which is why you're probably noticing more defined patterns of awake (and kicking) and sleeping (quiet) times from your little one." - What to Expect

It has been a busy week, even baby Bear got a little worn out! We went to Midland with the Vavra family last Friday and got everything in our place packed up and ready for moving. Chris, Lawrence, and Rogelio went back yesterday to start hauling our stuff to our storage unit in Caldwell. We will most likely end up in the Temple area (Chris is interviewing for a job out there. Keep him in your prayers!) but we're waiting until we know for sure before we start moving out there and looking for a place to live. So we are still with my parents in New Braunfels :) enjoying the 100 degree weather. :\

I just got news this morning that some good friends of ours (Chris and Melissa Martin) went into labor this morning!! Yay!! Please keep them in your prayers! We are really excited for them.

Hopefully next week we will have some pictures to put up. I think I've said that for a couple of weeks now. :) We just haven't gotten around to taking pictures. Hope ya'll have a great weekend. Please pray for us! God bless you!

We've Reached the 30's!!!

I can't believe we are 30 weeks! That always seemed so far into the future and now it's here! Bear has definitely been growing. I can feel his whole back pushing out on my stomach now. And he gets the hiccups quite often. It's pretty cute. I love feeling him move around! This is what he has been up to this past week:

"What's 17 inches long, just over 3 pounds in weight, and cute all over? It's your baby- and he or she is getting bigger by the day (in case you couldn't tell from the size of your belly). Also getting bigger daily is baby's brain, which is preparing for life outside the womb- and for a lifetime of learning. Starting this week, your baby's brain is starting to look like one, taking on those characteristic grooves and indentations. These wrinkles allow for future expansion of brain tissue that is crucial as your baby goes from helpless newborn to responsive infant to verbal toddler to curious preschooler and beyond. Your baby's bigger and better brain is also starting to take on tasks previously delegated to other parts of the body, like temperature regulation. Now that the brain is capable of turning up the heat (with the help of that growing supply of baby fat), your baby will start shedding lanugo, the downy, soft body hair that has been keeping him or her warm up to this point. Which means that by the time your baby is born, he or she probably won't be fuzzy wuzzy anymore." - What to Expect

So I guess I need to start eating my brain food.

My mom went with me to birthing class this past week since Chris was out of town. We learned about relaxation techniques which was very helpful. As I was telling Chris about it all last night he requested flash cards because he didn't think he would remember everything. There is quite a bit to remember! We also had to practice breathing which I felt kind of silly doing but I'm sure it was important to learn about so that I won't hyperventilate during labor. At one point they were telling us that during the active stage of labor hormones are released to help your body cope with the pain. Mom whispers in my ear, "Not enough". Hahaha!

Not a whole lot more to share right now. Please keep us in your prayers!! We have a whole lot up in the air and we are praying the it will all happen in God's perfect timing and that we can trust in Him!

Smarter than your average Bear

Hello everyone! Hope you're doing well. It feels like this past week has flown by! Last Friday we had our monthly doctor appt. and all went well. I had my blood sugar tested and they said they would call if anything was abnormal. So I'm guessing everything is fine since they haven't called me yet. After that we spent the weekend with our friends the Bartletts playing games and being entertained by their little girl. Then we spent Sunday through Wednesday with Chris' cousin and her family helping them with one of their projects and entertaining little miss Katelyn Pearl.

Tuesday night was our first "Prepared Childbirth Class". We got to watch Bill Cosby talk about childbirth and then we got to watch a real life childbirth. That was interesting. When it was over I believe I turned to Chris and whispered "holy crap!". The good thing is it didn't scare me away from still wanting to have a natural childbirth. I am actually more motivated to have one now. I think seeing an actual childbirth helped because now I can more accurately visualize myself going through labor and delivery. Oh! And I felt my first Braxton-Hicks contraction this week. It was prety neat. I've read all about them so when it happened I thought "So that's what it feels like. Exactly how they say".

Bear is still growing. I love feeling him move around. It's pretty funny sometimes. He doesn't follow the standard moving around after I eat. He prefers to move around early in the morning or late at night. Or when I get up in the night to go to the bathroom. Hopefully this isn't a pattern for post-birth. And he is definitely getting heavier. Everybody pray for no more than 7 1/2 pounds!!!

"Week 29: Your baby can be as tall as 17 inches now and can weigh nearly 3 pounds. Though already coming pretty close (within 3 inches or so) of his or her ultimate birth length, baby still has lots to gain. In fact, over the next 11 weeks, your baby more than doubles- and may even come close to tripling- his or her weight. Much of that weight will come from the fat accumulating under his or her skin right now. And as your baby plumps up, the room in your womb will start to feel a little cramped, making it less likely that you'll feel hard kicks from your little one, and more likely that you'll be feeling jabs and pokes from elbows and knees." -What to Expect

P.S. I don't have a picture again this week, but just picture huge. :)
P.P.S. Happy *0th Birthday, Dad!!!

The Joys of June

This past week: "Week 28- This week, your amazing baby has reached 2 1/2 pounds and may be almost 16 inches long.  Baby's skill of the week: blinking.  Yes, along with the other tricks in a growing repertoire that already includes coughing, sucking, hiccupping, and taking practice breaths, your baby can now blink those sweet little eyes.  Dreaming about your baby?  Baby may be dreaming about you, too, courtesy of the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep he or she has started getting.  But this little dreamer isn't ready for birth day just yet.  Though his or her lungs are nearly fully mature by now (making it easier for your baby- and you- to breathe a little easier if he or she were born now), your baby still has a lot of growing to do." -What to Expect

So here we are, into the 3rd trimester and the book is telling me that Bear and I will be getting even bigger!! Augh!  I am getting to the point where I don't realize how big I am and I keep running into things or trying to walk through spaces that I used to fit through but can't anymore.  I get stopped short whenever I go to give Chris a hug.  Soon we're going to have to resort to side hugs and arm-length pats.  

Now that the weather is getting much warmer and I have a maternity swimsuit (no Shamu jokes, please) I have been alternating my days between walking and swimming for exercise.  It feels weird to be immersed in water with a huge belly.  Bear is slightly bouyant, I think.  

We've been having fun predicting different things about the birth.  I am predicting (and praying) that Bear will only be about 6 pounds, super cute, and a sweet boy.  Chris is predicting 10 lbs., a cone head, and a super star jock. A friend of ours predicted that Bear will come on August 15th, which I am totally cool with. Earlier than the end of August but not too early. 

We have started asking St. Gerard Majella to intercede for us.  He is the patron saint of expectant mothers, so I guess we're asking more of an intercession for me than for Chris. Haha! 

Bear is definitely getting taller.  The other day I felt his head pushing out right under my sternum and he was kicking me in my lower abdomen at the same time.  I guess he's enjoying himself.  

We have a doctor appt. tomorrow.  Again, nothing out of the ordinary as far as OB appts. go.  We'll update you next week and maybe we'll have some pictures then, too. Thanks for all the love and prayers! God bless you!