25 weeks

25 weeks today. Baby is definitely bigger. How big is debatable.

Three different email updates stated the following, so next time you’re in the grocery store and spot an eggplant, small bag of sugar, or rutabaga, think of Baby Trey. Or don’t – because I don’t think he looks anything like any of those, though his size may be roughly comparable this week.

Your baby weighs 1 1/4 pounds and is a little more than 11 inches long, about the size of a small bag of sugar.

He rivals a rutabaga - about 1 1/2 pounds. (Length: 13 1/2 inches, head to heel.) Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga

Baby's now the size of an eggplant!

And apparently there’s only more growth to come. In the last third of pregnancy, he'll double and triple his weight. Here we go.

New developments this week – MAJOR movement!

I knew Little Buddy was getting active, but didn’t realize until the past three or four days just how strong and more frequent his kicks have gotten. The other night he was going crazy. I had a hunch Robert might be able to feel his punches and kicks if he put his hand to my stomach, and sure enough dad was able to feel Trey in there practicing his dance moves or soccer kicks or whatever it is he keeps doing with those leg and arm muscles. It was a special moment. And confirmed I wasn't going crazy whenever I wince or react to a random punch or kick.

Other baby developments:

That oh-so-handy sense of equilibrium is kicking in, and baby's learning to distinguish right side up from upside down. (Hence the flipping I think is going on in there.)

Baby can touch and hold his feet and make a fist (and then punch mom with it in utero)

Dad may be able to hear his heartbeat by pressing his ear against your belly (I thought this might be the case. Some days I think I can feel the beat of his little heart rhythm in there, but didn’t know if I was making it up or not.)

Baby has a regular sleep schedule now and active and inactive periods. (Yep, we just need to get our patterns on the same schedule. This late night activity is keeping me from falling asleep. An experienced mom and work told me to literally rock him back and forth, either by swaying in bed or standing up, or walking around the room, to put him back to sleep. Might have to try this technique if things keep up.) You may or may not be able to discern what those periods are. (Nope, I got them. Cycles fully discerned.)

His nostrils, which have been plugged, open up. (Yea for a working sniffer.)

Baby is beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. (Finally!) As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn.

He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture. (Can’t wait to see. Baldness is acceptable too. I’m not going to be a picky mom. We’re going for healthy here, people.)

Third Trimester Confusion

So, apparently there's differences of opinion on when "technically" the third trimester begins. Here's what I discovered after doing a little online research (not always recommended but in this case surprisingly helpful).

You are only technically pregnant 266 days if you go full term. The 280 days is full term plus 2 weeks prior to ovulation--when you weren't even pregnant. If you go by the 40 weeks (280 days) the math would be 13.3 weeks and you would be in your third trimester at about 27 weeks. If you go by 266 days, you would be starting your third trimester in the 25th week. So, docs go between 25-28 weeks for that reason.

We'll, since I'm now 25 weeks, one of my weekly baby/pregancy email updates sent me the following message:

Welcome to the third trimester! You're really in the homestretch now. While reaching the third trimester feels like great progress, with it comes a return to fatigue, dizziness, and constant trips to the bathroom. To relieve back, hip and leg pain now, try to keep walking, swimming, practicing yoga or doing any other nonweight-bearing activity. This also can help you recover faster physically after childbirth. To make sure you'll enjoy your baby shower, schedule it between weeks 30 and 36; you'll still be spry enough to enjoy it.

Well okay then, I guess we'll just embrace the third trimester now since fatique, back pain, and restless sleep are starting to again become my constant friends. All a small price to pay in the long run for a little buddle of joy. Overall, I really am feeling great (can't complain) and have had a very nice and uneventful (someone please knock on wood - immediately) pregancy to date.

Here's hoping for smooth sailing in the home stretch. I can't believe we're already to that phase. Enjoy each stage of life because they certainly do fly by.

Hostess Gifts

If you read the baby shower post you know how blessed I was to have seven amazing friends host such a special event for us. I wanted to give them something they would really love for their hostess gifts, and ultimately decided on monogrammed beach towels! What better way to welcome spring and summer.

I purchased some huge white cotton terry clothe towels on cottage.com. They are huge (even long enough for Anne!) and so soft. Shipping was super fast and then I passed them off to a friend a work who has a monogramming business. She did the super cute double monograms with the initial and name in black and pink with a really cute font. (You can check out her online store - The Gathering Place Boutique - on Facebook.)

I wrapped them with some fun ribbon and we were ready to go. I think they were a huge hit! I sure loved them (almost got one for myself but resisted) and hope my sweet hostesses did too.

Trey's First Baby Shower

Some sweet friends threw me a baby shower on March 12, and I was honestly so overwhelmed with gratitude for all the wonderful love and support from everyone who was there to celebrate with us. Such great generosity and excitement about welcoming Baby Trey to our family! We are truly blessed by amazing friends and family.

My sweet hostesses were so creative and energetic. The shower was amazing! I was touched by the cousins, aunts, and family members who traveled from afar, the old friends and college roommates, bridesmaids and special friends both old and new from so many stages in my life who came to be with me from Auburn and Tuscaloosa and all parts of Birmingham. Even sweet friends who mailed gifts because they couldn't be there in person. It made it all so special. Here are some pics from the shower. (My sweet mom did an amazing job of capturing all the memories for me!)




Katie Crawford - truly a hostess with the mostess, who opened up her home for the shower and designed the cute invitations. Sweet Michelle made Trey's beautiful diaper wreath with the cute elephant. Laura made and iced and decorated the delicious cake with cream cheese icing! Jess came from Jacksonville and Amy came from Arkansas just to be there and help host. Ash and Anne did so much to help plan from Birmingham, buying our Chico pack n play for the hostess gift - which I was so excited to get - and making sure everything was great. These ladies are amazing and sure know how to shower a friend with love and support during a special time.

Cute decorations for our "III" and the delicious and beautiful cake!

Thanks everyone for making the day so special!