You're the size of a {JIMACA} - 32 weeks

According to BabyCenter.com "By now, your baby weighs 3 3/4 pounds...and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth."

Almost 4 pounds and 17 inches long?!?!?!  Yikes - she's almost ready for the real world!  I looked at our baby books today and I was 7 pounds 2 ounces.  Grant was 8 pounds 8 ounces.  Crazy to think she's nearly half way fat. *wink*

I've really lucked out in this whole pregnancy thing - no morning sickness, no bad side effects other than needing to take a nap or two this summer.  Really, I can not complain.  I'm fortunate and I hate telling people how great it's been when I know most mommas-to-be have a really tough time.  Or, I should say - I've been very fortunate until I had curry the other night.  I guess I should have expected this after what happened in Arizona. 

Over break we went out for a family dinner at this amazing Italian restaurant.  I had a wonderful dish of tortellini with a white cream sauce.  They served fresh bread (my favorite).  Everything was lovely until about 11 pm when my stomach felt like an alien wanted to jump out and shank me.  It was awful.  And I felt awful until the middle of the next day.  

Apparently, Popeye is NOT a fan of cream-based sauces.  Or if it's not Popeye, it's my newly acquired digestive track that is not in agreement with my old ways of eating.  Who needs cream-based sauces anyway?!?!?!  Not this girl.  But if this is really the ONLY complaint I have during 40 weeks, let's be honest - it's not a huge deal.

Other than my horrid reactions to cream, Popeye is very active.  Grant can just watch my entire stomach twitch with each of her movements.  Still so surreal.  Both my mom and Lynn say that there is a point when you can actually see the baby's body parts moving across your growing stomach.  Still can't make out the body parts yet but I've still got a little under 7 1/2 weeks to go.

On a side note: Grant worked so hard (and I mean frustratingly hard) to install Popeye's closet and the closet down in the art room.  With the cold day today, I was able to re-organize the nursery AND the art room.  You can actually walk into Popeye's room and not bump into anything!  And, she has hangers in the closet for all those cute outfits we've been given already!  The drawers are filled with all gender-neutral clothing - just in case she ends up being a boy.  I have a pile of clothes that I'll need to wash when we return from the hospital that are a bit more girly.  Who wants laundry duty?

You're the Size of a {Cucumber & Cabbage} - 30 weeks!

Man, what a demotion - you go from the size of a rutabaga or squash to a cucumber?!?!?!  While I understand that refers to the length of Popeye - I think these baby websites need to not only give us an idea of length and weight.  I'm not sure about you but I have never eaten a 3 pound cucumber!  And, saying Popeye is a cucumber makes me feel like all this weight is going to nothing.

According to Babycenter.com "Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now and weighs almost 3 pounds (about the size of a large cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will shrink as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)"


Did you know when a baby's eyesight becomes fully developed?  If you are interested in seeing what lil' Popeye will see out of the womb, check out this cool website!  When I first began teaching at the Alternative Learning Center, I came across this site as a an activity to show to students to demonstrate vision.  Hence, why little ones LOVE them some checkerboard/strong contrast colors.

I don't have much to report on my side.  Still feel really great, just have a growing belly that is making it a little more challenging to bend over and put on my shoes and socks in the morning.  There are days when I think it would just be so wonderful to go out for a run and then I remember......that I'd have to pee every 10 minutes so now is not the best time to start running.  

My glucose test came back within range so.....bring on the cookies?!!?!  I got my Rhogam shot at my last appointment.  I have A negative blood so this is merely a precaution in case Popeye's blood isn't A- and our blood intermingles with one another.  

OH......I did fall down a half flight of stairs.  I was wearing socks.  The stairs were wood.  I was going to put on my shoes to explore Chicago with the manfriend and thump-thump-thump I went down the stairs!  It was more like a baseball slide down the stairs and truthfully it was way more funny than painful.  Luckily, everything was okay and the only thing I ended up with was a small bruise on the upper thigh.  But, the doctor did tell me at my 30 week appointment that I should call them the next time.  I told her that I did not anticipate there being a "next time" but will keep it in mind should it happen.

Ok - until 31 weeks!