She better be cute

Barn Barn decided it was play time!

And Spike decided to join

But wasn't in the mood to play rough, he just wanted to give Gracie some kisses

Andrew doesn't know my style of taking a belly photo, why is my head in the picture?

My sweet boys!

I feel like I need to complain, and this blog seems like the most appropriate place to do it. HOLY HIPS! I woke up on Tuesday and I could barely walk. I was emotional and in tons of pain. My entire pelvis felt like it was disintegrating. I finally pulled it together and was getting dressed for work when I noticed new stretch marks. I lost it (still not over it). I know it's totally normal, but I always hoped I would be the lucky one that avoided that shit. I know it sounds dramatic, but this was a pretty traumatic morning. Thankfully my hip pain was just a bad day because when I woke up on Wednesday they felt 100 times better. It was a scary thought that I could be in that much pain for the next 2 months! What if it didn't go away? How was I supposed to work? And all of you that know me well can imagine all the panic that was going through my head at the time (it's what I felt like before a test in college, ya...that bad).
I am 90% sure I am starting to have contractions that don't feel good, I can't sit for long, can't stand for long, can't bend over within 4 hours of eating, my food is stuck in my throat, Gracie learned how to kick my ribs, I am starving then I am sick to my stomach, and my arms and "chin" look huge. I think I am done now. For this week.

More exciting news...Andrew is now on the Junior board for Make A Wish AND has a new wish kid! He will find out more about both of these things next week, so more to come on that.

32 Week Update:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) 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.

Gracie Jenna O'Neal

Yup, I gave in. Gracie Jenna O'Neal will be the name we are screaming from November until the the day I die. I was writing Nikke's abby shower card and referred to our baby as "Gracie" for the first time and then signed her name as well. I gave it to Andrew to read...I got a "that's nice" response. I asked him to read it 2 more times, still nothing. Finally he admits he wasn't really reading it, after the 4th time he finally got the hint that I decided to go with Gracie. And then he panicked. "Maybe we should think this through more, are you sure that's what we want? Maybe we should sit on it for a bit" WTF? None of those questions made sense to me. I said nope, it is decided, she will survive with whatever name we choose :)

Regardless of the name, Andrew can't wait to see her. He decided that he wants to see her NOW and he can't handle waiting to see what she's going to look like. I assured him that this is a normal feeling, but I'm not sure I convinced him. The other night while I was spooning Andrew, Gracie decided to get a little wild and kick Andrew in the back all night. I slept through the whole thing but it sounded like Andrew was up for quite a while :)

Boise was a great time and I'm so glad I was able to go to Nikke's shower. It made me ansy and I can;t wait for my shower now! After Boise, we headed to Eagle crest for the week. We definitely needed the time away, but the kids here are psycho and annoying.If I hear one more kid screaming "WATCH ME WATCH ME WATCH ME" I will probably attempt to drown them. Andrew and I are becoming more and more exzcited about the idea of a girl. These boys at the pool here are crazy, seriously loud and SUPER annoying. The girls are just a little annoying. I wish you could buy patience. That's what I will be asking for for Christmas!

NURSERY FURNITURE has arrived! that is our task this weekend. Which means lots of pictures next week!

31 Week Update:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.
Your baby is starting to shed the lanugo, the coating of body hair, and the hair on its head is getting thicker.

oops forgot the 30 week:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease 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. Its becoming more sensitive to light and can distinguish between sunlight and artificial light. Its eyes can also move in its sockets and your baby is more attuned to sound, taste and smell. Her lungs are working at near optimal levels.

29 weeks

What has happened in our life this last week:

• sitting up straight is super imprtant apparently. If I don't then I can't breathe well, and I feel like my food will come up. It literally crushes my stomach!
• My belly button shows through all my shirts. gross.
• My itchiness is getting out of control and is most likely NOT because of my liver like the doc thought.
• Ever since last week (starting Monday) little Gracie/Adalyn got some serious muscles! Her kicks and punches have been super strong. Just sitting her typing at work I saw my name badge on my belly jump from her! She's starting to get a little out of control :)
• Becca and Camilla are pregnant! yay! so glad to have more preggo partners!
• The Mackey Twins have arrived!!!! Lindsey, Henry and Lucy are all doing great and are expected to be home tomorrow. And John is doing great too :) They are such a great team!
• I don't think I am a robot after all. I have been experiencing some emotions, mostly crazy screaming at Andrew and unwanted/unpredictable tears. Let's go over some things that have made me cry. Not knowing what to buy at the grocery store for dinner, so naturally is all I knew was to yell at Andrew and cry. The guy at the deli counter was very impatient and clearly hasn't been around very many pregnant people. My messy unorganized house. Andrew's painting techniques. Having to drive. My hips. My new cellulite. The doctor telling me I have to fast for a blood test. Babies (and there has been a lot of them) Crowning videos at baby class...this one hit me once we got home and I had time to think about it. This was a bad moment. Don't get me wrong, I don't sob at all of these events, only most, the rest I have to tell myself to stop being dramatic and pull it together.
• Speaking of baby class, Andrew asked the teacher if we were going to have help during labor. His answer was no. The look on his face must have been pretty intense because people started to giggle. I hadn't really thought of it either to be honest. If you labor for 14 hours I guess you can't expect a nurse to be with you the whole time AND know what you learned in your birthing class. We started taking better notes after that. Andrew even asked the question again in a different way: "so the nurses know all this stuff right?" The answer was "no not all of them" What the fuck? seriously? what do people do with lazy partners, or have never seen a hospital, let alone seen the mom in that much pain before. That sounds really scary to me.

If I get around to it I might post some pictures of the nursery so far, we Andrew got it all painted!

Weekly Update:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Your baby’s sensory organs are well developed and he or she is beginning to regulate his or her own temperature. The bone marrow is now completely in charge of producing red blood cells.Your baby’s lungs are also developed enough to breathe air, and it is urinating about half a liter of urine into the amniotic fluid daily. Your baby has become more active and may give you strong kicks and punches. He or she should be moving at least 10 times an hour. If your baby moves any less, let your doctor know.

28 weeks...3rd Trimester!

Andrew is playing DIRTY when it comes to the name game! We are still stuck between Adalyn and Gracie. He is calling her Gracie all the time and now telling people that's her name. What a cluster it will be when I put my foot down and decide that it's Adalyn! Poor Grandma will be so confused, Andrew starting brainwashing her last week. She's has been movin and shakin! We are hoping to get a peek at her this thursday at our appt. And wish me luck I have to do the gestational diabetes test that day too!

Andrew had his 10 year high school reunion last night. We had a great time and I lasted until midnight!!! Pretty much everyone looked great and yes, Facebook ruined most of that fun. They had it at Urban Studios in NW and it worked out to be a great location for the turnout. Now it's my turn to start helping out with the planning for ours, pressure is on.

We took Barney to Vancouver Lake today and it was so beautiful out. The water was warm, there was tons of shade and Barney VOLUNTARILY went into the water! He did so good I don't think we need his life jacket anymore! All the kids loved him and were cheering him on to get him in the water, it was pretty cute! It was cute and sad at the same time, his doggy paddle is quite pathetic. He looks like he's struggling really bad. He is exhausted and so are we, but we will definitely go back and probably bring old man Spike with us :)

Barney was very hesitant to go in...

But then he found a buddy to show him how!

And these are my exhausted little swimmers!

Weekly Update:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.
Your baby’s muscle tone is also improving. This means increased movement, which might wake you up at night. (this is highly unlikely, I sleep through just about anything)