V-day and Independence day!

First, a few photos...

Matt's firework launcher: Jeff and I singing along to MJ - "Billy Jean is not my looooverrrr...":

Our fireworks show!

Isn't this cool??

The 4th Annual Sandlin 4th of July Cookout was really great this year! We had a smaller crowd (about 10) due to family obligations and whatnot, but everyone had a great time eating and hanging out. Kat brought a fabulous bean dip and Kate and Cameron brought me my very own jug of chocolate milk. Cravings were satisfied all around!

Matt and I celebrated GB's V-day (viability day) last Thursday! It's just a little milestone that means if I were to go into labor now, the hospital is obligated to do everything it can to save GB - she would have about a 60-70% chance of survival at this point! Of course, we would never want her to come this early, but it gave us an excuse to go out to dinner and put up the crib:)

Today was my 24 week check-up with my regular Midwife. It was pretty uneventful - the usual things occurred: weight check, pee in a cup, blood pressure, listen for heartbeat. She also measured my belly with a tape measure. My next midwife appointment will be at 28 weeks, where I will take the gestational diabetes test and get my rhogam shot since I am RH-.

And now for the official update!


How far along? 24weeks and 4 days!

Total weight gain/loss: 13 lbs gained (19 total, if I include the 6 I lost and made up due to morning sickness)

Maternity clothes? Showing off that bump!

Sleep: Not much due to TERRIBLE heartburn and acid reflux. :(

Best moment this week: Seeing the crib all set up in GB's room!

Movement: Lots! Lately she feels like she's turning somersaults. She also likes listening to Maroon 5.

Food cravings: Chocolate milk (still) and peanut butter with bananas. Chicken salad sandwhiches

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: Some braxton hicks contractions early in the morning or when I've been standing too long.

Belly Button in or out? Hovering precariously in the in-between stage. Matt's new favorite past-time is watching it pop out when I sneeze, cough, or laugh.

What I miss: Fitting into my pre-pregnancy summer clothes

What I am looking forward to:Going to the pool again with Dena this week (wearing sunscreen this time...), Mary June's showers on Saturday, and Colton's 1st birthday party!

And dinner....

Pimp GB's Nursery...

Thanks to everyone who helped paint GB's nursery this weekend - it looks AWESOME!! Here are some pictures from the day:

23 week belly pic:

(Please ignore pregnant-fat-face/arms/butt...)

Full-Frontal Belly pic:

Pre-paint:

Pre-Paint and Kennedy:

Pre-Paint and Ginger:

Painting!

GUMMYBEAR'S NEW ROOM!!!!

The End :)

23 Week update

From Pregnancy.com:
If your baby were born this week there is a small chance your baby would survive, however it is best that your baby stay put for a number of weeks! Many women start to wonder what might happen if their baby is born prematurely. A baby born between 23 and 24 weeks would have a 10 to 70 percent chance of survival. It truly depends on a number of factors that have to be taken into consideration.

Every day your baby stays in the womb increases their survival rate approximately 3 percent during weeks 23 and 26.
Generally after 26 weeks the survival rate jumps to 80-90%.

How far along? 23weeks and 1 day!
Total weight gain/loss: 11 lbs gained (17 total, if I include the 6 I lost and made up due to morning sickness)
Maternity clothes? I heart my bump!
Sleep: Having a hard time staying asleep :(
Best moment this week: Being told GB is doing just great!
Movement: She has quiet days and not-so-quiet days. She usually hiccups for a while right after lunch!
Food cravings: Chocolate milk (still) and peanut butter with bananas. Salt and Vinegar chips (which I never ate before pregnancy!)
Gender: Sugar and spice and everything nice!
Labor Signs: Some braxton hicks contractions
Belly Button in or out? In - but it pops out if I cough or sneeze!
What I miss: jogging :( I still go for walks with Ginger, but it's really too hot to stay out longer than about 30 minutes - and no running for me
What I am looking forward to: Painting GB's room tomorrow and setting up her crib!!

My 1lb, 2oz Drama Queen

We had our follow-up appointment with the MFM specialist yesterday and Matt was able to come! Overall it was a pretty good appointment and ultrasound! This is what we learned:

1. GB is still a girl!! As soon as the tech turned on the ultrasound machine, GB gave us a clear money shot - not shy at all! Good thing she's still a girl, because we JUST bought her nursery paint!

2. She is anatomically perfect - still no sign of spina bifida or any other neural tube defects the AFP reading said she might have. They looked for a long time at her heart to make sure all the valves are working right (they are!) and her kidneys.

3. She is growing RIGHT ON SCHEDULE!! This is a big one. She measured a perfect 22 weeks, 4 days throughout the scan and now weighs 1lb 2oz!

And here's the not-so-great-but-not-so-horrible news:

4. GB's umbilical cord has an abnormality. Instead of having 3 vessels (2 to bring blood in, 1 to bring waste out), she only has 2. This is called SUA - Single Umbilical Artery Compication. There are MANY babies that are born healthy with SUA, although it CAN be a sign that there are malformations in the heart and kidneys. However, since none of those malformations showed up on the ultrasound, the specialist thinks GB will be born just fine.

Sometimes, however, in the 3rd trimester the SUA can't keep up with the baby's needs and the baby starts to slow down in growth (called IUGR -Interuterine growth restriction) and then the doctors have to watch carefully to maximize the baby's time in the womb, but not let it stay too long without what it needs. Soooo, all this just means (drumroll please!)... MORE ULTRASOUNDS! I have another specialist appointment in late July, then I start going in weekly until GB is born.

So right now everything looks great and we're just continuing to pray that she keeps growing and spends her FULL amount of time in her safe little home.

In other news, I finally chose the colors for the nursery and registered for our bedding set!

Here is a picture of the Ladybug Paisley blanket:

And here's the bedding that goes with it:

We're painting the nursery this weekend, so hopefully I will have some before and after pics posted soon!

!!!

Either GB is taking a high intensity kickboxing class or she has EXTREMELY strong hiccups. I am watching my belly MOVE!!!

Belly Pics!

Pre-baby

16 Weeks:

21 weeks:

At this rate I'm going to be a hippopotamus by 40 weeks...Grow, baby, grow!

21 Week update!

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

How far along? 21 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: Who knows? I ate sooo much this weekend on our vacation!
Maternity clothes? I may never wear regular pants again! Maternity pants are so comfy.
Sleep: Matt and I both slept really well on vacation this weekend. I'm waking up about 2 or 3 times to go to the bathroom
Best moment this week: Matt felt GB move! TWICE!!!
Movement: The kicks are getting harder and I can tell what her sleep pattern is. For example, she's asleep right now. She LOVES mealtime and is quite a night owl! I wish she hadn't found my bladder, though. She seems to think it's her personal punching bag!
Food cravings: Chocolate milk, Nutter butters, fruit
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: I woke up Friday night with the worst cramps and thought I was going into labor! I panicked, but soon realized it was just gas :/
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Having a glass of wine at the Melting Pot this weekend; being able to walk 5 blocks without having to sit down in downtown Atl.
What I am looking forward to: Specialist appointment on June 22nd; also starting my registry at Babies R Us!