Exhausted!

I'm 32 weeks now and the exhaustion is kicking in!  I can definitely tell I am carrying around an extra 25 pounds- my feet are beginning to swell and my bladder is constantly full!  This Monday has me a little down... I'm pretty sure it all started when I spilled a bowl of milk all over my belly (already at school so I couldn't change my shirt, and it only got worse from there).  But I know it will all be worth it in the end when I hold my lil' man in my arms and know that God created him just for us.   


The 32 week belly:

Brooks is about 4 pounds this week (ya, let's not do the math to find out how much of this weight gain is just me, hehe).  At this point, I am certain he has not flipped head down- considering he likes to nudge his head in between my ribs and hip bone.  Then, he tops it off with some upper cuts to my ribs- such a sweet little boy :)  His skin has been slightly transparent during his stay my belly, but now it is becoming more opaque as he packs on the pounds.  He is reaching his full length but will continue to get fatter in the weeks to come (gotta love a fat baby)!


We mounted his name in the nursery above his crib.  It ended up being quite a project, but we are happy with the finished product.  What do ya think?  (For all you teachers- especially my first critic...you know who you are, I am aware that his name is a proper noun and should be capitalized.  But we like the aesthetics of all lower case.  I will be sure to teach him the proper way to write his name)!

With our busy calendar, Tim and I have been quite the travelers.  We spent a weekend in Helen with my family- beautiful wedding, changing leaves, and good times! 

                           

And last weekend we headed to Kentucky!  It was a fun-filled, fabulous weekend as well!  We had a baby shower Friday night (a special thank you to all my KY family, especially Angie for all your hard work), went to the University of Kentucky game on Saturday, and were there for our God-son's baptism on Sunday.  

Time is really beginning to fly and I believe it's about time for me to pack my hospital bag.  All of you with experience- let me know what MUST be included! 

Little Stinker!

Brooks is already acting up!  I visited the doctor last week (for the pain in my upper abdomen) and while I did not get any answers about my pain, I did find out he is breech!  They performed an ultrasound to check on my gall bladder and discovered his breech position.  He is sitting with his legs folded up in front of him- which makes for lots of kicking!  This might also explain why is seems that I'm carrying so low!

He is probably about 3 1/2 pounds and will continue to gain half a pound EVERY week from here on out!  He's around 16 to 17 inches long and his brain is continuing to develop.  His asleep/awake cycles are very obvious to me now!  He has times when he is wide awake and extremely active, and then times when he is asleep.  While hanging out in there, his eyes are often open and becoming prepared for the 20/400 vision he will have at birth.


It's becoming reality that Brooks will be here before we know it.  All of the sudden, I feel like my pregnancy has flown by.  I really want to treasure these last 6-10 weeks of having him with me all the time.  Besides, for the rest of my life I will never have the priviledge of having him with me 24/7.  Right now, I know he is safe with me!  Here are few pictures of Brooks safe in my belly :)

30 weeks pregnant!

With my pregnancy well into the third trimester, I have lots of fun stuff to come! My sisters are throwing us a family shower this weekend!  Also this month we are spending a weekend at a cabin in Helen for a wedding, and taking a trip to Kentucky for a shower with Tim's family!! We are so blessed to have so many people that care about us- thank you!!


Last weekend we bought the "details" for Brooks' room and I am very excited for our plan to come together.  We will be adding lots of cute, rustic stars (to match the stars in his bedding).  They are brown, wrought iron and give the room a good masculine feeling for my little man!  Also, his letters for his name finally came in the mail today.  I still have to stain them, but here they are:

This is what the stars look like!

A cute coat hanger for his room!

These will be on the wall eventually!

Brooks has a full name now: Brooks Daniel Hourigan!

I will be seeing the Doc every 2 weeks now, and I should have atleast 1 more ultrasound to check if he has turned (hopefully we'll get some good pics, he was shy during this last ultrasound).  My next appointment is next week, so I'll keep you updated!

21.5 on 10/7/11

Now That's A Belly!

People keep telling me, "just wait" when I comment on my large belly, but we'll let you be the judge...

28 weeks and counting! 

Yup, that's what I thought.  You think it's huge too!  But as long as he is in there growing healthy and strong, I can handle it.

New this week: Brooks' nostrils are now clear and he is inhaling amniotic fluid.  This causes him to get hiccups... which I had the gift of experiencing last week!  It was very neat to feel his rythmic hiccups in my belly (knowing it doesn't bother him)!

It's officially time for Brooks to pack on the pounds (well, baby fat that is).  His skin is filling out and he is beginning to shed the lanugo as he grows.  And believe me... his momma KNOWS he is packing on the pounds (I can feel it in my back)!  This week he should be about 2.5 pounds, but I am pretty sure he is closer to 3 pounds (let's call it mother's intuition). 

Bud is beginning to blink more and more, but now with eyelashes and eye color! Those beauties are also being put to use during REM sleep.  This new sleep cycle means he is now dreaming (about me of course)!  Dreaming is a new development, as well as the grooves he is getting on his brain.  Up until now, his brain has been smooth.  With each passing week his brain will get more grooves and look like the brain as we know it today!

Around this time in pregnancy the baby begins to turn downward and get ready for birth.  Brooks was head down at my last appointment, so let's just hope he doesn't make any sudden turns in the opposite direction :)  All in all, I would say I am feeling quite fantastic.  My biggest complaint at this point is a burning pain I have in my upper right abdomen (let me know if you experienced this and have any advice)!

I had my first shower this week and it was fabulous!  A huge thank you to all my friends and colleagues at Fair Oaks for being so generous!

FYI- Brooks is jumping around as we speak (or type)... I hope I never forget this feeling!


20.5 on 9/23/11

Third Trimester!

Bud can see!! After having his eyes fused shut for the last 26 weeks, they are finally beginning to open!  Along with this developing sense, his ears are also becoming more useful.  Brooks is now able to recognize our voices! 

As he gains body fat and his lungs are more prepared to breathe, Bud's hair is now obvious on his head (with color too)!  Will he be blonde or brunette?  Taking bets now....

His movements have continued to increase, but I still enjoy every moment when I can feel this special boy moving around.  Rumor has it as he grows in the next few weeks that his movements will decrease :(
As Brooks is becoming more coordinated, his mommy is becoming more clumsy!  This big belly tends to find any object poking out, and the shift in my center of gravity makes tripping a daily activity!

26 weeks

Tim and I have been trying to take advantage of these last few months without so much responsibility- so we have entertained ourselves at Georgia games with friends and fam the last two weekends!



UGA vs. Boise State



UGA vs. South Carolina



The dresser finally came in and my "OCD" self has begun loading it up.  I have been so fortunate to have friends and family loan us clothes for Brooks to use!  I didn't realize how much I loved the smell of Dreft, sends me into a baby obsession!!  Here is the dresser:

We were able to register, with the good help of my sis and her hubby (thanks Lori and Wes).  We loved Bye Bye Baby... so much selection (for all you mom's out there).  We also registered at Babies R' Us (not as impressed, haha)!

I go to the doctor on Tuesday, so hopefully Bud is doing great in there!

16.5 on 9/9/11