31 week photo

Here is the photo from yesterday. Officially 31 weeks pregnant with our little girl. I hope time continues to go quickly I can't wait for her to be here. 

On a side note, I am feeling HUGE everywhere and would love to be able to get my body back lol. I miss being able to walk etc without being short of breath. But hey it's all worth it! Let's go December!!

We also got maternity photos done yesterday, we should get previews on Tuesday, I hope I don't look like a cow!

31 weeks tomorrow :)

It's been a while but nothing to crazy new on the horizon. As of tomorrow we are down to single digit weeks left of pregnancy! It's so crazy to think in 9 weeks Reese will make her grand entrance into this world!

C and I bought Reese's crib and changing table. C surprised me with putting it all together while I was at work! It looks great. So now the nursery is pretty much finished aside from a few decorations I still need to hang etc. The bedding set on the crib now was a clearance buy and we will be using it as a spare once we get our pottery barn set.

We are pretty much ready for Reese to come whenever she is ready, although I want her to cook until at least 37 weeks! Plus we are still waiting for our baby shower, the date is a surprise for me... which seems odd. I sound like a brat I guess... but it's annoying for me not to know because my wife knows. I mean let's face it, I am pregnant... a shower has been talked about since the beginning. But whatever floats their boats (and by their I mean my mom, sister, and wife). Any way all of the registry items aren't necessarily essential but I am excited to see what we actually get!

Here are items that we already have:

The swings, bumbo, high chair, and basically everything in the pictures we got second hand (barely used) :)

The stroller we bought, and I am obsessed with, can't wait to use it!

The two boxes aren't diapers... they are all 18months - 2T clothes from a friend!

How far along? 31 weeks

How big is baby? Head of lettuce

Total weight gain/loss: Gained 29lbs :(

Maternity Clothes: Two new pairs of jeans :)

Have you started to show yet? HUGE

Sleep: Sucks but whatever lol

Best moment this week: She moves my entire belly now, so strange!

Miss Anything? Nope

Movement: Constant 

Food Cravings: Soft Pretzels

Anything make you queasy or sick? No

Gender prediction: It is a GIRL

Symptoms: Swelling to my knees at times! Sciatica here and there.

Major purchases this week?  Crib and changing table 

28 weeks

Good news.... I passed my glucose tolerance test! No gestational diabetes for me! I was soooo nervous I wouldn't pass! And that damn drink tasted like orange ACID! They also double checked my blood type, which is O negative. So I will need Rhogam. I see my mid-wife this Tuesday (the first of many two week visits I suppose). I'm still stable on the beta blocker and potassium supplements... thank goodness! Here is the 28 week picture (we have been slacking):

How far along? 28 weeks

How big is baby? Eggplant/cabbage

Total weight gain/loss: Up almost 20lbs eek!

Maternity Clothes: Got a few more outfits for the colder weather

Have you started to show yet? Yes I feel like a blimp by now

Sleep: Still up like every hour but it's all good...

Best moment this week: Still feeling her move in my belly

Miss Anything? Nope

Movement: She is a little dancer

Food Cravings: Nothing really

Anything make you queasy or sick? A few things here and there at work.... (wounds)

Gender prediction: It is a GIRL

Symptoms: Swelling to my knees at times! Sciatica here and there too...

Major purchases this week?  Oh my.... MORE CLOTHES!

27 weeks 1 day

All is still well with Reese! I am getting more stretch marks despite the bio oil... which sucks but oh well. I just hope my maternity pictures still turn out nice (October 4th). We went and got a 3D/4D ultrasound today to get a nice view of little miss Reese :). Here are the pictures from today:

No second parent adoption for us! :)

Petition of Assisted Conception Birth Registration, apparently since we live in PA we can do this instead of second parent adoption! Which is much much much cheaper! Basically this is the process: First, they will send affidavits to the Cryobank and our RE, the Cryobank just basically confirming that we used a donor sperm, and the RE confirming that it was my wife's eggs that I am carrying. Then they will send us an affidavit confirming the same thing. Then they will attach the affidavits to a court order stating that we both have a relationship to the child as me being the birth mother and my wife being the biological mother and a judge will sign it approving the whole thing. Then we will have the signed court orders and will need to contact the hospital ahead of time so they get their stuff together (so they won't screw up the birth certificate). All of that being said, it's obviously less painful than a second parent adoption because of the ridiculous things that they require like home studies. It's also a lot cheaper, I think we will pay around $800 (compared to close to $5,000). And we will be parent and parent on Reese's birth certificate. Also, everything will take place before she is even born, I know with second parent adoption you have to wait until after they are born.

I e-mailed the law group in Harrisburg today, I will also call today. I am hoping all goes well with this. Especially because we are delivering at a Catholic hospital. I can see the issue being with the birth certificate. But with the court order I hope they understand they will be in violation of the law if they refuse to assign the birth certificate as "parent and parent."

Here is more information: http://www.pasurrogacy.com/Surrogacy_and_the_Law.html

I RECOMMEND TO ANY OF THOSE DOING RECIPROCAL IVF TO CHECK OUT THE LAW IN THEIR STATE!

25 weeks 4 days

Nothing too new here. I found myself clothes shopping again for the princess though lol. The picture below was from a consignment shop. I also got a ton of cute clearance items from Old Navy that I didn't take pictures of, but it's all adorable :)! Today was the follow up US from the anatomy scan. They got better views today since Reese wasn't as crazy lol. Everything looked great! She was measuring right on track, 1lb 12oz! Judging by the photos we got this little peanut has my wife's nose for sure! Lol which is great because I was hoping she would :)! I tried uploading a video of my belly, Reese was kicking so hard that she moved my belly! But it won't work. Also, I have had a few follow up tests. Pneumonia is completely gone, potassium is still low. So, now I am taking a daily potassium supplement and they will follow my levels.

C's favorite is the Puma outfit lol

Totally C's nose :)!

Waving her hand :)

Creepy face shot

I remember her profile being much smaller!

Another creepy face shot!

Here is a belly shot from the other day at the dog park lol, it works as a good table

Finally 24 weeks!

You can really see the pregnancy mask in this picture (brown patches)

Bare belly (note stretch mark on bottom right, oh and keloid scar from diagnostic laproscopy three years ago!)

On a good note, I am feeling much better! I have been taking the daily  potassium pills to help increase my potassium level (it was low), as well as the daily antibiotic for the pneumonia. I can finally breathe and sleep normally again, woo-hoo! I go to see my cardiologist tomorrow with my wife (she is not happy with the care he has provided thus far... we may be switching soon). Sadly, my family and I said our final goodbyes to my Uncle Mike yesterday... I just hope he has found the peace he couldn't find while living. Otherwise nothing else new... next ultrasound is on August 27th :)!

How far along? 24 weeks

How big is baby? Rutabaga

Total weight gain/loss: Up 13lbs

Maternity Clothes: Same old same old

Have you started to show yet? Oh yes.... started Bio-Oil for small stretch marks starting up

Sleep: C and I have discovered the secret to get me good sleep :)

Best moment this week: Feeling her kicks getting stronger

Miss Anything? Nope

Movement: She is such a little mover!

Food Cravings: Slurpee

Anything make you queasy or sick? Nope

Gender prediction: It is a GIRL

Symptoms: Ankle swelling still in effect, pregnancy mask, stretch marks... oh my!

Major purchases this week?  C bought an area rug for Reese's room