Pregnancy: 29 weeks

How far along: 29 weeks 2 days

Name Announcement: We've committed to a name....drum roll please....

Reese Monroe Friedland

Size of baby: About the size of an acorn or butternut squash and between 2.5 and 3 pounds

Weight gain: 17 pounds, still normal, but I hear the pounds pack on faster from here on out! And baby will gain 6 ish of those pounds!

Symptoms: I think I've really 'felt' Braxton Hicks contraction one other time since week 24 but not nearly as intense...it was Christmas Eve and I just felt waves of discomfort on and off for a little while. And the leg cramps have found a way of interrupting my sleep again. Not often but usually after a day of being on my feet more than usual. Like the day I went to a wedding and danced the night away. And the day I spent hours Christmas shopping. Not a big fan but things could certainly be worse. 

Movement: Her movement is certainly increasing!!! I feel her quite frequently both day and night but I'm thankful her night movement doesn't keep me awake. Thank you honey. I'm also feeling little jabs to my ribs. It takes my breath away for a second but that's all. Seeing her move is becoming more and more fascinating...Dean and I can see her move from one side of my belly to another!

Preparations for baby: My showers are only weeks away! And maternity photos! Yippppeeeee! I'm super excited about all of it. And it's really time to hunker down and get her room started. It's still a storage room for a few unpacked boxes from our move (I need to get on that!). Dean asked for some baby books for the holidays so I got him two: Strong Fathers Strong Daughters and Babyproofing Your Marriage. We'll read the latter as a couple after he takes the BAR exam in February. We're looking forward to it!

Random: I'm feeling great and trying to really enjoy it. I know each person and each pregnancy are different but I commonly hear that things get rather uncomfortable as the weeks progress from here. No swelling, discomfort, nausea or exhaustion to speak of (yet?)! Reese is being a very good girl for mommy. I'm so blessed! 

As 2012 comes to a close and 2013 is about to begin I feel as if I'm closing one chapter of life and beginning another. 2013 will bring the biggest miracle and change to our lives! 

Here are some pics over the last few weeks...

Adios 2012!

Pregnancy: 24 weeks

Can I just start by saying these weeks are flying by! I just want to press pause and thoroughly enjoy this time...I'm feeling great!!

How far along: 24 weeks 6 days

Size of baby: The size of a cantaloupe and as long as an ear of corn - she weighs in over a pound now!

Weight gain: 15 pounds - whoa! Where did that come from?! Still in a normal range but starting to feel the weight gain

Symptoms: Well, turns out I felt Braxton Hicks contractions for the first time and they weren't the typical BH that I read about. They were a bit painful and lasted about 2 hours, coming every few minutes and lasting between 30 and 60 seconds. Thankfully they subsided because I was beginning to worry and nearly called my midwife. I talked to her about them at this weeks appointment and she said they sounded a bit abnormal and suggested I call next time just to be safe...but if I feel them that way again to drink LOTS of water and take a warm bath. Note taken!

Movement: Oh this little girl LOVES to wiggle and squirm and I love to feel it. 

Purchases: No more purchases at this point, still only the one pair of shoes. And it's REALLY hard to not give in to temptation every time I'm in any store!

Preparations for baby: Still preparing for showers and building my registry list. Decided to go with Babies R Us and Target. I don't want a whole lot of 'stuff', just really the necessities but there are so many choices and options. We also just moved in to our new place and where Baby Friedland will live her first 9 months or so...now I really get to plan her nursery!! Also beginning to research doula's and childbirth classes. There's so much to look into! Definitely overwhelmed but in a good way. 

Random: I had my very first baby dream and my baby was a BOY! Oye!!! Not sure what to think about that, I mean it was only a dream but what if...haha. 

Love LOVE LOOOOOOOVEEEEE this baby girl that is growing inside me! It's still all so surreal!

Pregnancy: Rainbow on the way!

Well, needless to say, from the picture things have changed a bit since my last post, in a GREAT way!

Our miracle "rainbow" (term used for a pregnancy after a loss) baby is due on March 15th, 2013. We are thrilled beyond words.

As I've been reluctant to post until now out of complete fear, I'm ready to shout it at the mountain top that I'M PREGNANT and share all the amazing and beautiful details of this pregnancy. It's already going by so fast. So here we go....

How far along: 21 weeks 3 days (whoa!)

Size of baby: As long as a carrot - about 10.5 inches and as big around as a pomegranate (quite a bit of growth since the poppy seed size we started with)

Weight gain: 7 pounds - normal range so far

Symptoms: This week has been great! Had a few calf cramps, mostly at night, which certainly hurt but don't last too long.

Movement: Yes! Feeling little kicks and jabs is sooo amazing! Dean is able to feel them too which he loves. I love feeling the movement because it reassures me :)

Purchases: I've only made 1 purchase and it was a pair of adorable (to me) itty bitty newborn shoes. I feel in love at first site and had to have them. And yes, IT'S A GIRL!

Preparations for baby: We are starting to look at the items we'll need and creating a registry. I'm also planning two baby showers for this little princess. One in FL with our family and friends there and one in GA with our family and friends here.

Here is our sweet girl's profile with her mouth wide open...probably singing like her momma. :)