Bump Update: 27 Weeks

My brothers wife, Stephanie, gave birth to a perfectly beautiful baby girl on Tuesday. Baby Kobie was only 3lbs 15oz and born at only 32 weeks. She was removed via cesarean from Stephanie early because of complications. Stephanie has type 1 diabetes and pregnancy has caused her to go blind. Now that Kobie is out, Stephanie's digestive system isn't working properly and her blood sugar levels are all out of wack because she lost so much blood during Kobie's birth. Please pray for Stephanie and for my brother, Nick. They have endured numerous trials over the span of Stephanie's pregnancy and I am amazed by the strength and faith they have had through it all.

On the flip side, in the midst of all the pain that Nick and Steph have had to deal with recently, look at this perfect little angel that they brought into the world? She's perfect.

I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. He loves us. I know that he allows us to struggle so that we can grow. I know that when we face trials and feel as if God has abandoned us, He's actually giving us an opportunity to reach out to him and gain a stronger relationship with him.

 [[ H e l l o  T h i r d  T r i m e s t e r ]]

Overall, I'm feeling pretty good. I have been trying to stay fit and cut sugar out of my diet which has helped me feel better in a lot of ways. Baby Corde has been kicking a TON and I am getting extremely eager to hold him in my arms. I'm amazed at how much my body has changed since I was only 11 weeks pregnant. WOW! (Bump Update: 11 Weeks)

What Fruit are you? Well, baby Corde is as big as a cauliflower or a rutabaga(Whatever the heck that is)

Due date:  December 26, 2014.

How far along: 27 weeks. 3rd trimester baby!!

Next appointment: October 14 at 9:45.

Gender:  It's a boy!

Total weight gain/loss: I lost some weight since my last appointment. I've gained a total of 20 pounds overall, so I'm doing pretty well.

Exercise:  I've been walking a lot and running when I feel up for it. Although, I usually end up regretting my run by the end of it.

Stretch marks: Boobs and hips.

Swelling: My hands, feet, and face feel puffy for sure.

Maternity clothes: are great!

Belly button: It's an outie. :P

Sleep: I've been sleeping alright. I normally wake up a few time during the night.

Food cravings: I've been wanting to eat literally everything. It's bad.

Symptoms:  I am so incredibly tired. Back pain, hunger, you know.. the normal stuff.

Movement: Lots of movement. Baby has lots of energy. 

Labor signs: Nope

What I miss: I have moments when I want my flat tummy back, running.

What I'm loving:  I'm in my 3rd trimester!! wahoo!

What I'm looking forward to: Kissing his little nose.
Best moment this week: Realizing I have lost weight and that I'm at a healthy weight.

I Smell Fall

I t 's  o f f i c i a l l y  f a l l !

I can smell fall in the air! I love fall and I can't stress that enough. It is such a short season, especially in Utah. It's as if the weather transitions from summer to winter in a matter of two weeks. This fall I feel like there are a million things I want to get done. In order to organize my thoughts, I put together a fall to-do list. It was comforting to see that my list wasn't quite as exhaustive as I had originally thought. Then again, finishing up Rusty's room and jazzing up my wall space are both big projects considering Rusty's room is barely even started and my and Corde's walls are BARE. 

o n e. Make caramel apples [NOMNOM]
t w o. Finish Rusty's bedroom
t h r e e. Downsize my wardrobe
f o u r. Jazz up my wall space
f i v e. Carve a pumpkin
s i x. Blog at least twice a week
s e v e n. Work out at least four times a week
e i g h t. Give blog a makeover
n i n e. Get maternity pics taken
t e n. Find the best chili recipe ever

Bump Update: 26 Weeks

If I didn't know any better I'd say that my due date was next week. HELLO BELLY. I feel like a giant person. Am I supposed to be this big? Am I growing an elephant in my womb or something? Can my stomach even get any bigger?

What Fruit are you? Eggplant. Wait, that's not even a fruit. 

Due date:  December 26, 2014 

How far along: 26 weeks

Next appointment:  Tuesday at 10:30

Gender:  It's a boy!

Total weight gain/loss:  I've gained about 25...ish. Just too much!

Exercise:  I've been walking a lot

Stretch marks: On my boobs. They are lightening up though.

Swelling: My hands, feet, and face feel puffy for sure.

Maternity clothes:  Thankgoodness for them!

Belly button:  It's an outie.

Sleep: I've been having a really hard time sleeping. I feel exhausted basically always.

Food cravings: I've been wanting to eat literally everything. It's bad.

Symptoms:  Cramping like always, but this week especially I have felt extremely hungry and exhausted.

Movement:  Lots of movement all the time. 

Labor signs: Nope

What I miss: I have moments when I want my flat tummy back, running.

What I'm loving:  How fast time is moving. I'm almost entering my 3rd trimester.

What I'm looking forward to:  Getting his room ready!! Seeing his sweet baby face!
Best moment this week: We set up Corde's crib!

Bump Update: 25 Weeks

It hit me the other day that I'm already on my 6th month of pregnancy. I think that as soon as I had hit the 20 weeks pregnant mark, time decided to speed up somehow because I feel in awe every time Friday comes around again. Suddenly all of these worries are starting to flood into my mind. Am I going to be a good mom? Am I going to drop my baby?(Yeah it's a legit fear I have) Am I going to have giant babies like my mom did? Will my labor last a long time? Am I going to be in too much pain to have a natural birth? The list goes on. I don't have much of any experience with babies and I'm feeling a lot of anxiety about this whole situation. But if every other woman can do it, than I can do it! I think..

And just to throw this out there, I feel like a puffy, tired, pregnant blob. I can't sleep and every time I stand up from sitting down for more than 5 minutes I feel like the muscles in my lower abdomen are going to ... rip.

What Fruit are you? Zucchini! Baby is about 13.6 inches and weighs about 1.5 pounds!!

Due date:  December 26, 2014 

How far along: 25 weeks

Next appointment:  September 23rd at 10:30 am. I get to be tested for gestational diabetes. I hate getting my blood drawn. :/

Gender:  It's a boy!

Total weight gain/loss:  I've gained about 25...

Exercise:  Well I can't run anymore because it HURTS! I've been trying to walk a lot though.

Stretch marks: On my boobs, but they are getting a lot lighter than they were before. I also have a tiny one on my thigh.

Swelling: My hands and feet a little. None of my rings fit.

Maternity clothes:  Thankgoodness for them!

Belly button:  Still working its way outward.

Sleep: I've been having a really hard time sleeping. I feel exhausted basically always.

Food cravings:  Chicken.

Symptoms:  Lots of random cramping in my lower abdomen and back pain, exhaustion, emotional..ness.

Movement:  Lots of movement all the time.

Labor signs: Nope

What I miss: I have moments when I want my flat tummy back, running.

What I'm loving:  How fast time is moving.

What I'm looking forward to:  Getting his room ready!! We finally ordered his crib!! Wooo!
Best moment this week: Nothing really.

Bump Update: 23/24 Weeks

Well I was too wrapped up in my Labor Day weekend plans to do my week 23 update, so here is my late, 23 weeks and 4 day bump update. For  the weekend, Corde and I went camping with Corde's family up in the mountains. I had a great time and it went by way too quickly. I saw a moose for the first time ever, learned to gut a fish and saw literally the biggest mushroom ever. We left Saturday morning and got back on Monday afternoon. Since I've been home I feel exhausted for some reason. I have a lot of cleaning to do (look at that sad, smudgy mirror) and I am ready to get into full on baby Corde Russell preparation mode. Let the fun begin! Is it just me or does my belly look gigantic?

What Fruit are you? Grapefruit- Baby weighs over 1 pound!

Due date:  December 26, 2014

How far along: 23 weeks, 4 days.

Next appointment:  September 20 something ;) I get to chug a yummy glucose drink and get my blood drawn so they can test me for gestational diabetes.

Gender:  It's a boy!

Total weight gain/loss:  I've gained about 25, and I'm not happy about it. I just started to switch my diet to mostly raw veggies and fruit, so that I can gain weight at a slower rate.

Exercise:  Well I can't run anymore because it HURTS! I've been trying to walk uphill as much as possible.

Stretch marks: On my boobs, but they are getting a lot lighter than they were before. I also have a tiny one on my thigh.

Swelling: My hands and feet a little, generally towards the end of the day.

Maternity clothes:  They are wonderful.

Belly button:  Still working its way outward.

Sleep: I've been tossing and turning in the night a lot.

Food cravings:  Chicken, pumpkin.

Symptoms:  Lots of random cramping in my lower abdomen and back pain.

Movement:  He is an extremely active little boy!

Labor signs: Nope

What I miss: I have moments when I want my flat tummy back, running.

What I'm loving:  That Corde can feel baby too.

What I'm looking forward to:  Getting his room ready!! 

Best moment this week: Nothing really.

 ^He is a lot happier at this moment than he looks.

 ^ The biggest mushroom in the history of ever.

 ^Corde's fish

^ Fish before he was gutted and eaten