Pregnancy Update: 28 Weeks

Maternity Clothes:  I feel like my belly is getting huge.  Everything feels tight and I still have 11 weeks to go.  I live in maternity capris, gaucho pants, and old navy maternity shirts.

Best Moment This Week:  Jace started t-ball this week and needed some extra help understanding the rules and practicing so we went to the ball fields for family night.  The kids had so much fun!  I loved watching Craig coach our kids on how to play.  He was so patient with them.  It really felt like a perfect moment in time.

Movement:  The baby is super active.  According to BabyCenter: By this week, the baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.  He is settling into the proper position for birth, with his head facing downward.  He's busy adding new skills such as blinking to an already impressive repertoire of tricks like coughing, sucking, hiccuping, and taking practice breaths.  His sleep now includes the REM phase which means he may already be dreaming. I love watching my belly roll in every direction.  He's definitely on a wake/sleep routine now but unfortunately he's awake during much of the night.  I hope that doesn't continue after birth.  I'm already so in love with this little guy!


Food Cravings:  Grapefruit, pears, green smoothies, blueberry bagels w/ cream cheese, salad, zucchini, whole grain bread w/ peanut butter spread, The Cheesecake Factory's Chicken Bellagio w/ cream pasta, and cinnamon bears w/ chocolate.


What I Miss Most:  I miss being able to wear clothes comfortably.  It's still so hot here so no matter what I wear I still feel overheated.  I'm thankful for a good air conditioner! :)


Sleep:  Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night super itchy or so thirsty that I drink a full water bottle in about 5 seconds.  The tired spell that I experienced in the first trimester is sneaking up on me again now that I'm in my last trimester.  Yesterday I took a 2 hour nap in the afternoon and went to bed at 10pm and slept just fine.  It makes me wonder if the baby is going through a growth spurt.


What I am Looking Forward To:  The Holidays!!  I love this time of year ... even though it can get hectic and stressful.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas should be lots of fun.  I love holidays with young kids.  They make it so fun and exciting.  Having something to look forward to each month makes the time go by faster too.  Brooke is already changing her mind about what she wants to be for Halloween on a daily basis.


Symptoms:  I could go on and on.  I think when my Doctor asks me this on my next appt. I might just start crying.  Where to start?  First of all, I'm breaking out.  I definitely don't have the pregnant glow that everyone talks about.  I'm overly emotional, headachey, and tired. I randomly will have pain and pressure on my pubic bone.  It feels  badly bruised but I think it's the ligaments stretching to make room for growing baby.  If I eat anything with too much salt I wake up in the middle of the night super itchy and extremely thirsty.  No more potato chips as an evening snack.  My hands and feet swell occasionally and I'm having braxton hicks contractions regularly.  


Other Thoughts:  I am so excited and happy to be starting my third and final trimester.  I love just laying down and tapping or rubbing my belly and getting a response in the form of a jab or kick.  I'm already dreaming of holding this baby boy for the first time and how I want to rearrange my bedroom to accommodate for all his belongings.  It's frustrating to not know where we will be.  I am due about a week after Craig's graduation from Thunderbird with his MBA in International Management so we may be moving shortly after the baby comes.  We are hoping for a good job and look forward to what adventures the future brings.