Hello again! This week has been quiet and relaxing, and I’ve been taking a break from cooking and the computer. It’s been nice!

I am 29 weeks pregnant today and BabyCenter says we are the size of a butternut squash.  It says it is 15 inches long and about 2.5 pounds. 15 inches is probably longer than the keyboard or computer screen you’re reading this on. It’s getting big!

Although the week seems quiet, we’re actually between our final two trips during pregnancy. Last weekend over Christmas we were in Florida with both of our parents for a little vacation. And this weekend we are going to Austin for a wedding on New Year’s Day. Jeffrey is the best man. During the week, I’ve been running errands and trying to rest!

Florida was very relaxing. One day I even woke up, had breakfast, and then went back to sleep for an hour. I don’t think I’ve been that lazy in a decade. I did walk each day barefoot on the beach with my mom for 30-45 minutes. Other than that, we just relaxed, shopped at the outlet mall (I got some non maternity pajama pants from the Gap that I have been living in), and I read a book! I didn’t really take any pictures, but we did the same trip last Christmas and I wrote about it then.

That’s kind of it for the week. Just a quiet one for taking it easy. I ordered our final piece of baby furniture–the dresser. Glad to have those decisions made! January will be about getting it all in the house hopefully.

Lots of kicks all day and night long, my clothes are getting more snug again. That’s the theme of winter break too. I know I have still many weeks to go, but it’s still hard to believe I’m going to keep growing. I hope my clothes fit! It is not fun to keep shopping for maternity clothes.

This week was also Hanukkah! Here’s a picture from our final night at home.

Wow, can you believe we are in the third trimester?! Well, maybe you can, but I really can’t believe we are probably over 2/3 through with this.

This week, BabyCenter says we are the size of a cauliflower! The baby is 2.25 pounds and over 14 inches long. Believe us that there really is something moving around in there. We can SEE it now kicking at me.

I had a doctor’s appointment on Monday, which are always something to look forward to. I go back in three weeks, and then it’s every two weeks twice and then every week!

Here are some highlights:

• I am up 17 pounds since the beginning, including 5 in the last 4.5 weeks. I definitely started gaining most of the weight in the last 10ish weeks. Hard to believe I have that much extra weight on me and I’m still feeling good. All the steps in our house make me breathless and my walks are much slower. But any exercise is better than none.
• If I continue to gain 1 pound per week, which is recommended, then I’ll be right at 30 pounds, and right in the middle of the suggested 25-35 pound gain. I would be ecstatic about that!
• My blood pressure and the baby’s heart rate are perfectly in range.
• The baby is head down and has been since the last appointment. While early still, it’s good that it knows how to get there.

Other highlights of the week:

• I am definitely getting bigger, and strangers are making comments. At a restaurant, I asked where the restroom is, and they said up two flights of stairs. I said no problem, and he looked at me like I may want to take the elevator. I am still in great shape, promise.
• We can visibly see kicks on my stomach, which is very bazaar!
• My appetite is increasing, meals are getting bigger. Snacks are more frequent.
• I can’t take a long walk without stopping to tinkle. That is really annoying because I have to stay near a public restroom or port-a-potty! I’ve been going to the gym more than walking outside because there are restrooms!
• I have been sleeping great at night. Crossing my fingers for this to continue.
• I’m on Winter Break from school, and it’s been an excellent time to get to the gym, walk Lily more, and be active around the house. I feel like I should take advantage while I’m feeling good.

Other things from this week was that we had a wedding in town. The pictures on this post are from that. I am only wearing flat shoes now, and have some awesome hot pink and gold sequined ones since I can’t wear fabulous wedges.

The navy dress above is a second dress I bought from Rosie Pope online. I had been having a hard time finding cute cocktail dresses for the many weddings we’ve had this season, and found two great ones that fit from Rosie. I’ll be wearing this one once more, and then our weddings are done.

Hello again! It seems like these posts are getting more frequent. This coming week is the final one of the 2nd trimester. I will be a little sad to say goodbye, it’s been kind of nice. Although, I’m very happy to be moving along and getting closer to the big day. I can’t believe we will be having a baby in 10-13 weeks. Hopefully not sooner.

This week, BabyCenter says the baby is almost 2 pounds and the size of a cauliflower! It is about 14.5 inches long. I really can’t believe there is something that big inside. I still remember when it was a lentil or a lemon and being weighed in ounces. This is the real deal.

Highlights of this week were a long weekend trip to Birmingham, AL for Jeffrey’s cousin’s wedding. We were there from Friday until Monday morning. Travel is definitely getting a little harder. Seats aren’t comfortable, but the Gilbert rule of “if you have a baby in the tummy, you get the aisle seat” is a good one. We have one more air trip left and one car trip and we’re done!

Sleeping in beds other than my own is also harder. I had a very difficult time falling asleep, similar to our Thanksgiving trip. Then when I get home, I’m back to normal. It’s just getting harder to travel! I’m very happy when it’s over.

While we were gone, Jeffrey and I took two walks around the neighborhood. I love walking around B’ham because of the cooler temperatures, hills, and beautiful trees and houses to see. But I was definitely slower this visit! And I had to stop at the local Publix to pee once during our 45 minute walk.

I continue to feel a lot of kicks, rolls and jabs. All day and all night. Some are even visible from the outside, which is real weird! And I continue to feel like I’m growing all over.

I go back to the doctor on Monday for the gestational diabetes test, and then my appointments might become more frequent starting in January.

See you next week from the third Tri!