Bumpdate ~ Week 33

Week 33 - Third Trimester

• Baby is about the size of a : pineapple OR a junior tennis racquet 
• Weight : 4.7 lb.  |    17.20 in.
• Even though his bones are hardening, his skull is not solid and will not be fised until after birth.Baby's brain is developing more distinct functions and is controlling breathing, digestive functions and body temperature. Baby can tell the difference between night and day as well. Baby's lungs are mostly developed and would only need minimal medical support if he was born this week.

Gender: boy!

Weight Gain: 25 pounds

How I Feel: I'm feeling pretty good, other then being very tired. My back pops out of place pretty easily at this point, but most of the time I can get it back to somewhat normal. Thanks hormones! I've been going to the chiropractor the same weeks as my appointments and it has been helping a lot.

• Stretch marks: none
• Belly button: popped out
• Other: varicose veins (right calf only), swelling stays away with activity, lemon in my water and raspberry leaf tea, pelvis aches, a little bit of nausea in the mornings

Cravings: fresh fruit (especially watermelon), fresh salads and veggies, and buffalo wing sauce

Food Aversions: fish (except shrimp)

Movement: little man is moving about the same as last week. I feel him the most from 8-10 pm!

Sleep: still sleeping pretty well. This cough and the recent thunder storms have interrupted my sleep a little though.

Best Moment This Week: the last 2 days of school are this week! Summer break here we come!

Looking Forward to: my 34 week appointment and SUMMER BREAK!

What I Miss: not being out of breath all of the time. It's funny that I can get through a workout and running/sprinting pretty well, but walking up the stairs gets me right out of breath. Vacuuming? makes me breathe pretty hard.

Diet: Eating clean 90/20. I cut sugar out of my diet and it has helped so much with energy, weight gain, and swelling. This week I had one cheat meal on Sunday night (sushi...don't worry it was cooked shrimp sushi) and a mini cupcake. It hit the spot. Now that sugar is out of my diet, I don't crave it at all and I don't want to put it back in. Have you ever tracked your sugar? It's hiding in everything! The recommended amount of sugar is less than 16 grams a day. Take a look at what you eat. I bet your sugar intake is up in the 50-60 grams range. It's surprising and very eye opening!

Exercise: The same. I am very much looking forward to summer break and getting more sleep. I'll be working out around 8:30 am instead of 4:45 am. Yes please!

What's Happening This Week: Summer is here...mostly, and we are loving it! It was a 3 day weekend and I don't know if I could have loved it more. We didn't go anywhere and we didn't do too much. We were home and it was so nice! Saturday the hubs and I cleaned and re-organized the storage in the basement. Everything has a spot and everything is labeled. That felt good! We go to the Saturday night service at our church, which means Saturday and Sunday mornings I get to sleep in. Amazing. Sunday afternoon we went to our neighbor and friend's (Dayton's girlfriend), Livi's 2nd birthday party. Livi had a bounce house, snacks, and lots of friends. Dayton actually got in the bounce house and loved it - as long as mama or dada was in there with him.

Monday was blissful. The weather was nice and we grilled out and ate on the deck twice. Summer lovin' at its best. Monday night a few girls came over for the Bachelorette. I love our girls nights. Tuesday is a full day of school and daycare, Wednesday is a short day for my students and a normal day for teachers - but it's the student's last day!! Thursday is a teacher work day, but we are out of here at 1 pm and I can. not. wait! Summer is almost here y'all!

Bumpdate ~ Week 32

Week 32 - Third Trimester

• Baby is about the size of a : Napa cabbage OR a plastic scooter board
• Weight : 4.2 lb.  |    16.69 in.
• Baby's movements will increase until they plateau, but will not reduce even though there is not much room left in the uterus. Baby boy can now use all five senses! Baby is busy looking around, practicing breathing, grabbing whatever is in reach, tasting amniotic fluid and listening to the voices around him.

32 week appointment:

• heart beat: 127 bpm
• weight gain: 25 lbs.
• measuring: 33 weeks
• baby boy is head down! 

Gender: boy!

Weight Gain: 25 pounds (...which I feel good about! I was at 30 lbs. at 32 weeks with Dayton.)

How I Feel: I don't know why, but for some reason being pregnant has just been hard this week. I feel like I have been struggling so much with my workouts, I am completely exhausted, I'm nauseus in the morning and my pelvis and hips just hurt, like a lot. I'm guessing that it's the end of the school year stress/exhaustion. Ever see this before?

Well, I need one that says, "There's no tired like end of the year, in her 3rd trimester, works out at 4:45 am, and chases around a busy boy toddler teacher tired." Seriously though.

• Stretch marks: none
• Belly button: popped out
• Other: varicose veins (right calf only), some swelling in my ankles, pelvis aches, a little bit of nausea in the mornings.

Cravings: fresh fruit (especially watermelon), fresh salads and veggies, cheese, and buffalo wing sauce

Food Aversions: fish (except shrimp)

Movement: little man is still moving around in there. His movements have changed though. I feel him at breakfast, around 10 am, after lunch, and from 9-10 pm the most. His movements don't feel like "kicks" anymore, they feel more like pushes. He still pushes his back and booty out to the right side quite often. Now that he's getting bigger it's a little uncomfortable. I just hope he doesn't flip one of these times!

Sleep: still sleeping well, but I am waking up to turn over more at night

Best Moment This Week: taking naps. I got 2 quick naps in this week! One on Monday when I was home in the afternoon with Dayton (he was sick) and one on Tuesday when I was home in the afternoon because my 32 week appointment was at 2:45 pm. It. was. glorious.

Looking Forward to: summer break. We're in the single digits people.

What I Miss: my hips and pelvis not aching. Not complaining, just saying!

Diet: I have been awesome this week at eating clean. After my binging on sweets last week I didn't feel so great after the weekend, so I cleaned everything up and I haven't had any kind of sugar (other than natural sugar from fruit) since Monday night (it was Bachelorette night at my house!). I'm feeling much better as far as nutritionally. Clean eating really is the way to go. I promise! Once you get the sugar out of your system, you don't crave it. I plan to at least have a bite (or two) of a sweet this weekend though. :)

Part of the reason I am trying to eat so clean these last few weeks is because I am trying to help prepare my body for labor. I want it in tip-top condition for a natural, un-medicated birth.

Exercise: I am still working out 6 days a week using Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer. I'm on phase 3 and it's pretty much kicking my butt. Wednesday I had a leg workout and I don't think I have ever sweat so much. I ended working out after school since Brad had to leave the house at 5 am that morning.

While I was stretching, a college kid said, "Good for you." I took off my head phones and said, "What?" He continued to tell me that he was impressed that I was still working out so hard and still running and doing sprints. He said he was a health/fitness something-or-other major and his professors had talked about how important it was to work out while you were pregnant. He said he hoped his wife worked out while she was pregnant. He was too sweet (not weird) and it was just what I needed to hear at the end of a hard workout.

Don't get me wrong, the hubs tells me how proud of me he is almost every day, but it was nice to hear someone else tell me "good job." I can't tell you how many negative comments I get about working out while pregnant. It's kind of dis-heartening sometimes. I know what I'm doing is best for me and my baby. So I'll continue to do it - negative comments or positive ones!

What's Happening This Week: Again, this week is pretty quiet. Dayton had a fever over the weekend, so we kept him home on Monday. The hubs stayed with him in the morning and I came home for the afternoon. That night the neighbor girls and some other friends cam over to watch the Bachelorette. I'm pretty darn excited about JoJo this season. I really liked her and hoped she would be the next Bach! I made skinny funfetti dip. It's my all time favorite! You can find the recipe here. (Also, I love that website - Eat Yourself Skinny. She has some delicious, skinny recipes!) Tuesday I had the afternoon off because my 32 week appointment was at 2:45 pm. My appointment was with my midwife Kim. She is seriously amazing.

Wednesday was quiet. The hubs got home a little late, but we were able to grill out and then I was off to my hair appointment. We don't have much of anything planned for the rest of the week. It is a three day weekend, which I am completely in need of! We plan to work out cleaning out and re-organizing the storage room downstairs and pulling out the baby items that we will need for the first month or two! I can't believe we're less than eight weeks away from my due date. Weird!

Why Wouldn't You...

There is never a dull moment when raising a toddler. #duh. Some of those moments are filled with smiles and laughter. Sometimes they're filled with cries and thoughts of pulling your hair out. Some of those moments are filled with eye rolls, patience, grace, and eventually giggles. If I had a nickel for every time I said, "Oh hunny...", I might just be rich by now.

Even through the tears, the eye rolls, the "oh hunny's," and the belly laughs it's easy to say that as I look back at those moments with my first born, I wouldn't change a thing. This kiddo is my whole world and he makes each day better. I am so thankful for the precious gift I've been given!

So I present to you...

Why wouldn't you...

...not smile for the camera. Almost ever?

...spread your blanket out perfectly straight in bed when you're supposed to be going to sleep?

...take off your pants, spread out your blanket in the kitchen, and say, "nigh nigh!"?

...ask to be covered in your new sleeping bag and then cry because mama covered you?

...lay on the floor and sing the ABC song to your dog?

...cry because mama wouldn't let you brush your teeth in the morning when we're late and trying to get out the door?

...weed whack in the house without your safety goggles and pretend you're vacuuming?

...ask to put lotion on your face and then proceed to try to put the entire bottle of Aquaphor on your face? I mean, it looks amazing.

...tackle daddy every. single. night to say goodnight? And before you tackle him you tell him, "One time." Okay Day, one time.

..."shovel" the deck in the middle of April? (because we live in Iowa, that's why)

...get super excited about putting the five stickers that you got on you?

...pretend to cut your friends hair at daycare (because you just got a haircut)?

...try to sit on a flamingo?

...want to mow the grass every single night?

And just be the cutest thing I have ever laid eyes on. We love you Dayton. Every single minute of every day.

Bumpdate ~ Week 31

Week 31- Third Trimester

• Baby is about the size of a : bunch of leeks (as long as)  OR  the size of a foam finger
• Weight : 3.8 lb.  |   16.18 in.
• Little man is accumulating fat underneath his skin. He can grow as much as half a pound per week at this point! He is still shedding some of the lanugo (body hair). Even though his lungs are the last thing to develop, baby is practicing breathing 30-40% of the time. His bones are also continuing to harden.

Gender: boy

Weight Gain: 24 pounds

How I Feel: For the most part I'm feeling pretty good. I will say there have been some minor changes recently. I feel like I hit 30 weeks and various symptoms started popping up. For example, my pelvis hurts and aches, a lot. I get some pretty sharp pains randomly in my lower cervix area. My midwife told me this is seriously called, "fork in the vagina." (also called lightening vagina) Yep, that's pretty much what it feels like too. I cracked up when she said this, but she said it was true! Okey dokey.

I've also had times of the day when the nausea is back. Nothing too unbearable, but I definitely don't feel good. It seems to be mostly in the morning. My right leg is having more trouble. Every now and then it feels numb-ish, my right ankle sweels, and it's kind of just uncomfortable feeling. I never had ANY of these problems with Dayton, so this is new for me! No complaints though. Honestly. I am more than happy to be pregnant and refuse to complain about one thing. I'm only being honest about how I feel so that if we get to have #3 then I will remember what I went through with #1 and #2!

I'm also much warmer than normal and get hot easily. Especially at night.

• Stretch marks: none
• Belly button: popped out
• Other: varicose veins (right calf only), some swelling in my ankles, right lower back pains, a little bit of nausea.

Cravings: fresh fruit (especially watermelon), fresh salads and veggies, cheese, and buffalo wing sauce

Food Aversions: fish (except shrimp)

Movement: little man is still moving pretty consistently, but his movement have definitely slowed down. I don't feel the "kicks" or "punches" as much, just slower feet movement on my upper stomach. He still pushes out to the right side often. Little man is head down, facing towards my spine, with his butt up in my right ribs.

Sleep: still sleeping great, except if I get hot, then I can't sleep at all

Best Moment This Week: the countdown to summer break. As of this moment, we have 10.5 days left and I cannot wait!

Looking Forward to: our 32 week appointment next week with my midwife, Kim. I love her! Somewhat hoping she has me do an ultrasound so that we can check my uterus fluid level. I'm sure everything is fine, but I worry now and then.

What I Miss: just little things, like getting in and out of the car easily and rolling over in bed

Diet: My diet hasn't changed much at all this pregnancy. I eat clean about 80/20. I have been craving sugar lately, but that is probably do to the fact that it is everywhere!! The end of school always brings extra treats in the teacher's lounge, which I try really hard to steer clear of. Confession... on Sunday Dayton and I went to the popcorn shop in our downtown to pick up 17 (yep, you read that right) bags of popcorn for end of the year thank you gifts for my team. We had to grab one extra one of caramel corn for home. It was sooo good and I ate almost the entire bag. So bad, but so good.

Exercise: The same. Still lifting weights and running 6 days a week. I'm still on Jamie Eason's LiveFit trainer, Phase 2. I am feeling more fatigued before and after my workouts, but once I get going I do pretty well. I'm still running 3-5 minute intervals with speed intervals. I run two minutes at 6 mph, 2 minutes at 7 mph, and 1 minute at 6 mph. My right leg always gets tired, but I'm sure that's do to where the baby is sitting.

I'm still getting up at 4:30 am Monday through Friday to workout. Saturday we go to the gym around 9:30ish and Sunday is my rest day. This has been working out great! even though it's really hard some mornings to wake up that early during the week. How many days until summer?

What's Happening This Week: Life has been so much better since our schedules have slowed down. I can't even tell you how much I needed that! Monday was low key and a cloudy so we didn't get outside much. Tuesday we have nothing going on and we're hoping to go for a bike ride! Wednesday is about the same. Thursday we are headed over to our friends Kate and Ryan's house to plan our family vacation to St. Louis! I'm so excited to take Dayton to the zoo! Emma (their daughter) is still pretty small, but I know she'll enjoy being outside and walking around looking at the animals. This weekend will be dedicated to baby room prep and changing Dayton's bed to his bog boy bed!

Speaking of Dayton...he's peeing on the potty!! We are so excited and he is the one who initiated it! He goes on the potty about 50% of the time. I'm waiting until our first week of summer to fully potty train him using the three day method. Since he's doing so well, I think it'll go pretty smoothly...at least I hope so!!

Bumpdate ~ Week 30

Week 30- Third Trimester

• Baby is about the size of a : large cabbage OR a bike helmet 
• Weight : 3.7 lb.  |   15.71 in.
• Baby is now able to see. Even though it is dark in there, baby's eyes are wide open and looking around. Baby's brain is growing rapidly, so baby will not gain much weight or height this week.  Baby is shedding lanugo from his skin and his hair is growing thicker.  

Gender: boy

Weight Gain: 22 pounds

How I Feel: Still feeling pretty much the same. A little bit of swelling by night time in my ankles and a little bit of pelvic/hip pains, but nothing major.

• Stretch marks: none
• Belly button: popped out
• Other: vericose veins (right lcalf only)

Cravings: fresh fruit, chips and salsa

Food Aversions: fish (except shrimp)

Movement: about the same. Lil' bit is moving, pushing, kicking, and wiggling his arms around.

Sleep: sleeping great, except when I am hot - then I don't sleep well at all

Best Moment This Week:

Looking Forward to: my 30 week appointment this week

What I Miss: nothing I can think of

Diet: I am back on track and eating clean 80/20. It was nice to eat a little sugar and some sweets, but I definitely don't feel myself when I do. My body is not used to the sugar, so I don't always feel great after I eat it. I am still drinking lemon water and red raspberry leaf tea to help with swelling and water weight.

Exercise: The same. Still lifting weights and running 6 days a week.

What's Happening This Week: This week is going to be very quiet and I'm pretty happy about it. We'll be at home, enjoying the family time! This weekend is our neighborhood's garage sale, which always brings in a ton of traffic (like, the police have to be there to help conduct traffic and write tickets) from Thursday to Saturday. It just so happens that four or five other big neighborhoods in town are also having their garage sales as well. Brad is going hunting, so Day and I will enjoy the time walking around outside and garage-saleing.

Spring in May

We're enjoying the warm weather around here lately...finally! Dayton loves to be outside and well, so do we. One of his favorite things to do is mow. I'm pretty sure he'd rather mow than almost everything else. It's just so darn cute! He has to be right next to him too. The hubs is so sweet and so patient while Dayton follows him around. I posted a video on Instagram (@bishopklb) of Dayton looking back at Brad while he was mowing to make sure he was doing it just like him. It totally melts my heart.

I'm working on a list of things for us to have at the house while we're home for the summer and for when I am on maternity leave! We're going to have six whole months of time at home together and Day and I both love to be outside! Here's what I've come up with so far. Any other ideas?

• pool pass
• large wooden swing set for the backyard
• Strider toddler bike
• Little Tikes picnic table with umbrella
• kiddie pool (plastic one) for the mornings
• sandbox (the hubs has the plans to build this!)

Things we already have:

• bubble mower
• water table
• swing
• outside play trucks
• sidewalk chalk
• toddler golf set
• toddler bat and stand set
• wagon
• play car
• bike trailer

Am I forgetting something that's fun to do outside?? Have I said how much I love summer yet?

Bumpdate ~ Week 29

Week 29- Third Trimester

• Baby is about the size of a :  large butternut squash OR a Barbie convertible 
• Weight : 3.3 lb.  |   16 in.
• Baby's brain is now in charge of maintaining his body temperature and also controls his breathing. Lil' bit's iris' can respond to light by dilating and contracting. All of his internal organs are maturing and are preparing to function on their own at birth. I might even be able to feel baby cough! Baby's skin is looking a little less wrinkly too. 

Gender: boy!

Weight Gain: 21 pounds

How I Feel: I am feeling pretty good still! I have noticed a little bit of swelling in my ankles at night, but nothing majorly uncomfortable. I do stand on my feet all day at work, so it makes sense! Drinking my lemon and water as well as red raspberry leaf tea does help a lot. My right leg seems to be worse, so maybe that has something to do with where baby is sitting? Who knows!

• Stretch marks: none
• Belly button: popped out
• Other: vericose veins in my right calf. My friend Kate let me borrow her. I'm hoping this helps a bit if I can where them sometimes. Now that the weather is getting warmer, they will be harder to wear!

Cravings: watermelon

Food Aversions: fish (except shrimp)

Movement: Little man moves a lot and pretty consistently throughout the day. He still prefers to have his back on the right side of my belly and he likes to push out, just like Dayton did. His little bum is up in my right ribs, but so far it's not too bad. Most of his kicks and punches don't affect my ribs at all.

Sleep: sleeping great

Best Moment This Week: I'm going on a girl's overnight trip this weekend!

Looking Forward to: summer break. The countdown is on. And my 30 week appointment.

What I Miss: getting up and down easily

Diet: I'm trying to eat clean 80/20, but it's been so hard this week! This week is teacher appreciation week and we've had some kind of treat in the teacher's lounge each day. Monday I had self control, Tuesday there was caramel popcorn from the popcorn shop downtown that I love, Wednesday our principal brought Hansen's ice cream which I absolutely ate, Thursday was Scratch mini cupcakes - duh, and Friday I didn't partake of the fudge and cookies. Now that all of that sugar is in my body, trying to get it out and eat clean 80/20 is going to be hard!

Exercise: I am still working out 6 days per week using Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer by lifting weights and running. Running is still going great! I plan to continue running until delivery if it continues to go well.

What's Happening This Week: Our week are pretty relaxed and it's been wonderful! Monday night we went for a bike ride after dinner. It was gorgeous and Dayton loves riding in the trailer. Man, has it been a long time since I've been on a bike! It was pretty awkward for me at first, especially with this belly, but I got the hang out of by the time we got out of the neighborhood! Ha! Tuesday we went out to dinner with our church small group. We went to a local favorite, Tony's Pizzaria, and were able to sit on the patio. We ordered a few large pizzas and I ended up having a create your own salad. It's my favorite! Wednesday and Thursday were pretty low key. Friday I am off on my girl's weekend to Des Moines!

Our small group! (minus 4 people)

Week 29!