31 weeks - Surprise Baby Shower

How far along: 31 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Pineapple - Over 16 inches long. Total weight gain: 26 lbs.  Exercise: 1 prenatal yoga class, 2 gym days Maternity clothes: Anything comfortable... sometimes Matt's shirts? Sleep: Definitely tired by the end of the day and ready to fall asleep. Still getting up once at about 5am to go to the bathroom. Best moment(s) of this week: Well... technically this was last Saturday, but we'll call it this week. My sister-in-law Kim and her sister Sheryl put together a surprise baby shower for us where Matt's family from Pittsburgh came along with friends from the Philly area. Kim also got in contact with some of my friends and family from Oregon and had them send items/cards to the shower, so it felt great to feel so loved from across the states. 

Me, my niece Lena, Kim (sister-in-law), Laura (sister-in-law) and Mom Roth

Miss anything: Just feeling like my old self. Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant, but it will be great to be more mobile once the baby is born. Movement:I think he's been in every possible position this week - side to side, head up, head down, diagonal---let's just hope he gets head down and stays there in the next few weeks. Food cravings: Bagels with cream cheese, Salad with cucumbers, cranberries, sunflower seeds and ranch and spicy foods Symptoms: Just feeling a little low on energy, but still truckin' along.  Have you started to show yet: Mmmhmm, people are starting to wonder if I am really due in July. Gender: Still a boy! Belly button in or out: Out! Wedding rings on or off: Same as before, still on. Looking forward to: A nice long 3 day weekend with Matt and then going to the midwife on Wednesday. Hopefully he's still doing well in there!

30 weeks

How far along: 30 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Head of Cabbage - 15 3/4 inches head to heel. Total weight gain: 25 lbs.  Exercise: 1 prenatal yoga class, a walk from our house to get ice cream at the Trolley Car Diner. -- Good thing the gym membership is only $10 a month... not getting too much use out of it this last month.. definitely need to make myself go more often! Maternity clothes: Short sleeves, tank tops, capris, dresses - the weather has been great! Sleep: Just trying to get comfortable... but sleeping well overall. Best moment(s) of this week: Appointment at the new midwife practice, and feeling like we made a good choice about switching. Our midwife said that he was head down, and growing at a very good pace! Can't ask for anything better than that! Miss anything: The ability to carry heavy things. Movement: The midwife told me that when there is a big bump showing on my stomach that it is most likely his bottom, and he's definitely not shy about doing that.  Food cravings: Salad with dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and ranch, ice cream, and homemade pizza. Symptoms: Foot and leg cramping at night. Just got the TDAP (Whooping Cough) vaccine on Wednesday and my arm has a swollen, hot, sore circle about 3 inches in diameter at the injection site... have been told this is a common mild allergic reaction, but it looks about like any part of my body would like after I get a bee sting. Hopefully, it will go down soon. Have you started to show yet: Bigger and better every week! Gender: Still a boy! Belly button in or out: I had one of my students tell me that it was the baby's big toe! Wedding rings on or off: Small indent on my finger, but still able to take them on and off. Looking forward to: Seeing the Roth side of the family this weekend when they come to visit. 

29 weeks - BabyMoon Weekend!

How far along: 29 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Butternut Squash - 15 1/2 inches head to heel. Total weight gain: 25 lbs.  Exercise: 1 prenatal yoga class, 1 gym day, some hiking around with Matt on our babymoon. Maternity clothes: Just cycling through the same outfits week after week, ready for summer so I can wear some shorts! Sleep: I've realized that I sleep on my left side all night, and then wake up on my back at 5am. Then I roll over to my right side. I guess once my body gets comfortable, it just stays in one spot. Best moment(s) of this week: Our babymoon at The Glasbern Inn! Matt and I are having a great time so far, only getting locked out of our room twice (not baby brain related... Matt...:)), getting massages together, enjoying the view of a bull and his mate with a baby calf outside our porch, and looking forward to a yummy 4 course meal tonight! What a treat! Miss anything: Endurance Movement: He has been getting himself into some pretty wild positions lately, where my belly feels really hard in one place and squishy in another.  Food cravings: Cucumbers and ranch, salad, homemade burgers by Matt Symptoms: Foot and leg cramping at night, upper back soreness by the end of the day Have you started to show yet: Definitely. Gender: Still a boy! Belly button in or out: Very out. Wedding rings on or off: Still on, I hope I don't have to take them off! Looking forward to: Meeting with a midwife at a new practice on Wednesday, hoping that it goes well and that we are able to have the natural birth we are hoping and praying for.

28 weeks - Third and final trimester!

How far along: 28 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Eggplant - 15 1/2 inches head to heel. Total weight gain: 24 lbs.  Exercise: 1 prenatal yoga class, a nice walk to the local Wawa for a blue raspberry slushie, and a walk to the Trolley Car Diner with Matt for some ice cream... I guess if I'm walking, I am hoping for some kind of treat in the end. :) Maternity clothes: The demi-band pants are not working so hot anymore, I have graduated to full-panel pants now, or else really stretchy waist pants. He's hanging out pretty low, so most everything I have is really tight around the waist! Sleep: Sleeping well... hot showers before bed are still necessary. It is definitely getting harder to roll over, because I really have to put some effort into moving my belly, so I mostly just sleep on one side. Best moment(s) of this week: My sweet Aunt Joanie and Uncle Jay generously bought us a much needed nursery item, a comfy glider and ottoman! I can't wait to use it once baby Roth is here! Pictures to come... Miss anything: Spontaneous trips, but... luckily the weather has been great here so there have been plenty of fun things to do locally in the sunshine. Movement: He has been getting himself into some pretty wild positions lately, where my belly feels really hard in one place and squishy in another.  Food cravings: Graham Slam Ice Cream (if you haven't tried it, it's amazing), frozen yogurt, slushies,  Symptoms: Some foot and leg cramping at night, but no heartburn yet! Have you started to show yet: I did get asked if I was having twins yesterday... Gender: some kind of giant? Belly button in or out: Very out. Wedding rings on or off: Still on, I hope I don't have to take them off! Looking forward to: A much needed haircut this week!

27 weeks!

How far along: 27 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Head of cauliflower - 14 1/2 inches head to heel. Total weight gain: 22 lbs.  Exercise: 1 prenatal yoga class, 1 gym day. The weather has been so nice, so I'm always out and about once I get off work! Maternity clothes: The weather is getting warm again, and it's so nice to not have to wear a jacket anymore. Sleep: Still sleeping well, can't complain at all! Best moment(s) of this week: Going to the my baby appt. on Friday and having a lot of positive conversation with my nurse practitioner about how things have been going, and the road to natural birth. Everything is still low-risk and baby is moving and growing well. Also, passed my glucose test, and all blood tests. Woo hoo! And.... today we bought our crib!! Matt finally decided on one and it is made in the U.S.A. - It will arrive in June, so excited. Miss anything: Simply bending over without having to squat. Movement: He's definitely an early riser, but not too early...  every morning when my alarm goes off at 6am, he starts kicking away. Food cravings: Strawberry pie, that I made this week.. Unfortunately (but really, fortunately) Matt doesn't enjoy strawberry pie, sooooo... there may or may not be a whole pie for me to eat. Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope! Have you started to show yet: Yes, yes, yes...  Gender: A big boy. Belly button in or out: It's o-u-t, out. Wedding rings on or off: On, but getting tighter... Looking forward to: Baby appointments every two weeks! It's starting to become real...

26 weeks

How far along: 26 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Head of Lettuce - 14 1/2 inches head to heel. Total weight gain: 20 lbs. - I think I forgot to update last week? Exercise: 1 prenatal yoga class, and lots of yard work once I get done with work each day since the weather has been so nice! Things are really shaping up around here - Matt and I even planted our garden on Saturday! Maternity clothes: What else? Sleep: Sleeping well, alternating between the Snoogle pillow and regular pillows, whatever feels most comfortable. Only getting up once to go to the bathroom, sleep has been going well! Best moment of this week: Matt telling me he can "hear" the baby in my belly when he sticks his ear there... not sure myself, since I can't get my head down there! Miss anything: Nothing too much, a hot bath would be nice! Movement: It feels like it's getting tighter in my belly for him, so I feel a lot of rolling and smooth movements against my belly, not as much jabbing anymore. Food cravings: Pineapple, grapes, eggs Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope! Have you started to show yet: I'm getting asked more and more frequently by strangers, "When are you due?" Gender: Boy, and I just found a really cute pair of baby sunglasses yesterday since he will be born in the middle of summer!  Belly button in or out: It's o-u-t, out. Wedding rings on or off: On. Looking forward to: Getting the nursery finished and ready for baby Roth! Curtains are made (pictures to come next week). Also some great Craigslist finds - White Ikea bookshelf - $20, Set of 3 drawers (to be painted yellow) for next to crib - $10, and 5 drawer dresser  (to be painted yellow) - $20 to be used as a changing table/clothing/diaper storage. Hopefully getting the crib next week! 

25 weeks - Pictures galore!

Not the best lighting, but hey we're not photographers.

I had my final research study appointment on Friday and the technician was able to get some great 3D pictures of the sweet baby...

Big yawn! Or maybe sleeping with his mouth open like his Mama?

Happy little guy!

Look at that cheek!

Sweet baby...

*He is already weighing in at 2 pounds 2 oz. which is a little ahead of schedule.. definitely eating plenty over here so he can grow!

How far along: 25 weeks and 5 days. Fruit/Vegetable Comparison and Size: Rutabaga - 13 1/2 inches head to heel. Total weight gain: 15 lbs. Exercise: 1 gym day, 1 prenatal yoga class, multiple outdoor walks with the kids at school on our 80+ degree days this week! Maternity clothes: We had a couple of hot days this week, so dresses are a must - something with air flow! This little guy is like a mini heater in my belly. Sleep: My favorite time of day... it feels to great to lay down. Best moment of this week: Receiving surprise gifts in the mail from sweet, sweet friends. Miss anything: Putting on my shoes without having to hang onto something so I don't fall over. Movement: He's making some big movements, nothing waking me up at night though, thank goodness.  Food cravings: Still meat, and english muffins, toast, and salty things. Anything making you queasy or sick: No sickness here, PTL! Have you started to show yet: A student in my class asked if I was hiding a basketball under my shirt. Gender: I'm just not going to comment here this week... Belly button in or out: Half out. Wedding rings on or off: On. Looking forward to: The summer and swimming! I would enjoy feeling weightless in the water.
And... what you've all been waiting for.. baby Matt and baby Kristin pictures! Who does he look like??

Baby Matt as a newborn.

Baby Kristin a few days old.