31 weeks

I missed taking a picture and posting last week, but here's a picture from today at 31 weeks. Looks like I have a basketball attached to by abdomen. He's just as active as ever. I've started to have Braxton Hick's contractions occasionally. I expected them to be painful, but it's more uncomfortable than anything. BabyCenter.com says he's 16" long and 3.3 lbs this week and is getting ready for a growth spurt. When I went to the doctor last week I had gained 5lbs in the past 3 weeks. Although I should be gaining around a pound a week, the doctor wasn't concerned since I hadn't gained much in the beginning. I'm now up to 13 lbs of total weight gain.

My parents came to visit the weekend before last. We had a great time just hanging out. James started working on the nursery this weekend. He has the wall framed it, light switch moved, wall insulated and drywall up. He makes so much progress once he sets his mind on something. Once it's done I'll be sure to post before, during and after pictures like I did with the bathroom reno. My first baby shower is this weekend. I'm really looking forward to it!

29 weeks

2.5lbs and just over 15" long

We signed up for our expectant parents class this week.

We have a very active baby! Sometimes it feels like he's trying to get out through my belly button :)

I've been sleeping fairly decent. Wake up 3 or 4 times a night to change positions and sometimes once to go to the bathroom. Not bad overall. I always fall back to sleep right away. I hope it stays that way.

28 weeks

Beginning the last trimester, he's 2.25lbs and 14.8".



Here's what he looks like this week.

26 weeks, 2 days

Yep, my belly as officially popped! I really look pregnant and even have complete strangers talking to me about it. Like the guy re-gripping James' driver at Golf Smith in Indy. He was a grandpa and preceded to tell me all about his kids and grandkids, too funny! I'm finally starting to feel like I'm over the morning sickness...don't want to say that too loud for fear it'll come back. Now I just seem to need more sleep than normal, but am feeling great.

Last week he was At 13 1/2" long and a pound and a half. This week he's 14" and a pound and two thirds. It's no wonder my belly's growing! He's getting larger and I'm starting to feel the rolling movement instead of little jabs.

24 weeks

Five - Five dollar - Five dollar foot long...that's how long Baby Bitner is at 24 weeks and just over a pound. Here's what he looks like this week.

"he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon."

Upstair Bathroom Reno

As part of the renovation upstairs for the nursery, we decided to redo the bathroom. James gutted the bathroom and started fresh. I'm not sure what kind of taste the people who lived here before with the wallpaper and border and the cheap vanity, but like in all the other rooms we made this one match our style. Here are some pictures to show you how handy James is. I should have posted these at the end of December. I'm so lucky that he can do all this and we don't have to hire someone! The next step will be to work on the nursery and the little room outside this bathroom. James should get time for that after his class is done at the end of March. Can't wait to show you pictures of that!

BEFORE










DURING RENO










AFTER

23 weeks, 5 days

Baby Bitner is 11" long and just over a pound. BabyCenter says he can hear loud noises now. I believe it, because as I was flipping through the radio stations today and came to X103, he kicked me as if to say "leave it here, Mom". He's like James already :)

I went to the doctor Tuesday for my monthly checkup. Everything's progressing great. My fundal height is 23cm, right on track. I've only gained 2.2 lbs the whole pregnancy. The doctor doesn't seemed worried about it since everything else looks great. At my next appointment I'll have to take the gestational diabetes & anemia routine tests.

My mom came to visit this weekend. We went to the Columbus Kids Resale on Saturday morning. It was fun, but glad I didn't go with the intention that I HAD to have something specific. We picked up some bottles and toys. Mom wanted to get this lawn mower that made all sorts of noise. I have a feeling James and I will have to have ear plugs to block out all the toy noise. Then we went to BuyBuy Baby where we walked through and I showed her the stuff James and I had registered for last weekend. That store can be so overwhelming with all the selection! We had a great lunch and then went to Target where she helped me register for stuff there too. Of course she couldn't pass up buying a couple cute outfits. It was a beautiful weekend and great to have her to visit.