BABY LUCAS: WEEK 28

Week 28 - Ben is the size of an eggplant, about 2 1/4 pounds and almost 14.5 inches long. I think his nickname should be my sweet Benny bear because this baby is just so good to me! He lets me sleep through the night, when I worry about the last time he kicked he gives me a little tap, he's given me a nice "glow" and I have had a really smooth pregnancy so far.

He has been wiggling around like crazy this week! On 6/23 I felt the first case of hiccups :)

On Wednesday, 6/24 we had our doctor's appointment. Total weight gain so far is 15 pounds. I received the Tdap shot and also found out I failed my glucose test - insert dramatic cry face. :( I was shocked to hear that I failed the test. I didn't receive a call to inform me, I have been exercising and gaining weight at a steady pace. Disappointed is an understatement because everything has been going so smoothly and I know it isn't uncommon to fail the 1 hour test. I am going to think positively and schedule the 3 hour test within the next week so we can know the results before our 30 week appointment.

My belly is measuring 29 weeks, which doesn't surprise me since I was 28.5 weeks at the appointment. It's funny that our midwife mentioned he had the stereotypical boy heartbeat, because up until our 20 week appointment she would comment that based on the heartbeat, she could have swore he was a girl! Looks like he is acting 100% boy now. :) He also kicked the midwife again while searching for his heartbeat.

We also asked/talked about a few things:

• Tammy and our midwife both agreed that they would recommend taking the infant care course over the childbirth course. We signed up for our class today - 8/3 and 8/10 at HCGH
•  Kay informed us that they advocate several birthing positions and have oil they massage on your bottom to help with the birthing process
• There is never a cut off time for an epidural, they only don't recommend it if you are about to start crowning
• They ensure the baby comes out slowly, to prevent tearing
• Once the baby is out, he is placed immediately on my stomach. They will deliver the placenta, do all of his vitals with him on me to ensure there is plenty of skin to skin
• They cut the umbilical cord once the cord stop pulsing to ensure all nutrients and benefits of the cord are with the baby
• We need to call our insurance to discuss if circumcision is included, but she feels it shouldn't be a large expense
• I can continue sleeping on my back for as long as it is comfortable for me. She says the fact that I am tilting my pelvis with a pillow wedged behind my back actually helps - my body would tell me if it wasn't comfortable

  New nursery items include a B hook for me to hang in his room and a knitted pouf to rest my feet on. I also purchased some things off our registry after returning some baby shower duplicates (the mesh crib bumper, changing pad liners, baby lotion and diaper pail refills).

The first day of week 28 fell on Father's Day! Ben is extremely lucky to have this handsome man as his papa bear. He is going to be such a natural and SO patient. I'm super appreciative to have Chris as my partner in this new journey. I think we make a pretty great team.

I designed a "baseball" style tee with LUCAS 01 DAD on the back for him to wear to the hospital. It's already been washed in dreft and is ready to be packed in our hospital bag!

The way the photos are cropped I look bigger than in person - I'll post some iPhone photos this week.

BABY LUCAS: WEEK 27 + BABY SHOWER RECAP

We kicked off week 27 with our baby shower - and hello, third trimester!

Ben is nearly 14.5 inches long and 1.9 pounds - the size of an acorn squash. This week's post is a long one, so hang in there with me!

Workouts this week have been walking and the elliptical. I would love to be able to jump in the pool this weekend, but we are busy-busy!

Nothing new in terms of symptoms. Our little cub is as sweet as can be in there and makes things easy for me. I have felt more pressure down below, so I'm wondering if he is settling in. I've been waking up an hour earlier than I normally do, but still sleeping well. Most times when I wake up he takes about 15 minutes to start rumbling.

OK - onto the shower... I always knew I wanted a garden themed baby shower and the theme didn't bother me when we found out we were having a little man. We've spent months planning out the shower and our family and friends made it so perfect!

We had about 50 guests at my mom's house and it was overwhelming seeing everyone in the same room! I'm super thankful our friend Brittany was there to help snap photos.

I found a few invitations I loved on Etsy and let Aunt Kiki pick her favorite for the shower. Gigi printed and sent them out for us! We decided mint would be a great start to the color palate :)

We asked everyone to bring a book to start Ben's library collection and these ladies did not disappoint! We only had 2 duplicates in the entire stack and those will find a nice home at my mom's house for Ben to have.

I cut 45 feet of paper flag banners that my mom helped string and hang in her living room. I wanted it to feel whimsical and these were a show stopper! The different shades of blue helped tie in all of the decorations!

Aunt Nikki created all of the flower arrangements throughout the house to tie in the garden theme. They were gorgeous and I would walk around from room to room just staring at them :)

A family photo after I opened gifts!

Our amazing Aunt Kiki who was always there for me helping to make this a shower I would never forget.

Aunt Nikki drew on our chalkboard to welcome guests.

Aunt Kiki got me a "mamma" sign for my chair and I'm so glad I have a close-up photo of this!

Gigi made our favors! Custom cookies with handmade bookmarks and wildflower seeds in mini pots. :)

The cake was from Baltimore Cakery - the same place and flavor as our wedding cake. Everyone raved over this cake so fighting traffic to pick it up the Friday before was well worth it!

I made a "Baby Ben" cake topper with string, paper straws, washi tape and stickers.

Cupcakes from Wegmans (Aunt Kiki) were amazing! Uncle Chris and Aunt Panda did an amazing job creating the food labels. I asked for watercolor and these turned out so great!!

My two little sweet gals - Jayden and Harper were all-stars helping me open gifts.

This sweet Lucy was so great at helping me open gifts and she sewed Ben and I the sweetest minky pillow that is currently sitting in his crib waiting for him!

The bump photos were strung in the kitchen for our guests to see.

Beautiful Aunt Britt! I am so thankful for the photos she captured of the day!

My sweet Sammy!

My little Rory Bear - waiting for her bear cub friend to come :)

24 years, marriage and babies!

It was a perfect day! We really are SO lucky to have so many people who care about us and about our Benny Bear. I'm still in shock by the amount of work that everyone put into this shower. Our Grammy D was the woman behind the scenes who worked tirelessly cleaning her home, preparing food and setting up decorations for 48 hours straight before the party. We love you!

This little piggy loved the cupcakes! haha

Monday (the day after the shower) I had my glucose test in the morning. I haven't heard anything all week so I am assuming I am in the clear! I'll know for sure at our 28 week appointment.

We have a mattress in the crib! After unpacking our gifts, I really loved the look of adding a pop of red in his nursery like this swaddle blanket. 

Instant tears were shed when I opened Rory's gift to Ben. I can't wait to see them wear these together! 

I started organizing his top dresser drawers. I've got newborn diapers with diaper items in the first drawer and burp cloths, bath/medical items in the second. Once everything is where I want it I'll add a note to the washi tape so Chris can easily navigate :)

I found the PERFECT mirror for his room at HomeGoods this week. It's grey with weathered wood and the tiniest streaks of blue. It really ties in the grey in the room and makes it so sophisticated. I can't stop sitting in the room and staring! 

I also snagged this pillow that has different shades of blue in the diamond patterns. I thought it was a nice touch and makes the room feel more masculine. I'm currently deciding between photos and books for the bottom ledge. Maybe it'll be a combination!

Week 27 has been so good to me. I can't believe we are in the third trimester and after our appointment next week we will be visiting the doctor's office every two weeks. Someone pinch me - I can't believe Ben will be in our arms in 3 short months!