July 5, 2011 - Week 31

Abby should be about the size of FOUR navel oranges or a head of lettuce and weigh slightly over three pounds.  Abbygale should gain three to five pounds (possibly more) before we meet her in a couple of months.  Abby should have all five senses now even though she can’t smell anything since she is still submerged in amniotic fluid.  One of her very first scents she breathes in will be Bryan and mines – which should become her favorite smells!!  The thought is so sweet!

What are some changes I have experienced while pregnant?

*More clumsiness than the usual Ingram accidents
*Forgetfulness
*Less concerned about a spotless house
*An increase in shoe size
*My nails are now a lot stronger and grow fast
*So tired but can’t sleep well – able to take naps now
*Can eat ice cream without getting sick
*HOT, HOT, HOT (when typically always COLD, COLD, COLD)
*A need for sweets when I have never been much of a sweet eater
*Laugh until I cry for really no reason at all
*Unable to keep my feet pretty since I can’t reach them without cutting off circulation
  and feeling miserable
*Less stress over the little stuff
*Walk slower than normal
*Killer heartburn throughout the day but especially at night
*A new love for my body (enjoying the pregnancy look)

I had a doctor’s appointment with Dr. Laurette Smith on Wednesday, July 6, 2011. No real news is good news right?  Abby’s heartbeat was roughly 140.  They told me everything looked good and on track.  My heartburn, hotness, and lack of sleep are all just pregnancy symptoms.  She didn’t see any concerns.  She told me to continue taking Zantac for heartburn but to take it roughly 30-45 minutes before my episodes normally occur.  Also take Tums at the same time as I take the Zantac.  Let’s see if it will work!  I go back in two weeks for another checkup.

Here are the 31 Week pictures:

Profile Picture, 31 Weeks

 Growing, Growing, Growing!

 31 Weeks Pregnant

 Miss Abbygale Kate

 Miss Abby Helford

 9 Weeks to Go!

 Big Belly at 31 Weeks

 Abby's Sister, Matty 7/10/2011

Matty resting for the arrival of Miss Abby!

George resting for the arrival of Abbygale!

Abby's Brother, George, July 10, 2011

Abby already loves her Big Brother George!

June 28, 2011 - Week 30

Week 30 with only 10 more weeks to go; the thought of this takes my breath away due to a combination of excitement and nerves!  I still feel the need to pee all the time (I’m guessing because Abby’s head is pressing on my bladder), I am tired all the time again, and pregnancy heartburn is still a big part of my life these days. 

Abbygale’s height and weight probably haven’t changed much in a week but the big news is Abby’s brain gain.  Abby’s brain should be taking on characteristic grooves and indentations.  This allows for an increased amount of brain tissue.  Abby is becoming a little genius more and more each day!!  She should weigh roughly 3 pounds or a little less/more.

I have been swimming some at my Aunt and Uncle’s house.  Swimming makes me feel so much lighter and is supposed to be good exercise too!  I am always so very hot that going swimming helps cool my body off too!  I’m hoping to keep up the pool dates because I always sleep better and feel better after walking around in the pool for a little while.

What do I eat a lot of being pregnant?  Dan’s Hamburgers knows my order by my name pretty much.  When I walk in they don’t even have to ask for my name – they go and get the to-go bag that is for me.  The other day one waitress said, “I didn’t even know you were expecting?”  I said “Did you think I was just getting rounder and rounder?”  She said, “Well we didn’t want to think it was our tacos!!”  I found that hilarious!  Breakfast tacos are a hit these days (as they were before I was pregnant too).  I do eat about the same stuff I ate before (my favorites being Mexican food and Taco Bell).  However, I do eat more ice cream cones and ice cream in general and crave anything ice cold (ice cold water, ice cold limeades, etc).  Ice cream use to make me sick and now I can eat it without any problems; it actually feels really good (keeps me cool) and is suppose to help with heartburn!

My stomach is getting huge!  I soak it in cocoa butter every evening and so far I have no stretch marks!  I sure do hope this continues to be the case!  I can’t bend over to paint my toe nails anymore.  It is extremely uncomfortable and takes my breath away.  Thankfully I have a date planned this Friday with a good friend, Lauri, and her daughter Kailei for a pedicure and possibly a manicure too.  I am SO ready for some pretty feet again! 

I have really enjoyed my pregnancy to date even with the killer heartburn!  I have enjoyed watching my stomach grow knowing a little baby that Bryan and I created is growing inside of me.  It is truly a miracle and a life-changing event!  I do feel like I have the pregnancy glow and really have enjoyed wearing maternity clothes knowing that I am carrying a baby!  It has all been so enjoyable (besides the few pregnancy symptoms) for me and something that I will cherish forever!  Being pregnant has been a very memorable and awesome experience and I already love Abby more than I could have ever imagined!

Here are the Week 30 or 7 ½ month pictures!!

Head Shot

 Week 30 (I'm getting puffy and big)!

 7 1/2 Months

 Belly Picture, 30 Weeks

 3rd Trimester

 Baby Abby

 Abbygale Kate Helford

June 21, 2011 - Week 29

Abbygale is around 3 pounds and her wrinkled skin is smoothing out as more fat is deposited under the skin surface.  At this stage she should start to be putting on quite a bit of weight each week.  We want a chunky, healthy cutie pie!

I am feeling pretty good.  I have started waking back up throughout the night (about every 2 hours) to run to the rest room so I’m not getting much sleep.  However, this is the ‘new’ sleep pattern for a LONG time so I am glad I am adjusting some now before Miss Abby arrives.  I could sure use an afternoon nap each day though!

We are getting excited since the beginning of September will be here before we know it!  There is still so much to do before we are ready but we have already done so much too!  It is amazing how your house gets transformed before a child’s arrival!

My feet still swell by the end of the day but just minor swelling.  Most of my shoes don’t really fit at the moment so I am wearing lots and lots of flip flops and open toe, summer shoes.  I have also outgrown numerous maternity clothes because my belly keeps getting bigger and bigger!  Thankfully I had an assortment of sizes and styles so I am getting to wear some that use to be a little big!  Bryan says I need a Santa Claus belt since my stomach is HUGE!!  He meant that sweet though!

It is already so hot and it is only JUNE!  The heat is already kicking my butt!  I walk outside and it feels like a sauna with temperatures hitting over 100 degrees.  It’s crazy!  My hormones are also outrageous at the moment because Bryan can be cool or cold and I am just so hot I feel miserable (and this is inside with the A/C going full force)!  I can only imagine how July and August are going to treat me!  All I dream about these days is soaking my big fat body in a nice cold swimming pool!  I’m in LOVE with swimming pools and the thought of being cool!

I had my 7 month checkup one week late on Wednesday, June 22^nd.  This visit was just with the nurse practitioner, Mariann Nielsen.  Everything was good – my blood pressure was normal and my stomach growth was on target.  Abbygale’s heartbeat was 147 which was a good, fast beat!  I have gained weight; I mean gained LOTS of weight (approximately 25 pounds to date – OUCH)!  For my heartburn they said to try and not eat after 6 pm and sleep in a somewhat upward position.  Before bed to coat my stomach and hopefully help with the heartburn I can snack on yogurt, cheese, or milk (basically a milk base product).  My appointments changed to every two weeks now so that is just another milestone telling us we are getting closer and closer to Miss Abby’s arrival!  This is excited and scary all in one!!

Here are Week 29 photos:

Week 29 Head Shot

 29 Weeks Pregnant

 Belly at 29 Weeks

 Over 7 Months Pregnant

 11 Weeks To Go!

 Belly at 29 Weeks

 29 Weeks Stomach

 Abbygale Kate

 Miss Princess Abby!

June 14, 2011 - Week 28

We are now entering the third trimester!  This is just beyond crazy to me – the whole pregnancy has gone so fast!!  Abbygale should weigh approximately 2.25 – 2.50 pounds and is about the size of a cabbage.  Its likely Abby has developed a more regular sleep schedule in 20 to 30 minute intervals.  Miss Abby sure is growing fast!  
 

My back pain is GONE – YES, GONE!!  I am praying that the pain doesn’t come back for a while!  I can walk much better these days even though I still have a waddle (which I am sure is getting worse day by day).  Back pain is gone for the moment BUT HEARTBURN and INDIGESTION is in full force and painful!  Overall, I am really feeling great this week.  I feel pretty refreshed!  Is this because I was on vacation all week so I just took it easy at the beach and relaxed, relaxed, relaxed?!?  I needed a little laid-back trip to do nothing but catch up on sleep and listen to the waves!  So peaceful!

There haven’t been really any changes this week from the prior week.  I am feeling Abby move throughout the day which is awesome!  I am always looking forward to feeling her move because then I know she is okay…I love that feeling!

7 months down…WOW!  Here are Week 28 pictures!

Daddy Fishing, June 2011

Daddy Trying to Catch A Fish for Miss Abby

Week 28 HeadShot

7 Months Pregnant

Belly Shot at 7 Months

Abbygale Kate

Our Princess, Abby

Big Belly at 28 Weeks

I feel HUGE at 7 Months!

Love My Angel!

Love, Love, Love!!

Miss Abby Helford

Daddy and Mommy - June 20, 2011

Daddy and Mommy at 7 Months Pregnant!

June 7, 2011 - Week 27

91 more days until my official due date!  I have experienced mild swelling of the feet and hands and lower back pains.  My back is really the main issue now as some times the pain is fairly great.  I have started to get tired again so I am trying to take it easy for the most part.  
 

I got a call from the doctor’s office and I PASSED my glucose tolerance test – YIPPIE!  I don’t have to worry about pregnancy diabetes anymore, which is great! However, they did say my blood work showed I was anemic so I am having to take iron supplement pills.  Hopefully, these will help since I was only borderline anemic.

Not a lot of changes from last week really, just the same normal pregnancy symptoms of aches and pains and heartburn.  I am growing by the minute it feels like; my body can feel the extra weight that is for sure!  I was told I have started to 'waddle' already - great!  I think my waddling is really due to my back hurting at this point!

I have started to outgrow some of my maternity clothes too (the smaller sizes).  You can only imagine how this makes me feel but I know Abbygale is growing and getting healthier by the day so I am not too worried about my weight gain.  I will begin to worry after Miss Abby makes her grand entrance into the world!!

Almost to 7 months - time passes so quickly!  Here are Week 27 pictures!

You Should Know By Now - Gotta Start With The Head Shot!!

 Week 27 Profile

 Baby Bump at Week 27

 June 7, 2011 at Week 27

 My Big Belly!

 Abby at Week 27