Weeks 25/26

I am officially less than 100 days away from my due date (99 days to go)! The baby continues to grow and so does my stomach.  I have been waking up at the regular time of 4:30am and the baby is moving and shaking.  Even though this is really early in the morning, I love this time.  I get to lay in bed and have a few smiles and laughs with the baby.  The other night, the baby was moving so forcefully that I grabbed Dan's hand while he was sleeping and put it on my stomach.  The baby woke him up too!  These are the moments that I will cherish forever.

The baby is measuring around 13.6- to 14.8-inch and 1.5- to 2.5-pound range.  Within the next week baby will be opening his/her eyes and growing eye lashes.  Also, the baby is starting to understand which way is up and down.  While the baby is enjoying his/her new sense of equilibrium, I am losing my center of gravity and balance.  I need to hold on to the wall or Dan when putting on boots.  I feel as though I am constantly dropping things that I thought were secure in my hand! 

The baby is also growing hair these weeks.  There is an old myth that states "women who have acid reflex/heartburn during pregnancy will have babies with full head of hair".(John Hopkins did research in 2007 and confirmed the myth).  I am convinced our baby is going to have a full head of hair.  The baby has put me on a fairly strict diet these past few weeks.  Basically, I am on a sugar-free diet.  About a month ago, I noticed that when I ate chocolate, acid would back up in my throat and cause my throat to be on fire.  I took chocolate out of my diet...done!  Oh not really...I ate a cinnamon roll a few Sundays ago and the same thing happened, fire in my throat.  This past Saturday and Sunday, I ate a few starburst jelly beans and mike n Ike's..bam, fire in my throat.  I gave up sweets for one day this past week to see if that was really the case and I had a great day...no acid reflex.  I really wonder if this child is Dan and mine because Dan LOVES candy! Everyone knows that about him.  I, on the other hand, really like chocolate and typically need a small piece of chocolate after a meal.  There is something about chocolate that makes you feel satisfied.  I am going to have to resort to fruits to get that "sweet after dinner" satisfaction.  This may be a good practice for my post pregnancy diet!

Highlights of week 25/26:

• The nursery is ready to paint.  I need to make a decisions so we can get this done.  I have found bedding for both gender's that match different wall color. Why do I make this so difficult for myself!
• Car seat has arrived.  I can almost picture our little baby in the car seat, taking him/her home for the first time!
• I planned on buying three girl sleepers and three boy sleepers to bring to the hospital.  I ordered three girl sleepers and one boy sleeper the other week.  The package came in the mail this week.  All the outfits are so cute and little!  I just need to purchase 2 more boys and we are set...for now :)
• I am still getting cramps in my calves once or twice a week during the night.  I have not figured out what is causing this as I have increased my water intake and eating two bananas a day!
• I continue to be able to walk about 2.5 miles 4-5 times a week.  I am thankful that I am able to continue this throughout my pregnancy.

Looking forward to...

• Passing my glucose test on Friday, March 29th
• Ordering baby room furniture within the next two weeks!

I hope all is well with everyone who reads this!  Dan and I hope you have a wonderful week and are able to spend time with family and friends to remember Jesus' death and celebrate his resurrection. 

"...Because he lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because he lives, All fear is gone.  Because I know, he holds the future, and life is worth the living just because he lives"

Happy Easter!