Bella Bambino

Sharon, my mother-in-law, called earlier in the week to tell us of a great baby consignment store in Burnsville called Bella Bambino. They are only open Thursday - Saturday from 9a to 6p so when we were trying to think of a time to go, Friday seemed to be the best option.

We met there around 5p and walked into a building that didn't look like it housed any retail stores. We walked in though and there it was, in the back left corner of the front room. There were strollers and furniture out in the hall and a cute Halloween display by the door. Inside there were TONS of clothes in all sizes, boots, shoes, ice skates, bedding, art work, frames, books, and other miscellaneous items. It was wonderful! We ended up getting an arm full of clothes for Adelle that are really cute. The prices weren't garage sale prices (and I didn't expect them to be) but they were discounted. Here are pictures of some of the things we bought... I think we'll need to get more hangers!

27 Weeks = I Think I'm Sick

We started off this week really nicely. We were relaxed and ready for the week. Now, however, I am not feel the greatest. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I am running around wearing sandals because my feet are so blasted hot. Maybe it has to do with the fact that the after school program that I oversee has started. Maybe it has to do with the weather. Or that I am pregnant. What about all of the above?

Thank goodness I don't have a fever or feel overly tired. Thank goodness for awesome soup like Boater's Stew - it stays hot for what feels like FOREVER! Thank goodness I know when to get rest, and then get it. Thank goodness for husbands who rub your back when you're not feeling well! :)

Because I am not feeling well, I haven't been noticing Adelle move as much - until tonight. Tonight she has been dancing all around! I am not even kidding - Brian even felt her! It continues to be one of the greatest feelings I've ever felt! Knowing that she is in there, then being able to feel her in there... it's awesome!

Adelle is growing:
Adelle weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals - though Mommy hasn't been able to tell when that is yet. She opens and closes her eyes, and she might even suck her fingers - or her thumb like Mommy. With more brain tissue developing, Adelle's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now - but we won't think about that. She will now start to hiccup too! Only 85 days left!

Happy Weekend and Small Babymoon

This last weekend, Brian and I went up to the north shore for a friends wedding. It was cold and rainy when we left to check into our Duluth hotel and when we left for the wedding. It was warm and happy at the wedding (inside) though, then it was back to cold and rainy for the rest of the weekend!

The wedding was beautiful and we were so incredibly happy to be there! Kelly looked so beautiful and Derek looked great too!! :) Her flowers were perfect and I loved the centerpieces! The food was awesome and Brian and I kind of expected that from Kelly and Derek. They know good food and they wouldn't let us (or anyone) eat sub-par food! Steak, chicken, fish... yummy! Instead of a cake they had three types of dessert, apple crisp pie, vanilla bean creme brule, and a chocolate lava cake which was cupcake sized. Oh my goodness - it was so yummy!! I just wish that I didn't get so sleepy so early.

Since the wedding was Friday, Brian and I decided to make the rest of the weekend our Babymoon. A sort of a honeymoon before the baby comes. It was wonderful to spend quality time with each other and while it was raining the entire time, we made the most of it. Saturday we left for the Gunflint Trail. We made it to Betty's Pies for lunch and I had the greatest hot roast beef sandwhich!! I want one now in fact! Brian had only been there once before and we couldn't see anything because it was so terribly foggy that we had to turn around. Well this time, despite the rain and cool weather, we made it to the end and even got out to take a couple of pictures. Yes we had to stop a few times for me but it was worth it. On the way home we stopped for dinner at Sven and Ole's and a really great pizza! The crust is so good there!!

We made it back to our hotel in time to go swimming!! I was so excited! The pool was cooler than I would have liked it to be but it was so much fun swimming and floating in the water. Brian even enjoyed it! There were only a few kids in the pool and they stayed in the shallow end while Brian and I stayed in the deep end - where I could touch AND still have my head sticking out of the water!!! I don't mind that kind of deep end!! It was my first time wearing my maternity swimsuit and it was just fine, I don't know why so many pregnant women have such an issue wearing them.

Sunday we left for home and were able to stop at Toby's for caramel and cinnamon rolls. They are so good there - everyone stops for them! The rest of the drive was pretty much uneventful, which was great. We were happy to make it home though.

What a great way to spend the first weekend of October!

26 Weeks = Glucose Test

Since I am pregnant I got to a glucose test which tests for Gestational Diabetes. While my doctor didn't think I had anything to worry about, it is a standard test. My blood pressure has been perfect, my weight gain has been great, my urine tests have all been negative (for sugar) but some women have no symptoms.

Brian and I went in on Monday for the hour long test. I had to drink a small glass of what tasted like a super syrupy 7*UP without the carbonation. I took the first sip and it wasn't too bad, but by the third I was making faces and Brian was laughing. I finished the cup at 4:48pm and had to wait until about 5:30ish before getting my blood tested.

During that time we were able to see Dr. Hartsough. He said that everything looks great and that my belly is measuring 28cm. He said that was great but doesn't that mean I am measuring a little bit big? I don't know... He said that things look good so instead of seeing me in 2 weeks that he would be fine seeing me in 4! He just assured me that throughout the pregnancy all of my numbers have been right on and that we should be happy/proud of that.

I am happy about that because I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can for Adelle! I want to make sure that she is growing and is healthy! She depends on me to be there for her and I want to make sure I am! It is an awesome feeling.

Before I went to bed on Monday night I checked my email and saw I had one from Dr. Hartsough (on MyChart). I logged in and saw that my glucose number was 118 and the normal range is between 60 and 130! Yay me as I assume that is good!!

Now I get to look forward to our next appointment at the end of October (30th week), painting her room, and experiencing the last trimester!

Adelle is growing:
The network of nerves in her ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both my voice and Brian's as we chat. (We think she's been able to hear for a little while because when Brian reads to her she kicks a lot.) She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber - how is that different from a 'regular' cucumber?) from head to heel. Just 93 days to go!!

25 Weeks = Another Meeting? Really?

Since going back to school I have been coming home drained. I am fine while I am at school but I get tired on the drive home and unless I have stuff to do I just want to sit and relax. Well, this week I have had a LOT of meetings. I am not complaining because the meetings I have had were all important and worthwhile, but I have had one -or something- every day after school! Whether it is taking Mom to physical therapy (which I really like doing), going to workshops, ALC or PLC meetings... I haven't gotten home before 5:30 any night this week.

I guess this is gearing me up for when ALC starts in a week. Yes I am still going to run the after school program two nights a week. I have been given the ok to take maternity leave after winter break for the remainder of the year (ONLY for the after-school program) and come back for summer school. Actually, I am really looking forward to it and can't wait for it to start.

I just need to make sure that I have snacks while I am at school that long - darn! :)

Adelle is growing:
Head to heels, she now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture. Neat! Only 100 more days to go!!

24 Weeks = Doctor's Appointment

I don't think I have said it before, but I really like my doctor! He is SUPER soft spoken which is just like me ;) but he is wonderful. Every time we are there he lets us listen to her heart beat and I love it. PLUS he is really incredible at finding her heartbeat on the first try - he doesn't even have to move around. As soon as he puts the thing on my belly, there it is! woosh-woosh, woosh-woosh

He said that everything is looking great and that we are right on track. It was really nice for me to hear because I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can to help her grow and develop.

We have to go back in two weeks because he wants me to take the glucose test when I am 26 weeks. It takes an hour but can rule out gestational diabetes. I think after that we start going in every two to three weeks. That is a little exciting for me because that means she is coming soon!! YAY!!

Adelle is growing:
She is growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon. Just 108 days to go!

23 Weeks = School Starts

SO I am a little late in updating the blog because school has started and I get exhausted really easily... I'm pregnant people!!!

Anyway, we started our 23rd week by relaxing on Sunday the 6th and doing some running around with Maria. Then yesterday, Labor Day, we had to go to David's Bridal to pick up my dress for Angie's wedding. I was not too thrilled about going back to that place because I haven't gotten good service when I've been there - excluding my last time there, that guy was AWESOME.

I had to go because the dress I was going to wear for the wedding didn't fit. I went in about two, maybe three weeks ago and asked the guy what we could do because I had JUST found out I was pregnant when I got the dress and wasn't aware that certain parts of me would get this big (and I am not talking about my belly). He said, "Oh sure we'll just exchange it! What size do you need?" Well, I wasn't sure so he had me try on two different sizes and even brought out the alterations lady to take a look and give her opinion. We settled on a size and ordered it. It was going to come in any day.

I went to pick it up and wanted to try it on to make sure it fit. The lady had to look for my dress for like, 15 minutes. Then she came out and seemed put off by the fact that I wanted to try it on. I tried it on but couldn't zip it (in the back - go figure) so Brian tried and couldn't zip it. NOT BECAUSE OF MY SIZE THOUGH it was because there was a fabric change and it had always gotten caught up there. We waited for our lady to return but she never did so I asked a different lady to help and she said she'd be right over. During that time I asked Brian to work on it again and he got it! Then I had to go and bend over to try to pick up some shoes and "RIP!!!" the zipper split!

I am SO glad it happened there!

Long story a tad shorter, I had to pick it up and it was fine. They fixed it for free and I am glad that I will never have to go there again!!! When you get married Maria, I am going to buy my dress somewhere else!

After all of that, today was the first day of school! I have 34 kids and I am exhausted and am going to bed! It was a fantastic day and I am luck to have the kids I have!!

Adelle is growing:
Adelle can feel me dance and move! And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), I may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb. Hopefully that is true because I don't want her to be afraid of Zack or Zoey!! Only 116 days left!

Perinatologist

We went to the perinatologist today for our follow up. We had gone in on the 5th of August to make sure that things were developing well but since our little one was being stubborn, they couldn't tell.

Before we went in today Brian told me to have a pop to help her move around. I did and she did!! It was amazing!! My Mom was able to join us for this visit and was speechless when she saw her first grand daughter yawn!! We even had the tech "rewind" so we could see it again! We got a great picture of her profile and a neat picture of her foot. the tech also gave us 3-d pictures of her which are super cool!

After she had all of the pictures she needed the doctor told us we had graduated back to the regular OBGYNs and they didn't need to see us anymore. Everything looked wonderful!

What an incredible feeling!

Here are the pictures: