29 Weeks

Jesse and I had an absolutely amazing Christmas! We started off our festivities with Christmas Eve dinner and Secret Santa at the VanRossum's. We woke up Christmas morning and went next door to Dan and Deb's for a big brunch and presents with the Maynard clan! Next, we were off to the Bisio's for the afternoon, and topped off the evening with my Dad at  Grammy and Papa Snyder's for dinner and Festivus. The day after Christmas we had my Attleboro girlies and their significants over for Pot Luck and hang out. It's been quite the fun schedule and so wonderful to enjoy all the company of our family and friends this week.

Monday I had my one hour glucose test at the Dr's to check for gestational diabetes. I got the results back and all is well which is great because I really did not want to do the 3 hour test if I failed. However, they did find me to be anemic so I am now taking iron supplements and trying to incorporate more steak (which Jesse will love) and leafy greens in my diet. This does explain why I have felt more tuckered out than usual lately, but I'm glad there is an easy remedy.

Jesse has been working hard on the baby's room during his vacation week this week. It is really coming along and getting us even more excited for our little one's arrival soon. I will post some before and after pictures at the end of the week for the big reveal. Also, today the Maynard family bassinet (handcrafted by Jesse's Grandpa Bob Maynard) made it's way into our home to get set up and ready for March!

Our little man is now 29 weeks. He is soaking up all my nutrients especially calcium to help his hardening skeleton. His head is growing bigger to accommodate his growing brain. He is just a few inches short of his birth length, but will more than double his weight in his last 11 weeks.

Hello 3rd Trimester: 28 Weeks

Today marks the beginning of the 3rd trimester, and also the start of my Christmas vacation! Today I enjoyed a work Christmas party, and some shopping around town with my Dad. Now it's time for Christmas fun and relaxation with friends and family. There will definitely be a lot of sleeping and eating going on!

Little boy Maynard is about 16 inches long and 2.5 pounds. He can see light that filters in through my tummy, and has different cycles of sleep that include rapid eye movement where dreaming occurs. He is letting me know he's alive and well in there moving and poking around frequently, and I can feel what I think are little feet right under my ribs when I sit. When I feel an elbow, foot, hand, or bum press against my sides I like to have some fun and give him a little push back to play. Just can't wait to see and hold him...only 12 more weeks!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Last night we received 15 inches of snow in good ol' Attleboro, and it's still coming down with another 2-3 inches predicted today! Ashley and I spent yesterday afternoon anticipating the snow by baking Christmas cookies and making chocolate covered pretzels.

My Plow Man! Jesse was out from 2:30-9:30 a.m. for round one, came home for some food and a shower, and is now back out again for round 2 of plowing! He is a snow removal machine. Yay for "white gold".  He loaded up the living room with firewood for me to keep the wood stove going and the house cozy and warm. Hopefully today I won't procrastinate too much and get some housework done for the holidays!

                                                

Love you Jesse! xoxo

Doctors Appointment

Today I had my monthly OB appointment. All good news to report. Current weight gain is....19 pounds, and my blood pressure is 120/68. While the nurse was looking for the baby's heartbeat with the doppler on my belly our little baby Maynard kept kicking it and my stomach was popping up. His heart rate was in the 150's (110-180 is normal). My stomach is measuring right on track at 28 cm. My glucose test got rescheduled to the 28th of this month instead of today.  I am now being seen every 3 weeks, and we have an ultrasound appointment scheduled for January 8th when I will be 30 weeks to see how big our little man is!!!!

27 Week Facts: This is the last week of the second trimester. Baby Maynard is four times as big as he was at week 12. At this point baby's lungs could function with lots of medical help. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, and opening and closing his eyes.

The Elves Came (AKA: Jesse)

I have a slight addiction to Eddy's Peppermint ice cream. I go through a whole container in a few days, and can't get enough of the stuff. I was extremely disappointed they were out of it on my last shopping trip. It's only 100 calories for a 1/2 cup so it's not too bad for me, plus baby needs the calcium! What is bad is that it is a Limited Edition flavor and will only be here for the holidays.

As a child my parents had a tradition of the "Elves" leaving candy on me and Derek's pillows the nights leading up to Christmas. I introduced this tradition to Jesse when we started dating and occasionally the Elves will come in December to leave a special treat.  I completely forgot about it this year. So tonight my dear Jesse comes home from work and said the Elves came.....I ran upstairs to find on my pillow four containers of my obsession!!!! Thank you Elf Jesse xoxo
Maynard Elf Dance (click)

26 Week Belly

Well I had my traditional white t-shirt on for the belly photo, but we had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner soooo I had to cover up my messiness with the gray shirt. We got our second snow today. As usual when I woke up I was glued to the news for hopes of a school delay/cancelation but not luck today. We only got about 3 inches followed by rain. Speaking of inches Baby Maynard is about 14 inches long now, and about 2 pounds. I think he had the hiccups last night because he was shaking my tummy about every 5 seconds a few times in a row. This week he is also soaking up my antibodies, getting his immune system ready for life outside the womb. I've also been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions (brief tightening of the uterus)  daily as my body practices and gets ready for the main event in 3 months. Baby Maynard is the size of a small pineapple this week.

Babymoon: Perkinsville, VT

We had an amazing weekend in Vermont for our "babymoon." The weather was not too cold with highs in the 30's and we were lucky enough to get a few inches of snow Saturday during our stay to turn it into a winter wonderland.

FRIDAY: Arrived at The Inn at Weathersfield Friday evening.  Checked into our room, surprised to see that the innkeepers upgraded us to a suite with king bed, 2 person whirlpool, 2 headed shower, and sitting room with fireplace. Also, Dan and Deb had arranged for a delicious fruit and cheese spread waiting for us. We then enjoyed a late dinner in the Tavern and were asleep by 10!

SATURDAY: Walked downstairs to a wonderful breakfast as we planned our day in town. Off to the town of Woodstock for quaint antiquing and shopping. Stopped in the town of Quechee for lunch at Simon Pearce Handblown Glass. Back to the Inn for appointments with the massage therapist. After being turned into noodles we got ready for dinner and sat in the parlor and read while having some cider and wine in front of the fire watching the snow fall. Dinner was an experience of no other. Our chef was named best chef in Vermont in 2008 and and also received Top 10 Culinary Inns in America. He prepared for us a 2 hour 8 course meal/adventure. Every course was made with all local produce and meats, and Jesse and I had to roll ourselves back to our room. We experienced quail and quails eggs, goat and goat cheese, scallops, salmon, octopus, pecan dessert and fudge. We were passed out by 10 in a food coma!

SUNDAY: Lovely breakfast downstairs at the Inn. Sad to pack up and leave. On our way home we
stopped at the local farmer's market and picked up some cheese, bread, milk, and produce. We then hit up the WAAWEA (We Are All What We Eat) for local meats and eggs to bring home. After a quick trip to the Vermont Country store for our traditional vacation Christmas ornament we were on our way home.

What an amazing and relaxing weekend!

25 Weeks....15 more to go!

Can't believe it's already December as we prepare for winter and Christmas. The tree is up, candles are in the windows, we've started our gift shopping, and Jesse's plow is ready to go for snow. On Friday we will be leaving for Vermont for our "babymoon," we are very excited for our romantic weekend away. Baby Maynard's tiny nostrils, which has been plugged up until now are starting to open. His eyes which have been sealed shut are starting to blink as well. Last night was the first time he woke me up in the middle of the night from kicking/moving away.

My Papa Tom is in the hospital so please keep him and Grammy in your thoughts and prayers. He hasn't been feeling well lately and is very weak, so hopefully he can get some strength back and be back home soon.