27 Weeks

This week the little one weighs almost two pounds, or about the size of a head of iceburg lettuce. Pumpernickle is around 14.5 inches long and is regularly blinking his or her eyes. This week has been exciting so far. My amazing sister Maleea is planning our baby shower/gender reveal party and she finally got to find out what gender the baby is this week to help facilitate the planning. Our friend Amanda is starting a brilliant business sending baby shower in a box/gender reveal in a box to friends/family of the expecting parents (I'll put up a link to her website whenever it's ready). She sent my little sis a box full of items that revealed which gender the baby is. It was amazing (so I hear, I obviously don't know the details as I am waiting until the shower to find out) and my sister LOVED it. Yay! Only about two weeks until I get to finally know if Pumpernickle is a he or a she. Can't wait! But for now I'm content to just feel him or her rolling around in my tummy. 

26 Weeks

Pumpernickel now weighs about 1 2/3 pounds and measures 14 inches - about the length of a scallion. The little one's ears are much better developed now, and it can most likely hear us talk/sing/play guitar to it. I can't believe we are already to the 6 1/2 month mark! Everything seems to be going by so fast. Thinking back on the pregnancy so far, I am so thankful that I have had such a relatively easy time (knock on wood). I don't know if it's me, or the baby or some combination of the two, but whatever it is, we've got it going on! I hope that through the next couple of months, little one and I continue to smoothly grow together.

25 Weeks

Baby is now 13.5 inches long and weighs around 1.5 pounds, or roughly the weight of a cauliflower. Feeling very pregnant this week (didn't I say that last week too?). We have a checkup appointment with our midwife tomorrow - excited to hear the baby's heartbeat! It's so cool because I remember the first time we went to hear the heartbeat, it took what felt like FOREVER (in reality, probably only a minute or two) to find the little pumpernickel and finally hear its heart. Last month when we had the Doppler test to hear the heartbeat, it popped up right away. Guess that shows how much bigger and stronger the baby is now. 

Also SO excited because today, thanks to the wonderful generosity of my in-laws, Mama and Papa D, we have our crib and bassinet on order! They are beautiful and are going to look amazing in pumpernickel's nursery, which we've made a lot of progress on already. Walls (and ceiling and closet) have been painted (thanks to my amazing husband). The reupholstering of the glider/rocker is going well. Soon, when more things are put together, I will do a blog post reveal of the baby's room. It's going to knock your socks off!

In the meantime, here's me and pumpernickel this week (plus an extra special guest star who was having a little too much fun playing toss-the-cauliflower).

24 weeks - 6 MONTHS!

Can't believe we've hit the 6 month mark! Most of the time I don't feel that pregnant, but then the little one (or pumpernickle, as we've taken to calling it) will give me a good kick to remind me (or I'll walk by a mirror, haha). Baby has gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him/her at about 1 1/3 pounds and the length of an ear of corn! The fact that has me really excited - baby is now technically viable (meaning it could live outside of the womb). But of course we would prefer it keep growing in my tummy like it's supposed to. 

Things are going amazingly well and I'm so grateful that I have such a tremendous partner through this whole process. Patrick was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in June. In case you don't know, Type 1 is an auto-immune issue wherein your pancreas suddenly decides to stop working. It has nothing to do with weight or what you eat - some people just get dealt the snake-eyes of the genetic lottery. It's relatively rare for someone Patrick's age to be given the Type 1 diagnosis - it's normally diagnosed during adolescence, hence why it is sometimes called "Juvenile" diabetes - but Patrick has done a fantastic job of adapting to this challenge. He had a checkup today and his blood tests were perfect! I'm so proud of him. And despite dealing with this completely unexpected, life-changing issue, he has continued to be my number one champion and supporter. He even painted my toenails this weekend (no more plain toes, dad). Feeling very happy and grateful this week for my small, growing family.