How far along? 28 Weeks
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? Not yet.
Sleep: Sleeping o.k.  My neck is so sore it hurts to move it at night making sleep a bit more difficult.
Best moment this week: Going to the doctor and hearing her heartbeat.  I always hold my breath until that moment when they "capture" it.  
Miss Anything?  Being able to move around like normal.  Everything seems a bit harder now to do now.  Like getting off of the couch.  I now roll off.
Movement: Constantly!  She is one little busy body!  At nighttime, she seems to be having a party in there.  She will kick my bladder to the point where I have to pee.  
Food cravings: Apple juice this week.  It's so refreshing!  
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope. Still eating like there's no tomorrow.  
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: My neck and back constantly hurt.  I have been using a heating pad and taking two Tylenol, but it doesn't seem to help much.  I need a massage!
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On...getting tight though.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy.  I did have one small meltdown this week...sorry Lovee!
Looking forward to: Being able to hold her!  

At our doctor's appointment this week, I got to actually feel her head (from the outside)!  I haven't known exactly how she has been positioning herself inside of me, but the doctor directed me towards her head.  So far, she is head down, butt up!

I did have a beer this past week!  It was non-alcoholic, but tasted pretty close to the real thing.  Only 80 days (or so...) till I can enjoy that Magic Hat #9!

I've been practicing my swaddling on Monty.  So far so good!  He liked it!

We had a great Thanksgiving!  Our friends Eric & Erika came over and joined us for dinner.  They are such awesome friends!  We had turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, roasted brussels sprouts, corn pudding (my all-time favorite!), cranberry sauce, and two kinds of stuffing!  

Since I was not able to partake in the adult beverages, I made my favorite cocktail sans alcohol.  It's cranberry juice and club soda.  It was actually my "drink" for our wedding. The only missing ingredient is the whipped cream vodka.  Oh well...till next year!  

We got all the Christmas decorations up too on Thanksgiving!  It was so nice to have the day off from work.  I think it was actually my first Thanksgiving off from work in over 10 years!  

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Next year Juliette will be joining us for the festivities! 

Two of my favorite things all in one!  Talk about a pregnant girl's dream come true!  Guess where we will be making a stop soon!

How far along? 27 Weeks
Maternity clothes? Mostly.  I still have some shirts that were big on me before that I am wearing.
Stretch marks? No, knock on wood!
Sleep: Good.  I've been taking naps recently again.  Just a 20 minute power nap works wonders!
Best moment this week: Thanksgiving dinner + leftovers!  We are cooking turkey & all the trimmings...just for the two of us!  (actually...2.5 of us!)
Miss Anything?  Egg nog.  I saw some at Publix this week and really wanted some.  How I love me some egg nog!
Movement:  Lots!  Keep on reading!
Food cravings: Cracker Barrel's biscuits.  I like them with gravy, apple butter or even a day later straight out of the fridge.  And...Stonewood's pretzel bread.  I wish I could get a box of them delivered to the house.  Actually, I would like a box of Cracker Barrels biscuits AND Stonewood's pretzel bread delivered.    
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.  I have been burping some after I take my prenatal's in the morning.  The DHA pill seriously burps up disgusting.  It's like I ate fish!  Nasty!
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: A sore neck for the past few weeks.  I think it's from sleeping in the same position for too long.  Monty, the French Bulldog, has had neck issues this week too.  He's on pain meds and muscle relaxers.  Sympathy pains?   I wish I could take some meds!  It's two tylenol and a heating pad for me.  I am jealous the dog gets meds and I don't!
Belly Button in or out? It's still in.  Mine must have started off pretty deep!
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Christmas decorations going up, Christmas music and Starbuck's Peppermint Mocha's!  All my Christmas shopping is DONE!  No fighting holiday crowds!  I did go to the mall on Monday to just walk around.  It is nice to see all the decorations up!

I have LOVED shopping for Juliette!  I found these shoes at Target...and I want to get her both!  I may have a problem :)  Josh is hoping she doesn't get my shoe and purse addiction!  I am only hoping her feet are the same size as mine when they stop growing! (which means they will be big!  Size 10 and proud!)

Best news of all this week...Josh FINALLY got to feel Juliette moving!  I was sitting on the couch Sunday night and I literally saw my shirt moving.  I yelled at Josh to come over and he got to feel it too!  There really is a baby in there!

How far along? 26 Weeks
Maternity clothes? Wearing leggings most of the time
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep: Sleeping great, I do wake up with sore hips & shoulders from sleeping on my side.  
Best moment this week: Seeing all of our family at our showers back in Kentucky and getting to go to Marengo Cave.  The pic above is from the cemetery next to the cave.  So much fun!
Miss Anything?  Patiently awaiting that cold Magic Hat #9
Movement:  Yes...I still have to concentrate to feel her.  I notice her when I am home watching T.V. at night.
Food cravings: Josh and I stopped by Lane Southern Orchards in Fort Valley, GA on our way back from KY and picked up this delicious peach bread!  It is to-die-for!!!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Swelling of the toes, ankles and fingers.  
Belly Button in or out? Still In!  With room to spare!
Wedding rings on or off? On - I have had some swelling this week.  Sausage fingers and toes...and kankles!  Sitting in the car for 12+ hours is not a good thing for a pregnant lady!
Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY! 
Looking forward to: Turkey, black Friday shopping, starting our classes at the hospital...and putting away all the goodies Juliette got this week!


I had my Glucose Tolerance Test for Gestational Diabetes this week - It was not that bad!! I heard sooo many horror stories about how awful the stuff tastes & how torturous it is to sit there with only that on an empty stomach. Honestly, it tasted like an Orange Sunkist soda. I didn't mind it at all. The worst part for me was getting blood drawn at the end.  They can never find my veins so they always have to go through my hand with a baby needle.  Man do I hate needles!  My fingers are crossed that I passed!

After the Glucose Tolerance Test, I saw the doctor.  He checked Juliette's heart beat...150!  He said she is doing well!  

Stalactites, Stalagmites and more!  We took a side trip last Friday to Marengo Cave in Marengo, Indiana.  Such a cool place!  If you are ever in the area you should definitely stop by and take the two hour tour.  There's even an old cemetery next door that is worth a look!  Pictures do not do it justice!

We are so blessed to have such wonderful families!  We headed north to Kentucky for three baby showers this past weekend.  A few months ago Josh & I walked into Babies R US and felt so overwhelmed.  We had no clue what this little girl was going to need (or how much!).  As her arrival date gets closer, we have pretty much everything in place for her!  Thank you to Aunt Mandy, Granny Vickie, Maggie, Aunt Jenny, Aunt Nana, Grandma Teresa, Allie, Leah, Aunt Eileen & Aunt Susan for making our showers so beautiful and wonderful!  You all rock!

How far along? 25 Weeks!!!
Maternity clothes? Yup.  Got a few new winter pieces.  I am hoping to limit what I need to buy since I will only need it for a few months.
Stretch marks? Nope.
Sleep: Still sleeping great.  I have the weirdest dreams.  Some are downright scary others not so much.  I had a dream this week that Juliette was born on February 13th!  Wouldn't that be cool if she really did join us on that day!
Best moment this week: Only having to work two days!  Vacation!!!
Miss Anything? Being able to really work out.  There's only so much that I can now do.  I make sure that my heart rate doesn't go above 140.  I have noticed I get out of breath a lot easier than before. 
Movement:  I swear I felt her move on the outside this week.  I was lying in bed with my hand on my belly and I really think it was her that I felt!  By the time I realized it, it was too late to get Josh out of the Man Room (AKA "His Office").  Next time!
Food cravings: Pumpkin.  Pumpkin everything.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.  So glad I have not had any food aversions!
Gender: Girl still.  No change there Pappaw.
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: My hips have started to hurt after I stand or walk for any period of time.  
Belly Button in or out? Still in!
Wedding rings on or off? On.  They do get a bit tight on me when I workout.  I've noticed my hands swell when I go on long walks.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy...loving life :)
Looking forward to: Heading north for our baby showers this coming weekend!  We can't wait to see everyone!  Hopefully the 12 hour car ride isn't too bad.  We may have to stop a little more than normal for me to use the restroom.  I sure can pee these days!
Juliette is the size of: An English hothouse cucumber or cauliflower  depending on which website you look at!).  She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches from head to heel.

Best part of the week so far...my little brother survived a trip to the hospital to get his appendix removed!  

Juliette's circus posters came in!  We framed them and mounted them on the wall behind her glider last night!  Her room is really starting to come together!

Above her changing table/dresser I found a cute shelf from Home Goods for only $10!  Score!  So far it has a cute little lion, a picture frame with Juliette's ultrasound pictures in it and a wooden "J" that was mine when I was little.

I also moved a cross-stitched "J" that my mom made me when I was little into her room.  It is so perfect...with the little girl sitting on the "J" to the little dog that looks like Monty!  I am going to paint the frame white to go along with the others in her room.

We are all getting SO excited to meet Juliette!  Especially the dogs!  Doesn't Mugsy just look thrilled!  (I had to take a picture of him...he looked too cute!)

By the way...it's election day!  Josh and I voted this morning!   Go America!

Happy November!  Thankfully it is finally cooling off around here!  


How far along? 24 Weeks
Maternity clothes? Yes.  Thankfully, I still have some pieces from my post-Juliette wardrobe that I can wear mixed in with the maternity clothes.
Stretch marks? Not yet
Sleep: Still sleeping great
Best moment this week: Just feeling overly excited/happy about everything right now & the reality that baby girl will be here in a little over 100 days (unless I deliver late...) Just trying to soak it all in!
Miss Anything? Being able to tie my shoes straight.  I now have laces tied to the side.
Movement: All the time...just wish she'd move so Josh could feel her too!  I'm sure he must be getting anxious!
Food cravings: Still stuck on O.J.  I also have this love for these snacks called "Somersaults."  They are crunchy little nuggets that are baked with sunflower seeds and toasted grains.  They are delish!  (and healthy!!!)
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Gender: Girl
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: Nothing really...it's been pretty uneventful.  No complaints from me!
Belly Button in or out? Innie still
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY!
Looking forward to:  Having a husband that can work from home!  Josh started working from home this week.  What a relief to know that he can watch Juliette while I am at work...no daycare for our sweet baby girl!  I have to admit that the thought of her having to go to day care scares the poo out of me.  God bless he works for such an amazing company!
Juliette is the size of: An Eggplant!  She is about 9 in. long and weighs approximately 1.4 lbs!

Best part of this week...I had my 24 week check-up.  All is well!  Her little heart beat was 159!  The doctor said she must be an active little girl!  I go back in two weeks for the dreaded glucose tolerance test.  After that we have to go for check-ups every two weeks since we will have made it to the THIRD TRIMESTER!!!