Weekly Update- 26 weeks

How far along: 26 weeks

Total weight gain: don't know

Maternity clothes: mostly

Sleep: loving it. This week has been a sleepy week. I went to bed early most nights.

Best moment of the week: Erin talking to the baby and getting kicked in the face. And then singing to her and having her dance all around in my belly.

Movement: Lots. She's working her way up towards my ribs.

Gender: Girly girl

Labor signs: None

Belly button in or out: Still in. Not for long though.

What I miss: Nothing really other then my regular clothes.

What I'm looking forward to: A long weekend. Getting things moved out of what will be her room.

Weekly wisdom: Keep healthy snacks at work or you'll snack on crap.

Milestones: We have open eyes and "breathing" starting.

What's happening with the baby: Ear network is becoming more sensitive and she may be able to hear both of us when we are talking to each other. She is breathing small amounts of amniotic fluid to help develop her lungs. She weighs about 1 and 2/3 lbs and is about 14 inches from head to heel (about the length of an English hothouse cucumber).

What's happening with you: Are you rushing around trying to get to childbirth classes and prepare your baby's room while still taking care of all your other daily tasks? Make sure that you also continue to eat well and get plenty of rest. Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly, although it's probably still lower than it was before you got pregnant. (Typically, blood pressure falls toward the end of the first trimester, and it tends to reach a low at about 22 to 24 weeks.)

Preeclampsia — a serious disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in your urine — most often shows up after 37 weeks, but it can happen earlier so it's important to be aware of the warning signs of this condition. Call your caregiver if you have swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week). With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms. Let your caregiver know immediately if you have a severe or persistent headache, vision changes (including double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision), intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen, or vomiting.

If your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus — which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your abdomen.

How are you feeling: Sunday Brad and I went with Mom and Dad to the RV show at the fairgrounds. It was quite a bit of walking and I didn't drink enough water so I had some funny stuff towards the end of the time we were there with my belly. It may have been Braxton-Hicks contractions. They quickly subsided once I got to the car, chilled a bit and drank some water after we got home. This week was the first week I had to deal with uncomfortable ribs. Wednesday I felt like I had a belt or something around my ribcage and I couldn't take a full breath. It lasted about two hours and I haven't felt it again since. I'm sure it will be back though. This week we did lots of playing music and singing for the baby. She really likes it and moves all around. I'm also trying to tap on my belly when music is playing. Hopefully that will help develop her sense of rhythm. Please Lord. Friday evening we went out to dinner for Erin's birthday and got to see her in-laws. That's always a good time. We have had a time choosing the bedding. It's almost as hard as choosing a name for this little kid. Hopefully we (Brad) won't change his mind anymore. Overall, still feeling really good. A little bit more tired but I still have lots of energy and enjoying most of my normal activities without many aches and pains.