36 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along: 36 weeks

Size of baby: supposed to be 18.75 inches and 5.75 pounds

Maternity clothes: everything except for skirts and stretchy waist pants is maternity now.

Gender: baby boy. Judah Scott Perkins.

Movement: Still lots of movement.  He really seems to enjoy poking his hiney/back/feet and possibly other body parts out.  Sometimes it feels like he’s trying to escape through the front.

Sleep: It seems like it takes me forever to fall asleep these days.. but once I get to sleep I’m doing okay.  Still up a few times at night.

What I miss: This week I’ve started missing my stamina.  Just walking through Wal-Mart or Target gets the best of me.  And don’t even get me started on cleaning the house.  I have to take breaks between each task. 

Cravings: none that I can remember.

Aversions: pot roast.  raw chicken.

Symptoms: More of the same.  But add to it some nausea and period like cramping that comes and goes pretty often.  The doctor says it’s just my body preparing for labor.  Some people tell me it’s probably Braxton Hicks.  Either way, it’s not comfortable.

Best moment this week: Realizing that within a month, I will have a little boy in my arms is pretty amazing.  :).  I start my weekly doctors appointments now too.

35 weeks

(I skipped my 34 week update… oops!)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along: 35 weeks

Size of baby: supposed to be 18 inches and 5.25 pounds

Maternity clothes: everything except for skirts and stretchy waist pants is maternity now.

Gender: baby boy. Judah Scott Perkins.

Movement: Lots and lots of big moves/rolls/jabs.  I keep expecting it to slow down because he is running out of room… but that hasn’t happened yet.  The video in my previous post is proof!  He’s definitely an active little guy.  I’ve been feeling lots of hard kicks on my right side right under my ribs.  They are starting to hurt!

Sleep: It seems like it takes me forever to fall asleep these days.. but once I get to sleep I’m doing okay.  Still up a few times at night.

What I miss: I miss feeling cute.  I miss wearing my wedding rings.  I miss being able to get off of the couch without assistance.  I miss walking without a waddle.  haha… but I am okay with all of this because I know it’s getting my precious boy closer and closer to my arms!

Cravings: fried pickles!

Aversions: pot roast.  raw chicken.

Symptoms: aches and pains in my hips and back.. especially at night while trying to sleep.  Also, I officially have an outie belly button!  oh, and I’m staying swollen now.  And just recently I’ve started having some pressure like pain down low.  Maybe Judah has dropped a little??

Best moment this week: I’ve had a lot of fun doing online shopping for little things that we didn’t get from our baby showers.  Getting packages in the mail and delivered to the door is so fun!

judah showing off! (warning: bare belly video)

I have been trying to catch the rolling and shaking that has been going on in my belly for a while now.. but Judah usually stops as soon as I get the camera ready.

Tonight, though.. I caught him in action!

Judah at 34 1/2 weeks!

He is definitely an active little guy.  I’m kinda thinking that I should be worried!  I’ll probably have my hands full with him.  Can’t wait!

my very own baby shower!

I cannot count on both hands how many baby showers I went to and was secretly sad and maybe a tad bit jealous.  I so badly wanted to be the one with the round belly opening all of the tiny little outfits and soft blankets. 

Earlier this month, several sweet ladies got together and threw a baby shower for Judah and myself.  My very own baby shower!!!  :)  It was surreal.  And super cute.  The theme was “under the sea”, and I loved it!

We had close to 30 good friends, family members, and church members show up to bless us with sweet words and precious gifts.  I cannot express how grateful I am!

Here are a few pics:

Justin had been mowing and working and was sooo dirty!  But I made him come at the end to help me load all of our gifts into the car.  haha

This is my sweet friend, Hope.  She is due with her first little boy just a few days before I’m due with Judah!  She was one of several fabulous hostesses.

Justin is 24!

Justin’s birthday was Saturday.  He turned 24.. and I’ll turn 27 in October.  I always seem to forget he is younger than me until our birthdays come around.

We didn’t do much to celebrate his birthday… but that’s how he wanted it.  His mom cooked dinner for us, and we had birthday cake for dessert.

I got him some new awesome smelling cologne.  It’s called Affliction, and we found it at Buckle.  Yum!  I’m so glad I get to be the one to cuddle up next to him when he’s wearing it.  :)

And just for memory’s sake I guess I’ll post a pic of us together.. although I am NOT liking the way I look these days.  I’m feeling like a marshmallow/beached whale with all this extra fluid and swelling.  Yikes!

happy birthday, sweet man!  love you lots and lots!

Happy 3 years! (a few days late)

Monday, August 8th, Justin and I reached our 3rd wedding anniversary.  I can’t believe that it’s already been 3 years.  But at the same time, I can’t really remember life without him.  And I surely can’t imagine not having him here now! 

We actually celebrated our anniversary the last weekend in July.  We got a hotel and spent the night in Bossier City.  We knew we couldn’t do much or go far with me being so close to the end of this pregnancy.  We had a great time though…just relaxing in the room, watching tv, swimming, and having a wonderful dinner with ice cream for dessert :).

I sure do love this man and am so thankful that I get to be by his side.  He truly is an awesome husband.. so encouraging and funny and sweet and hard-working.  <3.  And now I look forward to seeing him be a daddy, too.  At this point in marriage, I would have to say that it’s fun and exciting.  And even though life can throw us some tough situations, it makes it easier knowing we are going through it together.

missing my girl

I have to say, I have really enjoyed being back in West Monroe.  I haven’t missed Texas too much.  (Justin, on the other hand, is a whole different story.. haha).  I love the familiarity of this place.  I love seeing more of our families.  And I really love how nature is so much closer.. The stars at night and the birds and squirrels hopping around outside my window in the morning.

But I have missed a few good friends, my sis, Dom, and this very special little princess…

Only she’s not so little anymore!  From these pics my sister sent me, it looks like Ava has grown a foot since we moved only a couple months ago!

I sure can’t wait to see her and her parents again!  I know it’s going to be fun to see Ava interact with Judah.  She loves babies! 

33 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along: 33 weeks

Size of baby: supposed to be 17 inches and 4.25 pounds

Maternity clothes: everything except for dresses, skirts, and stretchy waist pants is maternity now.

Gender: baby boy. Judah Scott Perkins.

Movement: Lots and lots of big moves/rolls/jabs.  I keep expecting it to slow down because he is running out of room… but that hasn’t happened yet.  I’ve been trying to catch him on video with my phone, but every time I get the phone out he stops!  Little stinker!

Sleep: what is sleep?  I am just not sleeping well at all at this point.  But I am able to nap during the day which helps a good bit.

What I miss: I miss feeling cute, and I miss wearing my wedding rings.. but I know he is worth it :)

Cravings: cold liquids… especially sweet tea and icees.

Aversions: I haven’t tried cooking chicken lately, but I don’t think it’s worth the risk! haha. Nothing else has been making me sick though.

Symptoms: aches and pains in my hips and back.. especially at night while trying to sleep.  Also, I officially have an outie belly button!  oh, and I’m staying swollen now.

Best moment this week: We had an incredible baby shower and were greatly blessed with almost everything we still needed for little Judah.