34 weeks!

Things are continuing to go really well! I still have no signs of labor, which is okay with me considering I still have quite a bit I want to get done along with a huge conference at work next week. Plus, this little guy needs to grow and mature just a little more!! I'm not completely uncomfortable yet, but things are starting to get a little more difficult - mostly in the fact that I am just getting out of breath more quickly than normal. He's still moving around quite a bit - I really enjoy doing the movement counts each night just to know that things are "normal". It's hard to believe that he will be here in about six weeks! I know I say that with each update, but it's true!

Here's the most recent information from babycenter.com:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well.

Merry Christmas!

(please ignore the piece of hair in my face!)

Merry Christmas from Jason and Amber!!

Update

I have been so bad at blogging lately - except when I have my belly pics to post, of course! So, here's a baby update (in bullets):

• Our childbirth education class was last weekend. I didn't really have any concerns, but I thought it was great to just go through the class, learn some breathing and get a tour of the hospital. It was very informative, and I'm sure it will be helpful when baby P decides to make his presence.
• The crib finally arrived today! I am feeling much more prepared now that we have a place for him to sleep. The dresser is on the truck...somewhere...hopefully it will be here in a couple weeks so I can get more organized. (Pictures of the nursery to come once it's finished.)
  
• There are still a lot of clothes, towels, sheets, etc. to wash, but I keep putting it off until I have somewhere to store them permanently.
  
• We have just about everything we need/want for his arrival (I think!)....just a few things to pick up as it gets closer. I'm so glad most of our showers were done early so that I don't feel stressed about not having things or if I'll make it to the shower. There are still a couple smaller events coming up in January -- my work shower and my group of girlfriends from the neighborhood. They should be very stress free and fun!
  
• The name has still been a struggle! A few weeks ago, Jason and I each came up with our top 10 names. NONE of them matched, but we were able to narrow it down to our top five out of the twenty names. I think we are finally down to two names, but neither of us are sold on the other's favorite. How did you pick your child's name?? Jason is really attentive to what the initials might spell, and I don't want anything too popular (but nothing crazy either).
• I'm still feeling really good, although I am slowing down a bit. No signs of labor (yeah!), baby is moving like crazy (usually get 10 movements within 30 minutes) and no swelling! We're definitely on the countdown! My next appointment is on the 4th and then I think I go to weekly appointments. We are looking at less than 7 weeks (give or take) until baby P is here. I can't wait to see what he looks like and hold him in my arms!!
  

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas!!

32 weeks!

Things are still going well on the pregnancy front although I am starting to slow down a little. I get out of breath more easily and tying my shoes is getting a little more difficult. But, it's all good! Kick/movement counts are going well. I usually get the 10 counts in 45 minutes or less and love feeling him move all the time! The weeks really are flying by now...8 to go, and I just keep thinking about all the people that go 3-4 weeks early. I have a lot to get done before this baby arrive...furniture set up, clothes/bedding washed, purchasing any items we don't have, and organizing what we do have. The crib is supposed to be here this week, and our childbirth education class is this Friday and Saturday! I'm excited to hear what they have to say and especially get a tour of the hospital.

Baby boy is growing so much!!! Here's what babycenter.com has to say:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long. He's gaining about a half pound a week and, in fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

It's official...

at 31 weeks pregnant, I can no longer where my regular t-shirts! ha!! Yep, I have started wearing Jason's t-shirts to lounge around the house in. :-) Some maternity shirts are even too short!

Other than the changes in my clothes, everything else is going really well. At my appointment on Monday the heartbeat was in the 150s, and I've now started my daily kick/movement counts. They have been going pretty well...getting 10 movements each night in between 15 & 45 minutes. This definitely reassures me that things are going well. Just under 9 weeks left!

I talked to the store where we ordered our furniture, and the crib should finally be here next week! But, it does sound like the dresser and nightstand might not be here until the first week in January. At least we'll be able to get the crib set up and ready.

The First Reveal!

On October 10th, after two and a half weeks of keeping the gender a complete secret (the one thing that only Jason and I knew during this pregnancy), we decided to tell our immediate family. Since my family was all together in Wisconsin, we thought this was the perfect opportunity. I bought 5" x 7" frames for each family, put an ultrasound picture and "It's a Boy!!" on scrapbook paper and then wrapped them. Everyone opened their pictures at the same time. Here's how the big reveal went:

my parents

my brother & sister-in-law

my sister and brother-in-law

After we got back into town from visiting my family, we did the same thing with Jason's dad and sister.

Jason's dad

Jason's sister

I know my mom originally thought the baby was a girl, but I think she changed her mind somewhere along the way. Jason's sister definitely thought it was a girl until she opened the picture! :-)

Of course, everyone is just excited that the baby is growing and healthy!

Is it a BOY or a GIRL?

Does this picture look familiar??

It's from the day of our 20 week ultrasound (September 22nd) and part of our journey to finding out the sex of baby Patterson!

After our shopping adventure, we headed to Olive Garden for a nice dinner and to finally find out the gender!

(How do you like the ugly wrapping paper he picked? ha!)
Jason opened the gift before our dinner came, and here is what he pulled out!!!

I was completely shocked!!! After so many of the old wives tales, tests, dreams, etc, all saying girl, I thought for sure it was. But, I have to say that I am also completely happy with adding a healthy, baby boy to our family!!

Bloomington Shower

Today, we had our final big baby shower -- Jason's family and some of our friends. Penny, Pam, Leta, and Kate did a GREAT job!! I couldn't believe all the wonderful things baby Patterson has been blessed with, including such a great group of people to just love on him/her.

The start of the gift pile!

My BEAUTIFUL cake made by our friend, Kate!

You can't see it all that well, but each square on this blanket has an animal that was embroidered by Jason's sister, a cousin, or an aunt! And, it was SO soft on the opposite side.
Have you ever tried baby food? Oh my goodness...I can't believe we make babies eat this stuff! :-) In this game, I had to try each food and guess what they were. The only one I thought was okay was the applesauce. The meats were so dry! Disgusting!!

Our wonderful hostesses -Aunt Leta, Aunt Pam, me, & Kate
(Jason's Aunt Penny lives in Virginia so she wasn't able to join us, but she got pictures texted to her throughout the shower!)

Stay tuned for the big gender announcement tomorrow!!
Blue or pink, what do you think??

30 weeks!

We are three-quarters of the way through this pregnancy! I know I keep saying this, but it really is going quickly now! Appointments are now every two weeks so getting to hear that precious heartbeat more often is wonderful. Things are starting to come together at home, too. The nursery is painted, and we're starting to accumulate the necessary items. The crib should definitely be here in the next week or so (it is scheduled to go on the next truck) and hopefully the dresser and nightstand will be here at the same time.

According to babycenter.com, here's the latest on the growth of our little one:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and s/he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). His/her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after s/he's born, s/he'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When s/he does open them, s/he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means s/he can only make out objects a few inches from his/her face.