29 Weeks

(photo taken at 27 weeks)

Time really does fly. How is it that I'm already 29 weeks along in this pregnancy? My OB appointments are now every two weeks and at my appointment last week, my physician asked if I am feeling any contractions yet — UMMM YIKES! Gladly my answer to that question is no. Don't get me wrong, Husband and I can hardly wait another moment to hold our squirmy little boy, but we also want him to grow big and strong before his arrival. Plus, we still have lots to do around our house. Me, being me, I thought it was a good idea to hand-make a mobile for Valor's crib. What a joke! 29 weeks along and I've done about one sixth of the project...yea, you do the math...I better get into gear and start sewing faster (err, actually working on it). We have a door to hang in our laundry room, some basic organization projects and I want to get one major deep clean in before his arrival. For me, summer is hard to get things done because I'd rather be outside. My dear friend just welcomed her healthy baby boy into this world, but he was 15 days early and made me realize...I may not make it to my due date and need to be ready early. So after this post, I am dedicating today to work, work, work!

Baby Size: Valor is now the size of an acorn squash! He measures about 15.2 to 16.7 inches long. Right now, he weights a little over 2.5 pounds. Can you believe he will triple in weight before birth?

Weight Gain: As you know, weight gain has been a struggle over the course of this pregnancy. It may not look like it (which I think is so odd), but I've only gained 13 pounds this entire course, two pounds in the last month. My OB really wants me to continue to up my calories and to gain at minimum, another 10 pounds before delivery. I guess all 13 pounds have really gone just to my belly. Hey, I'm not complaining! I've been told from numerous sources that you cannot tell I am pregnant at all, not even from the back, only when you see my big-smuggled-basketball-belly.

Overall Feeling: I am doing okay. Thankfully I think I can honestly say, "MORNING" SICKNESS IS OVER! I haven't gotten sick in about two weeks! But, if it isn't one thing, it is another. I definitely can feel my organs being squished and have been struggling for a little while now with some severe back pain. I do great if I can stand, but the sitting really gets to me and unfortunately with work and then two hours of commuting in my car each day, the evenings are a little difficult. Thankfully, as all of you know by now, I have the world's greatest husband who lovingly rubs my back in the evenings and bought me a prenatal massage — which I need to schedule. I've been trying to hold off scheduling, but think I am about ready to break down and cash that in...spa day!

Excited For: At my 24 week update I said I couldn't wait for Husband to feel Valor's kicks, and he now has, which is awesome. Now that the time is getting closer, I am becoming more and more eager to see Husband as a Daddy. I've seen him with very limited amount of babies, and with him being his family's baby, there weren't any to follow. I know, with his personality, he is going to make the best Daddy!

Advice Needed: I have searched all of Pinterest and the web for hospital packing lists. There are so many out there! Some of them look as though I could be packing for a trip around the globe! What do we really need to be bringing? Also, being that I am delivering an hour away from home (without traffic issues) I want to make sure I bring everything that we need, because Husband won't be just "running home quickly" to grab something we forgot. Recommendations are much appreciated!

All the time we wondered and wondered, who is this person coming, growing, turning, floating, swimming, deep, deep inside. — Crescent Dragonwagon

25 Weeks | 24 Weeks | 18 Weeks | 17 Weeks | 15 Weeks

PS — Fun Fact: This post is number 100 on The Passionate Parsley!

Babymoon Staycation

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To some of you this may not make sense because your family schedule may be a little more typical than Husband's and mine...I am so giddy because of how spoiled I'm going to be this weekend. Husband is off work this holiday weekend and I could not be a happier gal! The last weekend we spent together? Honestly, I couldn't tell you - it's been that long. Our schedules make us pass in the night. I'm gone during the weekdays. Husband, gone on the evenings and weekends. But this weekend, I'm going to soak in every blessed moment I have with my favorite person on earth. We are going to make simple, but good memories. We were supposed to be traveling this weekend for our babymoon, but due to my job situation we unfortunately are not taking our before-baby-trip. But at this point in life, I am just so excited to have dedicated time with Husband. We're going to pack as much as we can into the next three days with a 4th of July parade, fireworks, vegan ice cream eating, restaurant adventures, a day trip up to Milwaukee, and even a few small projects around our house. Regardless of what we do, this weekend my soul is going to be fed and nurtured. I feel so blessed and thankful.

Follow along on Instagram @passionateparsley and have a fantastic 4th of July weekend!

25 Week Ultrasound

This past week I scheduled an ultrasound and invited my sister, Joy, to attend. To give a brief background, Joy is about to embark on her final year of nursing school...but on a major adventure! From August through November she will be studying abroad in Zambia! Personally, I am so glad she is going because it is definitely an opportunity of a lifetime. But, while in Zambia, our little Valor will be born. Because she will miss the birth, I really wanted her to be a part of the experience and attend an ultrasound. It was such a cool experience. As I laid on the bed, stomach glazed with the jelly, Joy and I held hands and watched Valor squirm around on the ultrasound screen. I will never forget those moments as I watched my sister's eyes fill with delight and the happy tears stream down her face.

Joy, I couldn't ask for anything better than a sister — because of you, I'll always have a friend. Even if I got to choose who Valor's aunt might be, I'd still choose you. Valor is going to be so blessed to call you Aunt!

Only an Aunt can give hugs like a mother, can keep secrets like a sister, and share love like a friend. — unknown

Valor is a healthy little boy, weighing almost two whole pounds — 1 pound 12 ounces! He was moving and giving the tech a bit of a hard time. The only slight concern is that Valor is comfortably in a breech position, as he was at the 20 week ultrasound. He does have time to adjust his position before his due date and I am praying he does, so that my doctor won't have to forcibly turn him. The ultrasound tech said that we will most likely have one more ultrasound closer to the due date to check on Valor's positioning. So, prayers are definitely welcome!

To follow Joy's African nursing adventure this fall, visit her blog.

Dearest Valor: Our Secret Bond

To My Dearest Valor,

I was thinking about you early this morning, like I always do. But this time I was thinking about our special, secret bond we share. For this short moment in time, for a quick nine months, I am carrying two heartbeats - yours and mine. And we share our secret language that no one else knows - just you and me. It's your small, strong kicks and movements. I love and cherish each movement you make. It's so fun, special and secret. You move around, letting me know you're there, but no one else can feel it. I just cannot wait to meet you and discover the bond we will have when you arrive. I daydream of all the adventures we are going to have together. I wonder what our thing might be. But for now, I'm enjoying our secret bond that know else can feel or know. It's just you and me.

Oh, I love you so much already. xoxo

Forever & Always,
Mommy

24 Weeks

24 weeks – viability! I know it's been a little while since I've posted an official pregnancy update, I guess that would be due to the fact that life has been pretty hectic. We're over half way through with this pregnancy — I guess it's true — time flies when you're having fun (ahhh, morning sickness)! With my job status change, I am also switching OBs and where I'll be delivering our son. Tomorrow is my first visit with my new physician, praying all goes smoothly! Unfortunately with the change, Husband will no longer be able to join me at my appointments, which we both loved going to together.

Baby Size: A cantaloupe! He is approximately 10.5 to 11.8 inches long and weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 oz.

Weight Gain: Going through my medical records that I'll be bringing to my appointment tomorrow, from my eight week appointment to my appointment four weeks ago, I have only gained a total of five pounds! I guess that's what happens when "morning" sickness takes over. I feel like I've really started to pop and think I've probably put on a few pounds since the last visit – we'll see tomorrow!

Overall Feeling: The "morning" sickness has gotten MUCH better! I'm not only getting sick every few days at the most — PRAISE! I've been struggling a bit with backaches — but thankfully my dearest Hubby bought me a prenatal massage certificate. Now I just need to decide when I'm going to do a little spa day!

Excited For: Feeling Valor's kicks – I cannot wait for them to be strong enough for Husband to feel! It seems every time I tell Husband, "Quick! Feel right here..." our little stinker stops moving.

Everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit here in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world you will turn out to be. — Carrie Fisher

Naming Our Son

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So, you may find the name for our Babe to be an interesting choice — one I about guarantee you've never heard. Maybe because technically it isn't a name you would ever find in a baby name book. Husband and I chose our son's name based on meaning. Together Husband and I have discussed, so many times, how we want our son's name to be something to live up to. Our son's name is Valor.

Valor Emerson

val•or [val-er]

noun

boldness or determination in facing great danger, especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery: a metal for valor.

Synonyms

intrepidity, spirit, courage

Our call to war, to love the captive soul,

But to rage against the captor;

And with the sword that makes the wounded whole

And will fight with faith and valor.

When faced with trials on every side,

We know the outcome is secure,

And Christ will have the prize for which He died—

An inheritance of nations.

Lyrics from O Church Arise

By Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

Dear Valor,
I love saying your name and praying that you are full of boldness, bravery and courage! Life definitely throws curve balls, but our hope for you, is that you're a boy that is true to his name. But most of all, we want you to know Christ as your Heavenly Father and believe that He is the source of your strength. Your Daddy and I cannot wait to meet you and get to know your unique personality. We're counting down the days Little One.
Love,
Mommy

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

This Monday has been a long awaited day for your Daddy and me. We will get to see your sweet picture during our ultrasound and find out if you are a boy or a girl. It almost seems surreal that that this day has come, since I have dreamed of you since I was young. Daddy and I are eager to call you by name and we have it already selected.

We cannot wait to rock you, sing songs and play. As I sit and type this letter to you, the windows are open, the lovely spring breeze is flowing through our home and I hear all the neighbor kids outside playing. I let Braxton, our puppy dog out, he lays in the cool green grass and watches the kids play. I have a feeling you'll like being outdoors just like your puppy, Daddy and me.

Little one, you are so blessed because you are going to have the greatest Daddy around. Your Daddy is my best friend and I know he is going to be your hero. I daydream, often wondering if you'll be more like Daddy or more like me...

Will you be a quiet soul or a big talker?
Will you be a runner or a tennis player?
Will you want to be a scholar or an artist?
Will you be tall or short?
Or maybe you'll just be the perfect mix.

One thing I do know is you're going to love adventure and be a big dreamer because your Daddy and I are the same in that regard!

I think about you constantly and am eagerly waiting for you.

xoxo

Forever & Always,
Mommy