Little Sister!

We got Ruby's coming home outfit tonight!  I saw this in a catalog yesterday and went up to see if they had it at the Carter's outlet.  They only had ONE left in the size that we needed, and the lady had to get it out of the back for us!  Both our babies were born on the cusp of the two small sizes...newborn goes 5-8 lbs and 3 months goes 8-12 lbs..so we went ahead and thought that getting the newborn size would be best.  Katie and Noah were both 8 lbs each.  Well...anyway...if you want to see it bigger you can click here.  The pic is kind of small I know.

29 Weeks

This past week has definitely left me feeling bigger.  I have the feeling of being full all the time when I am sitting pretty much in any position besides lying down stretching out.  Ruby is kicking a LOT.  The other day she was really low and her kicks were hurting waaaaay down there.  Then, last night, not sure where she was, but wherever it was it HURT.  I had to roll over on a different side and when she finally moved it was great.  I think she must have been pushing on some internal organ that was really very uncomfortable! 
We had our second Bradley Class Sunday night.  It was fun and informative.  The other couple didn't come, so we got to have one on one time and talk about "us" specific issues and questions.  Corey has been good about helping me to practice relaxing. 
Here is what the internet says about week 29:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and hers head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Rock-a-Bye

A few weeks ago my mom went over to where some family members live to pick up some old family furniture.  She got a few things, but one item was sent with us in mind.  This hand made cradle:

It was made by my great uncle, Ozell Sparks.  The husband of my grandmother's sister-in-law.  He handcrafted many furniture items.  Katie actually has a tiny doll cradle that he made also that used to be mine.  He passed away many years ago, but I know he would love that we will be using this cradle for his great-great-niece.  It will be just the right size for use as a bassinet for the first few weeks she is home.  You can't tell from this picture very well, but it has a shelf underneath that is the perfect size to hold a few storage bins for diapers, blankets, etc.  We just have to find a pad, or else make one, to use as a small mattress.  I am very excited to have this piece of family furniture for Ruby!

And here is a 28 week photo of my and Ruby.  Pretty sure I've grown since the last photo.

28 Weeks

I have another cold! Blah!  I hardly ever get sick but it seems I am picking up every little thing in this nine month period.
We started our Bradley classes on Sunday night.  We had lots of fun.  Lindsey, our neighbor/friend is the teacher and she is a lot of fun.  We learned some stretches that I need to do to get my legs ready for labor.  Also, we learned some ways that Corey can help me relax during contractions.  Very nice things to know!  I am anticipating learning a lot throughout the course and will hopefully gain all the confidence I need to make it through a natural labor and delivery!  Here's more week 28 news:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Only 12 more weeks till due date time!  I am honestly feeling like she won't be here before then.  I think it will be sometimes in the week of the due date, but not before.  She measured a little smaller at the 20 week ultrasound, so I'm going to keep on thinking toward that time frame and try to not get antsy until after that time.

Essentials

 Today was shopping day!

We are now officially ready for Ruby to come home, since we got our infant car seat! :)

Thanks to a generous Christmas gift from Memaw and Grandaddy, plus an old car seat from my parents that was worth a $50 discount at the Babies R Us Trade-in event, we got all this:

for a VERY reasonable price! :)

On the top is a backpack diaper bag, which looks smaller in that picture than it is in person.

It has an entire zip up area on the side that is insulated.  A very neat feature that will come in great use.

You can't see it in the photo on the bottom, but the infant seat has a triangular handle, which makes it extremely easy to carry..especially for short me!  You can click here to see the product page and if you scroll down you can see all the features of the stroller set, including an ipod plug in w/speakers on the tray!

We also created a registry while we were in the store. Corey and the kids were very patient with all the shopping we did today.  And then the kids got to spend their own Christmas gift money. 

Diapers!

The first big purchase for Ruby has officially been made as of this morning!  We ordered.......

diapers!!!!!!
I have been doing a lot of research over the past months.  Thought I had settled on one thing, then another.
Finally came to the conclusion after talking to friends that the good old fashioned prefold diapers are the best way to go based on ease of clean/dry, etc.
I was going to go with one brand in particular, but then this morning I found out about a great sale on Econobums brand diapers.  They are currently buy one get one free! (buy one diaper and cover, get one diaper and cover free!)
So.....after a brief conversation Corey and I decided to go ahead and order a starter set of these diapers.
12 diapers and 12 covers.
They don't come in as many colors as other brands, but..we got a mix of the pinkish color above, the green, and plain white.
I am SO excited!!!!!
These are also one size..the covers adjust from 8-35  lbs.  No pins or velcro needed...you just lay the baby in the flat/prefold diaper, and then fasten the elastic cover around them.
(PS, I might have shared this sale with someone else who went ahead and picked up something for the baby shower...so our starter stash will actually be 24!)

27 weeks

I feel bigger this week.  A lot of people told me that I am really looking pregnant now.  It makes me wonder what I've been thinking I looked like the past few months, ha ha.  Not much else to share.  Hopefully we will be picking up the carseat/stroller combo soon.  That's really the only *need* we have.  I'm excited about going to Babies R Us to look around, we haven't been at all this whole time!
Here's more:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

26 Weeks

Here are a couple of very bad pictures taken in the bathroom mirror, ha ha.  I pulled my tee shirt up so you can see the bump better.  I think I may be a tad bit bigger.
Here's the scoop on week 26:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches from head to heel.