Holy cow....39 weeks

Not much to report other than I'm 39 weeks today and still pregnant. I went to the doctor on Thursday and I'm not dialated, NO effacement and I'm having no contractions. I go again on Tuesday and pray that they tell me something different. Let me tell you...this waiting game stinks!!! Everything and I mean EVERYTHING is done. I'm at the point where I go around the house and "look" for something to clean, organize or fix. LOL!!! In addition to just waiting for Luke's arrival, I'm HUGE! I've gotten to the point where I tell strangers that I'm a week OVERdue!!! :-) Anyhow, my days are spent playing on the computer, reading books and magazines, cleaning, walking and laying out by the pool (yes, laying out). I'm trying VERY hard to enjoy these last quiet times, but my thoughts are consumed with Luke.

Luke's world:

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

38 weeks and still counting :-(

Alright....I'm officially done being pregnant. :-) Everyone told me that the last month is the hardest, but I had no idea just how HARD it really is. I'm EXHAUSTED, have no desire to eat and I'm so uncomfortable. :-( I want to just meet Luke already and if one more person tells me he will be here before I know it, I'm going to scream. LOL!!!

Luke's World:

Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after he's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

FULL TERM BABY!

Yea! You read that right...I'm officially FULL TERM! I'm 37 weeks today and sooooooo ready to meet our son! He's such an active little boy already and my body can't handle much more. I just pray that he's not one of those little munchkins who stay nice and snug in the belly until like 41 weeks! :-) Other than becoming uncomfortable and going crazy over everything I still need to do, Luke has the hiccups literally like 6 times a day. It is an awesome feeling!!! I'm so happy he is healthy!

Luke's World

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

In addition to being 37 weeks pregnant, Luke enjoyed his first concert. :-) We went to see and MEET Kenny Chesney on March 17th. It was an amazing concert. We were like 10 rows back and center stage. Yes, I got to FINALLY meet Kenny after being his biggest fan for years!!!! GOOD JOB CHRIS! This was considered my "push" present for having Luke. LOL!!!

One more week!!!!

Nothing new to report other than I'm 36 weeks today and have just one more week until I'm considered full term!!! This marks the week that I go to the doctor once a week rather than every two weeks! I can't believe how close we are to meeting our little island boy! I'm beginning to wonder who he will look like. Will he have blonde hair and blue eyes? Will he have brown hair and brown eyes? Only time will tell!!! :-)

On another note, my last day of work was Friday. It was probably one of the hardest things I ever had to do in life. I cried the entire way home and I can't stop thinking about how I won't be returning full time to my classroom. :-( I just keep praying that I'm making the right decision to stay home with Luke.

Luke's World:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.

35 weeks and 2 more showers!

This past Friday I had my class shower! They did such a nice job! I got GREAT things for Luke, including my pack n play. We played games and enjoyed a cookie cake. YUMMY!!!

I also had my Church shower Saturday. My friend Amanda and pastor's wife Connie put it together. It was also a nautical theme, which I LOVE since that's Luke's room. We played games, enjoyed some fellowship and opened presents. Again, Luke got great items which included diapers, wipes, blankets, clothes, booster seats, a baby book, toys and my glider and ottoman! After 4 showers, Luke is SO ready for the world! Just 5 more weeks or sooner!!!

Words of Love

The gifts!

My own seat complete with a stool underneath the table to put my feet up

The cake! Nice job Jessica!

Today also marks 35 weeks! I'm still in awe that 1) I made it this far. 2) I'm pregnant....ME, I, Gina is pregnant and going to be a mommy! I can't wait to have my days full of snuggling, running around a child, cleaning boogies, swimming and teaching a munchkin about life!!! God is so good!

35 weeks with Luke!

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

As for today, we are returning items to target and babies r us, putting together the glider and ottoman, building some shelves with boat rope for the nursery, installing the carseat and just finishing up some things in the nursery! AHHHHHHHH!!! He's coming soon!!! XOXO

6 more weeks as a family of two!

PRAISE GOD! I've made it to 34 weeks!!! It is finally starting to become real to me that in less than 2 months, I will be a mommy to a little boy. Everything is coming together so nicely. The nursery is 90% done...just need a glider, a lamp, the curtains (my MIL is hemming them), and a few items to decorate with. This little boy is so loved! He has TONS of clothes and some really great books to read.

This past week has been a little exhausting. I'm still trying to "run, run run" and do all the things I use to do before my 3rd trimester. However, I'm HUGE and the swelling is even worse. I can't wear my wedding rings anymore. Surprisingly, I've been able to wear them this whole time. We have our CPR class next week and our Baby Care class the following week. AHHHHHHH!!!!! SO SO SO CLOSE TO THE BIG DAY! :-)

Luke's World:

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. If you've been nervous aboutpreterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Ships ahoy...it's a BOY!

This past Saturday was my 1st baby shower. It was ABSOLUTELY beautiful and I feel so blessed to have such amazing women in my life. The theme was "ships ahoy...it's a boy". It was complete with a candy bar, yummy cake, scrapbooking station, games, lots of presents for Luke and the LOVE of family and friends! :-) After being showered with gifts, I came home and unpacked everything (did you expect anything less from me). It took about 2 hours to go through everything and boy is Luke almost all set. He has the cutest outfits!!! I honestly couldn't have done it better myself...I'm sad it's over with. :-( A VERY VERY VERY special thank you to my Mom, Katie, Mariah, Danielle L., Tanya, Danielle K., Jessie, Donna, Stephanie and Amy. You ladies mean the world to me and Luke!

SO SO SO BLESSED!

Such a nice job Tanya!
My cute cake with nothing but RED VELVET CUPCAKES!

Super cute sign!

The ladies who made this whole thing possible!

In addition to my shower, this past week I went to St. Augustine with my 4th graders! The kids had a BLAST! I wish I could say the same. LOL!!! It was a great trip, but I can't say that I had a BLAST.

WOO HOO!!! 33 weeks prego today! I know, I can't believe it myself, but yes I REALLY am already 33 weeks. I'm so full of mixed emotions about having this little guy. I'm excited to be a mommy, but scared as heck! I know my life is about to change in so many ways and I hope I'm prepared for as much of it as possible. :-)

Luke's World!!!

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Diabetes? 32 weeks?

I have ANOTHER thing to praise God about! After taking the 3 hour glucose diabetes screening test, I don't have diabetes!!! I'm so happy to hear this as it was weighing VERY heavy on my mind. :-)

We also had our birthing class this week. We learned a lot of information about relaxing, medication and what to expect during early labor and active labor. Chris was a HUGE help and support! He learned more than I did and claims he knows exactly what to do when the time comes! WE SHALL SEE since I'm sure all of it will go out the window when it's time! LOL!!!

We continued on the nursery this week. We have our rug down and it looks soooo great! I couldn't help myself and put together Luke's crib with the bedding! I'm going to have to take it apart and wash it still, but it looks so cute! I can't wait to have the rest of the accessories in there along with the glider and end table to complete it!

Well, this week is the week I go to St. Augustine with 30 fourth graders at 32 weeks pregnant. This should be interesting and fun at the same time. The weather is suppose to be ABSOLUTELY gorgeous!!!

Lastly, I can't wait until next Saturday! It's my first shower and I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to celebrate the arrival of Luke with such great friends and family.

Luke's (Nemo's) World:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. 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.

31 weeks-9 left to go!!!

Well.....I've made it to 31 weeks! I'm STILL in awe that I'm having a baby! Me, I, Gina is having a baby in about 9 weeks! I'm scared, excited and extremely nervous all in one! I thank God everyday that He trusts us with one of His children!

A little bit about this past week! We had our 30 week check-up on Wednesday and all was PERFECT except that I failed my one hour glucose diabetes screening. BUMMER! I had to do the 3 hour test this past Thursday. It wasn't too bad since Chris came with me to keep me company. I won't know the results until next week, but one way or the other I will be okay. Worst case senario, I have gestational diabetes and I get to meet Luke a little earlier than we thought. Babies with GD tend to get bigger earlier!

We had our breastfeeding class this past week which was interesting. I feel more comfortable that I will be able to "successfully" breastfeed, but I know that may not always be the case. We have our birthing education class this Saturday. CAN'T WAIT!!! Last but not least....my shower is in two weeks!!!

Here's Luke's life!
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Here's something fun to read over!

How you know your 7 months pregnant:

*Your hubby learns how to buckle, tie, and adjust your shoes-if you can weat them (my feet don't allow me to sometimes)

*You can barely shave your legs, and lotioning legs or cutting your own toenails is no longer an option

*You pop tums as if they are tictacs

*Scouting out restroom locations is the top priority when entering an unfamiliar location

*You are responsible for making the decision for every meal because everyone asks what you and Baby would like to eat

*Grunting, moaning, and wobbling like a 90 year old is normal

Love,

One BIG Shower

Me before the shower! 7 months!!!

Today was Bradley's shower!!! What a gorgeous shower it turned out to be! The colors were lime green and teal! Luke and I had a great time! Here are some pictures from the event. :-)

This was cool! Amy had a "scrapbooker" person come, take our pictures and she printed them right there and put it in a book for her!

Amy (mama-to-be), Donna (what a great hostess) and Jayme (MUAH)!

Amy's Diaper Cake from Kyle and the "notes to Bradley"

The Centerpieces! SO CUTE!

The YUMMY and GORGEOUS cake!

10 more weeks!!!

YAY!!!! I'm almost to the single digits!!! This past week I had to do my glucose screening for gestational diabetes and it wasn't that bad. I went to the lab, drank my juice and the lab tech brought me back to a room with a recliner and a TV!!! I watched two episodes of Saved By the Bell and then it was time to take my blood. I still don't have the results back yet, but I feel like I passed. :-)

In addition to the glucose screening, I FINALLY felt Luke have the hiccups! It felt like small pulses in my belly! It was really a cool feeling. :-)

My 30 week belly!

This week I also received in the mail my baby shower invitations! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE them!!! Here are a couple pictures of what they look like. They are SUPER CUTE and go great with Luke's nautical themed nursery.

I can't wait to build Luke's library!

How perfect are these invites???

Tomorrow is a BIG day for the Gordon family! Amy and Bradley are having their shower!!! The girls are going over to Jessica's house tonight to set up and prepare for the festivities. I'm so excited for them and can't wait to meet Bradley!

Next week is our breastfeeding class! We also signed up for the birthing class, Baby Care class, the tour of the hospital and the CPR/Water Safety Class. Can you tell we're new parents that are SCARED to death??? LOL! I will also be calling peditricians next week to set up interviews!!! We think we already know which one were going with, but just want to make sure! :-)

Here's what's going on with Luke, My little "Nemo"!!!

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

With Love,

11 week countdown!!!

YEA! You read that right! In about 11 weeks, I will become a mommy for the first time to my son. :-) I'm in complete awe of how much I love him already! He's been EXTREMELY active this past week with rolling all over my belly! I hope he's not a wild child outside of the womb. LOL!!! Anyhow, we went to the doctor last Monday and everything was perfect!!! Dr. Feldman says he weighs about 3 1/2 pounds already. :-) Dr. Feldman also gave me my referral to do the Glucose screening for diabetes! YUCK! I go on Thursday and I just pray I pass. Nothing new to report other than my feet and ankles have gotten so much worse. :-( I hope my feet go back to their original appearance and don't stay like this. Anyhow, we go back to the doctor next Wednesday (the 2nd). We're down to every two weeks now!!! We also have our breastfeeding class on the 2nd. On another note, Chris is starting on the Luke's closet today. WOO HOO! I can't wait to have his nursery COMPLETE so I can start putting away his things.



SO MANY EXCITING EVENTS GOING ON!!!

1) Luke and I have Bradley's shower next Sunday. Luke can't wait to meet his lil buddy and have playdates!!!

2) Breastfeeding class on the 2nd and 30 week appointment!!!

3) Birthing Class on the 12th (an all day event with hubby)!!!

4)St. Augustine field trip on the 16th and 17th!!!

5)My friends and family shower on the 19th!!! A VERY VERY VERY special thank you to Danielle Kitsteiner, Danielle Layne, my mom, Katie, Mariah, Stephanie, Amy, Jessie, Tanya and Donna!

6) My work shower on the 22nd!!!

7) My Class shower on March 4th!!!

8) My Church shower on March 5th!!!

9) My last day of work March 11th! This is VERY hard for me as I LOVE my job and the ladies I work with. However, I know staying home will be worth it!!!



Here's Luke's world!

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his 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.

A different kind of survery!!!

1. Are you happy About your pregnancy? No, I'm OVERJOYED!

2. Have you felt your baby move yet? EVERYDAY!!!

3. Do you think the baby will look like you or the daddy or a combo of both of you guys? Not too sure yet!

4. Do you know what you are having? 100% boy!

5.Do you want a c-section or natural or painkiller assisted birth? I'm all for an epidural!!! HEHE! However, if I have to have a C-section, I'm okay with that too. As long as Luke is HEALTHY!

7. Are you going to be a nursing mommy or a formula mommy? A nursing mommy!!! HOPEFULLY! I will try EVERYTHING to keep being a nursing mommy!

8.Any back pain or nausea? BACK PAIN!!! However, the best thing I ever did was go to the chiropractor.

9. How many weeks are you today? 29 weeks! Only 11 more!

10. How much weight have you gained? LOLOLOLOLOL!!!! I'm up to 21 pounds and climbing! I'll worry about it after Luke is here!

Hello 3rd Trimester!!!

Today marks my last and final lap...the 3rd trimester! I have mixed emotions about this. I am enjoying being pregnant and spending all my time with my husband, sleeping in, relaxing on the couch, reading books, baking and doing whatever I want when I want. However, I can't wait to become a family of 3, hold Luke in my arms, have sleepless nights (maybe), and be nothing but a mommy and wife! :-) Regardless, ready or not, Luke is coming in just 12 weeks!!!

This past week has been exciting. For one, I started going to the chiropractor for some back pain relief. WHAT A GREAT IDEA! Two, Luke's bedding arrived from Pottery Barn and it's monogrammed (yes, I'm going to be one of those moms) with his name on the pillow sham and quilt. I also received a "surprise" package from my registry. Aunt Stephanie bought some things for Luke "just because"....SO NICE!!!

Wednesday, we went to church and a little old lady came to me and asked if she could come to my baby shower (Church is throwing me one). HOW STINKIN CUTE! I told her absolutely and when she left, I had a tear in my eye. We also had a guest speaker (A Jew for Jesus) that night who told us about the End Times and Israel. Are you ready for Christ's return?

Here's what's going on with Luke!

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

27 weeks!!! One more week and I'm in my final lap..3rd TRIMESTER!

My 27 week belly!!!

Tomorrow I will be 27 weeks! It's been an eventful week this past week. Chris was gone on a 4 day boating trip to make extra money and when he returned he said my belly grew! In 4 days??? LOL! It was nice to have the house alone for the first night, but after that I wanted my BEST FRIEND HOME! I'm happy he's back! :-)

Sleeping, walking and driving have become such a "task" this past week. I can't sleep without feeling like I can't breathe. It wakes me up ALL the time. Then I turn to my other side and start the "cycle" over. Walking has been another obstacle. Every time I stand up, my right leg almost gives out on me because of my siatic nerve and my back KILLING me. And of course driving has become hard since I have to get in and out of the car (which isn't easy) and the seat belt "cuts" into my chest. However, I wouldn't trade ANY of it for the world! Believe it or not, I still love being pregnant. :-)

This week I felt Luke "roll" across my belly. I've only felt him kick in the past. It's the weirdest feeling, but one that I love to feel.

On another note, going back to work wasn't too bad, but it was a challenge with my feet. :-( I have to wear slippers all day to help with the swelling. Not to mention the diabetic socks I wear with my shoes daily. Let me just tell you how sexy I look with those on. LOL!!! Come 2:45pm, my feet are beyond swollen and hurt so bad that when I get home I lay on the couch with them elevated for hours on end. :-( I'm hoping to work up until the end of March, but I have a feeling I won't make it until then.

I'm super excited for the next coming weeks! We have a lot of things coming up that I am so thankful for. I'm starting my sewing lessons Monday, I'm off next Monday and have my 28 weeks check-up, Chris' Aunt and Uncle are coming into town, Amy's shower for baby Bradley, breast feeding class starts, birthing class starts, Valentine's Day, 4th grade Saint Augustine trip (hopefully I can go), My friends and family shower AND my church shower. I'M SO BLESSED!!!

Well.....on to Luke! Here's what's going on with him. :-)

his week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he 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 him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Holy Cow....26 weeks!

26 weeks down and 14 to go!!!! :-) :-) :-) Other than my back KILLING me, the shortness of breath and my swollen ankles, I'M DOING FABULOUS!!!!!!!! I can't wait until yoga on Tuesday night to stretch my back. This week I had my first prenatal massage EVER and it was fabulous! If I could afford it, I would get one every week!!!!! I highly recommend it to any pregnant lady!

I also purchased Luke's mobile this past week (Thanks Danielle) at a baby store at the Villages at Gulfstream Park. I love it!!!! :-)

I just have to say I had the BEST two weeks ever! I caught up with tons of friends, spent a lot of time with Steph, started the nursery, celebrated Jesus' bday, enjoyed Christmas with family, read 3 books and rested! I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK!!!! However, I only have 12 weeks left and then I'm a stay at home mommy for a couple of years! I know it's going to be VERY hard (no more pedicures, lunch with friends or impulse shopping), BUT......it will be sooooooooooo worth it!!!! :-)

Here's what's going on with Baby Luke! I love that he has a name!

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.