27 Weeks

Hello Third Trimester!!  We're getting there, slowly but surely.  This week was a good one.  I finished my workshop class and now have only one more teaching class to go.  Henry is working on some writing for his new job, but generally we're both having pretty easy days right now.  I've finally been able to get going on a baby blanket for Ginny (I'm actually making one for myself!) and Henry is putting together a scrapbook of all the ultrasounds and pictures we have so far.  We've had to go in for so many ultrasounds over the course of this pregnancy it's like having a flipbook of a developing baby.  Socially we had a very busy week which is highly unusually for hermits such as us.  Dinner with my friend Kristen on Thursday (who is sadly moving two hours away to Wisconsin), my summer office outing to Arlington Race Track and a BBQ at a co-worker's house on Friday, sailing on Lake Michigan on my boss' beautiful and huge sailboat Saturday afternoon, then a really silly movie with Kristen on Saturday night.  Friday and Saturday were probably the busiest days I've had since May and I was thankfully able to keep going through it all.  Today however I'm falling asleep!  I can't seem to do anything without my eyelids dropping on me.  Don't worry I'm not driving home.  In fact, Henry is picking me up a little early so we can go to the seamstress to get my maid (actually matron) of honor dress fitted for my best friend Joselyne's wedding which is in two weeks.  Hopefully I will still fit into it, or she can make me fit into it, and I won't look like a giant clover-green beluga whale.

• What's the Baby Doing?: Although the baby's lungs, liver and immune system aren't fully mature yet, if birth were to occur this week the chances of survival are at least 85 percent!  The baby will start recognizing Mom and Dad's voices this week. although it's hard to hear clearly through all the vernix and amniotic fluid.  She is entering her most active period, from 27 to 32 weeks.
• Weight Gain: Two pounds.  Fingers crossed about that dress!

• Showing?: My belly looks a little higher than last week.  Oh and my belly button is pretty much non-existent at this point.  We're still rubbing me down twice a day with oil and cream, hoping to keep those stretch marks away!

• Symptoms: Still hungry like a hippo.  I'm starting to get a stronger sweet tooth than I had before (if that's possible), thank goodness for oatmeal bars and greek yogurt!  No real weird cravings as of yet.  The onion thing went away a while ago, although I still have my afternoon mocktail of V8 juice, hot sauce and cocktail onions.  My back has been okay this week too.  It has been really hurting me for over a month now, but usually Henry's back rubs and/or some yoga that my sister taught me helps out a lot.  I have to wear this super attractive maternity belt (under my clothes of course) to help me support my belly now if I'm going to be walking any sort of distance.  It feels soooo good, but it's hard to believe I have to result to elastic to help me hold up my own body.
• Sleep: Some days good, some days bad, but I feel like I'm getting enough sleep.  I think.
• Movement: Ginny's an active one!  Currently kicking me right in the bladder, thanks kid.  Lots of movement this week and Henry has been able to catch it a bunch too which is always amazing.  She seems to like to hang out on my right side all the time but only a couple days ago I started feeling some kicks on the left side.  Maybe she's finally starting to take up some space in there!
• Best Moment of the Week: Hmm, this is non-baby related but sailing on Lake Michigan was pretty awesome.  It was probably the most beautiful day we've had this summer, not too hot with a wonderful breeze.  It was just so relaxing and nice, I was a little sad when we pulled back into the harbor.  Also, I got to have a dipped cone from Dairy Queen on Sunday, which I have been talking about wanting to get ever since my sister Tracy, her husband Shayne, Henry and I went on an unsuccessful hunt for one back in April.  April!  Four months later I finally got one. :-)
• What I Miss: I miss being able to sleep on my back.  I'm really comfortable on my back usually.  But now I can't stand lying on my back for more than a few minutes.  If I accidentally roll onto my back in the middle of the night it eventually wakes me up.  Technically I'm not supposed to be lying on my back anyway because apparently the weight of my belly puts pressure on the major artery that carries blood to my brain and to the baby.  So good thing it's so uncomfortable right now or I would have a hard time remembering not to sleep that way.
• What I'm Looking Forward To: Labor Day weekend!  That's a four day weekend for me.  Granted I still have to teach class on Friday, but it's only a couple hours out of my day.  Yay for a mini stay-cation!
• Milestones: Ginny recognizing our voices is pretty wonderful.  And I may be getting my first stretch mark.  Or it's a shadow.  I hope shadow.
• Henry's Quote of the Week: Henry's giving it to me this week.  He started the P90X workout this week, which for those who don't know is a super high intensity workout regime that you do for 90 days, I think 90 mins a day, which should have him finishing right before our due date.  Tonight I walked in and stood there rubbing my belly, after a few minutes of me watching him huff and sweat I said, "That looks hard."  Then I left to seek out a bowl of cereal.

Check out our new poll!  As we now know the sex of the baby, I thought perhaps a little timing poll might be fun as we officially enter the last trimester.  So what do you think?  Will Ginny come before, on, or after her due date? (November 30th for those who have forgotten)