29 WEEKS

HOW FAR ALONG?    
29 weeks, 2 days (in the 7^th month).

DEVELOPMENTS

The baby should weight about 2.5-3 pounds and measure somewhere around 15-17 inches long.

Here's what ole Macaroni looks like this week:

Cool factoid:  the baby’s sense of light is strong enough to where it may be able to see silhouettes of objects or even people in the right amount of light.  Fun!

It also got the hiccups for the first time this week – twice. Both times after eating my Bolognese.  

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN?

19 pounds. 

I’m very happy with that number, because at this point, I should be between 19-25 pounds gained, so feelin good about this despite having a poor past week nutritionally and fitness- wise! 

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?

Baby learnin’, that’s what!

Last week was my first visit to the new hospital. I graced that place with my presence, not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4…BUT 5 TIMES in one week!  I had a normal check up appointment, blood work to check blood sugar (passed! whew!), a shot (forgot the name-since my blood type is O- and Michael’s is A+), and we both attended 2 educational classes.  The ed classes were on ‘the ABCs of child care’ and were very informative! I think we have a total of about 8 pages of notes!  ;)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK?
Two, actually:

1) Watching the ravishing Courtney A. walk down the aisle this past Saturday in NOLA. What a beautiful, happy and relaxed bride!  Oh, and indulging in the most delicious wedding cake EVER!  

2) Spending the entire day Sunday in my PJs and not leaving the house once!  Granted I still tackled a majorly overdue project-cleaning out my closet! Yikes! Took about 4 hours and totaled 6 bags of stuff donated to Good Will.

The best part of day, though, was all the progress made despite my butt sitting on the sofa!  Michael and his Dad were working on project after project – painting our shutters, taping the nursery for painting, hanging a new light fixture, etc. etc.  I gotta tell y’all…Michael has been dominating his run for the Husband of the Year award. He has been taking initiative on so much house stuff especially when it comes to stuff for the baby. He’s been awesome!

He’s even taken it upon himself to decide to paint the nursery, pick the color and start taping the room…..hah….and hounds me daily about picking a name. I even got on his iPad the other day to mess around and noticed he had beaucoup pregnancy and baby apps on there (even a workout one for me). It’s the cutest thing ever!

(sorry, Michael. You’re probably embarrassed now!)

LOOKING FORWARD TO?

Another productive weekend of house projects. We’ve only got 2 left until the much awaited football season begins!!!!

We’re also taking our pre-natal visit to the Pediatrician’s office to visit the one and only Dr. Laura Boudreaux! Watch out, Laura – the Guillot’s are coming!!!

Week 27

SOMBER NEWS

A post has been overdue, thanks to an atypical past 2 weeks.  It has been a somber one. 

I bid farewell to one of my best friends (Sarah Folse) last week.  She moved to New York, which is great news for her – she’s been wanting to move there her entire life – but a lil sad for her friends back home to say the least!  We’ll miss you and love you Sarah!!! 

Also, while at the beach on a girl's trip (mentioned in my last post) I received the call saying it was “that time” for my MawMaw.  She had been set up with hospice at the house (and you know what that means). I left the beach early to drive to see her…fearing that once the week started, I wouldn’t be able to head that way.  I could not be more grateful for being able to spend that Sunday with her, as she passed away a few days later on Friday, 7/27. My PawPaw called me when I was on the way to work…I basically got to my office, packed up my stuff and hit the road to Bunkie to be with him and help with the logistics.  Luckily, they had pretty much taken care of everything back in 1987 (lol – yes, planning ahead is apparently genetic!), but nonetheless, there were still a couple things to work out and I was pleasantly surprised he actually accepted my help. 

To say the least, it is incredibly sad to lose her – but especially before the baby is born.  She was the next best thing to my Mom and it breaks my heart that she will never get to meet Baby Guillot.  When I visited with her the previous weekend, she told me she had asked the doctor if she were going to make it until November…she started crying telling me that she wasn’t going to. L  Crushed my soul.  I assured her that Baby Guillot will hear all too often about his/her MawMaw Gauthier!

(P.S.  She was convinced it’s a girl!)

The bright side here is that she got to do what most all of us hope to do – live a full life and grow old with your lifelong partner.  She was able to pass away an old lady, in her living room with her dog by her side, looking into my PawPaw’s eyes, holding his hand.  What a beautiful way to go!   We should all be so lucky! 

I hope you all don’t mind me sharing that with you…but, hey, I’ve gotta update with you about the good/bad/ugly/sad on this blog thing!

On to a lighter notes…

HOW FAR ALONG?    

Today, I am 27 weeks, 0 days.  Mathematically that’s the start of the 7^th month and 3^rd Trimester, but medically the 7^th month doesn’t officially begin until 28 weeks.  The way I see it….why rush?!  I’ll gladly take another week for month #6.

91 days to go!  Ahhhh.

DEVELOPMENTS

The baby is around 2 pounds and 15 inches long.

This week, he/she can not only hear the sound of my voice, but it can recognize it! How cool is that?!!

It’s also opening and closing its eyes and sleeping and waking at regular intervals.

Cool fact: there is an 85% survival rate of babies born pre-mature at week 27. 

TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN?
17 pounds.  I’m very happy with that number!  Not too much and not too little.   

HOW AM I FEELING?

Echoing every other pregnant person once hitting the 3^rd trimester – “getting a little more uncomfortable” as the days go by. Got a lil list of complaints going on that is typical to start at about this time.

Bending from the waist is getting dang near impossible, making putting on my shoes and painting my toenails interesting.   

Back pain!  Fair to say I’ve had significant middle back pain kickin’ in on any day where I sit down too long. Desk at work, riding in a car, etc.

Sleeping is also getting tricky. I STILL keep waking up on my back (which is a no-no). I’m borrowing a “pregnancy pillow” from Anne this weekend, which I’m excited to try (thanks again, Anne!!!).

Aside from all of that J on a positive note – my energy level is still up there.  As usual, I have been crashing for bed around 9~9:30, but still go non-stop until then with no problem. Grass mowing, working out and walking my girl Pep is still in my routine (did all 3 today in fact….included a morning and evening walk with Pep).

OPERATION DECO:

Repeat from the last update = Rain rain go away!  We have STILL not been about to pour the concrete for our new patio.

Great progress has been made in the nursery to the tune of starting on the dresser.  We bought an unfinished piece and are refinishing it to have a distressed look.  It’s a multiple step progress and earlier today we completed all but the final one (because the second to last step takes a long time to set).  Good timing, though, because after 4 hours I was ready for a break and Michael had to head out to Grand Isle to go catch some supper!   Hopefully we finish up tomorrow night and have a delicious fish dinner!!!

LOOKING FORWARD TO?
For one, the remainder of this weekend. The past 2 weeks were exhausting.

Also majorly looking forward to Baby Macaroni’s shower this coming Saturday!!!!

I don’t know what I’m more excited about – getting lots of fun baby stuff for ole Macaroni, or getting to visit with friends (looking forward to seeing you, Em!  Thanks in advance for taking the lead on the shower and flying in from Charleston to visit!!!)