Better late than never... week 28! (At my week 29 mark... ha)

I will add pictures from home tonight - don't have them saved at work.  And I will get going on my week 29 update - how is it so easy to get a week behind?

How far along? 28 weeks.
• Total weight gain: +8 lbs.  

• Maternity clothes? Oh yes, exclusively maternity pants (except sweatpants) and trying to intermix the tops.

• Stretch marks? Not yet and I hope it stays that way!
• Sleep: Getting difficult, some nights I have pain or discomfort with certain positions, but then fine the next night.  Must have to do with where the baby is laying. I’m still up once a night to use the restroom. 

• Best moment this week: My first baby shower!!  My Aunt was in town from Colorado, so we had a very small family get together to celebrate Baby Bethke.  And I can promise you – this babe is loved a ton already and will be spoiled rotten!

• Miss Anything? Being able to see to shave.  I get more cuts on my legs than ever before!
• Movement: So much it gets painful!
• Food cravings: This week it’s been meals – not sweets.  Sandwiches, fruit, substantial food.

• Food aversions: Nothing I don’t normally dislike.

• Gender: Verdict’s still out and it seems to be a split jury.
• Labor Signs: Not really
• Symptoms: HEARTBURN, back pain, tired more often again, and just really starting to feel like I’m dragging and huge.

• Belly Button in or out? Totally out
• Wedding rings on or off? On – no swelling yet!
• Looking forward to: Organizing the nursery this week and starting to put away some of our gifts!

The shower this week was so fun!  Big thanks goes out to my Sister, Mom and aunt for putting it on!  We played a few games, had a delicious lunch and made the guys (Grandpa, Uncle Tom and Ryan) judge our best “play-doh babies.”  My family was beyond generous and we have quite the start to the necessities for baby!  Seeing all the outfits, toys and little baby items really made me more excited and more grounded in realizing that in less than 3 months, our new son or daughter will really be here.  Crazy!

This week we went to visit an in-home daycare.  And I LOVED the place.  I’m praying that she has an opening (she thinks one of her families will be leaving due to the Mom changing jobs).  I didn’t realize until we were interviewing her that she does daycare for a friend of mine that works at the local community center.  I know she loves her daycare provider, and it made me feel even more comfortable with this woman.  But, since she is unsure if she has openings, we did make a deposit to hold our spot at the day care center (just in case!)  We want to know we will have a place to bring our child, even if it’s not this amazing lady.

Another Dr’s appointment this week – just to check the vitals again.  It’s crazy to think we’re already at the point where I have to go every other week to pee in a cup, have my weight, blood pressure and size of my stomach measured!  But at least we get to listen to baby’s heartbeat every time.  It’s really an amazing sound!

Since we’ve had so many ultrasounds (week 5, 9,13,20,26, will get another at 32 weeks), I will need to make a special post of just all the photos.  I think it’s so neat to look at what the baby looked like at each stage and see the progression from blob to baby. 

Also on tap this week – continuing to talk about names!  I also realized we need to start making a plan for how we are going to get to the hospital and contact all our loved ones.  I also need to start planning for what needs to go in the hospital bag (I’m very Type A and need to start this list now!), and shopping for the necessities that we will still need.  (Obviously a cute new PJ set for the hospital and those god awful looking nursing bras). 

So much to do - but so excited to start knocking things off the to-do list!

Week 28 belly and the painted walls of the nursery!