Week 28: THIRD TRIMESTER

I wasn't originally going to write for this week, because honestly not much has changed since last week; however, today is the first day of my third trimester!! Plus, the fruit comparison for this week is that baby is the size of a coconut, and seeing as we live in Hawaii, it just wouldn't be right for me to forego this post. I know I say this time and time again, but I still cannot believe how quickly time is passing. The university has started sending me all of these checklists in regards to graduation (which is only three weeks away!) and Daniel attended my EXS graduation banquet last week with me. It's all just rolling on in and trumping away. This also means that I only have three more weeks of yucky 5 a.m. shifts! For those who do not know, I am a supervisor at the BYUH Fitness Center and believe it or not, having to spot for all these "macho" men while they bench press has become quite awkward with my seven-month pregnant belly. "Oh, here, let me hover my pregnant belly above your head while you try and lift more weight than both of us know you can..." Yeah, that's the thought. Besides work, everything else is going really swell. The environment in our home is just pure excitement and anticipation: for family, for graduation, for vacation, and then for our little girl to be here! Countdowns galore if I've ever seen them. [22 days until family arrives, 24 days until BYUH graduation, 25 days until Kauai, and 83 days until our due date] And okay, 83 days may not sound like a short amount of time but when you consider that an entire pregnancy is around 266 days..it is coming fast! Jeepers creepers. 

Other recent developments: I learned that my wonderful mother has now discovered the power of blogs via instagram (which I introduced her to) and has been reading my updates! Hi Mom! 

How far along: 28 weeks!

Due date: June 10, 2014

Sleep: I feel like the fatigue is starting to set in again; so sleep never seems sufficient enough, especially with my early-morning work schedule and fairly long school days. Only three more weeks of this...

Best moment of this week: Reaching the third trimester! She will be here so soon!

Miss anything: I miss being able to tie my shoes like a normal person. I can't bend over well anymore so trying to put on and tie sneakers has become an interesting challenge and somewhat of a balancing act. Sometimes I just have Daniel do it for me.

Movement: Sometimes I feel like she is grabbing my organs and just rolling around town like its a party. Too graphic for you? Well, try being the one with a living person in your belly! Its really cool, actually. 

Food cravings: String cheese, yum!

Anything making you queasy or nauseous: No, I only feel sick when I miss meals, but who doesn't?

Labor signs: Nope nope nope. Speaking of, one of our best friend couples Graham and Cinthya are due in the upcoming week/weeks! Tell me how it is!

Belly button in or out: Flaaaat

Wedding ring on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Fiesty, rawr. But no, happy!

OH! And my super thoughtful mother and father sent me a surprise package with some new maternity clothes! So, naturally I had to roll around in them and photograph it. Thanks Mom and Dad!

And the picture below is just beautiful, so love it as much as I do:

Week 27

This is the last week of my second trimester! Can you believe that? Our sweet little baby girl will be here in as little as three months and we are ecstatic! Two days ago (on March 10), it was so neat to be able to say, "three months from today!" I feel like things are getting more real, not that it hasn't been real for the last 7 months, but things just seem positive and exciting right now. If you noticed from last week, I was definitely undergoing some doubts and insecurities which accumulated from school, work, and this pregnancy all at once. But I had some realizations over the weekend that gave me the reassurance that I was looking for. I know that I am not in this alone. I know that I have the greatest support from my husband, my family and friends, and most of all, I have the greatest support from my Heavenly Father. I can do this, and things will roll on and work themselves out. This year is going to be one of the most exciting years of our lives. I also want to just brag a little bit about how great Daniel is and want to clarify that the past insecurities and doubts in no way stemmed from him. Everything I have been feeling has come from my own, selfish, crazy mind. My husband is truly one of the greatest blessings I have ever received. It astonishes me, on a daily basis, that HE is the one that I get to spend my eternity with. We have been married for two and a half years and I still get butterflies and gitty emotions on a regular basis, and the greatest thing is that I cannot see those feelings and butterflies ever leaving. And on an additional note, he looks daaang good wearing our baby carrier. Everything about him becoming a father soon makes my heart melt. He is the most beautiful man, inside and out, that I have ever met and he will be the greatest father to our children. 


Oh and here's the stats (which I might start eliminating soon; they are becoming monotonous):

How far along: 27 weeks!

Due date: June 10, 2014

Total weight gain: Blah Blah Blah

Maternity clothes: Yes, I need more variety though. I feel like I'm wearing the same thing over and over!

Stretch marks: Nope.

Sleep: The magic pillow is seriously the best. The only thing cramping my sleeping style now are the constant bathroom runs.

Best moment of this week: One of the highlights of the week have been becoming [more] comfortable in my pregnant body. Does that sound totally lame? But really, gaining weight at rapid speeds can kill a self-esteem,  but remembering that this is for the most beautiful and meaningful purpose makes it all worth it. Oh, and also another highlight was to agree that we have officially decided on her name!

Miss anything: I miss being able to have our Hawaiian adventures. We went to the beach yesterday with a bunch of friends, which was great and fun, but it's just not the same. I can't just rock the super cute Victoria's Secret swimsuit and frolic in the waves like a beach babe. Hawaii life is just..different now.

Movement: Back and forth, up and down. You betcha. 

Food cravings: Nothing new, same ole same ole. 

Anything making you queasy or nauseous: No.

Have you started to show yet: Check pictures.

Gender: Girl!

Labor signs: I want to say I've felt Braxton Hix, but heck I don't really know what those are supposed to feel like anyways!

Belly button in or out: Flat as a pancake.

Wedding ring on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Neutral. I have had some really great ups and a few downs. 

And here are some updated belly pictures! Along with some Pinterest inspirations that have gotten me through the past couple of weeks:

Week 26

These past few weeks have probably been some of the most busy ones we've had in awhile. Not only do I work at 5 am, which is miserable enough, but school in general has been piling up and becoming very hectic, both for me and Daniel. The end is near though, and if we can just make it through these next few months, it'll all be worth it. I feel like I am losing track of time, in the sense that one second it is January, then it's all of a sudden February, and then oh hey what do ya know..March is here. And if you remember from my previous posts, April is when the ball starts rolling and time will fly even faster: graduation, Kauai, internship, research project, momma coming to town, then BAM..baby Barnes in June. And oh yeah, I have a birthday somewhere in there. It's amazing, though, to see the work and hand of the Lord in our lives during these times and I'm grateful to know that He is a source that I can turn to at any time for peace and reassurance. At this point, all I need is just reassurance that I can do this and that I am strong enough to finish what I have started. 

But on a progressive note, here's the stats:

How far along: 26 weeks!

Due date: June 10, 2014

Total weight gain: I don't really like this question anymore.

Maternity clothes: All day, every day. Well, not totally true. I can still wear "some" of my non-maternity shirts, but as far as pants go..its all maternity or leggings. Better yet..maternity leggings. They're magical.

Stretch marks: Nope, kinda concerned about this one in the end.

Sleep: I bought this fabulous little thing called a maternity pillow. It does wonders and makes all the difference. Only downside, no more snuggle time for Daniel. All I need is my pillow.

Best moment of this week: Everyone I pass at school looks at my face, then immediately looks at my belly. This has been proven to be the case 60% of the time, every time.

Miss anything: I miss not being so emotional. I watch various youtube clips or music videos and end up crying my eyeballs out; not because they're sad per-say, but because their...i don't know, beautiful? Darn my fragile heart.

Movement: like a firecracker.

Food cravings: Mint chocolate chip ice cream; this could possibly be contributing to why I don't like the weight gain question anymore.

Anything making you queasy or nauseous: Nope, nothing recently.

Have you started to show yet: There's no doubt to those passing by that I am pregnant; which is somewhat hilarious because people have been telling me I'm small, yet I feel like a beluga whale.

Gender: Girl

Labor signs: No, but I'm entering the stage where they say to expect feeling contractions; not "labor contractions" but "lets start preparing for this baby" contractions.

Belly button in or out: Is flat an option? I've always had a fairly deep belly button, so the fact that there's really not a hole there anymore says some things. I can actually flip it inside out now to make it an outie...so that's fun.

Wedding ring on or off: On.

Happy or moody most of the time: One word--fragile.