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. 

Week 20

HALF WAY! Can you even believe that?! Hitting this half way mark has definitely made me realize how quickly the next few months are going to fly by. And with everything expected to happen over that time span, it'll only go by even faster.

Here's a run down of what's going down for those who don't know:

• Walking for graduation (eeeek!) in April.
• Everytime I think about this, I just picture myself as this 8 month pregnant girl waddling across the stage to get her diploma. The image in my head is priceless.
• Last day of school at BYU-H June 06.
• Biggest fear: Going into labor while I'm in class or something.
• Baby arrives June 10.
• Funny story: My due date was June 10 too, but I came on May 28.
• We leave Hawaii and move back to the mainland on July 1.
• 2-3 months in California and then off to Georgia!

I may or may not have just given myself an anxiety attack writing that down and fully realizing how fast everything will be happening, back to back, boom boom boom. Please send prayers my way for peace of mind.
On a differnt note, we had our full-detailed anatomy scan last Friday! During the scan, it was reconfirmed that our baby is still, and is officially and confidentally, a little girl. Yay! She has ten fingers, ten toes, and everything is growing as it should. Our little girl was actually measuring a little bigger than normal, so at our next doctors appointment he will make the decision as to whether the due date needs to be adjusted or whether she is just expected to be a bigger baby. Daniel was huge and chubby and adorable, so she may just be like her daddy. During the scan, the ultrasound tech said that our little girl is going to come out doing yoga (haha), the entire time she was so active and curling herself up in all these crazy positions. Speaking of active, she has been moving and dancing like crazy too...and I can feel it! It is literally one of the coolest feelings in the world. For a while it threw me for a loop and I didnt know what exactly I was feeling, but the movement has become strong enough lately that Daniel has actually been able to feel it from the outside too!

 

How far along: 20 weeks

Due date: June 10, 2014

 

Total weight gain: 12 pounds

Maternity clothes: As far as pants go, I don't wear anything but my maternity's or sweats.

Stretch marks: No, fingers crossed.

 

Sleep: I sleep, enough. My work shifts this semester start at 5 am so thats a problem all of its own outside of the pregnancy.

 

Best moment of this week: All of her movement, it's an all day occurance.

 

Miss anything: This week has brought on so many issues of insecurity. So I guess the thing I miss most is not feeling insecure about the weight gain, etc.

 

Movement: Yep! All day, everyday :)

Food cravings: Nope, nothing in particular.

Anything making you queasy or nauseous: Still the motion sickness, but the doctor represcribed me those nausea pills that got me through the first trimester.

 

Have you started to show yet: Yes, oh yes. (Picture included this time!)

 

Gender: Little girl

Labor signs: No, but we did start childbirthing classes with our best friends, so I'm almost an expert at what to expect, haha.

 

Belly button in or out: In.

 

Wedding ring on or off: On.

 

Happy or moody most of the time: Emotional; moody. And it really all boils down to the insecurity issue I mentioned above. The tiniest things get me, and then I cry, and it's a big mess. Poor Daniel, I really do feel bad that he has to deal with it, but when it's happening I honestly feel like I can't control it.

And here's the picture I promised about 3 weeks ago, oops. Excuse the lame bathroom selfie, but Daniel wasn't around to take the picture for me. Better pictures to come in the future! 

Week 22

Yay for week 22! Every week is exciting because it is one more week closer to meeting our little girl. I do have to admit though that anticipating the chaos that school will bring over the next few months really begins to stress me out, and then moving back to the mainland shortly after on top of that. I cannot even express how grateful I am and how calming it is to know that my mom will be here when I will need it most. I've definitely noticed that I am an "over-thinker" when it comes to future planning. I can't stand the thought of just playing things by ear and not knowing what is going to happen. As such, and with my extra hormones racing, this past week of over-thinking has taken a toll on my sanity.

On a seperate note, I am also extremely grateful to be going through this entire experience with the greatest group of friends. So far we are expecting three girls and one boy, all within weeks of each other. How cool!
Another development of the week is that I'm slowly but surely passing the "you just look fat" stage! TWICE this week I was asked how far along I am; both by people who come into the gym and I see regularly, but STILL. They were able to tell that I'm not just fat...and that something is actually going on.
Ps: Still stuck with baby names, so help a sister out.

 

 

How far along: 22 weeks

Due date: June 10, 2014

Total weight gain: ~15 pounds

Maternity clothes: Love my maternity pants; and leggings. Those are always comfortable, too.

Stretch marks: Nope!

 

Sleep: Eh, with a 5 am work schedule and school right after, I never feel like I get enough sleep. My dreams have also become very vivid, and usually in a nightmare-ish way.

 

Best moment of this week: We had a doctors appointment this week! As usual, it was great, and everything with our little girl is going smoothly. I also got about 5,012 questions answered, so that was a plus.

 

Miss anything: I miss being able to go to the beach. I no longer have any swimsuits that fit and I can't convince myself to buy another swimsuit that will only last a couple more months.

Movement: She's moving around so much! And her kicks are becoming harder.

Food cravings: Mint Chocolate Chip Icecream...the white kind.

Anything making you queasy or nauseous: Not so much. We haven't driven in awhile so I'm not sure if the motion sickness bizz is still in full swing or not.

 

Have you started to show yet: Yes, and I actually got the "Are you pregnant?/How far along are you?" question TWICE this week, for the first time.

 

Gender: Little girl

Labor signs: Noooo. 17 weeks to go!

Belly button in or out: In.

 

Wedding ring on or off: On.

 

Happy or moody most of the time: Mixed. Not really moody, but overwhelmingly stressed; about a lot of things.

 

Oh and I've also had a crazy weird obsession with The Emperor's New Groove and Kronk's New Groove; I think I've watched both about six times over the past week:

And here's some belly pictures to tickle your fancy:

Week 17

The past couple weeks have been insane, literally. We spent December 15-29 in California with our families for Christmas. It was a much needed vacation with great company. During that little trip, we also had a baby shower! Originally, it was meant to be a normal-come congratulate us baby shower, but as most of you have probably already seen from Facebook and such...it turned into a gender reveal (: We are pleased to announce that our little baby is no longer a sea monkey, and is now a baby GIRL! We are beyond excited and cannot wait for the next five months to fly by so that we can finally meet our tiny explorer.

Oh and by the way, I'm going to start doing progress pictures (finally) because there's actually progress to be recorded now!

How far along: 17 weeks, holy moly!!

Due date: June 10, 2014

Total weight gain: about 8 pounds :o

Maternity clothes: Sometimes, I don't "need" them, but dang their comfy. My mom got me a wardrobe full for Christmas!

Stretch marks: Nope, and now thanks to my amazing mother-in-law I have special creams and such to prevent them from ever coming! 

Sleep: Like a baby, until I have to use the bathroom. (Real life problems) 

Best moment of this week: Baby gender reveal and our two year anniversary! 

Miss anything: I miss not feeling fat, but it's all for a good cause right? I'm in the awkward stage of "you don't look pregnant, you just look like you need to suck it in."

Movement: Nope, maybe it'll all feel real after I start feeling movement. Right now it still (even after 17 weeks) hasn't fully hit me that this is real life. 

Food cravings: Meh, nothing in particular. But when I'm hungry..I am H-U-N-G-R-Y. 

Anything making you queasy or nauseous: Motion, being in a car is miserable lately. 

Have you started to show yet: Yes! A little. 

Gender: GIRL! 

Labor signs: Nooo

Belly button in or out: In. 

Wedding ring on or off: On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, eager, yet still emotional. 

Oh and last Saturday was our two year wedding anniversary! We spent it on board the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. I married the most amazing man and I enjoy every second spent. Cheers to eternity, my love. 

Week 13

 

Only FIVE more days until we get to fly back to California for Christmas break! But before that can happen, we have to get through this (finals and netflix). 

Aside from finals week, we have joy to look forward to this week as well. We have another doctors appointment tomorrow! He said that if our little baby is a boy, he might be able to tell tomorrow...but just maybe. 

How far along: just finished week 13. Goodbye first trimester!! 

Due date: June 10, 2014

Total weight gain: Ill tell you tomorrow when I go to the doctors :)

Maternity clothes: Nope.

Stretch marks: Negative

Sleep: Bleh, sleep shmeep.

Best moment of this week: This is non-baby related, but this week we got to see the impact of true friends as well as the power of the priesthood in our lives. We are more than grateful for the life we live and the friends we have here.

Miss anything: I miss being able to do adventurous and dangerous things.

Movement: Nope, my other pregnant friends have been trying to explain what a "flutter" feels like, but I dont think I have had one yet.

Food cravings: Ham. Man oh man, can I down some sliced sandwich ham.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope! GOODBYE MORNING SICKNESS.

Have you started to show yet: Im going to say yes, while everyone else says no.

Gender: I cant wait to find out!

Labor signs: Nooo

Belly button in or out: In. 

Wedding ring on or off: On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Emotional. My mom sent me a Christmas package full of candy, lights, and fun things, including a Santa hat. I put on the Santa hat while looking through the box and started crying. It was beautiful, HA.