29 Weeks.

This past week had to be one of my very favorites because we got to see our families!!!!! If you know either of us well at all, you know we love our families with all of our hearts. We just can't get enough time with them!

Thursday was Tyler's birthday. He's now halfway to 50. Old man! To celebrate, we drove to Tennessee after I finished school for the day. We got to have dinner with Tyler's cousin and his family. They are the sweetest! I always feel encouraged in the best way when we leave them. They both love The Lord and teach their girls to love and fear The Lord, as well. I have been reading a book called Shepherding a Child's Heart. It's a parenting book about teaching your kids to love and fear The Lord and as parents pointing everything back to Christ and our need for Him to be our Savior. When I watch Casey and Kara with their girls, I'm encouraged to know this parenting approach really can be done! So anyway, after dinner we kept driving and finally made it to Murfreesboro! We had a crew (the Clem's) awaiting our arrival and stayed up half the night laughing our heads off! We love them to death! What better way to spend your birthday, Tyler?!

On Friday, Tyler was able to go fishing with his dad and brother while I spent a leisurely morning with my MIL (mother in law), which was priceless! Then I got to spend time with my mom and dad! That evening we had a cookout with almost his whoooooole family to celebrate Tyler! It was great seeing everyone!

Saturday we had our first baby shower! It was so special! I was incredibly happy to get to see some of my very best friends that I don't see often enough! At one point I felt like my heart was going to explode because of how overjoyed I was to see so many loved ones. Plus, we got some awesome things for Liam! We are very blessed, and we feel very loved.

We were able to go to the church Tyler grew up in on Sunday. It was a wonderful worshipful service! Plus, it was great worshipping with both of our families. We made it back late last night, and today I have post-Tennessee-trip-depression. It's a good thing some of our family members are coming here this weekend. Otherwise, I would've been a wreck leaving them yesterday! Oh, and one of the BEST things about the weekend was my mom, Tyler's mom, and Cassidy all got to feel Liam move! They're the first ones outside of Tyler and me :) that was super special!

At 29 weeks:

Size: Acorn Squash. About 15.2-16.7 inches. 2.5-3.8 pounds.

Major Happenings: He's continuing to get plumper. As am I! 

What's Been Happening: We had a crazy awesome weekend in Tennessee! Plus, a great baby shower!

Sleep: I've been sleeping pretty well! I know it could be a lot worse, so no complaints here!

Miss Anything: Slender fingers and toes! I'm really not badly swollen, but after our 5.5 hour drive Thursday my appendages looked like sausages! You know the latex gloves you can blow up with air? That's what I looked like. Much better today though! Unfortunately, I have been experiencing some back pains. Bleh.

Food Cravings: Yesterday we satisfied a craving I've had for weeks now. Real, cook in front of you HIBACHI. Fried rice is where it's at! I ate a HUGE helping of my own, then finished Tyler's. Not to mention the soup, salad, veggies, and steak that came with it. I rivaled my sisters boyfriend and Tyler's brother for who ate the most... Probably combined. I need to go for a 10 mile jog after that...

Bellybutton in or out: Half of it's in, half out.

Wedding Rings on or off: on. It was a close one with that swelling!

Looking Forward to: Our Calvary shower this Sunday and family coming into town :)

28 Weeks.

My, my how time flies! I cannot believe we're 28 weeks into this. That means there are only 12 weeks left, if we make it to the end (maybe more, I know. Don't tell me that.)! I just can't wrap my mind around it!

The Clem's had a great week! Thursday I went to a breastfeeding class at the hospital. Luckily, Tyler got out of it because he had a soccer game to coach. LAME! :) I was glad he could be spared, however, he's getting the lesson (Powerpoint included) at home, so...too bad! haha! This class was incredibly informative! I have a new mindset going into breastfeeding, and I'm actually pumped about it! (Pun definitely intended). I am incredibly modest and our society isn't exactly supportive of breastfeeding (unfortunately), so we'll see how it all plays out. I'm happy to have my questions answered! Now to just put it all into practice.

Friday night we celebrated Tyler and Bryan's birthdays. We surprised them with a dinner out with our group of friends at Logan's Roadhouse. I told Tyler we were just having date night to celebrate his birthday, and we're going to Logan's because I'm "Nuts about him." ha! He wasn't suspicious because I'm corny...always. Bryan and Tyler have been working out lately, so their new nicknames are "Big Swole." So of course, Shannon and I had to put it on their cake! We had such a blast with our great friends!

We had an appointment with our doctor today. All went well. She measured my belly and listened to Liam's heartbeat. I passed my glucose screening! YAY! She says everything is going very well! I have one more "once a month" appointment, then they move to once every two weeks. So hard to believe. We're so thankful our baby boy is healthy so far!

My babies! And look! I can see my feet still!

At 28 weeks:

Size: Eggplant. About 13.6-14.8 inches. 1.5-2.2 pounds.

Major Happenings: He's putting on layers of fat. His lungs are mature enough that he could probably breath on his own if born prematurely. His eyes can now sense changes to light! We're now officially in the 3rd trimester!

What's Been Happening: He's continuing to move around in my belly! I can see him moving if I watch my belly. It's neat! Also, the most adorable crocheted stuffed elephant came in the other day! Definitely my favorite part of the nursery. I found him on Zulily, and I'm pretty much obsessed! Tyler and I traded his car in for a Trailblazer this week! We wanted to have a reliable family car that can tote us, Liam, the dogs, and all our crap to visit family in Tennessee. My car just wouldn't cut it! We're pretty pumped about it!

Sleep: So so. Not enough!

Miss Anything: Fitting into my clothes. I about had a meltdown trying to find something to wear to church yesterday.

Food Cravings: I needed to grab a QT slushie the other day. No other gas station was cutting it. QT is where it's at!

Bellybutton in or out: I hate to report someone's made his appearance... half of my "innie" is still in, half of it is out. It's strange!

Wedding Rings on or off: on!

Looking Forward to: Our FIRST SHOWER THIS WEEKEND! And seeing family, of course!!!!!! :):):)

27 Weeks.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've got my green on today! So, if your pinching fingers come near me, I might kick you. Oh sorry...pregnancy hormones. ;)

This week's been crazy busy but so good! What weeks aren't busy, you know?

Liam had the hiccups the other day, and it was too cool! My belly would just go up and down in the very same spot several times. I have LOVED watching my belly move! When he's moving, you can certainly see it. I'm just amazed.

We hung up the prints I ordered from Etsy and the canvases I covered in fabric. I also put together the night table that will sit next to the glider. His nursery is coming together beautifully! I could just sit in there for hours. Good thing, I suppose... We're just waiting for the glider to come in, now...on pins and needles!

I was cleaning on Friday and just got to thinking about upcoming baby showers, which takes me back to LOOOOONG ago when we had wedding showers (haha). I thought about the fact that God put two people together and made a marriage. Mark 10:9 is beautiful... "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
Now, as baby showers and Liam's birth approach, I think about how God created this marriage and now a baby's coming to create a family! Such beauty coming from the Lord's uniting. I'm just amazed by His handiwork. I'm thankful He has entrusted us with Liam and is creating an amazing little human inside of me!

At 27 weeks:

Size: Rutabaga (what even IS that?) or a head of cauliflower. About 13.6-14.8 inches. 1.5-2.2 pounds.

Major Happenings: He's made it to the earliest point he could survive outside the womb, if premature. His brainstem (controls heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure) is almost fully developed! His cerebral cortex (forms consciousness and allows us to think, feel, and perform voluntary actions) is growing more and more! He can stretch and make grasping motions, now! He's finally showing some brain activity. Too cool! This is the last week of the glorious 2nd trimester.

What's Been Happening: Tyler is helping coach the JV soccer team at school, and they won their first game this week! So proud. Some baby shower invitations have gone out, and the excitement just keeps growing!

Sleep: Some nasty nasty congestion and coughing is settling in my chest. Last night I slept a whopping 4 hours. It's been a rough couple of nights...

Miss Anything: Not pottying so much!

Food Cravings: None this week!

Bellybutton in or out: Y'all. This belly button issue. It's not fully popped out, but it's closer than ever before. Still sticking with my "innie!"

Wedding Rings on or off: on!

Gender: Handsome little fella.

Looking Forward to: Breastfeeding class this week! Tyler's not so thrilled. I have tons of questions, so I cannot wait for them to give me some info!

26 Weeks.

At 26 weeks:

Size: Head of lettuce. About 13.6-14.8 inches. 1.5-2.2 pounds.

Major Happenings: His eyes are about to start opening and his eyelashes have grown in. His immune system is getting antibodies from me to get ready for our germy world! His skin color has also developed because his body is making melanin.

What's Been Happening: We had a crazy busy weekend hanging out with some new friends who came to town! It's so refreshing to be encouraged by people you never expected to meet! Plus, it was nice to finally talk to a couple who has a positive outlook on parenting! I know it will be hard, but I'm still so encouraged! Plus, we got to spend the WHOLE weekend with our best friends- Bryan and Shannon! That always makes for a great weekend.

Sleep: My friend Margaret gave me the body pillow she snuggled throughout her 3 pregnancies. It's been a lifesaver! I've been able to get really comfy and sleep much better!

Miss Anything: Not this week!

Food Cravings: The pizza craving crisis wasn't averted for too long. The very next day after I wrote my post, my wonderful husband took me to PIZZA HUT. I might as well just eat a little bit of whatever it is I'm craving right when I'm craving it because once I got a hold of our (family size) order of breadsticks, I finished off 5 right there at the table! 5 stinkin breadsticks! Shame on me. Plus the pizza. Oye!

Bellybutton in or out: Still in! Ever so close...

Wedding Rings on or off: On :)

Gender: A sweet little boy!

Looking Forward to: Seeing family in just a couple of weeks!

25 Weeks.

We had a great week this week! We had our routine checkup Thursday to make sure Liam's still there and progressing well. My belly measured accurately-24 inches at 24 weeks- and we heard his strong heartbeat again! At first, all we could hear was the placenta, and it made me nervous because it took her a minute to find his heartbeat. Sweet relief poured over me when we heard it. That sound always makes me smile! She also said he's sitting nice and low and definitely pushing on my bladder. Without a doubt, I can feel that!

A highlight of my week was being able to run the Spearman Color Splash and Dash 5k at my school this Saturday. Tyler- who is as fast as a jackal- swallowed his pride and stayed with me! He can run a 5k at least twice before I ever finish one, so this was awesome :) Now I've got to work up to his speed so he will continue to run with me. He's so motivating and encouraging to run with! Plus, I just kinda like him :) We completed our run in about 30 minutes. Being 5 and a half months pregnant, I'll take it! It was such a blast!

Another highlight of my week was beginning to read Liam's Jesus Storybook Bible to him. Before we go to bed, we read him a few stories from his Bible and pray over him. This is the best time in the world. It makes me cry thinking about it! This Bible is so neat because it takes many stories from the Bible and points every single one of them to JESUS- our great Rescuer, the One who comes to save the people He loves from a godless eternity. The One who gave His life that we might have a relationship with Him. The One who rose again and is alive today! We pray for Liam to have a relationship with Him as He grows up, that he might have a full life knowing he gets to spend all of eternity with Jesus! AMAZING.

At 25 weeks:

Size: Cauliflower. A full head, not just a single stem. About 13.6-14.8 inches. 1.5 to 2.2 POUNDS. We're moving into pounds, people!

Major Happenings: His nervous system is rapidly developing. He now knows which way is up and which way is down. So, no more handstands, I guess...His hair is continuing to grow! So cool :)

What's Been Happening: Ran a 5k! I also got a pedicure Friday with 4 of my youth girls. We had a BLAST, and those massaging chairs were GREAT for my aching back! I could use one in my house! Just ask the girls, I went on and on and on about that chair! Plus, I just love those girls to death, so this night was awesome!

Sleep: We've been waking up with stuffy noses, so say hello to our new friend- the cool mist humidifier. This helped with sleep last night! I'm also having a hard time getting comfy, but it's all good!

Miss Anything: Bending over frontwards. I keep forgetting that hurts!

Food Cravings: Ben and Jerry's ice cream! Ooooh...let me tell ya, that was GOOD! No other brand of ice cream was going to do. Last night watching the Oscar's, I got a hankering for PIZZA when Ellen brought some on the show. I've been wanting breadsticks FROM PIZZA HUT for about 3 weeks now, but I haven't succumbed. I ALMOST ran out at 10:30 last night to grab Pizza Hut. Tyler was so sweet and was about to go, but I just couldn't let him. So, I turned over and went to sleep without eating a thing. Pizza/calorie crisis averted.

Bellybutton in or out: IN!

Wedding Rings on or off: On :)

Gender: A wee little gentleman!

Looking Forward to: A baby shower coming up the end of this month! Plus, I received my crib skirt today, so I cannot wait to get that in the room!