IrvinLiving

This week I was blessed with the news of a new job.  I had an old colleague of mine reach out to me about a “Work From Home IT Project Manager Position”, with her company.  She owns a small company and her company did business with the company that I worked for before the one that I am with now. (I switched to the one I am with now this summer for a Senior PM position.)  She heard from another old colleague of mine that also no longer works for that company either, that I am pregnant.  She got back in touch with me through getting my contact info from him and e-mailed me about talking to her about a work from home position. 

I interviewed with her on the phone, basically to make sure what she is offering and what I am wanting matches up because I already know the job and she knows what I bring to the table because we have worked together in the past.  After our phone interview on Saturday she told me that she would be making me an offer and would get back to me, but it would probably be a week or so.  This was on the Saturday that I actually ended up going to the hospital that night.  I really did not want to get my hopes up, but after being in the hospital I was really looking forward to this opportunity which also includes the ability to go part-time.  My current job would allow it, but it is not the norm and it is not the norm to work from home.  I know that they would let me do those things, but I want to do those things in an environment where that is normal and not a special treatment situation, so I was really looking forward to the opportunity that may be in my future.

It was now one week from the phone interview and I was in Birmingham at my parents house for my baby shower.  Late Saturday night I got the official offer letter for my new work from home job, doing exactly the same thing I was doing in my other past two positions.  I accepted the offer and I went to work on that next Monday, at 27 Weeks Pregnant, and turned in my two week notice.  They asked me if there was anything that they could do and offered me more money.  I told them that the situation of my new job is really the best for me at this point in my life.  I agreed to work out a two week notice (of course) which actually came down to one week and three days due the next week being the week of Thanksgiving.

I am very thankful for my new position for so many reasons.  I am excited about working somewhere that I have the liberty to change the scope of my job down the line.  I want to work after I have my baby, but I am not sure that I want to work full-time, I have yet to figure that out.  My new boss is aware of all these thoughts and uncertainties that are going through my head and she understands that I do not have all the answers yet. 

27 weeks: Cauliflower

Your baby is as hefty as a head of cauliflower, weighing in at almost 2 pounds. (Length: about 14 1/2 inches.)

Sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby’s brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don’t bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

27 WEEKS PREGNANT:

Current Weight: 152lbs  (+2lb last week, +20 total)

• Black and Cream Striped Shirt: Motherhood Maternity
• Boot cut Jeans: Motherhood Maternity
• Shoes: Tori Burch Flats

Still recovering from my visit at to the hospital, typically I would not have done too much, but I already had a trip planned to Birmingham for the weekend.  Back when I went to visit Mom and Dad when I was first pregnant Mom decided that she would throw me a baby shower on Veteran’s Day weekend.  You can not fly and should not travel in your third trimester. (actually you are not supposed to fly in your first trimester either, but I did and you are certainly not supposed to go overseas like I did!)  Mom had planned on doing this shower in Birmingham from the get go so she planned it for the end of my Second Trimester so that I would be able to attend!  I was still pretty worn out from my hospital visit and my week of taking it easy, but other than having to run through the airport barefoot and pregnant after almost missing our flights everything else was fairly stress-less for me.  My awesome shower certainly deserves a post of its own, so that will be coming shortly.

For now I am thankful to my lovely hostess; Mom, Cathy, Lindsay, Carol and Kendelea.

26 Weeks: English Hothouse Cucumber

Baby is the size of an English hothouse cucumber.  Your baby is as tall as an English hothouse cucumber and weighs about 1 2/3 pounds. (Length: 14 inches, head to heel.)

The network of nerves in your baby’s ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner’s as you chat with each other. He’s inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he’s born and takes that first gulp of air. And he’s continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you’re having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

26 WEEKS PREGNANT:

Current Weight: 150lbs  (+2lb last week, +18 total)

• Blue and Grey Striped Shirt: Pea in the Pod
• Black Cardigan: Ross (Similar Target)
• Skinny Jeans: Gap Maternity

REPOST:

****I posted this as 25 Weeks, which it is, but with the 27 Week Fruit/ Vegetable Status……Pregnancy Brain****

This was not the best week for baby berry.  The weekend started out well and busy.  Eric and I threw a couples baby shower for our friends Kate and Peter.  A Green Bay Packers Themed shower, Kate is a big fan and baby Claudia certainly needed a shower to stock up on her Pink Packers Gear.  Toward the end of the night I was not feeling great, but I chalked it up to a long day and took a seat on the couch while things wrapped up. 

Once all of our guests left I retired to my bed while Eric cleaned up from the party.  While I certainly appreciated this, I could have done without the balloon popping, but as he said, “that’s how you get ride of them.”  I later decided that maybe a bath would help.  I rested in the bath for a while and then returned to my bed.  I later decided that maybe a walk would help.   Eric and I went for a walk close late that night and once we made it back home I retired to the bed again.  Suddenly I felt the need to throw-up.  I am one of those people that eventually feel better after throwing up a few times, so I was really looking forward to getting whatever over with so I could feel better.  This time I had no such luck.  I ended up throwing up off and on for hours.  I was at the point where there was absolutely nothing left in my stomach, but I was still throwing up, but there was nothing in my tummy.

Considering we were at the point of no return and baby berry was beginning to get very angry we decided to take a trip to the emergency room.  I was reluctant to go because I knew that this meant that I would be staying the night in the hospital, but like a good girl I went.  When you go to the emergency room while being 25 weeks pregnant with severe abdominal pain and vomiting you do not wait.  You are wheeled directly to the labor and delivery wing.  Now I knew I would have to go to the maternity wing, but really do they have to say “labor and delivery”, that is a little scary.

After a few rounds of anti nausea meds that did not work they were finally able to give me something that made me stop vomiting, which made the baby stop contracting and relax, which also allowed baby and I to get some rest.   Once I woke up about three hours later around 9:00 AM, all I wanted to know was what time I could go home!  I had to keep down my clear liquid breakfast while Eric enjoyed an Omelet with a side of bacon at my bed side.  We were home and in bed with meds by noon. 

While visiting the hospital was not what I had in mind but we did learn our way around the hospital, that it takes less than 5 minutes to get to the hospital, where to park, how to order breakfast for Eric, that they have socks, heated blankets and many other useful tips.

25 weeks: Rutabaga

Baby is the size of a rutabaga.  Your baby rivals the average rutabaga in weight — about 1 1/2 pounds. (Length: 13 1/2 inches, head to heel.)

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn’t much more than an average rutabaga, but she’s beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she’ll start to look more and more like a newborn. She’s also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you’d now be able to discern its color and texture.

25 WEEKS PREGNANT:

Current Weight: 148lbs  (+0lb last week, +16 total)

• Blue and Grey Striped Shirt: Pea in the Pod
• Black Cords: Gap Maternity

I went to the doctor this week and I was told that I have gained too much weight.  Her exact words were, “you have gained too much weight at this point.”  I gained all of my weight that I have gained total in less than two months.  Everyone’s body is different and everyone’s pregnancy is different and I didn’t really get in trouble but the gist is that she doesn’t want me gaining 16 lbs in the 2 sets of remaining 2 month stints that I still have to make it through.  I have 3 1/2 months left and I do not need to gain another 32 lbs.  I totally understand her point and I agree with her. 

I am not really a bad eater, but I am still trying to get better about following a more well balanced pregnancy diet as well as adding in routine walking.  I am not exercising, but Eric and I are taking advantage of having to give Luke a daily walk and extending it for my long term benefit as well as baby berry’s benefit.  Luke of course doesn’t mind having a longer walk, although, I think he is still trying to get used to it.  He has certainly been worn out from it.   

One of the reasons that I am taking my picture and posting my weight gain is to help keep track of where I am in this process.  Typical weight gain in pregnancy is 25lbs to 35lbs.  I have not surpassed that at this point which is good considering I have 16 weeks remaining.  I do worry a bit that I will gain more than 9lbs in the time remaining time.  I really have it in my head that I want to stay on the lower side, not just because of the weight but because I am not very tall I should probably be on the lower end.  Now that it was brought up by the doctor it is all a little more concerning.  I am not going to adjust too much, but I am certainly aware and will be continuing to pay attention to make sure my baby and I are growing at a healthy rate.

Have you ever been “spoken” to about your weight gain, pregnant or non-pregnant?

24 weeks: Ear of Corn

Baby is the size of an ear of corn.  Your baby has caught up with an ear of corn in size and gained about 1/4 pound since last week. (Length: almost a foot.)

Your baby’s growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he’s almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he’ll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

24 WEEKS PREGNANT:

Current Weight: 148lbs  (+0lb last week, +16 total)

• Blue and Grey Striped Shirt: Motherhood
• Grey Cords: Gap Maternity

It is official, like all of my pregnant friends that proceeded me and all my blogging pregnant friends that I don’t even know I too have received a rude pregnancy comment.  This is actually my second one.  The first one made me cry, made me mad and made me call her boss and complain about her. 

This one, this one made me laugh, this lady wasn’t really serious and she just thought that she was hilarious, I laughed too because she was trying to make conversation and get through her long work day at her second job the best that she could.  This lady, was the (still is, I didn’t call and complain about her) dressing room clerk at Target.  Eric was trying on shorts, yes it is still that warm here, and I was walking around outside the counter.  She said, “Are you having twins?, I ask everyone that, I know that you are not.”  She laughed and laughed at herself while she continued to tell me about her day job where she does collections and she told me not to name my baby a jr. after my husband.  She as stressing how much of a big deal it is with names getting mixed up when you do not at least change the middle name.  Now we were not planning on having an Eric jr, but this lady was so persistent I think if we were this would have changed our minds, LOL!  Maybe just my mind, Eric was still trying on shorts and I was beginning to wonder how many pairs of shorts he had in there. 

The point would be that I think I am doing a little better in the second trimester than I did in the first with peoples crazy comments and thinking that they can give you all sorts of advice just because they notice you are pregnant.  I have learned that they are really very well meaning people and I should be honored that they are talking to me, a stranger and if I don’t like their advice I just don’t have to take it.  I feel like I am more at piece because I am where I am in my life and pregnancy and my life is changing and I getting on board that train, choo choo!

23 weeks: Mango

Baby is the size of a large mango.  Your baby weighs about as much as a large mango — just over a pound. (Length: more than 11 inches.)

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she’s more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby’s increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won’t faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

23 Weeks Pregnant:

Current Weight: 148bs  (+1lb last week, +16 total)

• Peach Sweater: Gap Maternity (similar)
• Black Cords: Gap Maternity
• Shoes: Tori Burch (similar)

I am certainly feeling and apparently looking pregnant at this point.  I am no longer being offered wine in the grocery store, (I live in Texas there are always samples), people look directly at my belly as they smile up at me, and many strangers in my office building has asked, “how far are you now?”  It is good to know that I look pregnant and not like I have just been eating dozens of cookies, but I am certainly feeling it too.  As I get out of bed in the morning I limp a bit until I work out my hip displacement.  As I get out of the car after the drive home and having been sitting at the office most of the day I limp a bit more to once again work out that pain.  Then as I walk Luke I tell him to be gentle as he pulls me down the street while I continue to work out that pain.  Then the next day it starts all over again, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.  It really has been a great stage in my life and I have yet to reap the really benefits, when I actually get to hold my baby berry

Having been pregnant for 22 weeks now it has been a much easier 22 weeks than I typically have had with my Crohn’s.  I know that everyone’s body is different and that pregnancy is harder for others and I am certainly not saying that it is easy, but just being able to eat 50% regular food is such a blessing!  I am not really craving anything at this point.  I am trying to read my pregnancy book a little more, because I have not been doing very well with keeping up with that.  Pregnancy has changed me in many ways, but it has not made me a reader, hopefully baby will get his ready habits from Eric and not me!  From the reading I have done at this point I am trying to incorporate more of the “pregnancy diet” into my lifestyle.  I have not been eating unhealthy at all but I am not someone that is used to eating different foods, so I am trying to incorporate more foods for more of a balanced diet.  I am eating salads, meats, carbs, grains and frozen yogurt!  I am still not really craving sweets but I have taken a liking to the option “C8” in the vending machine at work, AKA Skittles.

22 weeks:

Baby is as long as a spaghetti squash.  Your baby has stretched to the size of a spaghetti squash and weighs almost a pound.

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he’s even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you’d be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he’ll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

22 Weeks Pregnant:

Current Weight: 145lbs  (+.5b last week, +13 total)

• Purple Sweater: Gap Maternity (similar)
• Black Leggings: Old Navy Maternity