29 Weeks--Little Navajo

How Far Along: 29 Weeks

Size: Ryan is the size of a butternut squash.  He likely weighs more than 2 1/2 pounds and is over 15 inches long.  And in other fun news, he apparently needs lots help growing his bones as he will be sucking about 250 milligrams of calcium from my body per day.

Gender: It's a boy--Ryan Christopher!

Movement: He moves.  He shakes.  He gets the hiccups.  I'm starting to notice patterns with his movement.  For example, if I'm not up and eating something by 9 am, he usually does some sort of river-dance to remind me it's time to feed the baby.

Sleep: I'm getting enough to function most days, but I'm definitely not sleeping for long clips.

Maternity Clothes: I wear them most days.

Symptoms: Heartburn.  Whoo.  That one has become a doozie.  If there is a correlation between heartburn and hair, I'm actually giving birth to a monkey.

Also, my belly is huge and there's a Zumba class taking place in my abdomen several times a day.  I'm pretty sure both of those things count as symptoms.

Aversions: Y'all.  I thought I would've solved the great pregnancy vs. chicken issue, but I haven't.  Sometimes I can eat it.  Most times it makes me sick to my stomach.

Currently, though, Favorite and I are participating in Awakening 2013 with our church.  Since I can't do the Daniel Fast in its completion, we have cut out most processed foods, white sugar and white flour.  I've found that after so many days eating good food, my stomach doesn't handle "cheat" meals well.

Cravings: Peanut butter.  Water.  Milk.

What I miss: I'm so grateful to be pregnant. I can't think of one thing I should be missing.

Feeling toward pregnancy: This week Favorite and I had to watch the epidural video at our appointment.  That event was enough to move me to the realization that I'm going to be holding my son in less than three months.

My son.

When I felt moved toward the word "peace" for 2013, it wasn't because I believed God was indicating there wouldn't be anything worth fighting this year.  Instead, I felt like it was permission to lay the struggle down.

A few people have commented that I've been different since I got pregnant.  That's partially true.  I feel lighter--less burdened by my determination to continually bring my request before my Father.  Strong desires can't be measured in pounds.  They are measured in demeanors and preoccupations, and their weight is felt every single day by the people who carry them.

I've carried some of those preoccupations into this pregnancy.  For months, I was afraid of bleeding or placental abruption.  Until I reached 26 weeks, there was a level of intensity coupled with the strong sense of gratitude that overwhelmed me every time Ryan moved.  To say it simply, I didn't really relax.

Then the call to peace.  Before I found out I was pregnant, that call was meant to be in recognition of a Saviour who is eternally good because He is love.  Now that I am counting down the days to my son's delivery, the call is exactly the same--to recognize a Saviour who is eternally good because He is love.

That's the journey He's taken us on in the last few years.  But the difference isn't in the conclusion we arrived at long before we were aware of Ryan's tag-a-long status.  It's in the burden that no longer exists.  And a changing understanding of gratitude as a result.

Best Moment this week: Favorite was able to feel Ryan opening his hand through my belly--all five fingers and a palm.

What I'm looking forward to: Mom has purchased a serger, made a practice crib sheet and now has the material for the crib bedding in her possession.

Here is the collection:

This chevron fabric will be the bottom quarter of the drapes (plain red or gray fabric will likely be the top three-quarters) and the outer part of the bumper. 

 

The red minky fabric is going to be the inside of the bumper.  I'm also probably going to purchase this for the changing table:

 

Here are the rest of the fabrics in the collection:

  

 

For crib sheets, we'll be using the multicolored dot (second from the top) and the gray argyle print (fifth from the top).

 

In case you couldn't tell from my choices, I like the idea of using multiple patterns and sticking to a few bold colors.  That way, I can mix and match the wall art or other accents in the room without revolving around a particular theme.  Right now, we are thinking sock monkeys, old school Superman art and Dr. Seuss images.  In the future, there are a hundred things that would match a red/gray/aqua palate so we have lots of options.

 

I can't wait to show you pictures of a finished nursery. 

 

We're down to 76 days before his scheduled arrival and that doesn't seem like enough time to get a nursery together, write six weeks of sub plans and finish all of my organizational projects.  One day at a time, eh?