29 Weeks

Today was my California baby shower, and I have been looking forward to this for quite some time. My friend Barbara has wanted to plan this baby shower since before I even got pregnant, and once I told her, I'm pretty sure one of her first questions was "so can I plan the shower?!" Of course, Barb has an incredible flair for party planning, and she put together the most adorable event! There was a sweet banner reading "Little Adventurer" above the food table, fresh wildflowers everywhere, and a teepee where all of the gifts were stored. You heard that right: Barbara made a teepee for the party! And you better believe Martin and I posed for some pictures after the baby shower in that teepee. I'll have to upload pictures later (Barb took quite a few, so give me a couple of days and I'll add some pictures) so you can see the setup in all of it's cuteness!
I have such a wonderful friend in Barbara. I am so thankful for getting to know her through co-leading our small group together at the Rock. She always knows how to make a pregnant lady feel good: whether it's coming over to watch a movie and giving me a mani/pedi when I'm not feeling so great, or coming up with the most adorable, intricate details for my baby shower, including making a DELICIOUS homemade chocolate cake, complete with a teepee cake topper. Did I mention she did my hair for the baby shower? Yeah, she spoils me.

How far along: 29 weeks and 1 day

Fruit/Vegetable comparison: An acorn squash: he's about 15-26.7 inches in length, and weighed in at just under 4 pounds at our ultrasound this past wednesday (little chunker!)

Total weight gain: 23 pounds

Baby's new developments: Baby is continuing to plump up, and will become more active as we get closer to his due date.

Sleep: Mostly still sleeping well, with one or two bathroom breaks occasionally. I tend to go to bed pretty early, which helps. 

Best moment of the week: My mom got to go with me to our ultrasound on wednesday, and it was fun to see how big he's gotten since our last visit, and for my mom to see the ultrasound for the first time. He has such a cute little profile, and everything is developing perfectly! Apparently our baby may be a hairy little guy: he already has hair growing on his head! I was pretty amazed, considering I haven't really had heartburn, which is supposedly a tell-tale sign of a hairy baby ;) 

Miss anything?: I haven't really felt like I'm missing out on anything this week! 

Movement: Lately, he has little dance parties when I lay down to go to sleep, and occasionally he wakes me up with his little fiestas ;)  

Food cravings: I still love pineapple, but I really wanted a chili dog this week! I couldn't bring myself to actually eat one, because I knew the moment I finished the chili dog, I would have horrible gas and stomach pains (tmi?) so it wasn't worth it, haha. 

Symptoms: Occasional leg cramps, gas pain, frequent bathroom breaks. 

Looking forward to: Working on baby's quilt (I finally started it this weekend!) and getting our space set up for baby! I'm anxious to get everything put together, I don't want to be doing it a month before he's expected to arrive. Hopefully Martin can find some time later this week or weekend since I can't really help with moving any of the furniture around ;) 

28 Weeks - Third Trimester, Here We Go!

As of yesterday, we are officially in the third trimester! I can't believe we are really in the final stretch, and our little guy will be here in just a few more months. At the beginning of this pregnancy, I remember feeling like the days dragged on forever, and most of my focus was on just getting through the day and trying to eat whatever I could stomach. Those first months were rough, and it was hard to enjoy being pregnant and remember through the difficult symptoms that at the end of it all, we would be blessed with a baby.  But now that I have gotten past the all day nausea and other not-so-fun symptoms, I have been enjoying pregnancy and the days go by much quicker. So quickly, sometimes I wish time would slow down so I have more time to get ready for the baby! The reality of all the things that will change are hitting me: We need a place for him to sleep, we need to figure out work schedules, we need to find someone willing to help out with the baby once or twice a week that we can afford, we need to find a pediatrician . . . the list goes on and on, and I feel like time is not on our side. The good news is, I know that God knows all of our needs and will provide for us. Some of the more overwhelming things, the things I'm unsure of as to how it will all come together, I can trust that God will provide for our family just as He always has. And I know to try and take the list on one thing at a time, instead of trying to tackle it all at once.

How far along: 28 weeks and 1 day

Fruit/Vegetable comparison: An eggplant: About 13.6-14.8 inches in length, and 1.5-2.2 pounds.  

Total weight gain: 21 pounds

Baby's new developments: Baby's skin is less wrinkled, and his eyes can now open and close, making him more sensitive to changes in light. 

Sleep: Some nights I sleep through the night just fine, and others I wake up to use the restroom once or twice. I hear I'll be getting up lots towards the end, though!

Best moment of the week: My parents got into town Saturday afternoon, so it has been fun hanging out and visiting with them. They took Martin and I to Babies-R-Us this afternoon to pick out a stroller and car seat, which was such a generous gift! We are excited to have one of our items on the list taken care of! 

Miss anything?: We went to Lazy Dog Cafe in Thousand Oaks last night with my parents, and they have the BEST white peach sangria, so I was pretty bummed I couldn't have any, haha! ;)

Movement: I was cracking up the other day because when I woke up, he was going crazy! I had Martin feel my stomach, because it was as if he was having his own little dance party in my belly and it was too funny to experience all on my own. I think he had hiccups in church this morning, too. At least he isn't kicking my ribs yet, just sticking his feet in there like a foot rest ;)

Food cravings: Pineapple and poached eggs. Not together, though! Although that would seem like a typical weird pregnancy craving  

Symptoms: Sometimes I get leg cramps in the mornings, but that's all I really noticed this week. 

Looking forward to: Ultrasound this wednesday, and my mom will be going with me since she's in town! 

27 Weeks

It's hard to believe we are already coming to a close of the second trimester! I'm glad to finally be feeling better, and not having the icky all day nausea as often as I did for the first 5 1/2 months. I think the last couple of weeks I have actually felt like I've been able to enjoy being pregnant. I don't mean to sound like a pessimist, because it's not as if I haven't enjoyed it at all the first 5 or so months. It's just such a big difference to rarely feel queasy, and at this point, I think most of my nauseous moments are more due to my stomach ulcers and gastritis than to little baby Cottrell!
We had another appointment with my doctor this week and he said everything is looking great, and baby appears to be in good health. I love how God has sustained this baby, and every time we get a check-up, an ultrasound, or even the moments I'm sitting and he starts wiggling around, I am reminded of this verse: "For you formed my inmost parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well (Psalm 139:13-14)." I get to experience what that verse is describing! And it blows my mind. God's goodness towards us is truly awe-inspiring, and I can't wait to tell baby boy all about how great He is.

How far along: 27 weeks

Fruit/Vegetable comparison: A rutabaga. I have never seen nor eaten one of these, haha! He is about 13.6-14.8 inches in length, and 2-2.5 pounds. 

Total weight gain: 21 pounds

Baby's new developments: Baby's brainstem is nearly fully developed, and his cerebral cortex, which forms his ability to think and make voluntary movements, is continuing to develop and become more complex. 

Sleep: I'm back to waking up once or twice a night to use the restroom! And I hear it's just going to be more frequent trips as the months progress ;) 

Best moment of the week: I got to go see a dance performance that two of my high school small group girls were in this friday, and that was so fun! Baby loved it too, he was wiggling and kicking the entire time! 

Miss anything?: Being able to roll over without it taking 5 minutes, haha! I've pretty much slept on one side through the night just because it's such a pain to try and roll over. And often once I do roll over, it's not as comfortable as the other side was. Go figure! 

Movement: He's an active little guy! I should preface that by saying, since I get asked all the time, he is MOST active when I am sitting down, laying down, or just ate something. Also, he is a stubborn little one and usually refuses to move when someone puts their hand on my belly! He will be kicking like crazy, but once a friend goes to feel him move, he's done ;)   

Food cravings: I ate a lot of pineapple this week . . . so maybe that? It was delicious.  

Symptoms: Occasional leg cramps and fatigue. But other than that, it's not too bad these days! Thank the Lord! 

Looking forward to: Our next ultrasound will be on the 26th of March, in just a week and a half, and my mom will be here for that appointment! I'm excited to see how big he's gotten!

26 weeks

Yesterday was my baby shower at my parent's home in Salem, Oregon, and my mom really outdid herself! I know she has been so excited to host this since she found out I was pregnant, and it was great to see all of the little details she put into the baby shower. The theme was classic children's books, and my mom was so creative in the decorations and food selection! There was the Very Hungry Caterpillar's fruit salad, Chicken Little's chicken salad, One Fish, Two Fish swedish fish, and lots of other goodies. There were banners with classic children's book characters, a Lorax and some truffula trees, and a big Hungry Caterpillar.
It was so much fun getting to see so many of my friends that are still up here in Oregon. One of the hardest parts of living in California is missing the friendships I have up here. Every time we get to visit, which is few and far between, it feels like a big reunion. I truly miss the relationships up here, but I know that if we were to move back to Oregon, I would feel the same way about relationships in California. It's never easy living apart from people you love, but it makes the times we get to spend together that much sweeter.

The very hungry caterpillar set up by Chaz and Martin  

gift bags with little onesies on the front! 

The Lorax and some truffula trees 

Every food item at the shower was inspired by a children's book

Duckling punch :) 

My little friend giving me some loves! 

26 weeks pregnant! 

How far along: 26 weeks

Fruit comparison: An iceberg lettuce: About 14.5 inches in length, 1.5-2.5 lbs in weight.   

Total weight gain: I didn't weigh myself this week. We were on vacation ;) 

Baby's new developments: Baby has eyelashes that are now developed, and baby's lungs are starting to produce surfactant that coats the inside lining of the lungs, to help expand during breathing. 

Sleep: Still sleeping well. I occasionally wake up earlier than I want to because the baby starts moving around, or I have to use the restroom. 

Best moment of the week: Even though our visit was short, spending time with family and friends back home was definitely my highlight of the week. The baby shower was so much fun, and all the sweet gifts we got for our little man were so thoughtful and generous! 

Miss anything?: I miss living in Oregon! Being home reminds me of friends and family here that I wish we could visit with more often. 

Movement: Kicking, moving around, and wiggling are pretty common for the little guy. He likes to stick his feet in my ribs when I'm sitting down, too. Maybe he sees it as a foot rest? ;)  

Food cravings: No cravings that I can think of! 

Symptoms: Occasional leg cramps, gas pain, and fatigue. Gas pain is so uncomfortable! Looks like I will have to start eating less of my beloved spicy food. 

Looking forward to: All the adorable outfits we will get to put baby boy in when he gets here! Our friends and family picked out some of the cutest things. I also can't wait to read to him all the story books that friends bought us. It really is the sweetest thing to have a little collection of books now that were favorites of people we love when they were growing up. 

25 Weeks

I just spent the weekend up in the mountains with our high school youth group, and it was quite an eventful weekend! We had a big rainstorm set to hit southern California starting thursday and lasting through the weekend, and the weather didn't disappoint! We had to cancel the portion of the trip where the students were going to go snowboarding because of the weather on the mountain, but we were still abel to make it up into the San Bernardino mountains to Thousand Pines. The weekend was very rainy and cold, and the students handled it so well. They were troopers! Quite a few of our girls even participated in paintball during one of the downpours!  As tired as I was when we got home, I'm thankful I was able to be apart of another winter retreat with our girls. I love seeing how they are growing in their walks with Christ. It really is a privilege and an honor to disciple them. 

don't mind my look of exhaustion. We had just gotten home from winter camp! ;)

How far along: 25 weeks   

Fruit comparison: A califlower! About 14 inches in length, 2 lbs in weight.   

Total weight gain: 19 pounds 

Baby's new developments: Baby's nervous system is developing, and he now has a sense of equilibrium, knowing which way is up and which is down. 

Sleep: Still sleeping pretty well. I wake up occasionally to the baby kicking and wiggling around, but it's not quite keeping me up at night . . . yet!

Best moment of the week: Definitely the winter retreat! I loved spending the weekend with our small group girls.  

Miss anything?: Lately I think I'm in the stage of pregnancy where I'm pretty happy about being pregnant and don't feel like I'm missing out on too much. 

Movement: His kicks are getting stronger every day! 

Food cravings: No cravings this week. It hasn't been the most eventful week I guess! 

Symptoms: Occasional leg cramps, nausea, and bloating. Fun times! 

Looking forward to: Getting through my glucose test this week. Here's to hoping everything comes back normal!