Pregnancy with Baby #3

 I haven't had the time to create individual posts about my pregnancy with baby #3 so I'll try to round everything up for you all right here!

8 weeks and growing

Another at 8 weeks!

10 Weeks

11 weeks

13 weeks and 6 days  

Throughout our pregnancy we were constantly amazed at how much medical advances were made and how much the technology improved since having Katie 4 years ago.  It's really astounding how quickly things change.  For instance we were able to tell at 14 weeks what we were having by ultrasound.  You can find out even sooner at 10 weeks by blood test.

I remember the nurse asking us if we wanted to upgrade our ultrasound and see 3D images of our daughter (Katie) at the time.  We opted not to but with this baby we were able to see 4D video in real time of her moving around in my tummy. They also took some images in 4D.  I don't think I'll ever be able to wrap my head around the fact that my body can create another human and to catch a glimpse of it actually happening is such a gift.  It truly is a miracle.  

15 weeks.  "Yup, I can see her through your belly button Mom.  She is still in there." said Katie.

18 Weeks pregnant and just finished another round of Whole30. 

At 19 weeks and still very tired/sleepy.

18 weeks and here's a partial face shot.  You can see one of the eye sockets, chin and head.

At the half way point, I was feeling great. Really no traditional pregnancy symptoms happening. Also gained roughly 3 lbs. which I thought was low but the doctors assured me that I was measuring just fine in my tummy area and that the baby was healthy and I was healthy too so no need to worry.

Half way there at 20 weeks!!!

Another shot of the bump at week 20.

Celebrating Mother's Day with these 3. Almost at 27 weeks.

28 weeks below.

Almost 29 weeks below at a friend's wedding.

32 weeks at the beach.

33 weeks and Baby completed her first race.  I ran with Katie during her 1 mile run.

35 Weeks and still feeling good.  So here I am with just 5 weeks remaining and have put on 19 lbs. I have had occasional heartburn, especially if I lay down for bed not long after I have dinner.  Also baby is constantly moving.  Every night at 9pm she has a dance party in my belly.  Lots of kicks to the ribs and fingers moving below.  I have been seeing the doctor more regularly and after week 35 they wanted me to make weekly trips to the hospital just to be checked out via, heart rate monitor, measurements, weight, and fetal monitoring for an hour to make sure she is moving enough during a specified time period.  Her statistics put her in the 10 % for growth at one point so from then on I would go in weekly.  She'd move up from the 10%, to the 12%, to the 15% and finally the 18%.  I stopped going to the hospital after that because I was feeling amazing, baby was due in 2 weeks and although I was technically considered high risk (because of my Crohn's Disease) hence all the precautions, I knew baby was healthy.  She was estimated to be born in the 6 to 7 lbs. category which the nurses and doctors all said was low.  Really?  Low??  They said that people now a days are having 8 to 9 lbs. babies.  I'm not sure what I am doing differently from all these other women, but I do know that even if 6 to 7 lbs. is considered low in this era, that that is still a healthy weight for baby.


37 weeks below.  And one of the last photos before baby comes. Total weight gained was 23 lbs.  With Michael and Katie I gained 40 lbs with both but this time my diet has been completely different and much more healthy with whole foods. I am much more aware of how certain foods make me feel and have become more in tune with what my body is craving and needs. It's been interesting to see that the baby takes what it needs and that all the weight has gone to the right places.

Baby Due August 11, 2015

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

First let me say, Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there that I know; especially my Momma.  You're all amazing, followed by a million more positive adjectives!  We celebrated with a very low key day.  Since we've been so busy lately, it was nice to just enjoy the sunshine and each other.

Baby M and I.  She is 27 weeks.

Bailey, Katie and I.

Kisses for the baby.  Can't wait to be a mom to 3!

Mikey made this apron at school.  See the apprehension on his face.  It's because of the lobster on the counter.  He wanted to help but wasn't so sure once he saw the lobsters move.

Seafood for dinner!

It's a GIRL!!!

My doctor prescribed an early ultrasound since I technically have to see a specialist while being pregnant with Crohn's disease.  I haven't had any complications whatsoever with my other two pregnancies but just to be on the safe side I take my doctors advice.

The kids came with us to Greenwich Hospital where we are planning on having the baby to the neonatology department inside of the birthing wing and they held a constant dialogue consisting of many questions the entire time we were there.  It was pretty cute and the hospital workers got a kick out of some of the things they knew and some of the things they were asking.

This experience was a bit different than my previous ultrasounds with Michael and Katie.  It's quite amazing how technology can change in just a few years.  I remember when I had Mikey, we didn't even know what 3D ultrasound was.  He was just a blurry image with no dimension at all.  Once Katie was growing in my belly the technician gave us the option of a 3D ultrasound but at a hefty price.  As long as our baby was healthy we opted not to spend the extra money on that. 

This go round was amazing.  We were actually able to see our baby at 13 weeks and 6 days in regular 2D ultrasound form but also 4D.  I know....I had no idea that existed.  It's just like 3D except you can see the baby in video form, not just still pictures.  We could see her moving her hands and legs, flipping from one side to the other and even doing a complete 180 degrees in my stomach.  We left with lots of pictures and knowing that we were having another girl!  We were just in disbelief that they could tell that early what we were having by ultrasound.  The technician pointed out these 3 little lines that pointed down that signified that she would be a girl and tiny specks that will become her ovaries.  The specialist confirmed everything.  The kids counted 10 fingers and 10 toes and also saw many of her internal organs already visible and growing.  We also all hear her heartbeat with is such a lovely sound. The doctor was also able to determine based on the thickness of her spinal cord that she will not have down syndrome. It's just incredible that they have all these advances in medicine and science.  At this stage she was 5 inches long and a mere 3 oz.  Just the right size for where I am in my pregnancy.

We are already picturing what she will look like and are so thankful for another healthy baby.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Papa and Nana have already dubbed her "Sleeping Beauty."

Sending Michael a message!

Katie got a message from the baby too!

Baby M at 13 weeks 6 days.

Busy developing.

Covering her face.

Another photo.