7 months!

This little guy is going to be here before we know it!!  Jason and I were walking the dogs the other night, and realized that in 3 short months we are going to be real live actual parents.  Craziness.  Well...actually less than three months.  I really truly cannot wait to meet this little guy!

Grayson info this week:  Average length at 28 weeks is 14 inches with average weight being 1.7 lb.  As we now know, he is a giant and has well surpassed this 1.7 lb marker.  Not sure how much he weighs obviously, be he was 2.4 lbs at 26 weeks...so a little more than that?  Jason is thinking we probably have the new center for KU on our hands.  His skill of the week: blinking!  Apparently he has also been coughing, sucking, hiccuping, and taking practice breaths.  He's also starting to have REM sleep cycles.  His lungs are nearly fully mature as well!  As for Grayson specifically:  he has been kicking me in the ribs. This is a new development, and one that I am not a fan of.  It feels like he wedges himself up under my ribs and starts moving around.  Not comfortable!!  Should be interesting for the last couple of months as he gets even bigger.  We now have a new trick where I can put the TV remote on my stomach and it'll wobble back and forth as he kicks.  It's so funny to see-cool for Jason too.  He can see just how hard he's kicking!

We have gotten a lot of work done on the nursery!  So exciting to see it all come together!!  It is almost fully painted.  We have some touch up work to do, and we still need to paint the chair rail.  We did the chair rail all by ourselves!  One note to people wanting to put up a chair rail:  apparently Home Depot does not cut the pieces for you!  We measured REALLY carefully, brought our measurements to them, and were informed that we had to do it ourselves.  We were seriously there for about 2 and a half hours trying to get our measurements exact.  Plus, for all of the corners, they have to be at a 45 degree angle and match up perfectly.  We ended up doing a good job, but geez!  His bedding finally came, and I am IN LOVE WITH IT!  It is exactly what I hoped it would be.  His crib came in yesterday too!  Jason has started putting it together, but it's not done yet.  I will put up pics of the fully assembled crib soon.  I really want to put the bedding in it!  We haven't bought our mattress yet though, so it's going to look weird if I do.  Here are some pic updates:

28 wk bump, going out for Rangers game 7-lost :(

Starting to trim-you can see the lines on the wall where the chair rail will go

Allll Bailey wanted to do was play.  She would come up behind us and whip her toy monkey into our backs until we threw it for her.  (Side note: Before I get comments about paint fumes....I didn't paint much AT ALL.  I helped trim a bit, and Jason rolled the rest while I was out to lunch!)

Not quite ready to get whole-room pics yet, but here's a small view of the colors/rail.  I did a pretend set up of his bedding to see what it looks like with the wall colors! 

Bumper pieces with his cute little name

Hope everyone has a happy Halloween!!  

27 weeks

I had my doctor's appointment on Wednesday of this week.  We got to get another sonogram in order for them to check on the placement of the placenta.  Unfortunately, this one wasn't quite as fun as the one where we found out "he" was a he!  It was much more medical related, and we only got to see his sweet little face for a minute.  Here is at 26 weeks 5 days:

His heartbeat sounded great, and apparently our little baby is HUGE!  He weighed in at 2 lbs 4 oz.  According to my book, average weight for this week is 1.7 lbs.  So yea.  He's big.  Most babies are 2.5 lbs at week 31.  I'm going to be like that lady you hear in the news that has a 15 pound baby.  

Anyway, back to the appointment.  All is well with Grayson, but my placenta is still measuring low.  It's at 1.5" away from the cervix, and they want me at 3" away.  Good news is, it's not covering the cervix, so I get to fly home for Thanksgiving!  Bad news is, it's still only halfway to where they want it to be at this weeks time.  They are going to do another sonogram at my next appointment in November to see if there is any progress.  The doctor sounded optimistic that it would move, so I'm trying to stay in that mind frame.  Worst case scenario now is that I have to have a c-section.  I would rather not do that, but I'm trying to start preparing myself now for if that has to happen.  If he is in fact 15 pounds, c-section will be welcomed :) Other than that, all is pretty normal!  I had to do the glucose test, which was gross.  You drink a orange drink that looks like gatorade.  At first..not too bad!  Then it starts tasting like Triamenic (remember that orange "cough medicine" that you had as a kid that didn't really do anything for your cough?)  It got really syrupy and not pleasant.  They said there is not a whole lot that can be done with my back...suffer it out.  He said massages might help, so I am taking advantage, and going for one today!  

We are going to paint the nursery this weekend, so hopefully I will have some updated nursery pics next week!  

27 week belly, heading out to cheer on the Rangers!  

26 weeks

Alright, what's new this week??  Grayson's eyelids are fully open this week and can respond to bright light and blink.  He's about 14 inches long and almost 2 pounds.  Getting bigger and bigger!  I feel like my stomach has popped out more this week too.

Not the cutest of pics, but you get the idea.  You can definitely see the bump better in normal clothes!  

As far as how I'm feeling, I have been really good recently!  Well..other than my back that is.  That has gotten a lot worse this week.  I have never had back problems, and this is just plain horrible!  Since it's a nerve, it doesn't actually even feel like back pain, it's more just my left side/butt/leg.  Not fun that's for sure.  I look like a 90 year old walking around, and can't lift my left leg high enough to get up into our bed by myself.  I have started thinking that crutches would help a lot because when I don't put pressure down on my left leg it feels somewhat okay.  I don't think that they will give me crutches though with my center of gravity being off balance, so I'll probably just have to deal.  

I have my next doctor's appointment this coming Wednesday, and we get to have a sonogram!  Yea!  I love sonograms-so fun to see the little guy in there.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything is okay and the placenta has moved up in the uterus.  If it hasn't, I won't be coming back to KC for Thanksgiving (most likely).  I won't be able to fly, and with my back the way it is, I can't sit in a car for 8 hours. :(  After the appointment this week I move to appointments every 2 weeks.  I'm thinking I could get another sonogram in before Thanksgiving to see if it had moved by then.  

We have started working a little bit more on the nursery.  I have swatches from his bedding that I was able to take to Home Depot to compare for paint colors.  

Okay, ignore the fact that it is called "Cinderella Bedroom/Bathroom Color Palette" and that the swatches are little high heels.  They are obviously from the Disney line :)  We are going to be adding a chair rail to the room.  Below the chair rail will be "Bibbidi Bobbidi Blue" and above is going to be "Blustery Day."  I had originally wanted to do a design on the bottom (harliquen diamonds or stripes) but our bedding/glider/curtains have enough print, so I think we're just going to do solid colors.  They look really cute next to each other, and go really well with the baby blue part of his bedding!  So excited to get it all together!  His room is going to be baby blue, black and white.  We also ordered his glider, but it won't be here until Nov/Dec.  They said it might come in earlier, so I will put up a pic when it comes.  

This pic has nothing to do with the baby...but I'm pretty sure she's the cutest pug in the world. :)

Welcome to the third trimester!

How am I in the third trimester already??  That's kinda scary, not going to lie.  Grayson is the biggest wiggle worm in the world.  Seriously, this kid does not stop moving.   It's pretty fun to feel him all the time though!  I am feeling more and more connected to this little guy everyday, and cannot WAIT to meet him.  Jason has been out of town for the last few days for a work golf trip, so I've been pretty bored!  I'm wishing it was January already so that Grayson would be here to play with me :)  I also wish he would get off that sciatic nerve in my back.  It's been over a week now, and the pain has not let up.  Keep reminding myself that I'll forget about all of the bad stuff once he's here!

So Grayson info this week:  He's no longer an avocado, he's an eggplant now!  Once again, I need to go to the grocery store and check out an eggplant since I don't eat them.  At the 25th week babies average about a pound and a half and about 13 1/2 inches long.  I read that this is about the length of a recorder that you played back in elementary school.  Those things need to be banned...worst sounding instrument, especially played by a 7 year old.  From here on out, he starts growing more according to genetics.  I'm not sure what Jason weighed when he was born.  I know I was a little over 8 pounds.  My brother Brett was 8 something, and Christopher was in the 9's.  Good chance he could be big :)  His arms and legs have grown to almost the proportions that they'll be at birth.  His nostrils have cleared out and he is breathing through his nose.  He can make a fist and clasp things in his palm, and is able to learn and recognize mine and Jason's voices!  He's really close to being "fully functional" meaning his major organs are almost ready to work in the outside world.  That's comforting, but stay in there please :)

Here's me at 25 weeks:

Don't be jealous of my Jalepeno's t-shirt.  I was sick one time in middle school and my whole family went to Jalapenos without me.  They felt bad, so they brought me back a t-shirt.  Obviously it meant a lot  considering I still have it at 29.  I need new shirts.  

Dog update:

The other weekend, we found a bed that we thought Riley would be obsessed with.  She LOVES anything she can crawl under/in.  So we bought her this bed...even though it's meant for a cat.  It used to have a little mouse hanging down in front of the door.  We didn't want her to be embarassed, so we cut it off.  

I think Bailey was jealous.  She's a tad bigger than Riley (it's the breed, she's not fat!!) and can't fit in the door.  I came into the living room and found this:

If you can't fit, just smash the bed down and lay on top of it!  Such a problem solver.  Love my dogs :)

24 weeks

Seems I just skipped right past the 23 week mark.  I've been really busy for the last week.  Last Wednesday I headed back to KC for the week.  Sad to leave Jason and the doggies, but it was really nice to be home for a bit!  I was able to see just about everyone it seemed!  Papaw and Marianna came into town on Thursday, so I got to spend a lot of time with them.  I know I said that I would get a bunch of pictures, but I forgot.  Oops.  I did get a few though.  Friday we had a birthday dinner for me and my dad out at the farm, then headed into the Plaza Art Fair later that night.  Saturday, I got to hang out with Patrick all morning!  He's getting so big!!!  Crazy how quickly they grow :(  Then we went to the Legends of the Phog game up at Allen.  SO FUN.  Brandy and I sat together in a couple of my uncle's seats.  I had goosebumps during the entire intro video--so many players came back.  The best part was definitely the introductions.  Sunday, we had a Gray family dinner with all my of dad's side of the family.  Worked out really well that I was back in town for this and got to see everyone!  We have lots of babies on the way on the Gray side.  I am due in January, my cousin Tommy's wife is due in Feb, and my cousin Beth is due in March.  Should be a busy Christmas next year!  The rest of the time I just hung out and enjoyed spending time with the family.  Here are a few pics from the trip:

Great Grandpa and Patrick

Patricks first time at Allen Fieldhouse!  (He had to have his own ticket)

Alright so new baby info:  I went to the doctor last Tuesday before I left for a checkup.  Grayson looks great.  His heartbeat sounded good, and he is positioned correctly.  I asked Dr. Read about flying, since I already have my flight booked for Thanksgiving.  He said that the latest you should fly is 32-34 weeks.  My flight back to KC, I will just be turning 31 weeks, and then will be almost 33 when I come back to TX.  Because of the placement of my placenta (discussed in an earlier blog) I have to get another sonogram at my next appointment to see if it has moved or not.  Basically, my placenta is too low and covering my cervix (which is also low).  I get my next sonogram on October 19, and I am REALLY keeping my fingers crossed that it has moved.  Chances are that is has.  As the uterus grows, the placenta should move.  If it doesn't however, I will not be able to fly back. :(  Not good.  This is when I was planning on having my baby shower, as well as celebrate Thanksgiving with everyone (since we definitely can't travel for Christmas!)  I won't know anything until the next appointment, so it's not really worth worrying about right now!  

Grayson facts:  Average weight at 24 weeks is about a pound and a half!  Apparently he is outgrowing the fruit references, because he has been a papaya for awhile now.  His face is almost fully formed, complete with a set of eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair on his head.  I guess the hair is white right now because there isn't any pigment yet.  I have been feeling pretty good lately!  One new thing:  my back started KILLING ME.  I have been told that at the middle to end of the pregnancy, Grayson starts to settle in the proper position for birth.  That's great, but apparently his head settles on the sciatic nerve in the lower part of my spine.  Ow.  It definitely hurts...and will hang around til he comes, so that's fun.  

Alright, that is all for now!  Here's a couple of belly pics:

Almost 23 weeks, going out for my birthday 

24 weeks

Twenty Two!

Today is the 22nd week mark!  This is the last week in my fifth month...crazy!  It seems weird to me that next week I'll be 6 months pregnant.  Time has flown!  Info about Grayson this week:  He is the size of a papaya....once again, not sure if I've ever seen a papaya, so this reference is lost on me.  He's about a foot long and weighs about a pound.  Growing growing growing!  Apparently stretch marks might start showing up soon...really hoping that doesn't happen...but if it happens it happens I guess.  I got this really thick shea butter from L'occitane that I use everyday.  Maybe it'll keep them away?  We'll see :)  ALSO it says that since he's taking up so much space my belly button could pop out any day now as well.  Not excited about that one.  Never been a fan of the outie.  His eyes and lips are more developed, making him look more and more like a newborn.  He's also starting sleep cycles, about 12 to 14 hours per day.  I must say, it's getting more and more obvious when he is awake.  He decided to wake up around 5am this morning and "play" until around 9.  Fun for Angie-caught up on my DVR!  It also tells me I'll have trouble catching my breath as he starts crowding my lungs.

Here's the 22 week belly:

It has definitely popped out a lot more in the last week.  For the first time, this past weekend, I actually looked pregnant in clothes!  So that was exciting.  I think I'm going to start taking my weekly pictures with a shirt on...it's actually a little easier to see the bump that way.  (Although I think you can really finally see it here too!)  I'm still a little smaller than normal, but whatever.  I go to the doctor again next Tuesday, and I am sure he is healthy as can be.  He moves alllll the time.  You can see my stomach move when he kicks really hard, it's kinda creepy haha.  

I ordered the bedding, which I am SUPER excited about!  I ended up doing custom bedding so that I could pick out the fabric that I wanted and everything.  It won't get here until almost November, but she is sending me swatches of all the different fabrics so that I can start looking at paint colors and everything!  I love doing his room...really fun!  

As for non-baby news:  not a whole lot new going on!  Jason's been busy with work (always good) and the dogs and I are just waiting for fall to get here!  We've still had pretty hot weather (Bailey's over it, she can't breathe out there).  I go to KC next Wednesday though and they're projecting cooler weather, so I'm excited to break out the fall clothes.  I went through my closet yesterday to determine what will work and what won't with my new tummy.  I am going to try to stay away from maternity clothes as much as possible, and just wear my more flowy stuff.  I'm not into the maternity fashions-I'm hoping to find one pair of cute jeans and they can carry me through the next few months!  Alright, I'll be in Kansas next week, so doubt I update.  I'll take lots of pics with Papaw and the fam (it's birthday week for me and my dad!) so I'll add those too.  

Oh..since this is my scrapbook, I have to put this in so that I have it:

I have the sweetest husband ever.  He found sidewalk chalk and wrote this on our patio for me to find when I let the dogs out the other morning.  Little things like this are the best things ever. 

We have a name!

Just thought I would give a quick update, since it's a big one!  We have finally decided on a name for our little guy.  I am very excited to announce he will be....Grayson Brett O'Bryan!  I am in love with it, and so excited that it's finally set in stone.  He'll end up going by Gray which is my maiden name (obviously) so I think it's really neat to be able to incorporate that into his name.  PLUS for those of you who don't know, my older brother's name is Brett.  It meant a lot to me to use family names as middle names for our kids.  My brother's and I all have middle names named after our aunts/uncles, so I thought it was a great tradition. 

So there it is!  Grayson will be gracing us with his presence January 19, 2012 (or sometime around then).  Let the monogramming begin! :)