Pearls and Perfection Problems: 29 Weeks

** Sorry for not having a chalk board picture, but we were out of town and did not have the chalk board with us : ) Excuse the bad hair day... it was raining outside when this was taken!

How far along? 29 weeks

Baby size: Acorn Squash, 2.22 lb, 14.80 in (crown to heel)

Total weight gain/loss: This past Tuesday, I had a doctor's appointment and have now gained 20 pounds!! Slow down please!!
Maternity clothes? Yes!
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Sleep has been pretty good until I went out of town this week. I was not used to having a different bed, and though they were not uncomfortable it just wasn't the same as my bed at home. I told Daniel there were 3 things I could not wait to get back home to: my bed, cereal and milk, and my recording of Cedar Cove (love this show on Hallmark). I did enjoy sleeping on the beach though : )
Best moment this week: Being able to see our baby girl this past Tuesday (July 29th) at our ultrasound appointment. The ultrasound tech said everything looked great! Wonderful praise report : )   We did not get a great profile picture because she would not cooperate, but we did learn that she weighed 2 pounds 13 oz which puts her in the 45%ile for weight. We also learned that her foot was measuring the size of a 32 week pound baby! Haha. We have said from the beginning that the girl is going to have some big feet, and she loves to put her feet up to her mouth. Her heart rate was 145 bpm, which they said was great. Unfortunately, she is currently breech, but we are praying she will turn in the next few weeks. I will have appointments every two weeks or so from here on out since I am considered as having hypothyroidism. I also had to get a shot at the appointment because my blood type is Rh negative. We have two ultrasounds left unless she decides to arrive early.
I was also able to go on a vacation for several days which was happy and sad. If any of you know my weather history... the rain seems to follow me anytime I try to take a vacation or plan a special event. Last summer we went to the beach with my parents and had a tropical storm grace us with its presence the first week in June. I went to the beach with my aunt's family the year before for a week and it literally rained 4 days straight. The day after we got engaged at Wild Dunes, it rained while we were trying to get pictures around the resort with our families. It was nasty weather the day of our gender reveal party, and it rained so hard the night of our rehearsal dinner that our wedding coordinator skipped the rehearsal dinner to run to my parents home where the outdoor reception was to be held the next day to bring everything that the rain could damage inside my parents house. These are just a FEW examples : ) SO, on the six days I was gone to the beach... the sun decided to shine only 2 hours of that time. For all you math people out there that means out of the 144 hours I was there... I saw 2 hours of sun. BUT, although I was sad at the time, looking back I am so thankful for the time away with the people I love the most!!
Mama and I usually like to try to take a girls only trip once a year, so we went to Charleston for a few days just us. We enjoyed laying in the clouds, yes clouds no sun :(, walking on the beach, eating yummy food, and doing a little shopping. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to have mama/daughter time!! I have so needed it especially with me being so busy working and preparing for a baby and mama being busy working and taking care of my grandparents.
Daddy and Daniel came down Friday late afternoon to join us and we stayed with my parents' friends, Walt and Carole, who have a beautiful home in Mount Pleasant. We had a wonderful time with them despite the fact that it rained all day Saturday and Sunday.
Sunday, Daniel and I were supposed to head to Kiawah Island for a little "babymoon" getaway before she arrives; however, we canceled that due to the stinky weather and decided to just stay at Wild Dunes. We still had a great time together and did not realize HOW MUCH we needed that get away for our marriage to have the opportunity to slow down, talk, and give each other undivided attention. I highly recommend that all married couples make the time and use the money to take at least one trip together each year, even if it's simply a long weekend as we did. It does wonders for your marriage and hey, it's cheaper than having to pay a therapist to help solve the issues that come from not pouring time into your marriage.
Miss Anything? Recipes with multiple ingredients. I was looking at the dinner recipes I have pinned on my Pinterest page the other day, and there were SO many that I cannot make due to the recipes containing tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, or any other foods that give me indigestion.
Movement:Her kicks are getting stronger, but she still is the most active in the mornings and evenings when I am laying in the bed. While we were at the beach, mama and I made a trip (or two) to Marble Slab for some much needed ice cream. The first visit I ordered chocolate ice cream with pecans and Reece cups mixed in. When we got back to the hotel and laid down, she was going crazy. I was so excited for mama to get to feel her so much. Normally she kicks in one area, but it was like she was rolling and cutting flips all over my stomach. We felt her at the top, bottom, and both sides of my stomach. Mama says she loves chocolate as much as her "Mimi."
Food cravings: Speaking of ice cream, we have now become friends again. I could care less about sweets until around 4 or 5 weeks ago. On our trip, I had Marble Slab with mama twice and once with Daniel on the way home in Columbia. Thankfully the closest Marble Slab to us at home is in downtown Greenville or my weight and pocketbook would be in trouble. I also SO missed my cereal and milk that I normally have each morning for breakfast at home. I know, who would choose cereal and milk over hot breakfast meals cooked by your mom or from a restaurant... ME!!
Anything making you queasy or sick: I have always had a problem with "gagging" sometimes when I brush my teeth even before I was pregnant, but while on vacation, I actually got sick one morning while brushing my teeth. I guess I am going to have to take it easy on brushing my tongue so well and use mouth wash as a supplement.
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Gender: It's a Girl!!
Symptoms: My calves and ankles swelled more than usual while at the beach. Not sure if it was from the humidity, the drive down, or the food I was eating. They did the same back in June when I went to the beach with Daniel's family. I also keep Tums nearby after dinner because heartburn is pretty common, and gum stays in my pocketbook for those afternoon throat burnings I experience.
My emotions were also a little off while at the beach. I am normally a pretty "hardcore" person and do not cry easily at all, but this weekend the flood gates opened. Saturday, Daniel and I were trying to decide what to do with the rain - to still go to Kiawah or just stay in Charleston. We really wanted to go somewhere we had never been before, but thought it was foolish to experience a new place in the rain. While talking about it, I just starting crying thinking about having only one week left before going back to work and got completely overwhelmed with all I need to do in the nursery and at home before then. I said, let's just end it early and go back home. Thankfully my husband put his foot down, and said we both needed to stay away from responsibilities a few days longer before we both "cracked." The next afternoon my tear ducts started dripping uncontrollably again on and off for several hours for really no reason other than being tired, overwhelmed, and I guess a bit of anxiety of how we are going to juggle everything. Monday, we went to lunch at Eggs Up Grill and we were just sitting at the table talking. I was telling Daniel how wonderful it was to spend time with my parents for a few days and the tear ducts started flowing again... IN PUBLIC!!! I hardly ever cry alone, much less in public! I had told him how them leaving the beach was almost like moving out of their house all over again, and I had a lot more to say about it but told Daniel, let's talk in the truck because I could not talk without crying!! Embarrassing :/
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Looking forward to:Deep cleaning my house this week when we get back in town. I want everything to be in order and spic and span before the school year starts back on August 11th!!

This was the best profile picture the ultra sound tech could get this time. She even had me turn on my side to try to get baby to move, but she would not.

Baby girl's big foot. I am 28 weeks and her foot is measuring at 32 weeks : )

She already has hair!! Get the bows ready : )

Daniel finished painting the crib before I left for the beach with mama. He did a great job on it, and I cannot wait to get the bedding now!!

Mama and I ready to eat some seafood at Shem's Creek.

Just a little comic relief picture! Monday morning as soon as Daniel and I put on our swimsuits to sit in the clouds on the beach, it began to rain. Sporting the swimsuit, cover up, and umbrella.