Last week I took my 30-Week baby bump photo, but am just now getting around to posting it and writing up a pregnancy update. My family was in town all last week, so I was busy enjoying every second with them. 
So, here is my 30-Week photo, with a 31-Week Update!
Last Tuesday I went to my doctor’s office for my weekly check-up and an ultrasound. It was wonderful getting to have an ultrasound while my mom was in town, because she got to come with me to see our little Gideon. So special! I love the photos the ultrasound technician got. Every time we’ve seen him lately, he’s had his little arm up by his head. And I am in love with the picture of his little feet and toes! As of a week ago, Gideon was weighing in at 3.5 lbs. At this point, they estimate that he’s growing about half a pound each week, so he could be about 4lbs (or more) now! This is the point in the pregnancy where he really starts putting on weight fast.
I cannot believe that I’m only 62 days away from his due date! With each week that passes, I am incredibly thankful that we’ve made it this far. We’ve had many moments when it looked like I was going to go into preterm labor, but throughout it all we have trusted God with our son and this pregnancy. I am so incredibly grateful!
I am still having contractions on a daily basis, so I’m continuing to rest when they come and monitor them closely. Some days I only have about 20-30 contractions, and other days it can get more crazy with numbers around 50-100. In the past week and a half, some of the contractions have reached a new pain level, which can be alarming. But they eventually calm down and I’m able to relax. I’m thankful for an amazing doctor and nurses, and for incredible family and friends who have helped so much.
Really, besides all of the contractions, I am doing great! And I am thankful for such a healthy baby.
While my family was here last week, I had SO much help! I didn’t have to make one meal, and I think I only changed one of Liam’s diapers. Liam had a household full of people just waiting to play with him (he LOVED every moment of their visit!), and I got to take at least an hour nap every day. It was absolutely marvelous! I’m so glad we were able to have that time together!
Now we are in the final stretch of this pregnancy…I feel like Gideon will be here before we know it! There are many things I would love to get done before he arrives, but in the end I know we will have everything that we need right when we need it. We are so very excited!
from Amazon and just started reading it this weekend. I’m only a couple of chapters in so far, but I’m hoping it’ll help me navigate this stage of Toddlerhood that we are in with Liam right now. I really want to make the most of this season and help him learn and grow as much as I can. So far I am loving this stage! It doesn’t come without it’s challenges of course (he has his own opinions now, and expresses them when he feels like it). But I seriously do feel so blessed to get to raise this kiddo of ours. Each week he is saying new words or phrases (last week he started saying “cereal” and it’s now his new favorite thing), and experiencing new things (this weekend we played with bubbles for the first time). Lots of fun!
and he asks to read it every day (
. It’s so good. And many of the songs speak so strongly to my soul. Ah! So good.
- I wasn’t able to swallow pills until I was 15 years old…apparently I have a very good gag reflex. Even now, I have difficulty swallowing large pills (especially if they have DHA in them and taste like fish. Blech!). This is where the gummy vitamins come in! I love these things. I discovered them when I was pregnant with Liam, and I’ve never turned back since. (Note: they do not contain iron or calcium, so you will want to take a separate supplement for those).
- Oh my word, I love this thing! This is a new purchase and I’ve only had it a couple of weeks, but it has been a lifesaver. Since I have been having quite a few early contractions this pregnancy, my doctor suggested getting a maternity support belt. I did my research, and most of the maternity supports out there look like torture devices. Except for this one. It is so comfortable, and it helps in many ways! It lifts up my belly so that it doesn’t feel so heavy, eases back and hip pain, and minimizes round ligament pain as well. It is well worth the investment!
- My skin tends to get really dry and itchy during pregnancy, and this lotion helps tremendously with this. It’s also supposed to help prevent stretch marks (and minimize the appearance of existing ones), so that’s cool too. Oh, and it smells yummy, which is a plus!
- I am naturally a back sleeper, so when I first got pregnant and had to switch to sleeping on my side, it was troublesome indeed. My hips started hurting and I kept accidentally rolling over onto my back in the night. It was no bueno. But then I discovered this pregnancy body pillow, and it has helped so very much! There are several different kinds of pregnancy pillows out there, but I really like this one, especially since it allows me to use my normal pillow to lay my head on. So comfy!
- I drink a lot of water. A lot. And whenever I’m pregnant, I drink even more. It is a hassle to refill a normal sized cup a gazillion times a day, so I prefer to have a large (or preferably, giant) tumbler with me wherever you go. Hydration during pregnancy is so important, and having a large tumbler around helps ensure that I get the water I need. I don’t have this venti Starbucks tumbler, but I would love to add it to my collection. (Sidenote: besides getting to bring our precious Gideon home from the hospital, I am also greatly looking forward to bringing home one of those awesome, very large, hospital cups! I used the one I got when I had Liam so much that it wore out. I’m pretty pumped to get a new one! Haha.)
- Have you ever heard of a thing called “pregnancy brain”? It’s a real thing, I promise. (For example, yesterday I almost put the glass cleaner in the fridge. Yikes.) To help with my pregnancy forgetfulness, I got this vitamin organizer. I felt old getting it, but it is very helpful indeed. I like this one specifically, because it has four different time slots in each day case. That way, if you have to take different supplements or medication at different times during the day (such as taking your calcium and iron at different times), you will remember when. Genius! I also really like the pretty colors this case comes in.
by Amanda Cook, the title track off of 
