Third Trimester!!!! Baby Girl Update - 28 weeks!

How Far Along? - 28 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - Why is this even a question? Why would any pregnant woman freely give out this info? I mean, come on!

Stretch Marks? - I would like to find a part of my body that doesn't have them, no, seriously they just pop up when ever they feel like it.

Sleep? - Lately I have been sleeping really hard and when I wake up my hips and abs hurt...bad! Apparently I sleep so hard that I revert back to my pre-pregnancy sleeping positions and they squish Cali so she kicks as hard as she can to make me move. It must work because I always wake up flat on my back feeling like I have bruises the size of babies on my insides...thanks Cali...can't wait for you to do it again tonight!

Best Moment This Week? - Picking out girly fabric for all the covers and blankets I am making for the Princess. It was actually a lot of fun and Zack even helped...for those of you who don't know, Zack is one of the most opinionated but nice people in the world. He could absolutely hate something when I pick it out but not say anything because he doesn't want to hurt my feelings. Then, when I bring it out later he tells me that he doesn't really like it...uh, couldn't you have told me that before we paid for it!!! It's aggravating to say the least so the fact that he was picking out patterns and giving me his opinion on ones I picked out says a lot for him...way to grow Babe!!

Worst Moment This Week? - Hip pain. I have bad knees from years of dance so I at least thought that they would hurt the most but nope, not even a twinge. My hips....well they feel like I need a double hip replacement. Not cool.

Miss Anything? - Seeing my feet. You don't realize how much you depended on looking down at cute new shoes until your big, beach ball of a belly makes it so you can't see anything below the boobs. Also, working. We have been in this limbo type of situation with Medicaid so I can't get a job that would be reported to the State. So I have been jobless since last month. Can you say, 'Daytime tv sucks!!'

Movement? - She is quite the swimmer these days. Sometimes she moves so much that when she stops I freak out and think she's dead. She then kicks me really hard in the bladder or sciatic and I quickly withdraw my thought. Little punk.

Food Cravings? - Fruit, like in the summer. Fresh peaches, cantaloupe, watermellon, oranges, green apples. Winter pregnancies suck if you are a fresh fruit gal. All there is available is canned crap that tastes like metal. Bleck!

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne and I'm recently back to hating on Mexican food. Well I should say, it hates me.

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Nope! :)

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? - Wedding band still on but I've opted out of the engagement ring as it fits a little more snug and I refuse to ever have that thing cut off!

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I'm reaching that stage when all you want to do is just get things ready and put together. Those thoughts keep me pretty happy but then I realize that I still live with my sister and I can't really set up a nursery for my daughter in someone else's house. It's kinda lame. So I'm pretty happy with times of depression. It sucks.

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon! Something to do during the day, Zack not working nights anymore....it's a long list.

Baby is the size of a: Chihuahua!

Baby's development this week: So I have found this new pregnancy information site called 'Pregnant Chicken' and it is hilarious! It's written by this lady from Canada and her experience with being pregnant. She tells it like it is and can be a little vulgar at times but it is so real (and hilarious!) and at times dead on to what I'm feeling that I go with it. So....at 28 weeks, Baby Cali is the size of a Chihuahua. Roughly 16 inches long and about 2.5 lbs. She is getting better at discerning light and dark and might even be able to see light through my belly. As I'm not inside my belly, I cannot verify this statement. Her brain is active and her movements are getting stronger and more deliberate (opening/closing fists, sucking thumb, turning, etc.) and can cause pain...don't I know it! She is now in her third trimester and could be here pretty much when she feels like it in about 2-3 weeks. Let's hope this princess doesn't like making a grand entrance but rather prefers to be fashionably on time, when she's supposed to, not late, not early....on time!

Baby girl update - 27 weeks!

How Far Along? - 27 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - I'm not sure about me but baby girl is growing like a weed...almost .5 lbs in the past week.

Stretch Marks? - I would like to find a part of my body that doesn't have them, no, seriously they just pop up when ever they feel like it.

Sleep? - Yes and no. I can sleep on the couch like a champ but sleeping in bed (no matter how many pillows I have) is a different story. There really isn't a good position for me and I'm finding that rolling over takes way more energy than it should.

Best Moment This Week? - Um, no big things happened but I have loved feeling Cali have hiccups. She gets them all the time and from what I can tell, laughs afterwards.

Worst Moment This Week? - Practicing for labor...those Braxton Hicks contractions suck!

Miss Anything? - Laying on my stomach. I have only 3 months left and I can lay on it again!!!

Movement? - All the time! She's going to be a feisty little lady. She kicks me in the sciatic and it kills but I feel that is a good thing...no matter how mad it makes me. She's moving and every movement is proof that she's still alive and that I haven't killed her like every plant I've ever had.

Food Cravings? - Cinnamon rolls. Big, fluffy, warm ones and Code Red, I have a problem.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne. I am doing better with Mexican food but some of it still makes me queasy.

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Nope! :)

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? - Wedding band still on but I've opted out of the engagement ring as it fits a little more snug and I refuse to ever have that thing cut off!

Happy or Moody most of the time? - As I am 27 weeks pregnant...what personality you get you should be happy for. Hey, no one ever said it was a perfect system.

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon! Something to do during the day, Zack not working nights anymore....it's a long list.

Baby is the size of a: Head of Cauliflower

Baby's development this week: She is about 2 lbs and is 14 1/2 inches long. She sleeps in regular intervals and opens and closes her little eyes. She might even be trying to suck her thumb now. Her brain is continuing to develop and is very active now. Her lungs are still immature but she would be able to breathe with medical help if she were to be born now. Any little movements I may feel are most likely her having hiccups. They only last a few moments and don't cause her any harm, they just cause a tickling sensation for me.

Braxton Hicks is a stupid name! - Baby girl update 26 weeks!!!

How Far Along? - 26 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - 5.5 lbs but who's counting...(not me, it just makes me depressed.)

Stretch Marks? - I would like to find a part of my body that doesn't have them, no seriously they just pop up when ever they feel like it.

Sleep? - Yes and no. I can sleep on the couch like a champ but sleeping in bed (no matter how many pillows I have) is a different story. There really isn't a good position for me and I'm finding that rolling over takes way more energy than it should.

Best Moment This Week? - Seeing my little ones knee pop right out! She's really loving the frog style sleeping position but when she wakes up....those legs get to kicking right away.

Worst Moment This Week? - Last night I got to experience my first go around with Braxton Hicks contractions. Yay me... For those who don't know, Braxton Hicks contractions are the body's way of practicing for the big event to come. Most women have them all during pregnancy but don't feel them until later in the 2nd trimester as the uterus has more demanded of it. Mine started about 4 pm and didn't really stop until about 2 or 3 am this morning. Not to freak anyone out but, they really hurt. Today I feel like I did about a million sit ups....boy, do my abs hurt. Oh well, all in the name of getting her here, right? It was definitely an experience to never forget.

Miss Anything? - Laying on my stomach. I have only 3 months left and I can lay on it again!!!

Movement? - She likes to sleep in random patterns but when she's up, I know it. She's going to be a free-willed kind of lady. Oh Joy! She can kick my phone off of my belly and I love laying propped up so that I can watch her move. It is so weird! She gets a little hand shy when Zack tries to feel her but once she realizes that it's not just some sort of 'stranger danger' situation happening out here and it is her daddy, she'll give him a good kick.

Food Cravings? - Cinnamon rolls. Big, fluffy, warm ones. Code Red, I have a problem.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne. I am doing better with Mexican food but some of it still makes me queasy.

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - No, just lovely Braxton Hicks contractions....how come they are named after a guy who never could feel them. I learned that he was the man who determined what they were and their purpose and he even told the medical community that they were, "a mildly uncomfortable way for the female body to prepare for labor.' I'll give him a mildly uncomfortable way to prepare for labor....a punch in the face. They are so much more than mildly uncomfortable if they are making it so I can't sleep. Yes, thank you Sir, you're a real professional. Let's leave the diagnosis of female problems to those who can/do experience the symptoms, mmmkay?

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? - Wedding band still on but I've opted out of the engagement ring as it fits a little more snug and I refuse to ever have that thing cut off!

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I feel like I'm doing the best I can. I mean, I don't freak out on anyone or get really upset over things but I have my moments...which are often late at night when my mind plays 'Let's see what we can get her to freak out over this time' and I lay in bed picturing horrible scenarios from labor problems to Cali being born with all her teeth. Yeah, my imagination is wild!

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon! Something to do during the day, Zack not working nights anymore....it's a long list.

Baby is the size of a: Scallion

Baby's development this week: She is just a little over 1 2/3 lbs and 14 inches. She is practicing breathing in and out which will help her breath more easily when she gets here. Her sense of hearing is more keen and she can now hear it when Zack and I are talking, not just talking into the belly. Hopefully Zack with start talking in French soon so that Cali will be more apt to going with the flow when he starts it up at her birth. He says that it will be his way of bonding with her and that she WILL be bi-lingual. It's going to be an adventure!

Baby girl update - 25 weeks!

How Far Along? - 25 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - 5 lbs

Stretch Marks? - Yep!

Sleep? - um, depends on the day....I'm pretty sure I grow in the belly region while I sleep so sometimes sleep isn't so wonderful.

Best Moment This Week? - Finding out that I don't have gestational diabetes. My numbers were so low that it won't even be a problem for me. Yay!!!

Worst Moment This Week? - Not having something to do during the day. Zack is working graveyards so he sleeps all day. My sister works from 11-4 so, I get to spend a lot of the day entertaining myself and watching a lot of t.v. The glucose test drink sucked BIG TIME!!! It was so disgusting and I had to do it twice. Bleck!

Miss Anything? - Hot showers and seeing my feet.

Movement? - Every chance she gets. So far she sleeps like Zack...in circles.

Food Cravings? - Cinnamon rolls. Big, fluffy, warm ones.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne. I am doing better with Mexican food but some of it still makes me queasy.

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Not yet and she better stay in there for at least another 10 weeks before she can even think about coming.

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? -On

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I am trying really hard to be happy but I have never have dealt with loss of control or not having a plan very well so, I've been a bit emotional...

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon!

Baby is the size of an: Large rutabaga

Baby's development this week: She is just a little over 1.5 lbs and 13.5 inches. She has more fat by now but still looks like a spider monkey. She's growing more hair now and if we could see it we would be able to discern color and texture. My guess is that she's bald just like I was, (I didn't have hair until I was almost 2.)

Later Logan!!! Baby girl update, 24 weeks

So we have left Logan....YAY!!! I mean, aw man! Just kidding. We loved our friends we made and all the great memories but it is SOOOO nice to be back close to family. We are currently living with my sister Brittney (who's also pregnant!) and her husband Adam. Zack is working as a security guard for Chapman Security and I'm just trying to keep my head on straight. Life hasn't been roses this past week and hopefully it gets better soon....

Baby girl is learning a lot! She can kick hard enough that I can see her moving under my shirt. She's gonna be a feisty one. My work friends threw me a baby shower before we moved and I got a lot of cute stuff. I can't wait to dress her up and send back pictures. My ward friends want to throw me a shower in a few weeks so I will be back up in Logan for a day. This is going to be fun!

How Far Along? - 24 1/2  weeks

Total Weight Gain? - 5 lbs

Stretch Marks? - Yep!

Sleep? - Not really, it hurts to lay on my sides.

Best Moment This Week? - Watching her move around....she's gonna be a soccer star or a dancer.

Worst Moment This Week? - Moving. Cali didn't like it. She would kick (felt more like a tantrum) and then roll over and over until I had to sit down. My hands and feet have been swollen from being on my feet while moving...that has really sucked.

Miss Anything? - Cinnamon rolls.

Movement? - Every chance she gets. So far she sleeps like Zack...in circles.

Food Cravings? - Cinnamon rolls. Big, fluffy, warm ones.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne, Mexican food and this soap that Zack picked out for the bathroom - talk about disgusting!

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Not yet and hopefully not for a while.

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? -On

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I am trying really hard to be happy but I have never have dealt with loss of control or not having a plan very well so, I've been a bit emotional...

Looking forward to: Having our own place soon. Hopefully really very soon!

Baby is the size of an: Large ear of corn

Baby's development this week: She is just a little over 1.5 lbs and a foot long.  She's still lean but will soon start to plump out. Brain is growing quickly and taste buds are continuing to develop. Lungs are developing branches of her respiratory tree and are producing surfactant, a substance that will help air sacs in the lungs inflate once your baby hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent and that will start to change soon.

Our life/Baby girl update - 23 weeks

So, in case you didn't hear, we are leaving Logan (finally) and are moving to SLC in about a week. Zack got a job as a security guard and he's really excited. So am I. I can't wait for a lot of things but moving closer to my family and Zack getting started with his career (he wants to be a government agent) has been something I have been looking forward to for the past 3 years we've lived in Logan. 

We've had some good times but Logan isn't home and never really has. To be honest I cry every time we have to come back to Logan from being anywhere else. We've made some really good friends and had some wonderful experiences with work and school but as with everything...it must come to an end. 

We are having to find a new home for our cat Jazzie and that makes me sad. I've never really been a cat person but she's grown on me these last two years. Hopefully we can just have her stay with family until we can get a pet friendly place...praying really hard for that one.

As for now, Zack is in SLC working and I'm still in Logan packing our life up. Strange to see how much junk we have accumulated since moving here. Our whole lives seem to be exploding in every room I have to go through...it's been crazy.

Baby girl seems to be growing and doing just fine. I talk to her while I get ready, drive, do chores and I've even started praying and reading scriptures out loud so she can hear...it's never to late to start teaching good things! I really hope Cali loves the gospel as much as Zack and I do.  I just read what I wrote to her and she moved...I shall take that as an approval spin. Speaking of the princess, here's her weekly update:

How Far Along? - 23 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - 8 lbs

Stretch Marks? - Yep!

Sleep? - Depends on the night now but mostly I sleep hard.

Best Moment This Week? - Today I was participating in floating Zucchini boats at work and I was wading out on the rocks to keep the boats from getting stuck. I was using this rickety old stick to balance and I almost fell in. As I was wading around I was talking to Cali, (everything says to talk to the baby now - she can hear me!) telling her that I was sorry if we got cold and it seemed as if she was laughing at the idea...she was moving like crazy and I could just see this little human laughing at her mom. Don't know how I know it but, she's going to look like me but be Zack's twin in personality. I can't wait!

Worst Moment This Week? - Zack left on Wed to go start a new job and left us here in Logan all alone, sad and lonely. I was so sad and depressed and to make matters worse, regardless of what Zack believes or thinks, I could tell Cali knew he had left and she didn't move for almost a day and a half! I was so freaked out that she had died!!! Luckily she moved while I was singing in the car so I felt a lot better.

Miss Anything? - Massages and Code Red (I will always miss Code Red.)

Movement? - Every chance she gets. So far she sleeps like Zack...in circles.

Food Cravings? - Weirdly, a quarter pounder with cheese from Wheeler's in Mt. Pleasant. Man, those were so good!

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Men's cologne, Mexican food and this soap that Zack picked out for the bathroom - talk about disgusting!

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Not yet and it better stay that way for a little longer!

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? - Wedding band on, Engagement ring off :(

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I am stressed out due to the move but I seem to be staying pretty happy for now. Let's all hope it stays that way.

Looking forward to: Zack feeling her kick and being back in the same house as him. Getting our own place and not mooching off of family.

Baby is the size of an: Large Mango

Baby's development this week: She has a well developed sense of movement now. She can feel me move around or dance to music. she's almost a foot long and weighs over a pound. Her kicks are stronger and about now I should be seeing her squirming around soon. Her cochlea are fully formed in her ears and her hearing is becoming more keen. Her blood vessels in her lungs are are developing to prepare for breathing. She's growing so fast!

Baby girl update - 22 weeks!

How Far Along? - 22 weeks

Total Weight Gain? - 7.5 lbs

Stretch Marks? - Yep!

Sleep? - It was a little dicey for a minute but now I'm sleeping pretty hard and long.

Best Moment This Week? - She was kicking (I can only feel her right now) and she kicked me so hard that I spit out the water I was drinking...it was hilarious. I laughed really hard. 

Worst Moment This Week? - I had a stranger touch my belly, asking if I could get her to kick them....idiot! Don't touch me! I hate it! You, lady, are intrusive and I don't like you. And for your information, she stopped moving when you touched my belly. Don't do it again! Disclaimer - I don't mind people I know touching my belly but ask first...it's awkward when someone touches me and starts asking questions. If I don't know you that well, or, at all, then no touchy! I'm sure I'm not the first to feel this way and I know I won't be the last.

Miss Anything? - Laying on my stomach and Code Red Mt. Dew.

Movement? - All the time! Zack doesn't believe me but she moves even more when we are cuddling and I'm laying on his chest and his voice is amplified. She reacts to his voice and that makes me feel good...she already loves her Daddy's voice.

Food Cravings? - Random things at random times but mostly Greek yogurt and Cinnamon Rolls.

Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick? - Mexican food and flowery fragrances.

Gender: - GIRL!!!!!

Labor Signs? - Not yet and it better stay that way for a little longer!

Belly Button in or out? - In

Wedding Ring, On or Off? - On

Happy or Moody most of the time? - I'm pretty happy most of the time. I get really silly when I'm tired and "hangry" when I don't eat for a while.

Looking forward to: Zack feeling her kick. It really is an unreal sort of feeling that I feel Zack would totally love!

Baby is the size of an: Spaghetti Squash

Baby's development this week: She looks like a miniature baby now. Lips, eyebrows and eyelids are more distinct and tiny tooth buds are forming beneath the gums. Eyes are formed but the irises still lack pigment. She's 11 inches long and about 1 lb.

I know there might be those who want to see 'bump pics' but I don't do pics right now. I'm pregnant, big and uncomfortable. If you want to see the bump then come see me! Haha! 

What?! Really?! After all this time...

Big News! Coming January 16, 2014....

Calais Emmeline Hannon!

Yes, it's true, Zack and I are going to be parents. After 3 miscarriages and 4 years of praying and crying, our dream of having a family is coming true. Ok, cheesy part is over....but really, I'm over the moon right now. I'm somewhere between jumping for joy over the miracle that is my baby girl and crying hysterically over my insecurities of becoming a mother. Yay for pregnancy hormones. Ultimately, I'm so happy that nothing could bring me down. 

Baby girl looks good and is growing normally. I couldn't believe that, as she was moving around during our ultrasound yesterday, I couldn't feel her. She was all folded up like a frog and sucking her thumb...how adorable. At one point she turned her beautiful little head and kissed the camera...with her big ol' lips. She's gonna be a knock-out! She already, at 20 weeks, knows how to say I love you in sign language. That's my girl. She's gonna pick up French from her dad so easily.

Zack has always told me that our children were going to be bi-lingual. He was going to learn all these languages and teach each child a different one. Therefore, my children and their father will have their own language to share secrets in and I, the language impaired, shall be left in the dark. Oh, well. Better knuckle under. 

As for the origin of her name. I met a girl who had the name Calais and I loved it instantly. Zack later informed me that it was the name of a city in France. So we decided to roll with the French theme...did I mention that Zack is fluent in French and plans on teaching her it when she gets older? Emmeline is also French and was one of 3 other names that we thought went with Calais and Hannon (our last name). Maybe she'll hate it, maybe not. Either way, she'll have to deal and just be thankful she's going to have a very different name and won't have to be one of 15 million Ashley's in the world. Besides, it's beautiful, I like it and I get to pick.

Zack was hoping for a boy but she will have him wrapped around her little finger from the first moment. He's going to be a great daddy. Wow, seeing it written down is a little surreal...Zack is going to be a dad! He's a man of few words but I know that if he felt he needed to, he would jump up and down and cry with me. She's already so loved and we can't wait to meet her! Now, could the next 20 weeks go by quickly?

There Kalli, just for you:)