Feeling Cool As A Cucumber....

26 weeks: Baby is the size of an English hothouse cucumber

Your baby is as tall as an English hothouse cucumber and weighs about 1 2/3 pounds. (Length: 14 inches, head to heel.)

So maybe the "hothouse cucumber" (has anyone seriously heard of this?) will help offset the freezing rain and snow heading our way! We've stocked up on all the major supplies you need for a storm like food, bottled water, fire wood, and building supplies from Home Depot. Hey, if you have to be stuck at home you might as well be productive right?

Speaking of productive, Josh has been working his tail off in the nursery. In the last week he has painted the ceiling and walls, installed a new ceiling fan, and put in 97% of the new flooring (with an assist from Grandpa Al). Unfortunately, when we measured the room, we forgot to include the closet and ended up about 2 planks short! Oops! And the store no longer has that particular style/color in stock. Awesome! But, luckily since Josh is part tech-genius and handyman extraordinaire he located a company online that has it in stock and another box is headed our way.

In the meantime, Josh is finishing up the kitchen renovations. He and Grandpa Al changed out the counter tops and replaced the sink, faucet, and garbage disposal. If the storm is as bad as they are saying, he will have plenty of time to put in the back splash!

I continue to do my part by offering encouragement, bringing cold beverages, and growing a baby. I think I'm doing well with my end of things!

Bonus!

There are many hidden joys of pregnancy that my mom friends did not share. For example, maternity pants. SO COMFORTABLE! Seriously, they are like more fashionable sweatpants. My newest discovery happened quite by accident. While we eating dinner in front of the TV (not exactly a new thing!), I needed to set my bowl down so I could grab something to drink. Who knew a baby bump would double as a snack tray?!? So convenient!

Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!

25 weeks: Baby is the size of a rutabaga

Your baby rivals the average rutabaga in weight -- about 1 1/2 pounds. (Length: 13 1/2 inches, head to heel.)

We have progress in the nursery! The ceiling has been painted, the wall color has been chosen AND purchased, and we have picked out a ceiling fan! Grandpa Al is coming this weekend to help Josh knock out some projects around the house since I am not much help these days!

And now for a little comparison. Some of you may remember this picture:

It was taken when Josh took me shopping on my birthday. When you go to a maternity store, they have a "bump pillow" that is supposed to add roughly three months to your natural baby bump. It's supposed to help you gauge how maternity clothes will fit further in. Well, it's now three months and a few days later and this is how I look:

I have to say, I don't think I look too bad! :-)

Remember that corn we had...

24 weeks: Baby is the size of an ear of corn

Your baby has caught up with an ear of corn in size and gained about 1/4 pound since last week. (Length: almost a foot.)

We had another doctor's appointment today and everything is going well! Baby girl's heart rate was 145 and we both appear to be putting on weight. I feel like in one week I went from having a small baby bump to a soccer ball under my shirt. Little girl is also making my belly button disappear. The doctor joked that it's like the button on a turkey to let you know when baby girl is done "cooking." I prefer to think of it as an "easy button." When it's time, the doctor can just push it and magically (and PAINLESSLY), baby girl will be swaddled and in my arms. :-)

Bust a move!

I have been able to feel baby girl moving for a few weeks now. She usually likes to move when I am sitting or laying down. I have read this is because when I am up moving around, it creates a rocking motion that puts baby girl to sleep (kind of like when her mother is a passenger in a moving car). So tonight, Josh and I were laying in bed watching TV and I could feel her kicking. But tonight, it felt much stronger. I asked Josh if he was fidgeting and he said, "No." I placed his hand on my tummy and his reaction was priceless. With eyes as wide as saucers and an ear to ear grin he said, "Oh my gosh! I can feel her moving! I can feel the baby moving!"

It's nice that he was so close this time because the last time I could feel her moving from the outside, Josh was in the attic running cable for the internet!

Mango Madness

23 weeks: Baby is the size of a large mango

Your baby weighs about as much as a large mango -- just over a pound. (Length: more than 11 inches.)

Shopping for baby continues and as Josh will attest, so does my indecision! For some reason since becoming pregnant I feel overwhelmed when it comes to making decisions. I have been looking at paint swatches for months, spending every free minute looking in stores and online for cribs, and wandering around the lighting department trying to find a ceiling fan. It's not that I don't find anything I like. Often, I find two or three options and can't pull the trigger and just pick one already. I fret over the color, safety, the price, you name it. Sigh...

Although, occasionally I do see something and just know I have to buy it. The onesie below was a no brainer!

So, baby girl may not have a bed to sleep in or a dresser to put all her clothes in, but she has plenty of choices of what to wear! BUT, I did manage to decide on a design for her closet so she will be able to hang up her clothes! See, I can make decisions!

You really can never go wrong with jewelry...

With all of the wonderful gifts we received for Christmas, I completely forgot to mention the very thoughtful gift Josh gave me. He came up with this idea all on his own and I absolutely love it! It is a beautiful necklace with two heart key pendants. One for me and one for our baby girl because we "hold the keys to his heart." I am wearing both now and when Baby Banks is old enough, she can wear hers. The picture does not do it justice (mainly because I do not know how to turn the flash off on the camera!), but it is very pretty and a lovely gesture.

I'm more of a spaghetti pasta kind of gal...

22 weeks: Baby is as long as a spaghetti squash

Your baby has stretched to the size of a spaghetti squash and weighs almost a pound. (Length: nearly 11 inches.)

We are slowly getting back into the post-holiday swing of things. Normally, I have the Christmas tree and decorations down and loaded into the attic by now. But, I am battling a yucky cold that is slowing me down a bit. Oh well, I can always tackle it next weekend. Josh at least got the lights down on the outside of the house, so as long as we keep the drapes in living room shut, no one will ever know the decorations are still up. :-)

While my mom and I were shopping in Chicago last week, we saw this shirt at Gap Maternity. It was too cute and too good of a deal to pass up. No pressure Baby Girl, we know you will be a genius in one form or another! You can also see that things are moving right along!

Get Your Shop On....

So, since finding it out we have a little girl on the way her wardrobe went from this:

To this:

Now even I could not achieve this alone! Baby Banks has some generous fashionistas in her Aunt Miranda, Grammy Banks, and Grandma Szafarczyk who helped with this fashion makeover. Even Daddy Banks has gotten in on the act:

I dare you to walk through the baby girls' section of a clothing store and NOT find at least one outfit that melts your heart and DOESN'T make you say, "I have to buy this!" Plus, there are some fabulous deals right now! We even found a dress for Aunt Lisa and Uncle Drew's wedding next fall. We did our best to guess what size she will be and will just hope for the best. She even got her first pair of shoes that match the dress exactly! (Thank you Grandma Sue!)

We are also nearing completion of the den, which means we will soon be ready to start on the nursery conversion! And since timing is everything the bedding we picked out happened to go on sale. Woo-hoo! (Thank you Grammy Banks!) Can't wait to get things going in the nursery to watch everything come to together.

Along with brown and white, we'll accent the nursery with a bit of pink and green. Auntie Jackie has MADE an absolutely gorgeous blanket that will look amazing in Baby Girl's room. We are so lucky to have such talented and generous friends and family!