Week 38

Week: 38

Baby: Kason is still considered "early term" right now. He is as long as a leek and has really plumped up. He is around 19 1/2 inches long. Kason has a firm grasp and his organs are mature and ready for the outside world. 

Total weight gain: 26 pounds! I actually went down one pound due to being sick lately. 

Sleep: I have started having dreams about how the delivery will go. I had a dream a few days ago that I had surgery on my stomach right where a C-section would be. I was not pregnant in my dream, but the surgery seemed exactly like what it would be if I have to go through with a  C-section. I also had another dream where I took Kason to a daycare when he was 1 day old and forgot I had a baby until they called me to come get him. The dreams are pretty weird and I know they are just part of the anxiety of his arrival. 

Favorite moment of the week: Kyle and I got to spend an evening downtown enjoying the beautiful weather and we were able to enjoy this weekend to ourselves. We had no major plans and just spent time together. It was wonderful to get to relax with him on what may be our last weekend just the two of us. 

Miss anything? I miss eating full size dinners. I haven't cooked in weeks because I get sick if I eat too much after 5pm. Kyle has been so understanding of this and is eating larger meals at lunch and snacking when he gets home. I do look forward to eating dinner again one day!

Movement: He still moves quite a bit and the movements are lower than they used to be. I know that I will miss feeling his movements when he is born, but it will also be great for him to just be in my arms.

Cravings: Milk! Milk! Milk!

Anything make you queasy or sick? Eating after 5pm or so. There has been one day in the past 4ish weeks that I have not gotten sick at night when we went to bed. I'm pretty used to it now and Kyle is so sympathetic about it. He hates that I get sick, but I've had an amazing pregnancy up until this point. I can handle a little sickness at night if that's my only complaint. 

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: I am now dilated 3cm and 40% effaced. My OBGYN is happy with my progression and said that we will meet again next week and set an induction date if he does not come before. 

Symptoms: Due the way he is positioned, the right side of my body hurts when I bend that way. He is mostly on that side so there isn't a lot of give over there. 

Mood: I feel like my mood is good, but I am getting anxious about his arrival. I keep thinking each day, "Will today be his birthday?" and I keep Kyle busy with little to-dos because I feel like we have to rush to get things done....only to wait!

Looking forward to: Him being here any day now!!

Thankful for: The time I have been at home. It has been such a blessing to get everything ready for Kason's arrival. His room is ready and we are packed and ready to go. Now, I am just keeping the house clean and enjoying my reading and down time until he comes. I am so happy that I get to have this opportunity to be home with Kason for the rest of our time in Tennessee. 

Week 37

Week: 37

Baby: Kason is now considered "early term." Spending the next two weeks in the womb helps Kason's brain and lungs to fully mature. He now weighs around 6 pounds 8 ounces and is a bit over 19 inches long. 

Total weight gain: 27 pounds!

Sleep: Sleep has become restless as the anxiety grows for the upcoming weeks. I am having some really crazy dreams that are not always about the delivery, but they all keep me stirring at night. 

Favorite moment of the week: My favorite moment this week was getting to see Kason on the ultrasound. We were able to see that he is head down and facing my back. This is a great position for when labor comes. We were able to measure parts of his body and everything look right on schedule. They are estimating his weight to be about 6 pounds 8 ounces right now. We did not look to see if I have dilated any...we will measure that again next week.

Miss anything? Moving has become pretty painful at this point. It is hard to lean forward, backward, sideways....really any way! =) I am completely out of room (or so I think), yet he keeps growing. He must be cramped in there.

Movement: When he moves now, I feel it all over my whole body because it has become so tight. He doesn't really have room to wiggle, so even the smallest movements encompass my whole stomach.

Cravings: Milk! I want glasses of milk and cereal all the time.

Anything make you queasy or sick? My reflux is slowly getting worse as Kason takes over my body. I feel like I am out of room and he keeps gaining weight! Ha! This is only making it harder to keep food down. I wouldn't trade it for the world, but it does make me feel pretty sick most days. 

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: I am having Braxton Hicks more often these days and they are sharper than they have been before. They will stop me in my tracks for a split second while they pass or they will wake me up at night.

Symptoms: The only symptom I am having at this point is the sickness from reflux. I am getting sick several times a day because my food just cannot process anymore. I am definitely looking forward to that first meal after he comes when I have room in my body!! =)

Mood: Other than being anxious and ready, my mood has been great. I am trying to enjoy these last few weeks without wishing them away. This is hard though when you know you are so ready to meet your child.

Looking forward to: Seeing Kason in his room. The nursery is officially finished and ready to go! I finally got around to taking pictures of the completed room, so enjoy:

I realize there are not pictures in those frames. One is for a maternity picture and one will have his newborn picture in it. 

The horse on the top shelf was Kyle's toy when he was little. It's broken now, but I love it being in Kason's room.

This rocking chair was mine when I was growing up. Of course I forgot to take a before picture, so Mom is digging through old pictures trying to find one. It was cream colored with a yellow cushion before. We had it repainted for our game room so Kason could enjoy the Hogs playing in it.

Thankful for: I am thankful for a healthy, growing boy. He is doing fantastic right now and I just can't wait to meet him soon. It's hard to believe that we have such little time left before he arrives. I am also thankful for all of the family that is going to make their way out here for his arrival. I know it is not an easy trip, but Kyle and I are so excited to have all of the grandparents coming to meet Kason. 

Week 36

Week: 36

Baby: Kason is still working on gaining weight - about an ounce a day. He weighs around 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He is still considered "pre-term" right now. I went to the doctor this week and will start going every week from now on. During my checkup, they found him head down and I was dilated 1 cm. My doctor was happy to see this progress and we will do an ultrasound next week.

Total weight gain: 26 pounds! Joy...haha!

Sleep: Sleep is going well when I am actually sleeping. I am still getting up quite a bit, but I am sleeping hard when I get comfortable. 

Favorite moment of the week: This week, BSF started back up. This is Bible Study Fellowship that I have attended for many years now. This is my first year to attend the women's day class instead of the night one. I am excited about having the time to go to this during the day and my group was very excited about Kason's arrival. This made me feel good since he will have to stay with me for the first 6 months. I am also excited to start my weekly appointments. Going every week will reassure me that all is well and he is progressing as he should be.

Miss anything? I miss being able to bend at all...haha! It has become very difficult to move my body forward, backward or sideways. It used to just be uncomfortable, but now it really hurts to bend.

Movement: Kason moves many times during the day, but they mostly occur in the evenings and when I lay down to go to sleep. For some reason, he thinks that is playtime. I think he is just preparing me for less sleep! =)

Cravings: I just want to have milk all the time. We have been going through it quite a bit here and I panic if we run out! 

Anything make you queasy or sick? All food after lunch time. Ha! The idea of eating dinner really grosses me out right now because it usually means I will be sick at bed time. Poor Kyle has just been rummaging for food at dinner time because cooking in the evenings is not something that sounds great right now.

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: I mentioned this above, but I have some labor signs starting to show up. I am dilated 1 cm, 20% effaced. We are definitely in the home stretch.

Symptoms: The Braxton Hicks are becoming more regular. They are not terrible, but they definitely stop me in my tracks when they hit. They happen anytime of the day right now.

Mood: My mood is becoming anxious. Now that I know we are so close and it could really be any day, I find myself daydreaming about how it will happen. This can sometimes lean to worry because I hear stories about the other ways women have had babies. Some stories are great and some are scary. For a control freak like me, it is hard to NOT know what my story will be. 

Looking forward to: We have our next appointment on Tuesday to do an ultrasound and see what they estimate his weight to be. I am excited to get to see him and find out if I progressed any. I am also excited about this coming weekend because Kyle and I are going to have a "freezer meal party." We are going to work on some freezer meals to store up for the winter and I am excited to get this weekend with him!

Thankful for: I am thankful for the wonderful development of Kason and that he is so healthy right now. He has done so well during this pregnancy and I just can't wait to meet him in a few weeks. 

Week 35

Week: 35

Baby: Kason weighs as much as a honeydew melon right now. That puts him being about 18 inches long and 5 1/4 pounds. He is not making dramatic movements anymore. They are now jolts and pushes and should remain like this until he arrives. His kidneys are fully developed and his liver can process waste now. Kason's job over the next few weeks is to put on weight.

Total weight gain: 23 pounds!

Sleep: Sleep got somewhat better over this past week. I started taking my vitamins in the morning so it was one less thing to go through my system at night. That has seemed to help out a lot over this past week. I have also really tried to eat my big meal at lunch and snack at night to avoid having anything heavy sitting on my stomach when I go to bed. 

Favorite moment of the week: This past Friday was my last baby shower for little man. The urology residents and their wives hosted a shower for us. It was a wonderful time and we received so many sweet things. We are so blessed to have this group of people to walk through this journey with. It was a great time! We also attended one of my co-teacher/friend's wedding on Saturday night and had a great time seeing all of my friends for teaching. It's weird not seeing them everyday. 

Miss anything? This week, I miss being able to get up easily from a sitting/laying position. I really have to use my arms and wiggle around to get up from the couch or bed. It is quite a sight and not graceful...haha! It will be nice to be able to just stand up again soon!

Movement: The movements are still just pushes and jolts. I think this is what I will feel from here on out. He has got to be out of room at this point, so the movements will not be as dramatic anymore. 

Cravings: I am really enjoying drinking milk right now and I have to keep our refrigerator stocked with it. I want a glass every morning with my cereal (I know...that's double the milk). It seems to be the one thing that does not make me feel sick right now.

Anything make you queasy or sick? The reflux is still there, but it is not quite as bad as it was last week. I still don't feel great in the evenings but it seems to be letting up some.

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: None this early!

Symptoms: I have started having Braxton Hicks contractions at night that will wake me up. They are somewhat painful but very short-lived. I have a feeling they will become more common now that we are so close.

Mood: Great this past week other than some frustrating moments because everyday tasks have become impossible. 

Looking forward to: We have our 36 week appointment this week, BSF (bible study) starts this week, we have our breastfeeding class and I am packing the bags this week! Trying to check off the to-do list so we don't run out of time!

Thankful for: Sweet friends who throw us amazing showers. When you live so far from home, you realize that the term "family" does not necessarily mean related. Kyle works with some amazing people and we are so thankful for all of their hard work on our shower and for thinking of us. =)

Week 34

Week: 34

Baby: Kason is the size of a cantaloupe at this point....weighing about 4 3/4 pounds. He is almost 18 inches long this week. His fat layers are filling out, which makes him rounder. His lungs are continuing to mature and it's nice to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks, with no other health problems, generally do fine. We are in the home stretch now. 

Total weight gain: 23 pounds! My weight slowed down a little this past week, and I am okay with that. It's a lot to haul around! =)

Sleep: Still really difficult. I have my body pillow still along with three pillows to prop up on. By the time I do get comfortable, I have to get up and use the restroom. It's a night long battle...haha! =) Poor Kyle has no room in our bed and sleeps way over on the edge!

Favorite moment of the week: Too many to name!! We had a dear friend from high school/college, Merritt Hambrick, come stay with us for a few days while she attended a conference here. It was great to have a guest in our house and play catch up. It's been years since we have seen her! My other favorite moment of the week was that my Momma came for the weekend!! We had such an amazing time shopping for baby Kason and working on his room. My mom and I have not just "hung out" since March, so I was so excited to have some one-on-one time with her before I become a mom. We hit up the outlets, shopped at the mall, bought Kason way too much stuff and hung decorations in his room. I am so happy to have accomplished so much this week with her. I was definitely sad to see her go, but it will only be for a short time. She will hit I-40 soon enough when Kason decides to make his debut. 

Miss anything? I am missing the nice summer weather we have had here. It got really hot here this week and I am not enjoying it...haha! I want it to go back to what it was before when it was just barely in the 80s. Hopefully this heat wave will pass quickly and fall will be here! It's my most favorite time of the year and I can't wait for pumpkin-smelling everything to be out. 

Movement: His movements have become more like pushes and shoves. He used to move across my entire stomach, but he is too big now to do that anymore. He now just pushes around in there or shoves over to one side.

Cravings: My cravings have really subsided. I don't really want a particular thing anymore. 

Anything make you queasy or sick? I had my first bowl of chicken noodle soup this past week since it made me sick back in the first trimester. The thought of soup in general made me queasy for many months of my pregnancy. I decided the other day to give it a go and just see and I am happy to report that I enjoyed and look forward to my bowls of chicken noodle soup that fall/winter. 

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: Not any yet, but I'm sure they will be soon!

Symptoms: Due to the extreme heat this past weekend and walking so much with mom, my feet have swollen up some and are very sore. I wore my most comfortable shoes over the weekend, but nothing seems to help when you are not used to carrying around this much weight in the desert (haha)! I have had them propped up quite a bit since in order to reduce some of the swelling. They are still not nearly as bad as I always thought they would be, but 5 weeks left may get me there! =)

Mood: Great with all the excitement of guests around here!

Looking forward to: This week I am looking forward to our last baby shower with the urology crew and one of my dear friend's weddings on Saturday. It's hard to believe that both are already here. 

Freak-out moment of the week: No freak-out moments other than just the excitement of having mom here for 2 whole days!!

Thankful for: I am thankful for a mom who loves me unconditionally and will drive 24 hours (roundtrip) just to shop and work on Kason's room. I was so happy to have her here investing in the preparation and getting to see all of the goodies we have for him so far. I can't wait for her next trip out here because that means she gets to meet her grandson for the first time. This next month will fly by quickly and she will be here before we know it. I look forward to the relationship that my mom and Kason will have together.

Week 33 - Month 9

Week: 33

Baby:

Total weight gain: 22 pounds! My legs are feeling it!!

Sleep: Sleep is getting more difficult. Kyle is over his sickness and we are back in the same room. I don't feel like I am getting up as much to go to the restroom, but I am struggling to get comfortable. My body pillow is the most wonderful thing ever, but it is so difficult to roll over at night. I am one of those sleepers that tosses all night, so I wake up every time I try to start rolling over. As I am getting larger (ouch!), the comfort level is decreasing!

Favorite moment of the week: My favorite moment of the week was finally getting the crib back and putting it together. We also got the room organized the way we want it to be. It was such a great feeling because I feel like I am running out of time (even though I technically have 7 weeks left). Here are some pictures of the progress so far:

It's still a work in progress, but we are getting closer every day.

Miss anything? Like I mentioned above, I am missing sleep. Luckily, with being home, I can sleep in some. I miss having a consistent nights sleep where I don't wake up 400 times. I know...I know...people say this just prepares you baby, but it is still hard.

Movement: Kason moves all the time. I love to watch him move around and I wonder what I part of him I am seeing when he shoves around in there. 

Cravings: Unfortunately, cravings for anything have passed right now. Eating in general doesn't sound very appetizing due to the reflux. I just wish I could find something that wouldn't bother me at all. If I could, I would eat that all day. 

Anything make you queasy or sick? Eating....haha! As the weeks are beginning to wind down, eating is getting harder and less desirable. I hear people say that the reflux goes away almost immediately after birth...let's hope for that!! =)

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: None this early!

Symptoms: The round ligament pain is increasing over the past week. I have moments where it truly hurts my stomach muscles to move around. It is hard to go from sitting to standing and vice versa when I haven't moved for a while. My obgyn thinks there may be some Braxton Hicks mixed in with the round ligament pain.

Mood: My mood was not the best this past week. Up until this point, I have been doing really well and I have been in good spirits. This week was hard though. Kyle was busy all week...having to be at various functions and taking call. He also left Friday and was in Chicago through Sunday. This left me by myself a lot more than usual and gave me time to start panicking about running out of time to spend with him and get things done for Kason's arrival. I think it is just starting to hit me how close we are at this point. Kyle and I went on a true date when he got back Sunday night and that helped me so much. We were able to talk about my fears and just spend time together. 

Looking forward to: My next dr. appt on Tuesday and my mom is coming for Labor Day! I am so excited to get to spend some time with her before Kason arrives. We need some girl time and I need her help getting things wrapped up for Kason's debut. 

Freak-out moment of the week: My only freak-out moments consisted of being here more by myself (like I mentioned above) and working myself into a tizzy because of the short amount of time we have. 

Thankful for: A husband who will take me on dates when I am feeling down and worried. 

Week 32

Week: 32

Baby: Kason is the size of a jicama this week (whatever that is...haha). He is roughly 3.75 pounds and about 16 inches long. I can totally believe this because he is pushing on every part of my body. He is sitting up in my chest and down in my knee caps all at the same time. Not sure where he will go over these next 8 weeks. Kason will gain a third to half of his weight from her to delivery. 

Total weight gain: 22 pounds (Boo!!!) It was a little difficult to stand on the scale this time and watch them keep scooting the bars over. I was hitting numbers I never imagined seeing....but I know it means that Kason is healthy and growing. (It's still kind of crazy though...haha!)

Sleep: So I am still sleeping by myself (if you remember, we slept in 2 twin beds in FL last week)....not that Kyle and I are fighting, but he has come down with a really bad cold and spends all night coughing up his lungs. We tried to sleep in the same bed the first night, and every time I moved, he coughed....and every time he coughed, I moved. So, I got up and went to the spare bedroom so we could try to catch some Zzzzz's. We have been in two bedrooms all week because he got worse before he got better. I won't say I hate sleeping by myself. It gives my body pillow and I more room....but I miss the hubby, so I'm ready to be back to normal.

Favorite moment of the week: I had a shower with some of the residents' wives and that was super fun. We met at a local Mexican restaurant here in Knoxville and spent time hanging out and enjoying each other's company. It was fun because three of the girls have kids and the other three of us were expecting. It was fun to exchange stories about what is to come! I also started prenatal yoga at the hospital this week. I go once a week and it has been really fun to practice breathing techniques and stretches that will relieve the pressure of the baby.

Miss anything? This week I am beginning to miss certain shoes. My feet haven't swollen at all during my pregnancy, but they are now showing signs of swelling. I tried to wear some wedges to church the other day, and I could barely get my feet in them...much less wear them for hours. I still have a lot of shoes I can wear (I mean...come on....I have over 100 pairs of shoes), but it is sad realizing that not only are all my clothes taken from me, but now some of my shoes are. 

Movement: He is a wild child! You can see him move from the outside and push from one side to the other. My belly looks so lop-sided sometimes. 

Cravings: Nothing specific this week.

Anything make you queasy or sick? My reflux is killing me. I have to eat really small meals and eat really early every evening to give my body time to digest. Kason is so crammed in there that he is cutting off my stomach and making it very hard to digest my food. The meds help some, but I know that this just comes with the territory over these last several weeks. 

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: None this early!

Symptoms: The symptom of pregnancy this week is the LACK of ability to get on the floor and back up. I look hilarious having to roll over onto my knees to get up off the floor. I try to avoid it at all costs if I can. Kyle thinks it's funny when I drop something and just stare at it. I tell him I am trying to decide if it is worth it to bend down and pick it up....haha! 

Mood: My mood has been good over the past week. I just haven't felt well due to the reflux so I feel kind of grumpy around eating time. It's just really hard to eat knowing you are going to feel queasy later. 

Looking forward to: This week I am putting a lot of focus on getting the nursery put together. We got the crib back from being refinished last week and it is ready to put together. I am ready to have the nursery ready to go so I don't have that worry in September. 

Thankful for: I am thankful for such a great pregnancy so far. I have not had any true complications during these past 32 weeks and I am so thankful for that and hope that I continue to have a smooth pregnancy in the upcoming weeks. 

Week 31: Pensacola Beach!!!

Week: 31

Baby: Kason is now about the size of a coconut. He is measuring over 16 inches long and weighs about 3.3 pounds. He can turn his head from side to side and he is beginning to plump up in his arms, legs and body. 

Total weight gain: 16 pounds

Sleep: Sleep was funny this week because Kyle and I had to sleep in twin beds in the condo, but it was actually really good for me. I had my body pillow and could spread out as much as I wanted for the 7 days we were there. I did not bother Kyle with the body pillow or with getting up 5 times a night. I actually slept better knowing that I was not bothering him this week!

Favorite moment of the week: Where do I begin? We had such a fantastic time this week at Pensacola Beach. We spent time at the beach doing nothing and ate at so many fantastic restaurants. My other favorite part was being in the pool. It literally took the 16 extra pounds off my legs and I was able to relax and float around. This was so good for my body. I felt like I didn't weigh anything and it was awesome! Here are some pictures recapping the week:

Miss anything? This was the first week I was unable to wear my rings due to swelling. I am not sure if it was just due to the heat in Florida or if this is a new thing from here on out. We shall see if I can wear them this week. If not, they will go around my neck because I feel naked not having them on my person. 

Movement: Kason did not seem to mind the heat! He was still just as active as always and would wiggle around after I would eat the great food there. 

Cravings: They had sno cones in Florida! For anyone who knows me, this was a very exciting find. I had a few of them while we were there and it was heaven! Knoxville needs a sno cone shack!!!

Anything make you queasy or sick? I am having trouble eating heavy-like foods such as peanut butter. I think my body is having trouble digesting this quickly and I am feeling really queasy due to it. I have had to stop eating peanut butter or eating very little at a time due to the feeling sick.

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: None this early!

Symptoms: I am still having some Braxton Hicks contractions, but they usually only happen early in the morning. It is nothing that scares me...it just catches me off guard. 

Mood: Great this week! I have been able to enjoy the wonderful beach and spend time with family. 

Looking forward to: I am looking forward to my 32 week appointment and starting prenatal yoga this week. I also have a shower with some of the wives of residents at UT. I am excited about seeing them and celebrating with them.

Freak-out moment of the week: No freak-out moments of the week...it was very warm down in Florida and there would be times I would have to stop what I was doing and catch my breath of cool down in the air conditioning. Overall, the heat did not bother me as much as I expected it would. 

Thankful for: Time spent away from home and relaxing with my hubby. It was nice to spend that one-on-one time with each other before our world changes in a few short months. I am also thankful that we got to spend time with Josh and Sara enjoying their company and spending time with them. This will definitely not be our last vacation with them. The next one will just be a little different with a small addition. 

Week 30...10 to go!!

Week: 30

Baby: Kason is roughly 15 inches long and weighs around 3 pounds. He is about the size of a head of cabbage. His eyes are continuing to develop, but they are not very keen. It is so hard to believe that I am already 30 weeks along. The countdown to get everything finished is definitely on!

Total weight gain: 16 pounds

Sleep: Now that I have mastered the body pillow, sleep comes pretty well. The only problem is getting up so many times a night to use the restroom. It is almost every two hours on the dot. We usually go to bed at 11pm, so I am usually up around 1am, 3am, 5am and 7am. It is so funny how routine this becomes. 

Favorite moment of the week: My favorite moment this week was finishing up our birthing classes. We had such a great time attending these at UT Medical Center. I feel so much more prepared after attending these for four weeks. They did a great job of providing an in-depth understanding of the birthing process.

Miss anything? I miss being able to get on the floor. It is difficult to sit on the floor and get back up. I feel like a watermelon rolling around on the floor to get up. I have to roll over to my knees to get up and it's rather amusing to watch.

Movement: Kason moves a lot these days. He always moves a lot after I have eaten and when I lay down to sleep at night. His movements are getting easier to see on the outside these days since I am running out of room and he is getting bigger.

Cravings: Nothing new...just milk and other dairy products.

Anything make you queasy or sick? Still the reflux. Like I mentioned last week, the medicine is helping, but I have to sit up for several hours after eating.

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: None this early!

Symptoms: I have been packing this whole week for our trip to Florida. The only symptom regarding pregnancy is how difficult it is to pack bags. It is a struggle to bend over 400 times to load a suitcase and bags with food. I have had to pack in spurts and then rest my back for awhile. 

Mood: Great!

Looking forward to: We leave for Pensacola Beach, Florida this weekend!! Woohoo.....

Thankful for: A babymoon to the beach to relax before we start the final countdown to Kason! I am so excited to get to spend the weekend with my brother, Josh, and sister-in-law, Sara. It is going to be a great week!!

Week 29 - Month 8

Week: 29

Baby: Kason is the size of a butternut squash. He now weighs around 2.5 pounds and is a little over 15 inches long. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature. His body is soaking up more and more calcium (thus the cravings for milk and dairy).

Total weight gain: 16 pounds...

Sleep: I am still in love with my body pillow. I did not have it when I went home for the showers, and I didn't realize how attached to it I have become. It will definitely be traveling to the beach for that week...I won't be able to go that long without it!

Favorite moment of the week: Playing with all of Kason's new goodies. I spent majority of the week unpacking from the showers, sorting, washing, organizing and getting the nursery more ready. I know I haven't posted any pictures, but they are coming soon. We received tons of precious clothes and many other items that are going to come into great use.

Miss anything? I miss being able to do as much as I used to. Since I have a bad back because of a previous injury and I'm huge (haha), Kyle has been having to help out around the house some. He has started cleaning the shower for me since I can't get down like that and scrub. We also had to put a step stool in the laundry room because the detergent was out of reach with my stomach in the way. I now have to step up on the stool to reach the detergent since I can't lean over the washer anymore. It's the little things you never thought about before! Haha!

Movement: Kyle has been able to see him move from the outside and feel a lot of his bigger moves lately. It's super fun to think about what part of his body you feel moving around. I always tell Kyle that I feel like he is standing up and tapping on my bladder! I know that's not possible, but it's a pretty funny visual.

Cravings: I haven't really had any cravings this past week. The problem this week has been seeing a commercial on TV and then craving what it was. Kyle and I never eat at KFC, but the other day I saw a commercial for some of their chicken strips and I'm pretty sure I begged Kyle to go with me to get some. He just laughed at me, but he did take me. I told him I need to stop watching TV so I don't get any other crazy ideas.

Anything make you queasy or sick? Still just laying down with the reflux....the medicine has helped some but it's definitely not a fun part of pregnancy!

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: None this early!

Symptoms: This is the first week that it has gotten really hot here. So far, I have picked the perfect summer to get pregnant. The weather has been mild and cooler overall for July, but this past weekend...it go hot!! It was really difficult to not sweat to death walking in and out of church. Even that five minutes was more than enough. I am glad to see those few hot days go with some cooler ones on the way. 

Mood: Great...growing more anxious all the time about the upcoming weeks!!

Looking forward to: Beach Time!! We are down to a week until our trip and I could not be more excited about a vacay!! Kyle and I need this before our lives get completely flipped over!!

Thankful for: Time! This week, I am thankful for the time that I get to be at home preparing for Kason. It has been such a blessing to be able to be there getting his nursery ready without the pressures of work and school. 

Week 28...Third Trimester!!

Week: 28

Baby: Kason is the size of an eggplant. He weighs a little over 2 pounds and measures a little over 14 inches long. He can now blink his eyes and can see light the filters in the womb. His brain is developing more and more and he is adding body fat now in preparation for the life outside the womb.

Total weight gain: 16 pounds (that's a little tough to take in)...

Sleep: I am getting more and more adjusted to my new sleep schedule. I sleep about 2 hours at a time before needing to roll over with the body pillow and get up to use the restroom. My body is becoming pretty acclimated to this routine and I can almost guarantee when I will wake up each night. We go to bed around 11pm, so I generally wake up around 1am, 3am, 5am and 7am. When I am asleep, I sleep really well and I am happy to be figuring out a schedule. I suppose I am just getting ready for mommy hood with the small sleep increments. 

Favorite moment of the week: So, this weekend was AMAZING!!! We drove home to AR on Friday afternoon, had 2 showers on Saturday and drove back on Sunday! It was a crazy quick weekend, but we had the best time seeing friends and family and celebrating little man! We started off Saturday with a shower full of friends from back home! 

The sweet sign that greeted us when we arrived at the first shower!

The shower was themed with a mustache...which if you know my husband...is very fitting! =)

The wonderful gifts and game that we played..."Name that 'Stache!!"

Aunt SaySay, BeBe and my dear friend Cassie at the shower!

One of my dear college friends, work friends and life friends that I have not seen in almost 2 years! I won't lie...we cried our faces off when we saw each other! Thank you, Hanna, for driving over 10 hours to come up and celebrate Baby Kason with us! You have no idea how much this meant to us!

My amazing hostesses at the first shower...my three college roommates (Kendra, Emily and Emily) and one of my lifelong friends (Cassie). Thank you girls so much for an amazing shower and for taking time to celebrate with us!

Kason has the best Aunt ever! Aunt SaySay was at both showers showing her love for little man!

This was such an amazing, hilarious gift made by two of my mom's coworkers, Brenda and Laura. I know it is hard to see the monogram, but this is a set of scrubs for Kason that say "Dr. P P Jr." above the pocket. He is definitely the son of a Urologist!

So, played a game called "Name that 'Stache!" in honor of the daddy! There were 16 faces we had to guess based on mustaches alone! It was super fun and hilarious! I think my mom knew 90% of them...haha!

And look who was #16...so creepy!!!

After our first shower, Kyle and I headed to meet some dear friends at GENO's pizza that live in New Jersey! Brett and Cheska were actually in for baby showers as well. Their little girl is due a week before Kason and I am sure they will be best friends forever like Kyle and Cheska are.

**Did I mention what an amazing weekend this was? Living so far away can be really hard at times, and seeing old friends and family is so good for the soul!!**

For our second shower, we headed to Nanny Arnold's (Kyle's grandma) house to celebrate with his family.

We were blown away by the amount of love shown at this shower. His family went above and beyond  celebrating Kason and helping us prepare for his arrival. P.S. The quilts behind Kyle and me where quilts his great-grandmother made Kyle when he was a baby. I'm so honored to have these for Kason. Also, the clothes hanging on the line behind us were some of Kyle's when he was a baby.

I know the picture is hard to see, but that's my cute husband when he was a little kid. This is the outfit he was wearing in the picture and now we have it for Kason. Of course he was wearing suspenders and a bow tie! =)

The amazing hostesses for our second shower. Kyle's Nanny Arnold and his mom (Gigi). Thank you both for an amazing afternoon with family and for all the hard work you put into this shower. It was wonderful!

BeBe and Aunt SaySay at the second shower! They were champs following us around all day and helping with gifts and packing cars!!

Miss anything? After this weekend, I miss traveling with ease. Between the drive home, going all day Saturday and driving back the next day (that's 24 hours of 1-40), my back was in rough shape. I wouldn't change one thing about the weekend at all and I would do it again, but I do miss traveling without compression tights, stopping to use the restroom every 2 hours and back pain! Haha!

Movement: All the time!! He is dancing on my bladder, pushing his arms and legs around and waiting until bedtime to start dancing! I love every single movement!!

Cravings: Milk and Oreos! Haha...

Anything make you queasy or sick? Laying down right now due to the reflux. I've been put on a daily medicine to help with it, but it really bothers me when I lay down too soon after I eat.

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: None this early!

Symptoms: None this week other than just being so big I can't breathe...=)

Mood: Great!! 

Looking forward to: The countdown is on to the beach now!! Ready for some relaxation with Kyle, Josh and Sara!!

Thankful for: Amazing people in my life that are just as excited about Kason's arrival. Kyle and I have felt so loved and overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity over the past week! Kason is going to be so loved!!

Week 27

(Not my best picture thus far...I was having some pretty bad back pain this day)

Week: 27

Baby: Baby Kason is about 2 pounds now and roughly 14 1/2 inches long. His sleeping patterns are becoming more regular as he opens and closes his eyes and may be sucking on his fingers. The lungs are still immature, but would be capable of functioning (with a lot of medical help) if Kason were to be born now. I am feeling Kason's hiccups now, which is common.

Total weight gain: I will find out next week at my 4 week checkup.

Sleep: I have finally developed a working system with the body pillow and I am sleeping great...when I do sleep. I wake up about every 2 hours to go to the bathroom, but in between that I am sleeping great.

Favorite moment of the week: My favorite moment this week was getting to go to Cade's Cove with our neighbors for a bike trip. I did not get to bike the loop there this week since I am a little front heavy and having pretty severe tailbone pain. I didn't really want to ride 11 miles on just my tailbone. We made breakfast at one of the picnic sites and enjoyed the beautiful Tennessee weather. 

Miss anything? I miss being able to get on the floor or bend down like I used to do. I feel like a watermelon trying to get up and down from the floor. I have to roll over to stand up and breathe really heavy for awhile. Kyle thinks its pretty funny to watch me get up. He is, however, helpful when I ask for it.

Movement: If Kason's movement has anything to do with how he will act when he arrives, he will be quite the wiggle worm. He moves constantly when he is awake and you can see it from the outside now. I haven't figured out his routine yet, but my belly is either really still or moving a ton. There are definitely awake and sleep times happening now. 

Cravings: This week my cravings have consisted of Oreos and milk. Every evening, I want a big glass of milk with some Oreos. You know I've been loving the dairy, so the milk is no surprise. The Oreos are a new craving and I should probably not buy anymore. Haha!! =)

Anything make you queasy or sick? The reflux has really set in and I have had to start taking daily medicine to prevent it from happening. It can be a full dinner or a glass of water that triggers it. This is the only thing that has really been making me feel gross right now. 

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: None this early!

Symptoms: No symptoms this past week. Everything has been pretty normal for the stage I am in!

Mood: My mood has been great so far. The hard part right now is being home right now. I finished grad school last week and sent in my paperwork for my new degree. This was a very exciting milestone for me, but it has left me with not much to do for the next few weeks. It is kind of difficult to go from school and work full-time to being home. I know that as October gets closer, I will get busier and I'm looking forward to that.

Looking forward to: My appointment coming up. I'm excited to check on everything and to head home for my showers! I can't wait to see friends and family.

Freak-out moment of the week: So, Kyle and I started a four-week birthing class for July. It prepares parents for labor and delivery and what our options are. I was slightly overwhelmed when I left the first session. They go into depth about natural vs. c-section vs. epidural and so on. I think it's a great learning experience, but I left thinking, "Can I even do this?" Haha....

Thankful for: Wonderful neighbors that we can spend weekends with hanging out and take day trips with! I can't wait for Kason to be here and I know that he will be so loved by our awesome neighbors. They are absolutely wonderful!!

Week 26

Week: 26

Baby: Kason can hear both of our voices as Kyle and I talk. He is working on inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which helps his breathing movements for when he is born. Kason now weighs about 1 2/3 pounds and is about 14 inches long. 

Total weight gain: 10 pounds!

Sleep: I am slowly, but surely, figuring out how to use the body pillow effectively. It took me several weeks to start appreciating it, but now that I have found a good placement for it...I like it a lot. It does however make sleeping very warm so I spend a lot of time uncovered. I am now sleeping through the night because it has helped my hips and the pressure so much. 

Favorite moment of the week: Kyle and I went to a baseball game with some friends on Thursday and we had a picnic on Friday for the 4th of July. Kyle was on call all weekend, so we had to hang out close to home. The weather was absolutely amazing and it was so great to get out and enjoy it. I really was thinking I was going to dread the summer (and I still may come August and September), but so far the weather has been great and I have had no complaints. 

Miss anything? I miss being able to sit down in a chair for a long amount of time. My tailbone pain is back with a vengeance right now, and I fidget really bad in all chairs. I have tried pillows, cushions, different seats....nothing really seems to help except getting up and walking around. 

Movement: Kason is still moving around quite a bit. He has now starting what I believe to be...flipping. I will feel little movements all day, but in the evening and early in the morning...he really starts wiggling. I'm convinced he is in there doing somersaults. 

Cravings: Nothing new right now...just ice cream or any dairy products.

Anything make you queasy or sick? The only thing making me queasy right now is eating...haha! Any time I eat, I feel so full. It can be a cup of yogurt and I feel extremely full. I know it has to due with my slow digestive system right now. I mean...it doesn't have any room right now!

Gender: Boy!! Kason Dale Basham!

Labor signs: None this early!

Symptoms: This isn't really a symptom, but I have a lot of trouble bending over and catching my breath when I do. If Kyle is home, he buckles my shoes for me because it is really hard for me to do on my own. I thought I was being a big baby about this since I still have about 14 weeks to go. We had an ultrasound done this week, and Kason is sitting so low. This explains why it is so hard for me to bend over. When they found him, he was sideways below my belly button. I didn't realize how low he was until then. It makes me feel better because I seriously felt like a big baby.

Mood: Great!!

Looking forward to: Kyle and I are starting birthing classes in July. We will go to one a week for 4 weeks. I am so excited about learning more about the birthing process and having Kyle there for support. It is slowly becoming more real each week. We also sent the crib off this week to have the top rails refinished and my baby rocking chair painted. My chair was white with a yellow cushion from when I was little. We are having it painted black and a razorback cushion added to it. It will go in our game room for Kason to use. I am so excited my mom kept my chair after all this time. We also have Kyle's chair from when he was little, but it's quite a bit bigger than mine. We will wait to use it until Kason is a little bigger. I love that Kason is getting some of our baby belongings. I will be posting nursery pictures once the crib comes back and we can start putting things together. 

Thankful for: This week, I am thankful for finishing grad school with a 4.0! I am so excited to be completely finished with my masters degree. I can spend the next few months focusing on Kason's nursery and reading more about having a little bundle of joy.