A busy 24th week...

This weeks has been incredibly busy in the Kelley household. We are continuing to chip away at our painting projects and the seemly never ending cleaning and organizing. Some of this stuff should have gotten down almost 5 years ago when we moved in... We can thank Harrison for getting his parents motivated towards some completion...(hopefully).

Harrison is growing like a weed and it's definitely notable by his growing home. This week he measures 8 1/2 inches from his head to his bottom (which is a size of a legal envelope). In a few weeks measurement will soon include his kicking little legs. Harrison weighs more than a pound and a half and he is getting some padding added to his body. He will gain about 6 ounces of weight each week during this stage of pregnancy.

As for me---I beginning to notice it's not as easy to bend down and pick things up off the floor--- especially when I am sitting in my office chair (trying to reach that damn paper clip that fell to the floor). Other than that my only real complaint is the continued itching---which I don't expect to go away anytime soon.

This week we started to call some possible day care options---and hopefully we will start interviewing some of these potential possibilities soon. We are finding out that there are a lot of daycare's without openings in April. We are keeping out fingers crossed that we find someone we like to care for our Harrison.

Week 23: Feeling like Stretch Armstrong...

We are officially in the 6 month---and it's definately starting to not only look like it, but feel like it! Shirts are definately shrinking day by day... Starting this week, Harrison will pack on the pounds. By the end of this month he will double in weight. Right now he weighs just over a pound and measures roughly eight inches. Harrison is a good mover and kicker---I don't think he hardly catches a wink of shut eye...(hopefully this won't carry on outside of the womb). Something else fun that I am going to continue to try is using a stethascope to find his heart beat---this is a suggestion that I recieved this week from the 10 plus expecting websites that I joined.

I myself have been a little on the lazy side completing painting---it's a slow go process, but it will get done eventually. Other than that---life has been busy with work and scratching. Yes, scratching...from head to toe practically. Thank you stretching skin and hormones! I feel as though I am married to body butter---which provides little help I may add.

Anyways---that's all I have to report from our growing family this week.

Photo Shoot!

This evening we decided to take our creativity to the next level with this photo shoot. Doug is the proud creater of Harrison's first Halloween costume! :) Take a look at some of the photos I posted below---I created a full album on facebook.
ENJOY!

22 Week Appointment...

Today we met with the doctor. Harrison is looking good. At today's visit my bump was measured for the first time. He is on target---22 weeks 22 1/4 centimeters. I don't exactly understand how the measurements work (this will give me something to google later).

At next months appointment I will be doing the glucose test---which is a routine test to check for gestational diabetes.

I also wanted to blog something I found exciting yesterday. As I was leaving the office a lady in hall said, "Awwww, your going to have a little one." My response was---"Oh, so and so must have told you." She responded saying..."No, I noticed as you walked out the door." This took me by surprise...I must really be pregnant! Funny, I know...

Now I better end this blog and start being productive for the day!

One Pound Milestone...

22 weeks...

We have been busy preparing for Harrison's arrival, so I apologize for no fun picture update this week.

Paint, paint and more paint is what has been going on at the Kelley household. There is still no paint on Harrison's walls in his room. We have to do a lot of re-arranging of rooms and furniture and decorating...but we are saving Harrison's room for last as kind of an incentive to get the rest of the to do list done.

More about Harrison...He has officially hit the one pound marker and is eight inches in length. With each week that passes---Harrison is becoming more sensitive to touch. Today while driving in the car I found it amusing to wake up the little guy... I know that sounds crude of me, but I find it hard not to do. If I touch my belly---he will kick me back. Sleep cycles are also becoming more regular and he sleeps about the same a newborn (12-14 hours day).

This past week has been a great shopping week... (though I never have had a bad shopping week). I found some good deals on some summer outfits for Harrison. The hardest thing about shopping for him right now is the fact we can only buy newborn clothes or clothes for next fall. There isn't a whole lot of shopping options for 3-6 months, which is May-August: summertime. We do have a shopping trip planned for Albertville Outlet the first weekend of November, which I am beginning to think about on a daily basis (I can't wait, if you can't tell).

I have also decided we need a bigger bed (but it's not going to happen). Sleeping is a little different these days. Sleeping on your back is not advised during pregnancy---which usually isn't a problem for me, when I could sleep on my stomach. I find myself waking up 5-6 times a night either laying on my back or having to switch sides because one limb or another is numb or I am laying on Sammy the cat. The worst part is when the body pillow falls off the bed---I am thinking about velcroing it to the sheets. Well, this way I don't feel so guilty for waking up Harrison throughout the day because he is sure to return the favor during the night!

Well, this is all I have to report on this rather busy week, both at home and at work. I am taking the night off and parking myself on the couch and catching up on some quality T.V. time. Tomorrow night...? More paint!

P.S.---The crib bedding is finally in...and this time it wasn't pots and pans!

I can't wait for the room to come together in the new week or two.

We see the doctor next on Friday.

A Sweet Treat!

This week it was time to gear up for fall with some pumpkin cookies! Dad decided Harrison needed a cookie in his honor. Though this may not be a masterpiece...I give dad a "E" for effort. Dad even went the extra mile spelling Harris with sprinkles...he applied each sprinkle one by one with a tweezers---not that is dedication!

We are officially more than half way through pregnancy! Last Saturday I went shopping and found some steal of a deals for some newborn items and couple of outfits for next summer! Later that night Doug and I went on walk and we were talking and I think it finally sunk in for me that these itty bitty clothes I just bought that day, Harrison will be wearing in a mere four months! Since then I have gotten into full blown planning mode. We have chosen nursery colors and design---now it's just a matter of getting that paint on the walls! I also re-purchased the crib bedding and I am anxiously waiting to purchase the crib set (hopefully to be ordered in the next week).

In Harrison's world---he is now measures 7 inches and weighs 10 1/2 ounces (which in comparison is the size of bear cubs when they are born). His eyes are still closed, but that doesn't stop him from being active by any means! Though his eyes are closed, he is still reactive to light and if you hold a flash light to my belly---he is able to react to the light change. Harrison also likes kicking daddy when we laying side by side.

I have to report that I am feeling much better than in recent blog updates. Miraculously my back pain is gone---both night and day. I was able to cancel by physical therapy appointments. I couldn't be more thankful; I have slept through the night the last two nights! I think I am finally getting to the point in pregnancy that they refer to as the "honeymoon" stage. I not only feeling better physically, but I overall am feeling more like myself again.

That's all I have to report on this week!

I knew I didn't like Walmart, but now I have another reason not to...

I was so excited I got an e-mail yesterday letting me know that the crib bedding was in at Wal-Mart. When I went to pick it up today the gentleman brought out two smaller boxes of accessories that I had bought. I explained to him there should be another box. So he went back to investigate and when he came back he brought a pots and pans box by Paula Dean. I immediately informed him that isn't what I ordered. He looked over the order sheet which was correct, and the pots and pans has somehow been put in place of the crib bedding. I know Harrison isn't going to be here for roughly four months, but I was so disappointed! The only thing they could do was refund my order and sent me home. Apparently the store lacks the ability to be able to re-order in store and I was instructed to go home and re-order the crib set. Needless to say I am not happy!

In more news, we met with our doctor today. While waiting to see the doctor, Doug finally got to see Harrison kick. I felt a little punch and had Doug look over at my belly and then there was another little kick. The kicking lasted through the entire appointment...I love the feeling! I should also report Harrison is growth is right on track and heart rate was 146 today.

In my last blog post I talked about my back pain at night...that has only gotten worse since Wednesday. At the appointment today I mentioned it to the doctor. He gave me a maternity belt to help with back support and he also suggested for me to meet with a physical therapist. I am scheduled to begin that next Wednesday. I also am going to go back in see him in two weeks and opposed to four. If the back support and PT aren't helping he talked about prescribing some muscle relaxers. Hopefully something will do justice!