26 Weeks!

How Far Along: 26 weeks

Baby Size: Child’s Lunch Box (for a few more weeks)

Current Symptoms:  Rib pain! It feels like Wader is prying open my rib cage to make more room…sorry for a graphic image! Last time right around this time, my ribs on the left side started to hurt in a very specific location…and I was diagnosed with a possible rib fracture due to Carson’s kicking!  Wader seems to have is own dance parties in my belly, but it is more fluid movement and less harsh kicking…let’s hope it stays that way so I can avoid another broken rib! This rib pain is kind of an all over sensation on both sides. I have been taking a break from going to prenatal yoga, as Ryan has joined a rec volleyball league, but I think this weekend I might have to go to a drop in class and see if I can create some more room for this little (or big?) guy!

What's Different: I think I have consistently been bigger this pregnancy! To be fair…I started out this pregnancy a little bigger…but Wader has consistently weighed in larger on both ultrasounds and stomach measurements! Carson was born a peanut at 6lbs 2oz…and remains a peanut…something tells me that he might have a big little brother? My dad is 6’5…so maybe Wader will inherit some recessive height genes? Ryan and I joke that we wouldn’t even know what to do with a big baby! I have preemie clothes that Carson wore for the first week or two…will Wader ever fit in them? Will he fit in the dozens of newborn outfits that Carson wore until he was 10 weeks old? Carson didn’t start wearing 3-6 months clothes until he was almost 6 months…what are we in for with Wader? Ryan and I also have been talking about ways that Wader may be different. Carson most definitely resembled me more as a baby at birth. Will Wader look more like a Curtis? Ryan was born with towhead hair that turned into a mop of blonde curls. Will Wader follow in his daddy’s hair footsteps, or have stick straight brown hair like his brother? Only time will tell! Below is a comparison of 26 weeks with Carson and 26 weeks with Wader:

26 weeks with Carson

26 weeks with Wader

Carson Comments: Scooper loving is in full force! He has become very attached to his baby doll. We have been working with him on how to safety carry a baby via the doll, as he likes to carry Scooper around by the throat…Scooper often wants to eat certain foods….or not want to take a bath…or need a hug from time to time from Mommy and Daddy. Scooper is definitely becoming more “real”! The only odd thing that we have noticed with Scooper, is that Carson refuses to bring him up to his bed with the rest of his stuffed friends. He insists that Scooper stay downstairs at night all by himself. We have briefly mentioned that Wader and Carson will be sharing a room…is this foreshadowing to possible rejection of the baby being in Carson’s bedroom? AHHHHH! J

Daddy Updates:  Ryan has definitely noticed a decrease in his football interest and availability since Carson was born. He used to participate in countless fantasy football leagues, spending lots of time each week prepping his team line ups, trading players, as well as watching as many football games as he could. Since Carson, he has decreased the number of leagues he is in, barely gets his roster in order in time for the game, and has committed to only watching football games he is genuinely interested in, so that he has more time to spend with Carson on the weekends. One thing we both continue to look forward to is the Superbowl! If anything, it is a fun social event for us when we often have friends over, or go to other friend’s places to eat good food, watch funny commercials, and in recent years, cheer for the Patriots! (If only the Redskins made it to the Superbowl sometime soon…) While tidying up the kitchen over the weekend, Ryan casually asked me if there had been any talk among our friends about plans for the Superbowl (can you tell we love to plan ahead?). Then it dawned on us….depending on when the Superbowl is in 2014….we might be in the hospital??? The game has been on dates such as 2/6…and if I end up needing a C-Section….that could be as early as 2/7! We quickly looked it up and the Superbowl is in fact on February 2^nd this season, which puts us just past 38 weeks. Will we be watching the game on a tiny hospital screen, or actually get to have one last hurray with great friends before the baby’s arrival? Will we have to plan birthday parties around the Superbowl for years to come? So many questions!

Baby Prep:  I have started to comb through Carson’s current toy collection. I do this about every 6 months to put away toys that are no longer age appropriate. Carson got a whole bunch of great things for his birthday, so we had to make room for those new items as well. When Carson was born, we had room for all sorts of baby gear such as the pack and play, a changing table, a swing, a bouncy seat, etc. Now that room is filled with bookshelves, a train table, an arts and crafts area, a play kitchen…where are we going to put everything for Wader? We have begun to do a little rearranging to accommodate these essential baby items. The hope is that if we move some of Carson’s stuff now, he may not feel like his things are being displaced once we drag some of the larger baby items out after the holidays. We also have been bringing some things up from the basement for Baby Audrey when she is visiting with her family. Carson is often intrigued by these baby items and gives Scooper a ride, or has even attempted to climb in them himself! Curious to see how he reacts to an increased presence of baby gear around the house!

Looking Forward To: Closing in on the third trimester! Depending on the source, the third trimester starts somewhere around 27 or 28 weeks. The infamous “What to Expect When You Are Expecting” clocks it at 28 weeks, so that is what we will go with. My 28 week checkup is a big one. I have my glucose test as well as another ultrasound to see if my placenta has moved. Viability also reaches a pretty big milestone at 28 weeks, when a baby will most likely survive with no long lasting developmental issues. Just gotta get through the next week, and we should be good to go!