Week 26: Lettuce give thanks!

This week has been a rough one for Mom, but don't worry - Dad and I have taken excellent care of her. She got a 24-hour bug on Wednesday, which would be terrible enough, but her blood pressure got really low this week because she was sick and dehydrated. Pregnancy dehydration is no joke, you guys. PSA: if you're pregnant, you basically need to drink a swimming pool a day in order to stay hydrated, especially when it's Florida Hell-Fires hot.  Be careful out there!  In any event, she got an IV of fluids and she's doing much better.  Bean is a trooper - she didn't feel a thing. Mom, on the other hand, felt pretty icky. But she's all smiles now!!

IV fluids because Mom didn't
drink enough water while sick

I played nurse and took super good
care of Mom!!

The size of a head of lettuce, Bean is about to start opening her eyes inside Mom's belly though I'm not sure what she'll see. She's also getting a strong immune system now, and despite Mom being sick, Bean is getting all of the antibodies she needs to be healthy and happy when she's born.

26 weeks and counting - one more week in
the second trimester. Then it's on to the
home stretch!

A random update, because it's funny

Mom is starting to do silly things because her bump is getting in the way. Prior to our Friday post, I decided to delight you with stories.

Mom, at the end of a long day: 



Mom, trying to work out: 



Mom, and her latest trick:



How Mom feels about her new maternity pants:



Mom's response to the question, "How do you feel??":

To the general public: 


To close friends and family: 

Week 25: Another Week, Another Vegetable

This week, Bean is the size of a head of cauliflower. Here are a few fun cauliflower facts:

• Cauliflower is related to cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, and collard greens
• Cauliflower is an annual plant that reproduces by seed
• Cauliflower can be eaten cooked, raw or pickled

See - fun facts for your Friday. Never let it be said that I didn't try to take time to educate you on the mysterious world of Mother Nature.  Anyway, back to Bean. This is a BIG week for her. While we know everything is ok in there, this is the first week when Bean would be viable on the outside world if she had to come early. That's pretty impressive for a kid who is only 6 1/2 months old. She's starting to fatten up inside Mom's belly (probably in the cheeks, as we've discussed) and she's growing hair. Mom is starting to have trouble sleeping and her back aches aren't getting any better. The good news is that other than those two complaints, she feels great!

25 weeks (and wearing a non-maternity dress!)

This week, Mom did something she's never done before. It was a big deal. A HUGE EPIC EVENT in the life of a pregnant lady.  She parked........ in expectant mother parking. TADA!  It's really really hot in Florida right now, so she decided to take the extra help and walk a few less steps in the Hell-fires of Florida. Way to go, Mom!

Week 24: Roll the cantaloupe!

Week 24 and Bean is the size of a cantaloupe and weighs about 1.5 lbs. Each week from here on out, she's going to get bigger a lot faster....and so will Mom. Bean's skin is getting more opaque and each week means she's closer to being able to survive on the outside. Very exciting!  Mom's back is still really aching from the extra baby weight in the front, but Dad has been on standby for back rubs, and I have been doing my job by snuggling extra good.

Mom at 24 weeks at work!
Dad is out of town, so no picture at home

Also, as promised, Dad was a pretty cute baby as well. Although judging from these photos, I'm very certain that Baby Bean is going to have big cheeks and be very, very cute. I can't wait to give her so many kisses and snuggles. Each morning I like to lay with Mom in bed and snuggle. Lately, Bean has started to kick me when I lay next to Mom's belly. It's such a fun game to play!

Dad as a baby - isn't he cute??

This week, Mom and Dad continued to get ready for Bean's arrival. It seems like they are getting ready WAY too far in advance, but they seem to be ok with it.  They finished setting up Bean's crate... Oops! I mean crib. I heard them say they didn't enjoy that task. Something about a lot of pieces and no clear instructions. I just laid around while they did that, so I didn't mind quite so much. Mom also went shopping at Lilly Pulitzer for Bean. It's one of her favorite stores --- she just couldn't help herself!

Dad setting up Bean's crib
(that's a fake smile)

Bean's newest clothing additions

Week 23: From grape to grapefruit

Week 23 and Bean is the size of a grapefruit. Mom definitely looks like Bean is the size of a grapefruit instead of a grape, but don't tell her I said that. This week, Bean can feel Mom sway and dance - which is great because we all know Mom does that a lot. She's also developing lots of new blood vessels to prepare her for breathing, and she's getting used to the sounds of the outside world like car horns and my barking.

In case anyone was wondering like me, Mom snapped a photo while she was away last week. I bet Bean is going to have some big Polish cheeks, based on this picture of Mom when she was just a baby. I'm working on getting a picture of Dad for next week's post.

Mom with her huge cheeks
and mouth open 

Mom feels great. She has a lot more energy than she's had before which is good because she is really busy at work. They are moving her office into a new location. This meant construction, and Bean had a chance to help with it this week. Pop-Pop Babiarz was really excited to see Bean experience her demolition. She handled it like a pro, as you would expect. Dad was happy to have the whole family back together after traveling, and this weekend he and Mom are setting up Bean's crib. Apparently, a "crib" is just a bigger doggie crate that the baby sleeps in. I offered to share mine, but Mom and Dad insisted on a new one for the baby.

Week 23 and dressed for success

My yummy treat from the baby shower.
Thanks Grammy Babiarz!

Bean and Mom getting ready to knock
down a wall in the school's library

Look - they even signed the wall and made it official

Week 22: Better late than never!

Week 22 - it's been crazy! This week was a big deal for Bean... a lot of firsts.  It was her first concert (Paramore and Fall Out Boy), her first baby shower (in PA thrown by Grammy and Aunt Marge), and the first time she reached ONE POUND in size. Wowzers!!! Bean is the size of a papaya, and she's starting to develop sleep patterns. She sleeps about 12-14 hours per day, but (as you would suspect) those aren't usually the times when Mom is sleeping. Bean is also kicking and moving around like crazy! Sometimes I can see her kicking Mom's belly ---- from the outside!  I think Bean is going to be a soccer star like Dad or a ninja like Mom wishes she was.

Mom at 22 weeks at her baby shower

This week, Bean went to a concert in Tampa with Mom and Dad's friends Ryan and Judy. They left me at home, but that's ok. I fell asleep watching Law & Order.

They had a great time at the concert though. They went to see Paramore and Fall Out Boy. Mom and Dad saw Fall Out Boy when they were in college, so it was a really fun for them to go again, but this time with Bean.  She loved the drums and was kicking the whole time!

Mom and Bean in her Paramore t-shirt

Mom also left me and Dad at home for a long weekend of boy bonding while she went up north to visit Grammy and Pop-Pop. She had a baby shower while she was there! I'm told that's where humans give other humans gifts, but it sounds more like a weird bathing situation to me. While Mom was gone, Dad and I did this:

Me and Dad snuggling and watching TV

But Mom and Bean got the royal treatment! I'm super jealous!! Bean got so many lovely gifts and SO many cute new toys for me to steal. Grammy and Aunt Marge pulled out all the stops for Bean's very special day, and Mom was really touched by so many people coming to see her. It was a very special day for both of them, but I'm really happy to have Mom home. Mom is posting all of the baby shower pictures on Facebook, so be sure to check on that as well.

Fruit salad shaped like a baby carriage!
Aunt Marge did a great job. 

Beautiful and delicious cupcakes celebrating Bean.

Grammy getting ready for the party

Pop-Pop in his favorite chair

Aunt Marge, hard at work before the guests arrived

Mom - unwrapping Bean's gifts