Weeks 32 & 33: Condensed Goodness

This week, Mom is taking over the blog and she is condensing Weeks 32 & 33. It has been busy, busy and I haven't been able to keep up with the blogging. That being said, Sprout has been on quite the adventure!!

Here's what Sprout has been working on these last two weeks. She's been a busy and VERY ACTIVE young lady. She just will not stop moving around, nearly 24/7, in Mom's belly. It has been a little uncomfortable, especially since Hadley has been climbing all over her.

These two weeks, Sprout has:

• Been getting ready for her descent-and is likely in the head-down position now (not this little lady! She's still side to side...)
• She's probably feeling even more cramped
• She's keeping eyes open while awake and also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing
• Her bones are hardening and she's going through (more) major brain development-that's one smart baby

Sprout at Week 33 in LBI

This week, the whole family (well, Loki stayed home) went up north for a babymoon to LBI and NYC. Mom and Dad went into the city for a night to see Hamilton and spend some time together. The rest of the trip was spent visiting friends and family and enjoying our last weeks as a family of THREE! 

Parents-to-be....again!

HAMILTON at the Richard Rogers Theater in NYC

Mom, Dad and Keith in NYC

Ladies on the beach!

Airport style - Hadley Edition

Oooooo....it's a little chilly

We also sprinkled Sprout with love (and more than a few gifts of diapers and wipes!) which was so unbelievably fun. We are certainly lucky to have wonderful and caring friends!

And last, but not least, Mom and Hadley came down with a nasty cold that totally derailed any plans for productivity at work or at home. There were a lot of snuggles, a few tears, and thankfully - ear infection aside - some giggles. 

Week 31: Tropical Bliss

Sprout is the size of a pineapple. Delicious, tropical, and fun! 

• She's going through major brain and nerve development.
• Eye development too. Sprout's irises now react to light!
• All five of her senses are in working order.

Mom and Sprout - 31 weeks
Photo c/o P$ (and Dan)

Sprout is starting to get bigger and bigger, and she's very active! The other night, Dad even saw Mom's belly bouncing up and down. It looked so weird. Hadley's been having a great week, and the whole family has been enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. It's starting to get really warm again, but until the oppressive heat really sets in, this family will be outside in the sun! 

Week 30: From squash to zucchini

Sprout is the size of a zucchini! YUM, YUM! 

• Sprout's skin is getting smoother.
• But Sprout's brain is getting wrinklier-to make way for all that essential brain tissue (as if we need to her to be even smarter!)
• She's now strong enough to grasp a finger!

Mom and Sprout at 30 weeks

This week, we don't have a lot of photos. The big news is that Mom and Dad celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary. They went to the Beyonce concert up in Tampa to celebrate. It was a great night of fun! Sprout really enjoyed herself. She danced around in Mom's belly and rocked to the beat. These Hughes babies really love their concerts. 

Sadly, Mom, Dad, and Hadley all got pretty sick after the concert. It was a plague-like cold that really made everyone miserable. Thankfully, we're all on the mend not, but WOAH. Everyone felt really icky.

Week 29: Squish Squash

Sprout is as big as an acorn squash and she still moving and shaking in Mom's tummy! Mom's still having Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing to be concerned about. Everything is completely normal, and Sprout is super healthy.

• She's getting a little cramped in there, given how fast she's growing. But Mom knows that, since she's feeling all those kicks and jabs (and Dad can see them now!).
• She's growing white fat deposits under her skin, and her energy is surging because of it.
• Feeling a subtle twitch? Mom knows it might be baby hiccupping.

Last weekend we celebrated Dad's 32nd birthday with a fun day at the beach with our friends Hartley, Erica, and Taylor. Hartley and Hadley had so much fun playing in the sand and in the water - and eventually fell asleep! Mom and Sprout enjoyed the sunshine as well.

Week 28: Egg(plant)-ceptional

Sprout is getting so big, and so mobile!, inside Mom's tummy. Everyone is starting to remark on how she all of a sudden looks very pregnant. To her, it doesn't seem so sudden though. 

Sprout's the size of an eggplant and she's:

• Starting to develop more fat, so the once-wrinkly skin will start to get smoother.
• Her lungs are mature enough that if born now, she'd probably survive. Wow!

Mom and Sprout - 28 weeks

For comparison: Mom and Hadley
28 weeks

As you can see form the pictures above, Mom basically looks the same with Sprout as she did with Hadley. I actually think Mom looks more compact (and higher) this time around, but that's just my opinion. 

This past week, our friend Carl and his parents (who just moved to Cape Coral, FL) were on our docket to visit. Because we were so busy having fun, we forgot to take any pictures BUT let this one suffice it to say: Hadley had fun. 

And finally, Hadley is starting to play quite dangerously on her toys. I worry she'll get hurt and I'll be blame. She worries about nothing until the injury occurs. Typical toddler thinking. 

Rutabaga vs. Turnip. You Decide.

Rutabaga. Looks more like a turnip to me....Sprout is getting bigger, and we are getting more and more excited about her arrival (I didn't think that could even be possible!):

• She's practicing inhaling and exhaling with her rapidly developing lungs.
• It's official: Sprout's showing brain activity! And the brain will keep on getting more complex.

Mom is starting to really feel the effects of having a toddler and being pregnant with No.2 at the same. She's tired, and sore, most of the time but Dad is really pitching in. I've decided to be helpful by demanding my dinner when Hadley eats and playing fetch. Apparently, one of those things is more helpful than the other. 

Hadley had an awesome week. We started sending her to day care 3 days a week, and she is thriving. She loves seeing her friends more often, is getting better at drop off, and the teachers adore her. She's also talking up a storm! Some of her favorite words are, "flower", "ball", "puppy", and "NO". Yes. We've ventured into "No" territory and it isn't fun. 

Week 26: Lettuce Play in the Teepee!

Sprout is the size of a head of lettuce, which is funny because right now, even lettuce is giving Mom really bad heartburn. 

• Her eyes are forming, and the eyes will soon start to open
• And eyelashes are now grown too
• Her immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up your antibodies
• She's taking breaths, too. They're of amniotic fluid, not air, but it's still good practice.

Mom is looking good, despite
feeling "ehhh"

Like I said, Mom has been feeling a little icky lately. Sprout is sitting really high and uncomfortably on Mom's tummy and that makes eating difficult. Lots of heartburn - lots of nausea. But, the good news is that it won't last forever! In the meantime, Dad has been a big help with Hadley and letting Mom rest when she starts to feel not well. There's still plenty of fun to be had! This week, I'm working on teaching Hadley not to drop objects on my head and enjoying plenty of Hadley kisses on my nose. 

Teepee time! A Hadley favorite. 

"Hi Daddy!!" Face-timing with Dad while
he was away on business

Texting while driving. TROUBLE.