Thirty- ONE weeks!

And the countdown begins! 9 weeks or so left...and I learned this week that I need to be ready to go ahead of time. Some babies really do come early...like Isabella Klaire Williamson, born 9 days early and catching everyone by surprise! Daddy (JT) had to go straight to the hospital from work and mommy (Jamie) didn't even have time to go home and get the carseat! I think I'll try to have the car ready by 37 weeks....just in case, but that will probably just jinx me into going 10 days late!

This weekend I got to spend at my church's annual retreat on Whidbey Island. What a great time with people I consider to be extended family! I've been attending AC3 for 14 years now and was am so blessed to have so many loving and supportive people in my life and Baby B's future. The best part was driving to and from the retreat with my mom. I love those extended times together when we can just talk and share and get to know each other better, she's going to make such a great grandma! Ryan has been in his classroom twice this last week, getting all set up for a new year. Tomorrow is his first mandatory day back...and school starts next Wednesday. This summer has been fantastic but I'm excited for routine to return...and this pregnancy to end and Baby B to be here!!

30 weeks!

30 weeks! Oh my...so in theory I only have 8-12 more weeks left. And I'm unable to fathom how much more I'll grow. I already think I waddle when walking...at least at the end of the day when I'm tired out. And I'm pretty sure Baby B is already cramped and missing the spaciousness of the 1st and 2nd trimesters:) Heartburn has stepped it up a notch and I've started chewing down the Tums again (in addition to my 450mg of Zantac daily). I wake up at least once in the middle of the night looking for some extra relief. This week has been exhausting and hungry...maybe another growth spurt? I can no longer reach something on the floor by my feet when sitting in the car!! We had another family reunion this week, this time the annual Bobfest...and the weather was so much cooler (maybe 30 degrees?) than last week's Petersen reunion!

Swim For Life

This is my favorite annual event! My best friend from high school Meredith and I have done this three years in a row...and this was by far the coldest, windiest, and roughest swim yet. According to the event planners, it was the roughest swim in 13 years with record numbers of swimmers asking to be pulled from the water. (It was also the biggest turnout yet with over 350 swimmers registering and raising over $42,000 for the Puget Sound Blood Center!) Our "pod" took it nice and easy and was able to stay together, on course, and finish! Despite the wind and white caps, the water was surprisingly warm, almost like a bath...not sure if that was just an illusion thanks to the cold air but it was nice! Hoping for sun and calm waters next year!

29 weeks in 3D

Today I had the opportunity to be an "OB model" for a convention of sorts for the new Phillips 2011 ultrasound machines! I even got paid to have the ultrasound done. It wasn't super exciting, 4 or 5 people playing around with a bunch of technical jargon that was impossible to understand. (I was just one of 20+ ob models...so there were lots of people there and stations set up so the techs could learn and play). What I did pick up on is that they can do amazing things with ultrasounds when they need to! Of course Baby B moved a lot and even forced me to take some Tums while laying down:) AND good news...Baby is head down! (for now anyways:) My weekly email says that Baby is now over 3lbs and 17 inches long...no wonder I'm starting to feel knees and elbows trying to crawl out my belly button (not always pain free). Only 10-12 more weeks...

We also got Baby's room painted this week! The color is "Ocean View"... a very bright turqouise/blue that will work great with our fishy quilt and a girl or a boy. I LOVE it! The only things left to finish are the trim/molding and painting the ceiling! And then of course, getting all the furniture and setting it up!

I've started watching Pax Monday- Friday while Jessica works (Jessica and Pax rent our spare rooms). And the weather was super nice...so Pax and I spent time at Lake Goodwin and Lake Ki with friends...Western Washington is so pretty in the summer! I also found out that when you're on an anti-biotic one of the side effects is photosensitivity...meaning you can burn despite sunscreen...it wasn't too bad but I did get a little pink. Ryan and I have totally fallen in love with this little man, he's got such a big fun personality.

28 weeks

I wore the same shirt as 24 weeks...you can see the difference!

Woah...28 weeks sounds so...so...well, close:)! And so far away at the same time but it definitely makes me realize preparations need to get serious! And this week they have. My cousin Rob has been working on drywall in Baby's room with texturing planned for tomorrow. I was able to get Baby's closet all put together, with new added shelving since Baby will be sharing some space with mommy's projects (scrapbooking, sewing, etc).

I've also been fighting a cold for the last week...at least that's what I think it is now. Last week I went to the doctor and he thought it was allergies because my ears and throat were so itchy. I was given the okay to take some claritin and see if that helped...and it might have a little bit but not enough. I ended up back at the doctor this morning after a miserable and sleepless night coughing with a raw painful throat. This time around since its been a full week and I'm not getting better he prescribed antibiotics (Penicillin) and Vicodin as a cough-suppressant. I was shocked that I'm allowed to take vicodin but not Ib profuen! But both the doctor and the pharmacist said vicodin is actually commonly prescribed to pregnant women and as long as I'm not taking it long term the risks are very minimal during the third trimester. And guess what?! It's working!! I was able to catch a great nap this afternoon and expect to sleep much better tonight now that my cough is only occasional! Being sick and pregnant is no fun...and I normally wouldn't end up at the Dr...but Nyquil isn't allowed:)

Wanted to share some fun with you...these are some picks of the 4 women in my small group who are all pregnant. Tracy (the photgrapher) had her baby last year...paving the way for all of us! It's been so great to have such a fun group of ladies to do this with and get all the advice from Tracy and Stacy (the other mom in our group), I don't feel alone or crazy at all:)!!

Jamie- due Sept. 8, Sarah- due Nov. 3, Shannon- due Dec. 23, and Beka- due Jan. 4

27 weeks

I'm officially in my third trimester! Wohoo! I really need to start preparing, the end of October is going to show up quicker than I realize! We "finished" the remodel to Baby B's room this week...now we just have to wait to have the taping/mudding/texturing done. Then I can paint and start setting up! I've started feeling hiccups and braxton-hicks contractions. We hired a doula and started watching some birth-class videos. Ummm....I think that's about it for this week...its been nice and lazy around here:)!

 Ryan and Dennis finishing up the new doorway.

The almost-finished wall between our room and Baby's room.

34 years and 3rd trimester

Grandpa and Grandma Imholt are celebrating their 34rd anniversary today!

And I'm officially in my third trimester...October 31st is exactly three months away!!!

(Want to read more about months, weeks, days and trimesters and how the breakdown works...http://www.baby2see.com/pregnancylength.html)