32 Weeks

• Brian, me, and baby Flamme were honored with a very special baby shower at our fieldwork congregation, Zion Friedheim, in Decatur, IN



• Baby weighs about 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long (taking up a lot of room!)



• I am gaining about a pound a week (or am supposed to) and roughly half goes directly to the baby



• He will gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks



• He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair



• His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth



• He is swallowing, breathing, kicking, and sucking in the womb...in fact, he has been able to suck his thumb for quite awhile



• The baby has had hiccups and I have felt them!



• His kicks and movements sometimes hurt and sleeping is becoming a challenge but it will all be worth it. :)

31 Weeks

• Baby measures over 16 inches long.
• Baby weighs about 3.5 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt (try carrying 4 oranges).
• He can turn his head from side to side.
• His arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin.
• He is moving around a lot! It is a sign he is healthy and active. If you watch closely, you can see the baby move across mommy's belly. :)
• Mommy's legs, ankles, feet, and hands continue to be swollen.
• Mommy has started writing the baby letters as well as reading up on newborns.
• Mommy and Daddy are getting more excited every day to meet their little boy!
• Baby's cousin (mommy's sister is having a baby) is due in 4 weeks!

29 Weeks

Today marks 29 weeks in my pregnancy! Only 11 more weeks to go!

Since my last post, we all celebrated Christmas and New Year's. This year it was exciting to ring in the new year...the year we would add a little boy to the Flamme family. :) Christmas was celebrated in Indiana this year with Brian's family. We enjoyed spending time with them and sharing traditions. It was funny how often people said. "Next year's Christmas will be SO different for the two of you." We look forward to it, I'm sure it will be a blast with our little boy. We hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year celebration, too!

Currently, I am a bloated, water-retaining mess, lol. My hands and feet are both swollen 24/7. My shoes are all tight and I can no longer get my wedding ring on or off. My sweats and my slippers are my best friends right now. Heartburn is a daily thing and exhaustion has set in again.

The baby is doing great. He is doing kicks and flips every day. I can really feel them when I lie down. Sometimes it can be painful, depending on where he kicks or punches me. :) It is fun to feel his movement though. Our little boy's brain can now control his breathing and body temperature. His skin is looking less wrinkled as he gains weight. He is around 3 pounds now and 15 inches long.

We are set to tour another hospital this evening-Parkview North. We will then decide between Dupont and Parkview North and register for free classes to get us ready for this baby. We are slowly organizing things around here for the baby. Tight spaces make us creative!