31 Weeks!

Yesterday, 11.29.11, I was 31 weeks! I have 9 days left in this pregnancy before I gave birth to the girls! I cannot believe it! I feel nothing like I did at 31 weeks with the girls, for obvious reasons.

At the OB today, we had a long conversation about what the next few weeks will hold. I will either be seeing the perinatalogist or the OB each week. So basically the goal of this pregnancy is to (of course) stay pregnant until at least 36 weeks (Jan 3rd) and then go into labor by myself, before 39 weeks. I will not be induced due to all the complications I had last time for fear of more complications this time. So, if I do not go into labor by January 24th, 2012, I will have my c-section that day and Little Miss E will make her arrival!! (13 months and 1 day apart from the girls!)

How Far Along: 31 Weeks!!!

How Big is Little Miss E: (same as last week) She is between 15 and 17 inches long and about 3 lbs. each (about the size of a squash). Her energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) She is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

Symptoms: Contractions!, and they are getting stronger and stronger. Started the Procardia and it seems to be working, but nothing stops my contractions all of the time! My body is immune to any of the drugs, I swear! Peeing a lot, drinking lots of water, some minor swelling, trying to rest but it's hard, but overall, taking care of three very busy little girls and being in my third trimester, I don't think I can complain much.

Weight Gain: Today at the OB's, 11.30.11, I was 147 lbs. Started somewhere between 125-130 lbs., so not too bad! :)

Emotions: Doing ok. I think as closer as E's birth approaches, the more I think about the girl's birth or maybe it's just that their first birthday is coming. Not sure. I just am so hoping and praying for a NORMAL delivery, ect.

Best Moment of the Week: Spending time with family! And of course shopping and preparing for the girl's birthday party!

Movement: ALL OF THE TIME! I love it so much! I thought the girls moved a lot, they moved nothing like this baby girl moves!

Maternity Clothes: Yes

Stretchmarks: Just my left over ones!

Sleep: Going ok, when I get sleep! And peeing every few minutes!

Food Cravings: Everything and anything! Chocolate!

Aversions: Nothing!

Gender: A Little Miss!

What I Miss: Wine!!

What I am Looking Forward to: The girl's Winter ONEderland next week! Whahoo! I cannot believe my baby girls are going to be ONE! (Then Miss E can make her arrival!)

And here are my bump photos comparison:

24-26 Weeks

Goodness gosh, I'm over six months already?!? Phew! I'm loving being pregnant this time around and feel that I can go around and be that "cute little pregnant lady" that I couldn't be when I was pregnant with the girls because I was on bed rest and feeling like a whale, not too mention I didn't want to risk going into labor even earlier than I did!

How Far Along: 24-26 Weeks/6 Months! Here's my post of 6 Months with the girls!
How Big is Little Miss: Still around the size of a papaya! She is settling into sleep cycles, baby snoozes 12 to 14 hours a day. Skin is becoming more opaque and it's taking on a pink glow!

Weight Gain: Maybe +3-5, or as much as 7...not too much! But I have definitely started eating waaaay more and drinking my whole milk with chocolate at least once a day! I was weighed at the OB on Wednesday and weighed 140 lbs...not too bad!
Symptoms: Some back pain, tiredness, easily weak and tired after not doing much, some minor contractions (around 3-5 a day) but I can tell they are getting stronger.

Emotions: Fine! Every time I see a newborn, I squirm with happiness!

Best Moment of the Week: Just feeling Little Miss all of the time. I love every moment of it and cherish it so much! She moves sooo much, just like the girls did! And of course seeing her cute little self on the sonogram!

Looking at us!

Movement: All day, everyday, but most active in the evening and at night! I thought the girls moved a lot, but really, I don't remember them moving as much as Little Miss is!

Maternity Clothes: Oh yes!

Sleep: Going great when I do sleep! Of course loving naps! And the dreams...oh the dreams!

Food Cravings: Hmm...everything! Chocolate, but it gives me the worst heartburn! Apples!
Aversions: Nothing I can think of!

Gender: A Little Miss! And who FINALLY has a name! Well, it's what I have been calling her since day 1, but it was convincing Tim, but finally he said, "we can name her whatever you want!" Duh! So happy though, it's the most perfect name to me!

What I Miss: Wine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I am Looking Forward to: Hmm...the snow that is falling outside right now! Planning the girl's first birthday party! and of course growing bigger and bigger with Little Miss!

Side Notes: One person on the last weekly update commented that I was measuring (or looking like) almost full-term and just as big as I was when I was pregnant with the girls! I couldn't believe it...seriously, LOOK AT THESE PHOTOS! Haha, I am so not as big right now as I was with the girls! At 24 weeks pregnant with the girls, I was measuring FULL-TERM! This pregnancy with Little Miss is completely measuring normal and right on track. She is growing great and I am forever thankful. I may look bigger than I am, but let me ASSURE everyone, that I no way am as big as I was with the girls. Sometimes I look at my belly and really, I could just look a little fat in my belly, and not even pregnant! My belly is no way as heavy or full-feeling like I was with the girls, nor am I having near as many contractions and pain as I did with the girls. With the girls pregnancy I went downhill from Week 24 on, this pregnancy I hope and pray that will not be the case!

Anyway, here are my bump photos for the past few weeks:

Week 25 pregnancy photos with the girls, click on the link above!

Please excuse all my stretch marks...I don't know if I can post the straight on photo of my belly ever again. I mean I know I had triplets, but ugh, I just don't like the way it looks now, and really I guess it's not too bad, but I don't know!

What's in a Name...Again!

We cannot, yes, CANNOT decide on a name for Little Miss! I say cannot, I mean it! Oh my goodness, it's driving me crrrraaazzzyyyy!!!!!
When I was pregnant with the triplets, Tim and I had no problem coming up with three girl names and three boy names and the moment we found out it was three girls (for sure) they each had the most perfect names for our family, even before the sonogram was over. After the girls were born, I thought I knew exactly what I would name another girl, if we were so blessed to have one, but now I have no idea and everything I come up with, sounds good for a day and then it just doesn't seem fit for her or our family.

Here our my issues:

1. I want something traditional but not too uncommon. I'm not a fan of super modern names. I picture this little girl as a little girl, a 16 year old, a CEO of a company, a grandmother...all with a name and what it would be like for her at every age and stage of life.
2. We might change our last name. Long story, but since we don't have any contact, nor want any contact with Tim's biological father, Tim came up with the idea to use his mother's maiden name, since it will not go on to another generation, since his PopPop had all daughters too (five daughters....girls run in his family...shocker, right?!?!). It's something we have been thinking a lot about and praying over to see if it's the right thing for us. So the name has to sound ok with Gaydos, if we keep it, or Steinert, if we choose to change it before the girls go to Kindergarten. I won't change it once the girls learn their "full name" because I don't want to confuse them. (Personally, I would love to change it because my initials would be the same as I have always had, H.S....but I am leaving the decision up to Tim and I support him either way.)

3. Tim hates everything I come up with but hasn't come up with the perfect name to offer to the table! He likes names with nicknames and we already agreed awhile ago not to do that. He currently like Allison, and call her Allie, or Abigail and call her Abbey.

4. Since we have a "Natalee", I don't really want to name any future daughters with the ending of "lee/leigh". Silly, maybe but oh well. For example, I love Emily, but I don't like the "lee" ending, but I hate Emma (the number one name in 2011 so far). I keep coming up with "lee" ending names that I like, but if I go with anything "lee" ending, I might as well go with Emily!

5. Since we are very firm about Madelynn being a Madelynn, and NEVER a Maddy (Tim thinks Maddy is a dogs name, and we have a few friends with dogs named Maddy), we don't want to name another baby with anything that has a nickname. For example, we love Abigail, but I know I would call her Abbey and I don't want Madelynn wondering why she can't be called Maddy when she a teenager, if Abigail can be an Abbey. Maybe silly again, but I don't care! Tim loves Abbey and Allie for Allison. We always say and still continue to think that if Madelynn ever has a nickaname, it will be Lynn, since Tim loves that name and it's my middle name.

6. I love the name Caroline and was almost positive that would be the name of Little Miss but I don't want two children with the same first letter initial. I silly too, right!

7. It has to "fit" our family. I don't want Madelynn, Claire, Natalee and some super modern name that doesn't "fit". It needs to be something a little older and more mature and not something "made-up", like so many horrible names are these days!

8. And just like I said when we were coming up with names for the girls, I want something that sounds nice when I'm yelling for them across a crowded swimming pool or gym when they are playing basketball! I always cringe when I'm somewhere and I hear some horrible name of a child, and I just think about the poor kid growing up with such a terrible name and what those crazy parent's were thinking!

9. I want our children to always know that each of them are a special gift from God and we took time and effort to put a lot of thought into the perfect name for them. If God chose them specifically for our family, we want a name that is specifically for them and what God sees fit for them.

So.....names I like and are still considering (no real order):
1. Emily ("lee" issues...but still my number one)
2. Abigail (nickname issue, but still my number two)
3. Avery (a little more modern than I would like, but for soem reason it draws to me)
4. Caroline (same first initial issue, still close to number three at this time)
5. Leah (loved at first, but not anymore)
6. Savannah (Tim hates and says it's too southern, but I still love it)
7. Ava
8. Samantha (if we change our last name to Steinert, than two of the same initials..a no no)
9. Anna (Tim likes this)
10. Sydney
11. Allison (this is Tim's current favorite)
12. Lindsey
13. Sofie/Sofia
14. Makayla (first initial issue)
15. Julia
16. Julianne

Middle name that I want, pretty sure of at this time: Kate or Katherine. I think Kate is super cute, but may be a little more modern with some names than I would like. Katherine goes well with most of my names I like too though. I love Emily Kate, but I like Abigail Katherine too! But I would not like Makayla Kate or Allison Kate..for obvious reasons...it sounds horrible.

I also love Grace for a middle name, but I wouldn't want to use it if we keep our "G" last name, because I don't want two of the same initials, like Ava Grace Gaydos - AGG or Makayla Grace Gaydos - MGG. No way, even though I think both sound really nice!

So, can anyone help me out here.... What do you like? Little Miss needs a name!!!!

22-23 Weeks!

How Far Along: 22 weeks! And 23 weeks...because I cannto seem to post this every week! I am just too darn busy these days!

How Big is Little Miss: Weeks 22-24: Baby girl is as big as a papaya, about 10.5-11.8 inches long and 12.7-20.8 ounces (thebump.com).

Weight Gain: Maybe around +3.

Symptoms: Heartburn, aching back in exactly the same ways as before with the girls (mostly on the left side, right under the shoulder blade), sore boobies, peeing a lot.

Emotions: Fine! Whenever I see a newborn now, I get all excited and can't wait to hold a new precious little girl in my arms!

Best Moment of the Week: I can't think of anything, so of course just being thankful for being able to carry another baby! I always said that I didn't see the girls pregnancy being my only pregnancy and I prayed that I would be able to have another baby and hoped it would be naturally, and I am so thankful and so grateful that God chose us to be parent's again. I get choked up sometimes thinking about that! I still can't believe I have three beautiful daughters, let alone another on the way! It literally blows my mind to think I am a mom to four miracle daughters! I could have never asked for more in life! God blessed me more than I can ever repay!

Movement: LOTS! All of the time! This Little Miss is a gymnast! Tim felt her a few times too! We can't believe there is another little girl on the way to join our family and it is so exciting feeling her move!
Maternity Clothes: Of course! Every comments about how small I am this time, with only carrying one baby...yeah, it's crazy! I barely feel pregnant sometimes when I look at myself!

Stretchmarks: Not anymore new ones....amen!

Cravings: Can't think of anything! I'll just take any food, especially if someone else makes it for me!

Aversions: Can't think of anything!

Gender: A Little Miss...that seems will never have a name!
What I Miss: Wine! Especially since my MIL just got back from upstate New York visiting 30 wineries and brought back so much wine, I have to wait to drink my big bottle until next year! Blah! No fun, so instead I've been eating the winery grapes that taste JUST like the wine, but without the alcohol! I LOVE those grapes!

Sleep: Fine, taking naps almost daily since I am so tired after playing with the girls, cooking, cleaning, laundry...oh and getting up four hundred times each night!!

What I am Looking Forward to: Getting closer to meeting this Little Miss! I can't wait to see who she looks like and figure out what her name will be!!!
Here is my bump photo (taken yesterday!) and comparison to the girls at 22 weeks and 23 weeks! I was SO big then...and there was NO stopping it!!!!



Ugh, I miss my short hair!