24 weeks and...Baby's got a name!



Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 24 weeks, 6 days in pics 

Size of baby: Almost a foot long, about the size of an ear of corn, and a little over 1 pound.  I was surprised to learn that my uterus is about the size of a soccer ball!  Yep, that feels about right!

Weight gain:  I still weigh around 124 

Maternity Clothes: Ashley gave me all of her cute maternity clothes.  I remember when she first gave them to me, I thought there is no way I will actually fit into these clothes....well, I have been proven wrong.  One of her cute shirts was way too big at the beginning of pregnancy.  I put it on yesterday....and it barely buttoned!  EVERYTHING has grown....and I love it! 

Gender: BOY!

Movement: YES!  I don't know what part of him it is, but if I push on either side of my belly button, he always moves.  I remember wondering not too long ago when I would feel him at the top part of my stomach....now that's pretty much the only place I feel him!  Sometimes it does feel like he's tip-toeing on my bladder :)  The other night he was having a party in my belly!  It felt like a pinball game was going on in there.  I was in bed, then I turned on the light to see what my belly was doing, and it was crazy to see him moving and going crazy!  I was so tired when I got in bed, but I loved spending the next 20 minutes just watching him...and my belly move every which way!

Sleep: I have to get up several times to go to the bathroom, but I can always go back to sleep.

Symptoms: Reflux....YUCK!  No heartburn yet.   

Cravings: FOOD period! I am loving food these days!

What I miss:  Ummm...nothing! 

Best moment this week:  Ashley and Chris painting the nursery.  AND having my glider delivered early!!
What I am looking forward to:  The nursery furniture is getting delivered in a few weeks.  I can't wait to see how it looks in the nursery!  Also, bedding is supposed to come in at the end of October.

How's that scar looking? I noticed today that it has actually gotten darker.  It was stretched out flat, but this week, I've noticed that it's raised up a little more like it used to be....kind of puffy.  It's a keloid scar, but it is more "puffy."  One of my kids was rubbing my stomach and I could tell she felt my scar, but didn't quite know what it was.  Then she said, "Oh,  I can feel his little foot!"  Ha! 

Belly Button: Getting more and more shallow!


Chris and I have talked baby names for the past 3 years.  We picked our boy name pretty easily.  We always wanted to incorporate family into the name.  We decided our name we picked out long ago still fit and it is so special to us.  Our baby boy's name will be...

Pearce Matthew Parnell

"Pearce" is my maiden name.  I love that it is different but not "weird" different.  I doubt there will ever be very many Pearce's in his class.  I love that we can continue the Pearce name!  Matthew was Chris' brother's name who passed away.  We always knew we would use Matthew for a middle name.  This baby is so special to us and needed a special name. We wanted his name to mean something.  I am so excited to hold Pearce in my arms in January!!!!