24-28 Weeks

We are officially in the third trimester - how weird is that? My belly is definitely rounding out, but I'm not to the super uncomfortable stage yet. I get aches and pains and need to stay on top of stretching, but I have no reason to complain as I pretty much feel normal. Other than doing squats and yoga-type stuff, I'm not really doing any intense exercise. Hopefully that won't come to bite me in the butt come labor.

The babe is really starting to grow and move in there (at this point, baby should be about 2.5 lb). At most points in the day, I can feel movement if I just take a moment to pay attention. Also, movement is sometimes shift-like rather than just punches or kicks. There are times when you can really see my whole belly swerve.

It seems I may have hit a regression in the sleep department. I'm often awake from 4-6 am hours again and use this time to make lists in my head about all the things I need to do. It seems to be better if I get to bed at an earlier time and give myself plenty of time to wind down.

We have officially been keeping the gender a secret for 8 weeks. It has been even easier than I anticipated. I worry sometimes about pronouns, but neither of us has slipped on using he or she. We don't really refer to the kid by name at this point (even though we've had one all along) so it's not difficult to keep that from slipping either. Honestly, if I didn't care about a gender specific nursery, I would just wait until the birth for everyone to know, but I just can't wait that long to set it up. Hopefully our efforts pay off, but most people still don't get it. I'm worried that we won't get enough of the basics as it is (place for baby to sleep > tractor and pink paraphernalia). I'm not a very fun pregnant person to shop for. Sorry. Actually I'm not sorry.

I have decided I've hit the nesting stage full force, just in the last week. When it comes to baby things I want to get it all done immediately - the shopping, cleaning, and organizing. We did finally get new furniture for our bedroom, so the nursery is halfway set up. Our glider is also in, so we just have to go pick it up. I will be so ecstatic after the shower when I can put everything up and away (both the gifts and the stuff I've already purchased that I still have to hide). I would bet money that everything will be in place by the end of the day on Feb 15. I also really want my house deep cleaned, and have actually been fairly motivated to do it. I spent a good chunk of time completely overhauling our pantry (I will post eventually) and that was the sure fire sign that my butt is getting in gear.

One of the downsides to the nesting is that I want to buy things. It's like my organizing hobby has accelerated by a hundred. Etsy, Container Store, iKea, BBB... oh the stores I need to stay away from. I told myself that I wouldn't buy any baby clothing until after our shower, and I have stayed true to that (except for one onesie from Disney, of course). Otherwise, I'd say I'm ordering something baby related about every week. In reality I'm still doing minimal shopping, I'm just typically not a buyer so it's kind of weird to me.

               24 Weeks                                                     28 Weeks

**I'm actually 29 weeks, but wrote this last week before I got around to uploading the photos. We should have more updates coming your way soon - nursery, pantry, more Disney reports, and even our master bedroom :)

Eckhoffs Do Disney 2015: Part 2

Monday, January 5, 2015

It's EPCOT day! We get ready and meet at the bus stop about 8:00. Mom and Dad drive their car, so we meet them outside the turnstiles. We probably arrive at the park around 8:30 for a 9 am opening, so we have some time. We all head in and head toward Test Track.

Everyone gets right on, while Taryn and I stay with the kiddos. Barrett is a little sad to not be able to go with everyone else, but we walk about the Chevy displays at the ride exit before everyone returns. The boys go on to do Mission Space, while the girls decide to head over the the aquarium. We stop to meet Chip and Dale on the way and then make it to see the fish. When the boys are set, we head next door to the Land to meet back up. We have Soarin' FP+ for 9:55, and decide to split up. Mom, Dad, Andy and I walk on the ride around 10:15 and are quickly in. That ride is so calming and cool. Then, we swap with the others. Mom is on Landry duty, while Dad, Andy, and I take Barrett on Living with the Land. We get stuck right at the end and have to wait about 10 minutes in the boats, but we make it off just as everyone else is exiting Soarin.' We head to do Journey into Imagination which is a success. Barrett plays with all of the interactive stuff before we walk back to the aquarium. Another FP+ for Seas with Nemo!

This is another good, relaxing one. Afterward, we spend some time in the aquarium before splitting up. Andy and I slowly make our way into the World Showcase, making stops to sit every few countries. It is another sunny, comfortable day. We make it to Via Napoli in Italy for our 12:45 reservation just a few minutes behind schedule. Andy and I split a pizza (huge, but we somehow finish it). Others get varieties of pizza or pasta and all is super tasty.

After lunch, we all hop on the boat to cross the lake. Andy and I rush to make our FP+ for Spaceship Earth and make it just in time for 2:30. I love Spaceship Earth! Mom and Dad stayed to do Sum of All Thrills, while everyone else went back for a nap. We left the park right afterwards and got on a bus within minutes - another score.

I took a nap. At this point, we were all wearing down. But Andy and I were ready to go around 5:15, so we got on the bus to go back to the park. I wanted to eat at Sunshine Seasons, so I could get something fresh instead of fried. I got a super salad with chicken, craisins, and a vinaigrette. I'm not really into cold chicken so it was just okay. Andy got a pork chop, green beans, and mashed potatoes I believe. We also split a M&M cookie.

The boat ride at the Mexican pavillion isn't anything special, but I wanted to do it. We got popcorn quickly, and walked right on to the ride. At this point, everyone else had made it to the park and were eating in various countries. We met up with my parents at the caramel place in Germany and discussed what to do next. We had missed the showing of American Adventure, so after some mulling we decided to go to Impressions de France. Of course we miss a show by seconds, and wait for the next. This show is actually really great. It's almost like Soarin' but in a theater. The images were beautiful and it was a nice thing to do since we were tired. Afterward, dad and I stopped in the Les Halles bakery (umm yummy) and got a chocolate eclair. It was awesome.

At this point it was about time to start Illuminations, so we caught up with the group in Canada. I will say we didn't have the greatest view and at this point it was pretty chilly outside. The show was still a spectacle and we follow the rush of people to the buses. We hop on and Tissieres get the last few spaces just before we pull away - close call. It's bedtime.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

We wake and are at the bus around 8:15 for a 9 am Animal Kingdom park opening. Tissieres had driven and picked up my parents on the way, but we met up just fine as crowds were really minimal. After opening, we head to the back of the park to hop on Safari right away. I was really disappointed in this attraction. I am not sure what I expected but I wanted to see more animals. (Also, this ride has a pregnancy warning which I ended up ignoring, but won't be doing so in the future. It actually is really bumpy. And yes, I see the eye rolls from here Taryn and Allyson.)

I was super sore and tired already this day. We had FP+ for the 10:00 Lion King show, so Mom, Andy, and I went to reserve seats while the others walked through Pangani. The show was good and not too long. I went with Allyson to the child care center and sat while she fed Landry. The others went to do Expedition Everest. We met up with Tissieres who weren't on the ride and were able to see the others as they rode. It was lunchtime and we had planned to do Yak and Yeti counter service just down the way. We decided to go inside the sit-down restaurant and this ended up being a good call. We only had to wait a few minutes as the restaurant was just opening. Andy got a burger and I got orange chicken, which was awesome. I ate the whole plate for sure.

It was nearing 1:00 and Andy and I wanted to check out the souvenirs for baby. AK did not have a great selection so this ended up being a bust. Then we called it a day and went to the bus. This was definitely the most disappointing day of the trip because I felt like I did not see much of the park at all. But at this point I was so exhausted that all I really needed was a nap.

We quickly got on a bus and go home for a really long nap. We decided to leave for dinner around 5:45, so we hop on a bus to Magic Kingdom. We aren't staying to enter the park, but decide to take a boat ride across Bay Lake to the Polynesian for our dinner reservation at 7. It was around sunset, the weather was nice, and the boat ride was pretty short. We got to Ohana in plenty of time so people get various drinks and we eventually meet up with Joe, Dad, and Mom.

We get called to a table shortly after our 7 pm time slot and they happen to sit us at the most perfect table. We were right next to the window with a perfect view of Cinderella's Castle. But it was time to scarf, man..

I actually like that the menu is decided for you and is "all you care to eat." It was simple since we were a big group and everything tasted awesome. First, we were served welcome bread. I think this was pineapple something if I remember. Not everyone was a fan but I thought it was fine. Next we got lettuce wraps, which were delicious. Moving on to entrees, we got sweet and sour pork loin and sirloin steak - both really good. These were served with egg noodles and stir fried veggies. I am not sure what made the noodles so tasty, but they just were. They finished with bread pudding with bananas, ice cream, and caramel sauce. This doesn't sound good, but it's just amazing. I don't think I've ever put so much food in my stomach in my life. And I'm okay with that because it was worth it.

As we were eating, Wishes was going on. The restaurant played the music so we had all the bells and whistles to go along with the nice view. We take the monorail back to MK and hop on a bus for the hotel. It was a nice, rejuvenating day in prep for our big finish in the Magic Kingdom!

And yes, I am literally posting every picture I took. That is how terrible I was at photographing this trip. Oh well!

Eckhoffs Do Disney 2015: Part 1

I wasn't going to do a trip review for Disney, but figured what the heck. I'll try to condense as much as possible. It will still probably be a novel.

Day 1: Saturday, January 3, 2015

We woke at 2:30 am, loaded the car, and arrived at the Saxton's around 3:15. We pack the car and start the drive to Midway; roads are slushy and it's snowing. We arrived at Park, Ride, and Fly a little after 5 am and got on the shuttle right away. We got to Midway to check in, and the process maybe takes 15 minutes. We bypass to the "family" security which was super fast and we got to our gate probably around 6:15? We all grabbed something small for breakfast before loading the plane.

Take off was on time, but with the weather being poor, the flight was turbulent. I really thought we were going to die and I am usually a calm flyer. I finally take a short nap and we land just a few minutes ahead of schedule. We're safe! We didn't need to get baggage, so we search for the Magical Express station. After some confusion, we find it and board. Thankfully our resort is the first stop! We arrive at Old Key West about 11:30.

Check in was chaotic as the lobby was busy. We finally get checked in, but our room is not ready. We head to Allyson and Eric's room and catch Tissieres on the way. Perfect timing. We sort through groceries and quickly refresh. Our room opens just before we head to the park! The bus takes forever, but we get to Magic Kingdom about 2:00 maybe. It is crazy busy. We catch the dance party right as we walk in and separate to find lunch. Saxtons, Andy and I head to Tomorrowland Terrace and get burgers and chicken fingers. We quickly walk around before using our FP+ for the Festival of Fantasy Parade. It is pretty much awesome. Tissieres decide to head back to the hotel while the rest of us check off a few rides.

We walk right on to Peter Pan's Flight with FP+. That's a good start, so we head to Haunted Mansion. The wait is probably 30 minutes, but goes fairly quickly. Andy and Eric head next door to use FP+ for Splash Mountain, while Allyson and I go to the baby center so Landry can eat. It was nice to sit in the quiet for a bit. We meet up with the guys and head back. It's maybe 5:30 at this point, but we are all wiped and the park is really busy, so we take the bus back to the hotel. I think I just eat what's in the room, while Andy gets food at the grill station by the pool. We stay down there chatting for a while before hitting the hay.

Day 2: Sunday, January 4, 2015

We wake early to get ready for our 7:30 am reservation at Olivia's with the Saxtons, while Tissieres do characters at Hollywood and Vine. Thankfully Olivia's is right at Old Key West, so we don't have to go far :) There was probably only 3 other tables there, but for some reason service is a little slow. I ordered scrambled eggs and pancakes, Andy got biscuits and gravy, Eric got some crab cake thing, and Allyson got an Olivia's sampler (I think). It's all good. Our bus mojo still isn't that great, but we load the bus for Hollywood Studios and get there right at 9 am for park opening. It's much better crowd levels than MK yesterday. We meet Tissieres and the boys try to catch Rockin' Roller Coaster, but it's closed. They go on Tower of Terror, while the girls walk around. We go in to see Buzz and Woody, which is a hit. Then we move to the Disney Jr. show. Barrett is on energy steroids but loves seeing the characters.

We meet up with the guys again and get on Toy Story Mania with our FP+. The wait is short and the ride is quite enjoyable. I don't remember who got the most points but it was nice that we could all ride together. Next, we head to meet Mike and Sully - another big hit for Barrett, who gives them hugs and high fives. They stop to see the Lightning and Mater cars. Tissieres head back for nap time, while Saxtons and Andy use the Star Tours FP+ for 11:30. I sit at a table outside with Landry since I can't do this one anyway. I get a lemonade smoothie thing and Andy gets some popcorn. Allyson gets a chocolate shake and Eric tries the pulled pork mac and cheese at Min and Bill's. Then we head to the bus station where we wait for about 20 minutes - still no bus mojo. We get on the bus about 12:30. Eric and I head to the pool since the weather is perfect - about 80 and sunny. Andy joins after a bit. I soak for a few hours before quickly showering. We head back to HS about 5pm. Barrett and Joe stay in to catch up on rest.

First on the list is dinner. We try Brown Derby, but the wait time is too long. So we head back to Backlot Express for more burgers, chicken strips, and fries. It's dark by now so we check out Osborne Lights. It's definitely a cool display and we easily spot the not-so-hidden black cat. We mosey over to the academy and take a drawing class - Piglet! Then it was time for the 8:30 pm Fantasmic show.

The show is great, of course. Even with the mad dash of people afterward, we somehow manage to stay together and land in a bus immediately - score! We are all ready for bed. Mom and Dad have arrived at this point, so we figure our plans for tomorrow and head to our room.

I'll leave you with that for now :) Will update more soon...

26 Week Appointment

I had an 8:30 am appointment scheduled for Monday, January 12. Andy decided to go with me since he had a lighter work load and we had another ultrasound scheduled. It was really nice having him drive me because the roads were pretty icy and I've developed a phobia of driving that I need to get over.

We got there right on time and I got called back to the lab right away. Kathy explained the glucose test process and started with a blood draw. No big deal. I got to choose my glucose drink flavor (fruit punch) and had 5 minutes to drink. It actually tasted pretty good. I had no problems finishing it. Kathy noted the time (8:42) and I had an hour till the next blood draw.

I immediately went to the bathroom so I could finally pee and leave my sample. Then Jessica grabbed me to do my vitals and start my regular appointment. Blood pressure somewhere in the 100/58 range. Weight up 11 lb total (6 in the last 4 weeks-yikes). No weird symptoms to note. We went to an exam room and Dr. Emm came within a minute. Again, nothing interesting to note. She found the heartbeat right away and noted that it was high probably because of just drugging the poor kid with sugar. I didn't ask the exact BMP though. She said they would call if they had any problems with the glucose test or sonogram, but that no news would be good news. Since I'm a low risk boring pregnant person she let me go another 4 weeks between appointments rather than start the 2 week schedule. 

When I walked out of the room I saw the US tech looking for me, so we headed straight to ultrasound room. She still had to get spinal measurements and since we never got a good facial or profile view that was the goal. I felt bad because they had scheduled me for 8:45 with her so I was late. She said baby was in the perfect position to check the spine and all looked well. Then we played around for a while trying to get a peak of the face. No luck. I felt bad that Andy had bothered coming, but he said that he got some views so it was fine. Gender was again confirmed and we did get picture proof of that. I wish I would've asked for a weight estimate for baby but it should be about 2 lb. 

There wasn't too much time to kill at this point, so by the time I peed again and checked social media it was time for the second blood draw. It was super fast and easy. Then, I had a whole other hour to wait to do it again...

This waiting around in the lobby was kind of interesting. Lots of women crying (whether on the phone or in person). Ha! I felt for some of them because being pregnant can be crazy, dude. Andy had gone out to the truck to do work and make phone calls so I was by myself mostly. I expected to start to feel pretty crummy or hypoglycemic, but I just felt like napping, probably more from boredom. More time on my phone and it was 10:42. Last draw and I was all done! 

Hopefully this is a big month as far as getting things done, and I'll be back Feb. 9!