34 weeks!

Tripp and me at 34 weeks

Here we are at week 34! Can't believe how fast this pregnancy is flying by! I have enjoyed every minute of it...even the sleepless and uncomfortable nights! All because I know the end reward!! As usual here is a peek at what baby tripp is up to this week in his development:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. He will continue to gain about two or more pounds in the next six weeks. Now that your baby's brain has formed billions of neurons, it must accomplish the even more complex feat of hooking the neurons and synapses together. Your baby's brain is forming trillions of connections, making it possible for him to learn in the womb. All of this brain development may be the reason that your baby sleeps frequently at this stage. He may even be dreaming—his eyes dart around rapidly just as an adult's might in REM sleep.

So much going on in there! Tripp continues to stay active and moves constantly! He loves music and to listen to his daddy talk, that is when he moves the most! Carl and I were listening to music on friday night and Tripp was having a field day! It was too precious. We are pretty much completely done with Tripp's nursery with the exception of a few minor things. Once we are completely done I will post some final pics! Carl has been busy at work on a toy chest/bookshelf for tripp's room. It is looking really good so far and we can't wait to put it in his room! We have received so many gifts, gift cards and money from family and friends which have helped us out so much in preparation for this little boy. We are blessed!

We had a fun weekend. On friday night carl and I spent the night together in with dinner and movie. It was really nice to just enjoy each other's company. On saturday we attended a 50th surprise party for my uncle at gringos. We enjoyed spending time with family and of course some yummy mexican food and cake! My sister and nephews came into town and we were able to spend time with them as well. Today Carl and I went to church, had lunch together and then baby-sat our 1 year old nephew Jake, while his mom and yaya took blake to the movies. Jake has really taken an interest in his unborn cousin. He has become so fascinated with my growing belly. It is really too cute and funny. He will sit down in front of my belly pull up my shirt and just stare and/or rub and pat my belly. He has even tried talking his jibberish to my tummy. Today he even tried to share his juice with my belly. It is so precious!! I even got him to take a nap by laying down beside him and lifting up my shirt to reveal the belly, he just layed his head beside it and was asleep within minutes! Too cute!!! I have posted some pictures of Jake and his new fascination!

Jake hugging Tripp


"Hey Tripp come on out and play!"

Fascinating! ;)

Jake showing Tripp his feet

It has been a fun but tiring weekend! I find the more I do the more unbelievably tired and sore I am! I guess it will only get worse from here, but its ok with me:) We hope everyone has had a great weekend and has a great and blessed week! Thanks for catching up with us and we will update again soon!

Blessings,

Traci & Tripp

33 weeks and a weekend full of showers!!

It has been an eventful weekend to say the least! Carl and I are blessed to have such big and wonderful families, we were thrown two showers this weekend for baby tripp. But first, here is a look at what Tripp is up to in his development this week:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Tripp is getting bigger and bigger everyday....and believe me, I can feel it! His activity only increases and he continues to have consistent hiccups. But I am loving every minute of it! I have been getting really uncomfortable and have a hard time sleeping, but other than that I feel good! Carl has been so great to me, he massages where and when needed, he helps around the house, and he even puts up with all the crazy mood swings! I am so lucky to have him and Tripp will be very lucky to have him as a dad. I am blessed!!

So starting saturday we had our first shower. My mom, grandma and sister threw tripp his very first baby shower. It was the "Dempsey/Olivo shower" or in other words a shower for my side of the family and all of my wonderful friends and co-workers. It was so great to see so many close family and friends and we had a great time celebrating! Not to mention we recevived so many great gifts for Tripp which has helped us to get even more prepared! My two very best friends even came in from out of town to be there. There was such great food and an RJ Goodies cake (which were all very memorable to me;)). Below are some pictures from the shower.

the yummy cake!

Super Cute diaper wreath made by my sister Kelly

My Best friend Traci who drove in from dallas with her precious mom!





My Best Friend Kelly who also drove in from Dallas

Kelly, Becky, Lori and I

Mom, Carl's mom and me

My wonderful mom, grandma and sisters!

Mom and I

A glimpse of the yummy food!!

Diaper cake made by grandma

Grandma and me

Today Tripp had his second baby shower thrown by Carl's Aunts for the "Schindewolf/Cowan" side of the family. Again, we had some really delicious foods and another yummy cake! It was fun getting together with lots of Carl's family and friends of the family. We received even more gifts for Tripp and are now even more prepared for his arrival! I have posted some pictures from today's shower as well.

Mom, Carl's mom and me

The hostesses (Carl's aunts) and me



Tripp's cute cake

My family and me

Diaper Cake made by Carl's cousin Becky...so cute!

We are so blessed to have such loving families! It was a busy and tiring weekend but was so much fun! We want to thank all who came and who made these showers so special! We love you all!! We have such amazing friends and families....I just can't say it enough! Well we hope everyone has a blessed week and has had a great weekend. We will be updating again real soon!

Blessings,

Traci, Carl & Tripp

hiccup, hiccups and more hiccups!

So lately little tripp has had some major cases of the hiccups! He has them at least 2-3 times daily and usually has a good long lasting case about 2am. He has also been REALLY active! I can tell he is getting very big because I can feel his body moving around. I love to feel him moving around in there, it really never gets old!

I have still been counseling a few nights a week working on transitioning my clients hopefully within the next 2 weeks. It is during my sessions that Tripp decides to have a dance party in the womb! My tummy looks like it is convulsing! I usually have to put a pillow on my lap so little tripp does not become a distraction;) I guess he is going to be the life of the party, just like his dad....haha!

Tripp and I just got back from the gym, it is our favorite time of the day! We get lots of much needed energy. We also like to jam out to some of mommy's fave tunes! We are getting ready for a very excited weekend full of baby showers! Saturday my mom, sister and grandma are throwing a shower for baby tripp followed by Carl's family on sunday. We can't wait to get together with family and friends...and also secretly can't wait to have some rj goodies cake on saturday...yaya knows what we like;)

I just wanted to give a little update on our little all-star in there! We are off to run some errands while we are still on our energy high;) Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Blessings,
Traci & Tripp

32 Weeks Preggers!

Week 32: Tripp and I

Well here we are at week 32! Cannot believe how close we are to meeting our little boy! Tripp has been very active lately and has had the hiccups at least 1-2 times a day! Here is what our little champ is up to this week in his development:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds ) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

So amazing to read what is going on in there! Well this past week has been a rough one for mama. I have been fighting off a yucky cold which has been a cause of many sleepless nights! I am just now starting to feel a little better but have been experiencing some major pain in my legs! I feel like I ran a marathan, which I wish I could have done! I'm hoping a little gym time this week will help to soothe my leg pains, along with some nice leg massages from my hubby of course;) other than a few pains and feeling a little tired I am hanging in there pretty well. My tummy has been expanding so much lately I can hardly believe my eyes!! But that's ok because I know it means we have a big, strong healthy baby in there. Tripp loves to move, he especially loves to kick me in the ribs. He also loves to stick what we believe to be his bottom out of the side of my tummy! We just love our little boy so much already:)

Carl and I have been busy working on Tripp's nursery. We have even already received Tripp's new swing, sent to us from my aunt and uncle. we (by we I mean carl) of course put it together the moment we got it! I have posted a new picture of the dresser and how it is coming along. we still have to put the changing pad in the middle.

Carl and I had another nice weekend. We were able to spend a lot of quality time together, just the two of us which was really nice. Last night, we went to church and then went over to adam and jessica's to hang out and play games with them and Damian and Nina. All of us girls are 7 and 8 months preggo so it was quite an evening;) Jessica will be having baby judd in february and nina and I will be having tripp and evan in march. Lots of new boys and lots of playdates to come!! Today we helped to move my little sister back up to school. It is crazy to think of how fast time flies. Carl and I can remember moving ourselves back to school and now here we are years later happily married and with a baby on the way! God is Great!! Sadly, I would have to say the highlight of my day was lunchtime when my mom treated us to some delicious food including fried pickles!! YUM!! Definitely need that gym time tomorrow;)

Well we hope everyone had a great weekend and has a blessed week ahead! As usual we will update again soon!! I wanted to close with a great passage for starting off the new year, enjoy!

"Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight..." Proverbs

Blessings,

Traci & Tripp

Week 31 and Happy Birthday MOM!

Mom and her 2 grandsons at lunch

Just wanted to start out today by wishing my awesome mom a very happy birthday! She will always be not only my mom, but my best friend as well!! I am lucky to have her and Tripp will be very lucky to have her for a "YaYa"!

Here we are at week 31! I can't believe we will be seeing our little boy in 8 weeks or less! We can't wait. As usual here is a peek into his development this week:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

According to that information, all I can say is that Tripp seems to be very active and healthy! This little boy loves to jump around the womb. When I notice the most movement is when: 1. He hears his daddy's voice and 2. When I am listening to music. It is such an amazing feeling, I know all you moms out there know exactly what I'm saying! I don't mind that it keeps me up at night! The newest thing I've been feeling is what I am pretty sure is hiccups. At first I wasn't sure what it was but then as I read some of my pregnancy books I realized that hiccups were most likely what I was feeling. Most of the time Carl can feel them on the outside too! Other than that things have been going really well. I get tired really easily and find myself needing more and more "power naps" but other than that I feel good. I think going to the gym and working out helps to give me energy and helps to make me feel better. I am going to continue to do so until I can't anymore! We now start going to the doc every two weeks starting this next week! Can't believe it! I will of course update with any new information!

Carl and I had a fun and relaxing weekend. We went to watch our good friend lance coach his jv basketball team on friday night. It's always fun to watch lance coach! Afterwards we went over to adam and jessica's and hung out for a bit. We got home pretty late which is really rare for us, especially these days;) On saturday I went to Baytown to watch my nephew play basketball. It was entertaining as usual to watch 5/6 year olds play! Saturday night Carl and I spent at home together in our warm house! This morning Carl and I went to church and then went and celebrated my mom's birthday with my family. It was a great day! Carl is outside right now climbing in a tree cutting braches off with a chainsaw, needless to say I am inside the house trying to stay away from the window and witnessing that nerve racking scene!

Well I hope everyone has had an awesome weekend and has a blessed upcoming week! We will be updating again real soon!

Blessings,
Traci & Tripp

Tripp's Nursery

Well I just wanted to post a few pics of how Tripp's nursery is coming along. Especially since Carl finished the changing table/dresser this past weekend! I couldn't wait to show all how talented my hubby is!

the changing table! (we will be putting the changing pad in the middle and still have lots of shelves to fill!)

Tripp's crib and glider (we are still working on getting the glider recovered, the ottoman is already covered with the fabric we chose)

We are still working on his nursery but now all the furniture is in there! We have our baby showers coming up and I can't wait to get his room completely set up! We can't wait to meet him...it's just around the corner. I've even already started working on his baby book!

So I just wanted to post a few pics and give a little update on the nursery. Today Tripp and I are staying inside and keeping warm! Hope everyone has a great weekend! We will be updating again soon.

Blessings,

Traci & tripp

Week 30 and Happy 2010!

Tripp and I: end of week 29

WOW...2010! Can't believe how fast last year flew by! A lot happened in 2009 including finding out we were going to be parents of a little boy! Now we can't wait to see all the blessings in store for us in 2010...including meeting our son and becoming a mom and a dad. Speaking of flying by fast, we are now at week 30! This pregnancy has really been going fast. Here's a little update on what our little man is up to in his development:

Your baby's face looks much like it will when he's born. He still needs to fill out more to get the characteristic chubby infant cheeks, but he's on his way. He can move his head, open his eyes, and make breathing movements through his open nostrils (although no air comes in). As baby's skin smoothes out, his brain just keeps getting more wrinkled. All those grooves and indentations increase surface area, meaning more room for that oh-so-essential brain tissue. He's also adding some brawn -- his grip is now strong enough to grasp a finger.

So much going on with that little guy! We really can't wait to meet him! We have been busy preparing the nursery (and by 'we' I mean Carl;)) Carl has finished the changing table/dresser and it looks amazing! I will post some pictures as soon as we get it in the nursery. Carl also put in some new outlets in order to hang my new tv on the wall! Having that tv will be essential for those many late nights to come;) We have also been busy getting our glider recovered. Like I said, I will be posting pics soon! But perhaps the biggest news of all...we finally decided on a middle name: Tripp Ryder Schindewolf. Carl has really been pushing for ryder, and I was pushing for ryan, but we decided on ryder. Either way I'm glad we have finally made a decision!

Well we had a happy new years. We rang in the new year with adam, jessica and joshua. We grilled burgers and had some yummy snacks and had a good time. My mom and sister even stopped by for some of carl's delicious burgers. Sadly, we did not make it to midnight. Tripp and I were really tired and fell asleep at about 10. I did wake up at midnight to all the fireworks and rolled over to say happy new year to the hubby who was soundly sleeping as well! Wow, we are so exciting! Needless to say we are excited about 2010...especially since we get to meet Tripp! On New Years Day we went over to mom's for a yummy lunch! It's a tradition we've had since we were young. It just wouldn't be New Year's Day without eating lunch at mom's. The rest of the day was spent lazying around....a perfect way to start off the new year;)

Saturday mom, kelly, the boys and I all went and did some shopping and had lunch together. As evident by the cute little pic, we wore poor little jake out! It was just too cute not to post!

Shopping with the girls makes me tired!

We also managed to have some pictures of us taken. I have been wanting to do so before this little boy comes out and graces us with his presence. Carl was a good sport, even though we all know how much he loves getting his picture taken. My talented sister took all the pictures for us! I have posted some of my faves.

Just the two of us...but not for long!

Baby love!

Carl's smiling!

Tripp Ryder Schindewolf

Well it's time to wrap it up and get ready for church! We had an eventful week and weekend. Thanks for catching up with us this week and we hope everyone has a blessed 2010! We will update again real soon!!

Blessings,

Traci & Tripp