baby bean

Update

2009-02-24T18:05:00.000-08:00

In the hospital. Getting ready for the epidural. Baby should be here by early tomorrow morning!

1 More Week!!

2009-02-17T11:15:00.000-08:00

I go today for my last week of doctor appointments! Yay! We should schedule the induction today for next Tuesday. February 24,2009 to be exact. I'll have more details when I get back from the appointment so hang out about 2 hours for that update.

The nursery is all ready. We brought the cradle over last night. We have decided to keep that in the nursery and not in our room. I want the baby to be in his/her own room when we get home. Everything looks really good. We have some pictures hung around the room which looks really nice. And all of the bedding turned out great! Mom is so talented. I'll take some pictures and post them soon. We need to go pick up the glider and I guess we still need to paint the knobs on the dresser haha. We'll do that this week for sure. Clothes are all put away, bumpers are on the crib, oh, and we need to hang the curtains too. I am loving the way it looks.

I can't wait to be a mom!

36 Weeks

2009-02-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

Your baby's skull isn't the only soft structure in his or her little body. Most of your baby's bones and cartilage are quite soft as well (they'll harden over the first few years of life) — allowing for an easier journey as your baby squeezes through the birth canal at delivery (and less prodding and poking for Mom along the way). At 36 weeks pregnant, the skull bones are also not fused together yet so that the head can easily (well, relatively easily) maneuver through the birth canal.

So your little bruiser (who you've now learned won't be bruising you all that much with those soft bones) is now about six pounds in weight and measures slightly more than 20 inches in length. Growth will experience a slowdown now, both so your baby will be able to fit the narrow passageway to the outside and also so he or she can store up all the energy needed for delivery.

By now, many of your baby's systems are pretty mature, at least in baby terms — and just about ready for life on the outside. Blood circulation, for instance, has been perfected and your baby's immune system has matured enough to protect him or her from infections outside the womb. Other systems, however, still need a few finishing touches. Once such notable example: digestion — which actually won't be fully mature until sometime after birth. Why's that? Inside his or her little gestational cocoon, your baby has relied on the umbilical cord for nutrition, meaning that the digestive system — though developed — hasn't been operational. So your baby will take the first year or two to bring that system up to speed.

34 Weeks

2009-02-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

Your baby could be as tall as 20 inches right now and about five pounds. Need a visual? Hold a five-pound bag of flour in your arms and imagine it's your soon-to-be-born baby (cradle it, and you'll only get strange looks in the baking aisle). Then stack three such bags one on top of the other (and get ready for some more strange looks, maybe from the same clerks who saw you grinning and holding that one-pound box of sugar a few weeks ago). That's how tall your baby is at 34 weeks pregnant. (Now go bake some oatmeal raisin cookies with all that flour!)

If your little doughboy is, well, a boy, then you'll be pleased to know that this week his testicles are making their way down from his abdomen to his scrotum. (Some baby boys — three to four percent — are born with undescended testicles, but they usually make the trip down sometime before the first birthday.)

Your baby's fingernails now reach the end of the fingertips and may even curl over the tip, making a manicure one of the first things you'll need to do for your little bundle

Only 2 1/2 weeks to go!! We can't wait! Well, I can't wait. I'm really sick of being so itchy all the time. Everything else I can deal with but the itching is really getting old. I've gained 21 pounds as of Tuesday and I have another appointment tomorrow so I'm sure that number will change slightly.

I am also a little sick of the same questions over and over and over again. So for those of you (I think Hannah is the only one who reads this thing) who want to ask.. I'll just go ahead and give you some answers.

1. I am due the last week in February.

2. NO! We don't have a set date yet, we won't have one until the week before.

3. YES! I am being induced. NO! I am not having a C-section.

4. NO! We don't know the gender and never intended to find out.

5. It's more fun that way. Trust me.

6. I've only gained 21 pounds.

7. YES! We think it's a boy too.

8. YES! I am coming back to work after the baby is born.

9. It will only be part time in the mornings but I will be coming back.

10. NO! We are not putting kiddo in daycare. James will stay home in the morning and we will switch at lunch.

11. The baby's room is green. Not pastel green. Kelly green.

I'm sure I will think of more but right now this is all I've got.

33 Weeks

2009-01-25T21:33:00.000-08:00

Only 4 more weeks for us. They definitely want to take kiddo at 37 weeks! I have another appointment tomorrow morning and then one again on Thursday where they'll do our last ultrasound (unless they do one the week I deliver but I doubt that). James gets to come to that one too. Fun fun. He'll just get to see the NST that they do which are terribly exciting.

Here's what's going on with baby:

This week your baby may be anywhere between 17 to 19 inches in length and weigh more than four and a half pounds. At this stage in fetal development, your baby could grow a full inch more this week alone — especially if he or she has been on the shorter side. Weight gain can range from a third more growth to a full doubling before the big debut.

The level of amniotic fluid in your uterus has reached its maximum at 33 weeks pregnant, making it likely that you have more baby than fluid now. That's one reason why you're probably feeling lots of nudges and pushes — there's less liquid to cushion the blows. (Of course that means you're even closer to your baby now!)

If your uterine walls had eyes, here's what you'd see: your fetus acting more and more like a baby, with his or her eyes closing during sleep and opening while awake. And because those uterine walls are becoming thinner, more light penetrates the womb, helping your baby differentiate between day and night (now if only baby can remember that difference on the outside!).

And good news! Your baby has reached an important milestone about now: The development of his or her own immune system that (along with antibodies from you) will be able to provide protection from mild infections.

32 Weeks

2009-01-18T10:13:00.000-08:00

This week your baby weighs almost four pounds and could be up to 19 inches long. And though that's a head-to-toe length, your baby is actually back to a curled-up position (you try standing up in those cramped quarters!). At 32 weeks pregnant, you're likely feeling tapping and squirming instead of your baby's signature rocking and rolling. That's because, while comfy, your baby is a bit tight for exercise space right now. Your baby has also probably settled into the head-down, bottoms-up position in your pelvis in prepartion for birth. That's because the fetus's head fits better at the bottom of your inverted, pear-shaped uterus. It also makes it easier during childbirth if your baby comes out head first. Fewer than five percent of babies prefer the bottom-down (or breech) position by full-term. Don't worry if your baby hasn't assumed the head-down position yet. There's still a good chance he or she will flip head-side-down before birth — even in the tight confines of your uterus.

While your baby is still getting nourishment through the umbilical cord, it won't be long before you'll be bringing on the breast milk or formula (and soon after, the mashed carrots and peas). In anticipation of that momentous transition to mouth feeding, your baby's digestive system is all set and ready to go.

And because your baby is accumulating more fat, his or her skin is finally turning opaque (like yours), which means those see-through days are over. Though weeks away from D-day, your baby's looking more and more like a newborn.

And speaking of that big day, hope you're resting up for it — because your bambino certainly is. In preparation for that big first date with you, your baby is sleeping like a baby — with sleep cycles of 20 to 40 minutes long (which would also account for the decrease in movement you're likely feeling these days).

31 Weeks

2009-01-11T19:50:00.000-08:00

As far as growth goes, your baby's still on a roll, measuring an impressive 18 inches and weighing in at more than three pounds. At 31 weeks pregnant, you can still expect your baby to gain at least three to five pounds, possibly more, before you two meet.

Your baby's brain is working overtime these days, developing faster than ever. Connections between individual nerve cells are growing at a frenetic clip, and your baby can now perceive information from all five senses. Sure, your baby can't smell anything right now, but that's only because he or she is still submerged in amniotic fluid and needs to be breathing air to get a whiff of anything. Lucky for you — and your baby — yours will be one of the very first scents your baby breathes in, a scent that will quickly become his or her very favorite.

So what's your little dove doing all day while you're busy feathering your nest for his or her arrival? Making faces, hiccupping, swallowing, breathing, pedaling with little hands and feet along your uterine wall, and even sucking his or her thumb. In fact, some babies suck their thumbs so vigorously while in the womb that they're born with a callus on their thumb (what a little sucker!).

30 Weeks 4 Days

2009-01-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

30 Weeks 3 Days

2009-01-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

So they have finally confirmed that I have cholestasis which has been causing all of the itching. Thankfully I'm on medicine for it and it has helped a ton! The only thing that will change is I am going in 2x a week now, Mondays for a stress test and Thursdays for labs. And.. baby will end up coming early. Like at 37 or 38 weeks. Yay! But.. that's only 7 or 8 weeks away!!!! Holy cow!! We are excited! But the doctors say everything looks good still. Nothing to be worried about. I just get that extra monitoring. But heck, the stress test involves me sitting in a comfy recliner listening to a heartbeat for 20 minutes. Can't beat that!

Your baby's height and weight haven't changed much in the past week, but the big news is your baby's brain gain. Until now, the surface of your baby's brain was smooth. Now, your fetus's brain is taking on those characteristic grooves and indentations. The reason for this change in appearance? Those wrinkles allow for an increased amount of brain tissue — a necessary change as your developing baby prepares for life outside your womb, and the street smarts he or she will need.

Another big change at 30 weeks pregnant: Your baby's bone marrow has taken over production of red blood cells (before, tissue groups and then the spleen took care of producing the blood cells). This is an important step for your baby, because it means he or she is better able to thrive on his or her own once born (with a little TLC from you, of course).

So it's in with the new (brain cells, red blood cells) and out with the old (lanugo). Much of the lanugo — the soft, downy hair covering your baby's body — is beginning to disappear now because both fat and the brain are regulating your baby's body temperature (so no need for that furry coat anymore). But you may see a few leftover strands of fur on your newborn's back and shoulders.

Our Sweetie

2008-12-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

28 Weeks 1 Day

2008-12-22T11:27:00.000-08:00

Third trimester here I come!! I can't believe we only have 3 more months before we meet our sweet baby!!! I can't wait!! So the new fun thing going on is that I am ITCHY!!! And when I say "fun thing" I really mean, NOT ONE BIT OF FUN! It started about a week ago with my belly which they say is normal. But then a few days ago, my feet and hands have been itching. After my showers, it would seem to go away so I could sleep. Plus, James is putting lotion on me every night which has helped a lot. But recently, it hasn't gone away. I woke up Sunday morning and couldn't go back to sleep because my hands itched so bad. And then last night, it was so bad I called the doctor. She told me take a Benadryl and get some Zyrtek for during the day. So last night I took a cool shower, popped a Benadryl, put some lotion on and went to bed. At 4:00 this morning, I was still wide awake and itching more than ever. I tried taking a cool bath with baking soda to see if that would calm me down. Nothing. So James, my sweet sweet husband, took me to the ER to see if they could give me something that would help. I was so frustrated from the itching and not sleeping that if we had cut my hands off, I wouldn't have minded!! So after answering a million of the same questions, they gave me a Benadryl via IV which seemed to help a lot. I felt pretty drunk as soon as it went in but I managed to get a little bit of sleep. They also took some lab work to check my liver and kidneys. The liver levels were slightly elevated but nothing to be concerned about and my kidneys looked fine. Thankfully I go to see the doctor tomorrow morning so we can talk more about it. We finally left the ER at 6:45 and James and I went home and crashed. He ended up having to go to work but I took the day off. It is currently almost 3 and I think the Zyrtek is working. I'm trying to stay awake the rest of the day so I will get some sleep tonight.

In other baby news:

Baby still moves around a lot. Lots of somersaults. Lots of fun! James and I sit and feel for movement every night before bed. So sweet!

Joy has agreed to take some pregnancy pictures for us before baby comes! I can't wait. Also, she wants to do some newborn shots after the baby is born. I told her that since we are going to have the cutest baby ever, I think we could work something else!

Now what the baby is doing (according to the website!)..

Are you dreaming about your baby? At 28 weeks pregnant, your baby may be dreaming about you, too. Brain wave activity measured in a developing fetus shows different sleep cycles, including the rapid eye movement phase, the stage when dreaming occurs.

By now, your baby, who weighs in at about two and a half pounds and stands — or rather lies — at almost 16 inches (measured head to toe) has added blinking to his or her growing bag of tricks. (Outside in the real world, blinking is necessary to help keep foreign objects out of the eyes.) Other impressive new talents being added to your baby's roster in the womb include coughing, more intense sucking, and, perhaps most important, better breathing.

The good news is that babies born this week, though premature, have an excellent prognosis because their lungs have reached the point (for the most part) of maturity — so you too can breathe a little easier now. Of course, it's still best if a baby doesn't check out of that uterine hotel just yet — there's still a lot of growing and maturing to do over the next 12 weeks.

27 Weeks 1 Day

2008-12-14T20:47:00.001-08:00

Most babies this age, yours included, still like to snuggle in a slightly curled position inside the uterus (thus the term "fetal position"). Even so, beginning at this stage, your baby's length will be measured from top of head to toe — which makes your baby nearly a full 15 inches now. And at just over two pounds, he or she has doubled in weight from four weeks ago.

Your baby's auditory development (hearing) is progressing as the network of nerves to the ears matures. And even though the sounds your baby hears are muffled (thanks to the creamy coating of vernix covering those ears), he or she may recognize both yours and your partner's voices. So this might be a good time to read and even sing to your baby (or rather, your belly) — and a good chance to start boning up on those nursery rhymes and lullabies you'll need to be repeating (and repeating) pretty soon. And while you're at it, here's another way to have some family fun at 27 weeks pregnant: If your partner presses his ear to your belly, he might be able to hear the baby's heartbeat.

Your baby's taste buds are very developed now too (with more taste buds than he or she will ever have outside the womb, actually). Need a taste test? If you eat some spicy food (you hot mama, you), your baby will be able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid (but keep in mind that you'll have different mealtimes, with your baby's coming about two hours after yours). Some babies will even respond to that spicy kick by hiccupping. And although hiccups (which feel like belly spasms to you) may seem like they're disturbing to your baby, he or she isn't stressed at all. It's just one more sensation that babies need to get used to.

26 Weeks 1 Day

2008-12-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

Look who's looking. Your baby's eyes — which have been closed for the past few months (so that the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop) — are beginning to open at 26 weeks pregnant. What this means is that your baby is able to see what's going on now (unfortunately the view in your uterus isn't all that exciting). But do try this at home for kicks (baby's that is): Shine a flashlight at your stomach. Your baby might kick in response (as in: "Get that light out of my eyes!"). The iris, the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have much pigmentation (that'll fill in over the next month or two), so it's too early to start guessing your baby's eye color. Even the color your baby will be born with might not be the permanent shade; so you may be kept guessing until your baby is close to six months old.

Look what else is going on this week: Your baby's brain-wave activity is kicking in at this stage in fetal development, which means your little one can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them. Not in so many words, of course, but with an increase in pulse rate or activity.

And talking about activity, at your baby's current height and weight (about nine inches tall and two pounds), and at the rate he or she is growing, your baby will soon be feeling a little cramped in your uterus. Not to worry, there's still plenty of room for your baby to grow. It just means your gymnast will have less room for those somersaults, cartwheels, and other Olympic feats.

25 1/2 Weeks

2008-12-04T19:55:00.000-08:00

25 Weeks 1 Day

2008-12-01T14:22:00.000-08:00

At nine inches and more than a pound and a half in weight, your baby is taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other, and almost as heavy as four of those little boxes (an analogy you'll find particularly apropos in a few years, when those juice boxes start taking over your refrigerator, your pantry, your car.…).

Don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker. No, not because he or she's getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping your baby at an always comfortable temperature), but because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But at 25 weeks pregnant, those lungs are still very much works in progress. Though they are already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs expand after the baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he or she exhales.

The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths. (Of course since there's no air in there, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?)

Baby is really moving around. James and I like to feel him right before we go to sleep. That's when Bean decides to get his last kicks of the day in. I am getting very round. Only in the front though. It's nice that I'm carrying my little basketball right up front and nothing around the sides. Ginger sent a ton of maternity clothes home with my parents. What a blessing!! I made poor James watch me try on like every piece of clothing in that bag! What a good sport! And we cleaned out our closet to make room for all of the new clothes.

Another doctor's appointment tomorrow. Maybe I'll finally have a date for our next ultrasound =) Until then..

Mama L

24 Weeks

2008-11-23T11:48:00.000-08:00

Your baby weighs more than a pound and a half right now and sports a crown-to-rump length of about eight and a half inches (standard letter size!).

Wondering what (and who) your baby will look like? If you had a baby cam at 24 weeks pregnant, you'd almost be able to tell by now. That beautiful face (though still tiny) is almost fully formed. What's still missing from the picture is the fat that will be piled on under baby's skin. Until those fat deposits are made, that very tender skin is still very transparent, which means a close look would let you see clear through to all the organs, bones, and blood vessels. Fortunately, that see-through look won't last much longer. Babies at this stage of fetal development are gaining about six ounces each week — with much of that gain coming from fat, in addition to growing organs, bones, and muscle.

What's been playing on your little rocker's stereo system these days? All kinds of sounds can be heard by your baby in your womb: from air exhaling from your lungs (deep breath now), those gastric gurgles produced by your stomach and intestines, your voice and your partner's (which your baby will be able to recognize at birth), and even very loud sounds such as honking horns, barking dogs, or a wailing fire truck.

23 Weeks

2008-11-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

At eight inches and slightly over a pound, your baby is the size and shape of a small doll when you are 23 weeks pregnant. (But then, you already knew that you were carrying a living doll, didn't you?) This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby's weight in the next four weeks alone should double (and you may feel as though yours is too).

You have probably heard your developing baby's heartbeat through a Doppler a number of times already (though you never get tired of hearing it), but by now you can also hear it through a standard stethoscope. What a heart throb!

Your baby's skin is reddish in color now because of the developing blood vessels underneath (remember, the skin is very thin still). It also hangs loosely from his or her little body at this point. That's because the skin grows faster than the fat develops during fetal growth. But don't worry. By the time your baby is born, he or she will be pleasantly plump and filled out — from chubby cheeks to chubby toes.

We Have Movement!

2008-11-13T16:53:00.001-08:00

Yes! We felt Bean move for the first time on Sunday night. Very cool. We just sat there with our hands on my belly for a while before we went to sleep and could feel him/her moving ever so slightly across my belly. So awesome!

I keep thinking I am feeling Bean move more, but it could just be gas. Ha! But seriously, it really could just be gas.

Hopefully I'll get a good picture this weekend! I realize I haven't posted a belly shot in a while. Be patient, it's coming.

Meanwhile, I'm still peeing all the time. And getting to sleep is still difficult. Also, laying on my back for any amount of time makes it terribly difficult to get up. Oh, and my feet are starting to really hurt by the end of the work day.

Other than that, everything looks good. Feeling great. Sometimes looking great haha. My skin is still freaking out on me sometimes. It will look great for a few days and then look terrible for the next few days. Annoying.

I am also carrying out front, not around the sides. That really makes me think that we are having a boy but who knows. That was my question of the day at work.. did you carry out front or all around? Haha, I love working with tons of women that have birthed children. So many stories.

Mama L

22 weeks 4 days

2008-11-13T16:49:00.000-08:00

Guess what? At 22 weeks pregnant, your baby has finally broken the one-pound mark. How heavy is that? Hold a one-pound box of sugar in your hand the next time you're in the grocery story (and expect people to ask you why you're grinning from ear to ear). Is the box eight inches long? That's about the length your baby is too!

This week, your sweetie is making more sense of the world as he or she develops the sense of touch. In fact, your little one's grip is quite developed by now — and since there's nothing else to grab in utero, he or she may sometimes hold on tight to that umbilical cord (don't worry — it's tough enough to handle it). The sense of sight is also getting more developed. Your fetus can now perceive light and dark much better than before (even with those fused eyelids). But remember — unless you're shining a flashlight over your belly (which you can do, by the way), it'll be mostly dark for your baby inside that cozy womb of yours.

Moving up from the eyes, the eyelashes and eyebrows are well formed now — and even more hair is sprouting atop that cute little head. You'd be quite surprised, though, if you could see your little one up close and in color. Hair at this stage of fetal development has no pigment, so it's bright white.

Oh Appointments..

2008-11-05T19:37:00.000-08:00

.. how I love thee. Seriously, they only take about 5 minutes!

We had another one yesterday. Just our regular monthly check-up. Dr. Zimmerman this time. He wasn't bad. So far the only one I haven't been crazy about is Dr. Henderson. He's older and has a very dry sense of humor (not a bad thing) but he also delivered my sister.. 18 years ago!! W.E.I.R.D!

But anyways, everything checked out wonderfully. I am measuring right on target which is great. I feel huge but as long as it all looks good, I'm ok with it. Also, I've only gained 9.5 lbs!! They say at 20 weeks you should have gained 10lbs so I'm on target with that too. It feels like I've gained 40lbs though!! Haha. My goal is no more than 25lbs. But that only gives me 15 more haha! We'll see. My mom only gained 25 with both Hannah and me so I think I'll do ok. Plus, I'm "young and will bounce right back after I have this baby."

PS: James comes to the appointments and loves it! He was so funny yesterday when they were listening to the heartbeat. You could hear mine too and it was obviously much slower than Beany's but when the doctor mentioned you could hear 2 beats, James kinda freaked out for a second. I knew that he meant but James had this funny look on his face. I told him that I think they would have found the 2nd baby by this point if we were having twins!! Haha so funny though!

Bed time. Sleeping is harder and harder. Well, getting comfortable is harder and harder. Sleeping is still easy and I still do it A LOT!

Mama L

21 weeks 1 day

2008-11-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

At about seven inches in length and almost 11 ounces in weight, your baby is about the size of a large banana.

By now, your baby swallows at least several ounces of amniotic fluid each day — not only for hydration and nutrition, but also to practice swallowing and digesting — skills your baby will need as soon as he or she arrives in your arms. And keep this in mind: The taste of the amniotic fluid differs from day to day depending on what you've eaten (spicy enchilada one day, sweet carrots another). And that smorgasbord of tastes won't be lost on your baby. That's because your little one has very developed taste buds already. In fact, researchers have noted that babies who were exposed to certain tastes in utero via the amniotic fluid were more eager to eat foods with that same taste after birth. Want your baby to eat his or her broccoli later? Eat yours now!

Your developing baby still has a great deal of room in your womb — though like anyone who lives in one space for a long time, this tenant will soon begin to feel cramped. Until those uterine walls start closing in, however, there's plenty of space for twisting, turning, and even an occasional somersault (so that's what you were feeling last night!).

With all that belly dancing going on, it's hard to believe your baby gets any sleep at all. But believe it or not, your fetus sleeps as much as a newborn, perhaps 12 to 14 hours per day! (Now if only you could get some sleep!)

ps.

2008-11-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

The blue does NOT mean we are having a boy.. or does it?! Haha just kidding. But seriously, we don't know and we aren't finding out so you get to wait it out with us. Only 133 more days!

mama L

So..

2008-10-30T18:13:00.002-07:00

.. I'm a little behind on updating this blog.

Things are going great. I've really got the pregnant belly now. It was so cute, this morning I was laying on my back and all of my fat was sucked down towards the bed and there was this nice little bump. I still like to think when I am standing that the bump is still mostly fat but it's so cute to see that bump there!

No, I haven't felt the baby move yet. Believe me, I will let you know when I do. They say it feels like butterflies in your stomach. So far, just gas pains.. not so fun.

I am sleeping on my side now. Unfortunately I have to sleep with a pillow between my legs in order to keep my back from hurting. On our honeymoon, I woke up the first night with my back hurting so bad.. poor James gave me his pillow to put between my legs for the rest of the night. Since then, it's an every day kind of thing. I do have a long body pillow that works nicely. We bought that a few months ago when we first found out we were pregnant thinking I would need it much earlier. But it's coming in handy now. I love it.

I bought this ridiculously funny baby shirt while Dad and I were in Texas. It's this little guy kicking and saying "I have Restless Leg Syndrome." BAHAHAHAHA I laughed so hard when I saw it. PS: if you didn't know.. I don't believe in RLS.. sorry.

We have another appointment next Tuesday. Hopefully just another short one (they literally last 5 minutes). James will get to come this time (I forgot to call him last time and was done by the time he got inside.. not good). But he will come this time. He's excited. We get to meet Dr. Zimmerman. I have heard he's not the favorite in that group but we'll see. Hopefully he won't be too bad.

Still wearing my regular jeans!! Well.. just one pair. But I LOVE it. They are very low rise and sit right below my belly so I can still button them.

That's it for now. Until Sunday (hopefully!)

Mama L

20 Weeks

2008-10-30T18:13:00.001-07:00

You've got a heavyweight in your belly now (well, in baby terms, anyway). Your little champ weighs about ten ounces and has a height, crown to rump, of about six and a half inches. Think small cantaloupe (and probably as sweet too).

Is it a boy cantaloupe or a girl cantaloupe? You'll be able to find out your baby's gender via the ultrasound by this point. If you're carrying a girl fetus, her uterus is fully formed this week and her vaginal canal is starting its development (which means that in about twenty-five or thirty-some-odd years, she could be just where you're at, Grandma!). She also has primitive eggs in her tiny little ovaries now, seven million of them — though by the time she's born, that number will be down to two million (still more than she could ever hope to use). And interestingly, your baby girl will be born with all the eggs she'll ever have.

Have you got male? If your fetus is a boy, his testicles have begun their descent this week, though they're still located in the abdomen, waiting for the scrotum to finish growing so they'll have a place to drop into in a few weeks.

Though the external genitals in both male and female fetuses still have a way to grow, you should be able to find out the sex of your baby (if you want to) during an ultrasound exam.

18 Weeks 3 Days

2008-10-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Ok so this picture is from Sunday but it was a good belly shot.

17 Weeks

2008-10-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

simply beautiful.

15 Weeks 1 Day

2008-09-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

Curious why your body is finally looking like it's pregnant? That's because your baby is growing bigger each week — he or she is as long as four and a half inches right now. Need a better visual (and a snack)? Hold a large navel orange in your hand — that's how big your little darlin' is. (Now that you're done looking, peel that orange and eat it for a delicious two servings of vitamin C!).

So what keeps your baby busy all day? Mostly, your fetus is in rehearsals — practice, practice, practicing, and getting ready for that big debut. Babies practice breathing, sucking, and swallowing so that when they leave your comfy womb and move into your comfy house, they'll have the skills necessary to survive.

Fetal body movements continue to get practice this week, too. But because your baby weighs so little (a bit over two ounces), you won't feel the calisthenics going on inside your abdominal gym. But don't let that fool you. Your fetus is holding daily aerobics classes — kicking, curling toes, and moving those little arms and legs.

And with each passing week, your fetus is looking more and more like the baby you're picturing in your dreams. By now, the ears are positioned properly on the sides of the head (they used to be in the neck) and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face — where they'll soon meet your loving gaze.

Only 2 more weeks until the Level 2 ultrasound! So excited!!! That also means only 2 more weeks until my wedding!! It's sneaking up on us like nobody's business. We are moving this weekend! New apartment. Can't wait.

14 Weeks

2008-09-14T17:56:00.000-07:00

If you could peek inside yourself now, you'd see a baby the size of your clenched fist (and come to think of it, at 14 weeks of fetal development, your little one can clench his or her own fist!). As fetal development continues, your baby also has the coordination, strength, and smarts to wiggle his or her fingers and toes and even suck a thumb (how cute is that?).

At 14 Weeks Pregnant, Your Baby is a Mover (But Not a Shaker Yet)

Growing by leaps and bounds, by week 14 of pregnancy, your baby is leaping and bounding. He or she is on the move almost constantly — and those movements are a far cry from those jerky twitches of last trimester (though you won't feel any of them for weeks to come). They are now ballet-like, smooth and fluid.

Your Baby at 14 Weeks: Developing Perfect Posture (or Better Posture, at Least)

Speaking of ballet, it'll be years before you'll start nagging your offspring to stand up straight — but unbelievably, he or she is doing it right now, without any prodding! No slouch anymore, your baby's neck is getting longer, helping his or her head stand more erect. This gives your 14-week-old fetus a more straightened-out appearance.

Your Little Bigfoot — A Hairy Baby at 14 Weeks

Growth is happening on top of the head as well — by week 14 of pregnancy, your baby could be sprouting some hair (though the final color may not be determined until birth) and the eyebrows are filling in, too.

Hair growth isn't limited to the baby's head, though. He or she is also covered with a downy coating of hair called lanugo, largely there for warmth. As fat accumulates later on in your pregnancy (the baby's fat, not yours — though that will accumulate, too), most of the lanugo will shed — though some babies, especially those born early, still have a fuzzy coating at delivery (it sheds soon afterward).

The pictures are from last Wednesday (so 13 weeks, 3 days) but Bean is starting to look more human! And now everyone knows we're having a baby!! No longer a secret. I love that part! I'm starting to feel much better too. Although I remain hungry.. all the time! I'm constantly snacking on something here and there. With as much as I have been eating, I think I've only gained 2 or 3 pounds which is great. Trying not to pack on too much.

Belly shot to come.

Oh, and we've moved the wedding up 8 months so the new date is October 11, 2008. Only 27 days to go!

-Mama L

Week 13

2008-09-07T19:08:00.000-07:00

Your fetus is now about three inches long and the size of a peach. But don't compare your fetus with the fetus next door. Starting about now, babies begin growing at different paces, some faster than others, some more slowly, though they all follow the same developmental path. Growing at a universally breakneck speed now is your baby's body as it tries to catch up to the head in terms of size. Though your baby's head is about half the size of its body now, by the time your baby is ready to make his or her entrance into the world, the head will be only one-fourth as large as the body.

Your baby's intestines are also in for some big changes right now. Up till this point, they've been growing in a cavity inside the umbilical cord; but now they're moving to their permanent (and more conveniently located) address, in your baby's abdomen. And to serve your growing baby's needs, the placenta is also growing. It weighs about an ounce now and will weigh one to two pounds at birth (something else you'll soon be able to blame your weight gain on!).

Also developing this week: your baby's vocal chords. Because sound can't travel through your uterus (your baby's current habitat), you won't be able to hear any sounds or cries just yet, but oh boy (or girl) — those vocal chords will get a good workout once that baby is born.

12 Weeks, 1 Day

2008-09-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

I don't have the book with me and my computer is being screwy so as soon as I can get it fixed, I'll give an update on how Bean is doing.

Rachel finds out tonight.

Still feeling a little sick throughout the day.

No one at work has a clue.

I like to think I am a nicer pregnant person than Marcie is. She is mean.

Doctor's appointment in 2 more weeks! I think Mom is going too.

11 Weeks, 1 Day

2008-08-25T20:34:00.000-07:00

Your baby is just over 2 inches long now and weighs about a third of an ounce. His or her body is straightening out and the torso is lengthening. Hair follicles are forming, and fingernail and toenail beds are beginning to develop (nails will actually start to grow within the next few weeks). Those nails are forming on individual fingers and toes, having separated recently from the webbed hands and feet of just a few weeks ago. And though you can't tell baby's gender by looking yet (even with an ultrasound), ovaries are developing if it's a girl. What you would be able to see, if you womb had a view, is that your fetus has distinct human characteristics by now, with hands and feet in the front of the body, ears nearly in their final shape (if not final location), open nasal passages on the tip of the nose, a tongue and palate in the mouth, and visible nipples.

-[what to expect when you're expecting]

Pack-n-Play

2008-08-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

So my mom found this pack-n-play at Goodwill today for only $15!! What a steal!! The pattern is a little different but I love it! It doesn't have that toy hanging thing but everything else looks the same. The hanging basket is for when they are little but when Bean gets older, you can lower it and it looks like a regular play pen! She was so excited to show me when I got home from lunch! Sorry the picture is so small.. I couldn't get a bigger one but you get the idea.

10 Weeks

2008-08-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

So Mama got me the book, "What To Expect When You're Expecting." I love it. This is what it says about week #10.

At nearly 1 1/2 inches long (about the size of a prune), your baby is growing by leaps an dbounds. And in gearing up for those first leaps and bounds (and baby steps), bones and cartilage are forming - and small indentations on the legs are developing into knees and ankles. Even more unbelievable for someone the size of a prune, the elbows on baby's arms are already working. Tiny buds of baby teeth are forming under the gums. Further down, the stomach is producing digestive juices, the kidneys are producing larger quantities of urine, and, if your baby's a boy, his testes are producing testorsterone (boys will be boys- even this early on!).

We can't wait to meet Bean!

There's No Place Like Space

2008-08-17T18:29:00.000-07:00

My Mama picked this up when she was in Washington this weekend. Isn't it cute? She is so excited about Bean.

Hannah bought Bean a really cute outfit from Target the other week. I tried to find a picture of it but of course, they don't exist anymore. It's green and says "plays well with others" on the front. It was a 2-pack. I think the 2nd one just has Mickey Mouse on it or something. I'll have to get a picture soon.

Ten weeks today!

9 Weeks and 3 Days

2008-08-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

We had another appointment today. Look how much my bean has grown! It was so cute.. Bean was moving around the whole time we had him on the screen!!! The heartbeat sounds great and everything looks really good. She still wants me to get a high tech ultrasound at Duke when I am around 18 weeks (so we have a good couple of months). They just want to check that the anatomy is looking good. Anatomy meaning whole body, not private parts.

I volunteered to have my arm stuck with a needle again today. I mentioned that Mama has Thyroid problems and that I wanted to have mine checked so make sure everything looked ok. Of course that means blood work! Ouch!

Everyone is so excited that Bean is doing so well. The doctor is just wanting me to keep my weight under control. I have actually lost a pound since the last time I was there but they said that is normal because I have been sick. They are predicting a gain of 20-30 pounds though! I feel like such a whale right now. James says I don't look fat but I beg to differ.

He's so sweet to me. And he's so excited about Bean! You should have seen his face when he saw Bean move.

2 More Days..

2008-08-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

.. until my appointment. I'm excited. James is excited too. =)

So I think Jill and Kathy are on to something. They have both asked me within the last 2 days what's going on. I basically told Jill that I was ok and not to worry. We'll see how much longer I can keep it from them.

So right after I wrote that post yesterday.. I threw up every bit of pasta that I ate. Not that much fun. Then I felt crummy the whole rest of the day. Thankfully I only threw up that one time. Bleh bleh bleh!!! I am so sick of this. Yesterday was just such a bad day. James was so sweet to me and took care of me when he got home. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life.

I did get to hang out and watch the Olympics.. all day long. Seriously, never moved off the couch.

Hopefully we'll get a new picture Wednesday. I'll be sure to post it!

9 Weeks

2008-08-10T05:49:00.001-07:00

So this past week hasn't been too bad. I think I've figured if I eat a big breakfast then I'll be semi-ok for the rest of the day. I've been getting really hungry as soon as I leave work though. I have been gorging myself on pasta (yummy!). We go back to the doctor on Wednesday for another check-up. I'm excited. My mom is really excited too. They told me this week they have a "blessings box" that Brian Frost told them about. When they start feeling down or something, they can just go to the "blessings box" and see all of the blessings God has bestowed upon our family. Well they put their first item in the box this week.. our ultrasound picture! So sweet.

The girls at work are starting to suspect something is up. Just because I haven't been feeling good.. they all think I'm pregnant. I keep telling them I'm not (they don't get to know yet) but it's been so hard to keep it a secret. Just because Marcie is always talking about her baby and what it's doing.. and I'm like I KNOW! And like all of the stuff the doctor has told her, my doctor told me already (like no lunch meat, don't change kitty litter...) and I want so badly to say, "oh yeah, I know that.." but not yet!!

And let me tell you.. I want a sandwich from Jersey Mike's sooooo badly. I've been making due on peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches for now.

Oh, we will most likely move the wedding up. We are looking at either October or early November. Not sure where it will be but that's the plan so far. My dress isn't in yet (hoping it will still fit). James hasn't told Jacob yet so we don't know what our living situation will be. A little stressful.

That's it so far. Oh, apparently Bean is moving around now (still too small for me to feel but very cool!)

Sick Sick Sick

2008-07-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

I have been feeling so stinking sick lately. It's definitely the morning sickness but instead of just being in the morning.. it's ALL DAY LONG!! So not fun.

We are 7 weeks along this week!

And someone else knows. Not my plan but what can I do now.

Our Little Bean

2008-07-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

That's right. We are going to be parents!!

Bean is the little white spot in the big dark spot. We got to hear the heartbeat on Tuesday! It's already at 114 but it should speed up as Bean gets bigger. We are not finding out the gender so don't even ask. We are only about 6 weeks along and go in for another appointment on August 13. My due date is set at March 15, 2009.

L & J