A little behind...

With summer classes starting I've been really busy and haven't updated my blog recently. Sorry. I'm currently 28 weeks with only about 84 days to go! Holy cow is it going by fast!! Gary and I spent Friday night and most of today in Lamaze class. I think the most we got out of it is how to breath... hopefully we'll remember by the time we have to go to the hospital. :) Today I was pretty uncomfortable. I believe I've been having braxton hicks (fake contractions) all day so running to the bathroom constantly is becoming a habit... Hopefully they don't amount to much! It is a little scarey at times... it is way too early for the wee one to come. 10 more weeks and it will be safe. We have our next midwife appointment on Tuesday so I'll have to make sure to let her know what is going on. I only have one week left of Biology (Field Botany) and we'll be heading to Door County on Wednesday. I'm pretty excited. I've never been there before plus the class is almost over. It's going to be a long week since I volunteered to drive. The picture to the left is from last week. We drove up to Amnicon Falls State Park and camped for the night. The picture right below is from a sand prairie that I don't remember the name of right now... ah yes... Crex Meadows. The flower is a Wild Columbine or as I need to remember it as... Aquilegia canadensis. :) This last week we drove down south to Devil's Lake State Park for the first night and Governor Dodge State Park for the second. Thursday morning we climbed what use to be a mountain. And YES, so did I!!! :) It wasn't easy but we did it... I'm pretty proud of myself. It will be a great story to tell the wee one... The picture to the top left is me about half way up... you can sorta see the baby belly. The one in the middle is of the balancing rock. I guess the big attraction for climbing "the mountain." And finally, the picture to the left is of me on the top!!! Baby and all! We saw a few great flowers up on top... it wasn't an easy walk down but easier than up. I had to take it really slow and be careful not to slip. Rocks aren't very forgiving when you fall on them :) Anyhow... here are the weekly updates for the last two weeks. ---------------28 Weeks----------- My Baby: At the end of this week, you'll enter the third trimester--a busy time for your little one. His movements will increase from now until around week 32, when he'll start running out of room to roam. (He'll keep moving after that, but it will feel more like wiggling compared to the sharp kicks you may be experiencing now.) He's also growing strong--and long! He measures about 14 inches from head to toe, and weighs roughly 3 pounds. Your doctor will keep track of his growth by placing her hands on your belly to measure the size of your uterus, also known as fundal height. Baby's Length: 15.25-15.75 in. Baby's Weight: 2.25-2.5 lbs. Baby's Size: Pair of sneakers How your baby's growing: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. -------27 Weeks-------- My Baby: Your frisky fetus is on another growth spurt, shooting up half an inch this week to measure about 14 inches from head to toe. She weighs roughly 2 1/2 pounds, and will gain approximately half a pound each week for the next 10 weeks. The average full-term baby weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and measures from 18 to 20 1/2 inches, but many normal, healthy babies fall outside this range. Unless your practitioner has told you of a potential problem, it's safe to assume that your little one is right on track. Your second trimester is just about over -- and your baby's set for big-time growth over the coming weeks! She's already more than 2 pounds, and is set to pack on a half-pound a week for the next 10 weeks or so! Way back at the end of your first trimester, your baby weighed in at less than an ounce, and now look at her! Over the next few months, she'll gain more weight than height (she still has about five more pounds to pack on to reach the average full-term baby size of 7.5 pounds). Although, that number is very much an average -- many completely healthy babies are born weighing significantly more or less than that amount! In other news, while your baby can now recognize your voice, she still can't hear it clearly. In fact, her current eavesdropping ability is akin to how adults hear under water. (Who knew?) Baby's Length: 9.25-9.50 in. Baby's Weight: 2-2.25 lbs. Baby's Size: Sock Monkey How your baby's growing:This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

26 Weeks, about 97 days to go!!

Our thrift sale was a success!! We still have a lot of things to get rid of but will probably try to have another sale before we just give it away. Of course, this is in preparation for the wee one! :) Gary picked up another class on Thursday night. He's pretty excited. He'll also start taking classes for his masters this summer!! He's such a superstar!! He just made me steak, potatoes and baked beans for supper!! I love when he grills!! Anyhow... on with our wee one update! :) My Baby: There's an important development in your baby's lungs this week: They begin to secrete surfactant, a fatty substance that covers the inner lining of the air sacs and allows the lungs to expand normally so breathing can occur. Although it will be approximately 10 more weeks before the lungs are fully operational, the production of surfactant is an essential step in making the fetus viable outside the womb. Baby's Length: 9-9.25 in. Baby's Weight: 2 lb. Baby's Size: Liter of soda How your baby's growing: The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Thrift Sale

We're having a thrift sale tomorrow and getting ready sucks!! Looks like a tornado hit our place. At least I can watch the season finale of Prison Break still!! :)

25 Weeks... about 103 days to go!

Holy cow!! I can't believe I'm 25 weeks already. Where has the time gone? Our first visit with the midwife went really well and I think Gary really enjoyed hearing the heartbeat for the first time in person. We have our next visit June 2nd and two more scheduled after that. I can't believe I'm hitting the every two weeks so soon. Wow... before we know it our little bundle will be here! I start my Biology class, Field Botany, next week and look forward to the challenge. Our wee one is kicking right now but they're still pretty little. :) Gary and I had a good weekend... he had to work but we had Billy and Courtney (his cousin and wife) over and we grilled out. I spent Sunday (mommy to be day) with my family in Independence. It was a great day! My Baby: The fetus weighs in at 1 1/2 to 2 pounds this week, and measures about a foot from head to toe. Though still skinny and wrinkly (skin hangs loosely until the fetus develops more baby fat), she's growing rapidly and starting to fill the space in your uterus. You'll feel her kicks and pokes more strongly with each passing week, with kick-strength peaking in about a month when she gets too crowded to do anything but squirm. Baby's Length: 8.5-9 in. Baby's Weight: 1.5-2 lbs. Baby's Size: 5 lb. bag of flour How your baby's growing: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

24 weeks, about 110 days to go!

It's been awhile since I've posted an update but we didn't have internet access last week and this weekend was pretty busy. It's been great to be home!!! The drive went really well too which was great. Gary got to feel the wee one move last Monday (4/27) morning for the first time. I think he was pretty surprised. :) Last Tuesday I officially got my chart set up at Luther Midelfort, I'll be seeing midwives from here on out. I got to hear the heartbeat again... it was around 146bpm. We have our first appointment tomorrow with Angela. Gary will get to come with me for the first time!! I'm excited for him! This last weekend we went to some thrift sales in Strum and also helped my sister out at her's. We got some great buys. It makes the pregnancy a little more real actually buying clothes and baby things... not that feeling the baby moving doesn't make it real. It's just really hard to wrap my head around. It's crazy!! Anyway, here are the last two week updates. :) 23 Weeks My Baby: The end of this week is an important milestone: Your one-pounder would have a good chance of survival if born now--about 85 percent if given the right care. His body is well proportioned, although lacking in body fat, and the blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. About 50 percent of "early preemies" experience complications ranging from eye problems to intracranial hemorrhage (spontaneous bleeding in the brain); the rate drops steadily from the 24th week onward. Baby's Length: 7.5-8.0 in. Baby's Weight: 1-1.25 lbs. Baby's Size: Loaf of bread How your baby's growing: Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb. 24 Weeks My Baby: The unsung hero of the fetal support system is the umbilical cord, which forms a vital link between the fetus and the placenta. The cord contains two arteries and one large vein; by birth, it may measure up to four feet long. Every 30 seconds, nutrients and oxygen-rich blood are transported from the placenta to the fetus via the single vein, then back again to the placenta through the two arteries. This ingenious method ensures a constant supply of filtered air and nutrients, and keeps the mother's blood separate from the baby's. Baby's Length: 8-8.5 in. Baby's Weight: 1.25 - 1.5 lb. Baby's Size: 1/2 Gallon of Milk How your baby's growing:Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Dr. Visit

Had my final dr. visit while I'm here in VA today! It went really well! Of course, I've gained weight but I don't think too much... didn't want to ask the doctor too afraid he would frown on the amount. Heard the heartbeat and tried to take a video but not the best one... but it was still there and that is all that matters! Also learned that the placenta is sitting in front so it's acting as a cusion / spong to any kicks and jabbs. I'll still feel the baby on the sides and on the bottom just not in the middle. Hopefully this means toward the end they won't hurt. ;) Other than that, my fundal height measured 22 cm which is right on since I'm 22 weeks! :) Only 3 days left!!! We're excited to see Gary / daddy! :) I finally got a newsletter from parents.com for this week and this is what they have to say... My Baby: In addition to those teeny tastebuds he's sprouting this week, your baby is also developing his sense of touch -- he can experience what his own face feels like, for example. The hair on his head also continues to grow this week, although this is one area where your genes might not make their mark right away. In many cases, the locks your baby's born with bear little resemblance to the hair he'll have at six months old.

22 weeks... about 124 days!!

I had the weekend to myself and it was the best weekend ever while I've been here... besides of course the weekends that I spent away from here! I got a lot done... almost completely packed just have the things I'll be wearing this week. The apartment is cleaned and I also did the March of Dimes March for Babies this weekend. Walked 5 miles @ 5 months!! :) It was great!! The weekend was wonderful!! Great weather... hope it's like this when we get home. Today is a day to be less than desired... it rained all day all the way up to Greenbelt, MD and back again for the most part. Currently, it's thundering out and raining on and off. But it cleans the air and smells wonderful. The grass was also cut this weekend... I love that smell!!! Only 4 more days and Gary and I will be on our way home!!! I think he's going to be very surprised when he sees me... I've got a belly!!! Most of the time I just feel fat. :) Have one more Dr. visit tomorrow. Excited to hear the heartbeat again... it's such a relief month to month to hear that little sound... I'm sure other mothers out there can agree... Our March of Dimes Team: Wallops Young Professionals Organization! A picture I took along the route... toward the end... I think it's my favorite!! My Baby: Hair today, gone tomorrow? Your baby develops two kinds of hair in utero--the soft, downy body hair called lanugo, which generally falls off before or shortly after birth, and the hair on her head. Many parents are surprised (to say the least) to see their baby's hair at birth--blond couples often have black-haired offspring, dark ones are just as likely to deliver a little blond or redhead, and parents who have tight, wiry curls often produce babies with soft, loose ones. The bottom line seems to be that birth hair--or lack thereof--bears little resemblance to your child's "real" hair. The birth hair generally falls out by the time the baby is 6 months old, to be replaced by a more logical set of tresses. Baby's Length: 7-7.5 in. Baby's Weight: 1 lb. Baby's Size: 1 lb. bag of coffee beans How your baby's growing: At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.