Week 40

YAY! Due date week! This is the week Mommy, Daddy, and everyone else in the family / friend circle has been waiting for. Mommy and Daddy have made sure that they have all the essentials ready for me by this week. They are so excited to meet me! Keep in mind though that about half of pregnancies go past 40 weeks, however, the Dr won't let Mommy go past 41 weeks, so I will definitely be here in the next week!

This is also Daddy's birthday week (11/25). Happy 22nd birthday, Daddy, I can't wait to meet you! I am going to be the best birthday present, ever!

Thanksgiving is this Thursday (which is my due date 11/24). What are you thankful for?
My Mommy and Daddy are so thankful for the blessing of ME! They are also thankful for the grace God has given them over the past couple of years and they are so excited to start down the road of parenthood together this year--showing me the love of Christ through their love for one another and for me. They are so thankful for their amazing friends and family! They are thankful for Daddy's new job (though Daddy will be glad when he is working at an actual department and done with the academy) as a Firefighter. They are also thankful for God blessing them with a beautiful home to bring me home to. There are *so* many things they are thankful for, but all things lead back to the One who gave up His life for them...my friend, Jesus!

Mommy had a Dr appointment last week. The Dr said Mommy's blood pressure was lower than usual, which was a little strange to Mommy since it's been high more often than not, but all is well. My heart rate is normal and the amnio-fluid is good. Mommy's cervix hasn't dilated any more than last time (still at 1 cm). Her weight gain has been normal, too. The Dr said we are just waiting on me, now! Mommy is calling this time the "Hurry Up and Wait" period and I think it's driving her a little crazy.

What's Going on with Mommy?
Mommy's biggest "symptom" right now is serious excitement about my arrival! She is starting to feel impatient waiting with the Braxton Hicks Contractions getting more uncomfortable. She is also having trouble sleeping (having to get up for lots of potty breaks at night and tossing and turning to get comfy) which leads to fatigue. Mommy was so happy this past Sunday when Daddy let her sleep in and woke her up with breakfast in bed. Way to go, Daddy!

What's Going on with Me? 

I am weighing in between 6 and 8 pounds, but we are not 100% sure because the Doc hasn't taken my weight measurements in a while. I am about 19-22 inches long.

I am still moving around, though not as often since space is very cramped in here. Mommy has been keeping mental notes of my movements throughout the day to make sure she keeps her Dr updated on my activity. I usually like to move around after dinner and when Mommy lays down to take a nap or sleep (sorry Mom, but it won't be long before you can nap when I nap).

My skull bones are separated so they can compress to fit through the birth canal during labor. I will have soft spots on my head for about the first year after I arrive.

My hair and nails continue to grow every day. My eyelashes and eyebrows, fingernails and toe nails, nose, and mouth are completely formed!

My eyes are also formed, but the nerves inside will continue to develop after I arrive. I will have poor vision after birth and won't be able to focus and follow objects with my eyes until I am about six to eight weeks old. My vision won't be 20/20 until I am about two.

Ossification is complete in my body now. This means all of the soft cartilage has now calcified and turned to bone. However, the ends of the long bones and tips of my fingers and toes will stay cartilage so that I can grow taller as I get older.

I now have enough Princess Fluff (fat) under my skin to help me regulate temperature on my own... it will also help with making me cute and cuddly upon my arrival.

My friend Placenta, is providing me with nutrients and antibodies that will help me fight off infections in the first six months of my life outside of Mommy's belly. Mommy's milk will also provide even more antibodies that will help boost my immune system after I arrive.

I can't wait to meet all of you! It won't be long now! My arrival will come no later than 2 weeks from now. Mommy and Daddy and everyone else is on pins and needles waiting for the day I decide to enter the world. Have you made your guess for my arrival yet?

Mommy finally uploaded the sono picture from when they discovered I am a girl! I'm going to be *so* cute!



SEE YOU SOOOOONNNN!

Nesting for Me and for Christmas!

Mommy turned 23 last week. Daddy turns 22 in a couple of weeks (I hear Daddy calls Mommy his "Cougar" I don't know what that means). They celebrated by going out to a nice dinner and enjoying each other for the first time on Mommy's birthday. Daddy was in Afghanistan and then in Austin training for Mommy's 21st and 22nd birthdays, so Mommy's most precious gift for her birthday this year was having Daddy home! RB, Cici, and Uncle D took Mommy and Daddy out on Saturday to celebrate, Cici took the picture below for my baby book, Mommy's belly has gotten *so* big!
Mommy's Daddy took us out for lunch on Friday. He will be out of town working when I'm supposed to arrive, but I can't wait to meet Grandpa Rodney, Grandma Karen, Aunt Ashley, and Uncle Nathan when he gets back! Mommy and Daddy are scheduled to see Jodi and Allen and Uncle Nathan this Friday (so many family members to remember!). Then we are going to see Grandma Jennie and Grandpa Jim on Saturday!
Mommy is excited for me to arrive, of course to see me, but she really can't wait to enter the world of being able to be somewhat fashionable again (ie... having a waist and being able to comfortably wear heels and get back into non-maternity jeans!).
Mommy's friend, Britt and Britt's daughter (and my future friend), Madie got a sippy cup for Mommy's birthday... I think it looks like a wine glass, not a sippy cup, but what do I know? Mommy loves it and is excited to have her first sip of wine with one of her bestest friends (she's known since late elementary/ early middle school!) in 9 months.

Mommy and Daddy have also been preparing for me by getting ready for Christmas so they can spend more time with me and less time worrying about Christmas shopping and decorating. 

What's Going on with Mommy?
Mommy is getting pretty impatient waiting for the last days before I arrive to pass. She just wants me in her arms!
Mommy has also been really uncomfortable lately (I'm really starting to take over her body!) and that is making her really tired. Little things like doing laundry, dishes, making dinner, etc. take every ounce of energy she has (probably because she's doing all of this with the added 30 baby pounds!).
Mommy has been having really uncomfortable BH contractions, reflux, nausea, and pelvic pressure: my head is pushing on mommy's pelvis and bladder (which means Mommy has to take lots of potty breaks and can't sit, stand, or walk for long periods of time). I think I'm understanding why she wants me to arrive, now! I know I am quite cramped in here!
Mommy has a Dr appotinment this week. The doctor may take measurements to see how big I am, but she will definitely be checking my heart rate and Mommy's cervix dilation, blood pressure, weight, and of course checking her urine. I'll let you know how everything goes next week (which is WEEK 40 by the way!!!!).

What's Going on with Me?

I am fully formed this week! Mommy and Daddy are so ready for me to be here! Daddy has even done some educational research on natural induction methods. He is very pro-practicing a few of these methods (for my little brother or sister) to help me come along (I think Mommy has no real interest in practicing for another 9 months of pregnancy "fun" with a newborn in the picture, at least not until I hit that one year mark!). 

I am still gaining weight (maybe around 7-8 pounds) and flexing my limbs, though I have slowed down in activity, but when I do move, it's helping to build my coordination and muscle strength.
My brain is rapidly developing and will continue at this rapid pace for three years!

My fingernails and toe nails are getting longer and longer and will definitely have to be clipped upon my arrival.
My once princess pink skin is now whitish because I haven't developed pigment and the princess fluff (fat) is doing a better job at hiding the pink tint from my blood vessels form peeking through my skin.
My eyes are developed but their neural networks are still developing, so I will be seeing fuzzy for a couple of weeks after I arrive. I will be able to see my family members best when I'm held up close to their face on their chest (something nursing promotes, but others besides Mommy can mimic this by bottle feeding me or just holding me close).

Not much longer!! Get excited! I am so exited to meet all of my family and friends! See you next week (maybe for real)!!

The Waiting Game (Week 38)

Mommy and Daddy have been enjoying their weekends together (something they have never really had since they got married  almost 3 years ago because of Daddy's work schedule). This past weekend they got to see Auntie Edith who came in from Aggie Land. She brought me the cutest Aggie Cheerleader outfit and I can't wait until I'm big enough to wear it! Daddy says... "ohhh....no! It's started and she's not even here!"

Cici announced that there's a new chick in the family (no offense new addition... but everyone has been waiting months for *me* not youuuu!). We'll have to see about her, but I hear she's pretty cute and sweet. She is a himalayan kitty named Zoi.

What's Going on with Mommy?
Mommy's body is getting ready to feed me by producing colostrum, which is full of antibodies and protein (and less fat and milk sugar than the milk she will produce later on). This stuff will be really important in keeping me healthy in the first few weeks in the real world!
She is having to run to the potty a lot... I'm getting bigger and bigger and pushing down on her bladder.
Mommy's cervix may be continuing to dilate (last week she was already at 1cm), I can arrive any day now, but it may also be a couple of weeks.
Mommy still has swollen feet and hands... I bet she will be glad when I'm off of her nerves and her circulation gets better.
Mommy is still having sleeping issues due to her anxiety and excitement about my arrival, having to potty 3-4 times a night, and she just can't seem to get comfy with her big belly. Mean-less to say, in order to help her get back to sleep... Mommy is going through a lot of books!
Starting late last week and this week, the amniotic fluid is decreasing. Mommy is also experiencing those BH contractions more often and they are getting a lot more uncomfortable each time.
Mommy has been experiencing serious fatigue due to no sleep, so the Dr told her to make sure she gets in some nap time so she will have energy for labor and energy to be a Mommy once I arrive.

What's Going on with Me?
I have developed a firm grasp. I am probably weighing in at about 6.5-7 lbs.
I am now Shedding the velveeta cheesy stuff (vernix) and baby fur (lanugo) since I won't need them once I enter the world.
I am producing more surfactant to prevent the air sacs in my lungs from sticking to one another once I start to breathe.
Each week, I am gaining more and more weight, adding fat to help keep me warm.
My brain and nervous system are continuing to develop, and will continue to develop after I arrive.
The bones in my arms and legs are hardened, but my skull bones are still soft, which will allow for my skull plates to overlap so I can fit through the birth canal.
Mommy has been feeling me hiccuping almost daily now. She gets such a kick out of it!
This week, my lungs are fully mature (which is a relief to Mommy and Daddy).
Mommy thinks I dropped into her pelvis a couple of weeks ago, but she knows for sure now because she can feel my little hands moving in her lower abdomen and my feet pushing between her ribs.

Now is the time to make guesses about what I will look like!
Both Mommy and Daddy think I will have her hair (starting out strawberry blond and turning Auburn when I'm older) and Daddy's pretty brown eyes. Mommy thinks I will be pretty tall and stay above average on the growth charts.
What are your guesses?!

The doctor is out of town until next week, so I will update you on what she says about Mommy and me in a couple of weeks... if I make it that long! Who knows... maybe I will decide to give Mommy a birthday present and come a little early... or maybe I will wait and surprise Daddy by arriving on his birthday! Only God knows!!



See you next week!

Full Term!

Hope everyone had a great week last week! Welcome to week 37!! I am now considered full term this week, yay! Though Mommy would like for me to be healthy enough to arrive any day now, she also knows that full-term is different for every baby and I could come anytime between week 37 and week 42, though the Dr may want to induce before week 41 arrives.
This week, Daddy made me a special present! He's so talented.





What's going on with Mommy:
Mommy has been nesting, getting my room all ready and making sure that she and Daddy will have everything for the hospital visit.

A few symptoms that have hit pretty hard the past couple of weeks are: heartburn, a couple of light stretch marks, trouble sleeping, charlie horses, BH contractions, being really uncomfortable, and constant pressure on Mommy's abdomen resulting in having to potty (a lot) and experiencing round ligament pain.

Mommy has been feeling me stretch, wiggle, and roll from side-to-side... sometimes Daddy can see and feel all of this movement and has to ask Mommy "Are you ok?" because I don't think it feels too great because I am getting so big!

Mommy has been doing a pretty good job of controlling those crazy pregnancy hormones, but she has her moments, mostly when she doesn't get enough sleep.

Mommy had a Dr appt Monday. Mommy and I are doing well. The Dr has been watching Mommy's blood pressure with Mommy's left hand middle and ring finger constantly tingling and the swelling in her feet. Mommy's blood pressure is normal, so Mommy just has to deal with being uncomfortable for a few more weeks (sorry Mommy). My heart rate is looking good, too. The Dr didn't check my weight this week because she had to give Mommy a test and check her cervix. Mommy had the Group B Strep Test, we will find out the results of that in a couple of weeks. The Dr then checked Mommy's cervix (which was rather painful for her) and noted that it is already one centimeter dilated and that the Dr could feel my head (still facing the right direction). This doesn't mean I'm coming super soon, but it does mean that I can arrive any day now. Some Mommies have their cervix dilate gradually (over a few weeks, even a month) or overnight. Mommy will have another appointment in a couple of weeks because the Dr is going out of town. Mommy's Rx: do not go into labor while Dr is away. We will see how that pans out...



What's going on with Me:
Being Full Term means I have developed enough to function outside of Mommy's belly. Though if I stay in, I will only get healthier and stronger, putting on about half a pound a week. This weight I'm putting on means that I will have a chubbier tummy, arms, and legs when I arrive. Most of this weight is fat, which is also causing those cute little baby dimples on my elbows, knees, shoulders, and hips.

An interesting tidbit: My head (which is still growing) will shift at birth to be the same size/circumference as my hips, abdomen, and shoulders. This will help me fit through the birth canal.

This week, I should have started to shed the lanugo (baby fur) and vernix (velveeta cheese) and now vellus hairs (peach fuzz) is growing in its place.

I am getting ready for my first breath by practicing inhaling and exhaling and practicing for my first feeding by sucking (probably on my thumb or hands) and swallowing. Since I am practicing swallowing, my bowels are creating my first "present", a sticky blackish-brown poop called meconium.

I am also turning, gripping, and blinking. Though Mommy can really feel me moving now, when I am sleeping she doesn't feel much at all. This is because I have a sleep schedule and like other babies, when I'm in a deep sleep, I don't move much at all.

By now, I may have a full head of hair, peach fuzz, or maybe none at all! Mommy thinks I will be a Strawberry Blonde at birth (and if I am, you Red Heads don't get too excited, like Mommy, my hair will probably darken as I get older). Check out the bow-holder Mommy made for me!


See you all next week!!