24 Weeks

Today starts 24 weeks!  Looking back at the pictures, it doesn't really seem like I'm getting any bigger from the previous week.  Does it?  This week the baby is steadily growing.  It's gained over 6 ounces from last week, which puts it over a pound, and it's a foot long, as long as an ear of corn or a standard letter.  Apparently taste buds are continuing to develop along with the brain this week.  The lungs are beginning to develop the necessary means for breathing once it comes out.  The baby's face is almost fully formed.


We're looking forward to ringing in the exciting new year with some wonderful friends this week!

Ho, Ho, Ho, 23 Weeks the Start of 6 Months!

Today marks 23 weeks into Baby O's existence!  It's official that I am wearing maternity pants, which are so much more comfortable than stuffing myself into tight pants.  I had to go buy a few pairs of new pants this week since I only had one pair of pants that currently fit.  Thank God for elastic!  I haven't been feeling very good for week or so; I haven't had my infusion for a while so I finally was able to get it on Monday and I'm already starting to feel a little better.  


I'm still not sleeping and my back is already starting to hurt all the time :(  Dan has started to help pull me off the couch when I have a hard time sitting up-who knew it was hard to bend over or sit up when you're pregnant?!  We joked about needing a crane or a forklift for the next couple of months.


Something that I noticed on Monday night was that my belly button is getting shallower.  I would have never noticed except my weekly baby update last week said that my belly button should pop out this week.  It's still going to be a little while, however it's on it's way!


This week Baby O is over 11 inches long and weighs over a pound.  At our ultrasound last week it weight exactly a pound and is in the 32% percentile for size.  Things looked really good with the kidneys this time, so we feel much better now.  I should be able to start to see squirming in my belly this week, the baby is starting to recognize sounds like a vacuum or dog barking and is hearing everything that goes on around it, and the blood vessels in the lungs are developing for breathing.

22 Weeks and Filling Out!

   Today marks 22 weeks.  I've started using this thing called the babyplus Prenatal Education System (www.babyplus.com) which is designed to educate your child before entering the world.  It's pretty weird-I strap this thing to my stomach for an hour twice a day and feel the baby move around a lot as it listens to a loud heart beat.  After a week the speed and heartbeat change. 

     This week the baby is 11 inches long, as long as a spaghetti squash and weighs just about a pound.  It's looking more like a miniature newborn with formed eyes and tooth buds under the gums.

Nursery Furniture

Yesterday I went and ordered the furniture for the baby's room.  With the help of Janna and Donny, Dan and I were able to pick out the furniture that we love, and that we both agree on.  We purchased it from Kids Town, where we've also created a registry (www.kidstown.com). We bought a crib, a dresser, a memory foam mattress, and a beautiful swivel glider chair.  Who knew that all of this stuff would be SO expensive?!  Here is what we picked out:

Both the crib and the dresser are in a cherry stain: 

We also purchased this amazingly comfortable chair, and ironically it's called the "Best Chair."  Here's what it looks like:

And we got it in a coffee color:

Here's the bedding we decided to go with:

  



21 Weeks, Over Half-Way There!

The Covered Belly

Starting to pop!

      Today is the over half-way mark at 21 weeks.  I am feeling the baby kick all day long, especially when I'm sitting down (I'm probably squishing the baby with my non-maternity pants).  I don't fit into maternity pants yet, but I'm thinking either this week or next week that will be changing.  Last week I just start to actually look semi-pregnant.  I must hide it well because I am 5 months pregnant and wearing my regular clothes...uncomfortably.  Dan and I were given the option of finding out if it's a girl or a boy, but to people's dismay, we're not finding out. 

     Last week at 20 weeks, the baby was as long as a banana (10 inches from head to toe) and weight 10 1/2 ounces.  This week the baby is 10 1/2 inches long, as long as a big carrot.  It weighs 3/4 of a pound.  This week the eyebrows and eyelids have completely formed.  This is what he/she looks like right now:

  

     It's hard to imagine this little being inside me, but I feel the kicks and movements to prove it.  I'm also starting to eat like a teenage boy, so watch out if you eat a meal with me! Once I start popping out a little more, maybe it will be a little more real.  This week we are going to order our crib, dresser, and rocking chair.  We have another ultrasound on December 17th, so hopefully we'll have some updated pictures to post.  Exciting stuff!  Remember to vote and let us know if you think it will be a boy or a girl!  
     Some people are asking where we are registered.  You can find both of our registries at www.target.com and search our names or you can go to www.kidstown.com and click on baby registries.