Week 34
Topic: Baby
BABY
Baby responds as a newborn with its eyes open while awake and closed while sleeping. S/he is developing immunities to fight mild infection. Baby's sharp little fingernails are at the ends of the fingertips already, and may need to be clipped during the first few days after birth. Baby urinates nearly a pint a day! In fact, the pee, along with sweat and other fluids from Baby, help to make up the amniotic fluid. This amazing amniotic fluid completely replenishes itself every three hours! Interesting, eh?

Week 33
Topic: Baby
MOM
I’m getting a little nervous, as I move into the stage that prompts advise regarding what to pack in the hospital bag, practicing the route to the hospital, etc… This is coming up quick. On the lighter side, I’ve begun the transformation of our guest bedroom to the baby room. Colby and I spent this last weekend assembling some of the gifts we got at the shower. Thank you everyone!!

BABY
At this point, the amniotic fluid is at the highest level in the pregnancy. The amount will remain constant until delivery. Rapid brain growth has increased Baby's head size approximately 3/8 of an inch this week. Fat continues to accumulate which turns the baby's skin color from red to pink. Miraculously, Baby has started preparing for life outside the womb by storing iron in its liver.

Week 32
Topic: Baby
We had our Baby BBQ last Sunday. Thank you to everyone who could join us in the celebration and for spoiling our baby with all the awesome gifts! I will be posting pictures soon.

BABY
All five of Baby's senses are functional. The toenails are completely formed and the hair on the head continues to grow.

Based on today's doc appointment, Baby is in the head-down position which is good and also explains the kicks in the ribs! Baby's heart is sounding very healthy. We got to here is speed up as Baby kicked around, and then slow back to normal as Baby settled, which is a really good thing, according to the midwife.

MOM
I'm definitely showing signs of the prego waddle due to the pregnancy hormone, relaxin, which is loosening up ligaments in my hips. =)

I'm beginning to forget what a good night's rest is like. I often wake up from back or belly discomfort, so take the professionals' advise of using extra pillows to get my mis-shapen body situated, but then I'll wake up from being over-heated by the abundance of pillows. Once I can figure that out, I manage to get back to sleep, only to be woken by my crushed bladder... grrr... But as I fall back asleep, I feel Baby moving around in there and I can't help but smile.

Week 31
Topic: Baby
Today's the first day of week 31 of 40. We've started our Bradley Method classes a couple weeks ago and are really enjoying them. We're learning about nutrition, natural pain management, the husband/coach's role, etc. It's been cool and we're really looking forward to the challenge.

Weeks 27 - 29
Topic: Baby
Aloha! Colby and I recently returned from a two-week trip of island-hopping in Hawaii. It was amazing. I didn’t get to do all the things I thought I’d do when I finally made it over there (surf, parasail, scuba dive, etc.) due to the bun in the oven. In fact, I wasn’t even allowed to go down the kiddie slide at the resort pool. Ironically though, I was allowed to swim with sharks in the middle of the ocean! We’ll have a new picture album up shortly with details from the trip. Until then, here’s my baby blog update to catch you up on the past few weeks.

Mom
This past Saturday marks the beginning of the 7th month. I’m feeling quite heavy at 147 pounds (that’s 23 prego pounds). Feet and back are often achy and emotions are a bit more out of control at times. Besides that, things seem to be going smoothly.

Baby
Baby got its first tattoo while in Maui! I got a henna tattoo of a seahorse on my belly, with its tail wrapping around my belly button. I’m not normally one to accent my belly button in any way, however I made an exception, considering my condition. =) While the artist was painting the tail, Baby made its presence known with a strong kick right where she was painting, startling her pretty good!

In terms of development, Baby's growth has begun to slow down now, but s/he will still gain approximately four pounds between now and birth. Baby’s wrinkly skin is filling out as the fat layers grow. The brain can control primitive breathing and body temperature control. Baby’s eyelids, which have been fused shut, begin to open ... along with a new set of eyelashes! His/her eyes are becoming sensitive to light, preparing to see after birth. Most of the lanugo has disappeared at this point and your baby may have a full head of hair by now. S/he already appears a lot like he or she will look at birth.

Week 26
Topic: Baby
Week 26

Today is the first day of my third trimester!

MOM
Got hit with a bad cold, which extra-sucked since I couldn’t medicate! Fortunately, it’s only taken about a week to run its course. Just in time for our 2-week “Babymoon” trip to Maui, Oahu & Kona!

BABY
I’ve been feeling the occasional Braxton-Hicks contraction and lots of movement! I’ve read that our baby may be very active between weeks 24 to 28, when small size and ample amniotic fluid allow for freedom of movement. Baby may jump in response to loud sounds or "settle" at the sound of my voice.

As the blood vessels in the lungs began last week, the air sacs in the lungs begin this week. The lungs begin to secrete surfactant which covers the inner lining of the air sacs which then allows the lungs to expand normally during breathing. Besides the active lung growth, the brain kicks in with brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems.

Week 25
Topic: Baby
Today is the first day of week 25 and, for those of you more familiar with the 9-month schedule than the 40-week schedule, it is also the first day of month 6!

MOM
Colby and I occasionally can actually see Baby's kicks on my tummy! I’ve read that my uterus is now the size of a soccer ball. My back has definitely not been letting me forget this!

BABY
Baby’s skin is translucent and wrinkled. His/her ears are now fully functional. S/he can hear my gurgling stomach, my voice, and may even blink in reaction to a loud noise. The brain is growing rapidly. Baby’s head is now well-proportioned with its body. The structures of the spine - 33 rings, 150 joints and 1000 ligaments - begin to form. The blood vessels of the lungs are developing and the nostrils begin to open this week. Baby's first meconium stool has been formed in the large intestine and will be excreted (pooped) in the days following the birth. Isn't that cute? I read that some babies will pass some meconium in the amniotic fluid before the birth, which would mean suctioning at the time of birth. Something to look forward to, I guess...

Week 24
Topic: Baby
The 7th lunar month of the pregnancy begins today. It’s been an exciting week! Baby’s moving a lot these days. So much so that Mama Kelly, Papa Rudy and Mama Debbie all got to feel Baby through my tummy this past week!

MOM
No stretch marks yet, but I think I see the “linea negra” appearing (the mysterious dark line between the belly button and pubic bone). Achy back, but other than that, feeling quite good!

BABY
We reach a milestone this week: Baby will reach its "premie safe date," meaning that if Baby is born prematurely, but after this date, he/she will have a chance of survival. Baby gains about 6 ounces this week as the body begins to fill out. This weight is in muscle, bone mass and the growing organs and tissues. Rapid eye movements are beginning. The eyes open and shut frequently, and Baby’s got its little eyebrows and eyelashes.

Week 23
Topic: Baby
BABY
Baby's lungs have begun to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs to expand following birth. Baby’s fingernails are now completely formed. The body is becoming better proportioned each day, and the bones of the middle ear begin to harden.

MOM
I had a bit of a scare during our trip this week to Arizona. It must have been a combination of the pregnancy, the heat, and probably dehydration, but I passed out while talking to one of Colby’s insurance agents. All I remember is laying out at the pool while Colby was golfing and feeling incredibly hungry. I had just eaten lunch a couple hours ago, but I hear that a common symptom of dehydration is a sensation of hunger. Anyway, I walked over to the hospitality suite to see if there was anything besides alcohol being served. I found some chips and grabbed those, then ran into Alan on the way back. As we were talking, the sun was on my back and I remember wanting to sit down, but there wasn’t a chair near enough for me to grab without interrupting his story. The last thing I remember is holding onto the table next to me as my vision and hearing faded, and asking God to please not let me pass out. Next thing I know is my chips are on the ground, Alan?s all freaked out, and people are ushering me back inside the hospitality suite, giving me water and drilling me with questions about the last time I ate, who I was there with, if I felt any pains, etc. Alan said that while he was talking to me, my expression had just gone completely blank and I started to sway backward. He grabbed my shoulders and asked if I was ok, but decided I wasn’t when I only responded by swaying forward instead. I was grateful to know that Alan hadn’t allowed me to have completely fallen down, causing any more of a scene than I was already aware of. My mom recalls passing out and finding her head in a planter or two during her third trimester and relates it to low blood sugar levels, which is something that will be tested at my next appointment in less than a couple weeks. In the meantime, I'll be drinking more water and staying out of the Arizona sun!

Besides that, Baby’s 10 million strong and growing. He/she’s been bouncing around in there like crazy -so much so, that Colby finally got to feel it a few times!

Oh yeah, and since (after convincing Colby) I had my chance to try to find out if we’ve got a pink or blue bun in the oven and Baby didn’t cooperate, we’ve decided to nix the 4D ultrasound idea and go the old-fashioned surprise route!

Here are a couple growing belly pics, as promised:

Week 22
Topic: Baby
BABY
Baby now has eyelids and eyebrows and has developed fat, which helps to keeps it warm. His/her teeny, tiny ears can now hear sounds from outside and the brain begins rapid growth.

MOM
For those of you tracking the growth of my uterus, =) it is now about an inch above my bellybutton, which feels quite strange. I’ll probably be gaining weight more steadily now as Baby continues to fill out. I’ll post some belly pictures soon (don’t worry, there won’t be any Demi Moore shots!) The extra weight is already taking its toll on my back and hips, but I’ve found sleeping with a pillow between my knees helpful.