Week 38
Topic: Baby
Lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions lately. It could be the heat or it could be my body prepping for the real deal! Everything's almost all in place for Baby W. I'm pre-washing baby clothes and blankets as I type. Got the car seat strapped in and ready to go... I can almost picture our little one in there already!

I spent a few hours yesterday, bottle-feeding an abandoned, couple-day-old kitten. While I was sitting with both hands occupied, I became aware of the fact that I was unable to eat drink or pee for an undetermined amount of time... and of course I was needing to do all three. I realized then that I was being given a sneak peek of what I'm in for as an expectant mommy. =)

Week 37
Topic: Baby
Today's the first day of week 37, which I believe means our baby is now considered "full-term," which basically means... ANY DAY NOW! I've been doing some super-shopping to get those last final necessities for Baby W's first weeks of life. Colby and I are so excited. I can't wait to find out if we have a son or a daughter in there!!! For the most part, we're feeling prepared. We've submitted our birth plan to our Nurse Practitioner and she, like the Kaiser midwives, was very supportive of our desire for a non-medicated, low-intervention birth. We've also taken a tour of the Kaiser Walnut Creek facility and even had the opportunity to sit with the instructor to get a series of questions I had pending answered. What a relief!

At my last doc appointment on Wednesday, we learned that baby is still head-down (good to know!) and mom has gained a whopping 40 pounds since joining the prego club! I'm almost all belly, but it's still bizarre to watch the nurse continually nudge the weights on the scale to the right, if you know what I mean!

Week 36
Topic: Baby
Today marks the beginning of week 36, which means only 5 more weeks until our estimated due date (8/17). Today's also a day I hold close to my heart, as it marks the first day of my last week of work! =)

To prepare for the big day, which could realisticly be ANY day now, Colby and I have been shopping for furniture, taking newborn care classes and continuing our Bradley classes. We've got a tour of the Walnut Creek Kaiser facility scheduled for tonight as well.

I've attached some pictures below for your viewing enjoyment. And, in case you haven't noticed, there are links to some new photo albums posted on the main page (i.e. Hawaii, Capitola, Baby BBQ & Wine-Tasting).

(Click HERE to return to the main page)

Here's Colby practicing diapering & swaddling on our creepy doll at the newborn care class.

And here are a couple recent belly pictures (week 33):

Week 35
Topic: Baby
BABY
Big.

MOM
Big and tired.

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.