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.

Week 21
Topic: Baby
MOM
Today is day one of the 21st gestational week of pregnancy (of 40), meaning my pregnancy is half over! If you’re more familiar with the 9-month schedule, my 5th month began last Monday. My belly is growing bigger and bigger & I feel Baby moving every day! I’ve gained a total of 14 pounds, (10-15 being considered normal -phew!), since taking on this new task of growing a new life. With the pukiness of the first trimester being a mere memory, and the heaviness of the third trimester being yet to come, I’m feeling quite good!

BABY
The week-by-week websites I’ve been following are claiming that baby should be ~ 14oz, yet our 18 week ultrasound detected that Baby was 1lb. 8oz. Doc says that’s a normal size for this stage though, so no giant baby’s here. The rapid growth phase begins to slow down this week, as Baby is now busy putting fat onto those bones. The heart grows stronger this week, and the legs are reaching their relative proportions.

Right now, Baby is practicing the important task of breathing, explaining the little jerky motions I’ve been feeling as hiccups!

With lots of amniotic fluid providing room to move, Baby is very active. According to the websites, babies have sleep and wake cycles. I’ve found that Baby is performing its in-utero gymnastics around 8-9am, especially when I’m eating my breakfast at my desk, and around 10pm at night, when I’m ready for bed… greeeat… =)

Week 20
Topic: Baby
Today is the first day of week 20, and going into the 5th month, which means we are half way through the pregnancy! This past week has been pretty exciting, as I’ve finally gotten to feel what is called “quickening,” the flutters of the baby’s movement in my belly. The questionable, occasional twitch became a flutter this last weekend, while at a retreat with Mama Debbie. Maybe it was all the candy she bought me!!! Sometimes I think that when I poke at the baby, he/she pokes back, but it could just be my imagination. Regardless, I can’t help but smile with the rush of excitement whenever I know Baby’s awake.

The significance of week 20:
It’s the beginning of my sixth lunar month, whatever that means… What else… My innie may become an outtie as a result of stuff pressing on it from behind. So far, still an innie, but I’ll keep you posted. Colby did however generously pointed out that it’s gotten bigger and he can now see the back of it, whereas before, it was too small and scrunched up to see in there.

Enough about my belly button -what’s up with Baby?
Baby has as much sleep and awake time as a newborn. His/her scalp hair is beginning to grow. If there’s a girl in there, by this week she’s already got six million eggs in her ovaries. Makes me think about some day becoming a grandma, myself… weird.

Week 19
Today’s the first day of 19 weeks’ gestation. During last Tuesday’s ultrasound, baby was measured to weigh 1 lb. 8 oz. Is it just me or is that big for this early in the pregnancy?? At this stage, Baby is covered in vernix, a white, cheesy "cream" that protects his/her skin from the long bath in amniotic fluid (preemies are covered in vernix at birth, while "posties" have almost none). This week, permanent teeth buds are forming behind the milk teeth buds. Organs of reproduction are developing rapidly, getting ready to sustain future generations.

Modest or Stubborn?
Topic: Baby
After following a strict schedule of how much water to drink, when to drink it, when to pee and when not to pee, Colby and I arrived at Kaiser for our big ultrasound appointment! The BIG day, when we would find out if we have a pink or blue bun in the oven!! While pacing up and down the aisle in a desperate attempt to stay in control of my bladder, my mom, Colby’s mom and his sisters join us for the long awaited peek. Finally! My name is called and I’m provided some relief as I lie down on the chair in the dark room. The nurse squirts some gel on my belly, which I was grateful to realize they warm it on this floor! She proceeds with the ultrasound, taking pictures for the doctor for about 20 minutes. I didn’t get a peek until the others were invited in. We saw distinct hands and feet, a big alien head, even an ear… but what we really wanted to see was obstructed by two little legs, crossed at the ankles. No angle could seem to enlighten us!! So, the nurse admitted that when she was taking pictures on her own, she got a possible view of what she thinks are boy parts, but since she couldn’t get back under there to verify it, she said she would print that picture and leave it to our interpretation. That’s where you come in. Please take a look at the pictures below. The one labeled “Gender” is the deciding factor. Once you’ve gotten a good look, please use the “post your comment” link at the bottom of this blog, and let us know if you believe it to be a boy or girl.

Profile:

Alien Face:

Hand:

Foot:

Boy Part?:
(under buns view with legs sitting out to each side, green arrow pointing at the possible boy part)

Week 18
Topic: Baby
MOM
I think I felt Baby! Last Tuesday, while in line to buy lunch (perhaps that has something to do with it??), I started feeling a sort of twitching a bit higher and more to the left than I was anticipating. Later, at my desk, I felt it again. Then again in bed, when I was eating a strawberry popsicle… Could it be?

Tummy continues to grow, as well as other parts, which Colby is quite pleased with. =)

BABY
Baby's limbs are lengthening, and at last, body length is catching up to head size. Bones are still malleable but are beginning to ossify. The ears are almost in position. Pads are forming on the fingertips and toes, and the eyes are looking forward rather than out the sides of the head. Meconium, the baby's first bowel movement, is accumulating within the bowel. If it’s a boy, which we’ll find out this Tuesday, his prostate gland is beginning to develop. Cute, huh?

Week 17
Topic: Baby
12 more days until our ultrasound, when we’ll get to find out if it’s a boy or girl!

MOM
Feeling good… Still no flutters… Tummy’s growing…

BABY
The eyes are more forward than on either side of the face now. Baby's ears have started to pop from his/her head. Unique fingerprints and toe prints are developing. The reflexes are probably in place now as Baby sucks, swallows and blinks. Meconium, Baby's first bowel movement is beginning to collect in the colon. Cute, eh? Baby is actually digesting swallowed amniotic fluid. At this time, fat deposits will appear under Baby's skin. This fat will help Baby to regulate his or her temperature after birth. Circulation of blood is now established and the umbilical cord lengthens and thickens in response to Baby’s rapidly growing needs. The placenta and fetus are now almost equal in size.

Week 16
Topic: Baby
BABY'S GOT RHYTHM
I had another check-up today. They weighed me in at 130 lbs. and said I’ve gained a total of 6 pounds since becoming pregnant, but haven’t gained at all in the last month. Blood pressure and pee sample all came out normal. =) Pretty routine check-up, so we thought, until the nurse practitioner came in and used another kind of magic wand, covered in ice-cold gel, to rub on my abdomen in a hunt for the baby’s heart beat. At first, there was just lots of static, then when she found it, the sound was so obvious and sudden! 150 beats per minute, 120-160 being normal. Colby and I agreed that our baby’s got sweet rhythm going on in there.

BABY
The week-by-week websites are telling me that this week, the baby is probably around 5” from head to bootie, but our doc is saying it’s probably around 2.5”. Whatever… According to the websites, Baby's head is now held high, and limb movements occur in a coordinated fashion. The eyes have come closer together so that they face forward, and the baby begins to blink. Tiny toenails are beginning to form. On an ultrasound, we may catch sight of the sucking reflex as Baby sucks his or her thumb. Gender is now recognizable, however we won’t get to peek until our next ultrasound on March 14th.

MOM
I still haven’t felt the flutter of the baby, but hearing the heart beat today was enough to reassure me that all is well with Baby. =)

Week 15
Topic: Baby
Well, it’s week 15 and my pants are staying buttoned for fewer and fewer hours throughout the day. The belly is definitely growing and is quite itchy! I've been eating healthier and as the nausea and fatigue continues to subside, Colby, the puppies and I have been taking our (nearly) daily walks. How's the baby? Well, this week, our baby’s starting to grow lanugo, a very fine hair that covers the fetus and will not fall out until the baby nears full-term. The bones are getting harder each day. The baby's skin is very thin and transparent and blood vessels can be seen through the skin.

This is kind of random, but here’s a cool article I found about a newborn’s ability to see: click here