Ryan, week 35

This has to be the fasted doctor's appointment I have ever experienced. It probably had something to do with the fact that I was 15 minutes late. I signed in and before I could even sit down, they called me back. My blood pressure was a little high, 130/80 but overall, ok. I found out that I cannot travel so no trips over an hour for me until after Ryan gets here. Since Jake came at 36 weeks, my doctor didn't think it was a good idea.

Here's what babycenter.com says about Ryan:
How your baby's growing:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Ryan, week 34

This is my last week to be pregnant and not have a doctor's appointment. After next week's appointment, I will be on weekly appointments. Everything is still rolling along! No blood pressure issues so far, which means I've made it a little further along than I did with Jacob!

The nursery has been painted and this week my Mom and I put up the border. That was not an easy task...especially for the long walls. It makes such a difference in the room. Jeff moved some of the furniture around and we put the crib together. I spent most of Saturday getting organized and cleaning baby toys and am happy to report that his room looks like a nursery!

Here's what babycenter.com says about Ryan:

How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Ryan, week 33

I went to the doctor this week and everything still looks great! We were able to schedule my c-section and was fortunate to get the mid-morning slot. I'm glad I don't have to be at the hospital @ 5:00 a.m.! My feet have been pretty swollen and as I mentioned last week, the morning sickness has kicked it up a notch, but other than that, things are moving along!

Here's what babycenter.com says about Ryan:

How your baby's growing:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Ryan, week 32

Well week 32 has brought me back to week 8...the morning started off with a less than pleasant visit from the morning sickness fairy. This visit was particularly fun since I had already gotten dressed, fixed my hair and put on make-up (the hair and make-up are things I seldom do on a work day but we had an all day meeting)...oh and I had ironed my shirt. Fortunately, my clothes, hair and make-up survived. Despite feeling terrible all day, I made it through the meeting and came home and went to bed early.

Here's what babycenter.com says about Ryan:
How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

Ryan, week 31

Ryan and I had a successful 31 week check-up...not so much for the 4-D ultrasound make-up. The 4-D ultrasound was first and while he is no longer facing my back, he did have one of his arms across his face the entire time. It was still good to "see" him. We found out that he has hair...a lot of it on the crown of his head and he weighs approximately 3 lbs 12 oz and I'm measuring one day ahead of schedule.

My blood pressure was fine - though I don't know exactly what it was. I had a little distraction, Jacob, with me at this appointment. I didn't see my regular doctor, but the doctor I did see asked if I was having contractions...don't think so. I'd know, right? I go back in 2 weeks for my 33 week appointment.

Here's what babycenter.com says about the little guy:
How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Ryan, week 30

Not a lot to report here...just trying to stay out of the heat as much as possible. Ryan is moving a lot these days. I don't know what he's doing, but sometimes it really hurts...it's like he's trying to come through my stomach. His room (nursery) should be painted this weekend and then we can get everything situated. Look for pictures, but don't hold your breath!

Here's what babycenter.com says...
How your baby's growing:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Ryan, week 29

My 29 week appointment went well. No blood pressure issues this visit! After my appointment, we had our 4-D ultrasound (my doctor's office is so cool, they do 4-D instead of 3-D...ha!). I wanted to post some pics but they burned it to a dvd rather than a cd and I don't have the patience to try to deal with that...not that we got any great shots of Ryan. He's just as stubborn as his big brother. Ryan is head down towards my right side, with his face buried in my back. Despite the fact that I had a REAL Mountain Dew and a few bites of an energy bar (keep in mind I haven't had any caffeine since before I got pregnant) he wouldn't turn enough for us to see his face. Fortunately, we get one "free" make-up session so we'll get to try again. I doubt he will cooperate, but you never know!



How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Jake & the dentist

Jacob had his cleaning appointment the other day. This is his third time to go to the dentist to get his teeth cleaned. We got there and signed in and a few minutes later, they called his name. We got up to go back and they said, "we'll take him and call you if we need you." I said, (kind of sarcastically) "Good luck!" I didn't have book with me or anything because I've always gone back with him. Minutes went by and no one called for me. After about 30 minutes, they said, "we're ready for Jacob." I went back and he had let them do the whole cleaning and dental check-up on his own! I was so proud of him and a little sad too. They said he was "very busy" but otherwise, great! He got to select a prize and chose some little, green, army men. No cavities!

My baby's growing up...

Ryan, week 28

Well, Ryan doesn't know it but he made his first trip to the beach this past week. (Part of the reason why Jeff went with me to my week 27 appt...to plead with the doctor, had I been put on bed rest). Despite the heat, we had a great time. No oil in Miramar Beach. We did get rear-ended on the night of the 4th. Thankfully, it was very minor...no injuries, just a dent and some scratches on our bumper (which have since been fixed).

Here's what babycenter.com says about Ryan:
How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Ryan, week 27

I had a 27 week appointment, opposed to the 28 week appointment so I could take my glucose test early. We were nervous that my blood pressure had been high, thanks to a cheap automatic machine from CVS (which was promptly returned after my doctor visit) so Jeff came along with me.

I signed in and they let me go ahead and start the glucose test. We were then escorted into a room to wait for the doctor. At some point during the wait, there was a loud boom and the hospital shook. I thought we were under attack (not seriously, but it did cross my mind). I had forgotten about the addition they are building and it was blasting from that. The doctor came in and everything was fine. My BP was good, no protein in my urine, Ryan's heartbeat sounded good and strong and he was measuring right on target (so much for the "big" baby from week 24).

The doctor did want to go ahead and start seeing me every two weeks in case I have any BP issues so that should be fun...not! I had about 15 more minutes to kill until the glucose test was up. I was very thankful that Jeff was there to kill the time. When the nurse was drawing blood, I asked how long before I knew the results. She told me a day or two but if they didn't call, everything was fine. That afternoon I get a phone call from a nurse so I immediately said, "I guess you're calling to tell me I failed." To my surprise she was calling to tell me I passed! I couldn't believe it! I don't have to take the 3 hour test! Hallelujah!!!

Here's what babycenter.com says about Ryan:
How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Ryan, week 26

No news is good news...I guess. I never heard anything from the doctor about my "quick sugar" test. Here's what Ryan is up to:

How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Ryan, week 25

Not a whole lot to report here...he's moving around more which is the best part of being pregant (in my opinion). I still feel bad in the mornings, but usually feel better around 11:00 or noon. Here's what is going on with Ryan:

How your baby's growingHead to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

An addition to the kids' bathroom

I'm anxiously awaiting the delivery of the bathroom set that we ordered for the kids' bathroom. Since we didn't order the coordinating rug (it was too plain and boring) I've been trying to find a rug that would go.

Voila!

Once everything comes in and I get the bathroom finished, I'll post pictures of the completed project.

The kid's bathroom

Since we moved, I've been on a mad search to find something for a children's themed bathroom. What I found was that it's a lot harder than you would think! Our local stores didn't have anything and we've been all around the area trying to find something. As impatient as I am, I didn't just settle for what we found and have continued to search, via the internet. I wanted a cute shower curtain and accessories for my boys...but I didn't want to do rubber ducks or frogs.

We finally decided on Sahara Animals by Saturday Knight, LTD. I think it is very cute and colorful and hope my guys will love it. I know Jacob is going to be so excited, especially since the bathroom has been so bare. Here are some pictures of the shower curtain and accessories. I'll post actual pictures of the "finished" bathroom later. I didn't like the rug that came with the set so I'm still looking for a cute rug...maybe a lion or a monkey?

Ryan, week 24

I had my 24 week appointment today. Since I am fortunate to not drive in I-65 traffic, I over-estimated how much time I would need to get to my 8:15 appointment and was an hour and five minutes early. Better early than late, right? I got a killer parking spot in the deck, which NEVER happens and proceeded to wait in my car for a while. I decided to head in about 30 minutes early in case they weren't busy and could go ahead and see me.

At this appointment, I started the "rotation" of doctors. I signed in and they called me back within 10 minutes. They weighed me, which is oh, so fun and then the urine sample and then onto a room. When the nurse took my blood pressure it was 140/90 which is HIGH. I began to panic because of my pregnancy with Jacob. She asked if that was normal, and I said no. She told me they would let me "relax" and take it again before I leave. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a worrier so "relaxing" was almost out of the question. I tried to take my mind off of it by reading a magazine. The doctor came in and was very nice. I'm not one of her patients so she had to ask some background questions. She measured my stomach and said that this baby was measuring big - you go Ryan! Keep growing! Then we listened to his heartbeat, which sounded good and strong. After that she asked me about the blood pressure...if it was normal, etc. Then she mentioned my next appointment would include the gluscose test and if I had passed it with my other pregnancy. I failed it and had to take the three hour test. She wanted to go ahead and do some blood work to check my sugar and wanted me to come back earlier than normal to take my glucose test. I asked her if there was protein in my urine because of the high blood pressure and she said no, which means that it hasn't been high for an extended period of time. She said they would check my blood pressure again before I left.
Thankfully, my blood pressure had come down to 124/80 after the blood work so I guess I'm ok for at least three weeks, which is when my next appointment is.

Please keep me and Ryan in your prayers, especially my blood pressure. I only have a 5% chance of developing pre-eclampysia this pregnancy, and I'm afraid that's where I'm headed.

Jacob

Most of the blog posts have been about my pregnancy. I wanted to mix it up a bit and post something about Jacob. He amazes me everyday. He's a smart, funny, sweet kid. He's quirky, but comes by it honestly. He's definitely the joy in our lives and we can't remember what (nor do we want to) it was like before he came along. He's a little over 3 and 1/2 years old and here are his 1/2 month birthday pictures.

Ryan, week 23

It's so weird to me to title these posts with our 2nd child's name. We didn't settle on our first child's name until week 32 or so and then he came 4 weeks later. I'm just not used to knowing the name this early!

Things are moving along, pun somewhat intended since Ryan has been more active lately...or I can feel it more often. Hopefully that means he's growing and developing according to God's plan. Here's what baby center says he's up to:

How your baby's growing:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Ryan, week 22

One more week and things should start to slow down around our house. Maybe then, we can get more boxes unpacked and it will start to feel more like home. I think I failed to mention that I really started to feel him move around Mother's Day. What an amazing gift! He's still not super active, but I can feel him more and more each day. I definitely do not enjoy being pregant, it's more of a means to an end, but I do enjoy feeling my baby move. It has to be one of God's most special gifts. Here's how little Ryan is progressing this week.

How your baby's growing:At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

# 2, week 21

Now that we know we're having a boy, I can stop using "# 2" in my title. Yes, we have picked out a name. This could change, but I'm 99% sure that we're in agreement. The baby's first name will be Ryan. Ryan is my husband's grandparent's last name. The baby's middle name will be William. William is my Dad's middle name. Soon everyone will be able to meet, Ryan William. This has been our boy name for a second child long before we found out we were expecting and maybe before we decided we wanted to have another baby. Call us old-fashioned but we like traditional names and especially family names. Guess it's a good thing he's a boy because we only had a middle name for a girl.

We have also picked out a nursery theme. But didn't you say that you kept everything??? Yes, I did say that. Since we still use the lamp and some wall hangings from our son's nursery, we didn't want to re-use the same theme and/or cause more jealousy.

Here are some pictures of the bedding and accessories. Once we have the nursery painted and all of the furniture in place, I'll post actual pictures of Ryan's room.

# 2, week 20 - It's a ...

It's finally here!!!! Week 20 has been busy! We moved for a day and a half and then had our BIG ultrasound on Thursday the 13th. I haven't had ANY caffeine (unless you count what's in chocolate - and I haven't eaten much of that) since before we found out I was pregnant. I had stopped caffeine at the end of November 2009 in an attempt to get healthier and try to increase my weight loss. I drank a cup of fully loaded coffee on the way to my 8:00 appointment hoping that it would make the baby move enough that we would be able to find out the sex.

We start the ultrasound and all we can see is the spine. The little stinker was lying transverse across my stomach, right under my ribs. We listened to the heartbeat, which is always incredible to hear and tried to get the baby to move around. When we could see something, we found out the umbilical cord was between the baby's legs, making it even harder to determine the sex. Then, the ultrasound tech said, "I think it's a boy." After several more minutes of trying to get a clear image, she confirmed that we are in fact having a boy!

I am so excited!!! I kept everything of my son's...clothes, toys, blankets...you name it, I've got it! Now we get to use it all again. Plus, I know I can handle a boy and I'm not going to bankrupt our family (if it was a girl, I would have bought every cute, frilly, monogrammed thing you could think of...face it, girls have cuter clothes than boys!) I can't wait to meet our 2nd son...however, if you're reading this somewhere, don't be in a hurry to get here, I'd rather carry you full term unlike your older brother...and please don't mess up my blood pressure. I wasn't fond of bed rest!

When we were driving back from the doctor's office, my husband said, "I have my doubles team," and I said, "we don't have to pay for a wedding." It's funny how our first real thoughts about having two boys were so different! We have some ultrasound pictures, but I don't have electronic copy. You'll just have to wait 8 more weeks until the 4D ultrasound. Maybe he'll cooperate then!

Here's what babycenter.com says about HIS development:
How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

A new address!

This week has been very busy for us. It involved lots of packing, Mother's Day, selling our house, buying a new house and moving! I mentioned something about a lot of things going on in our lives right now and other than # 2, it was the sale of our house. We decided in January to put our house on the market. We put a lot of our furniture and things in storage in order to make it appear larger for "staging" and listed on March 1st. This was our second attempt at selling our home. We listed in June of 2008 through November of that year, when we decided that we didn't need to move then, especially since the housing market had taken a turn.

Between that time and now, we have replaced the carpet with hard wood floors and have upgraded the appliances (except for the fridge) to stainless steel. We LOVE our house. It was the first house we bought six months after we were married. We made it a home. It is the only house our son has ever known. Though we are happy that we are so fortunate to be able to move, it was a tearful goodbye. There are a lot of things we will miss about the "old" house...the cul-de-sac, the honeysuckle that took over the backyard and the long hall, just to mention a few.

We got an offer on our house March 30th. We counter-offered and the buyer counter-offered our counter-offer and we accepted. Lo and behold, we had a contract! Neither of us could believe! I had just hoped and prayed that we would be able to sell and move before the baby arrives in September. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would happen so fast. Don't get me wrong, we had a few bumps along the way but in the end we closed and moved.

Here's a picture of the new house. We're still getting settled and I think I'll be unpacking boxes for the rest of my life. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I should get some sort of reprieve for being pregnant...

# 2, week 19

Things are moving right along with # 2. We go to the doctor next week for our "big" appointment! We can't wait to find out what we're having!



How your baby's growing:
Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

# 2, week 18

Week 18 has been better than week 17. Woo hoo! I haven't felt great, but I feel "better" and that's a start. There is a lot going on in my life, at home and at work. All I can do is trust in the Lord and know that he will take care of me. Praying for a peaceful, drama-free, weekend.

What babycenter.com has to say about week 18:

How your baby's growing:
Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

# 2, week 17

Week 17 has been one of the worst, which is why this post is more than a week overdue. I caught some sort of stomach virus and couldn't keep any food or liquids down. It was terrible. It started on a Tuesday afternoon and continued into Wednesday morning. I called the doctor and the nurse called in some medicine for me. I was finally able to keep something down, but didn't feel well the rest of that week.

Here's what babycenter.com says about week 17:

How your baby's growing:
Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

# 2, week 16

I had my 16 week appointment on Monday...or so I thought! I get to the doctor's office and they ask my name as I'm signing in. Then they asked what time my appointment was and I thought this can't be good. The receptionist then informed me that my appointment was Tuesday, not Monday. Uh-oh...I'm sure I looked like I was about to cry. She said that she would check and see if they could go ahead and see me. Fortunately, they did...and I don't know why they wouldn't, I'm an easy appointment right now! They weighed me, made me leave a urine sample, listened to the baby's heartbeat and I was on my way! My next appointment is the BIG one...we get to find out what we're having! Maybe I'll change the blog background as an indicator...we'll see. We should at least have some ultrasound pictures that I can post on here instead of the generic ones I've been using. Also, I'm going to get Jeff to start taking a picture of me each week so maybe I'll put that on here too...maybe.

On another note, there are a lot of changes happening in our family and this could be a very busy month/month & a half. Please keep us in your prayers. I'll update more about that when the time comes.

Here's what babycenter.com says the baby is doing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

# 2, week 15

I was hoping by now that I would be through with morning (all-day) sickness...not so much. I'll have a few "decent" days which make me think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and then I'll have a day like today that completely grounds me. Oh well, it will all be over by September 22nd at the latest so I guess that's the light I need to focus on! I go back to my doctor on Monday for my 16 week appointment so I should have a good update next week!




How your baby's growing:
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

# 2, week 14

Fourteen weeks...hopefully I'll be over this sickness soon. I had a pretty good weekend, pregnancy wise...Saturday I felt ok, even went sans sea-bands. Sunday wasn't too bad either, sans sea-bands again...oh, but Monday more than made up for it! I know I have said this before, but this is probably the sickest I've been this pregnancy. When I get sick, it normally just sounds like I'm coughing so it's not that gross if you happen to overhear, which is good for Jeff (and Jacob has no idea what is really going on). This time, I almost made Jeff sick too. Probably too much information, but it's my blog and I can write whatever I want...if you don't like it, you don't have to read it (so there!).




How your baby's growing:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

# 2, week 13

Week 13...1/3 of the way! I got a little excited when I thought about that this morning, then I realized I had 26 weeks to go (since my doctor is inducing the week before I'm due) and 26 weeks is half of a year, so I wasn't so excited. Today has been pretty rotten as far as sickness goes. I think I spent most of the morning throwing up in the handicapped stall at work. Fun times!





How your baby's growing:
Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

Love, love, love...

You're supposed to read that to the tune of "All You Need Is Love" by the Beatles. It's one of my favorite songs, especially the way it is done in the movie, "Love Actually." Whenever Jacob or baby # 2 gets married (and I'm heavily medicated) I want to do that at their wedding. I think it would be awesome.

Why the "love, love, love" post...every time I think that I cannot possible love my son more than I do at that moment, he does something wonderful and my love grows. It can be as simple as a smile, or doing what I ask him to the first time. I think what prompted me to post this is during the blessing the other night, he paused and gave me a kiss on the arm and then continued to ask God to bless our food. I might as well have melted into a puddle right then. Plus, there's always the unsolicited, "I love you so much" that he says on occasion...or the sincere "Mommy, thank you so, so, so much for taking me to school today." He has such a sweet disposition and I'm so blessed to call him my son. As Kailan says, he "makes my heart happy!"

# 2, week 12

The week 12 post is a little over due...you'll understand why if you keep reading. Last week, I had the good fortune of being off for spring break. As far as spring break's go, it was probably right up there for one of the most boring & dull, but more me, it was much needed rest...at least starting Wednesday!

Sunday afternoon, I experienced severe abdominal cramping that lasted for an extended period of time. It worried me enough to call my OB-GYN's office. I reached the answering service and they took my information and had the on-call doctor call me back. Since I have had a miscarriage before we were blessed with Jacob, the on-call doctor told me to go to the emergency room and get "checked-out." After being there four and a half hours, blood-work and a urinalysis, it was determined that I had a very bad urinary tract infection. I was dismissed to leave.

The next day, I got my prescription filled and my doctor's office called to check on me (how nice of them!) I told them I had not experienced any more pain and they were going to request the records from the ER. A little bit later they called again...since the ER doctor didn't do an ultrasound, they wanted me to come in that day or the next to have one day. This made me worry...

Tuesday, I went to Brookwood for an ultrasound and to see another doctor since my doctor was on vacation for the week. Everything looked great on the ultrasound and she said she didn't see anything to be concerned about. Jacob got to "see" the baby and hear the heartbeat. He said, "I want to hear the "mohn, mohn, mohn" again. (I don't really know how to spell the way he described the heart beat.)

With that said, here's the week 12 update:

How your baby's growing:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

# 2, week 11

I'm a few days late posting the 11 week update. I'm not sure what is going on, but I think I'm definitely having some kind of hormone surge this week. Monday (3/8) was the worst day I've had until this morning (3/12). I guess that means that baby is growing and all is normal, but I sure do feel rotten!

From babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

# 2, week 10

Things are moving right along. I don't feel good but I don't feel as bad as when I was pregnant with Jacob, which gives me hope! Some days have been worse than others but knowing how bad it could be, I'm thankful it's only as bad as it is.

from babycenter.com




How your baby's growing:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

# 2, week 9

From babycenter.com:

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

# 2, week 8

I thought it might be fun to do a weekly update on the development of # 2...and since it's my blog and I can do whatever I want, that's what's happening. This information is courtesy of babycenter.com.

How your baby's growing:
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

When I was getting ready this morning, Jacob came in the bathroom and started "petting" my stomach. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I'm petting you." I told him, "You know that's where the baby is, right? Your little brother or little sister." He looked surprised and said, "My sister?" I don't know what he's going to do if we're having a boy...and NO, I have not put any notions in his head about a sister. I think it's because my brother and his wife had their second child in October, so his cousin, Ada, has a baby sister. He thinks he needs one too! Silly boy!

Potty-training

Jacob is three and we've had some potty training success on and off since he was two. Finally, this past week, we just went cold turkey with him...big-boy underwear. I'm happy to report that he's doing GREAT! He has worn big-boy underwear to school each day and has come home wearing the SAME clothes, which means...NO ACCIDENTS! He's doing pretty well at home too! He's even standing up! It's so GREAT! We're still struggling a little with going # 2, but everyone says that is harder. I'm pleased with our success with "peeping" as he calls it. We promised him a "red, crane train" so we're going to Target after school to see if we can purchase one. If not, I told him he could get another train...one way or the other, we're coming home with a train! I also brought him some "Scooby Dooby" fruit snacks as a treat for when I pick him up. He is such a wonderful, little boy! When we got to school on Tuesday morning, he told me, "thanks for driving me to school, mommy." He was so sincere about it. No, I don't normally make him walk to school and I am the one that takes him each day, so I'm not sure what prompted the gratitude, but it was very sweet and special.

# 2

Jacob's going to be a big brother! We are having our second child! We found out on January 27th that I was pregnant. We waited until we had our first doctor's appointment before we "spilled the beans" to everyone. During our ultrasound, we got to see AND hear the baby's heartbeat! That was so exciting and unexpected. We didn't get to hear Jacob's heartbeat until our 12 week appointment. My due date is September 29th and I'm measuring three days ahead. My doctor told me I would have to have a c-section again and she would schedule it the week before my due date, so between the 19th & 22nd. It's funny because Jacob was born on my brother, Brent's, birthday and my parent's anniversary and baby # 2 has a strong possibility of being born on Jeff's brother, Todd's, birthday, September 20th! Apparently, we can't have a child that has their own birthday!

I have "all-day sickness" but am managing. It is bad but hasn't been as bad as it was with Jacob so that is a blessing. Hopefully this time around it will only be the first trimester instead of the entire pregnancy! Also, my doctor told me that I only have a 10% chance of developing preeclampsia this pregnancy. That's a lot lower than I thought it would be. Turns out my chances for my first pregnancy were only 15%. I feel healthier than before so maybe it will all work out.

Keep us in your prayers, please.

A new post for the sake of posting

Don't get too excited...I'm just tired of seeing "Happy Halloween." We had a great Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. Jacob was most excited about Christmas this year...from the music to lights and decorations and everything in between. He made it so much fun for us this year.

It's hard to believe that January 2010 is almost in the books. Where does the time go? We're looking forward to the circus, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Funundrum! Maybe I'll do a real post after that.

I apologize to my "loyal readers" for being such a slacker. Guess I should have made "blog more" a resolution!

Have a great Monday...I'm not!