Thursday, July 30, 2009

Week 29 - Take THAT!

Though I am only about 2 and 1/2 lbs and a little over 15 inches, I can sure pack a punch! Imagine how hard I will be able to kick once my size doubles (maybe even triples)! I move a lot during the day but usually wait until later in the evening to really start showing off my martial arts skills. Sometimes it scares my mom but usually she just giggles.

My muscles are continuing to grow (evidenced by the kicking, punching, and moving around) and so are my maturing lungs. Along with that, my head is also getting bigger to make room for my developing brain - so if I am born with a bigger head than most babies, you will know why.

Mom has been able to take daily walks and is keeping active during the day, now that she is not working. She has gotten a lot done around the house in preparation for my arrival but still has a good to-do list of things to go. She seems to be feeling fine and hasn't really been as fatigued in the third trimester as everyone warns. Perhaps September will be a different story. We had another doctor's appointment this week, too. Her weight gain is right where it needs to be and her blood pressure is still very good. The doctor is now measuring her belly to make sure I am growing appropriately. This week, it was 29 cm and the doctor said that was perfect. My proposed birthday remains October 12! And if you are wondering what my heart rate was in order to figure out my gender - good luck. It was again in the 140's, right in the middle of the road.

By the way, if any of you see my dad, please tell him to stop doing zerberts on my mom's belly. It sounds really funny in here. Thanks!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Beginning of the End: 28 Weeks

Hello, third trimester! This marks the beginning of the end - it won't be long before I can meet you all in person. I still have some growing to do, however, since I am now just shy of 15 inches (head to toe) and weigh around 2 and 1/4 lbs. If I am anything like my mom and dad, I still have about 6 more pounds to go. At this point, I am only the size of a Chinese cabbage.

This week, I am able to blink and even have eyelashes! I certainly hope I get those from my dad, whose lashes are much longer than my mom's. Though my eye color has been established, it is possible it will change within the 6 months after I am born. I have a good feeling they will be brown in the end.

This week my mom registered at 2 different stores for upcoming baby showers. I will end up with a lot of green and tan but I think she picked out a lot of cute things! Though I think she found the experience to be a bit overwhelming, she still gets excited when she imagines what it will be like to use it all (once she figures out how).

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Ending the 2nd Trimester: 27 Weeks




Imagine if your height tripled in a matter of 15 weeks. It seems crazy, indeed, but it has happened to me - my length has at least tripled from what it was at 12 weeks! It's estimated I am about 14 and 1/2 inches now and weigh nearly 2 pounds. If I were a vegetable, I would be equivalent to the size of a head of cauliflower.

Mom went to the doctor this week and took a glucose screening test. Results should be back next week. Everything else checked out fine - her blood pressure is good (pretty low, in fact), her weight is fine (gained 2 pounds this time for a total of 18), and my growth is in line with where it should be. This is the first time they measured mom's belly! It was especially funny, though, because mom had decided one day this weekend to spell "BABY" on her belly (including an arrow) with sunscreen and spent hours in the sun. It still showed up very clear when the doctor took a look. Fortunately, she has a sense of humor and was only disappointed with the fact she did not have a camera.



Once she finished laughing, the doctor took my heartbeat, which was somewhere in the 140's again. For those of you trying to guess my gender based on this, it's still middle of the road enough that it could go either way. It sure is fun to keep you all guessing!

This week marks the end of the 2nd trimester. I will write next week when I am officially in the 3rd - getting closer to my birthday!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

26 Weeks Means Hothouse

Week 26 means we have less than 100 days to go! At this point, I am inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which probably sounds gross to you but is actually a good thing! Truthfully, it is pretty essential for the development of my lungs and it’s good practice for when I have to take that first big breath of air.

I’m also continuing to put on more baby fat. By now, I weigh about a pound and 2/3 and measure around 14 inches from head to heel. What fruit or vegetable is 14 inches, you ask? An English Hothouse Cucumber. I have no idea what that is, but I think I have a good idea about what a hothouse is like. It’s certainly warm in here!

Though my eyes are fully developed, they probably won’t open for another couple of weeks. It’s not a big deal – I don’t think I am missing out on seeing much in here.

Mom thought she was getting away symptom-free in this pregnancy but I think I am getting to her now. Her feet are beginning to swell and she has to remember to keep them propped up periodically throughout the day. She worries her worst fear will come true – those size 10s do not need to be any bigger! She has also been awoken violently in the middle of the night twice with a severe leg cramp. The first happened a few weeks ago and the second just happened again. Scares me, too, because she jerks straight up and yells when it happens – it interrupts my quiet time!


Wednesday, July 1, 2009

25 Week Rutabaga

That's right, this week's comparison is a rutabaga. I'm not sure if I prefer that or not to last week's corn on the cob reference. Regardless, it means I am still growing quickly and weigh in now at about a pound and 1/2. I'm finally starting to fill out a little more with baby fat so I should look a little more like a newborn baby than I have. I know mom and dad are not very big people, but I was beginning to get nervous I might be forever skinny! The other thing happening this week is hair growth - there is even more than before. If I keep this up, I will come out looking like the little monkey mom keeps thinking I will look like.

All my furiture is done and in my nursery. It's not arranged in the way mom would like but there is still time for her to change it. And though the walls are painted, I think she wants to add some decorative elements in there to tie in the bedding. Even in its current state, it looks like a nursery and both mom and dad find excuses to go up there frequently just to look at it.

Mom is still feeling great and is getting around just fine. She says she feels almost exactly the same as she did before me, only with a belly that keeps getting bigger and bigger. The third trimester is coming soon, though, and from what we hear it can be a tough couple of months. Mom is hopeful it will follow the last 6 months, though, since it has been so easy so far.