In His Image

Early morning laughter

2010-08-25T10:28:00.000-06:00

This in from auntie Angela:

Baby Isaac Sol Wallace brought surprise and laughter to all the family when he decided to come a little before schedule. Jenn was going to go in for an amnio test to see if his lungs were developed and deliver him the 26th, instead, she started having regular contractions the night of the 24th. She was giggling, smiling and overjoyed that baby would come soon, but John was a little concerned that the time may be sooner than later. Jenn went in that night to figure out if she was having braxton hicks or was in labor. We were surprised that she was at a 6 or 7 and she was rushed for a c-section- since that was the plan and the healthiest option for Jenn with this pregnancy. Baby came out with full lung capacity. It was a wonderful birth. John and Jenn are visibly elated. Grandma Ruth, Grandma Sue and Auntie Angela were the privileged trio who braved the night and got to see baby first. All the family was called and are so happy. Immy still thinks she had a baby sister, but she was also full of smiles that the baby had come when she saw the pictures and gave the news to her cousins. Jenn and Isaac (laughter) Sol (answered prayer) are doing great. He came out weighing a healthy 9lbs, 4oz at 1:44am, Aug. 25th. Isaac is in NICU for a bit as they make sure his blood sugars will regulate themselves, but he nursed like a pro and is expected to move out of the NICU quickly.

Much thanks to everyone for their prayers and to the village time friends for their awesome gift of a cleaned house!

Imogen's lexicon or ImmySpeak

2010-05-19T17:30:00.004-06:00

Prayers
Thank you God for Grandma, God for Grandpa...What else? (Lately the prayers have started out: Thank you God for Uncle...She has added Great George and Great Auntie or Grandma's sister)

Spanish
I did it! Lo hicimos!
NON GRACIAS!
Help me! Ayudaman (Ayudame)
Come on horsey--Vamanos!

Common phrases
Hey look!
I save you.
You're home! (this comes with a big hug and at any time)
I carry you
I so proud of you (this came mostly after potty training)
Such a big girl!
Something to make me feel better (pointing at candy)
Where is my hello? (phone)
Make it (For turn on the music)
Oh my goodness
What are you making?
It's very hot.
Too deep (this was in reference to snow)
It goes in there.
I can't believe it! Good idea!
NO THANK YOU!
Come on. (dance)
I reach it. I got it. I like it. I need it.
I love ice cream!
What'ch you want your favourite colour? (drink, paints, anything!)
What'ch you got in your hand (mouth...)?

I right be back. Don't worry.
I'm low. I need juice box.
Do you need juice? I go get it. Don't worry. I help you.

I need more poop! (on the potty)
(While I am taking my time in the washroom) Do you need to poop? Just POOP!

Mommy: Are you grouchy?
Imogen: No I'm Immy!

Mommy: Are you picky?...
Imogen: No I'm two!

Immy: Knock, knock
Mommy: Who's there?
Immy: Imogen
Mommy: Imogen Who?
Immy: Imogen Wallace!

Things my two year old says...

2010-02-20T10:24:00.003-06:00

Trying to get something or slightly exasperated, "I can't believe it!"
Again trying to get something, "I need it! Insulin, I need it!"
"Come on..."
"It goes in there."

"Different one."
"My Mommy! My Daddy!" (You're going to have to share soon!)

18 months

2009-06-21T21:34:00.003-06:00

So Imogen turned a year and a half on June 15th! What a hoot. She says a lot and I am no longer keeping track of all the words and expressions--I will just have to keep track when something funny gets said. She is able to do more and more by herself. I love this stage...It is great being able to tuck her in. I love the hugs she gives, the jokes she makes, the ability she has to express what she wants...I love knowing her more and more. She even repeats the names of her cousins in prayers.
*Ok I have to brag...at her 18 mo. immunizations Imogen did so well. After the first two shots, she pinched her own arm wondering where the next one would go. She reached out for the needle for the third as if to say "Let me do this," now the last one stung a lot and she did let out a howl but as soon as it was done...Imogen started clapping and laughing. I think she was proud of herself. You see she helps Mommy give her needles most days. Now she saw that she could take it too. Wow. I think my doctor was impressed.

Asleep but not in bed.

2009-05-23T22:21:00.007-06:00

So Imogen is asleep behind her door right now. We put her mattress on the floor tonight in the middle of the room. Moments before this we heard a loud thud and a cry. Before that we just heard cries of frustration that she was in her crib. The thud came after she managed to climb out of her crib. I guess that toddler bed has moved up on the priority list. We did have fair warning however. My mom and dad told me that Imogen had escaped her playpen during naptime this afternoon when she was visiting Grandma and Grandpa. (After that she walked up to Grandma with a pen and paper in hand. She wanted the pen uncapped so that she could write something). Should have known that she would be ready to practice this new found climbing skill at home. So amongst other skills, escape artist is now on the list. Imogen seems to be doing so much lately and is super aware of everything. Here are some observations:

Imogen points to herself after seeing a photo of her as a baby. She loves to pull out the albums of her from the ottoman storage cube. She also pointed to correct shapes under Ms. Candace and Miss Andrea’s tutelage.

Imogen’s vocabulary is expanding daily. She now has: this, that, up, down, please, open, beep beep, okay, no, dog, dad, mom, some form of grandpa/ampa, hi, bye, apple, egg, cheese, fish, awooof, mine, shoe, the letter "I" on her door, beginning of the alphabet to around "h" and somewhat after, tea, giraffe, baby, Ivan, Mimi, Addy and Immy. Oh yes: "OW, WOW, OH-OH." I probably have missed some.

She loves games, hiding in her closet. She loves music, singing and dancing. She loves rolling her “rs” like a motor and lolling her tongue. She loves giving kisses and hugs to us and waving. She says “No” and points when Mommy and Daddy kiss. She loves the outdoors and almost always wants to be there bringing us jackets and shoes as a firm suggestion. She’s crazy about dogs. She loves her hats. She loves drinking tea. She likes yogourt, ice cream, revellos, fudgsicles, watermelon, strawberries, meat in general, pickles, cheese, soda crackers, cookies, dip, carrots in dip, broccoli in dip…. She looks when called by the CameraMom. She loves climbing into things: rides in the hamper, wagon and gets into baskets. She likes to be independent and tries to scale things on her own—the couch, the piano bench, chairs at the dining table—apparently her crib. She is becoming more active at story-time at the public library. She twirls, touches her toes, claps, taps her head, gets her name tag, puts up the felt pictures instead of eating them, and returns her name tag. She recently showed interest in the potty so we bought her one and she went in it twice and hasn’t since.
That’s our girl, our lovable, one and only Imogen Grace. We love ya babe!

Another month is almost gone

2009-03-18T22:54:00.002-06:00

Looking forward to more sunfilled days,
longer evenings hours,
winter coats for spring jackets.
the sled for the wagon
we will take it all in.
For now just the hope of all that gets us outside.
Fresh air!

Our girl is well again. (She had a head cold that still isn't totally gone--over a month now, and a stomach flu for over a week.) She is talking non-stop and sometimes we understand what she is saying. I love her language. She is growing and trying new things--trying to be more and more independent each day. She loves to go outside and often hands me her ski pants to get out. She is funny and loves to laugh and play games. She is such a great kid.
Oh I love her so much!

Latest Imogenisms

2009-03-09T22:48:00.004-06:00

"OWW! OWW!" This means "NO!" Although recently when she was around Josiah, she quickly learned to say "NO!" Previously she used, "OW!" because she had hit her dad once and he look at her with a scowl and said, "OW!"

She can complete her shape puzzles toys--if we turn it to the right side.

She goes and gets things when we ask her to.

"UP!" is a favourite expression and might even mean "Please."

I gave her a bit of a wagon wheel and when I showed her that it was all gone from the plate, (we were eating it over a plate), she took it to her face and started to lick it. Yes she belongs to John and me!

She is all cuddles. Recently she puckered up to give John a real kiss. She also blew a kiss in her old way (see last post).

Imogenisms

2009-02-20T22:14:00.009-06:00

Lately Imogen seems to be growing up so fast. After she got over her cold it seemed like she had advanced by leaps and bounds. I know I need to write down what she says and does before I forget and she stops doing them or moves on to something new.

Her favourite sound used to be cooing like a dove (rolling at the back of her throat). Lately she is lolling her tongue--a lot of "L" sounds as well as animal growls when the time is right. Clicking her tongue is also fun and occasionally she has been grinding her teeth (Mommy is not a fan of this one).

"What is this?" or "Zhat?" are fun parts of her speech and "Wow" is a new one. "Ah-oh" is what she says when she throws something on the floor--on purpose of course...sometimes she says it before she has released the cup or the food.

A couple weeks ago she sang the "Wheels on the Bus" with her toy sound puzzle. She has also repeated things like "Wub you...."

Lately she as been giving kisses by suctioning the bottom of her palm and exclaiming, "BMMMOI!"

When the Sasktel guy came to the door (we have cable now ~a different story for another blog), Imogen turned and ran to John with her arms in the air. After John picked her up she looked at the Sasktel guy and gave him a deliberate wink.

We were at a puppet show and Imogen got antsy near the end. I let her run/walk near the back and picked her up. A little boy--about two and a half--was climbing a chair next to us. Imogen started saying, "Baby, Babeee..." To which he forcefully replied, "I am NOT A BABY!"

When a song calls for touching her head she does so with gusto.

She now participates almost fully in Library Story Time. The first time she had an image to place on the felt board she chewed on it. The second time she had one she put it on her head, (a favourite family game is to put anything on her head and exclaim, "Imogen hat!"), she also had a good response from parents in the crowd when she did this. Most recently she actually walked right up and placed the image on the board! Mommy was very proud! She also claps at the end of stories.

Passive resistance--aargh! She will totally go flopsy when she does not want to go where you are taking her.

She has a growing knowledge regarding the tv or laptop. She knows how to shut both off and learned to do so without direct instruction. She also asks for both much too frequently (Baby Einstein) as we were slackers when we all had head colds.

She loves music and will sing and clap in time to music. Prodigy? Well, I won't go that far. She certainly appreciates it.

Books~she loves books and will bring them to us frequently to enjoy.

Tobogganing

2009-01-24T12:13:00.002-06:00

Last week was beautiful outside--this week not so much! And so Imogen got to experience tobogganing for the first time. We adults had fun and she even came up with some smiles too. The other expressions were of neutrality and a bit of sputtering when I, Mommy, had my feet down and created a facewash for both Imogen and myself. Didn't think that through! She even went down by herself which impressed us all--not that she had much say in the matter.

Happy Birtthday Imogen!

2009-01-01T15:39:00.004-06:00

Her birthday was great. We had family over--(everyone but Uncle Jim, Auntie Ange, Uncle Brian, Ivan and Dominique). We ate a beautiful polar bear cake made by Daddy and Imogen had many fun gifts to open. The next day we got to celebrate with some Village Time friends at the mall. What a great marker. Our girl is one!

Looking at our girl

2008-11-25T14:58:00.005-06:00

This past year? Unlike any other. Our girl has changed our lives and for that I am so thankful. It is so much fun to watch her and see her own personality and will develop. It is also fun to realize that she has parts of me and parts of John that make up who she is. I miss seeing what her brother would have been like and how they would have been different or similar. It is also fun seeing her with her cousins (one in person and the others in pics and on the webcam.)

Someone is going to have a birthday soon!

2008-11-24T13:47:00.001-06:00

Imogen will be turning one soon! Thus the new background. What a year it will have been. Lately she's been tilting her head (almost causing a permanent kink in her neck) to let people know just how cute she is. How did she learn this? It is probably from all the affirmation she gets when she does it. Anyways thanks to Janet, I found this great background...so I'll probably be redecorating this site frequently.

11 months and feeling better!

2008-11-15T10:19:00.003-06:00

Imogen is eleven months old today and is almost back to being herself. Yesterday we took her to the doctor. This past month has been eventful. She took her first steps and more, she recognizes us in photos and can say Mommy and Dad, and HIIMMEEE (not sure if this is Immy). She also can intitiate playing games--as long as someone is willing to play along. On Monday she will have completed her first swim class--StarFish. What a big girl!

Sick

2008-11-13T21:41:00.003-06:00

Imogen got sick yesterday and has been sick again numerous times tonight. Not fun. This is the part of parenting that I wasn't looking forward to...although it was good to see her feeling better for a short time right after throwing up. Hoping that she'll be back to her normal self tomorrow. However we will not be taking in Salsa Babies tomorrow and we will delay her second flu shot as well. (*In the first season that babies receive a flu shot 6-24 mos. they get a second dose a month later.)

Another First

2008-11-12T10:32:00.002-06:00

Well, well, well. This explains the disturbed sleep patterns, change of appetite, being a little grouchy before bed, extra smelly breath and diapers: Imogen has cut another tooth--her first molar! Should have known. Auntie Jess called it. She asked if Imogen had any more teeth and I thought she still just had eight. I went looking this morning for something in her mouth and found another tooth instead! Way to Go Imogen!

John found a link for the lifetime of teeth. So she is on time with her teeth. Her first two she got at four months and soon at six months she had four more teeth (for a total of six). By about eight months she had eight--four on top and four on bottom. Now she has nine teeth.

Kids' Books!

2008-11-12T10:24:00.003-06:00

jsw 2008 What Rhymes with Wallace Books

I has always loved books and one of my greatest weaknesses has been purchasing (and reading) children's books. Another love that I have had throughout my life has been writing. For as long as I can remember holding a pen or pencil I have loved writing. Lately I've been working on some children's books for Imogen. It started with ABC books for her cousins--Ivan and Dominique. I also wrote one for her (actually our future children) soon after we lost Gordon. A friend is currently working on illustrating it. For all the other books I have used images I have found on Google search or from our photographs. (So no, I don't plan on publishing them---at least not in their current form.) John bought me a laminator as an anniversary gift (one of a few gifts he bought me) and it has come into good use.

Titles include: Books are for Reading, Love is: words from I Cor. 13, The Whatevers: words from Philippians 4, Daddy Loves Me and Teaches Me Things, This Little Doggie, This Little Chicken and This Little Cow, My Bible ABCs, and I'm working on, The Fruit of the Spirit. It feels good to write them and I love seeing Imogen's face light up when I read them to her.

JoyFall

2008-11-11T21:35:00.003-06:00

Does "Happy Baby" begin to describe our girl? We are joyfilled around her. She wakes up with a smile on her face. She plays games that get us laughing. She likes to make people smile a lot. Yes, she has moments of seriousness and sadness. (She has even had temper tantrums). But she takes such joy in learning and experiencing life. I am learning a lot from our little girl.

Cheerios and Whole Milk

2008-11-11T21:28:00.002-06:00

Well of late Imogen does not eat baby food. She turns her head as if we are insulting her. (The only baby food she will tolerate quite happily are sweet potato and fruit sauces.) For awhile we still got away with baby porridge but not anymore. So today we tried cold cereal (cheerios) and whole milk. She down it pretty well. She's growing up so much!

Walking

2008-11-10T22:31:00.002-06:00

Well Imogen has a new friend. A new family has joined the small group at our house. They have a little girl who is 18 months old and running everywhere. She seemed to motivate Imogen to walk even more. So tonight Imogen walked away from us to nowhere and also to different spots without prompting...all because she had a new friend to chase after. Anyday now she'll be off!

How do I catch up?

2008-11-05T22:33:00.001-06:00

Well this isn't so much a catch up as to say...our daughter is a joy and is growing in leaps and bounds. She has begun walking and saying words, she creates her own games, she eats table foods...she is truly a precious gift from God.

3 Months

2008-04-07T10:42:00.002-06:00

Okay so I'm a little behind on the blogging. Imogen will be four months in less than two weeks and I'm putting up three now. She is a joy with her laughter and her expressions. She had fun today playing with her little activity floor gym and looking in the mirror. I'm loving all that she can do. This time goes by so quickly so I'm trying to enjoy all the moments with her. I think I hear her now waking up....

Two months

2008-02-16T23:13:00.003-06:00

It is amazing what two months have meant for us. She is such a joy to us and her extended family. She is growing and responding to so much. She is so much fun to watch. Thank you God for our daughter. What a blessing!

For those not on Facebook

2008-01-25T22:35:00.001-06:00

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We are enjoying our little Imogen very much. She is almost six weeks old and she is ever changing and growing. She is taking in a lot with her eyes now. She is also smiling in response to us. We haven't had her weighed in awhile but we are pretty sure she's over 9 pounds--our arms are telling us. We have gone on a few excursions now as well: Sundays with our church, our small group, her baby shower, Marsayn's shower, to my school, to John's work, to appointments, to Girl's Night Out, to Grandma and Grandpa MacLeod and Grandma and Grandpa Wallace's, some shopping...Let's just say we are not bored at all. Special thanks to Grandmas who helped get us places during the day too!

The photo with feathers was taken by Kirsten Magnuson: Amazon Photography in Saskatoon

She's here

2007-12-27T08:49:00.000-06:00

I didn’t know that labour could be this way. Everything went so much better this time. Being continuously on a monitor calmed me significantly. People came to visit ahead of time in the hospital which helped me get my mind off the waiting. While we had to wait many hours (well over 24) I had a peace. As true labour began it went quickly. I had the sensation to push this time and could express that. I was tired but not exhausted. As she crowned and came out there was a burp and a cry. There was not an eerie silence. I felt relieved and lighter. The tears of joyous crying were uncontrollable. They placed her vernix covered body on mine and I was in another place. She is beautiful. I would be taking her home.

It didn’t seem long afterwards that the neonatal nurse practitioner took her down to NICU to help get her blood sugars under control…but not before we introduced her to our family as Imogen Grace Wallace, weighing 8 pounds and measuring 55 cm--what joy. My healing has been so much better this time around as well. Physically and emotionally I know that birthing a baby and life shortly after can be wonderful. Yes, sleep deprivation and worry are a part of the afterwards but I never knew that I could feel so good. Imogen certainly has contributed to that. And while nothing was as painful as losing and giving birth to Gordon he helped me in this labour. My body knew the work that it must do. I also knew that emotionally I could manage if I had done this before in the worst circumstances. And then of course there were the prayers. I do not even know the number or all the individuals who were praying but I know that we were covered. God was certainly present. There were many in attendance in that birthing room.

Her name? Yes there is a singer with that name. Yes, there is a Shakespearean reference to it. Years ago when we saw that name we immediately liked it. When we looked it up there were two meanings: maiden and made/ created in the image or likeness of. I have always liked the reminder that we were made in God’s image. Psalm 139 is a favourite as well. Grace: God’s favour. And so her name means In the image or likeness of God’s favour. We think that’s pretty perfect. Pronunciation: IM-OH-JEN (without dwelling or emphasizing the “O” too long. John refers to the O sound as more of an AW sound).

This Christmas we feel truly blessed. We are surrounded by our family. We are immersed in love. We have been given Imogen and for her we will always be grateful.

2007-12-19T10:03:00.001-06:00

Imogen Grace Wallace
Born Dec 15th 2007
8lbs

Eagerly waiting to take her home. :)

last ultrasound

2007-12-08T10:03:00.000-06:00

Well here is Baby Wallace. This will probably be our last ultrasound. My doctor gave me two choices: 1--stick with the original plan, be induced on the 17th and have an ultrasound and non-stress test or 2--get induced on the 14th. So we're thinking of having the baby in seven days on the 14th! The baby measured 6lbs. 11 oz. yesterday. His or her score was perfect. My cervix seems to be ready so the countdown is really on and this is our last weekend just the two of us. Please keep us in your prayers.

Dates and numbers:
There are 28 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 252 days pregnant.
I am 8.3 months pregnant.
I am in my 9th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: March 31, 2007 to June 29, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: June 30, 2007 to October 12, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 13, 2007 to January 05, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

By this week of pregnancy my baby's crown-to-rump length reaches about 13.5 inches and the total length is approximately 20.7 inches. My baby weighs about 6 pounds now. The top of my uterus has moved further up under my ribs and is about 5.5 inches above my bellybutton. My uterus has grown a lot in the past few weeks as my baby has gained weight. I may have gained about 30 pounds by now and it is common for my weight to stay about the same from this point onwards.

Almost full-grown baby at about 36 weeks pregnancy. Because the top of the uterus is high as it will be, breathing may be getting very uncomfortable at times. I might notice jabbing pains from my baby's kicks. However, within the next few weeks, my baby will drop into the birth canal and this will make breathing easier again. Most doctors like to see their patients weekly from now on to check for labour progression. (One more weeks!)

My baby's face has filled out significantly and looks smooth and plump. Because my baby has powerful sucking muscles and has had layers of fat forming for quite some time now, the cheeks have filled out like a newborn's. My baby's skull is firm, but not hard. Every baby's head has the ability to give slightly so that there is room for him/her to fit down the birth canal during delivery. Some babies are born with cone shaped heads from the pressure of delivery, but this will go away after delivery. The amount of amniotic fluid is at its maximum amount now and ymy baby may not be moving as much as s/he had been. The placenta is now one-sixth of the fetal weight.

35 weeks--16 days to go!

2007-12-01T22:33:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 34 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 246 days pregnant.
I am 8.1 months pregnant.
I am in my 9th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby now weighs over 5.5 pounds and its crown-to-rump length is approximately 13.2 inches. My baby's total length is around 20.25 inches at this point. My uterus is now 6 inches from the bellybutton and the average weight gain is approximately 24 to 29 pounds.

Most pregnant women begin to feel cramped and heavy around this time and often become tired of being pregnant(no kidding!). Some women feel like they do not have to room to breathe or eat. I should eat small, but frequent, meals and rest as often as I can throughout the day. My cervix will begin to dialte and efface within the next few weeks to make room for my baby's head to emerge from the birth canal. My cervix needs to be 10 cm dilated in order to deliver my baby.

This week of my pregnancy my baby's fingernails will have definitely reached the tips of his/her fingers. When my baby is born, his/her nails may look long and pointy. My baby is less likely to scratch him/herself at this point because of the lack of room in the uterus. Fat deposition will still continue and my baby is getting chubbier and more round. My baby's shoulders are plump at this point.

The baby begins to develop his/her own immune system.

34 weeks--3 weeks to go!

2007-11-25T15:09:00.000-06:00

Well another week down. Not much further now. I need to get through this week of work and then I think I'll enjoy the wait more.

There are 41 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 239 days pregnant.
I am 7.8 months pregnant.
I am in my 8th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby's crown-to-rump length this week is approximately 12.8 inches and the total length is around 19.8 inches at this time. My baby now weighs almost 5 pounds (on Thursday I was told 5 lbs. 11oz). From my bellybutton, it is about 5.6 inches to the top of my uterus. Measurements of my uterus vary from woman to woman. I should not worry if I do not measure the exact same as my pregnancy friends or family members as long as I am growing appropriately. When my uterus grows and gets larger at an appropriate rate, it shows that my baby is growing well inside of my uterus.

Braxton-Hicks contractions are going to get stronger and more frequent within the next few weeks. Braxton-Hicks contractions feel like a tightening at the top of your uterus that spreads down and then relaxes. Many women mistake Braxton-Hicks contractions for true labor contractions, but this is rarely the case. Braxton-Hicks contractions will diminish if I get up and walk around and they should not be painful.

My baby's hair continues to get longer and thicker. My baby's hair color probably is not going to be the same color from birth onwards, so yI should expect it to change in colour. My baby is shedding most of lanugo, but the amount of vernix caseosa is increasing. My baby is taking calcium from me to lay down lots of bone.

If I were to deliver my baby now, it would probably be called a pre-term infant instead of premature. The only difference is in the maturity, particularly lung maturity. A pre-term baby is less likely to need intensive care because his/her lungs have developed. Doctors can test lung maturity with an amniocentesis that checks levels of surfactant.

The baby now rests on my uterus and is no longer floating.

Fingernails now reach over the finger tips and the baby can scratch him/herself.

4th ultrasound

2007-11-22T22:02:00.000-06:00

Well today we got to see baby again. He or she is measuring approximately 5 lbs. 11 oz. Yes--I am 33 and a half weeks. So we'll see what this baby weighs at 37 weeks! All things are good. It didn't even take long to get a strip during the NST (Non-stress test) because the baby was so active. I wish I could be so active! 10/10 for a score (fetal tone 2, fetal mov't 2...) During the ultrasound we could see a foot right by baby's head--contortionist? Just two and a half weeks and there will be more room for baby and for me.

33 weeks--4 weeks to go!

2007-11-17T19:58:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 48 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 232 days pregnant.
I am 7.6 months pregnant.
I am in my 8th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby weighs about 4.4 pounds at this point. The crown-to-rump length of my baby is approximately 12 inches and the total length is around 19.4 inches. Measuring from the top of my uterus to my bellybutton is 5.2 inches. Total weight gain at this point of pregnancy is usually 22 to 28 pounds.

With the exception of crying, my baby is capable of doing everything that a newborn baby will do. My baby is restricted now inside of the uterus, but still can kick and move. My baby sleeps a lot of the time, just as newborn babies do. My baby's eyes move in the manner of REM sleep and researchers believe that babies can dream vividly in utero. When my baby is awake, s/he is listening, feeling and learning. There are billions of neurons in the brain that make trillions of connections. My baby will probably have settled into the birth position by now and my caregiver can most likely tell which way my baby is presenting. If my baby were to be born now, the lungs would probably be strong enough to function properly, but my baby may still need extra care from specially trained doctors and nurses.

During these last few weeks of pregnancy, most women experience an increased urge to urinate. The uterus puts a lot of pressure on the bladder and can send me to the restroom frequently. My uterus has actually grown 500 times throughout my pregnancy! Red blood cell production catches up with the production of plasma and physiological anemia may begin to fade at this time.

My baby's eyes open during alert times and close during sleep. The eye color is usually blue, regardless of the permanent color as pigmentation is not fully developed. The final formation of eye pigmentation requires exposure to light and usually happens a few weeks after birth.

32 weeks--5 weeks to go.

2007-11-11T20:41:00.000-06:00

8 months!

Well another week down and we're are now at the 8 month mark. I have twelve teaching days left--which is good because lately I have the kids come to me as I sit and teach. That is okay but I'm sure they'll appreciate a teacher who moves around a bit more.

Dates and numbers:
There are 54 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 226 days pregnant.
I am 7.4 months pregnant.
I am in my 8th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

By week 32, my baby weighs nearly 4 pounds (I think more)! The crown-to-rump length of my baby is approximately 11.7 inches and the total length is about 18.9 inches. My uterus is now 5 inches above my bellybutton. Some doctors do not see their patients every other week until now. (I am going every other week to my obstetrician and then every week by week 34).

This pic is of a sleeping boy. the baby sleeps 90-95% of the day, and sometimes experiences REM sleep, an indication of dreaming.

Now that my baby has grown so long and my uterus is higher, I might notice a new discomfort. My baby is probably head-down and may occasionally stretch out and kick me in the ribs. The pressure on my rib cage can make me sore, especially if one of my baby's feet become caught. I can prevent this by sitting up straight as much as possible. Because my baby's demands for vitamins and minerals are higher than ever right now,I should continue to take your prenatal vitamins for the entire pregnancy.

This week my baby's movements will peak. I should continue to monitor the fetal movements daily and address any concerns with my caregiver. The wrinkles in my baby's face are disappearing and fat is still being deposited throughout the baby's body.

The body growth slows down from now on.

Because of the lack of space in the uterus, the legs are drawn up in what is known as the fetal position.

As a preparation for breastfeeding, my baby has learned to root for the breast. The baby will turn his/her head if touched on the cheek and open his/her mouth if the bottom lip is tickled. By this time the baby can also suck and swallow in a coordinated way.

31 weeks--6 weeks to go!

2007-11-04T22:58:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 61 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 219 days pregnant.
I am 7.2 months pregnant.
I am in my 8th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby is continuing to grow each week that I remain pregnant. My baby's crown-to-rump length is nearly 11.2 inches and total length is approximately 18 inches. My baby weighs approximately 3.5 pounds at this point (probably 4). My uterus is about 4.4 inches above my bellybutton and continues to get larger. An average weight gain at this point is between 21 and 27 pounds. The weight that I gain is made up of my baby, placenta, blood supply, uterus, breasts, fat, water storage and amniotic fluid.

Because the ligaments and muscles supporting the small of my back relax and loosen in order to get ready for childbirth, my back may be aching from now on (yep). There is usually nothing that can be done to prevent backaches, only to make them more comfortable. Many women get heartburn during these last few weeks of pregnancy because the oversized uterus leaves less room for the stomach and the contents within the stomach. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help relieve the discomforts of heartburn.

This week marks an incredible milestone in my baby's lung development. Before now, the air sacs and branches in my baby's lungs were present but not functionable. The lungs were not able to inflate properly. However, now there is surfactant being produced in my baby's lungs. Surfactant prevents my baby's lungs from collapsing outside of the uterus and the baby is able to take in air and breathe properly. The fetal ear is almost completely developed both inside and out. My baby can hear my voice and other familiar sounds that s/he will recognize after birth. My baby is putting on white fat under the skin and the skin's color is pink instead of red at this point. My baby's fingernails have grown to the end of her/his fingers and s/he may scratch her/himself while s/he is in the womb.

30 weeks

2007-10-29T14:26:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 68 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 212 days pregnant.
I am 7 months pregnant.
I am in my 7th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

I may feel as if I have been pregnant forever at this point. (No kidding!) It might be hard to imagine being pregnant for another ten weeks (or seven!), but my baby still has a lot of growing and developing to do! By this time, my baby's crown-to-rump length is a little over 10.8 inches and the total length of my baby is about 17 inches! My baby weighs about 3 pounds now (I was told on Friday 3lbs 70z.) My uterus can be felt about 4 inches above my bellybutton. My uterus, baby, placenta and the amount of fluid will get larger over the next ten weeks. I should be gaining about a pound a week at this time. (Ok, but not the baby right?!)

Because I am getting larger, I am probably becoming slower and clumsier (It's true). I should try to be careful to avoid dangerous falls. Good posture when sitting and standing can help me feel better during my pregnancy. I also should be rolling over on my side to get up after lying down because my muscles have stretched to accomodate my growing uterus.

Even though my baby is cushioned by the amniotic fluid, s/he can feel and respond to pain. My baby now does `practice breathing` to get ready for life outside of my womb. If I have an ultrasound at this time, I will be able to see this (it looked like baby was making sucking motions). If my baby swallows amniotic fluid down the wrong passage, s/he will still get hiccups that are noticeable by me. If my baby were born at this time, s/he would be able to keep her/himself warm.

The skin begins to smoothen as fat deposits accumulate underneath. The fat insulates and is an energy source.

My baby develops reflexes and the skin is very sensitive.

The brain is fully formed, and the child can feel pain. the baby may even suck his/her thumb. The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the seventh month to protect the delicate optical nerve fibers.

So 7 weeks to go--49 days.

If you like numbers

2007-10-27T08:45:00.000-06:00

Well we had an ultrasound yesterday and a non-stress test. I didn't realize I was going to have the NST and had booked the ultrasound for 8:10 am. Needless to say I had to call the school during the NST and ask my co-worker to take my kids until I got there. She is truly wonderful. For me the non-stress didn't involve no-stress, that would have been a relaxing massage... Still it was good to hear the baby's heartbeat and to feel and see the kicks.

So numbers--mine are good but here's about baby:
approx: 1569 grams/ 3lbs. 7 oz.
63rd percentile for 30 weeks ( I was at the end of 29weeks)

Measurements: (first number represents weeks, second number represents days)
H (head) 31-6, 30-5
A (abdomen) 30-1
F (femur) 30-1

Fetal Assessment Total Score /10
Fetal Mov't 2
Fetal Tone 2
Fetal Breathing 2
Fetal Fluid Volume 2
NST (Non-stress test) 2

(2 is normal for each category.)

The ultrasound is a photo of the baby's head to the right. S/He is facing out. The baby's mouth was making sucking motions. Very cool.

29 weeks--7 months--57 days to go!

2007-10-21T13:37:00.000-06:00

Well this week on Friday we will have another ultrasound. I'm really looking forward to seeing baby and hearing how he or she is doing...even though I get to feel that whenever I get kicks. I am feeling well and, as you've noticed, I'm counting days now too. 57 to go!

Dates and numbers:
There are 76 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 204 days pregnant.
I am 6.7 months pregnant.
I am in my 7th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

At this point in my pregnancy, my baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 10.4 inches and the total length of my baby is around 16.7 inches. My baby weighs about 2.7 pounds and continues to grow every day. If I measure from my bellybutton, my uterus is 3.5 to 4 inches above it. Total weight gain at this point is usually between 19 and 25 pounds.

Babies that are born prematurely can be very tiny. Even a baby that is only a few weeks early can be very small. My baby will grow rapidly from now until week 36, and then at a slower rate thereafter. Generally, boys weigh more than girls at birth. The average baby's birthweight at full term is 7 to 7.5 pounds. (I can dream can't I?)

I might notice some leakage of colostrum from my breasts around this time. Colostrum is a sticky, watery substance that provides my baby's first food if I choose to breastfeed. Milk does not come in immediately after delivery and colostrum is high in calories and enough for my baby's first few days of life. My baby is stimulating the production of colostrum. The baby's body is ensuring that there will be a readily available food supply after delivery.

My baby will continue to open and close his/her eyes in the womb and may be able to see silhouettes of objects or even people in the right amount of light. My baby should be moving many times throughout the day. Some of my baby's movements will be predictable and if I notice a decrease in fetal movements, I should lie down and do a fetal kick count. I should feel your baby move approximately ten times in an hour.

Research has shown that my baby is not only able to hear, but also able to recognize my voice. This shows that my baby can already learn, remember and recognize.

7 months

2007-10-15T17:26:00.000-06:00

Here we are at 7 months!

28 weeks

2007-10-13T21:25:00.000-06:00

Well another marker--28 weeks (7 months). We'll take a 7 month photo and post. The other night John and I went to see Bourne Ultimatum. There was a fight scene and I felt like I was in it! The baby was really punching and kicking during the whole sequence--I suspect the sound effects and noise got the baby going. John figures our child will like action movies. (Well he or she won't be able to watch ones like that for quite awhile!) Sunday--64 days to go!

Dates and numbers:
There are 83 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 197 days pregnant.
I am 6.5 months pregnant.
I am in my 7th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 10 inches and the total length of my growing baby is around 15.75 inches. My baby weighs about 2.4 pounds at this point. My uterus is a little more than 3 inches above my bellybutton. My weight gain at this time should be between 17 and 24 pounds.

Blood vessel in the umbilical cord. For several months, the umbilical cord has been the baby's lifeline to me. Nourishment is transferred from my blood, through the placenta, and into the umbilical cord to the baby.

I will probably begin visiting my caregiver once every two weeks. Week 28 is an important week for testing. I have had an antibody test. The antibody test will determine if you and your baby will have any reactions to each other's blood differences.

My baby's brain continues to develop and is now forming the folds and grooves of a fully developed brain. The amount of tissues within the brain also continues to increase in large amounts. The hair that covers my baby's scalp is also getting longer. My baby is now large enough for presentation to be determined and my doctor might be able to find out if my baby is at risk for being breech. If my baby is breech, there is still time for the baby to rotate.

27 weeks

2007-10-07T17:20:00.000-06:00

We will be celebrating Thanksgiving with our family: the MacLeods, Wallaces and a few friends. Another reason to celebrate is the fact that I am now 27 weeks--officially third trimester. We are very thankful for new life (the kicks I've been getting lately) and the opportunity to see our little one. The countdown is on--10 weeks to go!

There are 89 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 191 days pregnant.
I am 6.3 months pregnant.
I am in my 7th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)
I am now in the third trimester, and last, of my pregnancy! My baby's crown-to-rump length is about 9.6 inches and my baby's total length is approximately 15.3 inches! My baby now weighs about 2 pounds 3 ounces and is going to grow rapidly during this last trimester! My uterus is about 2.8 inches above my bellybutton.

If my baby were born now,s/he would have an 85% chance of surviving. Even though my baby is still not fully developed, s/he would be well within the limits of premature viability. I still have approximately 13 (10 for me!) weeks left of my pregnancy, and during this time my baby must continue to grow and develop. If my baby was born at this time, s/he would have several complications that would require special attention. Because babies do not have adequate amounts of fat at this time, my baby would have to be kept inside of an incubator for warmth. Because the air sacs in my baby's lungs do not yet have surfactant, s/he would require an artificial respirator. My baby's brain, liver and immune system still need to develop more also.

My baby can develop hiccups

A date

2007-10-05T22:43:00.001-06:00

Well we have a date--as close to a date as our obstetrician can give us: December 17th. We had a good appointment today and I felt very at peace and well taken care of. There wasn't anything particularly special about today's appointment...I just left feeling good. Baby has been moving a lot (way more than his or her brother did) which I am also happy about. I want to know as often as possible how he or she is doing and kicks and turns sure let me know! The next obstetrical appointment will be Oct. 26th--that is also the next ultrasound appointment--yay! And so there will be pics. 73 days to go...wow. I am looking forward to meeting you Baby Wallace so very much.

Fetal echo

2007-10-01T15:27:00.000-06:00

The fetal echo test went well. It can be unnerving because you lay there (or stand if you are the dad) in silence for about 20 minutes or so. The ultrasound doctor is quiet and poker-faced. (John mentioned she'd probably do well at playing poker for that reason). The news was good. There was a mention about some fluid around the heart--just to keep an eye on and be aware of but not concerned about. The pediatric cardiologist noted that the ultrasound doctor had her work cut out for her as the baby was moving around quite a bit. I think that's because the baby and I have that worked out--baby has been pretty active and I couldn't be happier about that. So we were able to release our emotions after we left the room. Rob stopped in too (he works on campus) and it was good to get through another of many revisited moments but now new moments with this baby.
Thank you for the prayers for today! Keep them coming!

26 weeks

2007-09-30T14:29:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 97 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 183 days pregnant.
I am 6 months pregnant.
I am in my 7th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

Tomorrow is the fetal echo. We did have one with Gordon as well around the same time. Unfortunately this test is in the same room where we received the official news that he was gone the day before he was born. Please pray for a sense of calm and peace as we go through this test--much like an ultrasound on the baby's heart. I will post how it went soon after.

By this week, my baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 9.2 inches. Remember, that is only from the top of his/her head to his bottom and does not include leg measurements! My baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is beginning to put on weight. My uterus is about 2.5 inches above my bellybutton and I will continue to grow approximately 1 cm each week. I probably have gained about 16-22 pounds so far. Because my baby has moved further up, I may get occasional pain underneath your ribs.

After a month of having his/her eyelids sealed shut, my baby begins to open his/her eyes again this week. My baby's eyes are almost completely developed. My baby's eyes are blue in the womb and may change colors later in life. This is true for all races because the pupils do not have their final color until a few months after birth. However, some babies are born with darker or lighter shades of blue. My growing baby will continue to put on layers of fat until s/he is born. S/He is still lean at this point of the pregnancy though. By the time my baby is born, s/he will assume the typical newborn's plumpness. My baby's skin will still be wrinkled and red, but the fat continues to fill the skin out.

Finger and toe nails continue to grow.

Blood vessels start to develop in the lungs to prepare the baby for life outside the uterus.

My baby's blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture the baby. The placenta is now almost equal in size to the baby.

Even though it is still way too soon for my baby to be born yet, the chance of survival without severe abnormalities is now 70% provided baby is born in a hospital.

25 weeks

2007-09-24T15:51:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 103 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 177 days pregnant.
I am 5.8 months pregnant.
I am in my 6th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby's crown-to-rump length is about 8.8 inches. Weight has increased to around 1.5 pounds and fat is still being deposited at a high rate. Babies come in all shapes and sizes, so my baby could vary slightly from these `average` measurements. My uterus has grown quite a bit bigger this week. The top of my uterus is between my bellybutton and my sternum. My uterus is about the size of a soccer ball now!

If my baby were delivered at this time, he or she would have a good chance of surviving. It is best for my baby to remain inside of me for the remainder of the pregnancy, but great advances have been made in the care of a premature baby. Ventilators, monitors and medications all help premature babies develop and grow outside of the womb. If my baby were born this early, s/he would probably have to spend several months in the hospital and would be more susceptible to infections and other complications.

I can hear my baby's heartbeat with both a doppler and a stethoscope at this time, and John may even be able to hear the heartbeat unaided if he puts his ear in the right position. Sex differentiation is being completed now. If I am expecting a baby boy, the testes start to descend into the scrotum. In baby girls, the vagina is hollowing out. My baby is able to do more with fingers now and can move fingers to make a complete fist. As my baby becomes more dextrous, s/he will be able to touch and hold her/his feet. Babies also begin to prefer their left hand or right hand at this time. Because babies settle into routines of sleep and activity, I might begin to notice these patterns as well. Some women experience the most fetal movements while trying to rest. (Yep!)

Here we are at 6 months!

2007-09-17T17:12:00.001-06:00

Well we are definitely getting bigger. Mom came over today and helped me put a couple stitches in my new bathing suit and she tried to listen to the baby's heartbeat with the monitor we have. She couldn't hear it (lots of kicks could be heard) so she tried the stethoscope--well that didn't work to hear the heartbeat either but the message she did get was loud and clear. When she pressed down with the stethoscope in one spot she was greeted with a swift and strong kick, as if to say, "Hey what's going on here?" I like that.

24 weeks

2007-09-16T22:23:00.000-06:00

Nearing the final trimester! I'm saying I'm six months because we're not going until the 40 week mark so...Here we are. I'm looking forward to this next stage because I'm looking forward to having baby here. We bought a monitor that allows both mom and dad to listen to baby's heartbeats and kicks. Heartbeats not easy to find--kicks no problem.

Here are some stats. We took a photo tonight too so we'll add that as well.

Dates and numbers:
There are 110 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 170 days pregnant.
I am 5.6 months pregnant.
I am in my 6th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

This week my baby's crown-to-rump length is around 8.4 inches and my baby will weigh approximately 1.2 pounds. Although baby weighs a little over a pound at this point, my growing baby is still tiny. My uterus can easily be felt 1.5 to 2 inches above my bellybutton. The fetus does not appear to have much room in the uterus anymore, but as my pregnancy progresses, space gets much tighter!

Because my uterus is expanding and putting a great amount of pressure on my abdomen, I might get stretch marks. (Been there done that!) My weight gain may also be taking a toll on my body at this point (YEP!). Many pregnant women experience backaches, bladder problems, sore feet and fatigue that affect their daily routines. I might also have some nasal stuffiness or nosebleeds (yes).

My baby's face is basically complete now. The fetus's eyes are close together on the front of his/her face and they are still shut. My baby's ears have moved into their final position on the sides of his/her head. Where they are now is where they will be when my baby is born! Hair will continue to grow on his/her scalp and his/her eyelashes are well developed. Most of my baby's features look the same as they will at birth. Because my growing baby is getting plumper, he/she no longer has room in my tummy to do cartwheels and somersaults.

I sometimes get a stitch-like pain in your side from time to time. It's simply the muscles of the uterus stretching. The unborn child is covered with a fine, downy hair called lanugo. Its tender skin is protected by a waxy substance called vernix. Some of this substance may still be on the child's skin at birth at which time it will be quickly absorbed.

The child practices breathing by inhaling (up to a liter/day) amnionic fluid into developing lungs.

23 weeks

2007-09-09T08:57:00.001-06:00

Well we are at 23 this week! I went to my obstetrician on Friday and all is well. The baby's heartbeat was 149bpm. It is always good to hear that beating sound. The baby likes to party it up at night so I can imagine what our winter nights are going to be like. In about a month I will have a fetal echo ultrasound.

Dates and numbers:
There are 118 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 162 days pregnant.
I am 5.3 months pregnant.
I am in my 6th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

This week my baby's length, from crown-to-rump, is approximately 8 inches! My growing baby has finally reached one pound. My baby is about the size of a small baby doll and looks very human. The baby's face and body look similar to that of a newborn at this time. My uterus can be found about 1.5 inches above your navel. My total weight gain should be approximately 15 pounds at this time.

I might notice some Braxton-Hicks contractions around this time. These contractions are not regular and they should not be painful. Braxton-Hicks contractions prepare my body for the upcoming labor and they will get stronger as my pregnancy progresses. I might be able to feel the contractions if I put my hand on my abdomen and my baby can probably feel the uterus gripping and massaging him/her.

Fat is still being deposited at a rapid rate, but my baby still looks red and wrinkled. Skin is being produced at a higher rate than the fat is, so the skin hangs loosely. My baby looks red because the skin is losing its transparency and pigment is beginning to form. I should be feeling my baby moving quite a bit throughout the day as she will kick and punch the uterus walls. Babies also run their hands along the umbilical cord and touch their body parts while they are in the womb. My baby now can suck his/her thumb for real, where s/he was just sticking it in his/her mouth. My baby will continue to swallow amniotic fluid and recycle it as urine. The liquids and sugars that the baby retracts from the fluid is a supplement to the nutrients that the placenta delivers. I might be able to feel small `jumps` inside of me when my baby gets the hiccups from swallowing fluid. The pancreas is developing and it will responsible for insulin production, to help break down sugars.

As the baby continues to grow, s/he has less space to move around in the uterus. Bones, muscles and organs are growing steadily.

22 weeks

2007-09-02T14:49:00.001-06:00

We are at 22 weeks today. Many have said that I really look the part now. I also feel the part. My belly button is rising--stretching--to the surface. I feel pretty good and am looking forward to my next appointment at the end of the week. (One of my co-workers has her appointment at the same office about 20 min. after me. There are five of us in our school who are expecting!)

Dates and numbers:
There are 125 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 155 days pregnant.
I am 5.1 months pregnant.
I am in my 6th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 7.6 inches and my growing baby weighs about 12.25 ounces now! My uterus is about 2 cm above my bellybutton and I probably feel comfortably (what's comfortably?!) pregnant. My growing tummy is not yet large enough to get in the way and I should still be able to bend over and sit without much trouble(should is the operative word).

My baby's body continues to grow and develop every day. The organ systems in my baby's body are becoming specialized for their particular functions. The fetal liver produces different enzymes than it will produce after delivery. The liver is responsible for breaking down billirubin, which is produced by the breaking down of blood cells. Because the life span of a fetal red blood cell is shorter than that of an adult, a fetus produces more billirubin than adults do. Billirubin passes from fetal blood to the placenta and then into my blood. My liver helps get rid of fetal billirubin. A newborn baby that has high levels of billirubin may show signs of jaundice. Jaundiced babies have a yellowish tint to their eyes and skin and are often treated with phototherapy.

My baby's senses are developing daily. The fetus now has a full complement of neurons in the brain and is learning about his/her body and surroundings through touch. Touch is one of the first senses to mature and my baby may stroke his/her face or feel his/her arms and legs.

My blood volume has increased more to meet the demands of my pregnancy. Most of the increase is in the form of plasma, the liquid part of my blood. This has the ability to dilute my blood and give my physiological anemia, which occurs during pregnancy. The measure of blood dilution is called hematocrit and the levels reach their lowest points this week.

My baby now shows an extremely rapid brain growth (which lasts until five years after birth).

The ovaries of female fetuses contain primitive egg cells, all of the eggs a woman will have for her entire life. The uterus of female fetuses is also fully formed.

21 weeks

2007-08-26T15:03:00.000-06:00

Well I'm definitely feeling tighter/stretched belly-wise. It always is apparent quickly that I'm indeed pregnant with the way I carry. I actually prefer this to having people guess. So next week is another appointment with my obstetrician on the 7th and students will be entering kindergarten on the 4th. Looking forward to both.

Dates and numbers:
There are 132 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 148 days pregnant.
I am 4.9 months pregnant.
I am in my 5th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby's blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture the baby. The placenta is now almost equal in size to the baby.

My baby will be getting much larger during the second half of my pregnancy. My baby's crown-to-rump length at this time is 7.2 inches and s/he weighs approximately 10.5 ounces. My growing baby is about the size of a large banana. I should be able to feel my uterus about a half of an inch above my navel. My weight gain so far will be around 10 to 15 pounds.

As my baby begins to lay down more fat, my weight will also increase. During the next 10 weeks, I will gain about half of the total gain for my entire pregnancy. Strangers can now tell that I am pregnant! (For sure or they're not looking!) I might notice an increase in appetite because I need 500 more calories a day to support my charged up metabolism. It is best to avoid processed foods or foods high in fat, calories or sugar. Some women also get strong cravings for foods.

My baby's different organs and systems are maturing. The fetal digestive system is functioning in a simple way and my baby can swallow amniotic fluid. After my baby swallows the amniotic fluid, s/he is able to absorb water and sugars from the fluid and then the waste is passed as far as the large bowel. My baby swallows the amniotic fluid in order to prepare for life outside of the womb. Some babies consume as much as 17 ounces of amniotic fluid in a 24-hour period. My baby already has a high number of red blood cells and the white blood cells are beginning to be produced. Taste buds are being formed on my baby's tongue this week also.

5 month pic

2007-08-19T20:57:00.000-06:00

1 month 2 months 3 months

Here I am at 20 weeks--5 months

20 weeks

2007-08-19T20:03:00.000-06:00

It's official. Gestationally we are halfway there! According to date of induction we are over halfway! In some ways that is still too far. But I do want baby to have enough time to really grow and thrive. In an earlier post I mentioned that if there are prayers anyone would like to post please do. We are both doing well as far as I know.

There are 139 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 141 days pregnant.
I am 4.6 months pregnant.
I am in my 5th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)
Congratulations! (Thank you) This weeks marks the half way point of my pregnancy. It has been 18 weeks since the date of conception (TMI) and my baby's crown-to-rump length is 5.6 to 6.4 inches. The fetus weighs about 9 ounces and my belly definitely has an obvious bulge. My wasitline has expanded and is no longer visible. My uterus has now moved up enough that it is pushing my abdomen outwards. The top of my uterus is even with or just below my navel.

Sex organs are showing clearly on this girl (Thanks for pointing that out! We don't know and don't want to)

For the remainder of my pregnancy, the growing uterus puts pressure on my lungs, stomach and kidneys. This will make my feel short of breath, the need to urinate more frequently and can cause indigestion. The added pressure on my abdomen can also cause my bellybutton to protrude and cause an `outy` instead of an `inny`. Many pregnant women begin to notice stretch marks around this time as well (Already there). My abdominal muscles are being stretched and pushed apart as my baby grows inside of me.

My baby's skin begins to thicken this week and will develop four layers. My baby's sebaceous glands secrete a waxy substance called vernix caseosa. My baby will be born with this wax and it will look like paste. The vernix caseosa is crucial because it protects the fetus' fragile skin from the continuous immersion in amniotic fluid. Lanugo hairs secure the vernix caseosa in place and it is thick around the eyebrows. Scalp hair and toenails are beginning to form at this point. Hair can also be seen on the upper lip and eyebrows.

Around twenty weeks, most doctors will order a routine ultrasound to check the baby's development. Measurements will be taken and the sonogram technician will check to make sure there are no defects or abnormalities. My ultrasound technician can also see how long my cervix is and can tell you approximately how much my baby weighs a this time (Had one at 18 weeks and won't know the date of the next ultrasound until September.) Most expectant women also find out the sex of their baby during this time! (Not me!)

Movements

2007-08-14T09:10:00.000-06:00

Last night before bed I could feel the baby move and said so out loud. So John reached over to touch my belly. I wasn't too hopeful. I read that usually dads (and others) can't feel much until 28 weeks! Well John must be in tune--he felt movement. That is one of my favourite things watching him feel our baby move around inside me. So I hope baby is up for more performing...we sure are.

19 weeks

2007-08-12T13:45:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 146 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 134 days pregnant.
I am 4.4 months pregnant.
I am in my 5th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

Close up of the face and hands

The right foot, including the developing bones, are clearly visible in the middle of the screen

My baby's crown-to-rump length is 5.2 to 6 inches this week. My baby weighs approximately 7 ounces and will increase its weight more than 15 times between now and birth!

Most women can feel their uterus about a half of an inch below their bellybutton at this point of pregnancy. If I turn to the side, I can really tell that my body is changing! Most women have gained up to 14 pounds now and only 7 ounces of that is baby! The placenta weighs about 6 ounces and the amniotic fluid that surrounds my baby weighs 11 ounces. My breasts have increased in weight by 6 ounces each and the uterus has grown to 11 ounces! I may be gaining weight in places other than my abdomen and this may be affecting my posture and sleeping habits.

One of the most amazing aspects of my baby's growth and development is that of the fetal brain. My baby's brain is one of the first organs to appear. My baby's oversized head shows the brain's importance in his development. Because the nerves that connect the muscles to the brain have grown into place, my baby's movements are consciously directed. My baby's ears stand out from the sides of the head and the buds for my baby's permanent teeth appear. My baby's arms and legs have reached their relative proportions and his feet are approximately one inch long.

Prayers and blessings

2007-08-11T10:38:00.000-06:00

For our pregnancy:

O Lord and Giver of life, receive our prayer for all women who are pregnant and for the children they carry, that they may safely and happily come to the time of birth, and serving you in all things, may rejoice in your loving providence. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Father, we praise you for the work of your hands. For human life, made in your image, for the gift of your Son who saved our nature, for the power of your Spirit, who fills our hearts, for all you bestow upon us, we praise you, we thank you, we bless you. Help us to protect the life you gave us: support the aged, guide the young, lift up the failing, and heal the sick. To all people grant your truth in its fullness. May those who are yet unborn soon see the light of day and live to give you glory, through Christ our Lord.

For your Birth and as you grow:

When the first light of sun-
Bless you.
When the long day is done-
Bless you.
In your smiles and your tears-
Bless you.
Through each day of your years-
Bless you. (An Irish Blessing)

“World of Your Dreams” .

May you be blessed with understanding,
With wisdom and compassion in your heart.
May your tongue be filled with song.
And your lips sing out for justice.
These are the prayers we have for you. (Andy’s Bar Mitzvah Song) 1992 Deborah Lynn Friedman, Sounds Write Productions, Inc. (ASCAP)

As you make decisions and grow in your own identity:

May God spread his wings over you and protect you.
May you know great joy, happiness, and fulfillment in your life.
May you walk with humility, and may you understand that being God’s child is a source of joy and meaning, and an important responsibility.
May you honor your parents, recognizing that they have brought you into the world in love and in hope, and may you bring them great joy.
May you go from strength to strength, yet always be able to accept your own weaknesses and those of others.
May you judge yourself and others with fairness and compassion, and without harshness.

May you have the confidence and self-esteem to move towards whatever goals you choose for yourself, and may you have the wisdom and courage to change your mind if your original goals are replaced by newer and better ones.

May you allow yourself to dream your dreams and soar with flights of fancy and imagination.

May you always keep a precious part of yourself as "child" even as you move to adulthood.

May your ears be filled with music of every imaginable kind, and may the rhythms be of your own making, allowing yourself to march at your own pace.

May you experience the inevitable moments of sadness and pain in a way that will give these moments meaning and add value to your life.

May you live in a world blessed with peace and harmony, and may your future be as bright and as hopeful as the world's first rainbow.

And let us all say: Amen. (A Blessing on the Occasion of a Brit Bat By Leila Berner--adaptation)

I (Jenn) have made changes to this Jewish prayer--note words in bold and italicized

For all children:

Father, we bring our children to you for your blessing. Help us to be sensitive to their needs. Give us wisdom in our care of them that they may grow up rooted in love, steadfast in faith, strong and courageous in life. Guide us and all who have the care of children. May we never hinder but help and encourage them towards independence and maturity, and to a living faith in your Son, Jesus Christ,our Lord. Amen.

-Frank Colquhoun New Parish Prayers

Book of Occasional Services, The Church Pension Fund, 1979, the Church Hymnal Corporation.
New Parish Prayers and Contemporary Parish Prayers by Frank Colquhoun, Hodder and Stoughton, 1999.
The Doubleday Prayer Collection, ed. Mary Batchelor, Doubleday, 1997.

- Book of Occasional Services

Do you have prayers for our baby that you would like to share?

You oughta be in pictures...

2007-08-07T20:45:00.000-06:00

Well we got to look at the baby. This one is a little uncooperative--at least today anyway. It was hard to get a good shot. Most of the time baby's arms were up and so were baby's legs: ready to punch and kick at the same time? Anyways I was happy to see the baby, measuring 18 weeks 5 days. Heart rate 138 bpm. No we couldn't tell girl or boy and we don't want to know.

18 weeks

2007-08-05T23:05:00.000-06:00

Well we are at 18 weeks together and I have been feeling more movements these past few days. Movements remind me how our baby is his or her own person. I am not determining or deciding when our baby moves at all. I know that as he or she grows this baby, who is so dependent on me now, will continue to grow in independence. How exciting and scary!

There are 152 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 128 days pregnant.
I am 4.2 months pregnant.
I am in my 5th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

Thumb-sucking at 18 weeks....

By week 18 of my pregnancy, my baby's crown-to-rump length is 5 to 5.5 inches long. My baby continues to develop fat layers and weighs about 5.25 ounces. My baby will continue to grow and develop, but the rapid growth will slow down for a little while. I will be able to feel my uterus just below my bellybutton. If I put my fingers sideways to measure, I can feel my uterus about two finger-widths below my bellybutton. At this point of my pregnancy, my uterus is approximately the size of a cantaloupe.

There is still space available in my uterus and my baby will be active for periods at a time. My baby may sit cross legged or turn somersaults.

Around this time, my baby becomes more sensitive to the outside world and shows his/her presence through powerful kicks and prods. The bones through which sound is passed to the inner ear have hardened and the part of the brain that receives and processes nerve signals from the ears are developing. This means that my baby can hear now. My baby will get used to familiar sounds, such as my heart beating, familiar voices, blood rushing through the umbilical cord and other daily routine sounds. My baby will become startled if s/he hears a loud sound.

I have a stethoscope at home, so I can now hear the baby's heartbeat myself (I'll try.)

17 weeks

2007-07-29T09:02:00.000-06:00

Having a great time and I'm seventeen weeks! A couple of days ago as I was sitting and relaxing I was sure I saw a little kick. I'm looking forward to more of these.

There are 160 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 120 days pregnant.
I am 3.9 months pregnant.
I am in my 4th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)
My baby's weight has doubled in two weeks and now weighs about 3.5 ounces! The crown-to-rump length of My growing baby is 4.4 to 4.8 inches. If I spread my hand out opened wide, I can see about how big my baby is.

My uterus is moving up and is now approximately 1.5 to 2 inches below my navel. I am showing more now and there is a noticeable swelling in my abdomen. At this point in my pregnancy, a 5 to 10 pound weight gain is normal. Other people can probably feel the difference in my lower abdomen if they were to rub my tummy. I may have felt my baby move already. ( I have!) However, I might not feel movement every day at this point. As my pregnancy progresses, movements become stronger and more frequent. There is increased blood volume that puts pressure on small blood vessels and capillaries.

Huge changes continue to take place within my developing baby. This week fat begins to form and will continue to do so until s/he is born. Fat is important to the body's heat production and metabolism. Right now, at 17 weeks, water makes up about 3 ounces and fat 0.018 ounces of my baby's body. In a baby at term, fat makes up about 5.25 pounds of the total average weight of 7.7 pounds. (Unless baby is 10 pounds, 3 ounces!) The placenta is continuing to grow at an amazing rate. The placenta will continue to develop in tandem with the fetus and it will weigh more than a pound at birth! By this week, the placenta is large and well established with a network of blood vessels that exchange nutrients and waste.

The eyes are facing more forward. The ears are now close to their final position.

My baby is more flexible with ability to move head, mouth, lips, arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet, and toes.

Fingerprints are forming now.

16 weeks

2007-07-23T10:09:00.000-06:00

All three of us have had a great time in Ottawa. We actually got some sunny days too so we visited Parliament yesterday. We have enjoyed our time with Jim and Susan (& Rosie, and Molly & Arthur). We also were able to visit baby's great-grandparents Grandma and Grandpa Wallace and great Aunt and Uncle Goulah and first cousin once removed Brianne with second cousins Wyatt and Paige. All in all a good trip. pictures to follow. We're growing!

Dates and numbers:
There are 166 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 114 days pregnant.
I am 3.7 months pregnant.
I am in my 4th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

At this point of my pregnancy, my baby is approximately 4.3 to 4.6 inches long and weighs 2.8 ounces. Not only is my baby growing, my uterus and placenta continue to grow to accomodate the growing baby inside of me! Just six weeks ago, my uterus weighed about 5 ounces. This week it now weighs 8.75 ounces! The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is increasing and there is about 7.5 ounces of fluid. I will easily be able to feel your uterus approximately three inches below your navel.

My milk glands start production at this time and this causes some tenderness and swelling in early pregnancy. My veins will become more visible because there is an increaed amount of blood flowing to the breasts.

Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

At this time, my baby is holding his/her head erect. Because his/her muscles are developing, s/he can make some faces now. My baby is able to squint, frown and open his/her mouth. There is enough calcium in the bones that they will show up on an x-ray. My baby's fingernails are well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because my baby is moving well now, I may begin to feel his/her movements! Fetal movements are usually felt between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy.

I may feel my heart beating 'louder'. This is because there is a lot more blood in my body than normal. (about 20-25% more)

15 weeks

2007-07-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

Well baby we've been together fifteen weeks. People notice the changes you are making in me and many are excited for your arrival--a little over five months from now. We are looking forward to meeting you but in the meantime, grow, grow! Your daddy is worried that once I start feeling you move I won't want to let you rest and take a break. So you might want to get that "resting" in now for the next month--then get ready for some marathon movement! We love you little one.

Dates and numbers:
There are 174 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 106 days pregnant.
I am 3.5 months pregnant.
I am in my 4th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 4 inches and s/he now weighs approximately 1.75 ounces. My baby is close to the size of a softball and I can easily tell that I am pregnant now! If I wear maternity clothes or a swimming suit, other people will be able to tell that I am pregnant also.

My baby, 25 weeks to go..... (22-23 for me thank you!)

My baby is growing at an amazing rate and looking more like a human every day. Because my baby's skin is so thin, blood vessels canbe seen through the skin. Lanugo hair covers my baby's body, but it will be gone when my baby is born. The hair on the eyebrows and head continues to grow. Some babies are born with little or no hair and others have a head full of hair! If I have an ultrasound at this point, I might be able to see my baby sucking its thumb. Even though the eyes continue to move to the front of the face, they are still widely separated. Baby's ears look like normal ears and continue to develop externally. The bones that have already formed continue to get harder and retain calcium. The baby is very mobile and flexible at this point. S/he can bend his/her arms at the elbows and wrists and s/he can also make a fist with his/her hands.

14 weeks

2007-07-08T17:11:00.000-06:00

I am fourteen weeks. A few people approached me today who didn't already know. It is more and more obvious that I'm showing now. My symptoms are not bad--just bad headaches with low bloodsugars or high. The other day I was sure I was seeing and feeling movement. We'll see if this baby is a mover. A few people have told me they think this baby is a girl. I have no idea. Again we'll see--and no hopefully not on an ultrasound. I'm of the opinion that after the hard work of labour I want the surprise then.

Dates and numbers:
There are 181 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 99 days pregnant.
I am 3.2 months pregnant.
I am in my 4th month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

I am now in your second trimester! My baby's crown to rump length is 3.2 to 4.5 inches long and he weighs approximately 1 ounce now. My baby is about the size of the average fist.

Now that I am into my second trimester, I may be starting the best part of my pregnancy. I will probably start to feel more energetic and I may get the `pregnancy glow`. My uterus is beginning to swell week by week and you can follow its progress by locating the top of the uterus. The position of the top of the uterus will continue to gradually move up my abdomen, from beneath the pubic line to above my navel. Maternity clothes are probably necessary now.

At this time, my baby's face is becoming more developed. The cheeks and bridge of his nose appear and the ears move from the sides of his neck to much higher on his head. The eyes continue to come closer together. A big development from this week onward is the development of lanugo. Lanugo are the fine hairs that grow over almost all of my baby. The hairs grow in whirled patterns that follow the grain of his skin. These patterns later give way to my baby's fingerprints. The lanugo will be shed before birth and replaced by thicker, coarser hairs. My baby's thyroid gland has matured and starts to produce hormones. If my baby is a boy, the prostate will appear and the ovaries descend from the abdomen into the pelvis in baby girls.

The embryo`s soft cartilage is now being replaced with ` real` chalk bones.

My baby has eyebrows, but no eyelashes. Fine, light hair also begins to grow.

Dear baby,

2007-07-05T13:45:00.001-06:00

Sweet baby of mine
So glad that you're here
Growing, changing, making your presence known
You affect my thoughts and actions
Each day you are part of my waking and sleeping
How is it that two human beings can be so close?
I know that this closeness will not last
I yearn for another bond when you are no longer in my womb
But in my arms sleeping, or waking, or feeding
When you are in your father's arms
When we watch you move.
Do not ever doubt our love for you
And that we so want you here
Sweet baby of mine of ours
Of our dreams
So glad that you're here

My new scrapblog

2007-07-03T14:16:00.001-06:00

More Symptoms at 13 weeks

2007-07-03T12:18:00.000-06:00

Nosebleeds and pimples? Sometimes pregnancy can make you feel like a kid...needing naps. (I also had trouble keeping down breakfast Friday). Still the obstetrician appointment on the 29th went well. Baby's hearbeat was galloping at 162 beats per minute on the Doppler. We had to wait over an hour to meet with my doc and then hear the heart, but it was worth the wait! More waiting to do now. Next appointment...August 10th.

This is the last week of my first trimester and my baby weighs 14 to 20 grams. The crown-to-rump length of my growing baby is 2.6 to 3.1 inches. My baby is now about the size of a peach. Fetal growth is amazing from now through about the 24th week of pregnancy.

At this point of my pregnancy, there is a steady flow of pregnancy hormones in my bloodstream. There is a milky membrane that surrounds my baby. It is pierced by the umbilical cord and is made up of two layers, which are fused together. My placenta provides most of the nutrients and oxygen that my baby needs. By this week, the placenta is well formed and ready to take over hormone manufacture from my ovaries. The placenta will produce progesterone and estriol. These hormones will be crucial in the maintenance of my pregnancy. Tissue that will form my baby's bones is being laid down, especially around the head and limbs. The nose and chin are becoming more prominent. My baby's eyelids meet and fuse together and they will not open again for nearly four months. The eyes started out on the side of my baby's head and they are now moving closer together on the face. The ears come to lie in their normal position on the sides of the head. If examined outside of the womb, I will be able to distinguish male from female at this time.

The sockets for all twenty teeth are formed in the gums, and vocal cords are beginning to form.

Belly Body Building--3 Months

2007-06-26T21:19:00.001-06:00

I'm growing--larger (John says I look shorter too!) Well I'm twelve weeks along. I went to two appointments today--optometrist and clinic and Friday John and I will go see my obstetrician. So far I'm doing well. After the appointment we'll be heading to Canmore for a MacLeod cousins reunion. I'm excited about that but I'm really just anxious and looking forward to hearing our baby's heartbeat on a Doppler Friday afternoon.

12 weeks

2007-06-24T09:14:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 195 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 85 days pregnant.
I am 2.8 months pregnant.
I am in my 3rd month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby's crown-to-rump length is almost 2.5 inches and he/she now weighs between 8 and 14 grams! In just three weeks, my baby's size has more than doubled and begins to look a lot more human. Even though I won't be able to feel my baby moving at this time, I can stimulate him/her and baby will squint, open baby's mouth and move fingers or toes.

By the end of this week, my uterus is too large to remain completely in my pelvis. I might be able to feel my uterus above my pubic bone. The uterus will continue to grow throughout my pregnancy and will return to its usual size within a few weeks after delivery. Before pregnancy, the uterus is almost solid and holds less than 0.3 ounces. During pregnancy, my uterus will become a thin-walled, muscular container that will hold the fetus, amniotic fluid and placenta. Before pregnancy, the uterus weighs approximately 2.5 ounces and when my baby is born, it will weigh almost 40 ounces!

Because most of the structures are already formed at this point, few will be formed after this time. The structures will continue to grow and develop throughout the remainder of my pregnancy. My baby's skeletal system now has centers if bone formation in most of the bones. The digestive system is capable of making contractions that push food through the bowels and it is also able to absorb sugar. The pituitary gland beginning to make hormones. I will probably be able to hear my baby's heartbeat with a doppler at this time!

11 weeks

2007-06-17T14:58:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 202 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 78 days pregnant.
I am 2.6 months pregnant.
I am in my 3rd month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

My baby continues to grow and is now approximately the size of a large lime! The crown-to-rump length of my developing child is 1.75 to 2.4 inches. The weight of the fetus is approximately 8 grams at this point. The growth of my baby is phenomenal now and my baby's length will double in the next three weeks. The head is grossly out of proportion and is almost half of the baby's length.

I am almost at the end of my first trimester and while changes continue to occur quickly in my baby, they are happening at a slower rate in me. My uterus has been growing with the fetus inside of it and is now almost big enough to fill my pelvis. My uterus may be able to be felt in my lower abdomen, above the middle of my pubic bone. I am not able to feel the baby moving inside of me at this time. I am burning up calories at a faster rate than I did before I became pregnant! The amount of blood being pumped around my body will increase and I might feel warmer than usual.

This is the last week of the embryonic period. From now on, my baby will be called a fetus. My baby's fingernails appear this week! External genitalia are beginning to show distinguishing features and the development of male or female will be complete in three weeks. The placenta's blood vessels increase to provide my baby with the nutrients and oxygen s/he needs for continued growth. My baby's ears are gradually moving from the neck towards the sides of her/his head. Inside of my baby's abdomen, the intestines are developing. Because the intestines are so large, some of them project into the umbilical cord and they will return to the abdomen within the next week or two.

At the size of a plumb, my baby is now able to swallow. The urinary system functions. The baby swallows and urinates the amniotic fluid and the fluid is continually replaced. The baby is kicking but I cannot feel it yet. All vital organs are formed and, for the most part, function normally. From now on, they will grow in size and efficiency.

As a preparation for breastfeeding, my baby now has learned to swallow. Babies swallow amniotic fluid in the uterus.

Looking the part

2007-06-12T20:47:00.000-06:00

Today I experienced a what some kids will say moment. As I was walking a group of grade three students back to their classroom one boy had a question for me. (This same boy asked me in grade two if I needed a good day care because he knew one that he'd recommend. ) On the way he piped up with, "Madame are you pregnant? 'Cause you sure look like it." Before I could answer two other boys chided him. "You shouldn't say that; that's rude!" He didn't apologize and I looked at him and silently nodded yes. He then proceeded to exclaim, "Wow I didn't know girls could get pregnant so fast!" I had nothing more to say except that he was observant.

Needless to say the word may get around that I'm pregnant. I'm trying to be quiet and calm when asked in hopes that maybe the kids will move onto other topics. In the fall it will be obvious and they won't have to count so far ahead.

I had another appointment at the pregnancy clinic. We had some laughs and the doctor, who is an internist, asked me about prenatal classes. It was neat to be able to speak from my experience. When she said the only thing she was really worried about was the delivery, I assured her she could do it--if I could do it and Gordon was 10,3 (lbs, ounces), she could too!

10 weeks

2007-06-11T09:27:00.000-06:00

Well I am ten weeks along. Again counting those weeks....27 to go! Low blood sugars seem to come on without much warning and when they do they are really low. I think this baby is eating everything.

All the info below can be found on the "I am Pregnant" link. I just change the you to "I."

Dates and numbers:
There are 208 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 72 days pregnant.
I am 2.4 months pregnant.
I am in my 3rd month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

At this point of my pregnancy, the crown-to-rump length of my developing baby is 1.25 to 1.68 inches. It is now easier to tell how much the baby weighs since he is beginning to put on some weight. My baby weighs approximately 5 grams and is the size of a small plum! The baby has grown an incredible amount during these past few weeks.


Fetus in pregnancy week 10	Click for a movie of a busy boy at this stage

This week is somewhat of a landmark for my developing baby. By now, my baby's complete body plan is laid down. My baby will continue to develop and grow for the remainder of the pregnancy. The fingers and toes have separated and the tail has dissappeared now. My baby has taste and tooth buds at this point, which will continue to develop. The brain will continue to grow at an amazing rate and nearly a quarter of a million new neurons are produced every minute! The embryonic heart is completely developed. External genitalia are not apparent until next week, but a male's testes will already be producing testoterone.

First picture

2007-06-06T18:45:00.000-06:00

I had our second baby's first ultrasound today! It was amazing how quickly they got me in and out. Even so, my doctor heard my name being called and was very worried. I passed by her just as she was saying not to scare her like that. I reassured her I was there for a scheduled ultrasound--one that she requested. (Afterwards I saw her in the hallway and showed her the pic. It was good to see her and to know that she really is concerned about the baby and me--not that I ever doubted that.) The baby is measuring 9 weeks and four days. The heartbeat was 158 (beats per minute). All seems to be going well. John and I were in and out of there in less than ten minutes (actually we met there and John was the one who had been waiting.) Anyways I cried some tears of relief and was quite happy to see our baby so clearly. (The ultrasound technician warned that it might be difficult to see from the front at such an early stage but no problems there! Baby was not camera shy!)

9 weeks

2007-06-04T09:26:00.000-06:00

I had a very good appointment with my obstetrician. She was happy to see us and she reassured me with all the things I've been doing up to this point. We talked about dates and she agreed that 37-38 weeks is quite reasonable; baby will be born just before Christmas. I am happy about that. She also said that because we need to be certain about dates she wants me to get an ultrasound soon. So I get one on June 6th--yeah! I know the baby will not look like much at this point but it will be good to see our developing baby at this early stage. I am looking forward to that. There is so much I am looking forward to; I am trying to take things as they come. As far as symptoms go, thank you to those who are praying. Everything is not totally better but much more manageable. I am happier and healthy.

Baby:

We have elbows! Your baby is now approximately 13-17 mm crown to rump length, or about 0.51 - 0.66 inches. S/he also weighs in at 1 gram! Toe rays are present as the toes begin to form. Gonads have become testes (for boys) or ovaries (for girls). Baby will move away if touched through the uterine wall, and can spontaneously move as well. Ossification (hardening) of the bones may begin.

Obgyn

2007-05-31T18:53:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is my first appointment with my obstetrician. I haven't seen her since my six week follow-up after having Gordon. I am looking forward to mostly just talking about the future and this pregnancy...when and how often we will have appointments, when the baby will be born, when I will have ultrasounds and non-stress tests...Ah when.

Kindred Spirits

2007-05-30T16:19:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of May our school got the news that another woman had just gone through what I did losing Gordon. She too is a Jennifer. I got to meet her today. What a blessing! Our experiences were and are so similar. It was so good to share our stories and talk about our babies--she had a girl named Brooke. And so our little ones are buried probably near each other and their spirits live on. Jennifer and her husband are taking a trip soon just to get away. She is looking forward to the future and wanting to have another baby. She was so excited to hear of my pregnancy. I look forward to this new friendship. We share something pretty special.

More developments

2007-05-29T09:57:00.000-06:00

There are 221 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 59 days pregnant.
I am 1.9 months pregnant.
I am in my 2nd month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)
By the end of my second month of pregnancy, my baby is about the size of a pinto bean and is approximately 14 to 20 mm long. My doctor can tell that my uterus is larger than normal. By 6 weeks of pregnancy, my uterus has grown to the size of a grapefruit!

My baby is developing at an amazing rate during these early weeks. Eyelid folds and ears are forming. My baby's eyes are still very wide apart on the sides of his or her head, but will eventually center themselves out. The tip of the nose is actually present at this time as well. The aortic and pulmonary valves of the heart are present. The tubes that lead from the throat to lungs are branching and my baby's torso is getting longer and beginning to straighten out. Just a few weeks ago, my baby's arms were tiny buds. Now the elbows are actually present and the arms and legs extend forward and have grown longer. Fingers and toes are becoming visible also.

The tiny person is protected by the amnionic sac, filled with fluid. Inside, the child swims and moves gracefully. The arms and legs have lengthened, and fingers can be seen. The toes will develop in the next few days.

8 weeks or 2 months

2007-05-28T18:17:00.000-06:00

Well 8 weeks down and about 30 to go! I can't believe how different I look within a month...I think I'm just bloated in this 2nd picture. The first picture was 4 weeks and four days. Anyways I'll be going to see my obstetrician on Friday.

Seven weeks

2007-05-21T08:43:00.000-06:00

Well...seven weeks. Only thirty to thirty-one to go!(I will likely be induced early.) Sometimes I cannot think that far ahead. Still a couple days ago John and I decided to buy some beaded booties at the Allen Sapp Gallery for our baby. I have to make myself think that our baby will use them. I have to make myself believe that the work I am putting in and discomfort I am feeling now will all be worth it. I have to have that hope.

My dear sweet baby...you are very real to me. I want you here. I do have hopes for you. For now my biggest hope is for both of us to make it to your birthday together.

Another letter

2007-05-19T08:24:00.000-06:00

Dear Baby,
Everyday I am happy you are here. I think about you countless times in the day. Already I worry about you. Continue growing and being shaped. Stretch and move, rest and relax. There are so many things I am looking forward to with you. But I will wait, knowing you are why I am waiting.
Love Mom

Six weeks

2007-05-13T15:26:00.000-06:00

Dates and numbers:
There are 237 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 43 days pregnant.
I am 1.4 months pregnant.
I am in my 2nd month of pregnancy. (huh?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

When talking about the size of a developing baby, most healthcare providers will discuss the size in terms of `crown-to-rump` length. Crown-to-rump length simply means the distance from the top of the baby's head to its buttocks. Because the baby's legs are usually bent or tucked inwards, crown-to-heel length is hard to determine. By the sixth week of pregnancy, my developing baby is 2 to 4 mm long.

I have actually been pregnant for an entire month now! Although I will not be able to hearmy baby's heartbeat with a doppler yet, I might be able to see it beating if I have an ultrasound now.

From week 6 to week 10 of my pregnancy, I will be in the embryonic period. This is a very important time of development for my baby and the embryo is most susceptible to experience developmental interferences at this time. Although the embryo is still very small, it is growing and developing rapidly. My baby's early brain chambers are forming and the eyes are also beginning to form. Buds will appear and will develop into arms and legs in later weeks.

The heart is starting up. The fetus` blood group may be different from my own!

Facial features are visible, including a mouth and tongue. The eyes have a retina and lens.

The digestive system starts forming, beginning with the first cells of the stomach and the intestine.

There are small indentations in the head, ready for the development of facial features, eyes, and ears. The outline of the jaw starts to form.

The above information/text is from the I am pregnant website found in my links.

first appointment

2007-05-09T08:01:00.000-06:00

Well today is the first appointment since we found out. We will meet with my family physician today and from then on we will be referred to my obstetrician. I'm not sure how soon we will be meeting with my OBGYN. (With Gordon we met at 12 weeks but we shall see this time!) There is blood work to be done and that is pretty much all. My family doctor's office called and asked if my appoinment could be moved to the 15th when all the other maternity appointments are scheduled. NO WAY! I didn't quite respond that way. However I felt like this one wasn't soon enough. Anyways I'm sure if my doctor saw my name on the list when the rescheduling was being discussed she too would have said no. So we're off to see the doctor this morning.

5 weeks

2007-05-07T08:37:00.000-06:00

I knew it was the right time to tell. As we were leaving the auditorium Sunday morning I read Helen's lips, (Helen is in our small group), "Are you pregnant?" So we were excited to tell both sets of grandparents and Uncle Andrew at lunch. After lunch I called Auntie Angela. Uncle Jim and Auntie Susan and Auntie Jessie found out Saturday. We had a great time telling family and then our close friends and our small group.

Baby:

Your heart will begin to beat this week! It's amazing how much is happening so quickly. (A transvaginal ultrasound will show about 90% of the yolk sacs). It is now possible to differentiate between your head and your tail now. By the end of the week that folic acid will be paying off as the neural folds begin to fuse. Baby, you are now an embryo! Average length is 1.5 - 2.5 mm.

Dates and numbers:
There are 243 days until my due date on January 06, 2008.
I am 37 days pregnant.
I am 1.2 months pregnant.
I am in my 2nd month of pregnancy. (Thismeanswhat?)
My 1st trimester: April 01, 2007 to June 30, 2007. (0 - 12 weeks)
My 2nd trimester: July 01, 2007 to October 13, 2007. (13 - 27 weeks)
My 3rd trimester: October 14, 2007 to January 06, 2008. (28 - 40 weeks)

Today is the day

2007-05-06T06:07:00.000-06:00

Today is the day we tell our family. I'm looking forward to that. I just wish that I had some sleep last night and that I wasn't so congested. Trying to get bloodsugars under control and I'm a bit frustrated about that. I'll add to this post after we share the news.

Any news?

2007-05-05T12:30:00.000-06:00

Another friend asked last night, "Any News?" I looked over to your dad. Of course! You are the news! You are our wonderful news baby. I count every day you are with us. I love knowing that you are in me growing, changing. Soon your heart will start beating! Oh how I long to hear your heart beating! Thank you for coming into our lives. Our baby, our news. You are a perfect gift on this my 31st birthday.

Dear Baby,

2007-05-04T11:03:00.000-06:00

It is already getting hard to keep you a secret and it hasn't been a week yet that we've known you are here! Sweet baby we do not want to keep you a secret. We are so happy that you are here and we want to share our joy. But many like us, will be concerned about your safe arrival to our arms. I will just keep treasuring each day I have with you growing inside me. I will keep doing all I can to be healthy. I love you and I love that you are a part of me now.

Symptoms

2007-05-03T09:47:00.000-06:00

It's funny. At first when I wasn't sure I was pregnant "symptoms" were iffy: Well I'm might just be getting a head rush; my stomach has been doing strange things since I was pregnant with Gordon...Now I know that my occasional sore back, my increased tiredness, my runny nose and that slightly queasy feeling in my stomach when I haven't eaten yet (and of course the absence of a monthly visitor), are signals from a baby who is growing in me. Another miracle. Another life.

Dear baby,
I am so glad that changes are happening for us both! You are continuing to make your presence known. Soon we will be telling others of your presence. For now you are our precious secret!

God, Maker of the earth and all that is in it, Maker of this precious baby
I come knocking, I come fervently, I come repeatedly, you know my heart, you know its cry, you know my needs. Bring this baby into our home. Bring this baby into our arms. Give us peace.

Four weeks One day

2007-05-02T08:41:00.000-06:00

This is me yesterday at fours weeks and one day! I fit into most of my prematernity clothes and still have a bit of a tummy. So no I did not lose all the weight I gained. But I do feel fit. Well that bit of a tummy will start turning into a lot of a tummy. I may not be looking forward to that part but I am looking forward to baby growing.

Dear baby,
I am looking forward to the day I hear your hearbeat, to the day I feel your kicks, to the day I see you on an ultrasound...to the day I hold you and hear your cry. I'm waiting. I love you baby.

Positive!

2007-05-01T09:15:00.000-06:00

Dear Baby,
We are so excited that you will be part of our lives. Last night in swim class I was talking to you even though I wasn't sure that you were here. Well I got the answer this morning that you positively are! You need to know how happy I am that you are here. (I am worried and scared too.) You have an older brother Gordon, who we will all get to meet someday. In the meantime I just want to tell you I love you and I will do everything in my power to bring you into the world safely. I will treasure everyday that you are inside me--whatever time we have together. I just wanted to say "hello." You are a precious to me--My second baby.