Tuesday, March 31, 2009

26 Weeks

From Baby Center:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other.

He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air.

And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.

Note from Jen:


An English hothouse cucumber? Seriously? Why couldn't they just say cucumber? I am no expert, but is there a huge difference between a normal cucumber and an English one??? (Edit to add: I guess there is... )

Anyway, I am feeling tired this week. I wish I could take a nap during the day. Wouldn't that be nice?!?

Sitting at work and sleeping in my bed both seem to cause some back pain, but I am getting better at preventing it at least a little. For the last two nights I have slept on my side most of the night... which is a huge accomplishment for me! I think this is helping ease a little of the back pain in the morning. At work, I downloaded a program that counts down every hour and then sends me a message on my screen that says "Go for a walk!" I am trying to make a point to get up out of my chair every hour and walk a little loop around my office building... down the stairs, outside and then back up the stairs and over to my office. It is a quick 5 minute break, but it is really helping.

Here is my 26 week picture :)

Friday, March 27, 2009

Baby Register (AKA "Buy us lots of stuff")

So, I think one of the best things about being pregnant is getting to register for fun little baby things. Although Kenny and I keep asking ourselves, "Where in the world will all this baby stuff fit in the house?!?"

Really, we know we don't really need anything, but have been having fun researching the pros and cons of various baby products, from cloth diapers to strollers to baby lo-jack :) Seriously... it is crazy how much stuff is out there that the industry says that you have to have or your baby will die a slow and painful death.

Thankfully I have lots of friends and family who have given me advice about what we really need... along with some great hand-me-downs as well!

I ended up registering at REI and Amazon and love that everything is online. It was super easy and the selection of items was great.

I knew that before the baby shower that I should register at Target as well because Target is the go-to place for most people. So, last night Kenny and I hit Target after work.

The helpful sales associate at Customer Service armed us with the registration gun and we got a little crazy. Let's just say that a Wii Fit ended up on there. Hey, I will need to get back in shape after our little guy is born somehow!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

25 Weeks

From Baby Center:

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

Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth. (From Jen- I have too much hair as it is and now it is just even more crazy! I am so ready to cut it, but am trying not to!)

You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.

When you have your glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Have you started thinking about baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. You may want to consider family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Atticus, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.

Note from Jen:

On Friday I went in for what I thought was just a blood test for being RH Negative. When I arrived, they handed me this aweful sugary sweet glucose drink and told me I had 5 minutes to drink the whole thing and then I had to wait an hour before they would draw my blood. Bummer because I was hoping to get home early and hang out with Kenny who was off for the day. After about 40 minutes sitting there, I started to feel just terrible. I was jittery and felt really weird. It was a relief when it was over and I could go home and eat real food.

On Monday, the doctor called and told me that yes, I did indeed need to get the shot for being RH Negative. I went in that afternoon and had a not so pleasant surprise... the shot was not given to me in the arm (you can use your imagination to guess where I had to get it!) Why didn't you guys warn me?!?

Yesterday I received another call from the doctor who informed me that it looks like I am anemic so I need to take iron pills as well. My blood tests also showed that my glucose was high so I get to go in and take a 3 hour glucose tolerance screening next month. Fun. I am not looking forward to drinking that thick sugar water again, but hopefully it will all come back negative for gestational diabetes.

I am definitely getting bigger every day and everyone can now tell that I am pregnant. Overall I feel pretty good, but am having occasional pain/ swelling. Oh, and I get out of breath easier... even the stairs are becoming a workout!

We are still narrowing down names for our little guy. It is so hard to decide since he will be stuck with the name for the rest of his life. Too much pressure! I am determined to have a name settled on in the next month. We'll let you all know :)

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

No title needed

I have had way too much time off the past two weeks. A trained eye can spot this due to my increased number of posts. But I cannot complain because today is perfect. To be precise:

Temp - 72 degrees
Humidity - 30%
Wind - WSW at 5 mph
UV index - 7

It does not get any better than this. So, when I took Pilot out for one of his many walks today, I took some photos of our front flower bed because everything was perfect. We planted these flower bulbs in November and now we are getting to see the results of our labor! I also tacked on some pics of our spoiled rotten little dog.

Friday, March 20, 2009

We are screwed!

I think this picture says it all. But if you need an explanation, here it is:

That is our dog, Pilot. Yeah, that cute, little curled-up black ball of fuzz on the bed. He is spoiled rotten, ROTTEN! We have a kiddo on the way, and I am quite certain that he too shall be spoiled rotten. I mean Pilot cannot even talk, not to mention the fact that he licks his own butt. Can you imagine what will happen if our child has any semblance of intelligence at all? Now can you see the "we are screwed" part?

Wish us well....please.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Hard to Starboard!

We had the maiden voyage of our new boat, the "Aluminum Puffer", this afternoon on scenic Lake Murray.

She proved herself a stout, seaworthy vessel. Hawaii here we come!


24 Weeks

From Baby Center:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up.

His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball.

Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition.

Finally, if you don't already know how to spot the signs of preterm labor, now's the time to learn. Contact your caregiver immediately if you notice any of the signs mentioned.

Note from Jen:

I can't believe I am already at 6 months. Crazy how fast time flies.

I am feeling alright this week. Having trouble getting comfortable at night and am waking up with a sore back and hips. Our old reliable blue La-Z-Boy recliner is looking better and better.

I had my monthly doctor's appointment this morning and all is going well. I met with the midwife and she was wonderful. Kenny even asked her if she would come to our house and do the delivery, but unfortunately she doesn't do birthing anymore :( Oh well, I love our doctor too.

I am measuring pretty much perfect right now... blood pressure is great, no swelling in my legs, weight gain is a little low, but nothing to worry about. I have gained about 8-10 pounds so far. It is weird though. Sometimes I totally feel bigger, but other times I forget I am even pregnant... that is until our little guy kicks me in the gut :)

I am going in on Friday for my glucose screening and a few more blood tests for being RH negative. After those come back I should be getting the RH shot at my next appointment.

I had a dream last night that I had to be induced and have the baby early. I was so excited because the hospital room was so nice and we had a view of the Coronado Bridge and Sea World (impossible view to really get, but it was cool in the dream). I guess the epidural I got in the dream knocked me completely out. When I "woke up" I had a little baby boy. He weighed 5 lbs. 6 oz., but was perfectly healthy. All in all, my "labor" in the dream was only an hour and a half. Wouldn't that be nice??? An hour and a half of labor!

Here is my 24 week picture we took last night. I am definitely looking pregnant :)

Monday, March 16, 2009

Exercise

I needed to get out and burn some calories this morning and it was such a perfectly gorgeous day here in sunny San Diego, so I broke out my bike to go for a ride.

The trail here was flooded out with about 18 inches of water, but fortunately there was a secondary route.

Okay, I will admit it: I woosed out and walked my bike across!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Shaken Baby Syndrome

Well, our kid is screwed. He got his poor little head shaken all around at Dave and Busters while Jen played too many games! Below you see Jen shaking Kiddo in an attempt to dodge bullets that were not really there! I tried to tell her it was just a video game.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Design Update: Lazy Moms


Before I left on vacation, I was working with the Lazy Moms to get their new site up and running. A few weeks after I returned, we were able to finalize the design and get their new and improved site launched.

The site has now become a great place for moms to gather to share tips and fun stories in their forum, blog posts and comments.

The Lazy Moms are gearing up to launch a new book and product line! It is so much fun to work with these girls and it has been very exciting seeing the logo I created for them being placed on books, shirts and other products!

Last night Amanda and Leslie were on their local news station promoting Lazy Moms. Check it out :)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

23 Weeks Update!

I saw our baby move tonight! So weird.

Kenny and I were sitting down watching TV and I started to feel our little guy move around a ton. Then my stomach suddenly lurched up as he tried to punch through the surface. Very creepy, but still very cool.

I got excited and called Kenny over and of course, true to form, our boy stopped moving. He just doesn't want to be forced to perform for anyone I guess.

23 Weeks

From Baby Center:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes.

Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Note from Jen:

This week has been a blur. I think it is a combination of getting some sort of food poisoning last week, the lovely time change and spending all day at the hospital on Monday waiting for little Bella to arrive. I am exhausted!

Our little guy is still moving around a ton, but not enough to where Kenny can feel him yet. He tends to stop moving if anyone puts a hand on my belly. I haven't seen my tummy move like Baby Center said, but I also don't spend much time looking at it. The thought of seeing him move on my skin seems both cool and creepy at the same time.

We are looking into getting a 4D Ultrasound sometime in the next month or two. I think it would be fun to see our little boy before he is born. Have any of you done the 4D Ultrasound? What did you think?

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Isabella Rae



6:00AM yesterday we received a call from Tonita saying they were headed to the hospital and that Gwizzie was on her way. At 7AM, they called to tell us that they were admitted. We rushed out of the house (forgetting to turn off the sprinklers... Thanks Eric for getting up so early to turn them off for us!) and headed to the hospital, stopping by a few places to get breakfast for Daddy-to-be, Danny.

We were able to hang out in the room with Danny & Tonita up until 2:00PM, when the nurse kicked us out and announced Tonita was ready to start pushing! A few hours later, their beautiful baby girl was born.

She is seriously adorable and we already love little Isabella!



Looks like Kenny got caught trying to steal her!

Proud Auntie Jen with little Bella

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

22 Weeks

From Baby Center:

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

At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate.

Note from Jen:


22 weeks. It is crazy how fast this is going. I have been super tired this week and have been having back pain and wrist pain. After just a few hours at work I am so ready to go home and take a nap. I can only imagine how I will feel as I start to get bigger and closer to my due date.

I am showing now, but at least not enough to where people feel like they need to touch my belly... or maybe I just give off the "don't touch me" vibe!

However, I am showing enough to where people who don't know me are starting to notice. A few days ago, the lady at Submarina looked at me then said to Kenny, "Oh! I didn't know she was pregnant. Congratulations!" Fairly risky statement I think since it is not like I am 8 months along or anything. It is my belief that you NEVER under any circumstances ask someone when they are due or congratulate them on their pregnancy unless they have specifically told you about the upcoming event. None the less, it was fun to have her notice and be brave enough to say something :)

Our little guy is kicking up a storm and I am feeling him every day. I can even feel his kicks on the outside of my belly every once in a while. I think feeling him move on the inside helps me feel him on the outside since no one else has been able to feel him yet.

Anyway, here is my 22 week picture we took this morning :)



P.S. Check out Kenny's post from last night below.. doesn't he have to coolest job?!?

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Hard day at work



Sunset over a Learjet in Aspen, Coloardo.