Week 15 & 16

Hey Baby!

I missed writing last weekend - but I have been thinking about you ALL THE TIME :). In fact, when I woke up this morning I was soooo happy because I had the most vivid dream about you. Your Dad and I were sitting on the couch together (rare) and you were playing on floor in front of us ~ you seemed about one year old, maybe a little younger ~ I reached down and held your little hand and asked you if you wanted to come up and sit with us. You said yes, so I scooped you up and sat you between your Dad and I and then the three of us snuggled a bit. I woke up so happy I almost cried! I can not WAIT to squeeze you and smother you with love.

I'm pretty sure we are going to need this book.

How is Mom feeling about being preggo?

Well my clothes really don't fit now. I am certainly 'showing', so the cats out of the bag at work. (Everyone is of course thrilled) I have slowly been buying a few staple things to get through the last month of work. Only 24 days of school left and then I can wear nothin' but a sundress for the next three months. Heaven. The one really awkward part about everybody at work knowing now is that BEING preggo is all they want to talk about. Not that I am not excited to talk about YOU - but it gets exhausting being the center of attention and having everyone looking and pointing out my changing body.

A few crazy busy things have kept us runnin' over the last two weeks/weekend: 1. Your Aunt Allison moved in with us. She is awesome and just needed a little 'pick-me-up' for awhile. We are glad to be able to help and happy to have her around. It took a little quick readjusting of our STUFF (we all have to much) ~ but it was actually a good excuse to go through some old boxes and purge. To make room in our shed I went through some really old stuff from when I was a little nugget. My Mom saved some neat things like: old school projects and writing assignments, crafty things I made, some of her favorite baby clothes of mine, some special toys and books, notes my teachers had written, certificates I earned, report cards, cards from friends and family, post cards from family, etc. It was a nice little stroll down memory lane. I would say 80-90% of it ended up in the recycle bin. But it was fun to look at and the few things that I kept are pretty hilarious and special.

The second thing that is happening in our world is a bit of home improvement.....we have done some really nice things to the house over the last year - like new carpet, wood floors, and tile - but now its time to tackle the kitchen......Your Dad has wanted new counter tops for a long time. It has taken us a while to price shop and pick out exactly what we want but I think we have figured it out ~ So now we prep! He re-stained all of the cupboards a few weeks ago, installed handles and knobs, changed out our dining room light fixture (awesome) and changed out the ugly brass door knobs throughout the house. Next comes tearing out the back splash in preparation for the new counter tops......yikes.

Here are our two new light fixtures ~ trust me the other ones were hideous.

Basically, we are trying to make our 'house' into more of 'nest' - in preparation for YOU! But enough about our lives right now - here are some updates about your progress:

WEEK 15

Your baby’s ears have migrated to the side of their head for many, many years of ignoring you down the road. The little weeble is also working on the pipes for a respiratory system and it moves away from light if you beam a flashlight on your belly (I like to think it makes a hissing noise while doing it).  You have probably packed on few pounds by now. Good. You’re supposed to. Depending on where you’re starting from, you’re supposed to put on between 15 – 40 pounds if you’re carrying a single baby.

Check out the weight gain post if you want some more detail. Generally speaking, you only need an extra 400 calories a day (like a muffin) to gain the proper amount of weight so keep that in mind when you sidle up to the buffet and they have chicken wings and those little shoe string fries. MMMmmmm, shoestrings! That said, cravings are powerful and beckon you like an enchanting Huldra luring a Scandinavian farmer into the forest, so don’t sweat the pig-outs too much and eat a salad once in a while.
 
Share the news. Your baby's ears have migrated to the side of their head.  

How your baby's growing:

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

 

This Week's Activity:

Talk to your baby. It's a great way to start the bonding process. If having an actual conversation seems odd to you, narrate your activities; read a book, magazine, or newspaper; or share your secret wishes for your child. This is great practice for after your baby's born. Talking to babies is one of the best ways to help them develop language skills.

WEEK 16

“Hi kiddo, that’s the world you hear because your ears work!” Cue the cool tunes because your baby can hear them now. It’s also about 4 ½  inches long and about the size of a grenade (avocados are lame). There’s a lot of movement going on but seriously don’t worry about it if you can’t feel it yet. Some women don’t feel anything until the hit around 20 weeks so don’t freak yourself out – you’ll have a foot under your rib and a fist on your bladder before you know it. I found it felt like a little percolation at first like a little buzzing in one spot, but other sites compare it to butterfly wings fluttering, a “quickening”, gas bubbles or popcorn popping. Personally, I found I wasn’t really sure if I felt it the first few times because it’s so subtle.

As for you, how’s your nose? Some women suffer from nasal congestion during their pregnancy and it can be a royal pain in the ass. Once again, estrogen causes the mucous membranes in your nose to swell along with everything else, so it can cause congestion and even nosebleeds. So pretty.

 

How your baby's growing:

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


WOW! Nice job baby! 

I love you so much (I'm saying it out loud right now),  me