Week 22

Hi Baby!

This past week has been REALLY busy with lots of chores around the house and errands - you would think we would be staying up til midnight and sleeping til noon ~ but alas your Dad and I are getting old! We can't stay up very late and we are both WIDE awake early in the mornings. One point I would like to make clear here though.......I am quite well known for NOT being a 'morning person'. However, since I have a human being growing inside of me it seems that when the sun rises - so do you and I. At first it was a bit disturbing, but I have a new summer-morning routine that I am really getting into. It goes like this: I rest in my fabulous lounger from Costco (thanks Gramma Martha) which is on my beautiful deck, surrounded by my beautiful flower pots (one of the chores accomplished this week) and our two sweet dogs (except Ruby sometimes, she's naughty), with a cup of coffee in my hand, all while watching a pair of hummingbirds guzzle down nectar from our feeder hanging above my head and breathing in the scent of our ridiculously delicious honey suckle bush. I wait for the sun to reach over my neighbors rooftop (about 9:30) and then I mosey inside for some breakfast and think about the day ahead. Dang, what a nice life!

Over the weekend we headed up to McCall ~ one of our very favorite places to hang out here in beautiful Idaho. We are lucky enough to be able to shack up at the Tyree's sweet cabin too! It is right down the road from our other good friends, The Christensen's (Chris and Christine + Corbin and Kinlee Jo). We spent a fair amount of time with them over the last few days, which was really nice. They are fun happy people who make us laugh til our belly's are sore. Your pops also built a rockin' fire pit ~ he is so crafty!

Chillin' at the lake on the Loveless's dock.

Captin' Jason doing some chair-navigating.

Your pops is a good napper.

Some nice clouds............

CC and the kids and your Dad - feeding the geese.

Stinkin' cute Kinlee Jo ~ You will certainly be good buddies with her!!!!

YUM!!

Kinlee Jo took a likin' to your Dad ~ and vice versa. :)  They were sooooooo cute together. It was my first glimpse into Fatherhood for him ~ all will be well for you baby.

Construction time.......

Break time, almost done.......

WHAAA-LAAA!

Couple a deers.

Those Crazy Christensen's!

Here are a few updates about your growth and my growth these days:

WEEK 22

How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches and almost 1 pound (about the size of a spaghetti squash), your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment.

If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

How your life's changing:

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.
You expected your belly to grow — and perhaps your breasts, too — but the following physical changes may take you by surprise. As with many pregnancy changes, hormones play a role in most of these alterations in your looks.

• Thicker, more lustrous hair You're not actually growing more hair, just losing less than normal. During pregnancy, your body sheds hair much more slowly than it did before. What to do: If thicker hair is a boon for you, enjoy it. If it's making your mane more unruly than ever, ask your stylist to do some thinning at your next cut. These changes won't last forever. After your baby's born, you'll start to lose this excess hair, sometimes in clumps.

• Increased body hair Sex hormones known as androgens can cause new hair to sprout on your chin, upper lip, jaw, and cheeks. Stray hairs can also pop up on your belly, arms, legs, and back. What to do: Tweezing, waxing, and shaving are all safe ways to manage these temporary changes.

• Faster-growing fingernails Your fingernails may grow more quickly than usual, and you may notice changes in texture. Some women's nails get harder, while others' get softer or more brittle. What to do: Protect your nails by wearing rubber gloves when you're cleaning, and using moisturizer on them if they're brittle.

• Skin changes Some pregnant women report that their skin has never looked better. If that's you, enjoy the proverbial "glow." Others find the hormones of pregnancy aggravate skin conditions such as acne. What to do: Wash twice a day with a gentle soap or cleanser, and make sure that any moisturizer or makeup you use is oil-free.

• Stretch marks As your belly expands to accommodate your growing baby, you may get tiny tears in the supportive tissue that lies just beneath your skin, resulting in striations of varying color. These marks will begin to fade and become considerably less noticeable about six to 12 months after you give birth. There's not much you can do besides trying not to gain more than the recommended amount of weight. Heredity is responsible for the natural elasticity of your skin and plays a role in determining who will end up with stretch marks.

• Skin discolorations Increased melanin can cause splotchy patches of darkened skin on your face. These pigment changes may become intensified if you spend time in the sun. What to do: Protect your face by using a sunblock that offers both UVA and UVB protection with an SPF of 30 or higher, wearing a hat with a brim, and avoiding the sun during peak hours of the day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

• Larger and darker nipples and areolas You may find that your nipples and the pigmented area around them (the areolas) are getting bigger and darker. The little bumps on your areolas, known as Montgomery's tubercles, may also be more pronounced. These bumps are oil-producing glands that help fight off bacteria and lubricate the skin. Some women also notice more pronounced veins in their breasts. What to do: Nothing!

• Larger feet Your feet may go up half a shoe size or more. Lax ligaments may make your feet spread a bit — permanently. Swelling can make your shoes feel tight as well, although it will go away after delivery. What to do: Buy comfortable shoes to accommodate your growing feet.

This Week's Activity:

Check out your rings. It's common to have some swelling in your fingers as your pregnancy progresses. If your rings are feeling the least bit snug, do yourself a favor and take them off now before it's too late (or at least keep an eye on them). If you can't bear to be separated from your wedding band or another important ring when you can no longer sport it on your finger, loop it on a chain and wear it close to your heart.

WOW Baby ~ all for you!  Love ya, me