Week 40

Final Week! I've decided not to post a belly pic this week for several reasons: 1) My belly looks the same, 2) Next picture I post will hopefully be me post baby (belly will still be there), and 3) I'm getting really tired of having a big belly.

I've looked up all the "impending labor signs" and so far I have all of them except for two: contractions and water breaking. Everything else has happened, so I guess I can really go into labor anytime. I'm trying to wait patiently and I'm trying to stay busy so that I don't constantly think about going into labor. It's hard though...

If I still don't go into labor after next week, I might just have to try to castor oil method. If you don't know what this does, google it. It's pretty gross, but apparently it's very effective! Hopefully this little guy will come out without any coaxing though!

Week 39

Two weeks left...I went for a checkup on Friday and found out the baby has "dropped" into position. He's now sitting at the 0 station position and I am also 1 cm dilated. This means that I could either go into labor any time, or it will still be two weeks. At least I'm "progressing," but the doctor still can't say anything more definite. It's really just a waiting game at this point.

Next week will be my last week going into work and then I will be staying close to home during the last week. I'm not sure what I'll do to distract myself, but I'm also fine just relaxing. While I'm very anxious to meet this little guy, I'm also nervous about how much our lives are going to change once he arrives. It's been me and Ryan for the last 6 1/2 years and now it's going to be me, Ryan and child for the next who knows how long. Crazy!

Week 38

Baby's development: You all get the point by now. He's getting fatter and running out of room. I hope he'll only put on another pound before he's born. Life is definitely more difficult these days and sleeping is becoming more and more uncomfortable. Just turning in bed has become a chore.

My belly button has officially become an "outy" now. It's easy to see through my shirts and our new neighbor commented on my outy the other day. It was a little embarrassing, but I hear that the belly button goes back to normal once the baby is born. Still no stretch marks, by my vericose veins are getting worse. All that pressure!

I went to the doctor on Thursday and my body is getting "ready". I'm now about 80% effaced (cervix is thinning out and needs to be 100% effaced for birth) and the baby is in the -2 station (2 cm above my pelvis). Once the baby reaches 0 station, he will be considered to be engaged and ready to move through the birth canal (sorry if this is too much information). Just as a point of reference, station 4 is when the baby is crowning. And yes, this means that the birth canal is only 4 cm...but boy does it take a long time to come down those short 4 cm.

We met with our doula this weekend and went over the birth plan. Our's is very short: 1) no induction, 2) no drugs (unless it becomes a marathon labor and becomes over 24 hours), 3) and no episiotomy. I went online to look at some sample birth plans and some of them have over 30 items on them. I don't understand how you can plan your birth like that. A healthy baby and healthy mom should be the ultimate goal, right?

Three weeks and counting now. My guess is that the baby will come June 21 and Ryan's guess is that it will come June 18. Wishful thinking, right?

Week 37

No belly pic this week because we are in CA and I forgot my camera.

Baby's development: At the end of this week, the baby will be considered full term. The doctor said that he will be putting on about 1/2 lb per week from now until he's born, so he could be around 5 1/2 lbs right now. Right now, he's just putting on weight, getting fat, and preparing for life outside the womb!

We are heading back to Colorado tomorrow after spending three days in CA. No one from the airlines stopped me and demanded to see a note from my doctor, so I guess it's not a huge deal flying during the last four weeks of pregnancy. I had a doctor's visit right before I left and my doctor said that I was not dilated yet, but that I was about 20% effaced.

I feel like it's now just a waiting game. A part of me feels like there is so much to do still before the baby comes, but a part of me also just wishes that the baby comes so that we can still stop waiting. I still have my seminar to tape and another phone interview before next Monday, so as long as the baby doesn't come before then, I'm happy. Then after that...I'll be ready!

He's really running out of room now and we are both uncomfortable. He kicks me in the ribs hard, I fight back by pushing him, then he kicks more, and then I push more. Maybe he'll get impatient and release oxytocin, the hormone that will start labor!

Week 36

Baby's development: Baby is now anywhere from 17 to 19 1/2 inches long and according to my most recent ultrasound, he weighs about 5 lbs (slightly smaller than the "average" baby, but still within the normal range). The lanugo that covered his body to keep him warm is now disappearing and he will be swallowing it to produce his first poop (called meconium). He'll probably put on at most another two pounds in the next month.

So far I've put on 20 lbs and I'm feeling pretty big. I'm sure I'll continue to say that for the next five weeks. During the most recent ultrasound, my doctor said that the baby is on the smaller side, but that he is within the normal size. He also has a slightly longer femur and already has hair on his head. I was also told that he has a small nose that is smashed in near my pubic bone. Poor baby is running out of room to move around!

Gloria and Gabe flew out this weekend for the baby shower. THANKS you guys! There was great weather, food, friends, and family. We had a great time and would also like to thank everyone for coming and hanging out with us. We feel very lucky to be surrounded by such great people.

Ryan and I fly out to San Francisco next week for my interview for the faculty position at the University of Sydney. My doctor says that it's OK for me to fly and Frontier airlines will allow you on the airplane as long as your doctor says you are fit to fly. So, I know I'm cutting it close, but at least I get to go for an interview. We'll get back June 2, which is less than 4 weeks before my due date, but I'm feeling pretty confident that everything will be just fine.

Week 35

Baby's development: Baby is now about 17 to 18 inches long and weighs 5 1/2 to 6 lbs. The vast majority of the baby's growth is complete after the 35th week. 99% of babies born now survive without any major problems. The central nervous system is maturing, the digestive system is almost complete, and the lungs are fully mature. There is now no more room for summersaults in the uterus because he's running out of room.

Six more weeks! To say that I'm feeling huge these days is an understatement. My belly now gets in the way of everything: putting on socks and shoes, picking things up, cooking, driving, etc. Additionally, it's not just the size of the growing belly that is hard to deal with, but it's the position that the baby has come into. During the last doctor's visit, I was told that the baby has settled now into the head down position. This means that his butt and legs are near my ribs and he's constantly kicking me and pushing against the right side of my body. My organs are getting a beating these days. I can't believe that he's going to continue growing still!

Ryan and I did a tour of the birthing center at the hospital this weekend. It's way nicer than I imagined! Every birthing room has it's own bathroom with jacuzzi tub and shower. Each room also has its own towel warmer, and a huge TV with On Demand movies (like laboring moms really want to sit and watch a movie!). The great thing about the birthing center is that they encourage mom and baby to spend as much time together as possible right after birth, so the baby is never taken away from the mom (unless there is an emergency). They do everything right in the room and never take the baby to the nursery. The birthing bed even has an attachment so that you can lean on a squatting rail during the pushing stage of labor. Pretty cool.

I also made our first purchase for cloth diapers. We are going to do a diaper service, but I went to a diaper service store today to purchase the plastic diaper covers. I got a quick lesson on how to actual use cloth diapers. There are a million different types out there. Cotton versus hemp versus polyester. Who knew there were so many choices?

This is all becoming VERY real VERY fast. Jun 26 is just around the corner!

Week 34

Baby's development: Baby is now about 17 1/2 inches and weighs between 5 and 5 1/2 lbs. The baby's lungs are almost at full maturity and his immune system is developing to fight mild infections. The end of his fingers now have sharp fingernails. Most babies born now have a very good chance at survival.

I'm feeling very stretched these days. I eat a little and my stomach is so full and I get very uncomfortable. The baby is taking up a lot of space! He also doesn't have much space to move around now, so when he wiggles, I can see my stomach stretch in strange ways. It's becoming very real that there is a thing growing inside of me!

My PUPPP rash has gotten a lot better this past week. I'm not sure what is helping exactly, but in the past couple of days, I've noticed that my stomach is no longer as red, and the patches that were red have turned darker in color and started to peel. It's almost like a bruise that is healing. I've been using the Grandpa pine tar soap and Cetaphil lotion, and taking Claritin during the day, Benedryl during the night, and also two doses of dandelion root. I'm hoping this combination helps! I'm still itchy at night, but I can see the rash disappearing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue to go away because if this rash comes back, I might just lose it. I need a good night's rest!

Ryan and I just recently decided that we are going to have a doula for the birth. Becky, who is our birthing instructor is also a doula and we have asked her to be ours. We were both feeling pretty confident about labor until the most recent birthing class. We watched a birthing video and afterwards felt really "scared." I think that if I'm going to do this drug free, it will be great to have another calm and confident person there during labor. Labor is going to be long, painful and tiring. Having an experienced doula there will be great for both of us. I also just found out that we can pay for the doula and our birthing classes through our health savings account. Yay!

Some good news: On Friday I received an email from the University of Sydney requesting an interview. This is first of eight faculty positions that I have applied for that I have gotten an interview. Unfortunately, they want me to give a seminar on June 8, which is way too late for me to fly. I'm going to ask them if I can go earlier and if so, Ryan is going to try to come with me. If they are not flexible, I will try to give my seminar talk over the internet. It won't be the same, but oh well. I knew this was going to happen -- I was finally going to get an interview right before the baby was due!

PUPPP

I just went to the doctor's this morning after a night of no rest from all the itching...I have been diagnosed with a classic case of PUPPP. Christine was hesitant to prescribe any steroids for me at this point and wanted try some basic over the counter stuff like Claritin and Benedryl. She said that there was really not much we could do. Once the baby came, the rash would go away. She also said that it's most likely a reaction to all the estrogen that my placenta is producing. Less than 10% of women get PUPPP. The only good news is that it doesn't usually reoccur, so if I got pregnant again, I probably wouldn't get this again.

Christine has also induced many women who have had PUPPP because it becomes pretty unbearable. Imagine having poison oak itch all day long for seven weeks. She said that if I couldn't take it, we could induce labor on June 17, about 10 days earlier than my due date. I'm not sure if I want to go down that road, but I'm also not sure how I can take seven more weeks of this rash. It's truly unbearable! ARGH!!!

Week 33

Baby's development: Baby is now about 16 1/2 inches long and about 4 1/2 to 5 lbs. The baby is now putting on weight quickly and developing fat under the skin. This makes the baby less red and more filled out. His bones are also hardening, which makes those little kicks so much more painful (especially in the rib area). His skull bones will remain soft though, so that he can make it through the birth canal.

In the past week, I have developed a pretty serious rash all over my belly and chest. It's hard to tell from the belly pic, but I am covered with small red bumps. I called my doctor and I'm going in on Tuesday to have it checked out. She said that it might be PUPPP ("Pruritic Uticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy"). It's a rash that develops in some women during the third trimester. People are not sure what causes it, but it's usually associated with women who are carrying boys; it could be an allergic reaction to male DNA. It can be so bad that some women have their labor induced early because it goes away once the baby is born. PUPPP is not harmful to the baby, but it is driving me crazy. There are steroid creams that can be used, but I won't see my doctor until Tuesday. I've been trying some home remedies, including using "Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap," a miracle soap that some women claim on the internet blogs. I've used it twice today, so I'm definitely hoping for a miracle. I would seriously consider inducing early if I will continue to be this itchy until week 40. It's pretty unbearable! I don't wish this upon even my worst enemy. I hope I don't go crazy from all this itching!

Other interesting news...we got a rocker as a gift from Sue and Brendan. It's the same rocking chair that they have in Costa Rica. I sat in this rocking chair a lot when Ryan and I were there visiting and they decided to get us one for the nursery. Very thoughtful! It's really comfortable and it's going to be perfect to rock the baby to sleep in.

One last piece of news. Ryan and I are moving back to Boulder August 1. We decided it would be easier for Ryan to commute to Fort Collins twice a week than for me to commute to Boulder once the baby is born. We are moving into Sue and Brendan's house and we rented out our house in Fort Collins already. We signed a lease with our new tenants today. I'm pretty excited at the prospect of being close to the baby when I go back to work. I'll be able to come home for lunch!

Week 32

Baby's development: The baby now measures 16 inches and weighs around 4 lbs. All five senses are now developed, although the baby won't be able to taste anything until he's out of the womb. The lungs are still developing and won't reach maturity for several more weeks. The baby's bones are all developed, but are still soft and pliable.

I have gained another pound since the last doctor's visit two weeks ago, making total weight gain so far 17 lbs. It's hard to believe that of that 17 lbs, only 4 lbs is the actually baby! My doctor also felt my stomach for the position of the baby. He is currently laying sideways so that his head is on the left side of my stomach and his butt is on the right side. This explains why I keep feeling him kick my right lower ribs and I feel him hiccuping on my left side.

Ryan and I had our first birthing class last week. We learned about the anatomy of labor. It was nice to meet all the other expecting parents (7 couples) and it turns out that one of the couples lives three houses down from us. They also have two dogs, and I've seen them at the park before. In fact, both Frida and Charlie have played with their dogs before! I'm excited that they live so close. I'm happy to say that after talking about labor and contractions during class, I feel less scared of actually going into labor. I'm feeling more confident that I'll be able to deal with the pain and get through everything OK. The nice thing that was also emphasized in class was the importance of not having a strict "birth plan," so that I would not be disappointed if things don't go according to how I want things to go. After all, having a healthy baby is the ultimate goal.

I'm off to Washington DC next week, and this will probably be the last time I fly for a while. 32 weeks is still OK to fly, but my doctor advised against flying past 35 weeks. Maybe I'll try to take a belly pic with Obama.

Week 31

Baby's development: The baby is now about 15 1/2 inches in length and weighs about 3 1/2 lbs. The baby's growth slows down, but he will continue to put on weight. Eye color also appears around now, but the real color won't show for six to nine months after birth (my bet is that it will definitely be brown). His pupils start to dilate in reaction to light that filters into the uterus and his eyelids are frequently open during active times and closed during sleep. Also, for all those funny jokes about the kid being hairy, well, yes, Ryan is hairy, but we've had our fair share of hairy jokes. This kid will be more than just a ball of hair!

This is the start of month eight! We finally made two big purchases: a crib and a stroller. Ryan put together the crib in about an hour and it was fun to watch him do it. The crib turns into a toddler bed and then a full size bed, so it seemed like a pretty good investment. We also chose an awesome jogging stroller made by BOB. Everyone raves about it, so we went to go check it out. The front wheel swivels for easy maneuvering down supermarket aisle, but you can also lock it for when you want to go jogging. You can also put an infant seat in there so that it can be used with a newborn. It cost a lot more than some of the other models that we checked out, but I think it will be well worth it. We can even take it on some trails. My goal is to run the Bolder Boulder next May with the baby, so this jogger will hopefully help me achieve that goal.

I've recently started to swim pretty regularly with Jess and I cannot believe how amazing swimming has been in relieving the uncomfortable pains with my sciatica and lower back. I was in so much pain just two weeks ago, but since then, I've been swimming twice a week. My pain has gone away completely and I'm feeling stronger already. I'm not sure what swimming does exactly, but I'm guessing it helps me loosen muscles. It's AMAZING! Plus, it feels so good to float! All you pregnant ladies out there -- go swimming during your third trimester.

Ryan and I start out birthing classes next week. I'm really excited. I'm looking forward to learning about the details related to labor. Now that the end is somewhat in sight, I want to know what I'm about to get myself into. I'm finally ready to hear about all the gory details.

Week 30

Baby's development: This week the baby is about 15 1/2 inches and weighs about 3 lbs. The baby's lanugo (early body hair) is starting to disappear and the few fuzzy patches left at birth will eventually rub off. The eyelids now open and close! The bone marrow has taken over the task of red blood cell production from the liver. His skeleton hardens even more and his brain, muscles, and lungs continue to mature.

10 more weeks! Wow. I'm shocked by how quickly time is flying by. I can tell the baby is growing very fast because I can feel myself expanding very quickly. I'm having trouble bending over these days and tying my shoe laces comfortably. But, I managed to solve that problem by buying some extremely comfortable slip on shoes. I imagine that I will be wearing these shoes every day to work until the baby arrives. With the baby getting bigger, I can also feel the toll that it's taking on my body. I went for a nice walk this morning with Ryan and Sue and felt really tired afterwards. My lower back was really tight and needed a good stretch afterwards. Last weekend I played bocce ball at a BBQ and injured myself! I did something to give myself sciatica so bad on my right side that I could barely walk the next day. What is happening to my body? I feel betrayed!

So far I have gained 16 lbs, which was surprising because I had gained 7 lbs during a previous visit (over 4 weeks), but then only gained 1 lb this most recent visit (over 3 weeks). I've been eating a lot, so I'm not sure how this happened, but the doctor isn't worried, so neither am I. I'm suppose to gain another 1 lb per week at this rate, so that's another 10 lbs before the baby arrives! And, the baby is suppose to double (at least) in weight in the next ten weeks. I will be definitely be expanding a lot more in the coming weeks.

One nice thing about looking obviously pregnant these days is that I have noticed people treating me differently. Sometimes it's really small things, like someone holding the door open for me or letting me cross the street. Another time I had a man insist that he help me carry a container to my car for me (the container was empty and weighed about 5 lbs). I've even noticed that people are even a little more forgiving of Charlie, especially when he runs up to their dogs and tries to start a fight. They look at my belly and all of a sudden they aren't so mad. What else can this belly bring me? A seat on the bus? A free meal? A good parking spot?

Week 29

Baby's development: The baby measures 14 1/2 inches and weighs about 2 3/4 lbs. The brain continues to develop at a very fast rate. The head is now finally proportional to the rest of his body. His brain can also now control his own breathing and body temperature. The baby is running out of room to do summersaults, but he can still manage to stretch and kick from the inside. The baby can also now tell the difference between sunlight and artificial light through the wall of the uterus.

I had my gestational diabetes test this week. I had to go to the doctor's office and drink a bottle of this extremely sugary water, wait for an hour and then get my blood drawn. The drink gave me a headache (which is typical for a lot of women) and tasted like super concentrated gatorade. Yuck!

I have also notice some discomfort with in my ribs, especially if I hunch over. I read that my ribs are beginning to spread apart to make room for the baby, which might explain this sensation. It's weird to think that joints and bones are separating -- I hope everything goes back! I have noticed that I have developed the "linea nigra," which is dark line running from my pubic bone to my navel. It usually disappears after the baby is born, but it literally showed up over night.

Gloria (and Gabe) are going to come out to CO this May to throw us a baby shower. The date will be May 22. I hope many of you can come. It will be coed, a BBQ, and more of a get together/party than a traditional baby shower. We just want to hang out with all of our friends before the baby comes and we disappear for about a month. If we do become lame and never go out because of the baby, please give us a hard time! Please remind us that we had a life before the baby!

Week 28

Baby's development: The baby is about 14 1/2 inches from head to toe and weighs about 2 1/2 lbs. The baby is growing at top speed. His lungs are capable of breathing air, but if he were to be born today, it would be difficult for him to breathe properly. His brain is also developing more grooves everyday and his brain mass is increasing. His testes are also beginning their descent into the scrotum!

I've heard from many pregnant women that there was a point when they "popped." I think that in the past two weeks, I have really popped. Not only do I feel bigger, but I'm feeling more of the uncomfortable symptoms of pregnancy. I've got sciatica on the left side of my body and my back is getting a little bit more tired when I walk for a while. However, I'm still feeling energetic and I hope to continue yoga and swimming in the next three months. I'm also feeling less comfortable while sleeping and I think that a body pillow might be my next purchase...maybe also a memory foam pad for the mattress.

There's an old wives tale that you can tell the sex of the baby by how you carry the baby. I've read that people tend to carry boys "high" and girls "low." I can say that is not true! I definitely feel like I'm carrying lower than some women that I have seen. I find myself bumping into counter tops a lot these days, like in the bathroom when I'm leaning over the sink, or in the kitchen when I'm reaching for something in the cabinet. I hope the baby is well insulated in there.

Ryan and I hung out with our friends Courtney and Eldora this weekend. We got a lesson in cloth diaper changing. Wow. I had no idea how to fold those diapers! We also got some great tips on how to avoid getting poop sprayed all over you by the baby -- make sure to change him with his butt NOT facing you. I guess Courtney learned the hard way. :)

Week 27

Baby's development: The baby measures 9 1/2 from crown to rump and weighs a little over 2 lbs. The baby's becoming plumper and rounder as the amount of fat increases. Thumb-sucking has been seen in ultrasounds as a favorite past time activity. The baby's eyelids also begin to open and the retinas begin to form. The baby can now detect changes in light, and studies have show that when a flashlight is shone against the mother's abdomen, the baby may move or sometimes away from its beam.

I have been sick this week and it's been quite uncomfortable. Ryan came back from Hawaii with a pretty bad cough and I managed to catch it pretty quickly. I read that pregnant women have suppressed immune systems because our bodies need to be less selective about rejecting foreign cells so that the body does not reject the baby. So basically, pregnant women are more prone to getting sick. There is a list of medications that I can take, but I've avoided them all because I haven't been able to call my doctor this weekend to check and make sure. I feel SO much better today though and the coughing has subsided a lot. I was coughing a lot over the weekend and felt pretty bad for the baby. I could feel him move around when I was having a coughing fit and could tell that he was not happy to be shaken so much. I've had probably on average three gallons of water and a ton of lemon and honey every day, so hopefully I am on my road to recovery.

So far I've gained 15 lbs, 7 of which was gained in just the last four weeks! That's almost 2 lbs of weight gain per week! The recommended weight gain is 25-35 lbs, so I think I'm doing well so far with weight gain, but I don't think I've ever put on weight that quickly before. I went for a short hike today and could feel the extra 15 lbs...a little more huffing and puffing than usual. Oh, and Jess totally kicked my ass swimming the other day. I thought swimming would be easier since I'd be more buoyant, but it's not. I swam 1000 yds in the same time that I would have swam 2000 yds prior to being pregnant and I was so tired!

This is my last week in the second trimester. Next week starts the final trimester. I start seeing my doctor every two weeks from now until delivery (as opposed to every four weeks). I'm suppose to start thinking about my "birth plan" right now to discuss with my doctor. So far, all I know is that I don't want a home birth and I want Ryan to be my coach (so no doula). I'm confident that he'll be great during labor and I'd rather have him around than someone else.

The baby has been kicking a lot while I've been typing this entry. It's been amazing how active he is. I swear that half the time he's doing summersaults in there!

Week 26

Baby's development: This week the baby is 9 1/4 inches crown to rump (13 1/4 inches head to toe) and weights almost 2 lbs. At this stage, the daily developmental benchmarks may seem small, since much of what is happening is just continual development of what has already formed. For example, the baby continues to swallow amniotic fluid to practice using his lungs. His eyes have completely formed and his pulse now quickens as he reacts to sound. He may even move in rhythm to music. This week, his testicles begin to descend into his scrotum.

I'm noticing changes in my body as well. The vericose veins are still there, but so far, no stretch marks! I'm still having pain in my left butt muscle when I bend over, but there isn't much I can do. All the hormones making my joints loose are probably causing this pain, so I don't anticipate much relief until after the baby is born. My belly is still itchy beyond belief!

Ryan has been playing games with the baby recently by pushing back against the baby when the baby pushes against my stomach. Ryan will poke the baby and then the baby will move, but then the baby will kick the same place that Ryan just poked him at. It's pretty cool to feel that the baby is responding to what we are doing. It feels like the baby is active 24 hours a day too. If I have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I'll feel him moving around after I lay down again. This is usually at 3 am! I'm trying to sleep baby!

I've also noticed that my uterus is moving up and now I feel the kicks more near my ribcage. Even though my appetite has mushroomed, I definitely feel like there is less room for food in my stomach. Everything is being pushed up! I was short of breath the other day after climbing three flights of stairs! I went to regular Hatha yoga class the other day (but the instructor also teaches prenatal yoga, so she told me how to modify some of the poses) and I really liked it. I did find the balancing poses a little more difficult, however. First, I'm more front heavy now, so doing half moon pose without touching the ground was a little scary. Second, I have no ab strength at all. I had to rock myself up from the couch the other day.

Ryan and I begin our 7 week birthing class in about a month. I'm excited to meet some more parents to be in Fort Collins!

Week 25

No belly pic this week because Ryan is in Hawaii and has the camera.

Baby's development: The baby measures 8 1/4 inches crown to rump, or 13 inches head to toe and weighs about 1 1/2 lbs. It's about the size of a papaya! The baby is developing fat quickly so that his skin doesn't look so wrinkled. Blood vessels continue to develop in his lungs and his nostrils begin to open. Teeth are also now developing in buds. He has been so active recently! He is constantly kicking, pushing, and pressing on my bladder! I go to bed feeling him move around and wake up feeling him. It's one of the most comforting things though. I love sitting down and putting my hands on my belly and feeling him move.

Even though there are no belly pics this week, I can assure you that I am getting bigger everyday. It's obvious to most people that I'm pregnant now and I only have one jacket that I can zip up. Otherwise, my belly protrudes through my other coats. My belly button has become huge, but as Gloria put it, "at least now you can clean all the crevasses in there." Yes, my belly button is very clean these days.

Ryan and I have decided not to tell people the baby's name until he's born. We realize that everyone has an opinion about names, or has some negative association with a name that we like. So, we will just keep it a secret until he's born. Then, even if someone has a bad association with his name, they'll have to make a new good association with that name and our baby.

I just realized that in about two weeks I will move into the third trimester. Holy s@#t! Time flies.

Week 24

Baby's development: This week the baby baby is about 8 1/2 inches from crown to rump (but has long legs) and weighs about 1 1/2 lbs. His brain is developing quickly and so are his taste buds. If he were to be born today, he would have a one in four or five chance at survival, partly because his lungs have developed just enough to give him a chance of surviving in a neonatal intensive care unit. Don't worry, I'm going to do everything within my power to keep him the womb for another 16 weeks!

As my stomach has been expanding, I have found it to be incredibly itchy. I found some wonderful pregnancy body oil made by Weleda that soothes it a little, but I still can't stop myself from scratching constantly. I also made another some what disturbing discovery - varicose veins on my right inner calf! It's still faint, but I can see them. One website I visited said that sitting with your legs up is good for reducing varicose veins, but then I read a comment at the end of the article from someone who works at an office that performs surgery on varicose veins, and she said that putting your legs up is the worst thing you can do. So...I guess the only thing is to walk around more during the day and make sure that I'm not sitting at my desk for too long.

I went to my first prenatal yoga class the other day. It was nice being in a room with other pregnant women (some of whom were VERY pregnant), but I was rather disappointed by the level of the yoga. It was a lot of breathing exercises. While I understand the importance of breathing techniques, I also want just a little bit more cardio and muscle toning. Nothing insane, but enough to feel like I'm doing somewhat of a work out. I'm still searching for that perfect yoga class.

I included a photo this week of the baby's first socks and hat. After seeing Tracie knitting a bunch of cool hats a couple of weeks ago, I also decided to give knitting a try. I finished one small hat and then ended up buying a pair of baby socks because I had a $5 credit at the maternity store. Knitting baby stuff is really fun. You can finish a project very fast!

Week 23

Baby's development: The baby measures about 8 inches and weighs about a pound. His bones and organs are still visible underneath his transparent skin. His hearing has also developed a lot more now so that he can distinguish the noises from outside the uterus and from inside the body.

The baby has been really active recently and I've identified at least two periods during the day that he likes to move around and kick. First is in the morning, just shortly after I get to work and sit down (~8:30 am) and the second period is almost 12 hours later in the evening (~8:30 pm). Ryan has been trying to play "games" with the baby by poking it and trying to illicit a response. The baby is kicking me right now as I type!

I know that I was praising maternity pants last week, but I've changed my mind a little about how I feel now. I realized that the pants I bought were too big! I could only choose from three sizes: small, medium, and large. I purchased the small but the hips are too big and the pants slowly fall down as I walk. I find myself pulling up the pants every other step. I tried to purchase some petite maternity pants, but the lady at the store told me that petite just meant shorter, not smaller in the hips. So, I'm still in the hunt for some good maternity pants! The good news is that I am now a whole bra size bigger!

I reached my five month mark a couple of days ago, which means that in four more months the baby will be born. Time is really flying by quickly!

Week 22. It's a boy!

Baby's development: This week we found out that the baby is a boy! The ultrasound technician said that the baby has legs like his dad -- long! The baby is about 7 1/2 inches and weighs a little under a pound, which is slightly bigger than the average baby during this time. The baby's testes have already begun to descend and primitive sperm are forming. As Liza suggests that I should be saying, "I'm growing a small penis!"

We are very excited to be having a baby boy and are now looking for a name. This has been the most difficult part! As you can see from his ultrasound, so far he's got a button nose and big cheeks. We got to see him swallowing and touching his ear with his hand. They also made sure that he had all ten fingers and toes. We got to watch him for a while. It was pretty great to see him moving around in there!

Liza and Tracie were in town for the weekend and helped me buy some maternity pants. Who knew how comfortable maternity pants could be? Also, why didn't I get some leggings sooner? It's great to feel cute and comfortable in clothes again.