27 Weeks

How our baby's growing:

This week, our baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, our baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements I may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on, each episode usually lasts only a few moments.

How your life's changing:

The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as my body gears up for the final lap, I've started noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, I have found that my leg muscles cramp up now and then too. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and my expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to my heart as well as on the nerves leading from my trunk to my legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as my pregnancy progresses.


Coming up, appointment #6 ~ May 2, 2010! From here on out, I will be checked every 2 weeks, up until the month of May, then it's every week 'till little man is born!

Audry and I in the Albuquerque airport bathroom just before I was heading home. We had her little boy Isaac take a picture of us so we could always remember finding out I was pregnant that trip together. That will always be one of the best trips of my life! The timing couldn't have been any better than to share it with my best friend, who I get to see about once every two years.

The Finished Product!

Sorry the pics didn't turn out that great...think I had it on the wrong setting, but at least your able to see how it all turned out! I feel like I have a whole new house...love it!

26 Weeks

How our baby boy is growing:

The network of nerves in our baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both our voices as we 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. Since we're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days. He's also soaking up my antibodies, getting his immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and he'll soon be practicing the blink...perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

How my life's changing:

My lower back is a little achy lately, thanks both to my growing uterus — which shifts my center of gravity, stretches out and weakens my abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen my joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight I'm carrying means more work for my muscles and increased stress on my joints, which is why I usually feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on my back.

... I think someone needs a massage!

Weekend flooring update

Greg getting into the living room to get that prepared Friday night.

The guys ended up finishing the flooring Saturday (except for a few finishing touches), but I'll take pictures once it's all cleaned up and looking spiffy!! It feels like we have a brand new house, and looks just fabulous! So, hopefully tonight I'll be able to put my house back together and show some new updated pictures! Then I suppose we'll have to throw a party to break 'em in!

Nursery & hallway floors finished!

Now I need to get this room furnished and accessorized... The fun stuff, yea!

Sage Brush likes to pose for all the pictures

Now it's onto the rest of the house!
Hopefully the guys can get it done in the next day or two.

25 weeks, 4 days & New Flooring!

Me and the dogs supervising on the couch as the boys install the floor.
Trying to stay warm, 'cause the door is wide open! Brrrr!

Greg and Bob (my mom's boyfriend) scraping up nails and stuff from the old carpet.

Shorts and T-shirt with snow on the ground...nice work attire
...you know you're in South Dakota when...

our flooring stacked up ready to be installed. Coal just checking things out.

Nursery room ready for flooring.
Can't wait to have a little person to put those adorable clothes on!
Sage just posing for all the pictures.

This was at 10:00 pm last night, when Doug & Greg stopped installing flooring for the night. Way past the pregnant lady's bedtime... Sage and I were pooped and ready for bed. But how fantastic is our floor going to look when it's all said and done! Tonight they'll finish the floor in the nursery room and maybe get a head start on the main living room.

How our baby's growing

Head to heels, our baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — about a pound and a half — but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat (as you've already seen in the chubby cheek pictures below!). 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. And that oh-so-handy sense of equilibrium is kicking in, and baby's learning to distinguish right side up from upside down.
He seems to like to be upside down and backwards though, 'cause that's how he is every time we try to get pictures of him, silly boy!

3-D Pictures

Say Hello to baby Geary! Finally some good pictures today.
He's going to be a mini Greg all the way.
Check out that Geary nose and face!

This is my favorite...he'll look just like his Daddy! Love that Geary nose!

Holy chubby cheeks!

mouth is open a little in this one

Appointment #5

Today was the 3-D appointment (it's not called 4-D I guess), and it was unsuccessful. The little guy was just not ready to have his picture taken. We caught a glimpse of his nose, which resembles Daddy's! No pictures to be shown yet, but tomorrow we will get another chance to get some. We were able to reschedule for Feb 4th at 11:30am to try again. Hopefully he'll be turned around the right way to give us some good shots. Good news is everything's looking healthy and growing strong! So stay tuned until tomorrow...

24 Weeks

How our baby's growing:

Our 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 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.

Another cool moment... Greg's birthday was yesterday (the big 27!), and this morning, right before I rolled out of bed, I could feel our little guy kicking like crazy, so I woke up Greg and told him to put his hand on my belly. He waited with his hand there for about a minute and just then our baby did a big kick and Greg finally got to feel him move for the first time!! Then he kicked about 3 more times for dad to feel before I had to get up for work. Greg had been trying to feel him move for about 3 weeks, and every time he would put his hand on my belly, he would stop kicking or just not kick hard enough to feel. So, it was a pretty cool wake up birthday present for Greg this morning!

In more great news: Next baby doc appointment, this Wednesday at 11:00am, and we get to have the 4-D ultrasound pictures! Stay tuned and I'll be posting the pics of our little man's face!! Let's hope he gives us some good shots!