Development this week

(From whattoexpect.com)

At nine inches and more than a pound and a half in weight, your baby is taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other, and almost as heavy as four of those little boxes (an analogy you'll find particularly apropos in a few years, when those juice boxes start taking over your refrigerator, your pantry, your car.…).

Don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker. No, not because he or she's getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping your baby at an always comfortable temperature), but because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But at 25 weeks pregnant, those lungs are still very much works in progress. Though they are already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs expand after the baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he or she exhales.

The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths. (Of course since there's no air in there, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?)

Week 25 highlights!

Pregnancy highlights this week:


How far along: 25 weeks, 4 days (only 14 weeks, 3 days to go!)


Size of baby: Not really sure, they didn't do an ultrasound last week to determine size- but at my 20 week appointment he was BIG!


Toal weight gain/loss: I lost 10 pounds in the beginning from being so nauseous, and I've only gained 1 pound back!


Maternity clothes: I have one pair of maternity jeans that I finally broke out. They are super duper comfortable. Other than that I am still wearing regular clothes.


Gender: BOY!!!! We are thinking about naming him "Pearce" or "Pierce".... I like it spelled "Pearce" and John likes it spelled "Pierce". Go figure!


Movement: Lots and Lots of kicks and punches! I can feel him most after I eat, and as soon as I lay down to go to bed he starts kicking me!


Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty good. I usually wake up about 3 or 4 every morning and have to go to the bathroom.


Cravings: Lemon water, fruit, sour candy

Long Time, No Post!

Wow, I cannot believe I have waited this long to post another entry! It has been a while since my last post, so let me try and remember everything that has gone on since then!! First off, here is the latest picture of our little man (this was taken about 5 weeks ago- i didn't get an ultrasound at my last appointment) so he has certainly grown since this picture!

It's kind of blurry but his face is on the right and his belly is on the left! After we finished with the ultrasound that day, the ultrasound tech said "When is your due date, again?" and when I told her she said "Well he is measuring a little big, so we'll see what the doctor says about your due date"... yeah, apparently this baby is HUGE. He is already in the 97th percentile (which measn he is bigger than 97% of other babies at that stage!) haha. Fabulous. At that point in time, the baby should have weighed about 8 ounces, but he weighed a whopping 1 pound 2 ounces! I asked Dr. Tynes if this meant that my due date was off, and she said "No, you will just have a big baby!". Greeeeeaaatt. But, in all honesty, Jackson was a pretty big baby too so it didn't really surprise me. I just hope he isn't too big to have naturally, because i DO NOT want a C Section!!!!! Also, at this doctors appointment they found sugar in my urine when they tested my sample, so she was concerned that because of the baby's size, and the sugar in my urine, that i might have gestational diabetes. (Which of course had me FREAKED out). So, she sent me the next day to take my gestational diabetes test. The first test is a one hour test. You fast for breakfast, go in and have your fasting blood drawn then you have to drink this sugary drink and then they draw your blood again to see how your blood sugar levels are after you have the sugary drink. Well, apparently all did not go well with my first test, and I failed it BAD. I really don't know what went wrong (possibly the cupcakes with chocoloate chip cookies in them that i had made for work a few days before!!!!!). So after I failed my first test, they had me come in and do another, longer, test to see what the results would be. If i passed it- all would be good. If i failed it- it meant that I did have gestational diabetes. Luckily- I PASSED! At my doctors appointment last week she told me that I passed with flying colors, and that nothing looked abnormal at all (WHEW!!!!!!). She did say that I may have to take the test again in the future (because they usually test all pregnant women later in their pregnancy) but she said we would discuss that at my next appointment!

Baby Development Week 17

Here is how the baby is developing this week: (from whattoexpect.com)

How big is your baby at 17 weeks pregnant? About five inches long and more than three and a half ounces — the size of your open hand. (Open the other one too and imagine your baby cradled in both your arms right after delivery!) Body fat (baby's, that is) is beginning to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of your pregnancy. By the time your baby is born, body fat will make up about two-thirds of his or her weight (and will make all those chubby parts especially yummy).

Your baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises — the dog barking, the doorbell ringing — will actually startle your baby (and also get him or her used to such noises; for instance, fetuses who regularly hear a dog barking will become babies who sleep right through Fido's outbursts). Your baby's eyes (which have fortunately finished their migration to the front of his or her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed. And since practice makes perfect, your baby is sharpening his or her sucking and swallowing skills in preparation for that first (and second…and third) suckle at your breast or bottle. In fact, most of the survival reflexes that your baby will have at birth are being perfected in utero right now

And here's some proof that your baby is truly one of a kind (as if you needed any!). Within the next week or so, the pads on your baby's fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints).

Week 17 Highlights!!!

How far along: 17 weeks, 1 day Size of baby: 5 inches (the size of a turnip!) and 5 ounces in weight
Total weight gain: NONE! I have actually lost 10 lbs. Im interested to see how much I've gained by the next appointment, though.

Maternity Clothes: Still not wearing any maternity clothes. My jeans are still too big after losing a few pounds in the beginning!

Gender: BOY!!!

Movement: Nothing significant, really. I still cant distinguish the baby moving from my stomach growling!

Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty well lately. I have just been having some CRAZY dreams!!

What I miss: Nothing really!

Cravings: fruit, fruit, fruit and more fruit!!!!!!!!

Symptoms: Horrible allergies and a few headaches!

It's a BOY!!!!!!!!!

Well, well, well.... we are having another stinky little boy! Man, I am going to have my hands FULL with this family full of boys! I should be used to it after growing up with two brothers!!!!!!! I am actually really excited about having another boy. Since I have already been through the whole boy thing with Jackson, i feel like i will have no problem raising another one! Little boys love their mommies, and now I will have two little boys to love on!

Tomorrow is the big day!!!

(HOPEFULLY!!!) We have an appointment tomorrow morning to find out if we are having a boy or a girl!!! yay!!!!!