We've made it to Week 38 and we're still waiting on little Elmo. There is still lots of movement although I think things are getting a little cramped in there because it seems the kicks and jabs have slowed and it's more rolling and stretching at this point. The other night while watching TV, Elmo decided he needed to stretch every limb to the point where I wasn't sure my skin was going to hold up. I think he wanted to come right out through my belly! Cute but also quite painful!
Here is the update on development this week:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)
Exciting times! This weekend we are just planning on running some errands and relaxing before Elmo's arrival. Hope everyone has a good weekend and stays cool!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
I'VE MADE IT TO FULL TERM!!!
A few weeks ago I wasn't sure if I would make it but I did! FULL TERM! Yeah! Now it's just a waiting game. Hopefully Elmo will arrive sooner rather than later but I also know there is nothing I can do about it. Elmo will arrive when he's good and ready. I just have to be a little more patient. Now for the weekly update on development:
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.
We're having a nice weekend -- dinner with friends last night and date night for us tonight. I know that soon we won't have the time or energy for either of those things. We need to enjoy them while we can!
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.
We're having a nice weekend -- dinner with friends last night and date night for us tonight. I know that soon we won't have the time or energy for either of those things. We need to enjoy them while we can!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Update from Monday's Appt.
Well, unfortunately there was no progression made -- still 1cm dilated. Boo! I was hoping to at least have made it to 2cm but oh well. I just have to be patient. My next appointment is a week from today so maybe by then I'll have more news to report.
Other than the lack of progression, everything else went fine. Little Elmo doesn't always like to cooperate during the ultrasounds so we haven't gotten a decent picture of his face unfortunately. We did see him yawn (totally adorable!) during the ultrasound. Too cute for words! Everything looks good though. Hopefully we'll have more news to report next week!
Other than the lack of progression, everything else went fine. Little Elmo doesn't always like to cooperate during the ultrasounds so we haven't gotten a decent picture of his face unfortunately. We did see him yawn (totally adorable!) during the ultrasound. Too cute for words! Everything looks good though. Hopefully we'll have more news to report next week!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Reality Check
I don't know if anyone has noticed the little ticker on the right side of the page but it's says 25 days to go (or most likely fewer) until my due date. OMG!!! Talk about a reality check! In 25 days or less, our lives are going to forever be changed. We prepared as best we can. All the furniture is ready, the clothes are all washed, we made a final trip to Babies R Us on Saturday and yesterday Scott steam-cleaned all the carpets in the house. Everything is pretty much ready to go. Now it's just a waiting game -- waiting for little Elmo to arrive. We have another OB appointment this afternoon. It should be interesting to see if/how far I've progressed.
In the meantime, I'm just trying to enjoy the time that Scott and I have together. While I couldn't be more excited about having a baby, it is a little sad to see this chapter of our lives come to an end. Luckily, I know we have some amazing things to look forward to!
In the meantime, I'm just trying to enjoy the time that Scott and I have together. While I couldn't be more excited about having a baby, it is a little sad to see this chapter of our lives come to an end. Luckily, I know we have some amazing things to look forward to!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Week 36 Happenings
Elmo is busy this week:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement. At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. With four weeks to go, our baby is almost ready. S/he could drop into the birth canal at any time now.
Well, I definitely feel like we are closer to the due date than 28 days. I really will be surprised if I'm still pregnant by July 10 (I'm sure every new mom says this but oh well). The bags are basically packed, the car seat is installed and we are ready to go. At least, as ready as we're going to be. I'm sure new parents are never really "ready" but we'll give it our best shot. I've been having lots of pains in my lower abdomen (supposedly this is the baby dropping into the birth canal) and the contractions have intensified. All signs that point to things beginning to happen.
Scott and I are definitely getting excited! Elmo may turn out to be a June baby afterall!
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement. At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. With four weeks to go, our baby is almost ready. S/he could drop into the birth canal at any time now.
Well, I definitely feel like we are closer to the due date than 28 days. I really will be surprised if I'm still pregnant by July 10 (I'm sure every new mom says this but oh well). The bags are basically packed, the car seat is installed and we are ready to go. At least, as ready as we're going to be. I'm sure new parents are never really "ready" but we'll give it our best shot. I've been having lots of pains in my lower abdomen (supposedly this is the baby dropping into the birth canal) and the contractions have intensified. All signs that point to things beginning to happen.
Scott and I are definitely getting excited! Elmo may turn out to be a June baby afterall!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Contractions
The contractions have started, about four weeks ago actually. Mostly they have just been uncomfortable but lately they have definitely gotten to the somewhat painful level. I know that most of these are Braxton Hicks contractions, just getting my body ready for what lies ahead. Most of them haven't been timetable enough for me to get concerned although it's not that uncommon for me to have 4-5 in an hour. My doctor said to call if I have 4 in an hour for at least two hours. They happen most often at work, especially if I'm walking around, as well as in the evening. At our OB appointment on Monday, I was 1 cm dilated and at -1 station. It will be interesting to see if we've progressed at all by next Monday.
Friday, June 5, 2009
35/35
35/35 -- quite the milestone! For those of you who aren't constantly living in pregnancy land, that means 35 weeks down, 35 days to go until my due date. I can't believe I've finally made it! Back in the second trimester, it seemed so far away. Now I look back on things and wonder where all the time has gone.
Things have been busy in the Carter household lately. We've been running around trying to make sure that everything is ready just in case Elmo decides to make an early appearance. Last week we moved in the crib (a gift from Mom & Dad -- thank you!!!) and changing table. For now, Elmo is going to be in our bedroom. The way our house is set up, the second bedroom is in the basement and I just don't feel comfortable having the baby that far away, even with a monitor. So...that means two adults, one baby and two crazy cats in one bedroom at night. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well! Here is a picture of the changing table/dresser we purchased. Of course, Cappy had to check out the diaper stacker we hung. She's not too sure about this whole baby thing.
Here is the crib, complete with the bedding, mobile and wall hangings! You can't see it very well in the picture but that is a cute teddy bear in the corner wearing a Twins hat. It was so much fun getting everything set up. Having the crib in our room makes everything very real and I just can't wait to meet Elmo!
Things have been busy in the Carter household lately. We've been running around trying to make sure that everything is ready just in case Elmo decides to make an early appearance. Last week we moved in the crib (a gift from Mom & Dad -- thank you!!!) and changing table. For now, Elmo is going to be in our bedroom. The way our house is set up, the second bedroom is in the basement and I just don't feel comfortable having the baby that far away, even with a monitor. So...that means two adults, one baby and two crazy cats in one bedroom at night. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well! Here is a picture of the changing table/dresser we purchased. Of course, Cappy had to check out the diaper stacker we hung. She's not too sure about this whole baby thing.
Here is the crib, complete with the bedding, mobile and wall hangings! You can't see it very well in the picture but that is a cute teddy bear in the corner wearing a Twins hat. It was so much fun getting everything set up. Having the crib in our room makes everything very real and I just can't wait to meet Elmo!
Finally, here is a long-awaited belly shot. FYI, I just got up from a nap so I'm looking a little worse for the wear. Some stretch marks have made their appearance (BOO!) and I'm feeling enormous lately. The last couple of days my feet have decided to swell up -- looking more like a hobbit's feet than mine. Oh well, at least it's flip flop weather and I don't have to deal with putting on heavy shoes.
Here is what Elmo is up to this week:
Here is what Elmo is up to this week:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
I have another weekly OB appointment and I'm assuming soon they will start checking for dilation and effacement. Yeah! It really won't be long now!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Perfection of Imperfection
No one would ever make the mistake of saying that I'm anywhere close to perfect. That, however, didn't stop me from thinking that I could somehow pull off this crazy thing called pregnancy with ease and grace. I really wanted to be that superwoman who is able to keep the house clean, stay on top of absolutely everything at work, manage to work in all the doctor's appointments and get the errands run all while maintaining an outward calmness and keeping a smile on my face. I've discovered that this mythical creature I created in my mind back when I first found out I was pregnant is a complete fabrication and an impossible standard to hold myself to.
The truth is that I was very lucky during my first trimester that I didn't really have much morning sickness. My second trimester had me constantly worried about feeling the baby move in my belly. The third trimester has been a little more complicated and all the while I've been dealing with swollen feet, an aching body, illusive sleep, hormonal tendencies (just call me crabby) that Scott can attest to and a constant fear that I'm somehow not going to be able to handle everything once Elmo is born. I know this is all normal but nothing feels normal when you're going through it for the first time. I've loved being pregnant but as my due date grows ever closer, this ridiculous need to be perfect and knowing that I can't acheive that perfection is doing a number on my psyche.
Fortunately, there is a bright spot in all of this self-doubt. His name is Scott. He has been an ever-present source of strength and comfort, especially over the last few weeks. When I'm having a bad day, he is there to cheer me up. When I'm whining over something silly (hormones again), he sees through it and just gives me a hug which always makes everything better. He does the dishes (I can no longer reach the sink very well), helps around the house, carries all the heavy stuff and does his best to keep a smile on my face (not an easy feat when I'm usually going on four hours of sleep). Simply said, I couldn't have gotten this far without him. His love and support have meant the world to me. I'm incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful and caring husband. I am never going to be "perfect" and I can deal with that. What is perfection to me, however, is how Scott and I have gotten through the last several months supporting each other the whole way.
The truth is that I was very lucky during my first trimester that I didn't really have much morning sickness. My second trimester had me constantly worried about feeling the baby move in my belly. The third trimester has been a little more complicated and all the while I've been dealing with swollen feet, an aching body, illusive sleep, hormonal tendencies (just call me crabby) that Scott can attest to and a constant fear that I'm somehow not going to be able to handle everything once Elmo is born. I know this is all normal but nothing feels normal when you're going through it for the first time. I've loved being pregnant but as my due date grows ever closer, this ridiculous need to be perfect and knowing that I can't acheive that perfection is doing a number on my psyche.
Fortunately, there is a bright spot in all of this self-doubt. His name is Scott. He has been an ever-present source of strength and comfort, especially over the last few weeks. When I'm having a bad day, he is there to cheer me up. When I'm whining over something silly (hormones again), he sees through it and just gives me a hug which always makes everything better. He does the dishes (I can no longer reach the sink very well), helps around the house, carries all the heavy stuff and does his best to keep a smile on my face (not an easy feat when I'm usually going on four hours of sleep). Simply said, I couldn't have gotten this far without him. His love and support have meant the world to me. I'm incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful and caring husband. I am never going to be "perfect" and I can deal with that. What is perfection to me, however, is how Scott and I have gotten through the last several months supporting each other the whole way.
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