Week 34 Update

6 weeks to go!!! Really that means that Aubrey could join our family anytime between 3 weeks from now or 8 weeks from now, since the typical window is as much as 3 weeks before or 2 weeks after the due date. We're so excited!

We had another doctor's appointment today, which went well as always. Aubrey was moving around quite a bit, giving our doctor a bit of a challenge in taking the heart rate. The doctor would find it for 2 seconds, and then Aubrey would shift to a different spot. She is moving a ton lately, and each movement feels much stronger. We saw Knight and Day (the movie with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz) this weekend. I loved it, but I'm thinking our baby girl did not enjoy the loud sounds much. She was kicking so hard that I could distinctly feel her foot, and wouldn't have been at all surprised if her foot just came right out through my skin (okay, I am exaggerating, but you get the point!).

Two weeks from today is our next doctor's appointment. Since that day marks the beginning of our last 4 weeks, we'll be visiting the doctor each week. What's really fun about this - other than knowing how things are progressing - is that we get another ultrasound in two weeks! As our doctor puts it, it's the "last picture before getting real pictures." We can't wait to see how different she looks! The last one we had was before she started plumping up, so she looked more like an alien than a human baby. This will be quite different. I'll post pictures as soon as we have them.

Now for the 34 week update from BabyCenter.com:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Week 33 and Nursery Pictures

7 weeks to go! Here's the update from babycenter.com:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Below are some updated pictures of the nursery (you may have already seen these on facebook - I just posted them a few minutes ago). We officially decided on the name Aubrey Grace! I was so excited that I went out and bought wooden letters, which I painted brown. I also bought wooden cut-outs of butterflies and flowers, which I hand painted and then glued on the letters to decorate her name. That's what you'll see above her crib below. We're loving how the nursery is coming together!

We have one last touch to add to the design, which involve wall lamps from Ikea. The Ikea in Round Rock is out of these, so Cindy (Jason's sister) was nice enough to go to the Ikea next to her to pick them up. So look for updated pictures next week!

32 Week Dr. Appointment

I just got back to work from our 32 week appointment. Since I can't concentrate on anything else right now, I thought I'd share the update.

Our baby girl is still very healthy from everything we can tell. Her heartbeat is strong (somewhere between 130-140 beats per minute), and I'm measuring as I should be (they take a measurement on top of my belly with a tape measure - being "on track" means that the uterus is measuring one centimeter per every week - so this week I am 32 cm, which is perfect because we're 32 weeks pregnant).

I asked if the doctor could tell what position our baby is in without an ultrasound. She felt around, and said it feels like she's adopted a heads down position (normal for this stage of pregnancy), and that is seems she's curled up so that her butt is on my left side, and her feet is on my right. It's just cool to know how she's positioned in there! I told the doctor I was curious about it just because I sometimes feel kicks/punches near the pelvic area, sometimes in the ribs, and sometimes in both places at the same time (like she's stretching out). I told her I was curious as to when I was feeling her kick with her feet vs. punch with her hands. Our doctor said that it's actually hard to tell, because babies are so flexible that she could be laying in a pike position, with her feet by her head. I thought that was interesting!

Our next appointment is in two weeks (on the 29th), and then the appointment after that (four weeks from now) is when we get to have our last ultrasound. Jason and I are really excited for that one! After that, we have one appointment each week until she's born. I think the next 8 weeks will really fly with everything going on! She did of course mention that I could realistically have the baby 5-6 weeks from now. So get ready world - Aubrey (or TBD name) is on her way!

Week 32 Update

8 weeks to go!!! Or at least until the due date. We can let the guessing games begin on the actually delivery date. I'm going to guess 8/17. But, for the sake of the excitement, I'm going to continue counting down to the 10th, which is the due date set by the doctor!

Jason and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary this weekend. We turned the weekend into an anniversary/babymoon getaway, and went to Corpus Christi. We had a great time, although Corpus is really a ghost town right now! Jason had me cracking up in the hotel, as he tried to give me waddling lessons in the hallways. He said I'm not waddling correctly, so he did an exaggerated waddle all through the hallways, making me mimic him. At one point he stopped and said, "don't worry - I'm sure they'll teach you how to correctly waddle in Lamaze class. You'll get it down eventually." Too funny! I wish I had taken a video of his waddle lessons! Anyhow, we had a great time, and were glad to get away for the weekend. We're excited to get away again in less than two weeks, this time to see our family in Lufkin!

Now for the update on our baby girl from babycenter.com:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Week 31 Update

Keeping this short and sweet this time - It's a busy day!

Update on our baby girl from babycenter.com:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Week 30 update

Wow, we're really getting to the home stretch! Only 10 weeks to go, and counting.

The three of us have been doing really well. Aubrey (we think that will be her name, but are not deciding for sure until she's born) is practicing dance moves or gymnastics constantly, which is fun to watch. I do have to admit, it's sometimes uncomfortable. But I thank God everytime I feel her move or have a case of the hiccups, since that's my constant reminder that she's doing well!

Jason and I are both excited to meet her, and to take on the important job of being parents. I can't read anything but baby books right now, although we both know that there are some things you just can't prepare yourself for. One thing I read recently is that 600 diapers will be needed in the first 6 weeks of life. I knew we'd be changing a lot of diapers, but holy cow! Seeing that figure really shows the impact.

We have our next doctor's appointment tomorrow. I am taking my mom with me so that she can meet the doctor and hear the baby's heartbeat. Mom had the idea of taking our flip video camera (a toy Jason and I bought so that we can capture all the special moments as our baby grows up), so that she could capture the heartbeat. So as long as I'm not embarrased by how my pregnant belly looks in that video, I'll post a link so that you all can hear the heart beat as well!

Now that I've talked your ear off, I'll move on to the update on our baby girl in her 30th week, per babycenter.com. I'll also include an update on what babycenter says I'll be going through this week. I can tell you that part of this (the sleepy part) is already very true!

Update on our baby girl:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Update on mommy:
You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.