Owen's 2 Month Dr. Visit

Owen 2 months old

Today Owen went in to see Dr. Biglow for his 2 Month well baby visit.  This little guys has been growing in leaps and bounds and I have been dying to see how much he has actually grown.  Well he was the hit of the office, of course!  No one could get over his hair- such a conversation starter.  If I got a dollar for every time someone commented on his hair I would be so rich already!

He is in the 50th percentile all around for weight, length, and head circumference.  He weighs a whopping 12 lbs 4 oz!  This means he has gained 6 lbs since birth- great job big guy!!  He also grew an inch and a half, measuring in at 22.5 inches long and his head circumference also increased to 40.5.  The doctor says my children are the cutest little boys she has ever seen (like I had any doubt otherwise... proud mommy moment. hehe).

She said that he is in perfect health and that we didn't need to come back until he turns 4 months old.  The bummer news is that he had to receive some vaccinations today- 6 in total!  Thankfully they group them together so he only had to have two shots and one oral vaccine.  But oh how I hate that cry.  It brings tears to my eyes every single time.  He was a champ though, he was able to calm down pretty quickly once he was snuggled in my arms.

Speaking of hair, his is growing just as much as the rest of him- and it is growing in blonde just like his brothers did!  It is about a half an inch longer then at birth, you can tell by the blonde roots.  Too cute.  Our little rock 'n roller.  Although in these pictures I think he looks more like a future line backer :)

Especially this one!

Come Play in Our Baby Pool!!!

In anticipation of the birth of our little Owen, we thought it would be fun to set up a Baby Prediction Pool.  This is a game where everyone can take a guess as to when he will be born and how much his weight and length will be.

We did this with Jackson and it was such fun.  We hope you all participate!  There just might be a prize for the big winner too.... so be sure to cast your vote!!

Just click on this link and it will take you to the Game!  

Amie and Scott's Baby Pool

**Please note: any votes cast AFTER Owen is born will not count, so don't try to be sneaky!!

And now a pineapple!

17.2 to 18.7 in, 4.2 to 5.8 lb

33 weeks: Baby weighs as much as a pineapple

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. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Baby may grow up to a full inch this week alone, and his brain is developing like crazy. Pretty soon, he'll be able to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing. Also, his bones are hardening, and he's started to keep his eyes open when he's awake.


So time is winding down.  I can't believe I only have something like 47 days left- amazing!!  Our little Owen is a busy bee, kicking me like a ninja.  Seriously last night he was kicking my stomach so hard, even Scott was able to see it jump and spasm from the other end of the couch.  I was so happy Scott could finally see with his own eyes how active Owen has become.  Speaking of last night, I had a little bit of a scare.  I dozed off while reading and was awoken about 3:50 p.m. with some cramping.  My first thought was that it was just some round ligament pain from turning a particular way. Well about 4 minutes later I got it again, only this time I could tell that it was clearly a Braxton Hicks contraction.  These are also called "false labor" because they don't necessarily mean I am in actual labor, it is just my uterus preparing itself for the coming birth down the road.  No real big deal until I got another 4 minutes later and then another and then another and another..... I was getting very regular, very strong BH, not painful necessarily... just intense.  And 3-4 minutes apart for a good solid 45 minutes.  From what I read you shouldn't get more then 4 in an hour and I had already far surpassed this.  I spoke with my friend who is a Doula, and she advised me to drink a bunch of water and then lay down on my right side.  If the contractions don't stop after that I need to call my doctor.

So I drank a ton of water and let myself relax.  The contractions didn't go away completely, but they did slow down.  I was only getting one here and another about 30 minutes later and then again an hour after that.  By about 8:00 they were done.  This morning Jackson and I went to the mall so he could run around some in the play yard.  Once I was walking a bit I got two more BH, but so far that is all.  I have my appointment with my doctor on Wednesday morning, so I will bring it up to her then.  I am hoping that all of this is just due to a bit of dehydration.  I have upped my water intake and am trying to make myself rest (a little hard to do with a 3 1/2 year old!) more often.  Fingers crossed and I will keep you all posted!

29 Weeks Pregnant. We're now in our 7th Month!

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This is day number 204 and you're 29 weeks pregnant!

You have 76 days or 11 weeks left, 

and are 72.9% of the way there.

Baby's age since conception is 190 days or 27 weeks. 

You are due on 11/13/2010.

Baby's now the size of a squash! Or according to another website, this week your baby is a little over 15 inches long—about the length of a loaf of bread—and weighs about 3 pounds, as much as a Macbook Air laptop. 


Baby's energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath his skin. And since he's growing so fast (weight will triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb. What all this means for you: Get ready for some more kicks and jabs to the ribs. Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

Thanks to your ever-expanding uterus, it's time to welcome back the constant bathroom dashes. And try your best to forget about any emerging varicose veins -- they might be ugly, but they're harmless and should fade after delivery. Until then, avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time and make sure to get some exercise (it'll boost your circulation).

26 Weeks Pregnant!

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I am 6 months along- can you believe it?! Only 3 more to go and baby Owen will be here in our arms instead of in my tummy.  Hey and check it out- I am down to the double digits- only 95 days left!!

This is day number 185 and you're 26 weeks pregnant!

You have 95 days or 14 weeks left, and are 
66.1% of the way there.

Baby's age since conception is 171 days or 24 weeks. 
You are due on 11/13/2010.

How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you 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 or eggplant) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

23 week Doctor's Appointment

I had my monthly Owen check up today, so I brought my favorite big Brother along with me so he could hear his little brother's heartbeat again.  Oh how excited he got when he heard it!  He immediately jumped right off of his chair and came next to me on the doctor's table with a huge grin across his face.  It was awesome.  I love that I can bring Jackson to these appointments.  It really connects him to his little brother in a whole new way.  Plus he is such a good boy!  He sits so nice, eating his animal crackers and never interrupts the nurses or the doctor when they are talking.  He is even answering them now when they talk to him (our sweet shy boy!)  He loves looking at the bulletin boards they have in the hallways full of pictures of the babies delivered by their doctor's; always asking if Owen will be there when he is born.  He did tell me today though that he doesn't want to ever have to go pee-pee in a cup.  "Mommy, I really don't want to!"  Made me smile. Oh the things that bother them....

Owen's heartbeat was fast and strong at 147, right where it has been pretty much throughout the pregnancy.  This was so cool- as soon as the nurse found Owen's heartbeat he must not have liked the pressure she was putting on him with the doppler so he pushed right back.  She could feel him moving and pushing her hand away the whole time.  Baby Owen is getting so strong!  With each of her pushes he was doing two right back at her, you could just imagine him saying "Hey!  Cut that out already!"

We got the results to all of my tests, and everything is perfect and normal, so that is a relief.  I go back in about two weeks for my glucose intolerance test where I get to drink that flat orange pop again. I am not worried, I didn't have any issues with gestational diabetes with Jackson, so I will probably be fine again this time.  But we shall see.  Fingers crossed.  Other then that, pretty quick appointment.  I go back in 4 weeks on August 19th for our next one.

Goodness, this pregnancy is moving so fast.  I can hardly believe it.  Next week is an important milestone for Owen.  If something were to happen and I were go into labor, he would be able to survive outside of the womb!  It is always somewhat of a relief hitting this point in pregnancy.

Littlest Man is now about as long as an ear of corn *grin*

"A mother's body remembers her babies-the folds of soft flesh, the softly furred scalp against her nose. Each child has it's own entreaties to body and soul."— Barbara Kingsolver

23 Weeks and Counting

This is day number 165 and you're 23 weeks pregnant! You have 115 days or 16 weeks left, and are 58.9% of the way there. Baby's age since conception is 151 days or 21 weeks. You are due on 11/13/2010.

How your baby's growing:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Your baby now has eyes that open and close, ears that can hear, and a thumb well worth sucking. If you notice feel your baby making regular, jerky movements, don't panic - your baby has the hiccups! The hiccups are harmless for baby but can be annoying for you if they last for a long period of time.

Jackson showing me the giant bucket....

Yesterday Jackson and I met up with my friend Heidi and her son Anthony at the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center.  We haven't been there since last year, so it was like brand new for Jackson.  He was so excited; squealing, doing his happy feet, and bouncing from one place to the next!  He had a blast!  He hasn't stopped talking about what his "favorite" things were- the log you can climb through, all of the silly turtles, the box of bugs (they have a working bee hive inside the center that has a tube leading to the outside so the bees can come and go as they please.  It really is very cool.)  But I think his favorite thing, along with many of the kids was watching the disgusting site of the vulture eating a dead fish.  He loved how the vulture was standing on the fish to hold it, "It is like how we hold food in our hands, right Mommy?"  He was glued to the cage, watching the bird eat his lunch.  All the kids agreed that it was gross but still so cool.  Another fun thing were the huge rake, watering can, bucket and the tomato with the caterpillar on top.  When Jackson saw these he said "Mommy, I could fit SO MANY rocks in here!!", pointing to the giant bucket.... Always thinking of his favorite past time!  It was such a fun way to spend the day, and we were both thrilled that our friends could join us in the fun.

Future Soccer Player?

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This is day number 160 and you're 22 weeks pregnant!

You have 120 days or 17 weeks left, and are 57.1% of the way there.

Baby's age since conception is 146 days or 20 weeks. You are due on 11/13/2010

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.


At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash or a papaya) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

So the kicks have become hard and consistent.  Just like the book says, I can easily tell when our Littlest Man is sleeping- or very wide awake!  I have consistently been feeling him kick on the outside of my tummy and Scott even got to feel him for the first time last Friday night.  It was so exciting!  There is nothing more then I want right now then for Scott and Jackson to be able to bond with the baby in a more physical way.  It just makes things more special and real for everyone.

This whole week I have been team teaching with Bonnie for Vacation Bible School for 1-2 grades (which puts Anna into our class) and my mom has been in charge of the little ones (Pre-K) so she has had Jackson and Sophie in her classroom.

We were fully anticipating the husbands to need to come after the first two days to pick up Jackson and Sophie after the opening because it was just too much for them.  But guess what?!  They have been so great!  Both of the little ones have been excellent listeners, doing their crafts, playing the games (except Jackson.  He is our little observer.  He prefers to sit in the sidelines when so many kids are involved) and  taking EVERYTHING in!  The entire week, Jackson has talked about nothing BUT Vacation Bible School.  He absolutely loves it!  He is retaining each Bible story, telling me and Scott and about them when school is over.  I am so proud!  Jackson really is becoming such a big boy.

On Wednesday night, in one of the games the older kids were playing, they had to pop balloons.  Well the first balloon was sooooooo loud and startled me so much I jumped a mile!  But not only did it startle me- but baby, who had been quiet and sleeping soundly, also jumped a mile!  After the huge POP! he was moving all over the place, kicking me and pushing on my tummy.  I could just imagine him thinking "Holy Moly, Mommy!  What in the world was that?!"  It was neat seeing him respond to outside noises already.  Baby is starting to become a bigger boy too.

Oh and guess what?!  We have finally decided on a name!  We are using my dad's first name, Robert as his middle name.  So Littlest Boy's full name is Owen Robert Kanengeiser.  It is so nice to finally call him by name, and not just baby boy!  We love it and can't wait to meet Baby Owen in person- only 4 more months to go!!!!

Guess what?! We are Halfway Done!!!

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Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana or the size of a cantaloupe. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

This is day number 136 and you're 19 weeks pregnant!

The other night while rocking Jackson, he was hugging and kissing my tummy.  He does this all the time, which I find so heart warming and sweet.  But tonight he decided to lift up my shirt "Mommy, I want to snuggle with my baby brother.  Can you keep your shirt like this?"  So with my shirt pulled up over my belly, Jackson cuddled right on up and gave baby a big kiss and said "I love you baby."

Talk about a tear jerker! This hormonal pregnant woman was a water-works.  Oh how I love my two little boys already!

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You have 144 days or 21 weeks left, and are 48.6% of the way there.
Baby's age since conception is 122 days or 17 weeks. You are due on 11/13/2010.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and measures 6 inches, head to bottom, about the size of a large heirloom tomato. The hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, taking to him, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your Pregnancy: Week 18

Big news- we go tomorrow morning for the BIG ULTRASOUND!!!! Please pray for full cooperation- spread those legs baby! No modesty allowed :)

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Your Pregnancy: Week 18
Average size: 5.6 in, 6.7 oz
As your growing uterus starts shifting your center of gravity (belly forward, bottom out), hormones are causing your ligaments to relax and joints to loosen. The result? Back pain and soreness. On the bright side, if you want to know baby's gender, this would be your first week for a sneak peek.

Baby's now the size of a sweet potato!
Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll be able to feel her movements.

Now that baby can hear what's going on outside the womb, it's time to get out the tunes. Her faves? Classical, lullabies, new age...and anything else that resembles your own thumping heart (about 60 beats per minute).

Our 3rd Doctor's Appointment

We had our 15 week doctor's appointment today and FINALLY got to hear the babies heartbeat! It was like music to my ears. The little one was at 145 today and when they saw it on my early ultrasound it was at 144.... could this be another boy?! We shall see! I got the go ahead to make my ultrasound appointment to find out the sex- SO EXCITED!!! I think one of the neatest things about today was the validation I got. For the past 2 weeks I have been feeling the baby move, the first week just twice, last week twice and this week every day. Well when i was laying down on the table for the nurse to use the doppler I thought i felt the baby on my lower left side. When the nurse was checking around she was looking on the middle/center right and not finding anything. I just thought to myself how i just felt it on the way lower left, so I told her to check much lower so she moved the doppler there and found the heartbeat right away!! So I haven't just had a lot of gas :) I really am feeling the little one.

Dr. O'Neill came in then and she gave us the OK to get our BIG ULTRASOUND!  We get to make our appointment within the next 2-3 weeks!!!  Oh man, I am so excited.  I can't wait to find out already.

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How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

I Felt the Baby Kick Today!

This morning was my Mother's Day Brunch for my MUMs group.  Bonnie and I invited my mom to join us today, and right in the middle of a very moving, very beautiful presentation I felt the little peach move for the first time!!  I am 13 1/2 weeks along, so I felt this baby about a week sooner then I felt Jackson, but it makes sense since I already know what to expect.  On Tuesday night, after work i was sitting on my couch trying to unwind a bit on the computer and I thought I might have felt the little one.  But it was late, I was tired so I blew it off.  Well two days later while sitting still in my meeting there was no denying that this was indeed the baby.  Let the acrobatics begin!!

Good news, my nausea has seemed to subside a bit.  Hopefully for good!  Finger's crossed.....

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How your baby's growing: 13 weeks

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

Our 2nd Doctor's Appointment

11 weeks 2 days, on the beach of Kelley's Island

So I am now 11 1/2 weeks along and things feel so different then the last time with our angel baby. I am having extreme nausea, a ton of heartburn and already have developed quite a baby bump!  When they say you "show" sooner with your second children, they weren't joking!  I can't believe how absolutely pregnant I look.  There is no hiding it any longer!!

I had my second doctor's appointment today.  At first, the nurse wasn't able to locate the heartbeat. But she told me not to stress out just yet- the baby is so small and the womb is so large it most likely is moving around a whole lot. (Needless to say I was scared to DEATH!!!)  When my doctor came in she preformed an ultrasound and right away we saw the baby. The heartbeat was beating strong and steady, and the coolest part was that the little one actually looks like a baby now. We could see it's nose and mouth and its fat little belly. It was so cool!

I go to my next appointment on the 28th of this month, and at this appointment my doctor will give me the go ahead to make the magic appointment- the one where we get to find out the sex! Yay, we are so excited!! We will be able to schedule it around the middle of June.

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How your baby's growing: 11 weeks

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Our 1st Doctor's Appointment

Yay!!! I had my first appointment this morning. Oh my goodness, I have been on pins and needles waiting for it! Well, the exam went wonderfully, everything looked great. But because of my resent history of loss, she sent me down for an early ultrasound to check for viability and to make sure we were on target for dating since my periods have been so irregular. Immediately the ultrasound tech found the little baby and it had a wonderful, strong heartbeat of 144 (it should be anywhere between 120-175, so we are right in the middle). I instantly started crying, I was just so, so happy. I will never forget that feeling!  I feel such a lightness in my heart. God is so good! Now my chance of a m/c went from 50/50 chance to a 3% chance. I'll take those odds!  Awesome. I am so happy!!!!!

Oh, and our due date changed slightly. She has me as November 16th- 3 days later! We shall see :)

It looks more like a smudge then a baby at this point- but it's there!!

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How baby is growing.... 7 weeks

The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.