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!!

12 Days Left and Counting..... (!!!)

Yep, that is LESS THEN TWO WEEKS!!!! Whhhhheeeeeeeeee! I honestly can't believe it. I am sorry it has been so long since my last update. This past month has been like a revisit of the first trimester- I am super-duper tired, no desire to cook, heartburn is in full swing and nausea keeps dropping by. Not fun, and just making me not in the mood to write much. Plus I am trying to do as much as I can with Little Man before he is no longer the absolute ruler of the house. He is in for some BIG changes! You all understand, right?

But honestly, my "aches and pains" are really not that bad. I feel good over all, just mainly getting super anxious. I go from being super giddy and excited about the thought and process of going into labor naturally, and meeting our Owen for the first time. And then my fears and nerves get ahold of me and I get weepy and think of all the "ouchies" and other not-so-nice parts of the delivery process. But God blessed me with the perfect husband. He has such a way of calming my fears, boosting me up, and reminding me that I can do this- WE can do this. I am so thankful for my wonderfully amazing Scottie. He always keeps me strong and focused... I could actually cry if I think about it too much. My cup is truly overflowing.


OK.... so enough mushy stuff :) Here is where we are standing right now (as of my last few appointments) As you remember I have been measuring 2-2 1/2 weeks ahead with my Fundal Height for a while now. Because of that, Dr. O'Neill was a bit concerned that we either had a really big baby or maybe there was too much amniotic fluid. So she sent my for another ultrasound just to check things out. I had a feeling that everything is just fine (I carried Jackson 2 weeks larger too the entire pregnancy) I am just small in the torso so the babies have no where else to go but OUT. But I am not going to argue over a chance to glimpse at our Owen again before he makes his big entrance! Wow, it is amazing how scrunched up he is and still able to live inside my tummy! At our last ultrasound we could see each part of him, clearly and distinctly. Now it was even hard to decifer a profile! All we saw was a big baby! But not too big, thank goodness. My suspicions were right. If the ultrasound tech was correct (these are not always 100% accurate) , Owen is weighing in at 6 lbs 10 oz- right where he should be at the 50 percentile. From that point on though, we can count on him gaining roughly a half an ounce a day until delivery. This was 2 weeks ago. I am guessing he will be about 7.5 lbs once he is born, but we shall see!

My fundal height also seems to be slowing down and catching up with itself now that Owen is dropping lower and lower. Last week I measured in at 38 weeks and I was 37.5. So there was really no need for any concern (just as I suspected- a mother always "knows", doesn't she?) Other then that everything is exactly as it should be. Now we just wait. And wait. And wait. I think this is the hardest part of all.

Someone needs to teach this kid a bit of patience already!

33 weeks, overlooking the falls at Grand Pacific Junction, Olmsted Falls 

As I mentioned in my last post, sunday night I experienced those regular, timable contractions- ouchy, annoying and a bit troublesome. But luckily after that hour they subsided. I've been feeling good since so I figured I must have just overdone it or something.

Well last night I was admitted into Labor and Delivery because yet again I was having regular contractions, cramping and back pain. I am only 33 weeks so this is way too early for this little guy to come yet!! They hooked me up for a non-stress test on the baby, and thankfully he was doing just fine- nice strong heartbeat and moving like wild. I am dilated 1cm, but they said that isn't uncommon for women who have had children before. I was continuing to have regular, strong contractions so they gave me a shot to stop them and it looks like I didn't move into the Preterm Labor category since I didn't dilate any farther after 7 hours of contractions. I was finally discharged 3 1/2 hours later and sent home at midnight.

We'll see what my OB says this morning, but so far I am to take it easy, and just keep an eye on things. Hopefully this is all just a little "fluke" and it won't happen again. So if you could please pray for this little guy to hold on at least 4 more weeks so he can get nice and fat that would be wonderful. And also that there isn't bedrest in my future. How on earth does one do that with a 3 1/2 year old?!!

***Update
Waking this morning the contractions havn't started back up, and I feel my same old self.  Such a relief!  My appointment went just fine this morning.  Owen had a nice, strong heartbeat at 165.  I am still measuring ahead on my fundal height- 34 1/2 (should be 33).  Dr. O'Neill told me she will probably have me get an ultrasound in a few weeks just to make sure he isn't a huge baby.  Other then that she sent me away with a good bill of health.  I need to keep an eye on things of course and call her the moment anything happens again (many prayers they wont!) But I can resume life as I know it.  Definitely excellent news.  

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!

Ugh, Sleepless Nights Already?

Last night was a rough one.  I get so, so sleepy in the evenings these days. Come 8:30 and I can hardly keep my eyes open any longer.  Well, last night was an exception. Sure I was tired, at least my body was.  But my head I couldn't turn off.  I wasn't contemplating anything exciting, just couldn't settle myself down enough to fall asleep.  So what does one do in times like these... watch America's Next Top Model and who knows how many Law & Order: SVU's I watched back to back.  They had a marathon and it was easier then flipping the station to find something else.  Blah.

Owen has shifted lower in my belly and boy, can I feel it!  It is uncomfortable to sit at a 90 degree angle for more then a few minutes without feeling like I am breaking him in-half inside of me.  Finally 1:00 rolled around and I just figured I needed to get to sleep considering Jackson will be up soon enough.  I could at least try and let sleep take me.  Well it didn't.  Between that enormous full Harvest Moon shining directly on my pillow, my bed feeling like it was made of plywood, and Owen putting tons of pressure on my belly sleep didn't come until after 2:30. And then it was a constant toss-and-turn-and-look-at-the-clock night.  I probably only got like an hour here, a half hour there, etc.

My sweet friend Kelly reminded me that it is my body's way of preparing me for sleepless nights once Owen comes, and how worth it it will be.  She is so true, and I feel bad being a whiner.  But it sure isn't fun while you are in the midst of it!

31 Week Doctor's Appointment

Last Tuesday my mom and Jackson went along with me to my doctor's appointment.  I wanted my mom to be able to share in hearing Owen's heartbeat.  It was so neat seeing my mom's face when the nurse put the doppler on my tummy.  That is one of the coolest, most special ways of connecting to an unborn baby.  I never tire of hearing it!

The appointment went wonderful.  Owen's heartbeat was loud and strong at 145.  I am still measuring one week ahead on my fundal height. But Dr. O'Neill was fine with that.  Looks like that is just how we roll over here.  And to be honest, if I end up delivering one week ahead of schedule I will be perfectly fine with that!

We are now headed to the finish line.  I go back for my next appointment in two weeks!  Two weeks after that, I go for one more appointment and then I begin going in once a week!!!  How has this moved so fast? I can hardly believe it.  But goodness am I ready.  Not that this pregnancy has been bad or anything.  I still love being pregnant.  (Sciatica and everything...) But I am ready to move into the next stage of our life.  I am excited about becoming a family of four.  I look forward to nursing again, to that wonderful new-baby smell in our house.  I am excited about watching Jackson grow into brotherhood, and see him mature as a little person.  Sure there will be some difficult times ahead.  But my support system is stronger then ever.   And I can do this.  We can do it.

Life is awesome and I can't wait to add even more beauty into it.

Sciatica?! Seriously?!

Monday I was awoken to complete nausea and a "growing pain" type cramping in my right leg.  I took some Mylanta and 2 tylenol and went back to bed.  Two hours later I woke up, no more nausea but instead I had a terrible ache in my back that radiated under my belly, down my leg all the way to my foot.  All concentrated on the right side of my body only.  It was so strange and incredibly uncomfortable. I laid still and felt for Owen, and thankfully he began kicking and moving around right away.  I had the reassurance that everything was OK with him and it was a huge relief.  OK, so that means that whatever was going on was just me, and not anything to worry about with Owen.  I was at the beach the day before and knew that I overdid it a bit in the hot sun, so my first thought was that I had to be dehydrated.  I started drinking water like it was my job, but two hours later I wasn't feeling any better.  Worse actually.  The pain was getting so intense I couldn't find a comfortable position; it hurt to sit, to stand to lay down.  I was a mess.  I called my doctor but alas they were closed for lunch.  Of course.  Mom to the rescue.  What would we do without Mom's, seriously?!

I called mine up and she immediately came over and picked me and Jackson up.  She told me she was putting me in "Time Out", I wasn't allowed to do anything.  Bed-rest for this little Momma.  I finally got ahold of my doctor's office and spoke with my nurse. She said it sounded like I had Sciatica. To take it easy, lay down and get some rest.  She would talk to Dr. O'Neill and get back with me.  And rest I did.  My mom gave me a heating pad, Jackson and I both went down for a nap and didn't wake up until a few hours later.

My nurse finally called me back after talking to Dr. O'Neill and sure enough she said I have Sciatic Nerve Pain.  The way that Owen is laying, plus the weight of my uterus is putting pressure onto my sciatic nerve and causing me all this pain.  On the positive side Owen is totally fine.  I don't need to worry about him.  But on the downside, I have to grin and bare it.  There is nothing really I can do to make it all go away.  I can just do things to help ease the pain and make myself more comfortable.  The nurse told me I was to take my tylenol, lay on my side opposite of the one that was in pain and refrain from any prolonged standing or lifting. Blah.

I went to bed pretty early last night and woke up feeling pretty good today.  But by afternoon I was aching yet again.  Man this sucks.  I love being pregnant and I just hope that this doesn't linger and ruin the rest of this pregnancy for me.  All I can do is pray that Owen finds a new favorite position and gets off of my nerve!

This kid is getting on my nerves already and he isn't even born yet.  That was just me trying to be funny, by the way... I know, I know.  I am completely horrible at jokes....


So anyways, prayers our way will be greatly appreciated!  I really don't want this to linger.....

Wedding Bells and Baby Bumps

This past weekend we attended a wedding of one of Scott's coworker's, Karla.  They had their ceremony at The Lodge in Geneva on the Lake.  I had never been there before, but WOW, I can totally understand why they chose this as their location- it is gorgeous!

I am looking forward to the spring when we can plan a weekend up here to go winery hopping and stay in this stunning hotel.

Karla and her dad

Karla being given away by her father

We all had to take advantage of being dressed up in such a beautiful location and get our own pictures taken!  This is my most favorite picture of the day.  I am definitely going to frame this one.  

We are 29 weeks pregnant today!

Our dear friends Jess and Curtis were also at the wedding.  Jess was excited to be in her 2nd trimester today!  She is wonderfully tall and this is her first baby so her baby bump is still cute and tiny- but soon enough.... watch out!! Congrats, Jess!  You looked amazing!

There were a bunch of Nestle people there, so of course they had to have a photo opp. too!  

Unfortunately I stopped taking pictures after Geneva.  I guess I just felt like enjoying my time and not hiding behind a camera.  Ooooooorrr us mommies couldn't stop doing baby talk.  You see, there were  four couples at our table, and every single one of us ladies were pregnant!  Nicki is due any day now, I am due in November, Leanne is due in December and Jess is due in March!  Lots of bellies and lots of baby talk!!  It made it lots of fun to compare stories and share in each other's excitement.  I just wish I would have gotten a picture of all of us ladies in our wonderful round glory.  Oh well, sometimes you need to just have fun and leave the cameras in the car.  

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).

27 Week Doctor Appointment

Daddy and Jackson on top of the "Dinosaur Egg" in our neighborhood.  I love the way they are looking and laughing with each other- so sweet!  Goodness I love these two men!  

This morning Jackson and I headed out to my 27 week Doctor's visit.  Everything went really well.  The nurse found Owen's heartbeat right away, it was super strong, loud, and steady at 154.  Jackson loves hearing this (as do I!) Dr. O'Neill is now measuring my tummy- from right at the top of the bump to right below, near my pelvic bone.  This is called the "Fundal Height", and it is done to insure that the baby is growing as it should; am I going to have big baby, were we off on his due date, could he be breech, etc.  27 Weeks should equal 27 cm.  Last month I was measuring 2 weeks ahead and today I am measuring 1 week ahead.  Not a big difference, but something to keep an eye on.  I measured two weeks ahead with Jackson almost the entire pregnancy until the last month and then he slowed done and everything caught up with itself.  If we are still measuring ahead I might get another ultrasound just as a precautionary. But I don't mind!  Any excuse to see Littlest Man is OK with me!  Also, I passed my Sugar Test so I have no need to worry about Gestational Diabetes.  That is great news!

And guess what... in three days I will be in my Third Trimester!!  Holy moly!  Where did the time go?  I feel like I was pregnant with Jackson for an eternity- it had have been at least 3 years.  But this one, it is flying right by me!  But I can definitely feel like the end is nearing.  Owen is kicking like a full blown soccer player.  I can see my belly move with each kick and now I can start to tell if it is a foot or a hand (or both at the same time!) that is giving me a shake.  I can feel if he turns over or flips around- let me tell you, this is a strange sensation!  I forgot what this felt like with Jackson.

Also, the other night I had my first experience with Braxton Hicks, which is the body's way of preparing me for labor.  They are called "fake contractions" and are totally normal beginning at this point i the pregnancy.  But they sure don't feel fake, that's for sure!  They only lasted about a half an hour, but it was a surprising, new feeling for me.  The other weird, and totally NOT fun thing I have been getting lately (and in the middle of the night of all times!) are Charlie Horses!  Last night I had a really bad one that woke me from a sound sleep yelling out and instant tears.  I brought them up to Dr. O'Neill, and she said these are also normal in pregnancy.  Just means I need to eat more bananas!  It is my bodies way of telling me I am low in potassium.  Well, at least I learned something that can help, because I know that neither me nor Scott are enjoying being awoken to tears and pain!

But honestly aside from these little aches and pains here and there I have been feeling GREAT!  I loved being pregnant with Jackson and now that the nausea is gone, I am loving being pregnant this time too.  I have noticed that the "nesting" in me is starting to surface.  Yesterday afternoon I completely rearranged my kitchen countertops to make for more work surface and get rid of excess clutter.  As I was doing it I knew it was the "nesting" starting to show its face.  But oh well- they look fantastic!  Haha.  This weekend Scott is taking a few days off of work so we can get all of our bedrooms moved, painted and redecorated.  It is going to be a lot of work, but they are going to look great-  I am so excited!  I am hoping this weekend will help with my nesting cravings!  Well off to a busy, fun-filled weekend and expect pictures to follow soon.

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.

Looks Like I Have a Confession to Make....

I seriously thought I wasn't having any real cravings this pregnancy.  Nothing seemed to jump out at me as "I HAVE to have that! And- NOW!"  When I was pregnant with Jackson, I could have eaten red meat and potatoes at every meal (I didn't- but I could have!).  But after grocery shopping it has become clear.  I have an addiction to carbohydrates. Yesterday I came home with bread, bagels, croissants, pasta, cereal, hamburger buns, bananas and eggs.  I also baked chocolate chip cookies on Sunday night and baked Oatmeal Blueberry Applesauce Muffins yesterday afternoon.  In my defense, I am not the only one eating it all.  But I guess I didn't really need to buy bagels and croissants in the same shopping trip.  Actually after reading my shopping list I could also say I have an addiction to breakfast food... hmmm.  Well at least the sight and thought of food doesn't make my stomach do cartwheels and make me feel like I am floating on a rocking boat.  It was bound to catch up with me sooner then later!

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.

Was that the baby or just a spasm?

Yesterday after eating lunch I was sitting quietly on the couch relaxing.  All of a sudden I felt a hard kick on the inside.  "Hello Baby!"  I instinctively placed my hand in that spot and there it went again, only this time I even felt it on the outside! Wow!  I didn't expect to feel it this soon, but maybe!

So either baby is kicking harder these days, or I am having belly muscle spasms.  Hmmmm......

Kelly's Baby Shower

Me, Andrea and Kelly

Over the weekend I attended my friend Kelly's baby shower.  In college me, Andrea and Kelly were inseparable, and I am so grateful that we have remained close friends after all these years.  It was a beautiful shower, with delicious food, wonderful company and best of all I got to spend lots of quality time with my girls!  Oh how I have missed them!

Kelly and I thought we would be silly and squish little Andrea with our big bellies. lol

Us ladies giving the baby some loving!

There were four of us pregnant women here!  Brittany (farthest to the left) actually went into labor that night and had a baby girl!  Guess all that baby excitement got her little one moving!  

Our pregnant congo line. hahaha

Brittany: 39 weeks, Kelly: 32 weeks, Heather: about 23 weeks, and Me: 18 weeks

Andrea was trying very hard to feel Kelly's baby kick throughout the day. Baby didn't want to perform on command for a while there, but she finally gave in and showed off some acrobatics.   

It is so special to share pregnancy with a close girlfriend.  Now if I could just get Kelly and her husband to move closer (they currently live in Arlington, VA), it would be perfect! 

Instead of driving straight back to Columbus, Andrea stayed the night.  I think our Jackson fell in love.  He thought she was just the coolest.

Kelly, thank you so much for inviting me to celebrate with you on your special day!  I am so proud of you honey and you make the most beautiful pregnant woman ever!  I can't wait to meet your little princess- let the countdown begin!

Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tales......

That's what little boys are made of!  Yep, that's right!  We are having another boy!!!  Jackson is going to have a baby brother!  How cool is that?!  

Our appointment today went just amazing.  Our Ultrasound Tech was wonderful and talked us through the whole thing, telling us what all the different parts of baby were.  And goodness was he active!  He was wiggling and moving all over the place.  And if we wouldn't have wanted to know if he was a boy or a girl we would have found out anyways- this little guy was so proud to show his stuff!  Scott and I noticed it right away in the first minute or so!!

The tech said that baby boy is perfectly healthy and active. His heart-rate was 158, and has all his fingers and toes :)  Oh and our due date was moved up slightly. It shows that I am now due November 13th (instead of the 16th) so we will meet him somewhere in there!

This was such a special morning- I could have watched the little guy forever. *sigh*

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).