Week 25

Head to heels, our baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Growing and Growing

I took this first picture in the middle of the last week. Look at how much I grew from then until today...

Week 25 picture... I am starting to buy my new warmer weather clothes in a size larger. I can't believe I am this big. I know I say that every week, but it is hard to see until you actually take a picture of yourself. 

No-ie

Mark and I have been calling my belly button a no-ie, because it isn't an innie anymore but it is not quite an outtie. Sorry if you think this picture is gross... I debated putting it up, but this is part of being pregnant.

Swelling

This week I started to notice that I am swelling. I notice that if I sit in a particular place for about an hour that my hands and feet start swelling and I can see my pulse in them. So, I just have to be sure to get up and take a walk when my rings start getting tight. I have been trying very hard at drinking lots and lots of fluid. Part of the reason I think I am swelling is because I am hot all the time. This is strange to me because I am used to be extra-sensitive to cold. 

Tums... a life-saver

So I am taking 4-8 Tums a day right now. And, it has changed my life. I haven't been sick and have been able to eat more. Speaking of eating, I am hungry all the time. I feel like I am probably gaining a lot of weight. I guess this is good because just a few weeks ago they were on me to gain weight. 

Watching Charlotte

Charlotte is still very active. I can feel her moving around all the time. It is so fun because I can see her moving around too. I spend time in class when I am bored or just before going to sleep at night watching her move. 

Wrap Around Her Finger

Mark is already wrapped around Charlie's little finger. The other night Mark put his head on my tummy and was talking to Charlotte. She always responds to her daddy's voice. But, this time, almost immediately, she kicked him in the face. He just laughed. Who else can get away with kicking Mark in the face? That's right Charlie is going to be able to get away with so much!

Childbirth Classes

Part of some of the information and to-do list I was given at my last Doctor's appointment, was to sign up for childbirth classes. The classes are held at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, where I will be giving birth. We signed up for Sunday classes because the week-night classes would be hard for Mark and I, since it is in Dallas. The classes are from 1:30-5:00pm on three Sundays, starting on April 19th. It was either this time or a June time slot which didn't end until June 28th. I was afraid that if Charlotte decided to come early we wouldn't have finish the classes in time. We are looking forward to taking this next step, because we know it means she will be here soon!

Our Baby Girl's Heartbeat

Here is the recording of our baby girl's heartbeat. The first few seconds are a little hard to hear, but then you can hear a nice strong heartbeat. 

Week 24

Our baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound (well, probably closer to 1 1/2 lbs for our baby). Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Doctor's Appt

I just got back from a doctor's appointment. The doctor said everything looks great. I have gained 5 lbs in the last month, which isn't bad because I have now only gained 5 total, but since I lot about 15, I have really gained 20 or so in the last few months (gross). Since Mark is still in New York, I recorded the doctor listening to Charlotte's heartbeat through the doppler. I tried to send it to Mark. If we can I will see if we can post it on here so you can all her our beautiful baby girl's heartbeat. 

At the appointment today I was given so much information. In the next 3 weeks I have to go do the blood glucose tolerance test, which means I have to drink some nasty stuff and then wait an hour to have my blood work drawn. I will also have my other blood work drawn and get my thyroid checked. Then they gave me this huge bag full of stuff. I have my registration papers for the hospital that need to be filled at the hospital sometime next month. Also, all kinds of other information. 

Cord Blood Banking

I don't know a lot about cord blood banking but have been trying to research some on it. I received a bunch of information today about it at the doctor's office. From what I understand they bank the baby's cord blood and then if any family member (siblings, me, Mark...) or her get sick with blood cancer or something they can use the blood to help cure them. It sounds like a good thing especially with my history of blood cancer. And, if something were to happen to our baby I would love for her to have that option to be cured. But, I don't know how realistic all the information and statistics are that the companies provide parents with. And, it is really expensive (about $1500-$2000). So, I guess this is a decision we will have to make in the coming months. If anyone knows anything about this and can help provide some information, please share with us! 

Medication

At the doctor's appointment today the doctor told me to start taking Tums regularly. I have been suffering from heartburn for a few weeks now, and it has just gotten to the point when I am actually getting sick because it is so bad. I have been avoiding all acidic fruits and vegetables and spicy foods. But, even if I eat some crackers it seems like it will flare up. I have been trying not to take anything because I didn't know what I could take, but I would break down and have a Maalox every now and then. The doctor told me today to start taking Tums regularly, and if that doesn't work he will give me a prescription. Also, he told me I could take some Sudafed because I have been congested since I got back from NYC. Hopefully I will start feeling better soon. 

Charlotte's First Plane Rides

I flew to New York City this past week and back via Houston. So I took four different planes. And, three of them I got ill. I told Mark that Charlotte either loves flying or hates it because pretty much the entire flight she will move around and become very active. There was a lot of turbulence, and I feel like she could maybe feel the turning and bumping of the plane. But, I will say that I am not sure if I will fly again when I am pregnant again. I can't travel in a few weeks with this pregnancy but in future ones, I think I will think twice about the plane. 

Week 23

Charlottes has developed a sense of movement by now, and she can feel me dance, or move. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), we are able to see her squirm underneath my clothes. Every now and then, I will look at my belly and see her moving. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that our baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises are becoming more familiar now — such as our dogs barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — and probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Nesting

Mark took this picture. He claims that I have been nesting. I just like to say I like a clean house. I guess you can decide. 

Nursery

Mark's parents bought Charlotte her dresser/changer. They brought it over this past week and Mark and his dad put it together. Mark took this before picture. 

Here is the after picture. I love this dresser. It matches the crib, which converts to a toddler bed and full size headboard and footboard. And, this dresser can serve as a changing table and then a dresser for later when Charlotte no longer needs a changer. 

Ouch!

This week I woke up screaming in the middle of the night. Mark was a bit confused and admist his grogginess he managed to check the clock and get up and turn on the fan, but somehow didn't manage to wiggle my toes. I couldn't reach my foot because it was flexed straight out. So, I put it over on Mark and continually shouted at him to wiggle my toes or move my foot. After what seemed like forever but was really about 3-5 minutes, the Charlie-Horse left. My calf in my right leg was so sore I could barely walk for 4-5 days. I have been eating lots of bananas since then out of fear of Charlie-Horse return. Also, several people have told me that I should jump up and stand on my leg and that it will make it go away, so next time maybe I won't have to wake Mark up.  

Responding

Charlie is becoming more and more responsive. She responds to her daddy's hands on my belly and when he talks to her. The other day Belle (one of our dogs) jump up on my stomach and Charlie punched or kicked her paw. It is really awesome because every-time I go to pray (either out-loud, with others, or silently) or go into church she gets really active.

Growing

I have been getting more and more sore as a grow. My legs, feet, and back are sore from standing for long periods of time. And, my feet are starting to swell a little after a long day. I have been pretty faithful with putting belly butter on every night, but I still feel sometimes like my skin on my stomach is literally stretching. The skins gets really tight sometimes (especially after eating). I can't believe how big I am getting, I look at the pictures with disbelief. 

Charlotte's Loot

Nursery

We have been collecting things for the nursery over the last few months. Here are some of what we have so far. (Also, we want to thank Charlotte's Grandma and Grandpa Moore for the Dresser and Glider and Grandma and Grandpa Chandler for the crib and mattress.)

This is the color scheme we are going to use. I am actually making the bedding because I fell in love with a set that was 1) way too expensive (like $600), and 2) being discontinued. I found some really nice fabric from babybedding.com. I have made the quilts and curtains in our house right now, so I don't think this will be too hard of a task. Plus, I can make it exactly how I want it! The colors are antique white, celery/sage green, and pink. 

This is a shelf I picked up from the Glenna Jean collection, which is the brand of baby bedding I love. I found this at babiesrus.com. I also ordered the chandelier from this collection, but it hasn't arrived yet. So, we will have to wait to post pictures of that. 

I picked this up from Baby Gap. I had been looking for a pink piggy bank for Charlotte, and when I saw this it was perfect!

Gear

Mark and I both have picked out our diaper bags. Mark received his "Diaper Dude" bag from Lee and Laura for Christmas. This bag is stylish and guyish with its messenger bag style. It comes with a changing pad and a checklist on the top flap which lists everything Mark shouldn't forget, including "baby."

I found this bag online and then saw it on sale at Bay Gap. I really wanted to invest in a good diaper bag that I liked a lot. I was completely opposed to carrying around a diaper bag with cartoon characters on it. I think this one is both feminine and adult looking. It is Babymel which is a division of StorkSak. 

Charlotte received a car-seat and stroller frame from her Grandma and Grandpa Moore for Christmas. This car-seat is BabyTrend brand. It is really neat because it fits into the BabyTrend jogging stroller and it fits on the stroller frame by BabyTrend. I love that this stroller is so lightweight and folds up very compactly! 

Dress to Impress

Charlottes has quite a few clothes already. This is just a sample of them. This adorable long-sleeve onesie and hat was given to Charlotte by Brittany and Luke Beazley.

This is Charlotte's drawer of onesies and little pants (that have ruffles on the butt). I am sure that she is going to be getting much use out of these everyday clothes. Some of these were Christmas gifts to Charlotte from Beth's Aunt, Uncle, and Grandma in Oklahoma. 

These adorable outfits are from Old Navy and compliments of Beth's mom. Charlotte is going to look so cute in her pink!

 

This very adorable dress was a splurge by me. I was passing by Gymboree at the mall and it was on sale. I couldn't pass it up. Charlotte can wear it to church, right.

This outfit is also from Gymboree. It was a gift to Charlotte from one of Beth's mom's co-workers and her family. It was very nice of them to give this gift to our baby girl, considering we do not even know them. And, they have also passed on all their baby books. 

Other Gifts

Here are some other gifts that Charlotte has received. Charlotte received her first valentines day bear from Beth's mom.

Cheyenne and Moises got Charlotte her Baby Book. I am very excited about being able to capture all of her memories.

Thank You to everyone who has been so thoughtful! These are just a few of Charlotte's things, I will have to post some more at another time! We are so excited for our little girl to be here!

Week 22

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

Sonogram

We had another sonogram this week. We were able to see our little baby girl jumping all over the place. However, we didn't receive any pictures of the sonogram. We were able to see her kidneys, spleen, spine, legs and arm bones, hands, cerebellum of the brian, bladder, stomach, and the coolest: all four chambers of her little heart. We could actually see the blood being pumped through the heart and valves. Our baby was kicking and moving the whole time, and even once we watched her pull her little arm back and punch me. 

Growing Baby

Our baby weighed 1 lb and 1 oz that day. This is great! She weighed in on the higher end of the range, but is not double what she should have been like last time. This means we don't have to worry so much about gestational diabetes. Other measurements: her head weighed in at 23 weeks, and then her body and stomach weighed in at 21 weeks and 4 days.  

We Graduated

Also, we graduated out of high-risk for the first time in this pregnancy. The placenta moved upward to a safe place. So for now we are in the clear. We are very excited, but don't know what we will do when we won't get sonograms every few weeks. 

Somebody get me some food!

Ha. I have been so hungry lately! I feel like I eat all the time. The thing is that I crave healthy food mostly. Except for fried chicken every now and then, which is strange because I can't really eat meat usually. I eat a lot of apples, pears, bananas (yes, I am allergic, but for some reason I haven't been reacting to them--part of the magic pregnancy powers), tomatoes, peaches...

She's Listening

Charlie Has been responding to noises lately. The other day I went to my parents and Toy was barking (for those of you who don't know, he has a very high pitched bark,a s most yorkies do). And, Charlotte started kicking. Then, I went to my brother's and his dog was whining and squeaking his toy because he was happy to see us. And, once again, Charlie started getting excited. I also think she responds to her daddy's voice. When he comes close and starts talking to me, she starts kicking. 

Mid-Terms

I am mid-terming right now. I will post an update soon, I've got lots to share!