28 Weeks - Welcome to the 3rd Trimester

Last week I went back for the 3 hour diabetes test. Why can't I just eat a stack of hotcakes drowned in syrup I was wondering as I downed the bright orange liquid trying hard to keep it from coming back up. I made a mental note - orange is the worst. About an hour into the test I was quite certain I was going to puke and the baby was going to claw his way out ala Alien. All that sugar on a fasting body made him turn summersalts! When it was over I was famished. I walked directly into the pharmacy for a snack. Something so I would be able to drive into work. I had to go right to meetings and lunch seemed lightyears away. The kind old pharmacist pointed out all the candy. I laughed and said since I was just tested for diabetes - I'd pass on the snicker bar - it didn't even look appealing. Almonds would save me.

But in the end....the 3 hours of time and my bruise were worth it.

I did pass the test!

It's now week 28 and the third trimster has begun! Another doctor appointment. I will go every 2 weeks from here to week 36. It was a non-eventful visit which generally are the good kind. Baby's heart is thumping along at about 155. We're both doing well. My blood pressure remains low (yay!) my weight is high (nay!) and overall I am feeling pretty good. There is less room now for my stomach and lungs so I find myself with heartburn and out of breath much more easily when walking. I can still see my toes - but just barely and I find putting on socks to be an athletic challenge now! It might be time for a pair of fleeced slip-ons :)

What's up with Mook?

He is probably weighing in around 2.5 pounds and measures 15-16 inches from head to toe.

Lance Armstrong nothing - Mookie only has about 2 to 3 percent body fat and his or her muscle tone is increasing.

Other development:
Brain tissue continues to grow and the folds and grooves of your baby's brain continue to develop and expand
The baby begins to dream
The eyes open and close
Eyebrows and eyelashes are present

26 weeks - The Glucose Test

I had a doctor appointment on Monday. I am 26 weeks so I had to take the 1 hour glucose test. I failed. Yikes! This means I have to have the 3 hour diabetes test and drink more of that disgusting syrup substance which makes the baby get wild sugar rush. I also found out I am anemic (low iron). What is going on? I am trying extra hard, taking a bunch of supplements - I don't even crave sweets like some women.

I felt an early sense of mommy failure as if I can't give the right things to our growing boy! Many gave me a pep talk and reminded me that actually many women fail the 1 hour test who go on to pass the full 3 hour test. My mom reminded me that in terms of feeling mommy failure this is nothing to the road ahead so don't go here now, there will be a day when the stakes are much higher. Thanks mom!!!! :) If it is diabetes it can be controlled and monitored to make sure we are both in good health for the 3rd trimester. As for the iron - more supplements - an iron supplement and vitamin C one to wash it down. Also I have to eat more iron rich sources so I am trying hard to increase my red meat intake. It's not easy. Not long ago, I used to be a vegetarian. After my trip around the world I ate meat selectively which meant I ate red meat less than occasionally. For me, even having meat in my diet seemed like a lot - enough at least.

Bring on the buffalo burger....

25 weeks

Well here we are at 25 weeks (approximately 6 1/2 months). I am now the incredible expanding woman! In the last month my belly has clearly taken on a new shape and form!!! I also seem to be experiencing growth all over...thighs, butt, upper arms. But that is a minor muiscance for me as I think about the baby growing. I can feel him wiggling around inside me now which is one of the coolest feelings in the world. He kicks, rolls, stretches, and I am sure he is dancing on my bladder from time to time. He is big enough and strong enough to feel through my belly now and Ben loves to feel him as well. From time to time we can see him poke the skin on my stomach. My cravings lately have been spaghetti and garlic bread or sometimes just garlic bread is good enough with tomato sauce. For the ex-vegetarian - a cheeseburger never tasted so good. Go figure! Spiced breads are also yummy like pumpkin and raisin.

All about the baby: At this point he weighs in at about 1.5 lbs and is approximately 13 1/2 inches long head to heel. He's still very thin but packing on fat now in a big way. He can now feel the sensation of touch which means he is actively exploring the world around him. The babe's nostrils open up which allows him to practice "breathing" amniotic fluid through his mouth and nose while the blood vessels in his lungs continue to help develop his lungs. His tastebuds are being fine-tuned; Ben says Mook is an ice cream man. His hands are fully developed by now and has his own fingerprint!

22 Weeks

Everyone asks us... is it cool being pregnant at the same time as your sister? YES IT IS! Mandi is due about 9-10 weeks before me in mid-February. She doesn't know yet if it's a boy or girl. Everyone thinks it is a boy, but I say girl. These are some fun belly shots we took in front of the tree. I am nearly 22 weeks while my sister is nearly 32 weeks...

20 Weeks

Here I am at 20 weeks. We had "the big" ultrasound on November 25, 2008. The biggest news - the one that made me cry was that everything looked ok. 10 fingers, 10 toes, pumping heart at about 144 bpm. We found out it is a boy!!!

As you can see I'm growing! :) My belly all of a sudden really popped out and I am getting rounder. A trip to the store for some maternity wear was finally in order.

All about Baby Boatman:

He 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. 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).

16 Weeks

Here I am at 16 weeks!

This week I told work I was pregnant. I was nervous, but it went very well. No one had suspected which suprised me since I feel so very swollen in front!

Baby Boatman:

Right now, he or she is about the size of an avocado 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. The baby's legs are much more developed, the head is more erect than it has been, and the eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His or her ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of the scalp has begun, though locks aren't recognizable yet. The baby even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, the heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

11 1/2 Weeks - Look at my Baby Legs!

I am about 11.5 weeks along and time already for another ultrasound!

This week's ultrasound was a part of the elective screening which includes specific measurements (nuchal reading) and blood tests. But for me it wasn't about the tests - it was about another chance to see little wiggles in action!!!

The very cool thing was that because the tech was busy measuring stuff I got to just stare at the baby for a LONG TIME. Probably close to 10 minutes. Which is so amazing. Hard to even really describe in words. I also got to watch him or her wake up right before my eyes. It was incredible. When we started the ultrasound he or she was sleeping. But then after a few minutes the head was moving and then the arms and legs and then wriggling about!

The baby looks very much like a baby the proportions have changed considerably in the last 2 weeks. The arms and legs were MUCH longer. And noticeable toes and fingers. In fact, if you look hard at the ultrasound pics - especially the ones of the baby's legs (I LOVE THIS ONE!!!) you will see bone just starting to form around the shins, thighs and sacrum - pelvis. The facial features are much more defined. The tech showed me a cross section of the hemispheres of the brain forming. It was all just really really awesome.

According to the weekly update:By pregnancy week 11 your baby is big enough to hold in the palm of your hand. Between 1.75 and 2.4 inches long your little bean weighs almost .3 of an ounce, and is probably about the size of a small plum. By pregnancy 11 weeks you can still see right through your baby's skin. In fact, your baby's skin will remain paper thin throughout much of your pregnancy, until you come closer to term. If you were to look directly at your baby during pregnancy week 11 you could see her blood vessels through the skin. By this point in time your little one should be able to open and close her fists, and is starting to form little buds that will one day pop out as teeth! By pregnancy 11 weeks your baby's fingers and toes have lost their amphibious like resemblance, now separated instead of webbed. Your little one is taking advantage of the huge space she is floating in by pregnancy 11 weeks, by kicking and squirming about. In the next three weeks your baby will go through a tremendous growth spurt, almost doubling in size. At no other time in your baby's life will she undergo as many rapid changes as are occurring during this stage of your pregnancy.