BJ at Week 25

The week of July 13th, 2009

Today: 25 weeks, 5 days

Head to heels, BJ 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 we could see it, we'd now be able to discern its color and texture (babycenter.com). I hope she's not bald like her dad LOL! Chip actually had tons of hair when he was a baby, I am the one who didn't. So, I wonder what her hair will be like. I wonder what everything will be like with her.

What's going on with me: I took the week to relax on after work activities since last week was jammed packed with church events. I am still feeling great! I can definitely see my belly getting bigger and bigger and the shape changes as BJ changes positions. It's amazing to see. No more worries over weight. I think I am finally over it. I am doing what I am supposed to do growing and nourishing my baby. I am eating right and I am walking at least 30 minutes regularly (when it doesn't rain). So, the weight I am gaining is weight I must need to gain! That's they way I see it! I am starting my yoga and aqua classes again this week. I took a break about a month ago, but now I am ready to get back on track in preparation for her arrival.

Baby names: People keep asking us what we are naming BJ, and truthfully we haven't really settled on a full name. We know what we want her middle name to be, but the first name is still undecided. Choosing a name is an important decision fot both of us and we are trying to make it fun too. We've considered family history, locations we want to travel... It's just so permanent, and we want her to be happy and proud about her name. We hadn't really been in a hurry, but now we feel the pressure so, with prayer we will decide on a name (hopefully soon).

In other news: I celebrated my 29th birthday this week. It was such a wonderful week. Chip took me out for lunch on my birthday which was Thursday (the 16th), Friday we had movie night at home, Saturday we went to a birthday party for my play-niece Baylee! She turned 1 on the 18th! I pretty much thought that would be the extent of our weekend, but Chip decided that we should go look at furniture for the baby at a store on the Plaza before they closed at 5. It was 4:20 and we were on our way. I figured we better do it now, while we have the time. On the way, he mentioned that he had forgotten that his family was planning a surprise B-Day party for one of his cousins at PF Changs. I was dissapointed that we weren't going to get a chance to see the baby furniture since now it was 4:40 and the store was goin gto close soon, but I figured we better at least stop at PF Chang's and say hi to everyone. Wouldn't you know it, it was a surprise party for me!!! It took me a while to figure it out (Prego brain I guess), but I was completely caught off guard. It was a wonderful surprise and thanks to everyone who was there to celebrate with me. It was a great time!!

After that, we went to the Fred Hammond Concert which was awesome! BJ was responding to all the music. It's really amazing that she starts moving when she hears music playing (I guess she gets that from me)! Chip was wonderful this week. I can't believe he did all this for me. I am so grateful for him and I can't wait to witness the kind of attention he will show his daughter.

Since my belly is growing each week now (it seems). I will be sure to take a pic and post it. Stay tuned.

BJ at Week 24

The week of July 6th, 2009

Today: 24 weeks, 6 days

BJ is growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. 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 her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

What am I thinking: Where did my toes go!!! No, seriously where did they go??

How I am doing: The reality of having a baby is actually starting to settle in. I'm starting to have concerns about how to take care of her and what it will be like to have a baby in the house all the time, someone who is depending on me for survival. It can be a bit over whelming at times. Chip doesn't seem to be bothered. He's so laid back about everything. It annoys me sometimes, because I think he should be scared like me, but I guess one of us has to be strong and he has definately been my rock. I appreciate him for that.

In the past few weeks, the top of my uterus has risen above my belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball, and my belly certainly is as big as a soccer ball, if not bigger! We had a doctor's appointment on Monday, but my doc wasn't there so we met with her assistant. The baby's heart rate was in the high 150s, which is pretty normal for her now. Every time I check she is between 150 and 155. I have to take my glucose screening test at my next appointment which won't be until I'm 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition. Untreated diabetes increases risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes the baby to grow too large, especially in her upper body. It also raises her odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean I have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that I'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure. We pray all goes well with this test. My mom had complications from gestational diabetes with me, so I am very aware of it and try to watch my sugar intake.

Not much else new is going on this past week. BJ is still as active as ever which is a great sign. Hopefully sometime soon I will be able to post pictures from the baby shower I had in Holly Springs and a new belly pic if Chip doesn't get home too late from the gym! So stay tuned!

BJ at Week 23

The week of June 29th, 2009

Today: 23 weeks, 5 days

How BJs growing:Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, she can feel me dance. Now, she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound about as much as a large mango or the size and shape of a small doll, but then, I already know that I am carrying a little living doll :) Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare her for breathing, and the sounds that her increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them in the outside world for the first time. (babycenter.com)

4th of July weekend has come and gone and it was great! I had soo much fun and am so thankful for the friends and family who came over to celebrate with us. Everyone was pleasant and we had a really good time. We watched the Legacy Park firework show from our deck and we even had our own small firework display with Big Brother Tre and the other kids that were over. It was fun. I haven't actually popped fireworks since I was a kid. We took some pictures, so I will have to post them soon, but for now, it's on to more news about BJ!!

She's been much more active lately, actually having a pattern to her movements. She tends to be most active in the morning around 6am then after breakfast and again around 11:30 to midnight before I go to bed. She is now kicking and pushing harder and harder and I no longer have to feel around on the outside to find out where she is kicking. I can just lay my hand on my belly and feel her kick. She's getting bigger and bigger and I can't wait to have her in my arms soon!!

I have noticed that my ankles and feet swell more easily and more often especially by the end of the day and on the HOT days. Ugggh , I may end up wearing support hose before it's all said and done. My body is also retaining more water these days. So, as instructed, I try to lie on my left side and put my feet up when I can. I have been slacking on the exercise, but I vow to get back to it. It's so easy to get out of the routine and so hard to start back!

This week also marks the beginning of some serious weight gain (hence the need to get back to the exercise routine). BJ's weight in the next four weeks alone should double and I am sure I will feel like my weight is doubling too. BJ's skin is reddish in color now because of the developing blood vessels underneath her skin. Her skin is still very thin. It also hangs loosely from her little body at this point, so she looks very wrinkled. That's because the skin grows faster than the fat develops during fetal growth. But, by the time she's born, she will be pleasantly plump and filled out — from chubby cheeks to chubby toes.

I won't have another ultrasound for a while, so here is a pic of what BJ might look like at this stage in 3D.