40 Weeks!

How our baby's growing:

It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds (a small pumpkin) and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

39 weeks & baby update

How our baby's growing:

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

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As for an update, at our appointment yesterday the doctor measured me and I was 1 cm dilated and 60% effaced. Some progress...but not really much. It was kind of a bummer, but I have begun to realize how God's timing is so much right than our own. I was in the shower this morning just praying about how I was going to just rest in God's timing. After my shower I was blow drying my hair and realized that I had to go to the bathroom....surprise! And when I went to the bathroom I realize that I had started to bleed. It kinda freaked me out but I called Ryan and then called the doctor. The doctor told me that he wanted me to go to the hospital and take a stress test and make sure the baby was alright. I made it to the hospital and after about 45 minutes of being hooked up to a fetal monitor, I was release with a clear bill of health...me and baby. Heart rates were fine and my blood pressure was fine also. So hopefully the next time I have to go to the hospital is to have little baby Pounds. So once again, I was told I could start having true steady contractions tonight...or a week. So, I continue with the waiting game! Ryan's doing an amazing job keeping me sane and keeping me positive and focus on what is really important. I am so blessed to have him! So wait I will until I get to see our precious little baby, toodles, :) jen & pounds

Doctor's Appointment Update

We had a pretty good doctor’s appointment today. I stayed home yesterday because I was having pretty annoying cramps in my abdomen and lower back. I made sure and walked, squatted, and bounced/rocked on my fitness ball & as the day progressed…it wasn’t getting any better. So, at my appointment today, I made sure and told my doctor about it. He decided to measure me today instead of next Wednesday. He said that I am 50% effaced (my cervix is 50% thinned out) and I am about 1 cm dilated. It was good news to hear that things are progressing. The baby hasn’t dropped anymore, but that could happen at any time and pretty quickly. He said that I wasn’t going to have the baby today, but maybe tomorrow…or maybe a week from now. It was pretty exciting to hear. I’m glad Ryan went with me to the appointment and he got to hear everything that is happening.

My blood pressure was high (2nd appointment in a row) but it went down some when I laid down, and the doctor didn’t seem too concerned. He wants to make sure I steer clear of pre-eclampsia. I go back to the doctor next Monday…so only a 5 day break this time. He asked if I was still working and I said I was (when I feel able) but he told me to stop working. He’s pretty sure I’ll go into spontaneous labor…and work isn’t the best place to be. Plus he wants me taking it easy and focusing on baby and me. So, today is my last day at work. It’s crazy how fast time has gone by—even these last few weeks when everyone had told me they’d go by so slow. They haven’t. Ryan and I are just so excited to meet our little blessing!

On a side note, it is Missions week at ABC and there are missionaries from Indonesia in town. Ron called me this week and wanted to know if it would be okay if they came over and prayed for the delivery and me. I of course said “yes!” They came over last night. First of all…they don’t speak English (at least not very well) and they had an interpreter. So even though while they were praying and I didn’t know what they were saying…I just felt this complete peace about everything. They made a good point. Because the fall of man, God allowed there to be pain in childbirth, but that doesn’t mean that God can’t take it away. Their undoubted faith inspired me. It made me realize how my faith lacks so much. All they know me as is Ron & Dorie’s daughter in law…but more importantly than that, they know me as a sister in Christ. They were praying and talking like they knew God was going to do something great. I feel like we as American’s put God in this little box, shove it in our backpacks/purses and wait to use Him when we need Him or when it’s convenient for us. I want to have that faith that God is powerful and mighty. The faith that makes me tremble at His Word and stand in awe at His grace. I was almost brought to tears during the prayer-despite not knowing what they were saying. It’s like I didn’t need to know what they were saying. They know God is great that that He will take care of me. I find myself praying that “if it’s in God’s will…” they pray knowing it is in God’s will. How humbling it was for me.

After women’s bible study last night I was talking to Ryan about the whole situation and what I had experienced with the Indonesians. I wish he could have been there to experience it with me. But I feel like it meant a lot to him for me to explain it to him. Even though I feel like I didn’t do it a justice. At any rate, it was amazing. I am so excited to bring this baby into God’s creation and have Ryan and I raise it to fear God and love others as Christ has loved us. I can’t wait to see it grow in its faith and one day accept God’s free gift of salvation into their heart. I get emotional just thinking of it!

Well, to end this novel of a blog…God is good and Pounds is on its way!

toodles,
☺ jen & pounds

38 weeks!

How our baby's growing:

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Dr. Appointment update

I had another Dr. appointment on Wednesday & nothing new has really happened. The doctor didn't say that Pounds had dropped anymore...which is fine since we're still 3 weeks away from our due date anyway. At first, my blood pressure was a little high, but Dr. Herron had me lay on my left side and take it again, and it was fine. All I know is that I am definitely ready to meet our little baby though.

We also went to our 3rd Lamaze class on Wednesday night and once again, it was pretty interesting. This week was on medical interventions...in other words, we learned about pain killers and epidurals. It was a good reminder why I'm not exercising those options. It's crazy how many side effects or risks there are compared to the benefits. The benefits are pretty just "it takes away pain." Uh...duh?! It's a pain killer! The risks of epidurals were like 3 times as many as the benefits. It was crazy. Poor Ryan was feeling a little light headed just watching the video...so it's just as well I'm not getting one-we're praying that God will give him crazy amounts of strength and a strong stomach when we start our journey to having this baby.

Anyway, all is good and we're just in countdown mode for baby. My parents are coming this weekend and that will be great. Ryan and I haven't seen them since my baby shower in LA last month, so it will be great to see them. My Aunt Debbie who lives in Texas will also be in town, so it will be great to see her! I'm just hanging out at home today and trying to recover from a headache and achy body....but I'm realizing the achy body won't be going away....

oh well,
toodles,
:) jen & pounds

Pound's Room

Here are some updated pictures of the baby's room!

37 weeks!

How our baby's growing:

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Update...

So for my weekly Dr. appointment I thought I'd leave a little update. On Wednesday was my appointment and it also started the beginning of my weekly visits to the doctor. All is looking good and he said that the baby has already dropped some. He told me that if "nothing happens" in the next 3 weeks, he'll measure me and see where I am in 3 weeks. So...I guess that means that if baby hasn't come in 3 weeks, he'll check and see how much longer we have. It's crazy to think that we're getting so close to meeting Pounds. We've been waiting for (what seems like forever) for Pounds and now the baby is just around the corner. We're definitely as ready as we can be. Ryan and I are getting so anxious to meet our little baby. Not to mention we're SOOOOO ready to know if it's a little boy or little girl!

Also on Wednesday I got my hair highlighted. I was debating putting low lights also, but decided on the lighter. It had been since January that I've had anything done to my hair & it felt great to go to a salon and be pampered and have my hair done! I added a picture of the new color...not super noticeable cause I didn't want it super noticeable when it grew out!

Wednesday night we went to our 2nd of 4 Lamaze classes & we once again learned a lot. It is a very informative class that we're finding that we enjoy going to. It's our little weekly reminder of how we have no idea what to expect, but excited to experience this new chapter in our lives!

At any rate, we're ready to meet Pounds and start this new journey!

toodles, jen & pounds

36 Weeks!

How our baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Pounds Room

We are almost all done with the nursery & we can't wait to put our little baby in it! Here are some pictures of what we have done so far. I still need to hang some canvas art and some wall decals, but that will come soon. I am also hoping to get the valances hung this weekend. All I know is that I'm running out of energy & am ready to put our little baby in the room. One of the pictures if of me in my comfy glider my parents and Grandma bought me...I can't wait to hold our little one and glide it to sleep! Lucky for us, the baby won't know whether or not the room is actually "done!" But...a few more finishing touches and we'll be done! enjoy the pictures! toodles, jen & pounds

35 Weeks!!!

How our baby's growing:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Another doctor's appointment today. All is well--we now have less than 6 weeks left. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. Doctor told me that the baby is head down and will stay that way (hopefully) until it's big arrival. He also said that it looks like Pounds has caught up in growth and is a healthy size. That was definitely nice to hear! He said that I need to stay off my feet as much as possible & take it easy. We have another appointment in 2 weeks and then we go to once a week appointments. We're getting down to the last weeks! And we're getting excited!!!

We also start our parenting classes next Wednesday. We're not super excited about sitting in a 4 week class on "parenting," but we are excited since it means that we're coming closer to meeting our little Pounds! The baby's room is just about ready...just some final touches need to be made, and then we're all ready!

Anyway, all is well with the Smith's as we anxiously await meeting Pounds!

have a great evening,
toodles,
:) jen & pounds

34 weeks!!!

How our baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

A great baby shower!

What an amazing weekend! Ryan and I drove down to LA on Friday after work and began our busy weekend. On Saturday I helped my mom get some last minute things done but mostly tried to help her relax! She had already gotten everything ready and did a great job planning everything! It was a great time with family and friends at the shower. I got to see a lot of people I hadn't seen in a really long time. My mom had a baked potato bar which was amazing. I do love baked potatos! My dad's cousin made an awesome animal carousel cake that tasted delicious & was super cute!

We also got some great gifts for Pounds! For instance...we can take Pounds home from the hospital! We got a car seat! We also got a great pack and play which will be great for visiting SoCal family! :) And I can't wait to set up the glider my parents and Grandma got us! Now I just need the energy to put it together and put it in the room! I can't wait to rock Pounds in it and get good use of it! We got some amazing things that we really needed! I'm getting more and more excited to meet our little Pounds! I can't believe we only have 7 weeks left! Time has been flying by and I hope that the next weeks continue to do so!

I am so blessed to have such great family and friends who were able to celebrate our little Pounds! My mom did a great job and I'm so lucky to have her!

It was a great weekend but am going to have to take the rest of my pregnancy and rest and get ready for Pounds and it's arrival!

toodles,
:) jen & pounds

33 weeks!

How our baby's growing:

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. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Dr. Appointment & The Ring is off....

So I had another doctors appointment today and it went pretty well. Baby's heart is pounding away and the doctor check and Pounds is even in the "head down" position. We're on our way! The doctor was happy with my blood pressure and weight gain & said that the baby's size is right on schedule.

After my doctors appointment I went on over to Twin Cities Hospital and registered. So we're ready to have the baby! I signed a bunch of papers--stupid legal stuff, & now our baby process should go nice and smooth when Pounds is ready to enter the world. It got us pretty excited to think that we're getting close enough to even register at the hospital.

Yesterday I had to take the ring off. It still fits, but my hands are swelling so easily now-a-days & I don't like the idea of it being stuck on me. Plus it gets pretty uncomfortable to keep it on when my hands are swollen. Plus I thought my feet were going to explode out of my shoes yesterday. It's been pretty hot here on the Central Coast. It doesn't help I work in a warehouse, and that I'm 32 weeks pregnant. My doctor just told me to keep off my feet as much as possible, and elevate them. That, or put them in a pool to cool them off. I'm trying my best, but it's not easy! Nothing is easy now. I can't bend over, get out of bed, or tie my shoes-let alone get them on! Pregnancy is kinda wearing on me and I've decided that if Pounds decides to come a little early...I'll be ok with it! :)

At any rate, all is good & we're getting more and more excited as the days go on for Pounds' arrival! I have another baby shower this weekend that my mom is throwing for me and I'm super excited to see my so cal friends and family! I just need this work week to be over!!!

till next time,
toodles,
:) jen & pounds!

32 Weeks

How our baby's growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

A-Town Baby Shower

My friend Hayley did an amazing job throwing me an amazing baby shower here in Atascadero. I'm so blessed to have her as a friend! I was so great to have family and friends get together and hang out. We had almost 100% attendance from Ryan's family (minus Grandma Smith) and I was very glad to have my mom there to represent my family. It was a great reminder of how blessed I am to have Ryan and his family who were willing and able to travel down to Atascadero for the day just to come for my baby shower. It was also a great reminder of the great friends I have that were able to come and celebrate with me. I got some great gifts...diapers if nothing else were great to get! We only had 40 diapers...we knew we were going to need some more!

Another great thing that happened this weekend was that Ryan and my dad were able to get the crib pained and put together in the babies room. My mom and I were able to put the bedding in the crib and get the room a little more "baby-fied." It was very exciting and got us all really looking forward to Pounds arrival. I'm very excited for my baby shower down in LA this weekend. It will be great to see my family and friends from LA. It is also great because my mother in law & sister in law are coming down (& Em up from San Diego) to celebrate with me. I haven't seen my family and friends from LA in awhile and it will be great to see them. Plus, after this coming weekend, Ryan and I will be able to gauge what is left that we have to get to get ready for Pounds.

It is absolutely crazy that we only have about 8 weeks left. Time is going by sooooo fast--but we're soooooo excited!

Parenthood here we come!!!

31 Weeks!!!

How our baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Every 2 weeks...

That's how often I go to the doctor now.

Time is just flying by. I can't believe we're already into the 3rd trimester and we're so excited. We went to the doctor yesterday and had an appointment to hear Pounds heartbeat. Ryan was amazed how fast they were able to find it. The last time he head the baby's heartbeat it took awhile to find it. Well, the little one has gotten much bigger and it's taking up a lot more room in my belly so...the doctor didn't have to search very long to find the heartbeat.

I know I say this every time I go to the doctors, but I am still amazed how technology allows us to hear not only inside my belly but allows us to hear the baby's heartbeat! Crazy. Anyway, my blood pressure and weight were great and he's pretty pleased with how my pregnancy is going. I have only recently been feeling "pregnant." I'm starting to feel more tired and sleeping has become more of a challenge. But, I am proud to say there isn't a stretch mark on me. Call it from a lot of cocoa butter or good genes...but not one on me. I do regularly feel a baby's butt on my right side. The baby loves to be on my right side and rarely makes it's way over to my left side. I'm pretty sure that is why the ribs on my right side are usually sore feeling. The little one loves to move around...just on my right side though. It's a relief to feel the baby move over to my left side. It gives me a little break!

Anyway, all is going great with Ryan, me, & Pounds. We are anxiously awaiting Pounds arrival & also for the showers that my friend Hayley (shower in SLO county) and Mom (shower in LA) are throwing me. It will be great to see family and friends and just relax & get ready for Pounds!

till another day,
toodles,
:) jen & pounds too!

30 WEEKS!!!!

How our baby's growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

29 Weeks!!!

How our baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

28 weeks!!!

How our baby's growing:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Rockin' it cause I can...

I figured a lot of people wear bikinis...why can't I? So here in Hawaii it's been no one-piece for me...just a classic bikini. I finally agreed to take a picture in it and decided to post it. I knew I was getting big...but holy cow! Seeing my bare belly made me realize exactly how big I've gotten. Plus, I look back at my 13 week picture when I thought I had this big belly & just laugh! & then I think of how I still have 13 weeks left till Pounds is in my arms instead of in my belly. At any rate, here is a picture of the "3" of us at the Place of Refuge in Hawaii. We had just gotten done with snorkeling with some awesome fish, turtles, & about 40 dolphins. It was pretty amazing!

Last night we also bought Pounds a little Hawaii hat. It kinda looks feminine, but if I cut the little bow off the back it can definitely be pulled off by a little boy! We're getting excited to take our little one to our favorite vacation spot of Hawaii...someday! At any rate, here is the picture!

toodles,
:) jen & pounds too!

Hiccups & numb hands....

I finally felt them....the baby had hiccups last night. At first I thought the baby was just on a kicking/punching spree, but then it wasn't hard enough for a kick & very consistent. It was a crazy feeling-that's for sure! After a few minutes of the constant blurps in my tummy, the baby gave a big kick. I chalked this up to it was probably frustrated (like we all get) with the stupid hiccups! Poor thing still had them for another few minutes after that though.

As for numb hands....not nearly as "cute." I had been experiencing waking up in the middle of the night with numb hands (sometimes just one-sometimes both) and it was becoming pretty frustrating. I would have to lift my arm up in the air and move my hand around to get the blood back into my hand. At my doctor's appointment this past week I asked him about it and he said that it's probably pregnancy carpal tunnel. He said it's pretty common and nothing to worry about. And that it will go away after pregnancy. My first though...oh goody...another "side effect" of pregnancy! He suggested I get wrist splints and sleep in those. Apparently when I sleep I must bend my hands over towards my wrist which cause a loss of blood flow and thus, the numbness feeling in my hands. With the splints, my wrists will be kept straight throughout the night and I shouldn't feel the numbness.

I beginning to feel like I need to break down and buy the splints...it's starting to get annoying. Not to mention I probably look like a lunatic in the middle of the night raising my arms and squeezing my fists over and over. Glad this is only supposed to last through the pregnancy...this would be soooo annoying if it happened all the time for the rest of my life.

Anyway, there is my update for the day...a pretty cool thing & a not-so-cool thing!

toodles,
:) jen (& Pounds too!)

more Hawaii pictures

Here are a few more Hawaii pictures so far...

Our Baby-Moon

So we're super excited to be in Hawaii...again. We feel as if we can never get enough of this place. Definitely God's creation at it's finest. We've already manged to make it all around the island and see a bunch of stuff. Mostly stuff we've already seen (us being here a year and a half ago-Ryan's family has never been to the Big Island) but some stuff that is even new to us. Ryan has managed to burn himself pretty bad, but surprisingly, I am pretty much burn free. A little red on the shoulders, but nothing I can't handle or haven't handled before. Tomorrow Brad & Hannah come and that will expand our crew to 7. They too have never been to any of the Hawaiian islands, so they should have a great time. Ryan & I plan on taking some time to ourselves and just explore. With the baby only 13 weeks away, we are realizing more and more how valuable our "alone time" is and how we need to cherish it just being the two of us while being so stoked to expand our family to 3. We have looked for little trinkets that say the baby's name...but no luck. We though we had picked out semi-common names, but I guess they're not that common in Hawaii! Oh well, we're still on the lookout for a little outfit for the baby. We might just need to buy a boy's outfit and a girl's outfit. We'll see. At any rate, I've included some pictures and there will be more to come!

toodles,
jen

27 Weeks...& in Hawaii!!!

How our baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

26 weeks!!!

How our 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) 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.

25 weeks!!!

How our baby's growing:

Head to heels, your 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.

Holy Cow! 24 weeks!!!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His 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 he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon. In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball.

The craziest thing happened yesterday...

I was sitting in church (I get kinda light headed when I stand up and sing) and the baby wasn't kicking at all. I chalked it up to the fact that the little one was probably asleep. But Ryan had a solo song yesterday, the song started with him playing the piano (keyboard) and singing...just him. All of a sudden the kid goes crazy and starts kicking like their kickboxing class just started. All throughout the song the baby was kicking away...until the song ended. As soon as the song ended, and Ryan stopped singing and playing...the baby stopped kicking. It was if Pounds could recognize Ryan's voice and was reacting to hearing it's daddy! I made sure and told Ryan when he sat down after worship & it totally made his day! He (& I ) wanted to make sure everyone knew that his kid knew him! I already knew that the baby can recognize voices and sounds-which is why it's beneficial to talk to your belly when you're pregnant. I guess we're an example of what every night talks with your baby can do. Almost every night Ryan talks to the baby...let's it know he's it's Daddy and then tells the baby goodnight. I guess our kid already listens to us....a good sign, maybe? Anyway, we were excited...even if it was just a coincidence, it is still pretty cool...and we're going to go with the baby could her it's daddy!


24 weeks tomorrow....time is flying by!

toodles,
:) jen

I went to the doctor's today for my monthly visit & everything went great. I got to hear Pounds heartbeat...loud & strong! The baby has been kicking/punching/head butting so much lately that I wasn't worried at all if I'd hear the heartbeat! Plus...I gained some weight! About 5 pounds actually! The doctor seemed happy that I put some weight on. Now I just need to maintain the weight gained. I knew I had gained some weight...if nothing else-my belly had grown a lot in 4 weeks! I'm a pretty good judge of my body and how it changes-so I knew I had put on a few. But as my belly grows as each day goes on...my belly button seems to be disappearing! It's crazy! A very fun and exciting thing though. Pounds is making room in my belly...so it's to be expected.

I go for my glucose test in 2 weeks. I should take it in about 4, but since we're leaving for vacation in 3 weeks, I am having another appointment with the doctor in 3 weeks and he wants my test results by then. It's a one hour test, and I have to "sweets fast" for 24 hours before. I drink this highly concentrated sugar drink, wait for an hour, and then they take a blood test. Hopefully I'll "pass" it and won't have to take the 3 hour test! Fingers crossed!

Well, there's our doctor update...no ultrasound...but the baby's heartbeat was more than enough to bring a big smile on my face!

toodles,
jen

23 Weeks!!!

How our 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.

p.s...I look tired in the picture...mostly because I am!! Being on my feet all day is starting to tire me out. :/

22 Weeks!!!...and still in my last pair of "normal" jeans

Well, this weekend my parents came into town for the 4th and we had a great time with them. It's always nice to see them, especially when it's on our own "turf." We got to just hang out and I even got to go to Target and register for little "Pounds" (my dad came up with the clever name for LBS since LBS is an abbreviation for pounds-very clever and we're sticking with it) It was a lot of fun to browse through all the cute baby stuff. My mom really wanted to be able to feel the baby kick, but since I can't make the baby kick on demand or anything, I wasn't sure if she'd get the chance to feel a kick. But on Friday night I was sitting on the floor in the living room and felth the baby start to move and kick and so I had my mom put her hand on my tummy with hopes for a kick....and she felt one! The best part was her scream when she got to feel it! It was great! Unfortunately "Opa" (my dad) didn't get to feel Pounds pounding away...maybe next time!

Ryan and I also went into Santa Maria and registered at Babies R Us this weekend. That was a lot of fun. There was a much better selection of baby stuff there and we had a great time just looking around. It was crazy to see all the gadgets they sell for a baby...a lot of them not needed...just tell you kid to not touch the stove...duh!? At any rate, we had a blast and it got us even more excited for Pounds arrival. On the ride home we finally came up with names for if it's a boy and if it's a girl. & no...we're not telling anyone! It's gonna be a surprise! Just know that if it's a boy, he'll have the initials RCS, and both names are super cute and we can't wait to use one of them for our little one!

Enjoy reading about "Pounds" this week...it's growing fast & time is flying by!

toodles,
jen

How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) 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.

21 Weeks!!!

Your baby is now just over 7¼ inches long from crown to rump (18cm); the size of a banana. Baby weighs just over 10½ oz (300g), still a featherweight. From this point onwards your baby will focus on gaining weight rather than growing in length. Baby will double in length but weight-wise there will be about a 12-fold increase. There is a slowdown in growth but different organ systems within the baby are maturing. By this time the fetal digestive system is able to swallow amniotic fluid; after swallowing, the fetus absorbs much of the water and the rest of the fluid is passed into the large bowel. Researchers believe swallowing amniotic fluid may help in growth and development of the digestive system; it also helps the digestive system to function after birth. Evidence indicates babies at full term may swallow large amounts of fluid as much as 17 oz or 500ml in a 24-hour period. Essential nutrients are passed to the baby from the amniotic fluid.

Our little dresser!

This past weekend we spent the day celebrating my mom's birthday & Father's day in Ventura. It was a great time that all 6 of us (mom, dad, me, Ryan, Kim & Mike)..ok 7 of us (Little Baby Smith too!!!) got to hang out. At any rate, after lunch we walked around downtown Ventura & went into this great antique store and saw this super cute antiqued dresser! I had to have it for LBS' room!!! So...we bought it! I'm just going to change the knobs of the dresser. I'm also going to add a changing pad to the top and use it as a changing table also! Can't wait to use it for the baby!

20 weeks....again!

Since my due date was changed...here is our actual 20 week photo. Wanna know what's going on with LBS?....just read last weeks post! For an update on us though, last night I was laying in bed and felt the baby kick and noticed it was a pretty hard kick. Up to this point, neither Ryan or I have been able to put our hands on my belly & feel the movement. That is until last night, I put my hand on my belly & felt the kick! I woke Ryan up and he immediately put his hand on my belly hoping to also feel the kick...but no such luck. :( This morning, I woke up and felt a bunch of movement, I felt the kicks with my hand and woke Ryan up again with hopes he'd feel it too! Well, after a couple of minutes, I asked him if he had felt that kick & he did!!! He (and I ) were so excited! Another step closer to holding our little baby! We're so excited for all the upcoming events with our little ones development!