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.)