28 Week Check In!

Good Morning Pumpkin,
Sorry yet again for the late posts - but as you will read we have been very busy getting your future bedroom ready! :)

During week 25, a highlight for us was going to see a Lake Monsters Game. You appeared to enjoy it, kicking about as usual :) It was Oliver's first game and we went with a bunch of the families from the Moms group. It was a blast! These are the kinds of things we look forward to doing with you little man!

We traveled again to see Vavo and Vavo and attend a wedding of one of daddy's friends on a boat ride in Boston Harbor. We spent some time in the pool and with our family and friends and also got a nice respite from getting together the room.

I was excited to get back from the trip because I knew the baby bedding was on it's way from buy buy baby but on the ride home, I told daddy I was starting to have second thoughts about it. I had hoped that when it arrived I would be excited and that it would assuage my fears, but when it arrived, I hated it. Daddy didn't feel too strongly either way, but I couldn't bear it. SO - there was not picking out paint this week as I had hoped...but searching for NEW bedding and returning the original bedding. BUT - we DID find one we LOVE! I will have to make the comforter/wall hanging, but we LOVE it and it is nice and bright with the colors I had hoped for originally. Daddy and I both love it which is a huge deal!

 Mommy's symptoms appear to be the same - pelvic pressure, round ligament pain especially in the hips and lots of movement from YOU! During our OB appt, you sounded wonderful AND Oliver got to hear your heart beat. He just froze and was so curious. It was a stark contrast to his statement earlier that morning, "Mommy, I don't think I want baby brother to come out of your belly". It was his very first inkling of hesitation about having a little brother. Then I talked about how mommy has a little brother - T-Craig and that he is awesome. Oliver agrees so I think you're back in his good favor. :)  We have had a few HOT days that make mommys feet hurt and swell a little at night but overall, kiddo, we are doing well hanging out together for a few more months!

During week 26, I am still feeling pretty great except for some pressure I continue to have that makes me remember - wow - we must be getting closer to having this baby! I am attending my second prenatal yoga class this week to hopefully help with some of the round ligament pain and pelvic floor pressure I have been experiencing. I was also a little sore after a spill I took at work, it was raining hard and I slipped and feel on my butt. The Dr said that as long as I felt fine and didn't fall forward I was ok, but if anything was odd, I could come in any time. You were moving and grooving as usual so I felt like things were more than just ok :) thank goodness!

Cute picture of your big brother using his doctor's kit to take care of mommy. SO CUTE!

 Your brother has been doing a great deal of asking about you and this week he asked if you could come out. We told him you're not ready yet and that you can come out in October, near Halloween. You really seem to like his voice! You respond a lot to it and especially when he is getting a bath. Not sure if it's the echo or the giddiness in his voice from playing in the water, but it is very sweet. Daddy took some great video of Oliver talking to you in my tummy. It is so sweet! We are all so anxious to meet you!

This week I have continuously been working on your room and making small strides in getting it cleaned out when I am not at work or making some time to enjoy the summer with Oliver.  We went blueberry picking together and got to see some little calves at the Isham farm here in Williston. We went with the moms and kids from my mom's group. I should probably stop saying Mom's group, because that is just how we started out, but now I should just say our friends because they are so near and dear to me.  This weekend Sera, one of the moms, threw a baby celebration at her house for us pregnant moms - Stephanie (sept), Me (Oct), and Erica (dec). We all made pizza and the kids and dads and moms just hung out and enjoyed each other! It was such a great time!  I feel really lucky to have these ladies in our lives!

Erica, Mommy and Stephanie

During week 27, I am in the third trimester! It has flown by! We had a nice week together of cool weather, which for a pregnant woman in the end of July is a blessing! I did enjoy the pool with Oliver for a bit, but it was short lived as he had other plans for fun in the backyard. We also had some time picnic-ing and playing at the library just before a HUGE rain storm came in. You are more and more active with each passing day! I swear I feel you very low AND up near my ribs. I also feel ALOT of pressure still and that is very different than with Oliver - especially in the am when I wake up and at the end of the day/bedtime.

I have been spending my spare minutes cleaning out the office/spare bedroom which will soon be your room! It's a daunting task but it's moving steadily. I've also really cleared out a HUGE pile of toys Oliver had upstairs and moved them to our family/play area downstairs. We really want things to be neat and organized so we can have a spot for everything and less clutter. Until we get to a place where we can expand the house into one of the garage bays - we are moving the "office" downstairs. Right now this means a file cabinet and another black cabinet to store our office/printing supplies and family documents. Scrapbooking and sewing/crafting things will now live in the laundry room and we'll use the ping pong top of the table or the bar or ANYWHERE as our makeshift work space when we do need a "desk". We are excited that we found some things that will fit around the fish tank, will match and will make the transition to your bedroom a bit easier. We are so excited about all of these things coming into place. It means we are getting closer to making your room a reality. I cannot wait to start taking the weekly "belly" pictures IN your room vs outside your door!   I also did some shopping this week for curtains for your room and also picked up a cute blanket and a basket that I think will look GREAT. It's getting to be so REAL :)  I almost forgot to mention that your bedding came in! SO exciting! Grandma is willing to make your comforter from it too - which will be really nice. I am just so happy that we found something we LOVE! I made a board to help daddy envision your room a bit better - I think it's cool.

Aside from cleaning your room, we also spent time with Grandpa and Grandma both at ECHO as part of Grandpa's birthday gift AND out to lunch and dinner celebrating mommy's birthday a little early. It was a very nice and relaxing day. We did quite a bit of walking, which was actually really nice.   

Today I am 28 weeks and 4 days pregnant for you...80 days left until due day. This could mean more like 70 days or 90 days but I get the feeling you'll be here in October. Oliver has started to talk more about you lately and he even remembers baby brother will be here in October. This week I have been working on a hat for you for us to put on your teeny tiny head during those first few months. It still needs to be "sewn" up and a ball to be put on top, but it is so TINY I cannot believe it could possibly be done! I am going to measure it up against Oliver's newborn hat once it's out of storage, just to make sure it's a good size.

 

This week your mommy turned 33. I am starting to realize that I don't much care how old I am anymore as I am so consumed with much more important things that I am very grateful for. The whole getting old thing doesn't affect me like I once thought it might. I spent the first part of my morning taking my glucose tolerance test - crossing my fingers for great results on Monday/Tuesday! The doctor listened to your heart which sounds amazing! She said you were head down, like last time (which I didn't know) and that you were measuring 29cm in fundal height - saying you had a growth spurt this month! I just knew it from how long you felt in there lately! She also said that the pressure I am feeling is pretty normal with a second baby and nothing to be too concerned about, unless it doesn't go away.

SO far I have put on about 11lbs during the pregnancy. My goal would be to keep it to 10 more which should be just fine given that I've only put on 11 so far and that hasn't been difficult. 

 After the dr's, I came home to a cinnamon bun breakfast and coffee (thanks daddy!) and spent the morning at the beach with daddy and Oliver (and you!). It was a great time. The afternoon was spent - like much of my past few weeks, emptying the spare bedroom/office for the big move to making it YOUR room! Together, Daddy and I finally emptied it of everything minus furniture. I am thrilled. 

We went to a birthday party yesterday for our friends Stephanie and Darren's son Alex (turned 4) and had a blast! Stephanie is 6 weeks ahead of mommy, so she will be having her little boy, Peter, sometime in September.   

After the party, we picked out paint for your room. It is going to be a light gray. I cannot wait for daddy to get up and to finish getting the room ready for painting. My hope is that by the time i post next...I will have pictures galore for the blog of the paint, furniture and maybe even some accessories will be up! I am doing all I can NOT to wake daddy and get him going!

This picture was taken from the doorway in the midst of mess making. It actually got worse before it got better! The little blue bin on the floor actually has the start of things we are accumulating for you.

Oliver lying on the bed that used to be in your room! He then proceeded to jump on it ALOT! Since it's going - I allowed it :) As you can see...things cleared out quite a bit. The closet had a bunch of the things we've bought for you and the room in it (mattress etc) you can see daddy's jerseys still hanging.

I am so excited that time to meet you is getting closer every day. I am equally excited that I have some days off to work on your room and prepping your clothes, scrapbook etc in the next week and a half before school starts. We are starting to settle in to your name. Daddy says he wants to see you again before committing to it - which should be around labor day weekend ( I emailed the lady to schedule your 4D ultrasound). WE have also been shopping out photographers for maternity and newborn photos. It's so exciting!
I love you SO much already my little one. Can't wait to post pictures next week of your room and our accomplishments.
Love you tons,
mommy

Development:

Week 25

This is the 25th week of your pregnancy. You are probably feeling fine physically. You will visit the midwife of obstetrician more frequently now. You used to have an antenatal appointment once every 4 weeks that will now be once every 3 weeks.

Your bump may sometimes go hard. This is caused by the uterine muscles tightening and known as Braxton Hicks contractions. These are also known as 'pre-labour contractions' or 'practice contractions' and are signs of the uterine muscles preparing for labour. They won't harm the baby. Your bump may also go hard if you've been doing too much. If this happens a lot, or if it's not just uncomfortable but actually hurts, tell your midwife or obstetrician. He or she will probably advise you to rest more. Doing too much could impede the baby's growth.

Your baby's sense of touch has developed and he can now consciously feel things. His heartbeat will be about twice the speed of yours, so you can easily distinguish between the two. In fact, you can even hear the baby´s heartbeat through an empty toilet roll. Well, you can´t actually manage that yourself unfortunately, but your partner or someone else can. Place an empty toilet roll about 10 cm under your navel and move it around until the heartbeat can be heard. It´s a little easier to find if you know more or less what position your baby is in.

He is growing rapidly. He can still turn in any direction but can't 'swim around' in the amniotic fluid any more. His head might be pointing up one day and down the next. Your baby won't settle on a final position for birth for quite a while yet. So there's no need to worry if they tell you during your antenatal check-up that your baby is in breech position. It can change all the time!

Make sure your diet includes plenty of vitamins and minerals. DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is also especially important during pregnancy. This polyunsaturated fatty acid is an Omega-3 fatty acid and is vital to the development of the baby's brain, eyes and nervous system. The main source of DHA is oily fish, such as herring, eel, mackerel, salmon and sardines. You are advised to eat fish at least twice a week, at least once of which should be oily fish. If you don't really like fish, take a multivitamin supplement that contains DHA. Multivitamin supplements for pregnant women contain all the vital vitamins and minerals and usually also omega-3 fatty acids.

Scientific research

It emerged from Danish research that supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of premature birth. The pregnancies of the women who had taken fish oil capsules during the study lasted longer and their babies' birth weights were higher.

Another study indicated that taking DHA reduces the chance of developing toxaemia of pregnancy.

Babies fed DHA (in breast milk or formula) for at least 17 weeks after birth develop better eyesight than babies who are not fed DHA.

A Norwegian study, finally, revealed a positive connection between the IQ of four-year-old children and the intake of DHA from the second trimester of pregnancy and for the first three months of breast feeding.

Week 26

Week 26 is another milestone! If the baby were to be born now, it would have a chance of survival. We refer to babies born at less than 28 weeks as 'extremely premature'. The limit for viability is recognised as 26 weeks. At this week of pregnancy, the chance of the baby surviving outside the uterus is 81% but such a premature birth also involves considerable risks. The baby still has very little immunity and is extremely susceptible to infection. Minor brain haemorrhages could also occur quite easily. The lungs are not yet mature enough to function on their own outside the uterus. With a lot of luck and intensive care, the baby could nevertheless survive.

The baby's eyelids have been firmly closed since the 11th week but will open again this week. He can distinguish light from dark and will therefore perceive more of what happens outside the womb.

The placenta is almost as big as the baby itself.

Your baby's movements are growing stronger and your ribs or abdomen can sometimes really hurt. While not exactly pleasant, this is perfectly normal.

Your uterus has grown to quite a size now, and your intestines will be rather cramped for space. You'll probably have to wee more frequently, due to the baby pressing on your bladder. You could also develop bowel problems. Common problems during pregnancy are constipation and the opposite: diarrhoea. This is awkward and unpleasant for you but provided you eat and drink well, it won't harm the baby at all.

Has the nesting instinct hit you yet? Around the 5th month of pregnancy many mums-to-be suddenly feel an urge to tidy and clean everything. And any rebuilding or redecorating suddenly needs to be done 'right now'. This is a natural reaction as you and your body are preparing for birth. You'll want everything to be neat and tidy when the baby arrives, after all.

You may find sport is less enjoyable now than it used to be. Your bump is a lot larger and will get in the way. The only sport you can continue throughout your pregnancy is swimming. You could also join a special antenatal swimming class. The water will usually be a bit warmer and as well as swimming you will do special exercises to help prepare for the birth.

Week 27

You are in the last week of the second trimester. Your baby is not the only one going through a growth spurt, you are too. You'll put on an average of 400-500 grams a week. That won't matter; in fact it's normal. Your body is building up reserves for the baby. Nothing to worry about as long as you continue to eat a healthy diet. You'll lose the extra pounds again once you've given birth.

You might have been full of energy before but you'll notice that your energy levels will drop again from now on. You may start to feel very tired again, as you did in the early stages of pregnancy. You'll also want to be alone more (or with your partner) and want peace and quiet and rest.

Your baby is gaining weight but will not grow much more in length. He already has eyebrows and eyelashes and his eardrums are developing now. His eyes are a bluish slate grey. The eye colour will usually change, often more than once, and it can take up to a year for the final shade to settle.

Unborn babies often get hiccups. You could feel this more and more often from now.

Pelvic instability

Your body is preparing for the birth. Hormones will cause the ligaments to stretch and the cartilage to soften. This will create more space in your pelvis, enabling your baby to be born naturally. If the ligaments become too loose however, walking can be painful. This is called pelvic instability. It is quite common in pregnant women and if you are going to develop this, it will likely start at this stage.

If this is not your first pregnancy and you did suffer from pelvic instability last time, a physiotherapist or pelvic therapist could help you with some exercises. This could help prevent as many problems as possible.

Heartburn

Heartburn is another common complaint during pregnancy. The mass of hormones in your body have a relaxing effect on the valve between your throat and stomach, which enables acidic gastric juices to escape up into your throat. This is what causes heartburn during early pregnancy.

When you're around 7 months pregnant, your uterus places quite a pressure on your stomach, pushing the acidic gastric juices upwards.

Changing your eating habits may help e.g. by eating smaller portions more frequently. Try to avoid spicy food. Citrus fruits can also lead to more acid. A lot of women find eating custard or drinking hot milk helps ease the symptoms.

If none of this works, there are medicines available that won't harm the baby. Ask your midwife for advice.

Week 28

You have reached the next milestone. You are in the third and final trimester! Your baby is really starting to look like a newborn child now. His head is no longer too big compared with his body; the proportions are starting to look more normal.

The cartilage is gradually becoming bone. The baby's skull will remain soft to make birth easier. It will be well after birth before the fontanels disappear and the skull hardens.

The down or lanugo that covered the baby is starting to disappear and will be partly replaced by sebum. This is like an oily cream and will prevent the baby's skin from dehydrating. You may be able to see it just after the baby has been born. The later the birth, the less sebum will be visible.

The baby's sense of taste is developing now, as the taste buds form. Not that your baby has much to taste. Amniotic fluid is practically flavourless.

Boys and girls will start to differ in weight from about this week. Generally speaking, boys are a little heavier than girls.

24 Week check In!

Hello little pumpkin, 
Mommy is way behind on posts, but I am keep notes between them so I can keep all things fresh on my mind. It has been a busy few weeks and will be unnaturally busy over the summer with mommy working this year too. 

Development:

Week 21

There is little change compared to last week. Most of the baby's growth now is weight gain.

He might be over the halfway mark in terms of length but he still needs to put on nearly ten times his present weight! From now on, your baby will gain around 2oz/60 grams a week. You will put on around 1 lb/500 grams a week. That´s perfectly normal.

Your uterus comes up to your navel now and growing at quite a rate. Your bump seems to be getting bigger and bigger by the day.

With your uterus growing so quickly, you could find you get round ligament pains. These feel like a stitch or shooting pain in the side of your uterus. You're likely to find this happens more when you've been too busy. The only remedy is to lie down and rest. (Mommy has this a lot!!)

The baby's skin is no longer transparent. White blood cells are developing, which are vital to your baby's immunity against disease and infection. The tongue and organ of balance are fully developed. The baby will start pulling faces to exercise his facial muscles.

Week 22

The ears start to develop their final shape in week 22. By now, the baby's hearing is quite well developed and he will be able to hear sounds from outside the uterus.

If you sing the same song a lot to your baby now, he'll probably recognize it after birth and it could actually comfort him. 

The layer of fat under the skin is gradually increasing, and your baby is

looking more and more like a newborn baby. His skin is still a little wrinkly but this will improve as the weeks go by.

You are also accumulating more amniotic fluid. By the end of your pregnancy your womb will hold a liter of amniotic fluid!

The baby may often pinch the umbilical cord. That's nothing to worry about though, the vein and the two arteries in the umbilical cord are well protected. In fact, it takes quite some strength to cut the cord, as you´ll notice after the birth. By the time the baby is born the umbilical cord will be about as long as the baby.

Your child is asleep most of the time. After he is born, you´ll soon notice that your baby has a favorite sleeping position, which he is developing right now.

Week 23

Your baby weighs around 1lb 2oz/500 grams. His body is growing faster than his head so by the end of this month, the proportions will be practically the same as for a newborn baby. The fingernails and toenails are fully formed.

Your baby will start breathing now too. Not breathing in air, of course, but amniotic fluid. He's practicing what to do once he's been born. His lungs are not fully functional yet.

You may notice a little yellowish fluid leaking from your breasts. This is colostrum, the first 'milk' your baby will drink after birth (if you intend to breastfeed). It is perfectly normal for this to happen now, but equally normal if you produce no colostrum until the baby is born. So there's no reason to worry either way.

Colostrum is full of antibodies and protects the baby from infection and disease. Compared with normal feed, colostrum has much higher levels of protein, vitamins and minerals and lower levels of fat and sugar. It stimulates the digestive system and is, in effect, a natural laxative ensuring that the baby's organs dispose of all the waste that has collected in its little body during pregnancy. The colostrum will turn to milk after 3-5 days. The fluid will gradually become thinner and turn from yellowish to a bluish white. You will produce normal breast milk within about ten days of giving birth.

Many women develop anemia around now. This is due to your body´s rapid growth and the extra blood you have to produce. This may result in low iron levels, which can make you feel weak, faint and even a little dizzy at times. Your iron level or Hb level (Hemoglobin) can be tested using a special device. All it takes is a single drop of blood from your finger. If your iron level is too low, you will be advised to eat more iron-rich foods. If this doesn't help raise your Hb level, then you could be prescribed iron tablets.

You may find you develop reddish stretch marks, so-called striae, on your abdomen, breasts, legs and/or bottom. They are harmless and caused by the skin stretching due to rapid growth. You can keep your skin supple with oil or a special cream but you cannot prevent striae. Whether or not you develop stretch marks depends on your skin. After your pregnancy they will fade to a pale pink or white, but will not disappear altogether.

Week 24

The end of the second trimester is in sight now. You are nearly two thirds of the way through your pregnancy and have probably started counting the weeks away.

The baby is quite big and strong already and is now much easier to feel from the outside. Pregnancy is much more fun for the father now. If he gently rubs his hand over your bump he will feel the baby react, and the baby may also react to his voice.

The fetus is covered with fine, soft hair, called lanugo. His delicate skin is protected by a waxy film called as 'vernix.' This could still be on your baby's skin during birth but will soon be absorbed. It will usually still only be visible on premature or early babies. Babies born well after the 40th week are often completely 'clean'. 

The baby's hearing is fully developed. He may respond to things going on around you, such as rows or hard noises. Your baby might not respond to external influences but will respond to your reaction. Try to avoid that kind of stress as much as possible, as it could make him or her very restless. You could notice a similar effect after birth, if your baby cries a lot, for instance.

Your baby has developed a pattern of sleeping and waking. This pattern need not necessarily be the same as yours. Often enough, in fact, it will be the exact opposite. While you are busy doing things, you rock the baby to sleep, as it were. Then, just as you finally sit down to relax or go to bed, the baby becomes highly active!

He will sleep for most of the time though, between 16 and 20 hours a day. The baby needs that much sleep to be able to grow as quickly as he does. Most of the vital organs are well developed by now; just the lungs are not fully functional yet. Inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid will help the lungs mature enough for the baby to survive outside the womb.

Your child's spine consists of about 150 joints and 1000 ligaments.

Up to now, the fetus has had very little fat and been very skinny. From this week on, fat will start to accumulate under the baby´s skin. This fat will enable your child to maintain the ideal body temperature after birth. That's why premature babies are often placed in an incubator until they have reached a weight (approx. 5 1/2 kbs/2500 grams) that will enable them to regulate their body temperature themselves.  (info courtesy of pregnology.com)

20 Week Check in!

Dearest Pumpkin,
I feel like the trend of posting every few weeks will be the norm for the remainder of our blog posts together. Our lives are filled with fun, work and play! We cannot wait for you to be a part of it!

During the end of week 17 and just before week 18, we attended your cousin Morgan's first birthday party!  It was a lot of fun for Oliver! He and Alexander are only 6 months apart and so far, your only cousins that are close in age. Danny, Hannah and Madison (on mommy's side) are much older.  I think someday you have have lots of fun with Alex and Morgan! We also made a stop that day to see your Grandpa and Grandma Ellen. They continue to think you're a little girl and are excited for your arrival this fall. Oliver gave Grandma Ellen her mother's Day gift, a cement stone to put in her garden.  It was Memorial Day weekend so we spent the rest of the weekend in the garden cleaning out leaves, weeding and Daddy worked at his fish tank business as well.  Every day you're moving more. Not so much kicking yet, but rolling and putting pressure in certain spots. Mommy still has headaches every day and hoping they will end soon. School is winding down for mommy in a few weeks so things will be much better when we have a little vacation in Massachusetts. :)

Week 18 Mommy had the wonderful joy of having T-Jocelyn and Shaina here to spend the weekend. It was so much fun! We had plans to go to the Dave Matthews Band concert on Saturday so they arrived on Friday. We spent Friday night up late talking (and spraying stinky diapers) and then Friday we went downtown to see if they had necklaces for T-Jocelyn's wedding for Shaina to wear and did a little shopping. We also went to the Christmas tree shop and picked up a few things. Then we drove the nearly 3 hours to the outdoor concert - weather was beautiful, but it was definitely a sight to see the various folks at the concert. Some very young, some very much older than us and some behaving badly. Overall we had fun and you went to your first concert! I so enjoyed their company - and telling them all about my ideas for your room and their thoughts on you being a little girl. Shaina said something that your Vavo also said - that people were guessing you were a girl just because we already have a boy...I think this is true. I still have no feeling one way or another.

Sex Poll for Baby Bouchard
GIRL                                           BOY

Vavo                                             Vavo - he is SURE you are a boy!
Grandma E                                   Grandma - she said she isn't sure but she guesses boy.
Grandpa                                        T-John
Shaina                                           Hollie
T-Jocelyn                                      Uncle Timmy - for sure a boy!
T-Craig                                          Aunt Kathy
Uncle Chris                                  
Melissa
Julia
T-Mary
Danny
Dave
Sara
Joey
Auntie Britt
Jesse
Helen
Laura
Uncle Josh
Uncle Louis
Thea
Susie
The Juiffres
Kristy
T- Scott
Daddy :)

Team PINK has 26 votes and team BLUE has 6 votes...
 


Week 19 - I am thrilled to say we are having another baby BOY!!!
You are a BOY! More importantly a healthy baby boy! Your ultrasound was painstaking! There was a medical student doing the ultrasound and then she had to have a technician and the attending come back and screen us. It took well over an hour. It took a very long time for her to tell us you were healthy (b/c she was a student) and we have TONS of pictures b/c she didn't take very good ones so the tech also gave us a few. They didn't want to give us 3D pics but Daddy is good at being persistent! I saw the tell-tale signs that you were a boy several minutes before your daddy did - he was in shock. He really thought you were a girl b/c they had guessed during our 12 week (with 80% certainty -ha ha) that you were a girl. I did not believe them one bit and had always kept an open mind that you'd be another beautiful boy. They did tell mommy some interesting news - that I had a heart shaped placenta, which seems really cool! They did say, however that this could increase your chances for being breech. I am hoping this won't be true, but only time will tell. I do, however, think I want a picture of the placenta now (maybe in black and white so I don't get squeamish).

  
It was a hectic day because the ultrasound took so long. Mommy had to race to a dentist appointment across town and daddy had an ultrasound that day as well. Then I went over to the party store to get a balloon that read "it's a boy" for us to take to Oliver at daycare to surprise him. Although we knew he wouldn't really be that excited either way, we knew we could get him excited about a balloon. We were right! He was excited and so were all of his friends.  When we got home and I talked about him having a baby brother he looked at me straight faced and said, "yes mommy, and a baby sister" - as if saying - "yeah mom, we've been talking about this for a few weeks now I know" but he was convinced about having both! I think it was all of our talk about a baby bother or sister that got him into thinking of you in terms of an "AND". It was very funny!
Mommy had to then dash to the Vergennes graduation so Daddy and I on conference call told Vavo and Vavo about you being a super healthy baby boy :) They are SO excited for us!
Mommy then called T-Jocelyn, T-Craig and Shaina and told them all about our excitement! They too are excited and liked hearing about the names we have on our list.
Daddy called Grandpa and Grandma and they were both excited too!
Mommy sent a message via facebook to our extended family and friends saying:
"I am officially in love with three men!"  
 It is so true! I couldn't be more in love with you and your brother and your daddy! I know the minute I see you - that will change dramatically into an even deeper love that I can only imagine at this stage. I hope you know how cared for and loved you are my sweet little boy.

Following that amazing news on Friday, mommy, daddy and Oliver went to the Kid City gear swap on Saturday and picked up a new little booster seat for the dinner table for Ollie so that you can have his highchair when you need it. We also looked at lots of furniture there and started to think and daydream about your room.
On Sunday we went up to our old neighbors camp in St Albans, the Juiffres and daddy dove for a few of the lost moorings of their neighbors. It was cool for Ollie to see Daddy dive, but he is just about 3 and lost attention quickly. We got to hang out and play with the Juiffre boys all day and later go for a boat ride with them. It was the first time Daddy and Ollie fished together. You did not seem fazed at all by the boat ride and I am sure rather enjoyed it as mommy did.

Week 20 was supposed to be mommy's last full week of work however on the Monday and Tuesday of that week mommy wasn't feeling the greatest.  On Monday, mommy was at her last big meeting of the year in Middlebury and afterward had a very real contraction. It was a minute to 2 minutes long and afterward there was cramping. I drove towards home and went in to see the Dr to just get tested for some common infections that cause cramping. Dr Hansen checked my cervix and you were nicely sealed up in there. Everything was in tact and as it should be - no dilation whatsoever and cervix was long and thick. She told me to go home and take it easy. I did my best to do this before picking up Oliver and then daddy helped after he got home. The cramping went away which was great!
The next day, mommy woke up severely dizzy and a bit nauseous - I couldn't stand up straight and the room was spinning for hours on end. I laid on the couch the entire day. It was very sweet that when Oliver woke up he came check on us and took out his medical bag to take care of mommy.
After that day, all appeared to go well and mommy minimally took care of the house to prepare for house guests on Friday for Oliver's 3rd birthday and Father's day on Sunday. The party was tons of fun - Planes, Cars and Thomas! For Father's Day - Oliver made artwork for daddy, vavo and grandpa and a book where every year Oliver and eventually YOU will answer questions about your daddy. I think it will be a sweet sentimental thing to have for years to come.
During the weekend before I turned 20 weeks, I also stopped taking benadryl to sleep. After a day full of migraines, mommy became annoyed and figured she'd just try to sleep again on her own, with a body pillow. This has seemed to help and now I am sleeping much better and without migraines daily.     

Development:
Week 18 

The tiny nerve cells of your baby continue to develop and through little blood vessels fluid will be transported to the brain and the spinal chord. This fluid must be able to flow back and forward or the baby can develop water in the brain. Even if this does happen it is now possible to correct this while the baby is still in the womb. The brain of the baby grows very quickly now as much as 90 gram per month!

If this is your first pregnancy your tummy may still not be visible with your clothes on however if this is your second or subsequent child then you may be developing quite a paunch by now. From now on sleeping on your stomach will become increasingly difficult and you should try to start getting used to sleeping on your side, preferably your left as this allows the blood to flow more freely to your heart which is best for you and your baby. Your heart will now pump 40 to 50% faster than normal which is fine for a healthy heart and light exercise is till possible. Make sure however that you continue to eat healthy and get enough rest.

Backache

Most pregnant women will at some point during their pregnancy experience back pains and you may already have felt a twinge. Your uterus is now similar in size to a melon and as the focus and weight of your body moves forward this will put pressure on your lower back which can result in discomfort and pain. Be careful with bending and lifting and ensure you bend at the knee and not the spine. Try to stand as straight as possible and don't lean back too much to compensate for the weight at the front of your body.
 
Week 19 


You are now almost halfway through your pregnancy. Your baby's teeth and palate are already formed and this week your baby will begin to develop its adult teeth.

All the senses (smell, taste, sight, hearing, touch) are now developing and research has shown that some babies are already able to hear this week. Feel free to talk or sing to your baby as it can be relaxing and comforting for him to hear a sound or a song he recognizes after birth.

Wheezing

Around this time you may find you sweat more and are a little short of breath when you exert yourself. This is due to changes in your breathing and is not necessarily related to your condition. It is however important to keep an eye on your fitness levels. It is suggested that swimming and cycling are the healthiest ways to stay active during pregnancy and even walking helps. Regular exercise helps with your blood flow which is in turn excellent for your baby.

Week 20

Congratulations! you are now halfway through your pregnancy and have reached another milestone. Usually by this time you really start to enjoy your pregnancy as most of your ailments have gone and you are beginning to feel your baby move more regularly.

You should now have plenty of energy and this is the best time to start to plan and decorate your nursery or shop for baby clothes and accessories.

Your uterus should now be quite large and hard and the top may be in line with your navel.
Although every woman is different when it comes to feeling their baby move you should around this time begin to feel slight movements as your baby swims around in his amniotic fluid, wiggling his arms and legs. Although your baby will move around 200 times per day most of these will be faint and if you are busy you wont even notice them.

Your baby's hearing works much better now and he may even be scared by new and strange noises coming from outside. 

Around 20 weeks you should be getting an ultrasound scan and it is during this prenatal screening that any abnormalities in the development of your baby can be detected. If something serious is found this still leave you time to decide on a range of options which will be explained by your midwife. However, in most cases everything is found to be fine and this will be used mainly to measure the length and progress of your baby.

It is also possible that your echographist can see the sex of the baby although sometimes they are stubborn and keep their legs closed. IT is up to you whether you wish to know the sex of your child or not and you can ask at this time for them to see if they can find it out.

17 weeks check in

Hello little pumpkin,
A lot has been happening in our world together. Every weekend it seems we are consumed with some local event or are traveling to Massachusetts for wedding related tasks. My apologies it has been so long since I sat down and published a post, but I do have all of these written in my head every week.

During week 14 mommy has finally told the principals at school and is slowly telling teaching staff and folks at the counseling service. It has been really exciting to share our news. This is the email reply I received from one of my principals:
"Congratulations! I may be the only sucker in the world for this kind of news after my own daughter's 26 year struggles, but I remain an absolute fan of birth and child-rearing. You are a candidate for parent-of-the-year every year! Knowing you, so is Dad!"
Such a kind email, from a kind person.

During week 14, mommy also found out her friend, Stephanie, is having a boy! His name will be Peter and he will be just a month or so older than you. I think we are going to spend some of your early moments visiting Stephanie and Peter as we will both be home with newborns. We are so happy for them!  We visited Uncle Josh and Auntie Britt and Miss Emilia this weekend. It was fun to see Ollie with a little baby. He didn't pay much attention to her but loved her baby toys. It was fun to spend some time with them and get to know Miss Emilia a bit better. They are really excited about adding you to our family too. While in New York we went to target and looked at some furniture and bedding. If you're a girl we think we found a color combo we like:

 or maybewith navy skirt?  

from www.engagingmystery.com

This is sort of my inspiration for a color palette since the glider is that sort of green color - but walls would be a pinky coral. Maybe with abstract jungle animals.

For a boys room we are not changing the color - it's light blue like Oliver's room right now and we love it. But I would be adding lots of brighter accents. 

And I would like a Jungle animal theme based on this art work which I will order from etsy! So exciting to think about!

You are developing very well, as it is very clear I have a bump now! My symptoms appear the same lately, no sleeping through the night without Benadryl, acne on my neck and back and although I had some sporadic migraines right before starting the Bendryl - they have become daily.  I think I am starting to feel some pressure when you are moving - which is SO exciting!

During week 15, we had a great time riding the train at Kids Day with Oliver, from Burlington to Shelburne and back. I don't think I have ever seen your brother so quiet with his eyes open! He would just sit there and stare out the window and sometimes look at me and say choo-choo! It was great. Stephanie, Darren and their son Alex came with us as well as Tina, Gabby and Nicholas - Moms from my Moms group. Gabby is also in Ollie's daycare class. Later we had lunch with Stephanie and Darren and ALex, took a walk, went for a quick jump in the bouncy house then ended with the three of us having some creemees @ Burlington Bay Cafe. The next day was mother's day.  Oliver and Daddy made me a gift from the two of them and from YOU. The one with the lines and dots, Oliver made, then the blue one with the purple center is from Daddy. The third, pink and blue one is from you. Daddy made it pink and blue because we don't know if you're a boy or a girl yet. Daddy said every year, you guys will make me another to fill my pot.

We spent mother's day with your Grandma Brenda. We went for a walk on Church St and had brunch at Magnolia's. It was very yummy! After that Grandma bought mommy some flowers to plant- some petunias for the back porch. I love them, they attract hummingbirds! I saw one just a few days later- just a little baby one too :)

I am feeling pretty much the same as the previous weeks however my face is changing some. I have really really dry and plump lips - which makes it look like I have had collagen injections! It is definitely pregnancy related as this has never happened to me before. I have also started craving vinegar in a major way. For example - I had a bag of plain chips and dipped them in a bowl of vinegar before I ate them. I also love spicy pickles right now. Fruit is also high on my list - pineapple, strawberries, watermelon YUM. I really enjoyed ice cream and oreos for your brother, but haven't really enjoyed eating sweets like that, even when I have them. I still get full at dinner very easily and have really not enjoyed any chicken dish I have made. The other night I ate a plate of green beans for dinner.   

During week 16, after much planning, we had your t-Jocelyn's bachelorette party! But before we go there - I had my second dress fitting. They messed up the strap on my dress- too thin- but overall, the non-maternity dress fits pretty well!

It was a fun day getting to spend some time with T-Jocelyn and Shaina. We went to the fitting, grabbed some coffee, they loaded up on some beverages for the limo - mommy had mojito flavored seltzer! Then we got all dressed up and ready to go! We joked around that you have started to hear things this week and if you turn out to be a party-er this will have been a big influence on you! ha ha. We went to paint night in Boston, which was really fun, then had dinner together and some drinks and dancing at the end of the night.
Overall - T-Jocelyn had a great time and that's what really matters most. The picture on the left shows the t-shirts mommy made for the entire bridal party. Our paintings are shown on the right - along with everyone who came to celebrate T-Jocelyn! We love her SO much!

 During that day, Oliver, Daddy, Vavo and Vavo went to Buttonwood Park and Zoo and had a blast on the little train and seeing all the animals. After his nap, he and Danny and Dave and his kiddos took all our dogs for a walk! Dodger, Fenway (our dogs) Sammy (T-Jocelyn & T-Scott's dog) and Annie and Riley (T-Craig and Shaina's dogs).  He had fun - but you can't tell too much from this picture!

Mommy has noticed this week that I am feeling a lot more pressure and bulging from the area where you are now located. It feels really firm and a lot more noticeable to me. I feel you rolling a lot now and it gets crampy some times. I am also getting nauseous with the migraines I get daily - not so much fun. I have been drinking at least 100oz of water a day, and have started adding the acceptable 1 cup of coffee a day in order to help the migraines. It does, but it is only brief relief.   

The day I turned 17 weeks I had a Doc appt w Dr Hansen again. She said you sound great! So far I have only gained 2lbs - which seems almost impossible given that I have a significant bump and have taken on an extra cup size in my bust. She sent in the info for the hospital to call for our anatomy scan - which will check out all of your major organs. We are excited to see how you are developing and to make sure all is going smoothy and you are healthy. We are also excited to find out your sex and whether we have a little girl or boy coming. The appt is scheduled for June 6th - which is the day your daddy had hoped Oliver would be born 6/6/11. We are excited to try something new if you are a girl and if you are a boy, we are excited by the fact that we already have experience with an awesome boy, Oliver, and can only imagine how much fun it would be to have another boy! We know your name will be Noelle if you are a girl, but we haven't a clue for certain what your name would be if you were a boy.

The girls list looks like this: Noelle Gemma, Sloane, Cora, (we both like these names) I like Harper, Kendall, Charlotte, daddy likes Capri but mommy does not. It's on his list.
We like Noelle Cora (as of yesterday May 25 but it could change)

The boys list looks like this: Holden, Harrison, Beau, Beckett (we both like these names), then there are Everette and Emerson which mommy likes. We have toyed with Oscar but it hasn't ever really made the list. I can't get over the possibility that you could be called Oscar the grouch.
We like the combos of Holden Harrsion and we tried on Beau Beckett - apparently we are enjoying the alliteration in the boys names.

We are going to try and take a poll again from family and friends about what sex you will be...so far it's:
Girl:                                           Boy:
Mommy                                    Vavo Carlos (yep that's it!)
Daddy
Vavo
T-Jocelyn
T-Craig
Shaina
Grandpa
Grandma Ellen

We'll be getting more rolling in soon - maybe it'll even out?


There is this cool chart on pinterest:

According to this chart -
your heartbeat is above 140 -GIRL
I crave salty foods - BOY
No morning sickness - BOY
Happy mood - BOY
Dry skin - BOY
Sleeping on my left - BOY
Lots of Headaches - BOY
You're looking like a BOY by this definition!

Your daddy and I JUST did the ring test and it said I am having 2 BOYS...and that's all for babies.
Chinese Gender chart says we're having a GIRL (which by the way, it said for your brother as well!)
Mayan Gender predictor says that adding the age of mom at conception and year of conception that even= girl and odd=boy, You came out to be EVEN which means GIRL and just for good measure I tried your brother and his came out to be boy so it appears as valid as it could be, ha ha. 
So - old wives tales so far say it's an even split! We shall find out soon enough!

 I am still craving vinegar - the more vinegar the better! I recently bought two bags of salt and vinegar chips and it wasn't vinegary enough LOL!  I also am still very interested in fruit and recently have been indulging in frozen Reese's peanut butter cups - but haven't enjoyed having the ice cream form (unless paired with LOTS of strawberries) weird I know! I have also been enjoying orange flavored seltzer! YUM! Also worth noting is that I have had some swelling in my hands so cautiously took off my wedding rings for the remainder of the pregnancy and have been wearing the blue topaz your daddy gave me as a wedding gift. It is beautiful, the same shape as my engagement ring AND your daddy gave it to me, so I feel ok about it being my replacement ring for now.  

Also - right around mother's day, Oliver started (and it has only increased) talking about his brother AND sister! We laughed at first saying that we are only getting one of you, but he is convinced that there are two of you. He also thinks that we are each carrying a baby and that he has three Octonaut toys, one for him and one for his brother AND his sister to play with! :) it is very sweet and kind. He has also started talking about which toys he will share with you. I think he is going to be a great big brother to you. 

LAST but not least - the most exciting thing about this week was that Friday night May 23rd - I was heading to bed after falling asleep on the couch reading a baby book and I felt you rolling around with lots of pressure. I put my hand up to the pressure and felt you give a BIG kick or push back! It was awesome getting to feel you on the outside! Such a milestone! I have missed that feeling! I haven't felt anything like it since, but as daddy said, we're getting closer now!

Love you tons!
mommy

 Development:

17 Weeks: Baby is the size of an onion!

Because the HCg in your body has been replaced by progesterone you may, this week, start to notice many of the pregnancy symptoms such as nausea and vomiting starting to ease off and even disappear completely. However, there are other things such a pelvic instability which can begin to arise around this time.

Any anxiety you are feeling should begin to ease off now as you become more accustomed to the changes taking place in your body.

Your baby may now begin to notice noises from outside the womb even if they are not very loud. Loud noises can however irritate your baby and make them restless.

Your baby is now able to move his head, mouth, lips, arms, fists, hands, legs, feet and toes and will continually do so to exercise and practice for life outside your womb. pregnology.com

According to the bump.com - you're about 5.1 inches long and weighing about 5.9 ounces. You're also growing a thicker umbilical cord!

 

16 Weeks: Baby is the size of an avocado!

 From this period on your baby will be able to distinguish between dark and light and although his eyes are still closed, like you he can tell the difference from night and day.

Urinary Infections

During the time of your pregnancy you are more likely to develop cystitis as your growing uterus puts pressure on your bladder making you feel the need to urinate more frequently. It is more likely that urine is left in your bladder making it susceptible to the germs and bacteria which cause inflammation. Additional sources of infection are the increased amounts of nutrients now present in your urine.

Progesterone replaces hCG

Starting this week the pregnancy hormones (hCG) will steadily be replaced by progesterone which can make your body weaker and your bowels sleepy. This can result in harder stools and constipation (yuck-yes) due to an accumulation of matter which the bowels take longer to process and excrete. It is important to maintain a healthy and varied diet with plenty of fiber to ensure this doesn't lead to the development of hemorrhoids. Info courtesy of pregnology.com

According to thebump.com emails - you are about 4.6 inches long and weight about 3.5 ounces. You're growing hair, lashes, and eyebrows and you're beginning to listen to my voice as the tiny bones form in your ears. Such exciting stuff!

15 Weeks: Baby is the size of a naval orange!

 Your baby's head is now the size of a marble and his hands like little peas. His muscles are becoming stronger as he treads water in his amniotic fluid. Occasionally he may get hiccups from swallowing the amniotic fluid which may fill his tiny stomach. This means he is not only swallowing but practicing breathing and even sucking. This swallowing and moving of his upper lips is in practice for feeding when he is born.

If you have had previous pregnancies there is a small chance that you will recognize and feel movement but in most cases it takes a few weeks longer before you will notice this. pregnology.com (started to feel some pressure and rolling)

According to the bump.com - baby weighs an average of 2.5 ounces as is 4 inches long. 

14 Weeks: Baby is the size of a lemon!

 Around this time the baby's hair will start to grow and his body will be covered in tiny fine downy hairs which will produce tallow to emulsify his skin and protect it from the amniotic fluid. Although his vocal chords will now be ready, he can't yet make any noise as this requires him to breathe air.

Your baby is now becoming a lot more active and he can move his arms and legs as his tiny brain is now able to control the muscles.

Your skin and hair may change under the influence of your hormones during pregnancy and the changes range from dry skin and flaky patches to oily skin causing pimples and blemishes. Your hair can also thicken up and shine or it may dry out and in some cases you may lose more than you normally do. All of this is nothing to worry about and is a normal symptom on the increased levels of various hormones now present in your body.

You may notice a dark line on your belly, running from your navel to your pubic bone and some stretch marks may appear. This is again dependent on your body's reaction to hormones. pregnology.com

According to the bump.com -  baby is 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces - almost doubling in weight since last week! 

Can't wait to see what the coming weeks bring!

love-mommy