Week 29

Our baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, I'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, I have to make sure to drink 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 our baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Our favorite place

Our friends Matt and Tani came down to visit and we took them to one of our favorite places...

THE ZOO! :-D

We usually go to the zoo during the day, but this time we went after work, it was so neat, all the animals were so active and awake - it was a completely different experience. (Plus, I got to play with my new camera!)
We can't wait until they come down to visit again!

Family Time!

So happy after seeing our little girl!

Everyone was so excited to see Baby Madison for the 1st time!

Today was so memorable, we had a wonderful lunch in Old Town, celebrated Father's Day and everyone got to see our little girl! I couldn't ask for a better day! :-D

4D Ultrasound!!!

It's official... she looks just like her daddy!! That nose and those big lips (definitely not her mom)!! She's got her right hand curled up by her cheek and yes; you aren't mistaken, that is her foot up by her chin!

The first thing the nurse said once she she started was, "Wow, she has such long legs!" (at least she got something from her mom).She had her legs folded up and was sucking on her toes... we had to keep poking my belly to try and get her to move them so we could see her face. She finally moved them, but was pretty determined to keep her hands up and not cooperate with us - haha!

BIG yawn... she was sleepy after lunchBeing able to watch our little girl squirm around in my belly was the most amazing thing! We saw her yawning, kicking, sucking on her fingers and toes, it was so cool! The whole family came down to partake in this wonderful experience! Only 2 1/2 more months until I can finally hold her - I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Week 28

This pic was taken this morning - officially 7 months! :-D

By this week, our 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 my womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

This weekend we have a very exciting event - we are going to do the 4D Ultrasound! We will be able to see our little girl again! The whole family is coming down to the appt, so we'll have lots of pics and a video to add - woo hoo :)

Week 27

This week, our 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, our 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.

Day at the Zoo!

Aren't they adorable? :-D

visiting the elephants

Deven wanted this pic added since he loves how big my belly looks!

Who doesn't love the giraffes?

Gracie and I having some fun!

Today we spent the day at the zoo with my dad, Concha, Melanie, Chris, Gracie & Luke. It was so much fun and the weather was perfect. We can't wait until they come visit again soon!

summer is here...

I haven't put any new pics up in awhile, so here is a little catch up from the past few weekends.

Deven and I spent Memorial weekend relaxing by the bay and enjoying some yummy BBQ! (Deven can be a really good cook... when he wants to be!)

I'm almost 25 weeks in this picture, I think I'm officially past the point of "hmm... is she pregnant or just chubby?" The belly is now large and in charge! Strangers now comment on my pregnancy and my belly just gets bigger and bigger each week. Madison's movements are also so much stronger; now when she moves I can lay things on my tummy and watch them wiggle around... which is so cool!

As for the #1 question I get asked hourly, daily, weekly, etc...

"How are you feeling/doing?"

Fantastic, Tired, Sore, Large, Tired, Constantly hot, Excited, Irritable, Tired, Wishing I didn't have to pee constantly, Happy, Anxious, Nervous, Emotional, Ready...

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Last weekend we celebrated Nancy's retirement (30 years!) with a wonderful party! I must admit, 2 things happened at this party that I NEVER thought I'd witness...

Nancy took a shot of tequila!

(I guess teaching kids for 30 years would drive anyone to drink tequila... eventually!)

My dad shaved off his mustache!!!! OMG!!!

(I swear, I think he's had that thing since he was in highschool!) Even though he says he just "felt like trying something new" I bet he was thinking of Madison... he didn't want her tugging on it every time he held her! lol :-D

The happy excited parents (to be)!!

Week 26

The network of nerves in our baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both my voice and Deven's as we chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English Hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.

Week 25

Head to heels, our 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.

We also had another Dr. appt last week and everything looks great! The Dr. measured my belly and it's 24cm (the cm should match the number of weeks I am), so everything is right on track. It's getting closer and closer... Deven and I are so excited! We can't wait to finally meet our little girl! :-D

Week 24

Our baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Week 23

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, our baby can feel me dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), I may be able to see her squirm underneath my clothes. Deven and I have seen this a few times already, watching my belly move when she kicks is the strangest and coolest thing!!

Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that our baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as a dog barking (or a Fatty meowing!!) or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Belly Pics

Can you believe that these pictures were only taken 3 days apart?





This pic was taken on Monday (21 weeks, 6 days)... I thought black was supposed to be a slimming color? :-D








This pic was taken on Thursday (22 weeks, 2 days)... the hair is shorter, but the belly is bigger! Maybe it was just the outfit, but many people at work commented on my belly that day "Wow, that outfit makes you look pregnant!" I of course responded with... "These days, everything I wear makes we look pregnant - haha" :-D

Week 22

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, our baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her eyes have formed, but her irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Madison seems to be wide awake and moving around 9:30 - 10am and again around 10-11pm :-D

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom sent these adorable "flowers" to my office. They have the most distinctive smell... Baby Powder! They are little rolled up booties in the shape of roses... SO CUTE!

Close up of the little booties

Another gift from my mom, a wall clock for Madison's room!

Lastly, Cami arranged these beautiful flowers for my Mother's Day!

Today was such a wonderful day, I spent the beginning of my day with my best friends and after dropping them off at the airport, my hubby and I spent the rest of the afternoon at Babies R Us... what an overwhelming experience, so much to choose from, we don't even know where to start!