18 weeks pregnant and 154 days to go!

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

***

Guess what - I've been feeling the baby moving almost every day now. Each time I feel it I try to get Jerry to run over and put his hand on my belly to see if he can feel it too. But every time - the baby stops moving! What a trickster!
But - On Jerry's birthday - he got the pleasure of feeling the baby move! YAY! What a neat birthday present from his baby!
I almost cried because I was so wanting him to experience it too.
YAY FOR JERRY! the 38 year old poppa.

Tomorrow is the ultrasound. We go in at 9am. Lets all cross our fingers that the baby is feeling outgoing and wants to face the right way and have his or her legs open so we can tell if it's a boy or girl!
If not - It wasn't meant to be - ! But it sure would be fun to find out don'tcha think????

On my other blog I have a poll where you can vote if you think it's a girl or a boy or twins.
More people are voting that it's a GIRL then the other two options.
So we'll see if they are right or not!

i'm going to start making a quilt next week. And I'm going to start prenatal yoga tomorrow.
And Jerry and I went swimming yesterday and I LOVED IT SO MUCH!
And I'm still cooking and baking away and enjoying that very much.
The latest recipe was blueberry muffins. No sugar no wheat. pretty good.
I'm also signed up to start a knitting class on Wednesday where I am going to learn how to make a baby kimono sweater.
Um, can you saw CUTE!?

guess I'm feeling more and more energy to have this full of a schedule. I'm also looking into taking hebrew classes at a nearby temple and Jerry and I are going to try to get to Friday night services at that Temple some week in the near future. Maybe this week. Depends on his schedule. We were going to go to Rosh Hashanah services tonight but it actually costs $75.00 per person to go! Who the heck decided to charge money for high holy days services - that is a crime. We can't pay that. So we aren't.
Bummed me out. Where do the Jews go who don't have that kind of extra cash???

Seriously.

anyhow - I'm off to go eat some clementines, and sit in the airconditioning before I head to my Monday night meeting.

xoxox
*c

it's Jerry's Birthday!!!!

YAY!

It's Jerry's Birthday!

The big 38.

We've decided to celebrate all weekend.

I'd list here all the fun things we've done but then it would take away his chance to tell you all about his adventures when you talk with him!

Next weekend his mom is coming to town for a visit. We are planning a belated birthday dinner with her and my parents for next Saturday.

ok - it's 5:30am and I'm up! I am going to try to sleep a little more so I can get on the birthday caravan !!!

no new baby news today - we have our ultrasound on Tuesday.

new belly photos

Jerry took these photos on Monday.

Cute baby bump. I think it's more then a "bump" at this point?

week 17 - 161 days left...? REALLY?!?!

hello! I think I can feel the baby moving around. It feels like little "bloops". who the heck knows how to explain what that feels like. And I don't even know for sure if that is what it is.

anyhow - today is a good day. It's FALL outside. hummingbirds all over the honeysuckle bush out front. pretty girl is taking a moment on the front porch.
I just had lunch of a salad with lemon and olive oil and a side of cottage cheese and fruit. YUM. I'm so glad I'm back into lettuce and salads again.

Just bought Bill Clinton's book called "giving". I found it for $5.00 online. I saw him on "the view" today and I just love him. His book is how to get involved and give back and make the world a better place. Who doesn't want to do that?

also waiting on a few books from the library to see if I want to buy them after I check them out. They are on babies and what to expect from newborn to age 2.
Amy suggested having a good reference book around just so you can turn to a page in the book if the baby has a rash or something and you don't have to call the doctor at 3am - you can figure it out on your own if it's normal and treat it. How smart is that? There are MANY reference books so I'm checking them out at the library first to see which one I like best.

Jerry took another belly photo today and I haven't downloaded it yet. Tomorrow?
Maybe.

6 days until Jerry's birthday. 8 days until the ultrasound.
Fun Fun Fun Fun Fun!

***

this weeks development:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

a turnip?

our little one is the size and weight of a turnip this next week.

I think the following week it's the size of a large TOMATO!

in just 9 days we go in for another ultrasound. This one is the one where we may be able to see the sex of the baby. It depends on if he or she is facing the right way and isn't crossing his or her legs. I still have a feeling it's a boy.

Do you have a feeling about it?

Today Jerry went to the LA county fair to take more fair ride photos. I am home doing laundry, dishes, and watching the emmys. A day of power lounging. Yesterday was a pretty busy day and I am wiped out today. Not in a bad way - but in a - not changing out of my pajamas way.

I'm experiencing more heart burn and acid reflux then I've ever in my life. I'd explain it in more detail but it might make you nauseated. It's seriously gross and intense. Like mini vomiting... burning, and disgusting. ok - i said I wasn't going to tell you - but it's hard not to when it's that gross. I have rolaids near the bed. I NEED them let me tell you.

It's been fun to show more when i am out and about. Jerry and I went to Baby Gap yesterday where they have a maternity clothing section in the back. I found a great long sweater and a really nice top. Glad Amy told me about the Gap I had NO idea that they had maternity clothing...why would I?

Not much more to report. I'll post the 17 week developments tomorrow.

more baby names are on the list now but I think it will be easier once we know if it's a boy or girl. we can concentrate our efforts.


Oh great - Acid reflux coming on...gotta go get the rolaids!

xo
*c

16 week comparison

Jerry took another round of photos this morning.

Here is a look at my belly these days.

I've been wearing tank tops when I go out that really show of the belly.

It's definitely showing now!

Yowza!

16 weeks - we heard the heartbeat again!

hi there!

We are at 16 weeks now and guess what? I look pregnant now. My belly is sticking out now more then ever. I used to look like I'd eaten too much mexican food but now I look like I've got a little bean growing in there! It's actually nice to go out wearing the loose tops and having that belly of mine stick out more. I can't describe the difference a week or two makes! I feel much more like myself these days. Like the fog of the first trimester has lifted and I'm full of my usual energy. We had a doctor's appointment on Saturday for another monthly check up and we got to hear the baby's heartbeat again. It was beating at 151 beats per minute.
I could barely hear it. Afterwards Jerry told me that he could hear it just fine so I think the speaker thing was facing him. Next time I'll know to ask for her to move the monitor closer to me. The doctor took me off the modified bed rest. I can do everything now that was restricted before. I'm excited to start exercising. Swimming, walking and pre-natal yoga classes are on the list. I'm going to go slow though. Not real interested in becoming an award winning athlete, just in moving around and helping my body stretch out and relax and get the kinks out.
The doctor also told us that we are going to see the specialist to does the more expansive ultrasound in about 2 weeks. That is when we find out if we are having a boy or a girl. I think we will be at 18 weeks. part of me wants to wait until week 20 when the baby is more developed. I've heard it can be helpful to wait a little longer for the baby to have the big growth spurt. SO I'm going to ask them this today when they call me about the appointment. But - either way - we will find out the sex of the baby when we do the ultrasound. I think it is going to help me to bond with the baby while it's still in there. We can pick the name our names out for that sex. And we can start talking to him or her in a different way. I more specific way. I sng to my cat all the time " the pretty girl song " I think it would be nice to sing a song like that to the baby - and if it's a girl or a boy I can get more specific.
We went to Niko's 1 year birthday party yesterday. Niko was born with a lot of illnesses. He has been sick for the entire year including a few trips to the ER from not being able to breathe. They took his tonsils out and after that surgery his lung collapsed. But at the party - I got to see Niko smiling for the very first time and bouncing up and down on his daddy's lap like a happy little baby. It was touching to see him. They found out that he is allergic to wheat, dairy, chicken, eggs, soy, and a bunch of other things that were not helping.
Andrew and Kirsten ( Niko's parents ) are SUPER excited about our pregnancy and can't WAIT to come over and drop off almost every item of baby furniture and baby stuff that they have. They don't need a lot of it anymore and they would rather give it to us then just give it to goodwill. At first we were telling them that we weren't ready for it. But we cleaned out the second bedroom, and I'm past the first trimester - so we are going to plan a day when we go over and take a look. I'm still a bit flipped out about bringing baby stuff into our house. It just seems surreal when I am not that far along in the pregnancy. But I guess it will help us get ready to start getting the room set up!

Also we had house guests this past weekend who came down from Portland. And guess what? She is pregnant too! She is 3 weeks behind me so we are both due in March. CRAZY! So it was really nice to have an old friend here ( I've known her since Minneapolis when we worked at the Guthrie together, and we both lived in portland too and we both worked with Miguel Ruiz too - so there is a lot of history there. Her husband is a fabulous guy and he and Jerry get along great. ) Ok anyhow - it was nice to lay around with an old friend and talk about being pregnant. We both have different ways of approaching it but it was nice to not feel at all like either of us was trying to tell the other one that their way is better. I've gotten that in the past with friends who have babies telling me how to do it in a very un supportive - very domineering way. That's never fun.
Sounds like she is going to do an at home birth with a midwife. I'm doing an in hospital birth with a OB/GYN and no midwife or doula. And our main goal is to have a healthy baby so we are on the same page with that!
I can't believe that the next time we see them we will be parents! All of us! Holy............!!!!!!
They were our first house guests. We had a blow up bed that worked ok - but we do need something better then that. But it was really nice to have them here and to show them our home, our neighborhood, our favorite places, and a slice of our life.

**
here is what babycenter.com says about the baby's development this week:

How your baby's growing:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

How your life's changing:
The top of your uterus is about halfway between your pubic bone and your navel, and the round ligaments that support it are thickening and stretching as it grows. You're probably feeling a whole lot better as you settle into pregnancy, too. Less nausea, fewer mood swings, and "glowing" skin contribute to an overall sense of well-being.

Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. (And if this is your first baby, don't be too impatient — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so.) The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently.

**

apples

our baby is the size of an apple.
Gwenyth Paltow named one of her children "apple"

15th week

from the baby center site:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

***

we have new dressers in our bedroom now. it feels like a fancy hotel room. It's amazing how much that helped open up the room and make it look much much better. Jerry built them both - they were from Ikea. So he was busy building in the living room while I cleaned out all the drawers from the old stuff, and also attacked the hallway cabinets and drawers. They are cleaned out too. Much more room now to store baby stuff. We have friends coming this week. Should be interesting since we've never had people actually stay here accept for a photographer once who slept on the couch and left so early it was like she wasn't here.

***

Starting to look at baby stuff a little more. Jerry and I stopped by 2 baby stores before heading to Ikea on Saturday.. It was pretty fun to look around and still surreal to both of us. I'm still not really feeling like I need to shop and buy stuff for the baby. But I am getting familiar with the things that are around. I'm curious about
swaddling muslins right now. They are going to be necessary I think! I'm intrigued by swaddling. I bought a dvd about it. It hasn't arrived yet and I probably won't watch it for a while.
*
Jerry turns 38 in 20 days
He of course says he doesn't want anything. He is humble that way. But I have a few surprises up my sleeve for him!

i love this sling thing

don't you?

I love things that are embroidered.

Love them.

This pretty little thing is $195.00
WOW.

I may have to dream about this instead of having one.

yesterday i found out that my friend Katye ( pronounced Katie ) is pregnant too. She is about 3 weeks behind me. She lives up in Portland and she is visiting us next weekend with her husband Brandon. The two of them aren't telling anyone ( not even their families ) until week 14. I sniffed it out. Something Brandon said in an e-mail tipped me off and I said something to him and he had to admit it! Too funny.
So next weekend we will get to experience 2 pregnant gals with one bathroom. I pee about 4-5 times a night. I wonder if there will be a line outside our bathroom at night!

yesterday jerry and I bought new dressers at Ikea. We are getting rid of the antique things we have been using. I love the look of them but they smell of must and mold or something like it. Especially Jerry's piece of furniture. I hate sleeping in a room near something that smells of must and mold. I don't think it's good for either of us or the baby down deep in my belly.

I'll be washing all of the clothing that was in the old dressers while Jerry builds the new stuff.

Slowly we are getting rid of all the old, dirty, musty, stinky, ugly stuff and replacing it with new, clean, fresh smelling pretty stuff. YAY!

Tomorrow is the beginning of week 15. Our baby is the size of an apple and my belly is the size of a cantaloupe.

more decorating ideas....and a laugh from jon stewart

a castle chalk board!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_20&listing_id=13182588

giraffe
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_2&listing_id=13520167

chirping bird
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_12&listing_id=13902256


looking around at more ideas for the baby room this morning.

Now that the room is cleared out I feel more ready to take on the task of figuring that room out.

I think it will make even more sense once we find out if our baby is a boy or a girl - but it's still fun to start looking.

also takes my mind of Sarah Palin's speech last night. It really bugged me. I am afraid of her. I get the feeling she is a very mean person and isn't honest. Although she is an excellent speaker. I do not like her or trust her.

good thing Jon Stewart was on to point out the facts in such a hilarious way. I LOVE HIM!

Please click on this link to have a good deep laugh.....
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/04/jon-stewart-mocks-how-oreillys-opinion-on-teen-pregnancy-gestated-over-a-period-of-months/

WEEK 14!! GO TEAM SEINER!~

What Baby Center says about this weeks developments:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:
Welcome to your second trimester! Your energy is likely returning, your breasts may be feeling less tender, and your queasiness may have completely abated by now. If not, hang on — chances are good it will soon be behind you (although an unlucky few will still feel nauseated months from now).

The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Starting to show can be quite a thrill, giving you and your partner visible evidence of the baby you've been waiting for. Take some time to plan, daydream, and enjoy this amazing time. It's normal to worry a bit now and then, but try to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby, and having faith that you're well equipped for what's ahead.

***

This weekend we have been re-organizing - and cleaning out the second bedroom to get ready to make it into the baby room.

So far we have accomplished a lot in a small amount of time.

We have before pictures and plan to take a few more through out the process.

We are doing a major Goodwill run to let go of much of the stuff that is taking up space. LOTS of books and other random stuff.

Not sure what color to paint that room. Not really into painting it "baby" colors. I still want it to match the rest of the house - but I think the color in there right now is a bit drab for a baby room. It looks a little like watered down squash baby food or something. Blech.

But that won't happen for a little bit. We are having friends from Portland Oregon come to visit over the Sept 12th weekend so that room is going to become a guest room first. Baby room after that. But the only thing we are really doing for the guest room is buying a fold up bed on wheels. That way when it does become the baby room and someone visits us we can roll the bed out into the living room area and our friends can have the entire front of the house.

Hopefully at some point in the future we will be able to get the metroshed we want to have outback as a little bungalow that people can stay in. But that is further down the line at this point.

Today we are watching CNN on Labor Day. Jerry has the day off and we are getting ready to make eggs with our gluten free waffles from trader joes. YUMMY. I am out of agave nectar but our earth balance butter spread will be just fine instead of syrup.

I'm still feeling very low energy - I never left the house yesterday and Jerry did all the grocery shopping.

Today we are going to work on the room for a couple hours, and watch CNN and track the hurricane Gustav.

Pretty girl is outside having a conversation with a squirrel over who owns that tree. I think the squirrel has some good points but pretty is pissed.