I'm preparing myself for 5 more weeks of pregnancy, in case my uterus is a lazy property manager and doesn't feel like vacating the premises until I'm 42 weeks. I am mostly effaced and 1 cm dilated and that means absolutely nothing, but I put that in there for inquiring minds.
Baby Jack is now about 5 1/2 - 6 pounds and super long and getting very squished. Uteri are generally amazing and well designed, but mine can only hold so much before it will expel you, little man. I have warned you. I am starting to worry about having a ginormous baby, since I feel humongous. Dan, who tends to be the most objective of the two of us, has said he estimates the baby to be about 5 1/2 pounds right now, and not to worry. He's an engineer, and right about everything 99.89% of the time, so I am trying to relax and realize that yeah, my body probably does know what it's doing.
Up until 3 days ago I was feeling very unready and almost unhappy about the fact that soon I will be so tired I won't even want to move, let alone do anything fun. And that probably 3 months of my life at least will run together and I might not even remember most of it. And that was ALL I was focusing on... And then I got convicted. And read my journal. Nothing puts your life and feelings into perspective like reminding yourself how badly you wanted what you now have been blessed with. I also just woke up Saturday morning with this "I'm having a baby, let's do this thing!" feeling which I can neither believe nor explain... I have heard this comes soon before labor, but I'm not sure if it really does or if it's just another of those things that may happen, may not, etc etc.
We went over the birth plan with Doc this last week and he is so laid back I want to cry. I was ready for a fight and instead we ended up laughing and quoting Monty Python and the Holy Grail back and forth the entire appointment. I really only have 3 things I will go ape crazy on them if they try to violate. I do not want to be offered pain medication of any kind (because I will take it), they're not allowed to take Jack away from me (or Dan) anytime in the first hour after he's born (and/or before he has breastfed), and he will have absolutely no vaccines, bottles, or pacifiers for the duration of the hospital stay. Other than that, I'm pretty easy going... it's ape crazy or totally calm with me. Doc also said I could labor at home as long as I want (PRAISE JESUS), so my plan for staying home until I feel like I might die soon is a go even though I have way too many people freaking out that I might kill my child by not having him monitored from the minute I have the first contraction. That's a whole other blog post series right there. :)
We have everything we need for this little boy, and I can't wait for him to get here! I managed to make it all the way to 36 1/2 weeks before I got noticeably uncomfortable. If most women feel anything like I do this late in pregnancy, I'm pretty peeved almost every 9 month preggers gal I've ever known can only complain about how bad they feel. Uncomfortable, yes... amazing? Uh, YES. *Pregnancy rant over*
I am down and out a little more these days because my nesting drive is stronger than my drive to rest when my hips hurt, so I might be posting a little more these next few weeks until delivery. I specifically want to post a few of the nursery... SO cute. So, if you don't hear from me, you probably know where I am. That being either in the bathroom, or having a baby :)
Monday, August 27, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
8 Months?!
Yes, I am the worst blogger, quite possibly ever... I have a pretty valid excuse (trying to get stuff ready for baby!... no? Not a valid excuse?!), but I won't use it... I won't pull that card out...
Oh wait, I just did.
Well, it's true anyways. Nesting has hit the Wilkenson household in the last week and something (if not multiple somethings...) get's organized or redone or cleaned or polished or shined or dusted everyday... and then usually again the next day. Thank you, my furbabies, for making it nigh impossible to keep something clean for more than 12 hours.
All of my baby clothes are organized into sizes in bags. And the room is painted. That's about it. 8 weeks till due date and I am in panic mode to get everything we need, until I realize that 8 weeks is 2 months, then I am okay again.
As a side note, a little rant about baby bedding: WHY must all crib bedding be ridiculously hideous?? Who's idea was it to put fish and sharks on a bright blue and yellow quilt?? Gross. Not only that, but why must the only cute set be 250 buckaroos... for four pieces?? I really MUST learn how to sew.
I am officially 'plump.' A random 20 year old man at my church told me this, and then proceeded to ask me if I was going to be able to fit any more baby in there. Silly man, at least double the baby will be in my uterus come birthday time. It's hilarious what people say to pregnant women!
Loving. Every. Minute. I am 8 months and 3 days pregnant and I am pretty dang uncomfortable, things like bending over, putting pants on, getting out of bed, and wrestling with my 77 pound fur baby are hard to do, I randomly puke every once in a while, and I'm still am far from ready for this to be over... something about having this baby all to myself for these 8 months, knowing he's perfectly protected and safe and I can shelter him from anything I want is very comforting... it's also very selfish and unhealthy, so, I should probably get over that. But, I also feel a little bit like I have a present for everyone in this little human being waiting to be born, and that keeping him to myself would just be mean. So, this too must end.
On the other hand, I am totally ready to actually see this kid's face... I decided to skip the 3D ultrasound where you basically see exactly what they look like. What fun is it to see your kid's face for the first time on ultrasound?! Much more fun to be able to touch it and kiss it :)
The weight thing has been a bit of a struggle these last few months, but basically the opposite of what I thought would be happening. I thought I was going to blow up like a balloon when I got pregnant. But, between puking the first 16 weeks, food aversions until just recently and taking my dog for mandatory walks twice a day, I've struggled to GAIN weight. At almost 33 weeks I've gained a whopping 11 pounds, and while somebody right now is going to shoot me for being concerned about that, losing 3 pounds in a week in your third trimester is VERY CONCERNING when you don't have anything to lose. You're worried your baby is getting no nutrition at that point, which, as you can obviously assume, is no fun. I did well with the weight gain for 6 weeks, and then randomly started losing... there is no rhyme or reason, so at this point, as long as I'm feeling Jack move in a consistent pattern and I don't continue to lose that much weight, we just roll with it.
Stretch marks #1, 2, 3, and 4 have appeared and are having fun hanging out. Totally expected that way before now, so I am one happy camper I made it this far without them gracing me with their unwanted presence. :)
I am like a celebrity in Walmart whenever I go... I have to allow extra time because most old ladies like to play 20 questions with me. I however, am not complaining... I actually think it's sweet. I hear it only gets worse after the baby comes, too.
About Jack! He weighs about 4 1/2 pounds now (my pelvic floor will vouch for that), and is about 19 inches long. He is literally in constant motion... there's about an hour total throughout the day that I don't feel him doing his little rolls in there. He has quite the personality and likes to show his butt... if I poke him or move him out of a position that is uncomfortable for me, he pushes back harder. Oh yes, he doesn't move like normal in utero babies do... he stays put and gets more stubborn. He IS his mother's child.
He is also his father's child... I can feel him sucking my brain cells away. I cannot remember almost anything for more than 15 seconds anymore. He will be a genius.
I told Dan he would probably think I'm weird and creepy, but I feel like I already know Jack, and I'm pretty sure I feel what he feels... I can feel when he's sad, happy, worried.... right now your eyes are going bug-eyed and you really think I'm some weird emo person, but I don't really care, it's true :) They say babies feel what Mamma feels, I think the reverse is true too.
Also, he goes crazy whenever he hears his Daddy, and that is by far the cutest thing I have ever felt.
We just love this little boy and now we are single digits away from meeting him. :) 53 days away from due date. I can't believe he will be here so soon.
Oh wait, I just did.
Well, it's true anyways. Nesting has hit the Wilkenson household in the last week and something (if not multiple somethings...) get's organized or redone or cleaned or polished or shined or dusted everyday... and then usually again the next day. Thank you, my furbabies, for making it nigh impossible to keep something clean for more than 12 hours.
All of my baby clothes are organized into sizes in bags. And the room is painted. That's about it. 8 weeks till due date and I am in panic mode to get everything we need, until I realize that 8 weeks is 2 months, then I am okay again.
As a side note, a little rant about baby bedding: WHY must all crib bedding be ridiculously hideous?? Who's idea was it to put fish and sharks on a bright blue and yellow quilt?? Gross. Not only that, but why must the only cute set be 250 buckaroos... for four pieces?? I really MUST learn how to sew.
I am officially 'plump.' A random 20 year old man at my church told me this, and then proceeded to ask me if I was going to be able to fit any more baby in there. Silly man, at least double the baby will be in my uterus come birthday time. It's hilarious what people say to pregnant women!
Loving. Every. Minute. I am 8 months and 3 days pregnant and I am pretty dang uncomfortable, things like bending over, putting pants on, getting out of bed, and wrestling with my 77 pound fur baby are hard to do, I randomly puke every once in a while, and I'm still am far from ready for this to be over... something about having this baby all to myself for these 8 months, knowing he's perfectly protected and safe and I can shelter him from anything I want is very comforting... it's also very selfish and unhealthy, so, I should probably get over that. But, I also feel a little bit like I have a present for everyone in this little human being waiting to be born, and that keeping him to myself would just be mean. So, this too must end.
On the other hand, I am totally ready to actually see this kid's face... I decided to skip the 3D ultrasound where you basically see exactly what they look like. What fun is it to see your kid's face for the first time on ultrasound?! Much more fun to be able to touch it and kiss it :)
The weight thing has been a bit of a struggle these last few months, but basically the opposite of what I thought would be happening. I thought I was going to blow up like a balloon when I got pregnant. But, between puking the first 16 weeks, food aversions until just recently and taking my dog for mandatory walks twice a day, I've struggled to GAIN weight. At almost 33 weeks I've gained a whopping 11 pounds, and while somebody right now is going to shoot me for being concerned about that, losing 3 pounds in a week in your third trimester is VERY CONCERNING when you don't have anything to lose. You're worried your baby is getting no nutrition at that point, which, as you can obviously assume, is no fun. I did well with the weight gain for 6 weeks, and then randomly started losing... there is no rhyme or reason, so at this point, as long as I'm feeling Jack move in a consistent pattern and I don't continue to lose that much weight, we just roll with it.
Stretch marks #1, 2, 3, and 4 have appeared and are having fun hanging out. Totally expected that way before now, so I am one happy camper I made it this far without them gracing me with their unwanted presence. :)
I am like a celebrity in Walmart whenever I go... I have to allow extra time because most old ladies like to play 20 questions with me. I however, am not complaining... I actually think it's sweet. I hear it only gets worse after the baby comes, too.
About Jack! He weighs about 4 1/2 pounds now (my pelvic floor will vouch for that), and is about 19 inches long. He is literally in constant motion... there's about an hour total throughout the day that I don't feel him doing his little rolls in there. He has quite the personality and likes to show his butt... if I poke him or move him out of a position that is uncomfortable for me, he pushes back harder. Oh yes, he doesn't move like normal in utero babies do... he stays put and gets more stubborn. He IS his mother's child.
He is also his father's child... I can feel him sucking my brain cells away. I cannot remember almost anything for more than 15 seconds anymore. He will be a genius.
I told Dan he would probably think I'm weird and creepy, but I feel like I already know Jack, and I'm pretty sure I feel what he feels... I can feel when he's sad, happy, worried.... right now your eyes are going bug-eyed and you really think I'm some weird emo person, but I don't really care, it's true :) They say babies feel what Mamma feels, I think the reverse is true too.
Also, he goes crazy whenever he hears his Daddy, and that is by far the cutest thing I have ever felt.
We just love this little boy and now we are single digits away from meeting him. :) 53 days away from due date. I can't believe he will be here so soon.
Friday, June 1, 2012
6 months, and the 6-pack is gone...
In case you were wondering, I am referring to a 6-pack of ABS, not beer. Just thought I'd clear that up. Although, the 6 packs of beer are definitely gone, too...
There are few things more fun to lose your flat abs to than skittles, homemade bread, Reese's ice cream...
Or a baby bump!
There's 24 weeks of baby Jack inside me right now, putting me at 6 months pregnant.
I seriously do not know how that happened. I feel like I have slept through the last two months of my life. And I most definitely have not. How can I keep myself from 'sleeping' through the last 3 months? I really need to know, because currently I have a crib, a few onesies, some socks, and a painting for the room...
And not a single diaper.
And not a single drop of paint on the walls.
And no carseat...
Since this baby is already trying to make an appearance, I better get this show on the road.
Here's some baby stats for the statisticians among us. Basically meaning any woman that has any interest in babies at all.
* Jack is about 9 inches long (crown to rump) and about 1.7 pounds.
* He is most active between 11 AM - 2 PM and 10:30 PM - 2 AM
* He has hair, and if you had a little in utero camera, you could tell what color it is.
* He can open his eyes now! No more fused eyelids.
* My uterus is the size of a soccer ball.
* I have gained! 3 POUNDS! Woot!!!
Baby Jack seems to want to grace the world with his presence early. I have contractions every night from 10 to 2 AM. Some are Braxton Hicks, some are full blown contractions. It happens no matter how much water I drink, how much rest/activity I had that day, if I'm laying on my left side, no matter what I eat... and well, it wouldn't be that big of a deal if they weren't engaging my cervix (aka, making me dilate). So, I'm off to make sure I don't have a UTI and to hopefully NOT be put on bedrest!
Monday was Happy Viability-Day to me and Jack! Thank goodness for modern medicine making us mommies-to-be feel way less nervous!
I am definitely experiencing the more uncomfortable side of pregnancy now, but I'm on such a high about the fact that I AM pregnant all the time I don't ever take any Tylenol. I start crying every time I imagine having the baby, so I can't imagine what it'll be like when I actually DO have the baby...
Basically, yep, still in love with being pregnant.
3 months to go, people... 3 months. Can't wait to see that little face.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
~ Pure ~
There's no way to describe how purely awesome having this tiny life inside of me is, but if I were to try, it's...
Pure awe when I feel your tiny feet and little hands kicking and punching, and I wonder if you'll be awake this much when you get here.
Pure expectation when I poke you, and you kick exactly where I pushed.
Pure anticipation when I see the baby swing in the corner of my living room and I imagine what you'll look like all curled up in it.
Pure love when I look forward and imagine what I'll feel when I hold you for the first time.
Pure emotion every time I think about watching Daddy hold you for the first time.
Pure joy when I think about watching Daddy teach you how to throw a ball in the backyard.
Pure wonder when I ask how I could be so blessed whilst puking for the fourth time that day.
Pure reverence when I think of the miracle it took to get you inside of me and of the God who put you there.
Pure thankfulness when I remember that I have been blessed with you when I don't deserve any child, especially you.
Pure delight when I see you squirming on the ultrasound screen and wonder what you're thinking.
Pure gratefulness (and to be honest, pure terror) when I think of the responsibility we have been given to raise you for Him, and not for us.
Pure happiness when I feel you punching to the beat of the tune I'm humming, and know you already have rhythm from within the womb!
Pure awesome, ALL the time.
Oh, how I love this little baby.
Pure awe when I feel your tiny feet and little hands kicking and punching, and I wonder if you'll be awake this much when you get here.
Pure expectation when I poke you, and you kick exactly where I pushed.
Pure anticipation when I see the baby swing in the corner of my living room and I imagine what you'll look like all curled up in it.
Pure love when I look forward and imagine what I'll feel when I hold you for the first time.
Pure emotion every time I think about watching Daddy hold you for the first time.
Pure joy when I think about watching Daddy teach you how to throw a ball in the backyard.
Pure wonder when I ask how I could be so blessed whilst puking for the fourth time that day.
Pure reverence when I think of the miracle it took to get you inside of me and of the God who put you there.
Pure thankfulness when I remember that I have been blessed with you when I don't deserve any child, especially you.
Pure delight when I see you squirming on the ultrasound screen and wonder what you're thinking.
Pure gratefulness (and to be honest, pure terror) when I think of the responsibility we have been given to raise you for Him, and not for us.
Pure happiness when I feel you punching to the beat of the tune I'm humming, and know you already have rhythm from within the womb!
Pure awesome, ALL the time.
Oh, how I love this little baby.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The Big One
This post title could refer to many things...
The size of my ever growing belly...
The 'big' ultrasound that is scheduled for tomorrow...
Baby Jack, since he's now the size of a mango...
And, it's basically all of those and none of those. I just couldn't come up with a better blog title. I am waxing ineloquent in my pregnant state, which falls under the category of "pregnancy brain," of which I have about 17 episodes/day. I seriously love being pregnant, it keeps me on my toes!
I read somewhere that the babies 'home,' also known as my uterus, grows the most between weeks 18-20. I am currently 19 weeks, and I believe it. This belly has come out of nowhere... I woke up one morning and it was just as big as when I went to bed the night before. I participate in a silly game on my pregnancy forum... it is truly pure silliness but it's so fun and I haven't the slightest idea why. Each week, we measure our belly with toilet paper and see how many squares it takes to go all the way around. At 17 weeks it was 8 1/2 squares. At 18 weeks it was 10 squares, and at 19 weeks.... it was 12 squares. Let's not take that thought process any further or I will be the size of a football stadium by the time Jack decides to make his appearance!
Tomorrow is the big anatomy scan! I am secretly petrified that they will tell me I am ACTUALLY having a girl, even though that should be the least of my worries. They're going to be measuring every part of his little body to make sure it all looks healthy. Normally (if we hadn't cheated), we'd be finding out the sex tomorrow too, BUT, we are impatient people :) I can't wait to see if he has daddy's legs! Doc says between me feeling the baby as a first time mom at around 14 weeks, my brother AND my husband both breaking their waters with kicks (Hubby was a month early, brother was 2 weeks early!), baby probably has some pretty strong legs. And well, if you look at Daddy's legs, you'd wonder if there was a possibility of Jack not having strong legs.
Can I just say again how awesome it is to be pregnant? I mean, I'm running out of ways to describe the awesome-itude. I puked everyday for 3 months and I still think it was fun. Now that I can feel baby super well, I sit back in my papasan chair everyday and just feel him, and then when I feel him I can't help but pray for him. It's my favorite part of the day. I am starting to be able to feel him when I'm up and around too! It's so surreal to know that one time, this not-so-little-anymore baby was the size of a poppy seed. I can't believe I look at his ultrasound pictures everyday and I remember what a miracle baby he is. I know God has something special in mind for him.
Also, can I just say how incredible it is to love someone you've never even seen as much as I love this baby?
Goal #1: Never forget how God worked a miracle. Goal #2: Enjoy EVERY second of this pregnancy, and then his life.
Oh boy. I need prayers. :)
The size of my ever growing belly...
The 'big' ultrasound that is scheduled for tomorrow...
Baby Jack, since he's now the size of a mango...
And, it's basically all of those and none of those. I just couldn't come up with a better blog title. I am waxing ineloquent in my pregnant state, which falls under the category of "pregnancy brain," of which I have about 17 episodes/day. I seriously love being pregnant, it keeps me on my toes!
I read somewhere that the babies 'home,' also known as my uterus, grows the most between weeks 18-20. I am currently 19 weeks, and I believe it. This belly has come out of nowhere... I woke up one morning and it was just as big as when I went to bed the night before. I participate in a silly game on my pregnancy forum... it is truly pure silliness but it's so fun and I haven't the slightest idea why. Each week, we measure our belly with toilet paper and see how many squares it takes to go all the way around. At 17 weeks it was 8 1/2 squares. At 18 weeks it was 10 squares, and at 19 weeks.... it was 12 squares. Let's not take that thought process any further or I will be the size of a football stadium by the time Jack decides to make his appearance!
Tomorrow is the big anatomy scan! I am secretly petrified that they will tell me I am ACTUALLY having a girl, even though that should be the least of my worries. They're going to be measuring every part of his little body to make sure it all looks healthy. Normally (if we hadn't cheated), we'd be finding out the sex tomorrow too, BUT, we are impatient people :) I can't wait to see if he has daddy's legs! Doc says between me feeling the baby as a first time mom at around 14 weeks, my brother AND my husband both breaking their waters with kicks (Hubby was a month early, brother was 2 weeks early!), baby probably has some pretty strong legs. And well, if you look at Daddy's legs, you'd wonder if there was a possibility of Jack not having strong legs.
Can I just say again how awesome it is to be pregnant? I mean, I'm running out of ways to describe the awesome-itude. I puked everyday for 3 months and I still think it was fun. Now that I can feel baby super well, I sit back in my papasan chair everyday and just feel him, and then when I feel him I can't help but pray for him. It's my favorite part of the day. I am starting to be able to feel him when I'm up and around too! It's so surreal to know that one time, this not-so-little-anymore baby was the size of a poppy seed. I can't believe I look at his ultrasound pictures everyday and I remember what a miracle baby he is. I know God has something special in mind for him.
Also, can I just say how incredible it is to love someone you've never even seen as much as I love this baby?
Goal #1: Never forget how God worked a miracle. Goal #2: Enjoy EVERY second of this pregnancy, and then his life.
Oh boy. I need prayers. :)
Friday, April 13, 2012
4 1/2 Months Pregnant???
I'm not entirely sure how this happened, but yes, on Monday I will be 18 weeks pregnant. I think yesterday I was 12 weeks.
And right about now is when I start getting a little panicky that the only baby things we have in this house are a crib, a bouncy seat, some shoes, and a few onesies. Did I mention my house is a mess and every corner needs organized???
Ahem. So, about the delay between blog posts these days... sorry about that. Between either puking, chasing after a 50 pound 4 month old puppy or having a busy schedule, blogging has been pushed back to the "I really should do that soon, but the 14 other things on my list come first" category. Let's just say time management has been a skill I'm pretty sure God is trying to teach me these last few weeks.
So, on to the good stuff! SO. So. Sooooooo much has happened since I last wrote. I will do my best to do at least bi-weekly updates from here on out. But for now, we will play catch up.
I think around 11 weeks I started to feel the flutters of baby Dashlee. Pretty much everyone tells me that's impossible, especially for a first time mom, but, I mean really, if I can feel ovulation, pretty sure I can feel something the size of a peach moving around inside me. I am basically enthralled with baby. I take my prenatal and other vitamins with orange juice at night, right before bed, so whenever I lay down I can feel baby going CRAZY. Daddy still can't feel it from the outside yet, which to be honest is a little weird to me, since it's so clearly the baby moving to me.
FINALLY, after 3 months straight of Zofran everyday and still feeling nauseous with major food aversions, at 16 weeks baby Dashlee let me stop puking. I have never appreciated what it is to enjoy food and not feel like utter poop as I do now. Oh, also, thanks for the boost of energy, kid! I have enough to do my daily duties AND still do a little bit extra. This is huge progress.
At the end of 16 weeks, we scheduled a 3d/4d ultrasound to see little baby Dashlee's gender! Let me tell you, I am convinced at this point I'm having a girl. All my dreams are about girls, I have all the girl symptoms I've heard, I just 'feel' like it's a girl... NOPE! Baby Dashlee is a BOY! During the ultrasound I was literally staring at boy parts and I was still expecting her to type 'girl' on the screen. That's how delusionally convinced I was. Dan got a video of my reaction and it's pretty hilarious, I've never seen myself look so shocked. But, no matter how much I thought it was a girl, I am PSYCHED for my little boy! I always wanted a boy first, because I ALWAYS wanted an older brother growing up. I've got more practice with boys. I always wanted a little cuddly Mama's boy... and he'll be here in September! And yep, we have a name... Jack David Wilkenson.
He will be a MAN-CHILD!!! ;-)
Some days I still don't feel pregnant. I know I am, I can feel my uterus being the size of a cantelope these days, I feel Jack moving all around in there, I feel hungry all. the. time. But, it also feels too good to be true most of the time. I am SO blessed already, and now I have this cute little baby bundle on the way... who is, by the way, a miracle of epic proportions. I feel like it's impossible to thank God enough for answering all our prayers. Sometimes, I get all apathetic and just quit saying thank you (hey, just being honest and open here) because I know I can't say it enough times. And then I get convicted (Thank you Jesus for the Holy Spirit), and start all over again.
I also told Dan I think I want to be pregnant for the rest of my life (with different babies. Don't freak out.). I quite enjoy this feeling and I'm 100% positive I want more kids. Could something be more amazing than a little tiny poppy seed sized cell growing into a big sweet potato sized baby (Jack's that big already??) right inside of me???
I think that's enough for one blog post! Oh wait, maybe some pictures ;)
And right about now is when I start getting a little panicky that the only baby things we have in this house are a crib, a bouncy seat, some shoes, and a few onesies. Did I mention my house is a mess and every corner needs organized???
Ahem. So, about the delay between blog posts these days... sorry about that. Between either puking, chasing after a 50 pound 4 month old puppy or having a busy schedule, blogging has been pushed back to the "I really should do that soon, but the 14 other things on my list come first" category. Let's just say time management has been a skill I'm pretty sure God is trying to teach me these last few weeks.
So, on to the good stuff! SO. So. Sooooooo much has happened since I last wrote. I will do my best to do at least bi-weekly updates from here on out. But for now, we will play catch up.
I think around 11 weeks I started to feel the flutters of baby Dashlee. Pretty much everyone tells me that's impossible, especially for a first time mom, but, I mean really, if I can feel ovulation, pretty sure I can feel something the size of a peach moving around inside me. I am basically enthralled with baby. I take my prenatal and other vitamins with orange juice at night, right before bed, so whenever I lay down I can feel baby going CRAZY. Daddy still can't feel it from the outside yet, which to be honest is a little weird to me, since it's so clearly the baby moving to me.
FINALLY, after 3 months straight of Zofran everyday and still feeling nauseous with major food aversions, at 16 weeks baby Dashlee let me stop puking. I have never appreciated what it is to enjoy food and not feel like utter poop as I do now. Oh, also, thanks for the boost of energy, kid! I have enough to do my daily duties AND still do a little bit extra. This is huge progress.
At the end of 16 weeks, we scheduled a 3d/4d ultrasound to see little baby Dashlee's gender! Let me tell you, I am convinced at this point I'm having a girl. All my dreams are about girls, I have all the girl symptoms I've heard, I just 'feel' like it's a girl... NOPE! Baby Dashlee is a BOY! During the ultrasound I was literally staring at boy parts and I was still expecting her to type 'girl' on the screen. That's how delusionally convinced I was. Dan got a video of my reaction and it's pretty hilarious, I've never seen myself look so shocked. But, no matter how much I thought it was a girl, I am PSYCHED for my little boy! I always wanted a boy first, because I ALWAYS wanted an older brother growing up. I've got more practice with boys. I always wanted a little cuddly Mama's boy... and he'll be here in September! And yep, we have a name... Jack David Wilkenson.
He will be a MAN-CHILD!!! ;-)
Some days I still don't feel pregnant. I know I am, I can feel my uterus being the size of a cantelope these days, I feel Jack moving all around in there, I feel hungry all. the. time. But, it also feels too good to be true most of the time. I am SO blessed already, and now I have this cute little baby bundle on the way... who is, by the way, a miracle of epic proportions. I feel like it's impossible to thank God enough for answering all our prayers. Sometimes, I get all apathetic and just quit saying thank you (hey, just being honest and open here) because I know I can't say it enough times. And then I get convicted (Thank you Jesus for the Holy Spirit), and start all over again.
I also told Dan I think I want to be pregnant for the rest of my life (with different babies. Don't freak out.). I quite enjoy this feeling and I'm 100% positive I want more kids. Could something be more amazing than a little tiny poppy seed sized cell growing into a big sweet potato sized baby (Jack's that big already??) right inside of me???
I think that's enough for one blog post! Oh wait, maybe some pictures ;)
Sweet Baby Jack! Cute already!
17 Weeks of cute baby bump!
And last but not least, my prep for Jack. Boy is he a pain, but he sure is cute!
P.S. I know you all are still praying, and THANK YOU. Dan and I have been overwhelmed by your generosity already in just praying, and now we're being showered with gifts and free things and hugs. It's all amazing. Having people be excited with you is 5,000 times more fun than going it alone. :)
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Fetal Anatomy 101
For lack of a better way to do a post on fetal anatomy, I am breaking down this series by trimesters. This post will be on weeks 1-13! I will have the other two trimesters on my blog at a later date, chroniclesofthedashlees@blogspot.com!
Since I can't see a reason to add another extremely long paragraph to this blog post, I'm skipping the description of what goes on in the first two weeks of the embryo's life because, well.... there is no embryo. There are two weeks in the life of an egg that occur before fertilization that are quite important and vital to the health of the embryo, but this blog post will already be incredibly long and heaven forbid I lose your attention. SO. Let's begin.
Fertilization: Sperm meets egg, they make baby. This occurs in the mother's Fallopian tube (usually). As soon as one sperm penetrates the inner layer of the egg, no other sperm will be able to get past the egg's outer shell. The fertilized egg (now called an Oocyte) will travel down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it will shed it's outer protective shell and implant itself into the endometrial lining, thusly, beginning week 4 of it's development.
Weeks 4-8 are the most vital to the embryos health, development, and overall growth. By this time, the first cells that started dividing 2 weeks ago are now organized into a reptilian-resembling shape, forming a functional circulatory system and a working brain, neural tube, and nerves. Some say this is the point where the embyro begins to feel nudges and vibrations, though he won't respond to them until later, when the muscles and the bones are more stable and intact to allow movement. At week 5, the heart will beat steadily. The four chambers of the heart are developed and fully functional, and there's even an elementary form of blood flowing through the veins and arteries. Arm and leg buds appear as little stumps in the middle of the fetal pole. The lungs, kidneys, and brain develop at a rapid rate. At week 6, the eyes start to develop rapidly. The lenses are formed, and though they are not functional yet, all the groundwork is laid out for the little one to start sensing light changes at around 15 weeks. The embryo begins to look less reptilian and more human every day, as even a little nose bud begins to form, nostrils and all. The main focus of growth this week: the pancreas and intestines. By week 7, elbows, fingers, and toes are in the works. An ultrasound at this point would show movement of the arms and legs, and, if he's active, he may even move his little butt around. The muscles and ligaments are getting stronger by the minute, and allow for more precise and controlled movements. Inside the umbilical cord, intestines are forming. Yes, I said inside the umbilical cord. There's really no room in that skinny little belly for them right now, with the heart taking up 1/4 the room available. Teeth begin to form under the gums in the mouth. As week 8 approaches, the head to torso ratio begins to even out, and on an ultrasound you would see a little baby, not a weird-looking-alien-parasite-thing. In the blueprints this week; eyes, cartilage, bone, tongue, and general size. This week is a huge growth spurt for baby. Generally, any life-threatening chromosomal abnormalities will have caused a miscarriage by this point. Baby will go from the size of a blueberry at week 7, to the size of a raspberry by week 8. And well, that's a lot of growing when you're less than an inch long.
Since I can't see a reason to add another extremely long paragraph to this blog post, I'm skipping the description of what goes on in the first two weeks of the embryo's life because, well.... there is no embryo. There are two weeks in the life of an egg that occur before fertilization that are quite important and vital to the health of the embryo, but this blog post will already be incredibly long and heaven forbid I lose your attention. SO. Let's begin.
Fertilization: Sperm meets egg, they make baby. This occurs in the mother's Fallopian tube (usually). As soon as one sperm penetrates the inner layer of the egg, no other sperm will be able to get past the egg's outer shell. The fertilized egg (now called an Oocyte) will travel down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it will shed it's outer protective shell and implant itself into the endometrial lining, thusly, beginning week 4 of it's development.
An embryo at week 4, about the time a woman finds out she is pregnant. Clearly seen, are the heart, rudimentary circulatory system, and brain.
An embryo at week 7. Eyes, nose, mouth and ears are evident, along with limbs and elbows.
A fetus at 9 weeks old. Looking like a baby!
Weeks 9 and 10 are momentous for baby in more ways than one. First, the little tyke has graduated... from an embryo to a fetus! As far as organs and tissues, everything is present and accounted for, though yet some remain unfunctional for another few weeks. Reflexes are fully developed, and most researchers will agree that at this point the baby will feel everything that happens to it - nudges, shifts, and vibrations. The baby will curl it's hand around anything it finds, and may start thumb sucking. Fingerprints are already starting to form! By week ten, Mom can start to relax, because the most crucial period of development for the fetus is over. Now, the head and the body have equal proportions, as that brain needs plenty of space to grow. Eye color is determined at this point, and the eyelids are fused shut to allow for development of the irises. The placenta now takes over most of the nutritional and oxygen needs of the baby as the yolk sac that has been feeding the baby until now gets used up. At 9 weeks, the baby is .9 inches long... by 10 weeks he will be a full 1 1/2 inches long! Growing like a weed.
By week 11, almost all of the organs are formed and beginning to function. The kidneys begin to work hard and amniotic fluid starts to build up. Baby girl or baby boy? Time will soon tell as the genitals begin to take on proper form and function. Hair and nails are starting to grow at this point. Intestinal walls will begin to contract and practice for digestion, and fingers and toes are perfect! Starting at week 12, the liver and the pancreas start to perform their bodily functions of cleansing the blood and regulating blood sugar. Baby now has vocal cords! Ears are moving to their rightful place on the side of the head and the eyes start to move closer together. Baby is now 2 to 2 1/2 inches long, crown to cute little rump, of course.
Thus, the end of the 12th week means the end of the first trimester! First trimester takes the cake for growth and development. Now, for the rest of the pregnancy, baby will focus on fine tuning and gaining weight. And, hopefully, mom starts to focus on other things than the toilet and her pillow.
Baby at 12 weeks, surrounded by placenta and fluid.
By week 11, almost all of the organs are formed and beginning to function. The kidneys begin to work hard and amniotic fluid starts to build up. Baby girl or baby boy? Time will soon tell as the genitals begin to take on proper form and function. Hair and nails are starting to grow at this point. Intestinal walls will begin to contract and practice for digestion, and fingers and toes are perfect! Starting at week 12, the liver and the pancreas start to perform their bodily functions of cleansing the blood and regulating blood sugar. Baby now has vocal cords! Ears are moving to their rightful place on the side of the head and the eyes start to move closer together. Baby is now 2 to 2 1/2 inches long, crown to cute little rump, of course.
Thus, the end of the 12th week means the end of the first trimester! First trimester takes the cake for growth and development. Now, for the rest of the pregnancy, baby will focus on fine tuning and gaining weight. And, hopefully, mom starts to focus on other things than the toilet and her pillow.
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