Bitsy Progress- week 27

Ok, I missed week 26. I'm horrible. Please forgive me.

Week 27 of Pregnancy
Your baby moves on to a whole new growth chart this week, while your swollen feet and ankles may need a growth chart of their own!
Puffy? That's to be expected — about 75 percent of soon-to-be moms experience edema (mild swelling of the hands, feet, and ankles) around this point in pregnancy. That's because fluids build up in your body tissues thanks (or no thanks) to increased blood flow and uterine pressure on the vena cava (the large vein that cycles blood from your lower limbs to your heart). So while you may have a hard time squeezing into shoes or getting your rings on (or off), keep in mind that the puff factor is completely normal and temporary. As for baby, it's time to trade in the old crown-to-rump measurement for a new head-to-toe standard (that's 15 inches this week — more than a foot long!). His weight is creeping up the charts as well, coming in at just over two pounds. More big news: Your baby may recognize your voice by now, so feel free to serenade your belly.

Bitsy Progress- Week 25

Week 25 of Pregnancy: Baby's Lung Development
Your baby is about nine inches long and more than a pound and a half in weight this week. And don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker as small blood vessels form under the skin and fill with blood. Lungs and nostrils are also growing at this stage of fetal development.
At nine inches and more than a pound and a half in weight, your baby is taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other, and almost as heavy as four of those little boxes (an analogy you'll find particularly apropos in a few years, when those juice boxes start taking over your refrigerator, your pantry, your car.…). Don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker. No, not because he or she's getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping your baby at an always comfortable temperature), but because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But at 25 weeks pregnant, those lungs are still very much works in progress. Though they are already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs expand after the baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he or she exhales.
The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths. (Of course since there's no air in there, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?)

Belly Love

So I’m starting to totally fall in love with my belly. Which CRACKS me up because FOR YEARS I kept trying to keep it at a minimal pouch but now that it’s all big and round I cant help but look down and smile. I think part of what is so great that while I’ve gotten a big belly, the rest of me has FOR THE MOST PART stayed pretty much the same size.
Another part of why I love it is because I can totally feel my Bitsy moving around in there. It’s still not constant, but I can definitely tell when it’s awake and when it’s upset about something. It’s starting to get it’s own little personality and I haven’t even seen it’s sweet face yet!
For instance in the middle of the night when I have to switch positions or go to the bathroom (which is AGAIN increasing) I can feel Bitsy reposition itself too. It’s a quick movement and then we all fall back asleep for the most part. There have been one or two nights where Bitsy has decided that SINCE I’m up it might as well be too and REFUSED to go back to sleep. When that happens I get NO sleep for an hour or two until the baby either slows down or stops moving all together. It’s REALLY hard to fall asleep when everything around you is quiet and your stomach feels like you ate enough live grasshoppers to populate Texas AND Oklahoma, and if you’ve never seen the size of grasshoppers they have there.. you understand what I’m talking about.
Daddy’s alarm clock for instance is NOT on Bitsys list of “Neat Noises” from the womb. Greg gets up around 4:45, but his alarm clock goes off from around 4:20 UNTIL he gets up, on 7 minute intervals.. It HONESTLY startles Bitsy EVERY time it goes off. When it goes off, I can feel Bitsy “Jump” and then just start beating the crap out of me. It has to be kicking and punching and practicing for the gymnastic Olympics because SERIOUSLY it almost is enough to make me throw up. Plus then I instantly think I have to pee AND poop because it starts kicking all my body parts that are down there. I cant help but smile though because I too for YEARS now have thought that alarm clock snooze button should be dismantled and if I didn’t love my husband so much would throw just as big a fit as bitsy does but in bed and kicking him.
Another part that is cool is that the baby digs when I sing to it in the car. It starts moving all around and kicking at the seatbelt around my belly and when I stop, it stops and when I start again it starts again. I’m trying to take this as it LIKES my singing as opposed to the alternative.
Anywhoo, thought it’s about time to update you on the belly pictures..

Week 5 Week 16 Week 22

Bitsy Progress- Week 24

Your baby's facial features are really filling out…and your belly button may be really popping out!
If your former innie is now an outie, welcome to the club. Almost every expectant mom's pregnant belly button pops at some point as her swelling uterus pushes on everything in its path. Things should return to normal after delivery, though your navel (and some other parts of your body) might look a bit, well, stretched. Just think of it as one more badge of honor that only moms get to wear. As for your baby, she's about eight and a half inches long and one and a half pounds, gaining steadily at a rate of six ounces per week. Much of that weight comes from accumulating baby fat, as well as from growing organs, bones, and muscle. By now, that fabulous face is almost fully formed, complete with eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. Is your baby a brunette, a blond, or a redhead? Actually, right now her locks are white since there's no pigment yet.
What's been playing on your little rocker's stereo system these days? All kinds of sounds can be heard by your baby in your womb: from air exhaling from your lungs (deep breath now), those gastric gurgles produced by your stomach and intestines, your voice and your partner's (which your baby will be able to recognize at birth), and even very loud sounds such as honking horns, barking dogs, or a wailing fire truck.
You've got a little acrobat on your hands. Not only is your baby flipping around inside your belly, but he's now developed his sense of balance -- which means he can actually tell when he's upside down!
It is starting to produce white blood cells, mostly for combating disease and infection, and may respond to your touch or sounds. If you haven't felt hiccups yet, you might feel some jerking motion now.
Dad-to-be might be able to hear the baby's heartbeat by putting his ear to your abdomen.

Busy Busy Busy- Catch Up

Ok, so to get you all caught back up to date.
This summer has been pretty eventful so far, and it’s just the beginning!
We found out a couple weeks ago, that our well was going dry. We found this out by not having ANY water in our storage tanks. Being that I’m pregnant and have to pee (what seems like) every twenty minutes, that sent me into a panic. Luckily my husband decided to take on the responsibility of getting it all taken care of and we’ve prayed about it, and my parents are helping us out with the financing if it does end up being as extreme as the well man guestimated. SO once again, God and Greg are taking care of it and I’m going to sit back and let them!
Our Garden is going good, with what little water we are using on it. It’s amazing how God takes care of everything if you just give him the chance!
The nursery is coming right along! I have added the fabric to the walls, and found out we didn’t have enough so Mom and I have scoured the numerous Joanne fabrics in town (and out, thanks mom!) and we have found enough to finish our projects! I’ll be working on sewing the bedding and having some good old quality BONDING time with my mom while doing it.
I’m starting to get the “Nesting” bug, and it’s very overwhelming at first. However, I have made a list, checked it FOUR THOUSAND TIMES (adding stuff every time) and I have a good plan on how to try to get it all done before Bitsy gets here. THANK GOODNESS I am now on part-time at work or I would NEVER get it all done.
We still have renters in the rental house, which is a TRUE blessing! I cant tell you how stressful it is when it’s empty and we’re having to do lots of repairs and try to find GOOD renters all the while paying the extra bills out of what we’re trying to save! Greg has been working to put up a fence due to them having little kids and it being on a somewhat busy road. Thanks to friends and family, that project has gone well so far and should hopefully be completed in the next couple weeks.
We’ve spent quite a bit of time with Charlie & Kristy these last couple weeks (fishing and recently going camping for Kristy’s birthday) which is awesome cause Greg ADORES his brother and I really enjoy spending time with Kristy. It’s a blessing that they are back in the St. Helens house and much closer to us!
And finally our BITSY BABY is doing GREAT! It appears that Bitsy had a growth spurt these last couple weeks cause I have been able to feel MUCH more movement. I listen to the heart beat about every other day now and sing and talk to the baby MUCH more and trying to get Greg to do the same. It’s a lot harder for Greg because he’s such a hands on person and it’s not something he can really hold or feel much yet. But that’s ok, we’re working through it. I have been on an emotional roller coaster for the last week or so, and that’s hard. I TRY SO HARD to remain sane and not go overboard but these preggo hormones are SOMETHING ELSE, let me tell you! I go from feeling useless and never going to get caught up on tasks, to feeling unappreciated and depressed and not feeling good about myself. I also have been eating EVERYTHING it seems like.