26 Weeks

I was a bad blogger last week and missed our 25 week post. Sorry! We flew out on Tuesday and didn't get home until early Monday morning. With all of the hustle I didn't have a chance to sit down and write.

One more week and I will finally be in the third trimester...the home stretch! While I am still able to fully function, I am noticing that certain activities are becoming more difficult and my body is starting to show its limitations. As our little man gets bigger, breathing is becoming a challenge. I have had a lot of tightness in my chest and a hard time catching my breath. Flying was difficult and uncomfortable and I am VERY thankful that we are not flying or driving at any time later in my pregnancy.

Bending over is still possible but my body is telling my that it is time to start trying different maneuvers. I stepped on the scale this morning and saw a new series of numbers that I have not seen before. I know it's a necessity and completely normal but it's still a tough cookie to swallow. From my low point, I am up 11 lbs. My eyelashes have begun falling out and the hair is growing on my stomach instead :( Overall, I am realizing that I am quickly approaching the time in my pregnancy when I can no longer be superwoman and I just have to take one day at a time.

Our trip back to IL will be our last before Baby V arrives and I couldn't help but think that these trips are only going to become more challenging very soon. We do our best to please everyone but in reality that just isn't always possible. I know the jury is still out on this debate, but the fact is we have three families to see when we go to IL. I know people feel slighted by this or try to be understanding but I really do hope everyone understands that we do the BEST that we can. We want to spend time with everyone. And when Baby V arrives we will work even harder to make sure everyone gets quality time but at the same time we need everyone to understand that we multiple obligations when we come to IL. This is why we encourage trips to Colorado!!!

Nicole Russell and Teri Heines hosted a baby shower for us on Sunday, 11/28. It was WONDERFUL!!! The ladies did an amazing job from the food to the decorations and I couldn't be more thankful for all of their hard work. We got a lot of really great stuff. I spent the morning unpacking and organizing Baby V's room. While we made out like bandits, I feel like there is so much more we need to get. Good thing I still have 3 months to divide and conquer!

Sunday was also Justin and my 2nd anniversary. One of these years we will actually get around to doing something special! Our time together has flown by and I am looking forward to the upcoming year. Our lives are about to change drastically as well as the dynamic of our relationship. And while I have no doubt that there are many challenging times that lie ahead of us, I know that we are both fully committed to this relationship and we will continue to work to make this a loving and happy home for us and our new family.




Happy Anniversary Boo...I love you!!!


And here I am at 26 weeks...



The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about two pounds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Your baby's eyes — which have been closed for the past few months (so that the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop) — are beginning to open at 26 weeks pregnant. What this means is that your baby is able to see what's going on now (unfortunately the view in your uterus isn't all that exciting).

The iris, the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have much pigmentation (that'll fill in over the next month or two), so it's too early to start guessing your baby's eye color. Even the color your baby will be born with might not be the permanent shade; so you may be kept guessing until your baby is close to six months old.



Lindsey

24 Weeks

We had our 24 week appointment yesterday and were finally able to meet the third midwife in the practice. Jen was super nice and I feel really good about our decision to deliver Baby V with the midwives at Swedish. Each of the three ladies brings something different to the table but I feel will feel comfortable having any of them there (we can't chose who will be with us on D-Day.)

It was a quick appointment. She answered our questions, measured my belly, listened to his heartbeat, and I got my first ever flu shot. We were offered the shot last time but I wanted to be able to talk about it with J. We both felt that it was a good idea, especially with Thanksgiving travel in the next week. My uterus was measuring at 22 cm and his heartbeat was at 135...both of which freaked me out! Everything says you should grow a centimeter a week after 20 weeks, so 24 weeks should be 24 cm. So of course I instantly think somethings wrong EVEN THOUGH the midwife told me that it was perfectly normal to be +/- 2 cm. And then we listened to his heartbeat which has gone from 160 to 135 and of course that freaked me out too! Again, the midwife said that was perfectly normal for the heartbeat to lower has he gets bigger. The worrying of a mother has begun and Baby V isn't even here yet!

However, despite all of my worry, everything is looking great and Baby V is doing well. Here's proof (more for myself) that progress is being made!



We had our third week of childbirth class last night, finally getting to the good stuff...labor and delivery! It was a very educational class and we had a lot to talk about on our way home. The reality of what lies ahead of me is starting to set in as the weeks fly by but I am really happy with our choice of classes. I think that being well informed and having a significant amount of time to prepare mentally is helping to build my confidence. I used to be the type of person who viewed childbirth as something I didn't really want to take an active part in or even experience. But now I see it as a natural experience and I will be able to do it! And I feel even more confidant knowing that I will have J there with me. I really appreciate his involvement and willingness to learn. It's comforting to know that I have a partner who is ready to be an active participant.



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

Lindsey

23 Weeks

Sorry about the blank 23 weeks that was just sent out to some of you...my bad!

Well it has FINALLY happened....we here in the front range of Colorado have finally seen our first snow flake of the season!!! I'm pretty excited, I love the changing seasons and I am really looking forward to the upcoming holidays. This is my favorite time of year and I am excited about having Baby V here next year. Christmas will take on a whole new meaning for us.

Baby V's crib arrived this week and we absolutely love it!!! Thank you so much to Grandma and Grandpa Voigts for this wonderful gift :) It's very simple and matches the dresser perfectly...I couldn't be happier with it.





I had to finally break down and buy a new bra today (sorry Dad ;)). And I have started to experience Braxton Hicks contractions. Nothing to worry about! It has happened a few times...my belly gets super tight, I feel like I am having really bad menstrual cramps and lots of pressure in my lower back. I called the midwives just to make sure everything is ok and they said as long as I don't experience the contractions at any regular intervals it is normal. For those of you not familiar with Braxton Hicks contractions check out this link for a brief description... http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/braxtonhicks.html

J has been busy at work lately. It's just that time of year and I know it won't be getting any better until about....March! When you marry a man like Justin, you just have to accept the fact that a 40 hour work week is not reality. I can't complain though, BDC is so much better than when he was with Ernst & Young and the 70 hour week was becoming far too regular. But I couldn't be any more proud of him and how far he has come. I admire his dedication, ethics, and abilities and I have so much respect for what he has accomplished in 30 years (even if he says it's all been dumb luck). I can only hope that Baby V gets all of these traits from his dad. He will be a very successful man someday.

I am rekindling a project I started weeks ago and I just have to accept the fact that this 'project' will take a lot of time and patience. As many of you probably know, I am a self proclaimed 'picture whore'....sorry for the terminology but for lack of a better phrase this is what I have labeled myself. Simply put, I love to take pictures. I love to look back at the pictures that were taken of my family before I was even here. I love to look back at the pictures of my childhood before I knew how to use a camera. I love to look back at all of the pictures I have taken of special memories of my life. In fact, someday I would love to learn how to take a really great picture and share this love with others, being able to beautifully capture their memories.

Needless to say, this 'love' of mine has led to a collection of memories. I believe I currently have over 11,000 digital photos on my computer. This does not include the addition thousands that are not in digital form and are currently sitting in a bag waiting for me to continue my project of scanning them all into digital format.

All of these memories have become an unorganized mess and I am currently trying to figure out the best way to organize and permanently label all of these memories so that someday when I am long gone my children (if they turn out to be sentimental fools like their mother) can say 'Hey, that's Mom on Halloween in 1987' or 'This one is of Mom and Dad at Rockies opening day 2006.'



Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when she hears them outside the womb.

Lindsey

22 Weeks

While there have not been any new developments, Baby V seems to be thriving everyday. He is moving up a storm and yesterday morning (while spending our quality time together in bed) I was feeling my belly and while one side was soft the other had a very hard 'lump'. My best guess, the 'lump' was our baby boy...firmly pressed up against my belly. There's no doubt about it, he's in there and getting bigger everyday! I comparing my biweekly belly shots, I feel like I have gotten noticeably bigger over the last two weeks. (Check out the My Pictures section on the upper left side on my blog page for belly shots!)



We had our first childbirth class last night. We started our 11 week series with nutrition and exercise. The nutrition part I feel like I am doing a really good job (well as long as you don't include my love for cupcakes and just about anything sweet...hey we can't all be perfect!) About a year and a half ago, J and I really started to pay attention to the foods we consume and while it was difficult at first, it is habit now and I'm really thankful for these changes now.

The habit I REALLY wish I would have picked up earlier is exercise. In class, we went over a few simple stretches and the lesson learned was that I really need to start doing stretching and exercise on a regular basis...immediately. I have heard from several different sources that childbirth, natural childbirth, is like running a marathon. And at this point I don't know if I could complete the 50 yard dash! So it's time to start training :)

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween! Last year, I only bought 4 bags of candy as it was our first year and I had no idea what to expect. Well 4 bags lasted 12 minutes! So this year I was prepared....12 bags made it 2 hours! It was fun to see all of the kids, especially the little ones. Can't wait for next Halloween when Baby V will be here to help :)





(From Left to Right: Moon designed by me, executed by J--Scary Face D/E by J--Ghost D/E by me--"Baby V" designed by me, executed by J)



I reflected on the night's events later in the evening. I smiled to myself and realized that it was a very memorable Halloween. Not because of smashed pumpkins or adorable trick or treaters...but because this would be the last time it will just be us. We had started a game of Monopoly on my iphone the night before and while I had the most real estate, I was getting my butt kicked royally! We sat in the formal living room to be close to the front door and played Monopoly for 2 hours in between answering the door together (J held ridiculously large bowl of candy while I passed out the goodies). We laughed at my terrible misfortune and J would gloat about his ever increasing fortune which was funded by...me! I remember thinking at one point that it is amazing that after 6 years together we still have so much fun together. I don't know if this unusual or normal for most couples but I never thought it would be possible in my life (for those who don't know me well, I am a awful pessimist). We are far from perfect and no better than anyone else but it pleased me so much to realize that after all this time we can spend two hours, free from the distractions of daily life, to goof off and just thoroughly enjoy each others company.

My only hope is that when Baby V arrives we don't lose this joy and playfulness. When the stress of life becomes too great, we never let it get the best of us. And that we continue to find humor in everyday life ;)

Enough with my sentiment rambling but it's the simple events that make the best memories...



At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Love to you all,

Lindsey

21 Weeks

We had an interesting night on Monday night...We were in bed and at about 9:30 the doorbell rings. I just assumed it was kids being pests but then someone started knocking. J went down to check and there was a man and 5 kids at our door. Apparently the kids had stolen two pumpkins from our porch and destroyed them. The man (a police officer who lives down the street) saw them do this. The man told the boys that he could arrest them which scared the hell out of the boys and even brought one to tears. Instead, he brought them to our house and made them apologize. The boys were told they needed to replace the pumpkins they stole...to my surprise we had 3 new pumpkins and an apology letter on our porch the next day!

And much to my annoyance, the intersection in front of our house was covered with the remains of several pumpkins this morning.

I know kids do stupid stuff and not that long ago I was doing stupid stuff but you don't appreciate how disrespectful and upsetting it is until you are an adult and a homeowner. So it got me thinking....what would I do if one of these boys were my son? And then in a sudden panic I realized someday I will have a teenager! Good god the prospects of parenthood can be terrifying. I feel like now that I am in the second half of pregnancy, I am starting to anticipate his arrival and all of the new experiences that will follow.

Speaking of new experiences, Baby V has been kicking up a storm over the past few weeks but this morning I was actually able to see my belly move! Feeling him move is one thing but actually seeing your belly move around might take some getting used to!!! But I admit, I am loving every minute of this new part of pregnancy. Every morning, baby boy wakes up shortly after I do and I lay in bed a for a bit with my hand on my belly, enjoying every kick and the reassuring feeling that we have made it through another day.

We were able to get one of the guest bedrooms painted and FINISHED over the weekend. It feels so good to have another room done and we are both very happy with the end result. Only one more bedroom to do and we will be done!!! Well, done with rooms that need to be repainted immediately. The family room and kitchen need a fresh coat of paint but those jobs would be best done by the professionals ;) Every additional room we get done makes me love this house more and more because it is finally starting to feel like us....like OUR home. Once February comes and goes this will be the longest I will have been at an address since 521 W. Reynolds St Pontiac, IL....9 years ago!

We start childbirth class next Tuesday! Early I know but we have decided to take childbirth classes on the Bradley method and they are once a week for 12 weeks. I will go into more detail next week.



Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now.

Lindsey

20 Weeks....HALF WAY THERE!!!

140 down and 140 to go! I have been waiting for this day for a very long time. On a day to day basis, it feels like time moves so slowly but it amazes me that it has been 16 weeks since the fateful day I found out I was pregnant. March will be here before I know it!

We had our 20 week appointment/ultrasound today and we were given nothing but GOOD news. Well it is 100% official...BABY V IS A BOY!!! The first image I saw in the u/s told me without a doubt that it is a boy ;) In retrospect, I think next time I'll wait until 20 weeks to ask about gender because the 'there's a 90% chance it's a boy' has been driving me nuts. I feel so relieved to know for sure that it's a boy. Woohoo, we don't have to return anything :) So bring on the blue!!!

Most importantly Baby V is growing and developing very well. My uterus is measuring right at 20 weeks and he weighs 13 oz which puts him a little ahead of schedule at 20 weeks 5 days. His heartbeat was 150 and we were able to clearly see all four chambers of the heart. We were able to have a 4D picture taken (4D is an u/s that allows us to clearly see the baby's facial features, etc.) BUT baby boy was being stubborn. He had his arms up around his head and he was facing my back so we couldn't get a clear view. Oh well! Just seeing him on the 2D u/s was everything I needed. Justin was even able to see him open and close his mouth and stick out his tongue!!! I, at the time, didn't know what the hell I was looking at ;)
Unfortunately, this will be the last time we get to see Baby V until his arrival.

In the meantime, Baby V has been and will hopefully continue to kick and punch up a storm much to his mother's delight. I felt a lot of movement in the lower part of my uterus this morning and I just assumed it was his feet but in the u/s his head was down so it looks like we may have a little boxer on our hands.

We were able to get some u/s pictures...

This one is a bit creepy. The machine is able to see through his eyelids and that is how you can so clearly see his actual eye. His hand is next to his face and I believe his torso is towards the left. J calls him our "Terminator" baby.



Here is a hand...



Again, another creepy eye picture with his torso to the left...



And here is a foot...



Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).



Here I am at 20 Weeks...



This how far we have come in 10 weeks.




Lindsey

19 Weeks

This week has brought an exciting milestone to Baby V's development...mama bear can officially feel him move! I "thought" I felt something for the first time last Tuesday but being that this is the first time I have had something growing inside of me, I couldn't quite be sure. That first day I only felt it a few times within a few minutes and the best way I can describe it it was like a little hummingbird inside. I am now positive what I am feeling is our little bean kicking, punching and stretching. I have never felt anything like it and the last few days the movements have been much more pronounced and frequent. I have heard people describe the feeling like a 'flutter' and in all honesty that is exactly what it feels like. I can't help but stop everything when I feel him and hope that he kicks again! Truly an incredible sensation.

Next Tuesday we have our 20 week appointment with the midwives and ultrasound afterward. I CAN'T WAIT!!! 20 weeks marks half way, we get to see Baby V and we will finally get the final word on gender (fingers crossed, he cooperates).

At 19 weeks....Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.



Lindsey