Dear Baby: We are preparing for you. Promise.

Dear Baby,

Though it seems like we've spent the last 7 months virtually unprepared for your arrival, here is some proof that we are actually getting our act together!

Here is your dad doing the construction of your crib:

Here is your mom watching him construct.

Here is a before of your room - when it was REALLY not done.

Here is an after picture - after your dad cleaned it up and set up furniture. It looks pretty good, but I bet it will look much better in a few months.

And here are some diapers for you to... use. More are coming in the mail.

You probably noticed there is no mattress, and that there is a serious lack of toys. Don't worry, you'll get those things plus curtains and clothes and a changing table and art for your wall in due time.

Sincerely,

Your mom

26 weeks, 3 days ( 27 weeks, 1 day) photos

We had a "baby viewing appointment" on Wednesday, April 22. We arrived earlier in the afternoon because I had told my nurse about the 4 contractions per hour I noticed during the week of teaching, and she recommended I have a non-stress test to monitor uterine contraction activity.

The non-stress test was pretty non-stressful. I sat back in an enormous leather recliner. And I waited for the monitoring machine to register a contraction... but it didn't. I guess that was a little stressful... not being able to "prove" my symptoms! However, I only experience contractions now during stressful events, like standing up in the front of the classroom to begin a lesson, yelling at kids who are being off-task or disrespectful, exercising, walking fast to keep up with my long-legged husband... so I guess it makes sense that if I were in non-stressful conditions, I wouldn't be experiencing as frequent or predictable contractions.

The ultra sound technician also took a measurement of my cervix, and its in a great length for this time at gestation.

Bottom line: Doctor G told me to avoid stressful conditions, sit down more, and drink more water. And to stop worrying.

Here are a few pictures we received from this week's appointment. We were disappointed in the quality and quantity of them, but really... we were going for a check up, not a photo shoot! I think our expectations were a little high!

This week, the baby weighed approximately 2 pounds, 11 oz. His heart rate was 154 bpm. He has plenty of fluid to cushion him, and the stomach and urinary bladder were full. I noticed his little lips moving and "drinking" in the fluid, which is preparing his lungs for breathing. During the scan, he was facing forward with his head down and feet up, but as much as this little guy moves, I bet he didn't stay that way for long! I think he will have long legs and is just trying to get comfortable in cramped quarters!

The medical staff always tells me that the baby is measuring "big for his age", about 40% bigger than average, and I keep insisting that its because they have the due date incorrect. I think they are just looking one week earlier data when they make comparisons. Let's just say that he is an average sized kid who will be full term a week before the standardized due date calculation arrives!

Dear Baby H,

Dear Baby H,

You are on your way to 27 weeks gestation in this last part of April 2009. The pregnancy email I received today told me you are larger than an English Hot House cucumber, that your lungs are beginning to develop as you swallow amniotic fluid, and that your testicles are beginning to descend from your interior abdomen. So I guess you are pretty busy this week!

This means you've got a developing auditory system, and though I feel a little uncomfortable talking at my abdomen for you, I realize that you may be learning the sound of my voice. I hope you aren't paying too close attention to the voices around you all day while we are in high school. You won't hear such conversations in our house!

You've also begun to have some very STRONG movements. I think I've only had one aggressive kick so far, and perhaps you were having a sports dream or something. But I think you've got a case of the "Jimmy-legs" because you twitch a lot. Don't worry, its probably genetic, and if you aren't twitching during the night, your dad probably is and I'm awake anyway.

You are getting much more comfortable in your home, stretching out and trying new comfortable positions. That's why my abdomen is never symmetrical anymore. I think you've been laying diagonally and parallel to the ground lately.

This week we'll get to see you again on the HDTV in our doctor's office. In three days! And then again in 10 days! And then again in 17 days! And then again in 24 days! Yes, that's a pattern dear. We're up to weekly visits to check on your progress. I don't anticipate any surprise news about pre-term labor or bed rest, but your medical team is doing its best to make sure you are safe and sound.

Its a good thing you aren't here right now. Life is pretty crazy at your future address. Your dad is spending all his free time studying for a professional engineering licensure exam and is no fun. Your room is still the "Plant and TV and Workout Room". Your Gma Becky bought you a crib last weekend, but it is still in its box. There is no mattress for you to You have a few miscellaneous baby accessories and about six clothing choices. You have no diapers or bouncy seats or blankets or books to read. This house is not ready for you... yet. But don't freak out, I'll be in charge of making it ready for you in only a month. I've got five more weeks of teaching before I can devote myself entirely to preparation for your arrival. And since we don't expect you for at least another 14 weeks or so, I think you'll be okay.

We went to go visit one of your potential friends today, the daughter of our friends Dan and Kristen. She was born April 13, so she'll be a year older in school than you. I bet you'll be way taller though! You'll have another baby friend to play with soon after your arrive, because our friends Chris and Hilary are expecting a baby in June. Again, he or she will be a year older in school than you, but I bet you'll be way taller!

I'd like to add that during this month of pregnancy, I've been a lot less sick. The first six months were horrible. You definitely owe me! But these days I'm able to eat nearly any food I want, exercise, travel, carry on conversations, and be a less-grouchy teacher. So that's a good thing! Now that your ears are developing, you probably won't hear me whine as much about how uncomfortable it is to be pregnant, but you might. Prepare yourself - I'm not mad at you, I still love you... I'd just really love if this pregnancy wasn't such a long process. Like if I could go to a baby showroom or baby farm and pick you up, and you'd be all ready to go!

See you in a few days, and you'll see me in a few months,
Love,
Mom

(Almost) 24 Week Appointment

A Look at the Baby...

Waving to you

View of the baby's front side, including eyelids that are closed, cheeks that are plumping up, and a good view of other facial features.

Another front face picture.



Blurry toes, due to extra wiggles and kicks.

Here, the baby is flexing his upper arm muscle. We could see the triceps and deltoids very clearly! Its as if he is "making a muscle" right towards you, but the lower arm is bent at the elbow. You can clearly see the upper arm. the lower arm is coming straight out at the ultrasound device, sort of like if you are holding your arms out in a "hug a tree" position, and we took a picture straight on.

His eyes are open here. They've just started to flutter this week. You can also see the white dot in the center of his arm is the well developed humerus bone. Last time we were there, the bone wasn't quite as solidified.

His stats: He's measuring about a week ahead of the doctor's estimated due date, which is exactly at the correct time for my estimated date. His head is in the 70% percentile, and he weighs 1 pound, 7 ounces. I forgot to ask about his heart rate, but we did listen to it and it seemed slightly slower than the past, so I am guessing still in the 150s range. The fluid around the baby looked normal, as did the placenta, which is growing at the top portion of my uterus.

All in all, Dr. G says things are going really well. In four weeks, April 22, we'll have another routine visit, and then weekly after that.

Me: "Why weekly, if things are just on pace? Is he healthy? Are you suspecting something?"

Dr.G: "You've got a MTHFR gene mutation and a (blah blah blah something) compound abnormality. You have history of first trimester pregnancy loss. Babies with mothers in this criteria need to be checked out weekly to make sure things are going as well as possible in there, that there are no signs of pre-term labor, good muscle tone development, that there are normal levels of fluid, and that the baby is growing correctly. Of course we want him to stay inside as long as possible, like say 37-38-39 weeks, but that might not happen if medical intervention will help him be healthier."

Me: "Oh. I guess I'll be seeing you a lot this summer then."

Dr. G: "Yep."