Friday, January 29, 2010

Week 22

Another day or two and we have officially completed week 22, the end of month 5! Only 4 more months to go!!

Mom
The belly continues to grow and although it's not yet 'in the way' I cannot get quite as close to the sink as I could before. This means that people are now noticing that I'm expecting although it still startles me when complete strangers pop up behind me and ask me when I'm due.  "Due for what?!" is my typically response.... followed by "OH! The Baby comes in June!"

Between the 4th and 6th month of pregnancy stretch marks can begin to be seen due to that ever increasing girth.  My fingers are crossed that I have inherited my mother's good genetics and will continue to go mark free!  The thought of stretch marks can keep plenty of mothers up at night - for me it is a different scenario. Some traveling for work has lead to longer nights (thank goodness the busy season is nearly over) but mostly it's my night owl baby who seems to do the Hokie Pokie each night just as I start to drift off to sleep.

Dad
Dad put the crib together this week!! I'll post a pretty photo as soon as we get a mattress and sheets put in there - right now it's just walls and bottom - not a lot to look at.  He is also taking the lead in money and budgeting worries "Do people know how expensive childcare is?!?!"

Baby
Baby boy continues to grow - nearly 1lb and 12" long by the end of this week - or about the size of a spaghetti squash (no wonder I'm getting so big!).  One more week until we can get an exact weight at our next ultrasound appointment.  Eyelashes are fully formed - will he get Dad's dark lashes, or Mom's blond-tips?  Also formed this week was the inner ear - giving the baby a better sense of balance and his surroundings.  This means more exploration (i.e. movement) - and since his home stays relatively the same brightness 24/7 who can really fault him for choosing to explore at midnight? Let's hope that trend ends shortly after birth.  The final development of the ears also means that the baby can hear outside sounds and loud noises can startle him, or wake him from sleep.  So, yes Dad, even though the baby has not yet arrived, you still cannot shout loudly during the super bowl - he might be sleeping! 

Friday, January 22, 2010

Week 21

Is it just me, or are the weeks going quicker than before?  Maybe that's due to actually posting each week....

Mom
Mom is very content this week.  Finally getting used to the belly (although I hear a rumor about it getting bigger...) and ready to get back into the swing of things.  Step 1:  Pre-natal yoga class! It's been more than 2 years since my last true 'class' and I'm very much looking forward to a little downward facing dog over the coming months.  I should have gained 10-15 pounds by this week, but I'm staying clear of the scale until I absolutely have to - no sense in making myself cringe!

Dad
Dad has started the search for childcare this week - coming home with a long list of potential providers.  With Mom now in the happy relaxed stage of pregnancy, it's good that someone is being practical!  

Grams and Grandpa 
The grandparents Hylton made a big splash this week when baby boy's crib and changing table arrived at the house.  Granted, they are still in the box, but at least we know he will have someplace to sleep when he gets here. And I think we are all looking forward to their next trip down in February.

Baby
Nearly the size of a large banana and weighing in at least 3/4 of a pound, Baby is still growing quickly, but is about to take some time off to work on the development of his organs.  Starting next week the intestines will contract as the baby swallows amniotic fluid to absorb nutrients and prepare his body for digestion after birth.  He can even taste what Mom is eating and seems to love Mexican food (that sounds familiar...).  REM (rapid eye movement) has also started this week and occurs when the baby is sleeping.  Does that mean that little baby dreams are also happening? 



Monday, January 18, 2010

Week 20

Week 20 is the halfway point for pregnancy (for the 2% of people who actually deliver on their due dates!)

We have officially completed week 20 and are on the downward count toward our due date - yeah!!

Mom:

Mom is finally starting to look pregnant.  I had my first outside comments from co-workers and friends about the ever-expanding belly.  Still no comments from strangers although the sales associate at the maternity store didn't ask me if I was shopping for a friend, so I must be looking the part!

I'm starting to be able to distinguish the baby's kicks from rolls and yes, he is kicking me in the middle of the night most nights - doesn't he know that I'm trying to sleep?  But really, I love it - it is the most unexpected and miraculous thing about being pregnant. 

Dad:

Dad is getting his first update this week! An innocent bystander so far, Dad is starting to play a more active role in the pregnancy.  This is mostly due to me asking for things to be carried up and down the stairs and negotiating the schedule for our childbirth classes and baby showers. He has tried to feel the baby kick - and may have been successful - but I'm suspicious that the thought of something (or someone) being 'inside me' sort of weirds him out. I won't even begin to touch on our recent discussions on childbirth with friends who have children - let's just say that Dad is in for an experience like never before!

Baby:

Baby boy is growing quickly - measuring more than 10 inches long from head to toe and weighing more than 10 ounces.  Nearly fully formed, the baby really looks like a tiny person with correctly proportioned arms and legs, fingerprints, eyebrows, and even teeth below the gums! The next 20 weeks will be used mainly for growing and adding fat to make those tiny arms and legs even more kissable. 

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Weeks 18 & 19


We've just wrapped up weeks 18 and 19.  Here's what we have accomplished.

Mom
Mom is still feeling tired - it's tough working all week and making a baby! I'm finally into maternity clothes and not thrilled about it.  It's been more than 10 years since I went maternity shopping with my aunt Susan and I would have thought that some progress could have been made since then.  I do love my new super-comfy blue jeans and work pants, but I struggle to find anything else that really suits my style.  Even though I can't fit into my regular clothing, I don't have much to show for the last 4 1/2 months, (belly pictures coming soon) but I'm sure that there will be quite a transformation between now and June.

Baby
The baby is now the size of a small Mango - nearly 1/2 a pound and 9 inches from head to toe! The last two weeks have been used to grower bigger and stronger - so strong that Mom can now feel kicks and rolls!!
The baby is also covered by a coating of Vernix - not very pretty, but important to keep that skin soft and baby smooth. This usually disappears shortly before delivery. The brain is becoming more developed allowing for the baby to taste what Mom eats and control their movements better - so maybe some of those kicks are intentional?

Between 18 and 20 weeks an ultrasound can normally show gender - we were lucky enough to find out that we have a little baby boy on the way! I have a great shot that shows this clearly, but I thought I would maintain my son's dignity and not post it for everyone to see.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Months 1-4

I won't bore you with details of the first four months.  Let's just say that Kirk and I are both happy that I'm now in the 2nd trimester.  Months 1-3 were fairly textbook although nerve wracking for some of us (or maybe all of us!) See the photos in the last post for details on baby during months 1-3.

Month 4 - Dec 3rd - Jan 2nd

A month filled with holidays, friends, and food! It's been wonderful to see everyone and I feel very blessed that our baby will be entering the world already loved by so many people.

Baby Renegar got their first Christmas present from each set of grandparents.  We will now be fully decked out for the 2010 Hokie Football season!!   Speaking of Hokie Football, we made our first 'family trip' to Atlanta over New Year's to partake in the wonderment that was Virginia Tech's stomping of the University of Tennessee.  It was made more special because we live just 15 minutes from the UT campus and are surrounded on all sides by die-hard Volunteers.  Also made special as the baby chose this time to make us fully aware of it's presence by doing something akin to the Hokie Pokie in my belly.

By the end of the 4th month, the baby looks like a fully formed human:


(Profile of the face)

And is practicing swallowing, sleeping, and kicking (although Mom can't really feel it yet). 

Life so far

Let me start by summarizing the last few months. And, since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll keep this short.


Here's our little blessing at 6 weeks.  To make it easier, there is an arrow!



And 8 weeks...




And 10 weeks...