New Year's Eve

Lil' Biscotti has 24 hours to get here and counted as a tax deduction for 2011!  It is kind of a running joke that even my doctor has mentioned.

I'm just praying she stays put until 1/6 ... or at least through this morning - after my long-awaited hair appointment!

Hey, a girl's gottta have her beauty standards. :)

But seriously, it is in everybody's best interest if she waits to arrive until 1/6.  

Countdown: One Week

Next Friday is the BIG DAY!   I just can't believe it ... this time next week, we'll be a family of four (okay, five if you include Bella ... and we must never forget Bella!).

Jonathan has been hard at work getting our "chair rail" project completed.  He finished painting the walls a lovely shade of "blue-ish" and has much of the chair railing installed (with the rest to be installed this weekend) - and it looks GREAT!  (Thanks, Honey!!!)

I've been cleaning and getting the house ready for Jonathan's parents' arrival.   The hard part is keeping things clean once they are clean (or should I say, "the impossible part").

I have been off work all week, which has been good for my mind and body.  I'll be working next week on Tuesday and Wednesday - and that is it.  Hopefully my schedule isn't filled to the brim, as I'm really not in the mood to work - but the later I can start my paid "sick leave" (aka, materntiy leave), the better.  So Thursday will be a "vacation day" and then Friday starts my "Family Medical Leave," courtesy of a law from our federal government.

I am trying to cherish these last few days of relative calm - the days where Christian sleeps all night, and therefore WE all sleep all night.  The days where Christian naps all afternoon - or at a minimum, "rests" in his room while Jonathan and I tend to things.  As I've mentioned before, I think his naptimes are coming to an end - and will probalby really come to an end once the excitment (and noise) of Lil' Biscotti arrives in our home.

Today's Dr. Appointment

For today's Dr. appoinment, they performed a "non-stress test" which is where I get to relax in a comfy recliner and they put a monitor around my belly to check the baby's heart rate and movement.   Lil' Biscotti's heart rate was a bit high, so we had additonal testing - and at last, an ultrasound!

Unfortuantely, the tech wasn't really into understanding our excitement in seeing Lil' Biscotti for the first time since week 20.   I couldn't really see the screen from my position, and for the two times she actually moved the screen my way, she very quickly moved it back to its original position.

And when I asked for a print out, she told me that machine didn't print the images.  WHAT?

Jonathan had a better view than I did and got to see part of Lil' Biscotti's face - though she had a hand in front blocking much of her face.  Based on what Jonathan saw, he's quite certain she looks like me.  We'll see.

The best news to come out of the ultrasound:   Lil' Biscotti is just fine and dandy and the amniotic fluid is at a good level and ... she's definitley a girl! :)

My final appointment will be next Wednesday ... and then two days later ... Lil' Biscotti arrives!

"Your Pregnancy at 38 Weeks"

The time is drawing near!

I am very happy to report Lil' Biscotti did not arrive on Christmas - whew!  Jonathan's parents arrive on 1/5, and she's not allowed to come into this world until her Granny and Grandpa are here.

I'm feeling remarkably well, considering.  Lil' Biscotti is pretty heavy, and sometimes I really feel it.  It is a treat when I get into a good, comfortable sleeping position ... and then disappointing when I can't acdtually sleep because my mind is racing.

We've been telling Christian that the baby is coming, and so he's added, "Tell me about (insert baby's name here)" to his repertoire of questions.  So we tell him that she's going to be his little sister, and he's going to be her big brother.  And that she'll be really tiny, and he can hold her if he wants to and he can also help Mommy with his little sister, if he wants to.

I still don't think he really understands there is a baby coming who will be staying with us permanently.

And now for this week's baby update ...

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

"Your Pregnancy - 37 Weeks"

I had another doctor's appointment today, and have nothing new to report.   He measured my stomach, which is right on track.  We talked about what necessitated a trip to the hospital:  water breaking or painful contractions that are five minutes apart, or less.

I asked him about a pain I've been having that pretty much stops my in my tracks when it occurs, and he assured me it was normal - just an indication that my cervix is doing what it needs to do to prepare for childbirth.  I confirmed that he pain doesn't indicate that labor is eminent (well, I mean ... it IS eminent ... but just made sure the pain didn't mean labor was going to start any minute).

I'm really starting to get antsy about the baby coming.  I have a lot of work to get done at my job in the next three days (taking Friday off, and all next week) and so that is putting some stress on me.   I also can't get my mind to stop racing about anything and everything having to do with an labor symptoms I might get ... what if I go into labor early, wondering about the hospital stay, wondering about a lot of things with Christian, etc.   I can't seem to focus on any one thought - or related thoughts - for a long period of time.

I'm also starting to feel like a bit of a spectacle.  You know how people's eyes tend to focus on a woman with a large chest?  That is how I feel about my stomach.  Everywhere I do, I find people's eyes immediately looking to my tummy (though, truth be told, I also look at the tummies of other pregnant women).  But the people who amuse me are those who feel the need to say something.   And that is fine ... although, when somebody asks me when I'm due, I'm going to start telling them "April" ... just for laughs.

And now for this week's (actually, next week's) "Your Pregnancy at 37 Weeks."

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

"Your Pregnancy - 36 Weeks"

I had another Dr. appointment today, and once again, all is well!   I will now move to weekly appointments.

The c-section has been officially scheduled for Friday, January 6.   I will need to be at the hospital at 5:00am.   Ouch!

The doctor said the goal is to keep lil' Biscotti inside and growing for at least the next 11 days and that after 11 days, she's free to come out whenever she'd like.  *gasp!*  11 days???

Of course, that doesn't mean she's coming in 11 days, necessarily.  That just puts me within an acceptable delivery time frame 

Side note:  I guess I've been getting these pregnancy updates via e-mail a week early.   I'm at 35 weeks today, not 36.  But I'll keep posting the updates as I get them, because they are interesting, nonetheless.

And here is this week's pregnancy report:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Lil' Biscotti May Now Come

Big weight off my shoulders:  That glorious brown truck known as "UPS" just delivered Lil' Biscotti's car seat.

WHEW!

So let me qualify the title of this blog post, "Lil' Biscotti May Now Come":   should she choose to arrive early, we now have a car seat to bring her home in.  However ... we'd like for her to continue "cooking" for the next four weeks.  Thank you.

One Month Away!

Today is December 6th.  Biscotti's scheduled c-section is for January 6th.  And that makes today exactly one month until our little blessing enters the world.

Of course, she can certainly arrive any time before that.    Am I ready?  Not just yet.

It seems there is still so much to do.   We are waiting for the car seat to arrive, and just ordered a changing table.  The changing table isn't crucial, but the car seat is.  Once that arrives, I'll feel much better.

I suppose you could say I'm "nesting."  I'm trying to clean the house and get baby stuff organized.  Easier said than done.   

And of course, there is holiday decorating to get to!  Again, easier said than done. But I will, I will, I will get it done!   I have put up two Christmas wreathes on each light outside of our garage, and when we are coming and going, Christian will say, "That is my Christmas Tree House!"   So I want to be sure to get all of our lights up outside.  Christian is so excited for Christmas this year, and I want it to be very special for him.  After all, this is the final year that Christian will be an only child at Christmas (or not ... again, Lil' Biscotti can come at any time).

"Your Pregnancy - 35 Weeks"

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

"Your Pregnancy - 34 Weeks"

Today's usual doctor's appointment was as uneventful as all the others, which - again - is a good thing.

I'm not going to lie - the last few weeks of pregnancy are pretty darn tootin' uncomfortable (and will get even more uncomfortable, still).  I think often about how there are people who are in a chronic state of pain or discomfort with little hope of relief.  I'm glad to know that #1, my discomfort is productive and #2, is only temporary.

Jonathan has confirmed that I definitely have a "waddle."  And somehow with this pregnancy, I'm getting a lot more attention from strangers.  Cashiers, in particular, like to ask me when I'm due, what I'm having, and what her name is.   Even male cashiers ask me, which I somehow think is funny.

Surprisingly, I haven't had anybody tell me how huge I am.  Although, both my sister and Jonathan have commented that I look like I could have the baby today.    And I agree!  I even had to confirm with the doctor today that I've got just one baby inside.  He confirmed that indeed, there is just one baby ... and assured me that with today's technology, it is impossible not notice a second baby.

So without further adieu, here is the official "Your Pregnancy - 34 Weeks":

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term.

"Your Pregnancy - 33 Weeks"

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

"Your Pregnancy - 32 Weeks"

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Christian and the Stroller

Lil' Biscotti's new stroller has arrived.  It's really cool - it comes with a removable (and reversable to face the world, or face us) seat, a basinett, and we can buy an adaptor that also holds the car seat.

We put it together, inserted the basinett, marveled at how cool it is and set it aside.  I was out of the room for a few minutes, and returned to find Christian had rolled the stoller into the living room, next to the sofa and had climbed into the basinett and was watching TV.

So I got a kick out of it, took a couple of pics and wheeled it into another room.  He found it later, managed to crawl in again and declared that HE was a baby.  I said, "You're not a baby, you're a big boy.  This is Biscotti's stroller."

To which he replied, "This is MY new stroller!"

Needless to say, the basinett is now hidden away in my closet, and the frame is folded up - and uninteresting - in another room.

And so begins the sibling rivalry.  And Lil' Biscotti hasn't even been born yet.

Your Pregnancy at 31 Weeks

I had another Dr. appointment today and everything is fine!   My blood presure was great again, I passed the diabetes screening, my iron levels are fine, etc.

I asked if there was anything different that would happen since I'm 38 years old, and he said that for women my age, each week (starting at week 37), I will be sent to the hospital for an ultrasound and a "non-stress test" (where they put a monitor around my belly and I just sit there for a while and they watch things).    And that is about it.

I double-checked on the c-sectin date, and it will indeed be January 6th.   However, between now and then, I will be closely monitored for any possible complications that would require an earlier c-section.  But, for a healthy, problem-free pregnancy, c-sections are performed one week before the due date.

Of course, lil Biscotti might have plans of her own - you never know what babies are going to do.  Today my dentist told me that all four of his children were born one month early when his wife's water broke and she needed to have immediate c-sections.     Not the kind of story a 7 month old pregnant woman wants to haear.

Really, only God knows when Lil Biscott will enter this world.  Jonathan has suggested that December 31 (or sooner) would be good for our taxes - ha ha!!

For me, though, depsite the day-to-day discomforts that are mounting, I want her to stay and "cook" for as long as possible - for it is the best place for her to be.

_______________________________________________________

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Los Luceros!

Your Pregnancy at 30 Weeks

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

"Your Pregnancy - 29 Weeks"

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Meet "Baby Elisabeth"

Meet "Baby Elisabeth."   She is the doll my sweet Grandma gave me when my little sister, Elisabeth, was born in August 1976.    My mom had a  real "Baby Elisabeth," and I had my own doll version of the new baby that came to live with us.

Since that time, I've always wanted a baby girl.  Well, except for a few years when I got old enough to realize that having a baby would HURT.   And then I was completely opposed to having any children whatsoever.  But obviously, I changed my mind over time. :)

My Baby Elisabeth doll has lots of wear and tear (she is, after all, over 35 years old now!), but I've always held onto her and known exactly where she is among my other belongings.  Since becoming pregnant, we've kept her out for Christian to see in preparation for Lil' Biscotti's arrival.  

Its been a few months since I brought the doll out, so she's just a background image to him now ... he doesn't even notice her.  But every time I see her, I am reminded of the sweet dream come true that will arrive in our lives in January who will join our sweet dream, Christian, who arrived nearly four years ago!

Christian's Baby

Did you know Christian has a baby in his tummy, too?  Well, he does!    He likes to lay down, lift up his shirt, puff out his stomach and say, "Feel MY baby!"

So I put my hand on his tummy and he sucks his tummy in and then hesitates and pushes it back out again really quickly.

It is just so cute that I don't have the heart to tell him there isn't a baby in HIS tummy.  

I love that lil' guy!

"Your Pregnancy - 28 Weeks"

I had my regularly-scheduled doctor's appointment today.   All is well.  My stomach measured "perfectly," blood pressure was fine, etc.  

All systems still normal!

I had to take the routine "glucose screening test" that tests for gestational diabetes.  I hope it comes back okay, because if there is anything questionable about the results, I'll have to take the brutal three hour "glucose challenge test" which involves fasting, drinking a larger portion of glucose, and sitting at a lab for three hours while my blood is drawn four times during that time frame.  Had to take that test with Christian and it is no fun.

So we'll pray and think happy thoughts and hope that all will be will with today's test.

___________________

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

"Your Pregnancy - 27 Weeks"

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Three Months ... 90 Days

I'm pretty sure the c-section will take place on January 6, which is just three short months away.   Or 90+ days. WOW!

Lately, I've been thinking about just what it will be like to be the mom of two little kiddos.  How will Christian react to a new baby?  What am I going to do about my job (big decision needed)?  Will I ever have a clean house?  Ha ha!

I have been told that the transition to two children is shocking.   I was warned that there is never "downtime" in a house with two children (geeze, imagine households with three or MORE kiddos.  Hello, Jon and Kate, Plus 8).  I look at how things are now:  Christian still goes down for a nap every afternoon (thought, he doesn't always take one, but he stays in his room and reads or entertains himself otherwise).  He goes down for bed at 8:00pm every night.    Relatively speaking, I get a fair amount of "downtime."   That'll all change when Lil' Biscotti arrives.

I also wonder a lot about how this little girl will be different from Christian.  He has always been a laid back, go-with-the-flow kind of kiddo.   He was on a good sleeping schedule very early on.    He didn't walk until about 21 months, so he was very much a "baby" for an extended period of time.  In fact, I still look at him and his baby-like face and think of him as a baby.    I know I'll be amazed at just how big he is once I see Lil' Biscotti next to him.

In essence, Christian is a lot like his Papa.   And the times he's feisty, well ... then he's just like his mommy! :)

So, what personality will Lil' Biscotti have?   I'm eager to find out!  And I'm already nervous about the drama ... because girls are filled with drama (I know this fact from being a girl, myself).

I'm sure I'm destined to have a dramatic and feisty girl.   It's karma.  And my mother will probably just sit back and laugh to herself ... and feel a bit of redemption. :)

A Sunday Stroll

Jonathan shot this picture while Christian and I were out on a walk yesterday.  Yes, yes, I I know I said I wouldn't be showing any photos.  Guess I lied,

See my belly?  Now, imagine me three months from now when I have a full-term baby inside.  And this is how a short, 5' 3" pregnant woman looks at six months.

Gotta check with the doctor next time to make SURE I'm not having twins.  Okay, I KNOW I'm not having twins, but I sure do look like I could be!

"Your Pregnancy - 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 a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. 

"Your Pregnancy - 25 Weeks"

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

According to Christian ...

This morning, I noticed a quote from Christian up on his classroom wall:

"Miss Mandee, my mommy is having a baby - it's a girl.  She has it in her tummy and tomorrow she's gonna push it out."

He's so funny!  Come to think of it, we've never talked about the fact that the baby is going to actually COME OUT one day - we just keep teling him she's in there.   Guess he's figuerd all on his own that his sister is coming out ... "TOMORROW."

All is Well ...

I know I've been pretty quiet on this blog - just posting weekly updates I get from a pregnancy website.

The good news is the reason I've been so quiet is that there's nothing to report!  I feel great, the baby is doing well ... it has all been pretty uneventful!  And that is exactly how I like things!

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday, and everything was good.  He measured my stomach and it was right whre it should be (despite my fear that I've gained too much weight so far - I wouldn't know, I stopped looking at the scale months ago).  

My blood pressure was great, the baby's heartbeat was great ... all was well.

I no longer look like I've just "gained a few pounts," I now look pregnant - and that is nice.  Though, becuase I'm so short, I feel like I look REALLY pregnant.  I feel like I look as pregnant as another mom at Christian's school who is due any day.   Oh, did you want to see picutres?   Um ... problaby not going to happen. :)

Biscotti is a little wiggle worm.  I read about how babies sleep 95% of the time at this stage.  If that is true, then I've got an anomaly growing within.  I'd say she's awake much more than she's asleep. 

Feeling your own baby move is really one of the most terriffic feelings ever - I love every moment of it.  I often call Jonathan over to feel her move, and recently Christian has started coming over, too, and moving Jonathan's hands and saying, "That's MY baby."

Christian has pretty much stopped insisting I'm having a baby shark and only shows a mild interest in the baby.   I'm sure he's thinking, "Yeah, yeah ... I know .. .there's a baby in mommy's tummy.  So stop telling me."  

Still ... I think the baby will be giving Christian a stuffed animal shark when he sees her for the first time.  It'll be like a consolation prize.  :)

"Your Pregnancy - 24 Weeks"

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

"Your Pregnancy - 23 Weeks"

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she'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 her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her 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 her when she hears them outside the womb.



"Your Pregnancy - 22 Weeks"

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her 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 her body and the deep wrinkles on her skin, which she'll sport until she adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside her belly, her pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

A Peek at Lil' Biscotti

I don't think I'll be getting many ultrasounds during this prengancy ... so these pics might be it for a while.  Enjoy! :)

Click any image to enlarge it.



3D pic of Biscotti!

Not too sure what the white spot is about. 

Almost like a flash that was too bright and close.

Another 3D pic of Biscotti from above.

Cute little feet!

GIRL PARTS!

Biscotti's fingers making a "peace symbol"

Biscotti's cute little profile - arm included.

Baby Lucero is a ...

Back in July, I had an ultrasound and the doctor was able to determine the baby's sex. He cautioned me that it was still early on, and not to start buying "baby stuff" just yet because he couldn't be 100% certain. So for weeks, we've been waiting for the "big ultrasound" that has been scheduled for today - the one that would tell us what Baby Lucero is!

Today we found out for certain!

 

The day I found out, I wanted to be more creative that just telling Jonathan, "It's a girl!"   I took a video of him trying to guess.   There are two videos, because the video cut off right after he guessed.

And be sure to turn the volume on your computer UP!

"Your Pregnancy - 21 Weeks"

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 she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now.

"Your Pregnancy - 20 Weeks"

How your baby's growing:

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).

"Your Pregnancy - 19 Weeks"

How your baby's growing:

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.

"Your Pregnancy - 18 Weeks"

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Our Exciting News!

May 2011

That's right ... we Luceros are expecting another baby!  And sooner than you might think:  the baby is due January 13th, but will arrive approximately a week earlier as I'll be having another c-section.

This story starts off in the same way Christian's story started off:  we were getting infertility treatments, but whereas our first treatment with Christian was successful, we had several unsuccessful attempts this time.  The doctor ran a few tests, found some issues, and we were on a break for a few months.

But quite unexpectedly, in May we found out we were pregnant - all on our own.   I had been experiencing a handful of unusual symptoms - none of which on its own would have indicated I was pregnant, but collectively, had me wondering.   On a whim, I took a pregnancy test and Jonathan and I were shocked to see those two very special lines.   Thinking the test was wrong, I took another test a few minutes later.  When that test was positive, I made an appointment with the doctor that day and waited with baited breath until the confirmation came in two days later.

I am now "very pregnant" and all is well!  We are affectionately referring to this baby as "Biscotti."

Christian knows we're having another baby, and he's makes us laugh about it!   The dialog goes something like this:

Me:  "Christian, what is Mommy having?"

Christian:  "A baby!"

Me:  Where's the baby?

Christian:  "In my tummy!"

Me:  "In whose tummy?"

Christian:  "In MY tummy!"

The other conversation goes like this:

Us: "Christian, do you want a baby brother or a baby sister?"

Christian:  "A BABY SHARK!"

The type of shark depends on the day.  Some days, he tells me I'm having a baby Great White Shark.  Other days, I'm having a baby Sand Tiger Shark.    But I've had a couple of ultrasounds and I can assure everybody that I am absolutely not having a baby shark.    Christian will be crushed when he sees the baby is in human form.

So that is our very exciting news about Biscotti ... thank you for sharing it with us!   Check back frequently for updates!

Important note:  if we are friends on Facebook, please don't mention the pregnancy there (you'll notice I haven't).  We are keeping this news rather private for the time being.  Eventually, I'll post the news on Facebook, but not just yet.  Thank you for understanding and keeping our secret for now.