is this what my daughter will look like?

We have been able to determine what our daughter will look like in the future based on this ultrasound image taken recently:




















Here's what she will look like a few weeks after she's born:




















And here's how she'll look as a senior in high school:




















As you can see, she is taking after her mother very early with the classic hand on the chin pose.

I'm so proud of my beautiful girls...

two years later

Only our most dedicated readers will remember a post I made over two years ago about a customer at my former office who had an "injury" in the teller drive-thru.
Well, this morning I got a call from the manager that originally dealt with the situation and she received a summons to appear in court for the situation. This woman is actually pursuing legal action for several thousand dollars for "pain and suffering." I about fell out of my chair when I heard this and I thought some of you might enjoy hearing about it as well.
Here's a link to the original post: i always miss the good ones

building the nursery, one step at a time

This week we took the first steps toward building our new nursery. We picked out her bedding at Target, the Olivia Collection by Dwell Studio (Psst... if anyone has a shopping bug, it is on sale this week, some items with free shipping!) and were ready to start preparing to turn our guest room into a nursery.
We cleared the room of most of its furniture and started thinking about wall color. We've been reading a lot about ways to make a safer nursery and we definitely wanted to use a paint that didn't contain all of the toxic fumes that standard paints release long after the paint is dry. We weren't sure exactly who would carry this type of paint locally, but we found some at the local Sherwin Williams Store called Harmony (it contains less solvents and zero-VOC's (volatile organic compounds)); it's available in most colors and priced very competitively with standard paints (plus it was on sale and we had a coupon for $10 off). We bought a few different color samples to put on the wall, but what we landed on was a color very similar to the green we have now, just a little softer and warmer (actually about the same color as the background of our blog).
We've got a little plaster repair to do in the room and after that we can paint and start putting in the furniture. We've decided to make a changing table out of the dresser that both Sarah and her Mother used when they were little girls. We bought the crib last week, but I'm waiting to put it together until we are ready to put it in the room. We've found a bookshelf that we like and the perfect glider rocker, but it is out of stock at Babies R Us right now... Hopefully we'll be able to get it by the end of April. Then we'll just have some finishing touches and we'll be all ready for our little bundle. Well, at least her room will be ready...
Yesterday we spent most of the day reorganizing our storage spaces and getting rid of a lot of stuff. We seem to do this at least once a year, and every time we find more things that we just don't need. But I think we have some extra incentive this year with all of the new things that will soon be filling our home.
As soon as we start making some progress, I'll be sure to post some pictures. Until then, cross your fingers that everything goes smoothly.

our baby: 19 weeks

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and she 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. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.

our baby this week

We're moving full steam ahead preparing for our little lady's arrival. Kevin's working hard on the nursery and will give you an update on that soon. And we started our baby registries at Babies"R"Us and Target, although they're still a bit of a work in progress. We're also thinking hard about names. There are lots that we like, but none that jumps out as "the one." Luckily, we have 5 more months to decide!

week 18
Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place.

it's a girl!

We had an early ultrasound Friday and found out we're having a girl! She looked perfect and was measuring exactly right. She weighs about 7 ounces. They couldn't get a good look at her heart because she was face down, so we'll have another ultrasound in 4 weeks. They aren't concerned about her heart, and they saw all 4 chambers, but they'd like to get a better view when she's a bit more developed. They also couldn't get a good profile picture, but we love the photo of her little foot. Hopefully, we'll have a better full body shot after our next ultrasound.

I also found out why I haven't felt any kicks or movement yet. My placenta is situated at the front of my uterus, rather than the back, so I may not feel anything for several more weeks. It's not a problem, though, and if it stays where it is I'll just have a little more cushioning from her big kicks later on.

We spent the weekend picking out bedding and paint colors, starting our baby registry and disassembling the guest room so it can become a nursery. Needless to say, we're very excited!

our baby this week

We scheduled our childbirth education classes yesterday for late June/July. We're taking a hospital tour, baby care basics, a breastfeeding class, and Save a Baby, which teaches baby safety and lifesaving techniques. Here's what's going on with the little one this week.

week 17
Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. He can move his joints, and his skeleton—until now rubbery cartilage—is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

brand new blog

Thanks to Katie for letting us know how to update our blog template. Now that it's about a thousand times easier to make changes, we've updated the look and features of our blog. Sarah's baby bump photo now has a home for weekly updates, we can add polls to get your opinions, and we've updated all of our "favorites" lists.
Check it out and tell us what you think!

doctor/ultrasound news

Everything was great at our 17-week appointment yesterday. We heard the heartbeat and I had blood drawn for the quad screen. The doctor talked to us about signing up for birthing/childcare classes, since they fill up fast at Christ Hospital. He also said we should start thinking about a pediatrician. Luckily, Katie and Melissa both love theirs, which are each about 5 minutes from our house, so we're going to check out those.

We also scheduled our 20-week ultrasound for March 31st! It can't get here soon enough. We'll be sure to blog about it that evening and let you know if we're going to be playing for Team Blue or Team Pink. Cross your fingers that the baby cooperates and doesn't leave us stuck on Team Green!

our baby: 16 weeks

At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

baby bump sighting!

Sarah has been trying to tell everyone that there is no Baby Bump to see yet. But recent photographic evidence indicates otherwise.
Exhibit A: A photo taken this evening clearly indicates the presence of a little belly.
We've been taking pictures every week, but I was really excited this time because this is the first one has Sarah actually looking pregnant.

Take it from my first hand account, this baby is starting to make itself known, and Sarah is absolutely glowing.

Our Baby This Week

We had a busy weekend, so I haven't snapped a photo for week 15 yet, but I'll post one later this week. I still don't think you can really tell I'm pregnant in photos (it's easier to see in person), but I'll let you guys be the judge. Here's what's going on this week.

Week 15
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds.