20 weeks, Baby #2

I guess since I'm already halfway there, I'd better start taking some pictures! Sorry baby girl :)

So far, this pregnancy has flown by and I'm sure the next 20 weeks will go just as fast. We have quite a lot to do, but I know we'll figure out a way to get it done.

Last Doctor's Appointment

Yesterday was my last doctor's appointment. I am a full 2 cm dilated and we made the choice to go ahead with the induction. We are being induced Wednesday morning at 6am. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that I'll go into labor on my own, but we're down to just a bit over 24 hours, so I'm not sure how realistic that is at this point. Anything is possible, I guess.

I also started my maternity leave yesterday by running tons of errands, but I got a lot accomplished and hopefully I can do the same for today. We spent last evening taking maternity photos with our baby photographer, Kristi Hibbetts. She is actually a former high school classmate of Ryan's and I can't wait to share the photos with everyone.

Wish us luck for Wednesday!

37 Weeks!

We are at full-term! Baby Holt is now the size of a watermelon. Somehow that makes me sad to know there is something the size of a watermelon growing in my uterus.



"At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life."

My body is making some progress getting ready for this little guy to make his arrival and Dr. D seems to think I could go into labor at any time. I am 80% effaced and 1.5 cm dilated. She even joked to me at my appointment on Monday that she would see me next Monday, if not before then. She also let me know that she's on call this weekend, just in case. Well, it's already Friday and no such luck yet.

Ryan officially installed the car seat this week and I took it yesterday to get it inspected at the police department. We are ready to bring him home from the hospital! I also started packing my bag and except for a few things I use daily, it's ready to go.

The belly at 37 weeks:

35 Weeks and 35 days to go!

Wow. This baby will be here in 6 weeks at the very most (my doctor will only let me go 1 week past my due date before she will induce). My next doctor's appointment is Monday and Dr. D will be taking me off of the Procardia in a week. If I go into labor on my own anytime after 36 weeks, they will not stop it. I think the medication has really helped my contractions subside, especially as the weeks have passed. I just wonder what will happen when I'm not longer taking them...

I'm feeling okay, just really tired and my body is constantly sore. My back, hips and feet hurt the most, so I'm just trying to relax as much as possible at home. I am starting to rethink my plan to work until I go into labor, so I have to keep reminding myself that I want the time after Baby arrives, not now.

We are about 90% ready for Baby Holt's arrival. His room is nearly ready and the glider arrived yesterday! I have a few finishing touches and a final clean left to do, but if he came home in a week we would be fine. All of his bedding, burp cloths, bibs and newborn and 0-3 month size clothing is washed and ready for him to wear. I put together his swing and bouncy seat and installed batteries. Everything is working the way it should! Hopefully Ryan will have a chance to put together the pack n' play this weekend and that's the last of the necessary gear we will need for the first few weeks.

I am planning on packing my hospital bag this weekend just in case and we are meeting with a potential pediatrician next week. We practiced with the car seat last weekend and I need to make an appointment to get it inspected sometime in the next week.

We're getting close! Here is my 35 week belly:

33 Weeks

Baby has graduated to a new fruit this month! I'm also down to 49 days until his due date. Yikes! In the 8th month, he's now the size of a honeydew melon:

"Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month."

Since I just updated a few days ago, not much has changed. I'm still taking my medicine and I'm trying to get more rest when I'm home in the evenings this week. Any kind of remote activity, even something as simple as browsing Target, still gives me contractions. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, though!

My baby shower was this past Saturday and I'll upload some photos as soon as Jessica emails them to me. It was a very nice shower and everyone was so generous! We've also done a lot of work on the nursery, so I need to take some photos and get those uploaded as well.

I took a new photo of the belly this morning and I think Baby's really grown between week 30 and today:

30 Weeks

30 weeks feels like a huge milestone. I have way too many things to do over the next 10 weeks!

Everything has been going well and not much to report. I started going to the doctor every 2 weeks, but right now, they're just quick short appointments. I think I'm finally experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. They're not painful, but just uncomfortable. And, I feel like I'm back in my first trimester with the exhaustion!

The belly at 30 weeks:

27 Weeks

Baby Holt is still growing and I'm officially in the 3rd Trimester! I had my 28 week appointment on Monday (yes, I'm a little behind in the 27 week update!) and everything is looking good. The doctor got a better look at the last ultrasound detailed report and it doesn't appear that we will need to have another ultrasound yet. They evidently got the photos they needed of the cord insertion and all else looks good with baby!

We started our childbirth classes a few weeks ago and they're not as bad as Ryan expected them to be. We've learned a lot about the stages of labor and when to know if it's really time to go to the hospital. All I can say is that I'm pretty sure I will be getting an epidural at some point! Ryan wants me to get one as soon as possible so he doesn't have to listen to me whine about the pain. We'll see.

For all of those that have been asking, we don't have a name for this baby yet. In fact, we're not even close. Choosing a name is much harder than I thought it would be and not as fun either! I am serious when I say that we will have to decide on a name when they are forcing me out of the hospital. Even in the off chance that we do decide on a name prior to Baby Holt's arrival, you're all going to have to wait until he is here to find out what we decide.

My belly at 27 weeks:

25 Weeks

We're back to the new fruit, or vegetables this week! Baby Holt is the size of an eggplant. Not that I'm super familiar with eggplant, but that's getting kind of big! He will be staying this size until Week 29.



"Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes."

In other news, we're going to Babies R Us register tonight! We've started some stuff online, but we need to see things in person. Ryan is only going to be forced to help me do the big stuff. I think I'll take my Mom to do the little things that he will be too bored with to walk around the store with me. We're also making our first real baby purchase, an infant car seat. Yikes!

The nursery walls are almost completed. We just have some touch-up to do on the paint and the room will be ready for furniture! I found some curtains on super clearance at Pottery Barn, so I ordered them for the room and they should be arriving in mid-February. I have an armoire that I plan to refinish this month, get the furniture, bedding and crib mattress ordered at the beginning of March and hopefully be ready for the final touches and accessories at the end of March. We'll see how my plan goes! :)

This is my belly at 25 weeks. I don't know about you, but I am seeing a difference between 23 and 25 weeks:

23 and 24 Weeks and Viability Day!

I've been kind of bad at updating lately. I guess not having any new fruits the past 2 weeks have messed me up!

At 24 weeks, the baby is considered viable outside of the womb and has a 40-70% chance of survival. Obviously, a baby that small would require a lot of medical attention for a long while, but at least he would have a fighting chance of survival.

We had our second ultrasound on January 19 and it is confirmed that we are having a boy! Everything looks good, but I will have to have another ultrasound at some point because they still could not get great photos of the attachment of the cord to the placenta. Baby is doing well, but he's a little on the small side for now. He weighed 1 lb. 5 oz. at the second ultrasound and he's in the 38th percentile for growth. His heartrate was 156 beats per minute. The doctor said everything else looks great! I only have one more 4 week appointment and then I start going every 2 weeks. That means I'm quickly nearing the end!

In other news, Ryan finally felt the baby kick! Our little guy is moving around so much that he kept me from falling asleep last night. His little kicks are getting stronger and stronger almost by the day.

I did not take a 24 week photo, but here is my belly at 23 weeks:

22 Weeks

Baby is growing fast! He's now the size of a papaya. I guess they're running out of fruits since there won't be a new one until Week 25.



"Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop."

As promised, photos of my growing belly are back. This is my 22 week photo, taken with my BlackBerry because I still can't find my camera cord.



I started working on the baby registry this week. There is so much stuff out there for babies that it's overwhelming! We still need to go to Babies R Us and do the majority of the registering in person, but at least we have a few things started online!

Halfway and Big News!

As of Christmas Day, I am 20 weeks pregnant, which means I'm halfway to meeting our sweet baby!

This week, Baby Holt is the size of a cantaloupe.



"Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!"

And, the biggest news of all...we found out on Monday that we're having a BOY!

My belly at 20 weeks (Christmas Day!):

18 Weeks!

Time is really starting to fly! Baby Holt is the size of a sweet potato. The picture looks a little alien-like, though.



"Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon."

I haven't felt any movement yet, but I'm waiting until I feel that first flutter or maybe even the first kick. My belly has really started to grow:



Anyone want to make guesses on whether Baby Holt is a boy or a girl? Take the poll to the right!

17 Weeks

I can't believe how quickly time is passing. I'm 17 weeks today and in just over 2 weeks, we will know whether we are having a boy or a girl!

At 17 weeks, Baby Holt is the size of an onion. Could there be a worse description? Ugh!



"Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints."

My 17 week photo...no makeup and pjs, but at least you can see the belly growing!

16 Weeks and My 3rd Appointment

I have been a bad blogger lately. Ever since we returned from our vacation, I feel like time is flying. We only had three days of work and then it was the long Thanksgiving weekend. We enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws at their home and then spent the rest of the weekend finishing Ryan's foyer project and then decorating our house for Christmas! We were so busy I forgot to do my 16 week update and now I'm almost 17 weeks!

Anyway, here goes! At 16 weeks, Baby Holt is about the size of an avocado.

"Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender."

It blows me away that Baby can hear us now. I just can't wait to feel him or her move. It can happen any day now!

I'm feeling great! My energy is back, I'm not having any bouts of sickness and I have very few food aversions. The only things I still cannot stomach are coffee and soda. I guess neither of those are bad things!

I am quickly growing out of my clothes. I still only have 2 pairs of work maternity pants and very few maternity shirts. Ryan doesn't want me to spend any money, but it is soon to be inevitable. I am going to need new clothes soon!

People that know I am pregnant can tell that I'm showing, but I haven't received any comments from strangers yet. Most people that find out I'm nearly 17 weeks pregnant don't believe me! It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm ready to show for real! :)

My third appointment was today. Ryan couldn't make it because he had meetings at work, but I got to hear Baby's heartrate (166 bpm) and had my general checkup with the doc. Everything is looking good and measuring right on track. I also had the AFP testing done today to see if Baby has any developmental disabilities like spina bifida or Downs.

The best part of today's appointment---the BIG ultrasound is scheduled! So, we'll know the baby's sex right before Christmas. The question is whether we will share the news with our families when we find out or wait to reveal it to them on Christmas Day. Hrmmm.... For what it's worth, I'm convinced that we are having a girl. We'll see if my guess is right in about 2.5 weeks!

My 16 week photo:

14 and 15 weeks!

Since we were on vacation, I didn't have a chance to post either my 14 or 15 week updates. Last week, Baby Holt was the size of a lemon in Week 14.



"Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth."

Me, at 14 weeks:


Now, in Week 15, Baby Holt is the size of a navel orange. That doesn't seem much bigger to me, but oh well. It's still an improvement, right?



"Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements."

I'm feeling pretty good, especially after weighing myself upon return from our vacation. Since it felt like all I did was eat the entire time, I'm pretty excited that I didn't gain too much weight. The vacation was fabulous and I'll update with a new picture as soon as we unload them all from the camera!

I also finished my Baby Bargains book, so I am ready to start making some lists and getting items ready to register. We should know the baby's sex in just 5 more weeks!

Me & Baby at 15 weeks:

Week 10

Finally in double digits! Baby Holt is now the size of a prune.


"With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.)"

I feel like I have turned a major corner in the last few days. I think (knock on wood) that my morning sickness is nearly gone. I also woke up this morning not feeling quite as bloated as I have been. I still have sensitivity to smells (someone makes this nutty-smelling coffee every morning at work and it gives me a headache!) and major food aversions, but I'm not having to eat every few hours just to keep myself from feeling nauseated. I'm also getting more and more energy each day. I am still exhausted by 10pm, but at least I no longer feel like I need to nap throughout the day or feel as though I'm living through some kind of fog.

I'm anxious for the next doctor's appointment because I can't wait to hear Baby Holt's little heartbeat. Once we hear that, I think I'll feel better about spreading the news to the world. We're still keeping it to family and close friends for now.

My belly at 10 weeks, no baby yet, still bloat!:

5 weeks

I am officially out of Month 1 and down 2 pounds since I first found out. Baby Holt is the size of an appleseed!



"Your embryo (looking kind of like a tadpole) is starting to form major organs (heart, kidney, liver, stomach) and systems (nervous, circulatory, digestive). Baby's presence in your uterus triggers production of hCG (the hormone detected by pregnancy tests)... which triggers production of other hormones like estrogen and progesterone... which trigger all those great symptoms you've probably been noticing!"

My symptoms are still the same...tired, light cramping, more hunger than usual and waves of nausea. I have read that full-on morning sickness doesn't usually kick in until Week 6. I suppose I should thank my lucky stars for now! My mom said that she was sick almost her entire pregnancies with both me and my brother. Is that what's in store for me?

My belly at 5 weeks, all bloat!