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How's Lewin Doin'?


We aren't planning on making any updates to this blog anymore but wanted to leave it up so people could read about Lewin's life in the womb.

Lewin's First Walk

Lewin, Dan and Melissa took their first walk as a family on Wednesday, May 13. It was a short walk around the neighborhood, but enough to get some fresh air and stretch Mom and Dad's legs. Lewin slept pretty soundly the entire time. The walk was marked by a sendoff from a baby catbird in the driveway and was protected by an Air National Guard flyover. He was pretty tired after his walk and took a long nap.

Some more pictures

Lewin with his going home from the hospital outfit on. We had packed up all this diapers and had put those bags in the car. As soon as we got him dressed he made us aware of how silly we had been to have not kept the diapers around!

Lewin when we got back from the hospital.

Lewin just hanging out.

Lewin and Dad relaxing.

Night One

We are relieved to report that Lewin, Dan and Melissa survived their first night together at home. The night was not without excitement.

Mr. Itty Bitty valiantly defended the household against an intruder (i.e. a mouse) by capturing and bringing it upstairs while Lewin was nursing. Dan quickly closed and barricaded the door to the room while he and Itty corralled the little beast. No harm came to anyone, including the mouse. Dan released the mouse to the perils of the night. The coyotes Dan heard in the middle of the night probably weren't interested in the treacherous little morsel.

Lewin gave Dan his first hands-on experience with uncontrolled urination. Dan was about to start the post-diaper change dressing routine. He reached for the first layer and noticed that it was wet, as was the next layer and the fresh diaper. We believe this was the result of improper appendage positioning during the final diapering stage. We will learn.

This morning we all awoke to a beautiful sunny day. Blue skies, fluffy white clouds. All is right with the world.

His Name

Lewin is an English name and means "dear" or "beloved friend." We think it is just perfect for our little man. It also happens to be the name of one of Dan's great uncles (maternal), which is how the name came to our attention.

There were good reasons to choose Daniel as the middle name. Both Dan and Melissa's father were given their fathers' first names as their middle names. Also, Dan's maternal grandfather was named Daniel.

Edit: From Rosemary/Gamoo/Lewin's Paternal Grandmother
"Lewin was also my mother's beloved grandfather's name. He was Lewin the 1st. My mother's brother, Lewin the 2nd was named after Lewin the 1st. Now baby Lewin would be the the 3rd with the same name. I vaguely remember my great grandfather who would be baby Lewin's great, great, great grandfather."

Lewin, Melissa & Dan are now home!

I was able to caught the tail end of a sneeze!

And for for all you parents who are yelling at their computer monitors "get that baby to a breast," don't worry. We figured that out right after this video was taken and Lewin feed good and long.

Pictures of Lewin

Lewin Daniel Coady

Lewin Daniel Coady - May 6 2009, 8lbs 4.25 oz. 11:15 pm

Melissa soon after we got settled into the birthing room. Mild contractions had begun. Notice how I got the clock in the background to help document.



Grandma and Grampa Parsons (or what ever Lewin decides to call them) stopped by for a visit.

T minus 1 (as Dan Coady would say)

With one day to go until Baby Coady's estimated due date, the only excitement around here is that we received a wonderful gift from friends for the little one. A package full of books! Many thanks to Steve and Darcy for their excellent choices (Baby Signs, Fish Kisses, The Very Quiet Cricket, Words, Pat the Bunny, Goodnight Moon). We can't wait to start story time!!

Not much is happening on our baby birthin' front, though friends John and Jen welcomed baby Gus into the world this afternoon. Jen and Melissa shared the same due date. Perhaps Melissa should add some hot sauce to her burger at dinner tonight. Nah, there will be no rushing Baby C. He or she will arrive when they're darn good and ready. For now, Melissa is trying not to drive Dan crazy (ok, too crazy) and just hopes that common sense prevails before she commits a random act of decorating or crafting. Fine, she'll be honest, it will most likely be an act of cleaning.

In other news, Melissa has actually started getting her bag ready for the hospital. At least Dan and Baby Coady are all packed and ready to go!

Update: 9 PM and going strong. Our gDiapers are loaded and ready for their first use. Don't know what a gDiaper is? Check it out at http://www.gdiapers.com/.

Another Monday, another OB appt.

Another Monday, another weekly appointment with the OB's office. Melissa is still measuring 38 cm (normal) and hasn't dilated any further (still at 1 cm), so we're holding steady. No contractions either. Being optimists, we did find out which doctors are on call later this week and weekend. It can't hurt to know!

We scheduled our next appointment for Monday, May 11. Here's hoping we don't need it!

Final Day in the Office

Before maternity leave, that is. Melissa wrapped up a bunch of stuff and did a fair job clearing excess paper/extraneous file materials from her desk. She's hoping she left project-related tasks in good enough condition for whomever is next in line to deal with them in her absence. Regardless, it's now time to focus even more on getting the house ready for Baby Coady.

Tomorrow will bring with it a shopping trip for "essentials" for both Momma-to-be and Baby (with Gram-to-be). Mostly fun stuff like onesies, sleepers, and diapers! Dad-to-be and Grandpa-to-be have been slaving away on Baby's room and it's looking wonderful. The door has been moved (to accommodate the upcoming renovation) and the bamboo flooring has been installed (and looks amazing!). It's so exciting to see all the pieces come together.

Though a few more days would be nice, and there's no reason to think we don't have a few more days at least, we're looking forward to meeting Lil' C sooner than later!

Week 39

Holy cow we're at week 39! Baby Coady is somewhere between 18.9 and 20.9 inches in length and probably weighs between 6.2 and 9.2 pounds. Melissa is hoping that Lil' C is somewhere in the middle of that weight range! Baby C is readier to meet the world with every passing day (though we're still showing no signs of labor getting started). Patience is a virtue, another week of "cooking" would be just fine...especially since there are a few things that the parents-to-be should finish before the big day arrives. Starting projects a week or so before the due date is a great motivational tool!

Melissa continues to feel well, eat well, and rest well. She's even feeling a bit more energetic, though that could just be her increased excitement!

We heart Bamboo Flooring

Dan is steadily working on removing the last bits of carpet-related nonsense from Baby Coady's room to get it ready for the bamboo flooring installation. The carpet was rolled up and shoved out the window earlier this evening, as was the carpet pad (and there was much rejoicing!). Given that the previous owners had installed new carpet throughout the house, it's only 5 to 8 years old. That said, carpet is disgusting. I mean really, scary, gross, I-can't-believe-I-ever-put-my-bare-feet-on-that-thing kind of icky. Apparently, carpets make great filters for uber-fine particles. I'm sure carpet pads make great sponges for everything else (and the previous owners had a small dog).

Did we mention that we're installing bamboo flooring in the nursery? Yeah, this is why.

Progress!

Yesterday afternoon came and went with another weekly visit to the doctor. All is well. Melissa is measuring at 38 cm (Dan kept this week's tape, just in case it's the last one...) and, according to the doctor, is 1 cm dilated. While that doesn't mean anything relative to the start of labor, Melissa chooses to look at it as 10 percent progress. Accurate? No, but she can make numbers say whatever she wants!

I tie my shoes like an old man

I realized during a meeting the other week that I have been reduced to tying my shoes like an old man. I cross one leg over the other, resting my ankle on my knee. This results in a "bow" on the inside edge of the shoe. Just like an old man at work. So sad...

A Different Kind of Countdown...

Melissa's countdown to her final day of [pre-maternity leave] work has begun! As of the end of business this Friday, May 1, she will have wrapped up and transitioned her projects as much as is humanly possible. While she's still feeling good and up to the day-to-day aspects of her job, she's looking forward to the pre-baby (fingers crossed!) break to devote more of her time to nesting (i.e. cleaning, organizing...re-organizing...) at home, as well as spending some quality pre-baby time with Dan and the furbabies.

Baby "stuff" organizational suggestions are welcome. She's thinking by category for gear (e.g. bedding/bath linens, diapering, feeding, toys) and age for clothing (newbie, 0-3 months, 3-6 months). Any practical/tried and true wisdom will be appreciated!

Oh, yes, and we will leave you with this.

Western MA Baby Shower

Baby Coady was celebrated with a shower hosted by Melissa's parents (at their home in Northampton) and dear friends Carrie Hawkins and KellyAnne McKeown. Saturday was a gorgeous day for a party and it was wonderful to visit with so many people who are excited to meet Lil' C when he/she decides to make an appearance (and to enjoy such delicious food!). Everyone was exceedingly generous. We can't imagine actually needing anything more than what we've got for the little one!

From Baby Coady Blog

Click here for more photos of the shower.

Almost ready

We have the crib set up and need to put some sheets on, but otherwise it is ready to go. We still need to do a little clearing out and cleaning of the room.
Oh, yeah! We still need to put in the Bamboo flooring that you can see acclimating under the crib.

Week 38

Difficult to believe, but we're in week 38 of our pregnancy with only 2-ish weeks to go (though it could be as long as 4...fingers crossed we don't go that far past the estimated due date!). According to the average figures out there, Baby Coady probably weighs around 7 pounds, measures about 20 inches, and has "plumped" up a bit. Baby's organs have matured and are now ready for life outside the womb. If Baby C is born with blue eyes (most likely since Mom has blue/gray eyes and Dad has green eyes), it's a toss up as to whether or not they'll stay blue/gray or turn green/hazel.

Still no Braxton Hicks contractions to report, just some "relatively minor" swelling of the feet and ankles at the end of the day. Relatively minor is in quotes because that's how the OB referred to it. Melissa calls them cankles. The swelling is likely to disappear within (up to) a month of the baby's birth. Melissa should plan on packing her bag, to the extent practicable, soon (or get it started and make a list at the very least).

Other than the swelling, Melissa is feeling great. Good enough to feel confident in working up through the end of next week and looking at Friday, May 1 as the last pre-maternity leave day in the office. The fun didn't end with last night's meeting (in Auburn) and won't end with tonight's meeting (in Agawam). She has managed to schedule a couple more site visits (tomorrow in Belchertown, Saturday AM in Auburn) and will attend a MEPA consultation session in Raynham next week. None of these are solo and all are subject to reconsideration if anything relative to her health changes. Right now, she's just having fun with feeling so good and seeing the looks on peoples faces!

It's getting more real

We now have the infant car seat and an extra base. Funny, this makes it seem far more real than the crib...and the bassinet...and the cute little newborn sized onesies...and all the other baby gear...

More Baby Gear!

I can't believe we have been fortunate enough to receive more baby gear hand-me-downs! A wonderful coworker has contributed a baby tub, portable/kitchen-chair mounted high chair, bottle drying rack, assortment of BPA-free bottles and a few other odds and ends to the Coady household. We're very happy to be able to provide another layer of life to so many gently used items.

One item we won't be getting secondhand is the carseat. Dan and I are probably off to pickup the infant carseat tomorrow PM. Though I'm not showing any signs of labor (thank goodness!), I'll definitely feel better knowing the seat has been installed and inspected (likely courtesy of the Northampton Fire Department since our fair city ran out of grant money to fund a similar program and no longer offers the service).

Week 37

Baby Coady has reached full term! Born any time after this point, Baby Coady would likely be fine and thrive. The average fetus measures 18.9 to 20.9 inches at this point and weighs in between 6.2 and 9.2 pounds. That explains why Momma doesn't have much room in either her belly or her bladder. Baby Coady will spend these last few weeks preparing for life outside the womb. This includes practicing all sorts of neat tricks, such as blinking, sucking, inhaling, exhaling...hiccupping...Little C is also developing meconium in his/her intestines.

Sleeping continues to be a bit uncomfortable, some nights more than others. The whole hydration battle is still on. Melissa is pretty sure she hits the bathroom at least once every hour or so during the day. Other "issues" that are becoming more noticeable include constant hoisting of britches, difficulty bending to put on socks and shoes, bumping into things with the giant belly. The whole end of the day swollen feet and ankles thing is kind of gross (and won't be missed).

We Graduated!

Last night was the last in our series of Childbirth 101 classes. Apparently, we're now qualified to have a baby...The class ended with a tour of the Childbirth Center at Cooley-Dickinson Hospital where we plan to have the baby. It seems like a very nice facility. Clean, quiet, modern, comfortable...Jacuzzi tubs in each delivery room...We're looking forward to being there in a few short weeks!

Lunch Hour Shower...wow!

Melissa's extremely kind and generous (female) coworkers surprised her with a lunch hour shower today. Too bad she almost missed it...It was very touching to see how many took time out of their busy schedules to celebrate Baby Coady.

From Baby Coady Blog

Week 36

Baby Coady is now gaining about an ounce a day. Too bad Mom's stomach, but not appetite, is shrinking. Baby C is shedding most of the downy hair that covered his/her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected his/her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Baby C is also getting ready for birth since he/she is getting into a head down position. Speaking of birth, next week the baby will be considered full term.

Mom- and Dad-to-be are upping the pace of house readiness for the baby's arrival. The crib has been assembled (minus mattress and bedding since there will most likely be another dust-creating project very soon...moving the door to the baby's room in preparation for the major dust creating addition/renovations to come), some bedding (thanks Auntie Moe!) has been washed and is waiting to go, and the blankets, hooded towels, onesies, etc... are just looking unbearably cute.

This baby thing has turned into a really good motivational tool. Freecycle.org was our friend last week. It helped find homes for a bunch of items (e.g. blankets, curtains, throw pillows) that have been living in our basement and taking up valuable storage space for years now. Some furniture has been shifted around the house and a few pieces are finding new homes (either temporary or permanent) outside our house.

Melissa took the baby to Church for Palm Sunday today (Russian Orthodox Easter is next weekend...this year). Baby Coady is going to have lots of surrogate grandmothers and aunts, one of whom has a particularly good sense of humor. She overheard someone asking if we knew whether we were having a boy or a girl. She chimed in with "if it's not a boy, I can guarantee it's a girl." Standing in Church all morning definitely took more energy than expected. Melissa arrived home, to be followed by Dan about 5 minutes later. Dan was pretty chilled and tired after a long, windy, cold ride. It all created the perfect setting for a family nap. Dan, Melissa, Scarlett, Itty...and Baby Coady, of course. We probably sacked out for an hour or more. Life is good.

Getting Down to the Wire

We're down to weekly appointments with the OB now. First and second trimesters were monthly, first two months of the third trimester were biweekly, and now we're getting down to the wire. Too bad it essentially took until now for us to figure out the whole practical reading material while waiting thing. The down side is that the doctors' office isn't exactly punctual. The up side is that the reasons they're typically running late have to do with their responsiveness to their patients who are in emergency situations. Given the options, we'd rather wait a few minutes longer.

That said, Melissa is extremely happy with the personalities of all the OBs in the practice. The nurses have been great and the admin staff, too.

Baby Showah in Quinzee

Baby Coady was celebrated with a lovely surprise baby shower (masterminded by Gamoo/Rosemary) at Matt and Natalie's home in Quincy on Saturday, April 4. Though Maureen and the twins get the prize for distance traveled to share in the day, Molly Z gets the prize for being the only non-relative to brave the event! Marie and Sarah get extra special credit for the amazing bird quilt (sorry, no pics available at the moment). Everyone gets credit and our thanks for being a part of the day.

It was wonderful to see everyone and those from the Eastern MA contingent who couldn't be there were missed. All were over-the-top generous and we can't wait to introduce Baby Coady to the loving family (and extended family) who are waiting to meet him/her.

p.s. Melissa napped practically the entire drive home...thank goodness Dan is a saint, especially with the night driving!

Week 35

Baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now. Average length is over/around 18 inches and weight is somewhere around 5.25 pounds. Kidneys are fully developed by this point and the liver can process some waste products. Since most of the basic physical development is now complete, baby will spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Mom is definitely feeling the lack of space for baby to move around, but all is well. Baby is especially fond of jamming his/her bum under Mom's ribcage while she's driving. Oh well. Mom is also realizing that she and Dad need to work out the birth plan and get a bag ready for the hospital in the next couple weeks. It would probably be a good idea for Mom to clear stuff (furniture, books) out of the "nursery" so the crib and changing table can be set up. Perhaps the door will be moved (to accommodate future renovation plans) first to avoid contaminating the baby gear with drywall dust. I'm sure we'll get to that before the baby is born...

At this point, the appointments with the OB go from every two weeks to every week (and Mom's trip to the bathroom are at a rate of something like once per hour during waking hours...does that count as exercise?).

Belly III

Melissa says, "It doesn't look nearly as big as it feels."

Week 34

The baby now weighs about 4.75 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. Baby's fat layers — which will help regulate body temperature after birth — are filling him/her out, making baby rounder. Baby's skin is also smoother than ever. The central nervous system is maturing and baby's lungs are continuing to mature as well.

I've had no signs of preterm, but 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 babies.

Other general updates include that we've met and selected a pediatrician who we both liked and felt comfortable with and whose office is close to home (less than 2 miles!). Dr. Sue was recommended extremely highly by a couple of my coworkers who are recent mothers. I'm grateful we didn't have to interview multiple doctors. We'll also be submitting our hospital admission paperwork at the OB's office this Friday (ok, that's tomorrow...yikes!) along with paperwork so the baby can be added to our health insurance immediately.

Aside from some mild discomfort sleeping, I still don't have any real complaints. This has been wonderful and as much as I'm anxious about the fact that we've only got about 6 weeks to go, I'm excited to finally meet the little person who has been growing inside me.

Stuff for Baby Coady

We finally did it! We started our baby registry at Babies R' Us (Registry #: 92510166). Checking your regisrty online can be funny. There are quite a few Coadys and there's another Melissa Coady (in NJ) whose co-registrant is named Dan (O'Brien). A cute little coincidence. No worries, they were due in February 2008.

We've been quite fortunate to receive many gently used baby items thanks to the generosity of our friends and their desire to get this stuff out of their homes! Some of the hand-me-downs include a crib (from Nicole and Jeff Chu, for which we temporarily traded a toddler bed from the Veceres), a bassinet (from Mike Kolendo and Cindy Stein), a bouncy seat and swingy seat (again from Mike and Cindy), two Boppy pillows (from Carrie and Mark Hawkins), a breast pump (also from the Hawkinses), a diaper pail (from the Chus), bottles, cloth diapers, sleepsacks, blankets...the list actually goes on and on. I just don't have the recall capacity to list everything and everyone.

Somewhat needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, we struggled a bit to generate a registry of useful items. We managed and will go back for round 2 after some more research and after we (ok, I) recover from being in the store for somewhere between 2 and 3 hours. I think the major part of the battle was not getting completely sucked in by all the incredibly adorable stuff. But really, how can anything that small not be adorable?! I think we did an ok job fighting the total sucker bait, though I know I fell for a few things (such as the Classic Pooh hooded towel set...).

I'm sure Dan will keep me on the straight and narrow during our next visit...

Week 33

If the general guidelines are reasonably accurate, Baby Coady is roughly 17.2 to 18.7 inches long and weighing in between 4.2 and 5.8 pounds. Mom and baby are right on track for the rate of third trimester weight gain (roughly 1 pound per week).

The 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.

Things are heating up inside as well: Baby may grow up to a full inch this week alone, and the brain is developing like crazy. Pretty soon, Baby will be able to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing. Also, Baby's bones are hardening (Mom is making sure to get calcium through her diet in addition to pre-natal vitamins), and Baby has started to keep his/her eyes open when he/she is awake.

Week 32

By now, the baby weighs between 3.75 and 4 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, and is taking up a lot of space in my uterus. On average, women at this stage of pregnancy gain about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to the baby (Too bad I don't weigh myself at home. The doctors office takes care of that every other week now). In fact, the baby will gain a third to half of their birth weight during the next 7 weeks as baby fattens up for survival outside the womb. Baby now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Baby's skin is also becoming soft and smooth as baby plumps up in preparation for birth.

Childbirth 101

Dan and I attended our first baby-related class this evening. Held at the local hospital, it was the first of four in the Cooley Dickinson Hospital "Childbirth 101" series. There were 8 or 9 other couples present, all due within a month or so of each other (duh...). It seems like a pretty nice group of people, some diversity but no major extremes.

I was a little surprised that the topic of basic prenatal diet/nutrition needs was discussed, however briefly, in a class you don't sign-up for until you're a month or two from the end of pregnancy. Oh well, I learned a few more sources of iron and that cottage cheese packs a wicked protein bang for your caloric buck. Good to know.

The instructor, Juniper who is a doula, demonstrated a "normal" or optimal birth with a model of a pelvis and a relatively proportionally correct "doll." Very interesting to observe, especially after her explanation of the Gallant or Swimmer's Reflex (look it up). It helps get the baby into position above the birth canal. Though the reflex should still be active several days after delivery, Dan Coady is not allowed to try it after the baby is born. We also viewed a "look at how well these women are handling labor and delivery" video. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Not every labor/birth is life or death, down to the wire...but I don't for a minute believe that they're all water births, even breathing, nearly silent introspective journeys either. I wonder when they'll show the middle ground.

Week 31

This week, baby measures over 16 inches long, weighs about 3.3 pounds, and is heading into a growth spurt. Baby can turn its head from side to side, and its arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath the skin. Baby is 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.

Things are beginning to get tight in there, and heartburn and indigestion are common. You may have developed the pregnant "waddle"—that happens because pregnancy softens the ligaments in your pelvis, allowing your hips to spread to make room for the baby. Don't worry, you won't walk like a duck forever!

Baby is very active, so we can only assume that space is getting tight. It isn't the activity that's keeping me from sleeping through the night, it's the fact that I get uncomfortable sleeping on one side or the other. I'm a belly sleeper and I really miss that position! Fortunately, I haven't had to cope with heartburn or indigestion. I have noticed that my scrunched stomach can't take as much food at a time as before. Oh well. At least work provides (usually) fresh fruit. This week's grapes were delicious!

Kickin' It..Part 3

The baby is kicking back...

During a flurry of activity earlier today, I placed my hand on my belly to feel the force (getting quite strong, I must say). I applied a little pressure and the baby kicked back! We've played this game a few times since then. Why do I have a feeling that the baby is going to win?

The 24-hour Bug

Though Dan and I feel much better now, we had a rough couple of days with a "24-hour" bug. The good news is that it was like a thunderstorm (high intensity, short duration) and my symptoms didn't raise any red flags for the doctor. Those would include not being able to keep any fluids down for 48 or more hours and/or a prolonged spiked temperature. The worst of it was the added physical strain of vomiting (sorry, there's no sugar-coating that part) on my already stretched abdominal muscles. Like I said, I'm feeling much better now.

This all started around midnight on Monday (for Dan) and noon on Tuesday (for me). I was able to leave work before it hit me and even make a quick stop at the supermarket for some necessities (e.g. ginger ale, chicken noodle soup, disinfecting wipes). We're fortunate that it was staggered. By Wednesday we were both out of the "bug" stage and into recovery. Recovery can be defined as sleeping as much as possible throughout the day and night.

Through all this, the baby remained very active. The cute little movements are becoming more jab-like, but still not painful. More on that later...

Week 30

The little one is about three pounds and nearly 11 inches long (crown to rump; about 15.7 inches long overall). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds baby, but that volume will decrease as he/she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus.

Baby's face looks much like it will at birth, but still needs to fill out more to get the characteristic chubby infant cheeks. Baby can move their head, open their eyes, and make breathing movements through their open nostrils (although no air comes in).

Baby's eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he/she is born, he/she will keep their eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he/she does open them, he/she will respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he/she can only make out objects a few inches from his/her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Week 29

Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

Baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and the head is growing bigger to make room for the developing brain. To meet baby's increasing nutritional demands, Mom will need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because baby's 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.

Back to School

We are officially enrolled in all but the hypnobirthing classes at our local hospital (Cooley Dickinson Hospital, "Cooley Dick" for those who grew up in the area, which also happens to be where some really great people were born...Walter Mucha, Joshua Chu, me....).

We are looking forward to weekly sessions through the month of March. I wonder if there will be homework...

Week 28

Two trimesters down, one to go!

By this week, baby weighs around two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures roughly 14.8 inches from the top of their head to their heels (Melissa is measuring between 27 and 28 cm, right on track).Baby can blink their eyes, which now sport lashes. With their eyesight developing, they may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. They're also developing billions of neurons in their brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Visits to our doctor will now increase in frequency from once a month to every two weeks, with weekly visits during the final month.

Baby Mops

I'm not sure where one would even register for such a thing (or why...)...

http://www.apparelsearch.com/Unusual_Clothes/unusual_clothing_baby_mops.htm

Is this even legal in the States?

Belly II

You asked for it...


The latest and greatest of belly shots. Now can I go to bed?

Week 27

Welcome to the final week of the second trimester!

Baby's now the size of an eggplant. The average fetus measures between 13.6 and 14.8 inches in length and weighs in between 1.5 and 2.2 pounds (yikes!).

Baby's lungs are going through some major developments these days, which (combined with the opening of previously plugged nostrils) means that baby is now able to practice inhaling and exhaling. The lack of air in the womb means that every "breath" is filled with amniotic fluid, but hey...it's progress. Baby is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, as well as opening and closing their eyes and perhaps even sucking its fingers. Brain tissue also continues to develop, leading to a very active brain right now.

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.

I'm supposed to let Dan put an ear to my belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required)...we'll see how that goes! Also, any tiny rhythmic movements I may be feeling can be attributed to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Maybe that's what I'm feeling right now...

Baby likes travelin'

Thank goodness! All went well during our recent vacation to Belgium (Brussels, Antwerp) and the Netherlands (Hoogerheide, Amsterdam). Baby made its presence known via kicks and rolls throughout the trip, much to our amusement. Baby also got to sample some good food. Frites, chocolate croissants, cross race vendor bratwurst, frites, quiche, French onion soup, Belgian beef stew, roasted chicken...and did I mention frites?

No major upsets, though the mom-to-be managed to come down with a wicked cold. True to form, the dad-to-be was supportive and comforting (and not at all whiny).

This also marks what will likely be our last opportunity to truly pack lightly (one carry-on each) with the baby in tow...

Kickin' It - Part 2

The baby has been very active lately, especially if I'm sitting still for awhile (e.g. driving) or lying down in bed at night. We've progressed from me feeling it (internally) to Dan feeling it to me seeing it. The funny thing, if you can call it funny since it's not really in the ha-ha range, is that I would have expected some sort of discomfort with all the movement - especially some of the bigger motions. Not a bit of it. Maybe that comes later when there's less room?

Growing a person is hard work...

...and I've had a relatively easy time so far. No "morning" sickness, no funky out-of-control cravings, no sore back, no swelling...yet. I have noticed that my stomach muscles have lost their willingness to stretch vertically now that they're being forced in other directions. I can usually retrieve or return our salad bowls to the top of the cabinets, no problem. No problem until the other day, that is. It's now a task that has to wait for Dan, or I have to climb on the counter.

I'm also surprised at how quickly it became uncomfortable to bend at the waist, either to put on shoes and socks or to pick something up off the floor. I've got quite a collection of paperclips and binder clips on the floor of my office. Supply and demand. I've got plenty in a drawer that's easy to reach, so the demand to pick them up isn't very great. This approach was fine until I dropped the engineer's scale on the floor. My options were 1) to pick it up, 2) to ask a neighbor to help out or 3) to use a metric scale. Since I wasn't done working with the scale and the site plans were in English units, I had to choose option #1 since #2 was too embarrassing and I want to save it for later when I'm sure I'll really need it, and #3 would be a total pain. I survived, go figure.

Week 24

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

Week 23

The average fetus measures between 10.5 and 11.8 inches (think of a papaya) by this time and weighs in between 12.7 and 20.8 ounces (ours was estimated at 14 ounces on 12/26...but we have no idea how the ultrasound tech arrived at that conclusion).

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With baby's sense of movement well developed by now, they can feel you dance. And now that baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see baby squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in baby's lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. Baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing them 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 them when they hear them outside the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing.

Baby's little face is fully formed, minus the baby fat. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby is 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.

Week 22

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

Kickin' it

While resting comfortably at Maureen and Rafe's home in NJ the other night, baby was very active. These weren't the first movements Melissa could feel, but they were Dan's first (and second, and third...). A very exciting moment for both.