28 Weeks

Poor, poor Swarley. Look at what has become of your blog! I'll make it up to you later, I promise.

28 weeks, and time is flying. I keep thinking, "I'm so close to single digits!" and then running to my to-do list to see what I can cross off. This baby is going to be here before I know it.

I've been feeling great, just getting a little sleepy. I've taken advantage of semi-regular chiro visits, which has made a HUGE difference in how I feel! I no longer have to sit down to put on pants or socks, and rolling over in bed isn't such an affair. "The belly" is causing some low back pain, but since that's my only complaint, I barely count it as such.

Cravings have been random and, in my opinion, scarce. I did go through a time where ALL I wanted was red meat. Can anyone say "anemic?" Now, I want pears, bananas, and milk. Oh, and pretzels, which I forgot to get at the store. Sad for me. :(

I am trying to prepare Gus for brotherhood by telling him that Swarley will be here soon, and that we need to be gentle. I tell him that sometimes Swarley will cry, and when that happens, we'll change Swarley's diaper, Swarley will go night-night, or have nursies, etc. Most of the time Gus just looks at me like, "You know you're talking about your stomach, right?" Sometimes he just says, "NO!" But, other times, he seems to get it and be fine with it all. I'm sure it's a lot to process at this point.

We finally chose a nursery color and I am SO anxious to get the walls painted and furniture set up! Unfortunately, since the oak tree basically fell on Swarley's room, we are waiting to hear how extensive construction will be. We may need to wait until that's all done, which makes my stomach churn just thinking about how long that could be. Considering the fact that we haven't even heard back from the adjuster about how much money they're allotting us, I'm not very hopeful that construction will begin any time soon.

One of my favorite pregnancy things right now is that Swarley goes crazy every night while I sing Gus to sleep. It's fun, because I know that Swarley will ALWAYS wake up and "dance" while I sing, so I look forward to it. It is such a sweet time, feeling like I'm already spending time with my children, even though Gus is the only one I can hold right now. One night not too long ago, Gus fell asleep with his hand on my belly, with Swarley kicking and rolling away. It was truly amazing.

Anyway, here's what Swarley's up to right now...

28 weeks: 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.

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. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his 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.

21 Weeks

I thought for sure I'd do a great milestone post for 20, and here we are at 21!

Swarley is a mover and shaker, that's for sure. Not long after I posted by 18.5 week update, Jacob felt Swarley kick. Now, a bunch of people have felt the kicks and punches that seem to happen every time I sit still! I am currently sitting here SEEING Swarley move.

This is truly one of my favorite parts of pregnancy. I get SO excited when it first happens, and my excitement never seems to diminish for the rest of the pregnancy. Then, I miss those movements after the baby is born, even though I'm getting to hold my baby in real life!

We have a regular appointment with Nora tomorrow, which is always fun. Swarley's heartbeat had increased a little bit more into the "girl" heartbeat range, so I'm curious to see what it is tomorrow! I believe it's been 150 and 160. (I know it's just an old wives' tale, but it's still fun!)

Gus' second birthday is coming quickly. It's so hard to believe how big he's getting! He can now (mostly) count to 10, though he regularly skips five and seven. He's also getting into trains, and loves Yo Gabba Gabba...Unfortunately for me and my ears. He is so sweet, funny, and smart...I've said it from the beginning, but I feel so privileged that I get to watch him grow up. When he was very small, I said to Jacob, "I feel so lucky that we get to keep him!" I still feel that way!

Here's the haps with Swarls: 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, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

Now to decide whether or not to indulge this crazy craving for pancakes!

18.5 weeks

Did you know that 18.5 weeks is almost 20 weeks, and 20 weeks is almost 30 weeks, and 30 weeks might as well be 40 weeks? Yup, Swarley's arrival is just around the corner. That's what it feels like, anyway.

Today, for the first time, I felt Swarley's kicks from the outside! I've been anxiously awaiting this milestone, as it is that much more fun for Jacob, and I think it will be fun for Gus, too! I felt three or four little taps before Swarley moved away. Very exciting, if you ask me!

I am beginning to feel a faint nesting itch, which I think has more to do with the fact that we have done next to nothing to prepare for Swarley, and I feel like time is flying. My plan is to spend tomorrow morning going through stuff in the room which will be transformed into Swarley's nursery! Up until now, it's been our office-guest-extra books-stuff we don't know what to do with-papers to save room. So, it'll be quite the challenge to find a place for everything.

When people ask how I'm feeling, I also feel like I give such a lame answer. It's always "Good!" with a smile and a little head nod. The thing is, I DO feel good most of the time. Yes, I have my hormonal days, or the days where halfway through a meal I am disgusted by my food, but 99% of the time I just feel good. It's nice.

Oh, btw, I don't know how I survived my last pregnancy without a body pillow.

Here's what Swarley's up to:

18 weeks: 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.

And 19 weeks, because we all know I'll miss that post: 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.

Fifteen Weeks

Well, this is how it's going to be, I guess. For some reason, I just CAN'T remember to update this thing, and when I do remember, it's when I can't actually log in to do so.

The big news is that I felt Swarley move earlier this week! I think it was about Wednesday or Thursday, and it was definite. I've since felt Swarls move a couple times, most notably during a movie where I indulged in some Sweet Tarts and other treats. I think Swarley liked the candy!

In other news, I am looking truly pregnant now, instead of just think around the middle. Just like with Gus, people assume I'm farther along than I actually am, but I can deal with it. I just say that I grow big babies and they nod knowingly.

My biggest hurdle right now is that my back and hips are already starting to act up. I'm sure those ailments aren't helped by my son who A) wakes up in the middle of the night and wants only me, and B) insists on sleeping on the floor. This leads to me to regularly sleep on his floor...usually for around an hour or two, but sometimes much longer. I unsurprisingly wake up with aches and pains like no other, and I KNOW I have to get it under control before I get any bigger. But, you know what? It's hard to get a non-sleeper to sleep.

Swarley's done a lot of growing since I last wrote. Most notably, he or she can make all sorts of facial expressions, suck his/her thumb, pee (hooray!?), and get fingerprinted! Here's what's going on this week:

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.

....and now Gus is crying for some unknown reason, so I will keep this short and sweet!

Eleven Weeks

Sorry, Swarley! I'm being really lame about your blog.

Today is my nephew Sulley's third birthday -- I can't believe he is already three! Being at his birth was one of the biggest factors when we decided to be home birthers, and I feel so privileged to have known this little boy since the moment he was born.

I have such a strong desire today to have a little boy. We've been hoping a little more for a girl (and according to Shettle's, our chances are high for a girl), but it hit me that I'd love to see Gus with a little brother! Jacob says it's because today is Sulley's birthday and I love him, so I want a boy. Perhaps Sulley has inspired me to want to add more boys to this already boy-ridden family!

I am still feeling good. Sometimes queasy, sometimes falling asleep at 9:30, but mostly good. I am craving things that I normally like ok, but never eat much of. Some of these things include tart, not chewy candy, like Fun Dip and Smarties, as well as Lays potato chips. Things I'll normally eat if they're around, but I don't really care about them that much. I'm also NOT craving my normal stuff, like baked goods. Totally weird for me.

Here's Swarley's update:

10 weeks: Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

11 weeks: Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long andabout the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Nine Weeks

I have this habit of rounding up. If it's 7:42, it's basically 8:00. If I'm nine weeks pregnant, I might as well be in my second trimester. Following that thought process, I had a miniature heart attack thinking of all the things I have to do, like put the lid on my wrapping paper box and figure out how to keep things from rolling under the stove. You know, important things!

Anyway, because I'm NOT in my second trimester, I'm trying to focus on truly important things like eating better and exercising. The eating better is going ok...Sometimes. I'm at least not gaining weight as quickly as I did with Gus. The exercising thing needs some work. A lot of work. I think about doing yoga all the time, but I literally can't remember the last time I did. Le sigh.

I'm desperate for a whey protein shake and three cheese rollups. A trip to the store tomorrow should remedy both cravings.

In actual baby news, here's what Swarley's doing right now:

Your new resident is nearly an inch long —about the size of a grape— and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

And that'll be it for now. It's 10:15 and I'm beat! Time to go fall asleep on the couch and pretend I'm awake when Jacob tries to talk to me.

Eight Weeks

When I was younger, I always bugged my mom about the fact that she didn't make a baby book for me. Somehow my oldest brother had one (or two?), but Andrew and I got jack squat. I always said, very haughtily, "All my children will have baby books!"

Now, eight weeks into my pregnancy with Swarley, and I'm already putting in less baby book/blogging effort. I don't even have two kids in my immediate presence, and I already get why Andrew and I have no baby books to keep in our garages.

First off, I will state that we are not naming our baby Swarley. It is a nickname, just like when we called Gus "Bean" while he was still a belly baby. Swarley comes from an episode of How I Met Your Mother. I thought it was so funny that I said, "Next time we're pregnant, I want to call the belly baby Swarley." THAT TIME IS NOW!

Swarley is due 01/01/12 (by my surely accurate calculations), and we are very excited, though nervous to become parents of two. I keep saying, "I just don't know what I'm going to do with two kids." But, I'm sure I'll figure it out.

Here's a quick look at what Swarley looks like right about now: http://www.ehd.org/movies.php?mov_id=49

Swarley has a heartbeat, all his or her major features are developing, little hands and feet are beginning to explore, and more. There has been SO much development already that it would take forever to find and list, but basically, our little baby is well on his/her way to becoming the little one we will kiss in seven short months!

Lastly, I have been feeling pretty good! Almost no morning sickness (just a few "off" days and food aversions), the fatigue is wearing off, and I'm not gaining weight quite as quickly as I did with Gus. (It probably helps that I'm not baking as much as I did when I was pregnant with him!) I am really surprised at how different this pregnancy is so far, and I'm interested to see if that means anything baby girl-related. ;)

Anyway, it's time to put big brother Gus to bed! Thanks for reading; I'll do my best to update this semi-regularly, but you know how it goes.