23 Weeks

Life has been so busy. Trying to finish our bathroom before guest come in to town, so we have 2 working showers and trying to clean the whole house. Man...I'm exhasted. Since I haven't had time to post any pictures here is my 23 week belly pictures. Tomorrow I'll be able to take my 24 week picture. The baby has been kicking everyday. Loren has even been able to feel it.

I'm so excited for the holidays this year. I don't know if it is because we are in our own house or that after the holidays we will be that much closer to having our baby. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

23 Weeks

How our baby's growing:
With it's sense of movement well developed by now, our baby can feel me dance and move. And now that it'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 it squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in it's lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that our baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing it for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as our dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze it when it hears them outside the womb.

The baby has been moving a lot more lately, especially after lunch and into the early evening. I've had to go into the chiropractor quite a bit lately because of the pinched nerves in my lower back. But that will be a usually thing during my pregnancy because of my loosening joints.

Loren and I have been busy around the house lately. We had our yearly maintenance on our furnace and found out that there is a carbon monoxide leek (very small, and not harmful at all). So we have been getting quotes and finally decided on a company last night. He actually ended up buying our other quotes off of us for $200. We will get our whole new system Heater and Air conditioner on Tuesday. Even though the levels aren't bad now with the Carbon monoxide, it can only get worse. And with the tax credit of $1500 this year, we might as well get it replaced.

I've been working hard on getting my sisters quilt top done, so I can have it professionally quilted (I'm not that good). I've got to have it done by Saturday at 10, so wish me luck. I'm excited to see the finished product.

Dr. Appointment

We had another OBGYN appointment today and things are going great. He measured my belly, listened to the heart beat, and checked my urine. My belly and my weight gain of 4 pounds(I hate saying that) are right on track. The baby's heart beat was at 153. It was a short and sweet visit. In and out in 20 min with all our questions answered. Next appointment December 15th. The past few months feel like they have gone pretty fast, lets hope the next months do also.

Raking the Twigs

Here is our sweet Bowser guarding his twigs that we raked up in the back yard. Isn't he just the prettiest dog?

Prego Pictures

22 Weeks

21 Weeks

22 Weeks

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, our baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. It's lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and it's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath it's gums. The baby's eyes have formed, but it's irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside the womb , you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers it's body and the deep wrinkles on it's skin, which it'll sport until it adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside the baby's belly, it's pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

As for me, things are going ok. They belly is growing bigger and I've stopped wearing my regular pants and turned only to maternity pants. I hate wearing things that are tight and especially when the baby continually kicks my bladder, I don't need my pants resting on the same spot. The baby has starting moving a lot. Yesterday I was lying on the bed talking on the phone with my hand on my belly and felt the baby move from the outside of my skin. It is getting more exciting. I'm trying to find the right moment when Loren can feel it move too. Everyone tells me that feeling the baby move is a wonderful sensation, but I have different views. Yes, it is neat that I'm carrying my baby and can feel it move. But I'm weirded out that there is something foreign inside of me growing and moving around. I don't like that my body is changing and I can't do things I've been able to do (sleep on my back, reach things, go for walks without my hips aching). I'm sure things will be get better.

We have been working on the house quite a bit lately. I guess I'm getting some of my energy back. Loren finished up the edge painting in the guest bathroom (he won't let me stand on the step stool, so I can't do it). We also started scrapping the caulking and water damaged drywall in our bathroom. Hopefully we can get that finished, mudded, and caulked tonight. Allowing it to be sanded and dry before the weekend, and then we can start painting. I hate all the prep work that goes along with the painting. But if you don't do it right the first time, there will be issues later. I'm so grateful for Loren and everything he does. Last weekend with it being nice outside, we worked on the yard. He raked and pulled weeds. He even dug up some more of the garden. My back was sore from pulling 5 weeds, I don't know how he did so much in the back yard with out hurting himself.

Church has been going good. I only had 1 meeting this past week, so I've gotten to relax a little bit. Loren and I were asked to speak on the 22nd. So we've been slowly thinking of things. That day will be very busy for Loren, he has to speak, teach his class, and do sharing time. You might as well get it all done in one day.

Sorry there aren't any pictures with this post or any of the others. I usually write these at work on my breaks and if I forget at home to post pictures, they never get added. Hopefully I'll get better at that when I'm at home with the baby.

21 Weeks

How our baby's growing: Our baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. I may soon feel like it's practicing martial arts as it's initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. I may also discover a pattern to it's activity as you get to know the baby better. In other developments, our baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if I'm having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

I am starting to feel the baby move around a lot. It is still mostly fluttering, but every once in a while I feel a big move. I thought that the movement would be wonderful, but this fluttering stuff kind of makes me sick feeling. More like motion sickness. I'm sure I'll start feeling different after the fluttering is gone. Other than that, life for me is busy. I've had something to do every day this week after work. Tuesday I went to the Chiropractor, tried to help with dinner, made a dessert, went visiting teaching, and then went to a Relief Society meeting (this was what the dessert was for). Wednesday after work, I helped with dinner, went visiting teaching and collapsed in bed around 9:30. Thursday after work, I helped with dinner, and went visiting teaching for 1 and 1/2 hours, and then went to bed at 9:30. Tonight I am planning on attending a dinner with Loren for the primary teachers.

We just got new Visiting teaching routes and the sisters I visit have way different schedules, so I had to do one a night. But I'm glad that I set it up that way. Each visit ended up being at least an hour. I'm very excited for this new route and the chance to get to meet these wonderful woman in the ward. I'm very blessed to have the time and energy now, so I'm taking advantage of it. I also wanted to make sure they were seen before the craziness of the holidays and to make sure they have a holiday meal. Even each day on my lunch break is filled with my relief society calling. I feel like all I've been doing is church, but it is good. When you can serve others, it makes you feel better about yourself and life.

I just hope that Loren and I can get some rest this weekend and have some time to work on the house. Our plan is to finish up the guest bathroom (it needs a second coat of paint on the ceiling, and touch up painting on the walls), and then we plan on starting on the master bathroom. We also plan on cleaning out Loren's side of the garage so he can pull in the truck. We'll have to see how much energy we actually have to get it all done. Lets hope!