38 weeks

WOW- 38 weeks! only 2 more weeks to go! I had a doctor's appointment this morning and it looks as though baby Miles has made little to no progress. I thought for sure he was coming this week, but I was obviously wrong. I am certainly contracting but I guess our little man is just stubborn. I have to tell you though, that as uncomfortable as I may be I am so happy that, as of now, Mason will be home for the delivery! They have scheduled me to be induced on December 7th, unless he decides to make his grand debut beforehand.

What Miles has been up to this week:
Miles has really plumped up! He should weigh about 6.8 pounds and be over 19 1/2 inches long. He has a firm grasp, which we’ll soon be able to test when we hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

37 weeks

Oh friends, I apologize for my laziness. I’m already days into my 37th week and just now posting . I don’t know what it is but the past week has left me with little to no energy and the drive to do nothing but lay on the couch. This is the only time in my life where this behavior will be acceptable so I’m just rolling with it! I am still having several strong braxton hicks contractions each day, but nothing strong enough or consistent enough to be actual labor pains. On a different note… I can’t believe I am full term! The fact that Miles can come safely any day now is so crazy!! It’s hard to believe that there are only 20 days until his actual due date, I can't wait to meet our little guy!

My cousin Dani was visiting from New York this week and we were able to get most of my Dad's side of the family together for a night. It was so much fun having everyone together! Here is a photo from that night at 37 weeks with my Cousins, Sister and little Tanner:

What Miles has been up to this week:
Baby Miles is full term! This means that if he arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though our due date is still three weeks away.He should weigh in at about 6 1/3 pounds and measure a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. He's also brushing up on skills for the outside world: blinking, sucking, inhaling, exhaling and gripping!

36 weeks

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great week, I sure did! I can't believe that I am finally into my 9th month of pregnancy, only about 4 more weeks to go! I had my baby shower on Sunday and it was sooo amazing! My Mom did such a wonderful job with everything. It was such a joy to have all of my friends and family in one place and it's so neat to see how excited everyone is about meeting baby Miles. Other than seeing everyone, the second best part were all of the amazing presents we received! Mason and I are so blessed to have friends and family that love and support us so much. It seems so much more real now having all of this baby stuff in the house!

What Miles has been up to this week:

He is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He’s shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. At the end of this week, Miles will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) He is also already  in a head-down position.

Here are just a few of the pictures taken at the baby shower this past weekend:

Happy Halloween!

34 weeks

How big is baby?  He weighs a little less than 5 pounds. He is the size of a large cantaloupe! and he is almost 18 inches long. We have finally reached the "safe zone." Babies born between 34-37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine.
Weight gain? So far, I have gained a total of 16 pounds. My tummy is measuring exactly where its supposed to be...so he is growing!
Sleep? I feel pretty uncomfortable for the most part. I have a hard time getting settled into bed at night and tend to toss and turn until I find a spot that's comfortable for Miles and I. I wake up tons throughout the night, but I guess its just preparing me for the sleep deprivation I am going to begin to experience in just a few short weeks!
Best moment of the week? I had a healthy check-up with my new doctor yesterday!
Food cravings? Nothing stands out, although, my Dad made a Spanish dish for dinner last night and I cant wait to eat some of the leftovers for lunch today...Deelish!
Movement? Still moving alot! More so at night than during the day.
What I miss: Sleeping through the night, having energy, my cute clothes and...wine!
What I am looking forward to: My next ultrasound on Tuesday and, of course, my baby shower next weekend!

 
What Miles has been up to this week:
He now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers, which will help regulate her body temperature once he's born, are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well.

33 weeks

How far along? 33 weeks
Stretch marks? none in sight!
Sleep: Still good nights and bad nights, lots of tossing and turning
Best moment this week: Meeting my new doctor and finding out where I will be delivering!
Movement: Tons and tons
Food cravings: Still nothing
Gender: Still a sweet baby boy!
Labor Signs: None (thank goodness!)
Belly Button in or out? Completely flat- My Nephew is currently obsessed with belly buttons and gets confused when he can't find mine.
What I miss: Being comfortable...even sitting on the sofa for a relaxing tv night is getting more and more uncomfortable.
What I am looking forward to: My baby shower in just a couple of weeks!
Milestones: Hiccups! he gets them a few times a week now.

What Miles has been up to this week:
This week Miles is weighing in at a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark! He is rapidly losing his wrinkled alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

    

32 weeks

Hello Friends! I'm 32 weeks pregnant and baby Miles is weighing in at about 3.5 pounds and anywhere from 17-18" in length. I can't believe that this week marks my start into my 8th month of pregnancy! It seems so unreal. I remember being 8 weeks and thinking that I would never reach this point. Miles is definitely getting bigger and can be noticeably felt in his strong kicks and punches. I have really started noticing a pattern in his sleep and wake patterns this past week and boy are his awake patterns something else! My stomach will sink from side to side and my ribs being used as monkey bars are a daily occurrence.

For those of you who don't know- I have recently relocated back home to Florida for the remainder of my pregnancy. With Mason currently deployed it is so nice to be home with my family and having the security of knowing that if something were to happen that they would be right there by my side. We are praying that Mason is able to make it home in time for Miles debut! I am excited to meet my new doctor this week and finally get a birthplan set in stone- Wish me luck!

What Miles has been up to this week:

I should be gaining about a pound a week now and over half of that goes straigh to our baby boy. In fact, he'll gain a half to a third of his birth weight within the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for life outside of the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails and real hair (or atleast respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preperation for birth. He has probably moved into a head down position by now and could descend into my pelvis at anytime within the next 6 weeks. This position not only prepares him for birth but allows for more blood flow into his fastly developing brain. In these last few weeks it's all about practice, practice, practice as he hones the skills he'll need to survive and thrive outside of the womb, from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking.  

31 weeks

What Miles has been up to this week:

He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. His skeleton is rapidly ossifying (turning from cartilage into solid bone), which means that kicks will become very visible as the trimester progresses. He’s quickly approaching his birth length though he’s got to pack on another three to five pounds before D-day. He’s now processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses. He’s also putting in longer stretches of sleep, which is why I'm noticing more defined patterns of awake (and moving) periods and sleeping (pretty still) periods.

29 weeks

Gosh, time is certainly flying! I am 29 weeks pregnant and have exactly 75 days until baby Miles is due to come into the world :) I had an ultra sound appointment today and got another glimpse at our adorable little boy. He was squirming around so much, it was too funny! Best of all though was when taking pictures of his face, I started telling the doctor about Mason being deployed and as soon as I started talking about his daddy he opened his eyes and smiled. It was the BEST feeling in the world just to see that little face smiling back at me and know that everything is going to be just fine. I certainly missed having Mason there with me, I know how much he loved going to ultrasound appointments. Soon enough though, he will be home and we will have our own beautiful little family.

Here are some of the photos from today: (I saved the best for last)

Profile of Miles head

Sleeping...

Smiles for Daddy :)

What Miles has been up to this week:
His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. His brain can detect rhythmic breathing and control body temperature, so he’s less likely to need breathing assistance should he be born early. He’s growing eyelashes, adding fat, and developing his brain. Because of brain wave activity, researchers have speculated that babies can even dream at this time! Though he’s getting pretty close to his birth length, he still has to chub out a bit. In fact, over the next 11 weeks, he’ll more than double — or even come close to tripling — his weight. And as he grows and room in your womb gets tighter, I’ll be less likely to feel those big kicks and more likely to get poked by an elbow or jabbed by a knee.

28 weeks

Oh my gosh I cannot believe that I have entered my third and final trimester! Being 7 months pregnant is crazy and so surreal! Somedays I feel like this is all a dream, almost like it’s all make-believe. Although every once in a while, there are little moments when it hits you and it simply takes your breath away.  We are going to be Miles' Mommy and Daddy, Wooooah! :)

What Miles has been up to this week:

He can blink his eyes, which now sport eyelashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through the womb. He’s also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. 

27 weeks

Hi Friends!
What a week! Busy, busy at work and with Mason deployed the weeks tend to feel like months now. I can't believe that a week from now, I will be in my third and last trimester!  Miles has been moving lots, especially at night. I’m really starting to see my belly take on weird shapes as he moves around. Sleep has been rather tough too, it’s for sure getting harder to get comfortable at night and I am awoken by mid-night kicks every so often. I’m feeling very pregnant now. My back is killing me, I have terrible acid reflux at night, I go through a roll of toilet paper a day because I’m in there so darn much and I am always tired.

He’s worth everything.

What Miles has been up to this week:
He’s sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers! With more brain tissue developing, his brain is very active now, responding to stimulus from the outside world. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now.

26 weeks

 What Miles has been up to this week:

He’s inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he’s born and takes that first gulp of air. His eyes are almost fully formed. His hearing system is now completely formed, and, over the next few weeks he'll become increasingly sensitive to sound. In about a month I'll be able to feel him jump if he hears a sudden loud noise.

25 weeks

       I say this all the time, but WOW time is flying! I can’t believe 25 weeks is over! I was just talking about how it seemed only yesterday we found out I was 5 weeks pregnant and how getting to this point would seem like forever. I’m enjoying this pregnancy and I know I should cherish each moment of it but I still wish December would hurry up so I can meet my little stud :) Miles has been kicking like crazy the past couple weeks, he can literally wake me up at night. Mason likes to put his face to my belly sometimes and talk to him. Lately though, Miles responds with kicks to Daddy's face haha! Its great!

What Miles has been up to this week:
He’s growing more hair — and if you could see it, you’d now be able to discern its color and texture. He can touch and hold his feet and make a fist. He also has a regular sleep schedule now and active and inactive periods. 

22 weeks

According to the pregnancy calendar my fifth month is over. What an exciting month it has been! Feeling the baby move and finding out that we’re having a baby boy topped the list. Mason has now been able to experience feeling him move! It's amazing that the small flutters I felt at first have now changed to forceful little kicks. The other night I swear that boy was flying on a trapeze because I layed in bed and felt him swinging around like a wild man for 10 minutes, it was amazing!




Facts about Miles this week:

1.His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment.
2.If I could see inside my womb, I’d be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he’ll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in.
3.He can hear me and anyone who speaks around my belly!

A Nursery in Progress

Here is a mini project board that I put together for Miles modern chocolate and lime green nursery!

Pregnant with a Prince: 19 weeks!

Friends, It’s official, We’re having a baby boy! I am elated! I’ll tell you, I swore it was a girl all along but I could not be happier with our little prince.

I am on cloud nine just thinking about our sweet baby boy…Miles Edward.

18 weeks

It's hard to believe that I am only 2 weeks away from being half way through my pregnancy, Gosh time flies! Week 18 has gotten off to a great start. Why, do you ask? Well, I felt the baby move for the first time! It was literally like butterfly’s or bubbles floating across my abdomen. The first time I felt it I was in disbelief that it was actually the baby but a few hours later, I felt it again! This time it felt like pop corn popping in my belly. I know that it will be awhile longer before baby's kicks and punches can be felt from the outside, but I sure wish Mason could feel them now too.


Baby changes this week:
Baby's become amazingly mobile, passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around It's nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he/she is born. If we're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. However, If we're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. (Lets pray that this doesn't happen next week at our gender discovery ultrasound!)

17 weeks

Most everyone so far thinks the baby is a girl, but I'm anxious to hear what the rest of you think. I’ve included a poll in this weeks post and I’ll keep it up until we find out, so vote!





Baby changes this week:
Baby’s skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker. He/She can move It's joints, and It's sweat glands are starting to develop. Baby is now covered with a downy layer of lanugo, which swirls in fingerprint-like formation over his/her whole body. Baby’s skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it.

Things I've been experiencing this week:
Actually starting to look pregnant and not like I just ate too many doughnuts over the weekend and getting so so excited about finding out the sex of our baby in less than 2 weeks!

16 weeks

Last week I had a baby appointment with the doctor and everything is looking great for both baby and myself. We heard baby’s heartbeat and it was beautiful and perfect. We got to schedule our next ultrasound where we’ll find out the sex of the baby…YAY! The date is July 15th at 10:00 AM. Mark your calendar! In the meantime, I am counting down the minutes :)


Baby changes this week:
In the next few weeks, our baby will double it's weight and add inches to it's length. Right now, he/she about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces! It's legs are much more developed and It's eyes have moved closer to the front of his/her head. Baby's ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of baby's scalp has begun, though it's locks aren't recognizable yet. He/she has even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his/her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Things I've been experiencing this week:
Being a bit more hungry than usual, when working or running about I am running out of breath quickly, I am finding it hard to get comfortable when trying to sleep at night and still waiting to feel baby's first flutters!

15 weeks

Baby changes this week:
Baby’s busy moving amniotic fluid through It's nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in baby's lungs begin to develop.It's legs are growing longer than his/her arms now, and baby can move all of it's joints and limbs. He/She is moving up a storm! Although It's eyelids are still fused shut, It can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, the baby is likely to move away from the beam.

Things I've been experiencing this week:
Increased energy, an obsession with looking at baby stuff online, always thirsty, not able to button ANY of my pants and anticipating feeling baby's first kicks!

14 weeks

I’ve been on such an incredible high the rest of this week after seeing baby. It was so amazing, I just can’t get over it!
I’m feeling wonderful as my first trimester came to a close and I am entering into the second. I’m super excited for the second trimester… lots of great firsts in the second, kicking, gender discovery and more energy for me!

13 weeks

It’s official! My first trimester is over, the end of my 13th week is here. Most women look forward to this time as hope that their morning sickness will soon subside. I on the other hand, have been so extremely lucky to have avoided most those annoyers for the past 13 weeks. I only hope my energy keeps peaking!





Baby changes this week:
Fingerprints have formed on our baby's tiny fingertips, It's veins and organs are clearly visible through It's still-thin skin, and his/her body is starting to catch up with her head -- which makes up just a third of It's body size now. If we are having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Our baby is almost 3 inches long, the size of a yummy peach!