BABY BOY!!

The most exciting thing that has happened in the past week is knowing that I no longer have to use gender neutral terms and pronouns and can begin using boy words!! The ultrasound was an indescribable experience (one of many thus far and yet to come) but I'll give it a shot. With us for the appointment were my Mom and Sally, my Dad, Beth, Bob and Kelly. Bob-o and Kim were with us via speaker phone! The room was warm and inviting and looked more like a tv room than an office. There were comfy looking over stuffed couches, big tv screens and a projection screen so everyone got a good look at the ultrasound. Seeing the BOY again was nothing less than amazing. With the 3D you could see his facial features, arms, fingers, legs, umbilical cord (ok you get the point...). With the 4D we were able to see him in motion--stretching his neck, throwing an arm over his head, moving his legs, opening his mouth and smiling! It didn't take long for the technician to give us the verdict--BOY...all boy. Against all of my worrying--the little guy was very willing to cooperate and show us his stuff. The rest of the time (25 min or so) was spent watching him. Thankfully we have it all on DVD (which we've made copies to share)! We were also given a dozen pictures and have copies as well.

Time for the serious stuff....

Week 18- This week buddy boy is about 5 1/2 inches long-the length of a bell pepper- and weighs about 7 ounces. So while there wasn't much growth in length, we've definitely packed on the ounces. He continues to flex his arms and legs (which I can feel now!) and his ears are finally done moving. He'll also begin to practice yawning and may even hiccup now and then. A thin layer of myelin (a protective coating) begins to form around his nerves and will continue to do so until a year after he's born. Finger prints have also fully formed by the end of this week.

This pregnancy continues to be a wonderful experience! Thank you for being so involved and ready to share it with us!

much love,

Justin, Robin and Jaxon =)

Gimme a Hand....week 17

Take a look at your palm--the baby is big enough to be cradled in your hand, about 5 inches from head to rump and 5 ounces in weight. This week the baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone...sounds much heavier and quiet frankly--more painful--for me! The umbilical cord is also growing stronger and thicker...this is the lifeline to the placenta, which provides all the the nutrients for the baby. All joints are movable and sweat glands are beginning to develop (cause I guess peeing inside of me isn't enough?? gross) The baby also practices sucking and swallowing. And the heart is now regulated by the brain--anywhere between 140-150 beats per minute (which is about 2 our heart rate).
The end of this week marks the fourth complete month of pregnancy...in 2 weeks we'll be half way home!
Friday is G-Day(gender day)!!! Keep your phones close!
much love,
Justin and Robin

Week 16

This week starts the beginning of a serious growth spurt. Over the next few weeks, the baby will double in weight and and add inches to its length!! (this could explain why I seem to be eternally hungry!) And continuing our tour through the produce section--this week we are on to avocados--about 4 1/2 inches bum to nugget and weighs in at about 3 1/2 inches. The legs are much more developed, back muscles are strenghtening which causes the head to move into a more erect position than previously. The eyes and ears are also continuing their migration to their final resting spots. Toenails, eyebrows, eyelashes and hair pattern on the scalp (no hair there yet) have all begun to make their apperances this week. The circulatory system is busy this week as well...the baby's heart pumps the equivalent of 25 quarts of blood a day.
Next week, Justin and I will be going to a 4D ultrasound to finally (fingers crossed--but baby legs wide open) find out just who's inside of me. We're both extremely excited and because of this the days seem to be taking their sweet time. Expect a phone call next Friday evening with news!!
much love,
Justin and Robin

weeks 14 & 15

So sorry that I missed you all last week...things got crazy, I got lazy and you know how that goes! So let's catch up....
Week 14 (last week)- The babies facial muscles begin to get their workout as the baby is now able to grimace, squint, and suck the thumb! The baby is practicing grasping things by making grasping movements. Finger nails and hair growth all over the body (lanugo) also began this week. The kidneys are fully functional and "relieve" themselves into the amniotic fluid-this will continue for the remainder of the pregnancy (yay?) The liver began making bile and the spleen started helping in the production of red blood cells. By the end of the 14th week the baby measures 3 1/2 inches, and about 1 1/2 ounces...or about the size of a lemon (mmm...lemonade). And even though I Still can't feel it...the baby spends more hours awake and moving, kicking, tai bo-ing than sleeping.
Week 15(this week)-This week is marked by some serious growth---we've gained an inch in length and an ounce in weight...about the size of an apple! To help the air sacs develop in the lungs, the baby spends time "breathing" in amniotic fluid through the nose and upper respiratory tract. The legs are growing longer than the arms (keep on growing!! you're gonna need the height). All limbs and joints are fully movable and are getting much use. And while the eyelids are still fused shut, the baby can sense light. More excitedly...after this week, the baby's gender can now be determined, although not easily. It will depend on the quality of the machine, the clarity of the picture (it can differ between patients--something to do with thickness??) and the cooperation of the baby (it needs to be willing to show the goods!!)
And on that front--Justin and I are planning on getting a 4D ultrasound as soon as the place can fit us in. We will (very obviously) let you know as SOON as we are able to start shopping with a purpose!!
much love,
Justin and Robin

1/3 down...2/3 to go!

Here we are at week 13, which marks the end of the first trimester. As of this weekend, I am officially in my 2nd trimester! As well as being a good time marker, the second trimester also has a much lower risk of miscarriage--so I can breathe a little easier--but for long the baby (and uterus, which is the size of a grapefruit) are starting the migration up my torso and will eventually press against my inner organs & lungs, in turn.
For the baby-its own distinct fingerprints are now present on the fingers. The veins and organs are visible through its still transparent skin. Vocal cord development starts this week, too. If it is a girl, she already has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries! On the boy side...he's been producing testosterone for about 3 weeks now! No wonder I've been soo tired this week...thats a lot of work! We will be able to find out the gender at my 18 week appt (if Justin can wait that long) which will be scheduled for the end of October. This week the size (measured from nugget to booty) is about the size of a peach or medium sized shrimp (about 3 inches) and weighs in at about a full ounce!
I finally broke down last night and bought my first pair of maternity pants...I resisted at first, but the belly band isn't working too well and I'm tired of sucking it in unsuccessfully. Anyhow, I caved and I LOVE them...mostly cause they are comfy and I can breathe again!
We'll keep you posted...next week is our 14 week check up!
much love,
Justin and Robin

LIMES anyone?

This week is a big week for the little _______ (insert your gender of choice) inside! Officially, it is about 2 inches long and about the size of a Lime. Reflexes begin to develop during week 12. Fingers begin to open and close, toes curl, eye muscles clench and the mouth starts making sucking movements! (already a big eater like its parents ;) ) The coolest thing is that if I prod my stomach--the baby will squirm in response-even though I still can't feel it! I love to do this...Justin gets mad and tells me to quit squishing his kid, which probably makes it more fun to do! lol
The intestines have grown extremely fast and protrude into the umbilical cord, but are beginning their decent into the abdominal cavity. The kidneys have started to produce and excrete urine into the bladder. Yes...its peeing in me! Way more gross than being peed ON. Nerves continue to grow and the eyes have moved into their proper place.
On the momma front...I've been battling allergies and a cold this past week. Not an easy feat to accomplish with OUT drugs and while living in the valley. To battle back, I've been sleeping-alot, drinking-alot and eating--even more than a lot! Thanks to a new humidifier...easy breathing is in my future!
much love,
Justin and Robin

203 Days to GO!! or 11 weeks along

So in keeping with the fruit theme, the baby is now about the size of a fig (about an inch and a half long). The hands are fully formed and will start opening and closing to form a fist! Tooth buds are also beginning to appear (OUCH) and some of the bones are starting to harden. As I shared and saw last week, its (can't wait to use a gender specific pronoun) moving all over the place! Kicking, stretching and even hiccuping!
I've finally come to the realization that I am not a chicken fan, like many pregger women before me. For some reason, it sounds great-looks and tastes awful! Poor Justin made me a very healthy dinner--and all I could stomach was the salad and potato...no chicken for this lady. Luckily, that seems to be the only protein I'm not a fan of.
Hope you are all well!
much love,
Justin and Robin