39 Week Picture and Poll

I'm not sure what is going on with my hair in the picture, but it has been a long day and I'm about to go to sleep.

How far along? 39 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up about 27 pounds

Maternity clothes? Yes, and even maternity pants are getting very uncomfortable

Stretch Marks? Nothing new

Sleep: I am pretty tired all the time, but I have a very hard time sleeping

Best moment this week: Spending the weekend with friends and family

Movement: Yes, and it makes me jump, and other people think that I'm in labor

Food cravings: No real cravings

Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know

Labor Signs: The only sign so far is the nausea, according to some books

Belly Button in or out? Out

What I miss: Fitting at a table

What I am looking forward to: Meeting the baby, hopefully it will happen this week

Weekly Wisdom: Take your car seat to be inspected, just to make sure it is installed correctly, and they give you a lot of other useful information

Milestones: One week to the due date (although that doesn't mean very much, and the baby can come at any time)

(from babycenter.com, because theBump.com didn't change)

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

Lullaby and Good Night

Nursery is finally done! Geoff finished hanging the last few things in the room, and it is completely ready for the baby. Now we just are waiting for her/him to arrive. Here are some pictures.

38 Week Picture and Poll

Have been working on the apartment all day, so it isn't the best picture. I really can't wait until it is all done.

How far along? 38 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up about 24 pounds

Maternity clothes? Very much so

Stretch Marks? Nothing new, and I'm still keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way

Sleep: I sleep for long time, but I don't sleep well

Best moment this week: It was a very quiet week, so hearing the heartbeat on Friday

Movement: Lots of it

Food cravings: No cravings, and I'm not really liking food right now

Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know

Labor Signs: No, and I wouldn't mind any at this point

Belly Button in or out? Out

What I miss: Being able to breathe while laying down

What I am looking forward to: Celebrating Tedd's birthday or seeing the baby, whichever comes first

Weekly Wisdom: Make sure that your hospital bag has a hard copy of any phone numbers that you may need

Milestones: Not so much of a fun one, but the return of morning sickness

(from babycenter.com, because theBump.com didn't change)

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

37 Week Picture

Here is the picture from last night, as well as a bonus picture from Saturday.

37 Week Poll

Geoff is going to be late tonight, so the picture will come later.

How far along? 37 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Still up about 27 pounds

Maternity clothes? Very much so

Stretch Marks? Nothing new, and I'm really hoping that it stays that way

Sleep: It is next to impossible to get comfortable

Best moment this week: My baby shower!

Movement: Yes, and it is often quite visible

Food cravings: No real cravings, but I am often very hungry

Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know

Labor Signs: No, and I am getting to the point where I wouldn't really mind some

Belly Button in or out? Out

What I miss: I really wanted some of that punch on Saturday, it just looked so good!

What I am looking forward to: Finishing setting up the baby's room

Weekly Wisdom: Not really feeling wise today, I'm pretty tired from not sleeping and trying to get everything ready

Milestones: I'm FULL TERM!!!!

(from theBump.com)

Baby is now the size of a watermelon!

At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.

(from babycenter.com)

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Baby Shower!

Yesterday was my baby shower. It was a beautiful day, and I was glad that so many were able to make it to my mom's. Everyone was so very generous, Baby Braham got many great things. The food was amazing, and the desserts were absolutely beautiful. I can't say enough about what everyone did, I really had a great time.

Here are some more pictures from the day. They are collected from different people, and I hope to update the album as I receive more photos.

A Look at the Baby

Geoff and I had an ultrasound on Friday to measure the growth of the baby (but really just so that we could see her/him again). It was amazing how much of a change there was since the last ultrasound (which was in December). This time we were able to see a clearly defined face, as well as hair (Baby Braham has hair!). I was not so thrilled when the technician said "Oh, this is a big baby", and even less thrilled when the doctor confirmed her estimate during my exam. Since I am still three weeks away (when did that happen?), we are going to check on the growth again then. Other than that, everything looks good and it now just a matter of time.

I will leave you with the one picture that I have, one of Baby Braham's face. It's hard to see, but if you tilt your head to the right it makes it easier.

36 Week Picture and Poll

It's been a long day, but I got this up on time.

How far along? 36 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up about 27 pounds, I'm thinking that the differences in the time of day is accounting for the differences (should be normal again now since the scale is finally at the new place)

Maternity clothes? Yes, and I'm beginning to wonder what I am going to do now that it is starting to get warmer and all I have are winter clothes

Stretch Marks? Still nothing new

Sleep: I find it very difficult, and Geoff gets annoyed at how propped up I have to be

Best moment this week: Not baby related, but getting our power back, since the apartment still isn't done and we need electricity to finish everything

Movement: All the time, and the baby is pretty strong

Food cravings: I'm thinking that I will call the baby Audrey II, as all it seems to say is "Feed me, Seymour!"

Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know

Labor Signs: Not really, even the Braxton Hicks seem to be less

Belly Button in or out? Out

What I miss: Being able to reach my shoelaces

What I am looking forward to: Friday, when I get to see the baby again (and find out how big s/he is getting)

Weekly Wisdom: Pack your hospital bag since (as everyone keeps pointing out to me) you can go at ANYTIME now.

Milestones: Less than a month until my due date

(from babycenter.com, because theBump.com didn't change)

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby 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.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Five weeks in and five weeks out!

It's a little scary to me the difference between when I was five weeks pregnant, and now that I only have five weeks to go. I don't think that I ever thought that I would be quite this large. Here is a bonus picture as a comparison.

35 Week Picture and Poll

Only five weeks to go!

How far along? 35 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: I'm still up about 28 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes, and I really miss my regular clothes
Stretch Marks? Still nothing new
Sleep: I wish I could sleep more
Best moment this week: Spending time with my nephew, even though he and his cousin spent a lot of time kicking each other
Movement: Lots of it
Food cravings: Nothing in particular
Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know
Labor Signs: Just the Braxton Hicks, and that isn't very often
Belly Button in or out? Very much out
What I miss: Not being stuffy all the time
What I am looking forward to: Our growth ultrasound, even though it's still more than a week away
Weekly Wisdom: Drinking lots of water will help bring down swelling, even though it seems that adding more fluid would be counter productive
Milestones: 35 weeks in/35 days to go!

(from babycenter.com, because theBump.com didn't change)

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Baby Poll and Pool

So, if you look to the left, there is a new poll. I have gotten so many comments recently about how I look like I am going to go any day, I was wondering what you guys thought of Baby's arrival. This poll is going to close at the end of March, so make sure to get your vote in.

I have also set up a friendly pool at ExpectNet.com. The game name is Braham2B. I'm planning on having that open until April 11 or when I go into labor, whichever comes first. Please feel free to share the link with family members who may be interested but don't see this blog.

Happy voting!

34 Week Picture and Poll

I know that I am super late this week, but the picture is from Tuesday, so that is at least right.

How far along? 34 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: I'm up about 28 pounds right now.
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch Marks? Still nothing new
Sleep: I don't think that this child wants me to sleep
Best moment this week: Not baby related, but my dad coming home
Movement: It's very visible, makes me think that all this weight that I have been putting on isn't between the baby and my skin
Food cravings: Nothing special, but I am very suggestible
Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know
Labor Signs: Just the Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Out
What I miss: My ankles, stupid swelling
What I am looking forward to: Also not baby related, but finally having this apartment ready to the point where I don't mind if people see it (fingers crossed it all gets finished this weekend)
Weekly Wisdom: Sleep becomes elusive, so get it while you can
Milestones: We are starting to have some semblance of a nursery! Also, I'm about as far along as Rebecca was when she had Connor, so the baby is about the size Connor was born at

(from babycenter.com, because theBump.com didn't change)

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that 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.

33 Week Picture and Poll

New location, same awful picture.

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Not sure because my scale has yet to make the move, although if my doctor's scale is to be believed, I'm up about 26 pounds right now.
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch Marks? Still nothing new
Sleep: I'm having a hard time falling asleep, since laying on my side hurts my hip
Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat on my birthday
Movement: All the time, Geoff was even watching it last night during our last class
Food cravings: I'm back to the citrus right now
Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know
Labor Signs: I think I've started feeling Braxton Hicks
Belly Button in or out? Out
What I miss: Wearing my wedding ring
What I am looking forward to: Setting up the baby's room once the furniture is delivered
Weekly Wisdom:  Take it easy, everything, including walking, starts to become more difficult
Milestones: I was asked by a complete stranger if I was due any day, and when I said that I had almost two months left, she said "wow, you're huge!".

(from theBump.com)

Baby is now the size of a honeydew! 
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.

Catching up on belly pictures

Here are the missing pictures, going backwards.

32 Weeks

31 Weeks

30 Weeks

32 Week Poll

Pictures to come either tonight or tomorrow morning. All of them, not just this week's.

How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Up about 23 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes, and I have a new pair of jeans!
Stretch Marks? Still nothing new, and I am keeping my fingers crossed
Sleep: Comfortable positions are quite elusive
Best moment this week: Starting to get the new apartment ready, although the actual moving part isn't that much fun

Movement: Yes, and I love feeling it, but I still think it's creepy to watch the baby move across my stomach
Food cravings: No real cravings, but lots of hunger
Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? It's out, and not very pretty
What I miss: My energy
What I am looking forward to: Not baby related, but Shrove Tuesday dinner!
Weekly Wisdom: Major projects (like moving) are a lot less fun the later in pregnancy you get
Milestones: I have less than two months to go (I meant to write a post about that over the weekend, but I completely forgot)

(from babycenter.com because theBump.com didn't change)

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

31 Week Poll

Since I'm still setting up the new computer, I haven't been able to get the pictures from last week and this week off the camera yet. As soon as I do, I will upload them.

How far along? 31 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: Up about 21 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch Marks? Nothing new, and I am using the Belli oil every night to keep it that way
Sleep: I am very tired, but I am still waking at five (just to fall back asleep at six thirty and sleep until nine)
Best moment this week: Not baby related, but spending time with friends before we have to give up these great views
Food cravings: Still citrus, I've had a lot of clementines this week
Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Out
What I miss: Being able to pick up something that I've dropped in front of me while sitting in the car
What I am looking forward to: It's not happening this week, but the furniture being delivered so that I can start setting up the baby's room
Weekly Wisdom: Don't put off major purchases like furniture for too long, you never know when something will be out of stock and will take 8 to 12 weeks to arrive
Milestones: Nothing major, but nine weeks to go

(from babycenter.com because theBump.com didn't change)

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. 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. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you 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.

30 Week Poll

Picture to come later, since I'm unable to upload them right now.

How far along? 30 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Up about 20 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch Marks? Nothing new, but my skin feels very tight
Sleep: I strangely wake up at 5 am, for no apparent reason, even though I am exhausted
Best moment this week: Not baby related, but our anniversary celebration at the ballet
Movement: The baby was dancing along to Sleeping Beauty on Saturday, as well as kicking Geoff during our class last night
Food cravings: Citrus. Not juice, but actual pieces of fruit
Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Out about 95% of the time
What I miss: The ability to sit forward. I'm not a fan of sitting back.
What I am looking forward to: Hearing the hearbeat again on Friday
Weekly Wisdom: No matter what your fears, labor/delivery nurses have stories that top them (like the woman from Larchmont who just recently gave birth to an 8 lbs 15 oz baby AT HOME because she didn't make it to the hospital on time)
Milestones: Three quarters of the way done

(from babycenter.com because theBump.com didn't change)
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

29 Week Picture and Poll

It's a shame that the best time for Geoff to take this picture is when I am ready to go to bed.

How far along? 29 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Up about 17 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch Marks? Still nothing new, and hoping that it stays that way
Sleep: I get tired much earlier than before
Best moment this week: Seeing Geoff hold Connor, especially since he has never held a baby that small
Movement: Oh yes, and it can be freaky to watch
Food cravings: No cravings, but I am hungry
Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Flat and out at the same time, even though I'm not sure exactly how that is possible
What I miss: My sense of balance, especially in heels
What I am looking forward to: Our childbirth preparation class starts in less than a week
Weekly Wisdom:  While at first it seemed like there was a ton of time, all of a sudden you realize how fast it is all going
Milestones: Nothing too special, but only 11 weeks left to go


(from theBump.com)
Baby is now the size of a squash! 
Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) 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.

28 Week Picture and Poll

I had this all ready to go last night, but I fell asleep before I had a chance to post it. I was also having issues with a shadow, and I'm not sure why.

How far along? 28 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: Still up about 15 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes, and that isn't going to be changing.
Stretch Marks? Nothing new
Sleep: I wish I could sleep more
Best moment this week: Holding Connor. Here are some pictures from when we went to visit him after he came home.
Movement: I can't decide if the baby is going to be a soccer player, or a Broadway dancer (think kicklines)
Food cravings: Citrus, and dairy
Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Mostly flat, but one part is popping
What I miss: Being able to easily get into bed (and I thought our bed was high before)
What I am looking forward to: My appointment, where I will get to hear the heartbeat again
Weekly Wisdom:  It is much easier to eat small meals throughout the day, than the traditional 3.
Milestones: We have baby furniture (in the sense that it has been ordered and is waiting to be delivered, not that I have it set up).


(from babycenter.com, since theBump.com hasn't changed)

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.

27 Week Picture and Poll

No matter how many times I retook this picture, I couldn't get it to come out any better. I had just gotten out of the shower, so at least there is some reason why I look so awful.

How far along? 27 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Up about 15 pounds
Maternity clothes? I really can't fit into anything else. It scares me a little that I am only going to get bigger.
Stretch Marks? Nothing new, but everything feels tight
Sleep: Not much. It's hard to breathe when I lay down, and I just can't find a comfortable position
Best moment this week: Finding out that not only did I have a nephew (early), but that he was doing well
Movement: Baby seems to be taking after Mommy, dances all the time
Food cravings: Nothing overwhelming, but I am hungry a lot
Gender: Don't click here if you don't want to know
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Still flat, but starting to come out
What I miss: I'm going to miss not being able to have our traditional anniversary champagne tonight (I guess it will just have to wait until April!)
What I am looking forward to: Not (my) baby related, but seeing my new nephew in person
Weekly Wisdom:  Things start to go very quickly, don't let it overwhelm you
Milestones: Lots of milestones this week, but only one related to this pregnancy. I'm officially in my third trimester! I also became an aunt and am celebrating my second wedding anniversary tonight.


(from theBump.com)

Baby is now the size of an eggplant! 
Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). 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.