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.

Jocelyn's Nursery - Part 1

We have started getting Jocelyn's room ready! We decided to go with white furniture and I had a hard time picking out the bedding but I love what we got. Thanks to Yia Yia (my mom) for purchasing the bedding set for us! And thank you to John's granny who purchased the dresser and the matching changing table that we love! We are so blessed by our family!

Daddy did a good job at putting everything together!

Sam had to make sure that John was doing it right!

Ta da!!!!

Thank you Mom for the beautiful bedding! It is perfect for our little girl!

Thank you Granny for the dresser and changing table! It is exactly what we pictured for our daughter's nursery!

We love both of you so so much!!!

27 weeks

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Something else that is exciting about this week: Week 27 is the last week of the second trimester!

Belly Pic - 26 weeks

26 weeks

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.

Another exciting milestone for her: her eyes are starting to open!!!

Closer to meeting you...

Dearest daughter,

Even though sometimes I feel like the weeks are creeping by I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that you will be here in 14 short weeks. It is even crazier to think that you could make an appearance sooner than that!

I'm feeling you move more and more in my belly. It makes me sad sometimes that your Daddy can't feel you as much as I can but it makes me feel honored to be carrying you. Honored to be your mother.

There are times when I feel so many emotions at once that it just makes me want to cry. I think about how wonderful it will be to finally meet you. You have already blessed my life so much! You have made me realize the true joy in life and you have fulfilled my dream of being a mommy. If ever I was born to do something I know it was to be a mother. Thank you, precious one, for making this dream come true.

I may not know what or who you will look like and I may not know if you will have my patience or your daddy's ambition but I do know that you were wonderfully made just as you are. And I will love you forever.. just as you are.

I can't imagine loving you more than I do now but I just know that when I meet you and finally see you my heart will grow even more! I can't wait to have you in my arms! I'm so glad you are mine!

I love you!

Mommy

First Fest 2009

Me, John and Jake headed to First Fest and had such a good time! There was so much for Jake to do and he had a blast! And to top it all off we got to see Sergio, Laura and precious Matteo!!

After First Fest we worked up an appetite so we went and ate some sushi!

Such a fun evening!

Belly Pic - 25 weeks

25 weeks

What's going on with baby: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

What's going on with Mommy: Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.

Doctor Update and Survery Time

I had my 24 week doctor appointment yesterday! I have gained 3 pounds! Dr. T measured my belly and we are right on track with 24 inches! Perfect! (FYI...Your belly is supposed to measure the same for the week you are in.) Before we saw the doctor the nurse used the Doppler to hear Joc's heartbeat and she put the COLD gel on my belly and my little girl DID NOT like that! (I have a feeling we have a feisty little girl on our hands!) She started moving immediately. But it was so cool because we could HEAR her movements! That's a first for us! So cool! Her heart was beating strong at 154! My next appointment will be in 4 weeks and I will be doing the dreaded test for gestational diabetes! Dun Dun Duuuuun!

Survey Time:
How far along: 24w4d
Total weight gain: 3 pounds!
Maternity clothes: Oh yes! So comfy!
Sleep: Still good! I sleep pretty hard!
Best moment this week: Hearing her move on the Doppler
Movement: Every day! She is still active at night but it starting to get really active around mid-morning.
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs: None!
Belly button: Still in but it is getting more shallow.
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach!!!
Food cravings this week: Sushi.
Milestones: Hearing her on the Doppler!

One more thing (so that I have record of this and always remember it)... last night we laid in bed and she started moving A LOT and she must have been angry that Mommy laid done! She was kicking and pushing up against the right side of my belly. Now John has only felt her 3 times and he has been dying to feel her again but she has been a little stubborn (like her Daddy :)) and every time John puts his hand on my belly she stops moving! Well last night John was able to feel her kick multiple times and when he put his face on my belly to talk to her she kicked him in the head! So cute! John was so proud! :) Oh I love this little girl so much!