18 Weeks...

Our baby now measures 5.5 inches, about the length of a bell pepper, and weighs almost 7 ounces. Our baby is continuing to grow and develop but the rapid growth rate has slowed down a little. Baby has a more human appearance now. Body hair is becoming coarser, eyeleashes are beginning to appear on baby's eyelids, baby's lips have formed, taste buds have started to develop, and regardless of gender, nipples are starting to develp on top of the mammary glands.  If it's a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place and if it's a boy, his genitals are noticeable now. Finite features of the heart including ventricles and chambers should be visible during an ultrasound.

Baby is busy flexing arms and legs and passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. Baby's blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will contine for a year after baby's born.
 

Our Weekend Getaway

Michael and I decided to get away for the weekend for a much needed relaxing weekend for just the two of us. We had such a wonderful weekend! We stayed in Pacific Grove in a cute little place called the Sunset Inn. The room was small but cute and it featured a jacuzzi tub and fireplace. Friday night we went to the Fish Hopper for dinner and I had Ciopinno & Michael had a steak and lobster...yummy!

We had a couples massage at Elysium in Monterey on Saturday morning after we slept in which was absolutely amazing! I had hot stones incorporated into my massage and let me just tell you that there is nothing better. I can't really explain it but it was THE BEST massage I have ever had. Thanks Mom! (She gave us $$ to use for our massages for our birthdays). Then we went to this place called Gianni's which is a pizza place for lunch. It smelled so good driving by Friday night that we had to go in and taste what smelled so good. Mmmm....was that place good.

We then headed back to our room and then walked across the street to the beach and just enjoyed the sun and the sound of the waves. Saturday night we went back to Cannery Row and ate dinner at the Chart House. This time I had a filet mignon and Michael had oysters on the 1/2 shell for an appetizer, then he had prime rib and king crab legs and then we shared a chocolate lava cake. Needless to say we ate good. On the way back we caught the sunset...our first sunset together.

Then Sunday rolled around and we decided we should make a trip to the wharf because after all, who goes to Monterey and doesn't go to the wharf? So off to the wharf for some clam chowder, a few pics, and then we were off again. It's funny how we didn't do much of anything really but we had the BEST time we've ever had. It was so relaxing and just being together enjoying one another was great.

I think we put a little too much bubbles in the jacuzzi!

 

At the beach...

Such a beautiful day.

Weird but kinds cool looking flowers.

Beautiful coastline

Just the two...actually three of us!

Sunset

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17 Weeks...

So far so good! I am still feeling great and thankfully still able to work out. I had a bit of a "scare" yesterday morning. I was at work carrying a box and I turned the corner and smacked right into my coworker and the box hit my tummy pretty hard. I have a fairly high pain tolerance, but it hurt. I emailed my doctor and told him what happened...he said baby should be fine but said that I could go in and get an ultrasound to give me piece of mind. I went in and everything was just fine. It's crazy how much you can worry about someone you've never met. The doctor told me it was my motherly instincts taking over.

Michael and I started looking at cribs and furniture for the baby's room which was fun. The baby's room, boy or girl, will have a jungle animal theme to it. We are trying to familiarize ourselves with the different car seats and other item that we have absolutely no clue about. We definitely look like first time parents in the stores. We got our FIRST baby item yesterday...a red BOB. Perfect for trying to get back into shape after our little one arrives.

I've been trying to clean our the closet in the baby's room that has been my overflow closet for 4 years now...what a chore! At least it is forcing me to donate old clothes that I always think I might wear again while at the same time knowing that I will never wear them again! Hopefully in the next month or two we'll have the room cleaned out and ready to be painted. Exciting stuff!

So how about baby? Baby starts plumping up this week, as body fat is deposited under the skin. The baby will continue adding these essential layers from now until it leaves the womb, when baby will need them to help stay warm in the outside world. Added bonus: They help baby achieve that precious, pudgy baby look.

Baby is continuing to "breathe" amniotic fluid through the lungs, prepping for those first oxygen-packed breaths after baby's born. Baby weighs 5 ounces now, about as much as a turnip is around 5 inches long from head to bottom.

Baby's delicate skeleton continues to harden from rubbery cartilage to bone, so I'll have to make sure that I'm chugging that milk. The calcium helps build a strong, sturdy frame. Baby's umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes now feature one-of-a-kind prints.

16 Weeks...

Boy or Girl???? We still don't know. We had hoped at my last appointment that we would be able to tell, but no such luck. We'll have to wait for our official ultrasound on May 4 (it's been changed) to see what we are having. But...I have to say that our last appointment was pretty exciting. The baby was jumping all around and it even looked as though the baby was waving at us! What an amazing sight to see and truly beyond words.

It is really hard to imagine that all of this is going on inside of me yet I can't feel a thing. I should be able to feel some "fluttering" in the next few weeks or so, but nothing just yet. It is a strange thing being pregnant for the first time. It's hard to explain but I have never really "felt" pregnant, other than the migraines that I experienced early on and the fatigue. Everything seems to be the same except that none of my pants fit from this every thickening belly. I am really looking forward to feeling this baby's flutters just so that I have some peace of mind that everything is OK in there. Seeing the ultrasound on Friday though definitely made it more realistic, but I was still looking at the ultrasound in amazement thinking that this little miracle was growing inside of me.

So, we are now at week 16 and in the next few weeks the baby will double its weight and add inches to its length. Right now, baby is about the size of an avocado:1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. The legs are much more developed, the head is more erect than it has been, and the eyes have moved closer to the front of the head. The ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. Baby has even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, baby's heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day.

It's growing...

Ultrasound from 4/9

Michael & his sister Dee Ann

 

Michael as a baby...isn't he cute?! Nice hair!

Michael & his cousins playing dress up!

These pictures were just too cute and funny not to share.

William Thomas Restani

My sister gave birth to their second child, a boy this time, name William Thomas. He was born by c-section on April 10 at 9:18 p.m.  He was 3 weeks premature but weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. He has reddish hair too.

William had a tough first hour in this world as he swallowed a lot of water upon his arrival and was having trouble breathing. They tried to get his lungs to expand so they gave him a bath which seemed to do the trick as Michelle said he was crying up a storm. He has been eating well and passing it well too. His face was a little bruised as you can see in the pictures because the doctors expected a smaller baby and made the incision a little bit too small.They said that by Sunday the bruising has lessened a lot and he looked much better.

I hear that my niece Julietta was thrilled to see her new baby brother and was so sad to leave him. I'm sure she will be a great big sister. 

CONGRATULATIONS RESTANI FAMILY!!

New belly pictures....

 15 Weeks

 14 Weeks

  13 Weeks

12 Weeks

Our boxer...Primo

Ok....so I've got to include our other, non-human, family member in our blog. His name is Primo and he is a 4 year old boxer and the best dog we could have asked for. All he wants is to make us happy...and of course he wants to play...and play...and play some more.

We got him as a rescue at about 1 1/2 years old and he was so skinny! As you can see though, he's put on a little bit of weight since then. He's had his fair share of medical issues since then but for the most part, knock on wood, he has been completely healthy for the past year or so. He is still taking meds for seizures and his auto immune disorder but we hope to take him fully off of those before long.

Michael and I just love him so much and we honestly couldn't imagine life without him. He is so gentle too and very obedient (obedience class has paid off) and he knows who he can play rough with (Michael) and who he has to be more gentle with (me). We think he'll adjust just fine to our new addition and can't wait for the day. Below are some of our favorite pictures...

Primo getting ready to brave the water with his life jacket. He doesn't swim that great nor do I think he actually likes to swim but he does it for us.

He thinks he's a big lap dog!

 Just out canoeing with Michael. Don't rock the boat!

 

 Are you guys ready yet? I've had enough of this beach stuff!

 

Goofing off in obedience class.

I'd better pay attention before my "master" gets mad.

Primo and his mama.

He loves being part of the family...even if it is for a family photo.

Just snoozing after a long day...how do they sleep like that??

15 Weeks....

We are now at 15 weeks. I have a doctor's appointment this Friday and we are hoping to find out the sex of the baby even though our "official" ultrasound isn't until May 5. We're hoping the baby will cooperate and not "hide the goods" for us to see. Everything seems to be going well and I'm feeling great. I don't know if it was because I read that I wouldn't be quite as tired in my 2nd trimester or what, but all of a sudden I feel like I've got way more energy. I've still be going to the gym every weekday and running, biking and lifting weights. I think I would go crazy if I couldn't work out! Hopefully as the weather heats up and I get bigger I'll be doing a lot more swimming too.

Enough about me...during the next month, our baby will grow faster than it ever has or ever will. The rapid and sustained growth experienced by the baby this month enables it to be more agile than before. For example, our baby can now turn its head, open its mouth, and press its lips together. Not bad for somebody who only weighs 1 ounce (28 g) and stands only 33⁄8 inches (8.5cm) tall! Baby is now about the size of an apple.

Baby is busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Although baby's eyelids are still fused shut, baby can sense light. They say that if you shine a flashlight at your tummy she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for  baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. 

Our baby now displays more sophisticated hand and arm movements, such as making a fist, moving the thumbs, bending the wrists, and grasping. All the body movements that the baby engages in right now constitute practice. It takes some time for the nervous system and the muscles to make smooth, synchronous movements. So these motions test the hook-ups within the neuromuscular system.

I'll post some new tummy pictures later in the week. Grow baby grow!