Rental House - New Cedar

We put new shredded cedar in at our rental house last weekend and it turned out great. A lot of work trimming the trees and shrubs, but it looks really good. Let's hope our tenants keep it looking nice!

27 Weeks...

This week, Michaiah 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, her 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. I can chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements that I 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 I'll just relax and enjoy the tickle.At this age she is able to distinguish between light and dark. Research demonstrates how babies in the womb turn away from the source to the other side when a bright light is shone on their mother's stomach.Interesting...

The furniture finally arrived yesterday and with the room all painted, thanks to my wonderful hubby, we are almost finished. We've go a few things left to do before we take some pictures and post them for everyone to see.

My tummy is growing!

26 Weeks...

Michaiah may now be able to hear both mine and Michael's voice as we talk to each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of hers lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air.  She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (and English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. And she's continuing to put on a special layer of fat which acts as an insulator, keeping baby warm in the weeks after birth.

Heart Concert

This past weekend Michael and I took my dad & mom to see Heart in Reno. It was an early Father's Day present for my dad. What a show! These women can sure rock it out. Did you know that they are coming out with their 13th album in August? 13! It's no wonder I only knew about 4 of the songs they played.

25 weeks...

Head to heels, Michaiah 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.She is also learning to distinguish right side up form upside down.

 Primo decided he wanted to give Michaiah a few kisses last night too! He's such a goof!

One of my good friends, Susie, gave me a bunch of things for the baby, including some maternity clothes. I am so thankful to everyone who has given me things as we journey to the next chapter of our lives. It is such a blessing. I hope to one day be able to do the same for someone else as well. These are just a few of the things she gave me.

My mom also go us our crib bedding which I can't wait to put on once we get the crib...still waiting...and get the room painted. I'll post pictures of the room once we are done. So exciting! Thanks again to everyone!

24 Weeks...

I've made it to the 6 month mark...woohoo! Michaiah is growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, see picture below, she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

 
 I am finally starting to get her room organized and hopefully Michael will have it painted soon.I just ordered some space bags (you know the ones where you such the air out with ta vacuum) and put a bunch of blankets and clothes away for now. I love those bags. We also purchased some shelving for our closets to make some shoe racks. It's so nice to have things organized! 

23 Weeks...

Here we are...another week closer and still feeling great! I don't want to speak too soon, but so far this pregnancy has been a really wonderful experience and I honestly have zero complaints.Let's just hope it stays that way through the term.

Michaiah is more than 12 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango). She's started practicing breathing by taking in and expelling small amounts of amniotic fluid. The pancreas also produces insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars. By now she resembles a small doll with all the facial features of an infant at birth.

Her sense of movement is well developed by now, she can feel me dancing, running, etc. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that her increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as Primo barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb. Good to know...I'd better start vacuuming more to ensure that she is a sound sleeper!

We will be starting our pregnancy classes including breastfeeding, a full two class entitled "Baby Makes 3" which talks about how the baby will impact a couple's relationship, a newborn care class as well as "Preparing for Childbirth" class. A lot of our weekends will be full, but we are certainly looking forward to it.

Thanks to some of Michael's friends we've got the baby's room cleared out and all of the "guest room" furniture moved out. The room is almost ready to be painted and by then hopefully the furniture will have arrived. Hopefully a trip to Ikea this weekend will help us with our storage needs.