g Diapers

Anyone ever heard of them? I found out about g Diapers through friends and have been doing some research on them. g Diapers are a hybrid diaper -- 1/2 cloth & 1/2 disposable. The exterior diaper is cloth and they have disposable (flushable!) liners that you put on the inside. You can either flush the liner down the toilet or toss them in the trash; the best part is that if you toss them in the trash, they biodegrade in 50-150 days. Did you know a disposable diaper can take 500 years to biodegrade?

You only have to wash the exterior cloth portion if it gets 'dirty'. We were thinking of trying them out for awhile to see if we like them. A starter kit is relatively inexpensive and if we don't like them, it's not a big deal -- if we do, then great!



Check out their website: http://www.gdiapers.com/ Does anyone have any experience with them?

Week 27 -- Start of the 3rd Trimester!!

How baby's growing: Baby girl is really starting to get big! This week she weighs almost 2 pounds (think a head of cauliflower) and is about 14.4 inches long with her legs extended. She can now open and close her eyes, and she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. She may suck her fingers, and although her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if she were to be born prematurely. Any rhythmic movement I may be feeling can be chalked up to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on (I felt these for the first time last week!). Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to her, so I enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what she's thinking?

Today is the start of my 3rd trimester and I can't believe the pregnancy is already two-thirds over! The time is just flying by (do I say this every week??). The uncomfort level is slowly increasing. Laying on my back is definitely not a possibility anymore....my lower back is also starting to hurt. I can say that I haven't started the 'pregnancy waddle,' and hopefully I never will! I honestly can't complain too much though, I have been enjoying the pregnancy more than I imagined. Feeling baby girl move inside is just amazing and I will definitely miss it once she's here! Although I'm sure those little coo's and other baby noises will completely make up for it.

I measured around my belly this morning and it was still 34" -- so I guess that 1" growth last week was enough for this week too! My belly button hasn't popped yet, but it's just about level with my belly now, so it won't be long :-)

Road Trip

This past weekend, we took a road trip to visit friends in Delaware and Maryland. The trip there hit a milestone for us...our Cavalier hit 100,000 miles!

We stopped to visit our old neighbors and enjoyed chatting about what's been going on with them and their daughters since we left. Little Reese got so big (she's almost 3 now) and she is FULL of energy. After that, we drove to our friends' in Delaware and got to see baby Esther for the first time in almost a year. She is now 14 months old and so big -- almost walking! We got some valuable tips on things we'll need (and not need) for our baby girl.

Sunday, we drove down to Baltimore to go to a friend's wedding tasting. It was very fancy and the food was pretty good -- Chris and I are both looking forward to their wedding in August! That night we visited with some more friends and caught up on everything that's been going on since we moved away. We had plenty of laughs -- I definitely got a good ab workout -- along with lots of great food.

Thank you everyone for making our weekend so fun :-)

Requested Pictures

Does my belly look bigger under my maternity clothes? You decide. The first pictures was taken at 25 weeks 2 days. The second two were taken at 25 weeks 4 days, on Valentine's Day.

Week 26

Baby Girl's Development this week: She weighs about 1-2/3 pounds and measures 14 inches from head to heel. Her weight will more than triple between now and birth as she rapidly puts on baby fat. She'll need that fat to help adjust to colder temperatures outside the womb and as a source of energy and calories in the first days of life. It's not uncommon for newborns who are breastfed to lose weight (sometimes as much as 10 percent of their birth weight) in the first week after birth. The nerve pathways in her ears are developing, which means her response to sounds is growing more consistent. Her lungs are developing now, too, as she continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid — good practice for when she's born and takes that first breath of air.

This has been a HUGE week for growth -- and when I say that I mean it! I measured my abdomen on Sunday morning and it was 34"....you read that right. It's an entire inch bigger than just one week ago! Amazing! I know that baby girl is in a growth spurt right now, which means that so is my belly.

I also felt hiccups for the first time this past week :-) It was just about 5 of them, but I knew they were hiccups because they were right where her head is and very rhythmic. I haven't felt them since then, but I know they'll be back.

Week 25

How Baby Girl is Growing: Head to heels, she is now 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 a more rounded one. As baby girl gains weight, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more like a newborn. Her hair is probably recognizable now in color and texture, although both may change after she's born.

This week my belly measured 33", which is 1/4" more than last week, although it feels like she's gotten SO much bigger. It's now hard to get a deep breath sometimes and it's getting more and more uncomfortable to lay down in certain positions, but I've got quite a ways to go -- 15 more weeks to be exact.

Another milestone happened this week...I was sitting at my desk at work and baby girl was kicking so much in one particular spot. So, like I usually do, I pushed back. But this time, when I pushed, I felt a distinct round, long bone...I'm pretty sure it was her leg! I'm sure she recoiled her leg as fast as I pulled my hand off, mostly in shock. I've been wondering when I would be able to feel her body parts and that time is now here!

Also, we had another midwife appointment this week. I got my blood pressure checked and it was normal. I don't have any swelling (good!) and the fundal height of my uterus measured 24cm, which is exactly how many weeks I was -- so perfect. After that, we scheduled our next appointments and went on our way.

Have a great week everyone :-)

Week 24 -- Month 6 Begins!

Baby Girl's Development this week: She's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily. Baby girl can hear more now, and she may even startle at loud, sudden noises. But she's probably getting used to the regular noises she hears around the house, such as the kitties meowing or the roar of the vacuum cleaner.

I can't believe that month 6 is here already, but that is our reality! The weeks are flying by as we continue to work on the house and nursery to prepare for baby girl. Chris has been doing an amazing job working on the stairs and they should be done before long. Baby girl has been kicking away and often times my stomach is bigger on one size or the other depending on where her body is in there. Also, I've been feeling some kicks way up high and the entire way on my sides. The largest part of my abdomen measured at 32 3/4" this morning, which is 1/4" bigger than last week.

Week 23

It's the last week of my 5th month and things are moving along nicely. Not much to report this week except my belly is definitely growing....this week I grew 1/2" around!! Can you tell?

How baby girl is developing: She is now more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango). She may be able to feel my movements now. Her skin is wrinkled and looks red due to blood vessels showing through her transparent skin. Her true skin tone will develop over the course of her first year. Blood vessels in baby's lungs are developing to prepare her for breathing, but complete lung development will take many more months. The lungs are the last organ to fully develop. She can swallow, but normally won't pass her first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Exciting stuff...keep growing baby girl!!

Favorite Sites

Check out the site titled, "Anna in Italia," to the left. That's my sister's experience as she studies abroad in Sicily. She is coming home on May 10th, just in time to welcome baby girl :-)

We miss you Anna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week 22

How baby girl is growing: She now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

She has grown considerably in the last 3-4 weeks! And just for Uncle Nick, I measured the largest part of my abdomen today and it was 32" around :-) We got another ultrasound on Saturday morning and it was amazing yet again. We saw baby girl swallow (yum, amniotic fluid!), kick and punch me, stretch her legs, wiggle all around, suck her thumb, wave and so many other wonderful things. The Lord has blessed us so!!

Click on the pictures to enlarge the image.

The picture on the left is her right hand print. On the right is her profile with her thumb in her mouth...almost the entire ultrasound, she had her hands up by her face!

The picture on the left is of her back and left shoulder. You can also see the outline of her left ear. On the right is a photo showing her arm bones (while her arm is extended) and her left leg.

Week 21

How baby is developing this week: Baby girl now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. Her eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. She is really on the move now! Fetal researchers say babies move about 50 times an hour even while sleeping. All that movement helps stimulate baby's physical and mental development. Keep moving baby girl!!

This week has been especially fun for both Chris and I. I have started to feel those distinct kicks now...and can even see them on my belly. Chris saw them this morning too! We just sit there and stare at my belly for minutes on end waiting...and waiting...and waiting, then bump! It's so exciting. I can really only feel her when I'm resting, so every day I look forward to getting home and laying down for a few minutes so I can focus on feeling her. I guess the phrase "I feel bigger than I look" is a good way to describe my body right now. I swear my belly is just 'so big', but then on Sunday, we take the weekly pictures and I can't believe how not-big it seems. Oh, well. I'm sure that will be over soon.

Another thing that happened this week....I had to call the midwife for the first time. On Wednesday I was feeling these terrible pains in my lower abdomen all day long. I chalked them up to the normal stretching and tried to get over it -- but by the end of the work day, I couldn't even walk normally. So, I called the midwife and after answering all of her questions, she said in a very descriptive tone, "I think you are experiencing what is called round ligament pain." She explained that I have 8 ligaments that come from way down low and stretch up around my uterus as it grows and sometimes women experience pain with the stretching. But it's perfectly normal, not hurting the baby in any way. I lived with them for 3 days, but today was finally my first day without any pain at all. So I hope that's over!

We also had our first Bradley Methods Childbirth Class this week. We learned a lot and got some helpful exercises to do each day to help ease labor. Also, to my dismay, I have to keep a food journal for 2 weeks!! The Bradley method stresses great nutrition. So, however much I hate to do it, I am.

Daddy Felt Baby Girl !!

After I got home from work today, I layed down on the couch for a few minutes to relax. I've read that when I am up and moving around, my motions put baby girl to sleep, and when I lay down and rest, she wakes up and starts moving around. Well, I was laying there with my hand on my stomach and definitely felt a distinct kick! I called Chris over to feel it too -- he put his hand there and felt....nothing! I thought maybe she had stopped, but after he took his hand off, baby girl started up again. I called him over once again and just had him rest his hand there (and told him to be patient) and finally she kicked it twice! He described it exactly how I would...a little poke or thump. It's so exciting!!

First Steeler's Gear

Today baby girl received her first Steeler's apparal from our friends, Nicole & Jon. I have to say it's also her very first PINK outfit! She is going to be one stylish gal come next fall!

Thank you so much!! :-) Click on the pictures to get a closer look.

20 Weeks -- Officially Half Way!

How Baby Girl is Developing: She weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, measurements are taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, measurements from head to toe are used. This is because baby girl's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of the pregnancy and are very hard to measure.) A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.) Baby girl is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and we'll see it in her first messy diaper! Hmmm...looking forward to that!

Everything has been going smoothly thus far! We began to look at names for Baby Girl this weekend, but, don't ask -- because we are not sharing before she's born! The next 20 weeks are sure to fly by with Chris's school now in full swing and plenty of projects with the house to keep us busy. We also start our Bradley Methods Childbirth class this week, and we are looking forward to that!

Third Midwife Appointment

Today was our third appointment at the Midwife Birth Center. We got some great news confirmed from our ultrasound. The baby is developing completely normally, in fact, baby is two days ahead of her estimated due date. However, as long as it's within 10 days, they don't adjust the due date, so that's still May 26th. Baby girl's head and abdomen measured in the 25-50th percentile and the humerous and femur measured in the 50-95th percentile. The notes said that baby was moving normally and the amniotic fluid level was as it should be. One thing I learned is that the placenta is anterior, or on the front of my uterus. So, the midwife said that is why I haven't felt too many distinct kicks yet...the placenta is acting as a 'pad' that muffles any hits. Learn something new every day!

Also, my blood pressure was perfect and the baby's heartbeat was 14o. We hope to keep going at a steady pace :-)

Ultrasound Pictures

The best thing ever from the ultrasound is definitely the video, but we also got a few pictures of baby girl and I wanted to share them. The first is her left foot print, showing 5 toes! The second is of her profile. Now my mom says that from this picture she can tell that baby girl has my bone structure. I'll trust her word for it. You can also see her little nose, mouth and heart -- so cute! I'm just curious...what color will her hair be? It is a mystery!

19 Weeks

How baby girl is developing: She is approximately 9 oz. based on our ultrasound, which is right on schedule with the typical 8 1/2 oz. weight of a baby at 19 weeks -- she measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. She already has 6 million eggs in her ovaries--our future grandchildren! (okay I'm a little ahead of myself!) This is a crucial time for sensory development: baby girl's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. She may be able to hear us as we talk. Research shows that she's learning to distinguish my voice from others, and she'll soon show a preference for it.

At any moment, I feel like I'll be able to feel baby kick, but I haven't had the kick yet. I can feel things moving around and slightly uneasy at times, but not much that's distinct. I'm definitely getting bigger!

The Best (Late) Christmas Gift Ever

We had our ultrasound on December 26th at 8am and found out that we are having a little girl!!



The ultrasound was truly the most amazing thing I have ever seen. You could see baby girl so clearly! She is about 6 inches long and weighs 9 ounces now. The tech did a ton of measurements to make sure everything was growing properly (which it is) and we told her we wanted to know if it was a boy or girl. When the tech was scanning baby's nether region, I could have sworn she was going to say, "it's a boy," because of what I could see, but instead, she said, "You have yourselves a girl." I said, "WHAT?" and she repeated that it was a girl. We were in total shock. After the ultrasound was over, I asked the tech, "So how sure are you that it is a girl?" She responded that no one could ever be 100% correct, but she wouldn't have told us if she wasn't sure and she's never been told she was wrong. So we accepted the girl verdict.

When we got home, we viewed the VHS tape that the tech made us of a 3-minute segment of the ultrasound. One of the first shots is of baby girl spread eagle and there are all the tell-tale girl signs, the black V and 3 dots. She is definitely a girl! The video also shows her waving hello and sucking her thumb. It's so adorable! I've watched it at least 15 times already and could watch it 100 more. I cannot wait to meet her :-)

We are just so happy that baby girl is healthy!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! We have had a wonderful holiday so far and it's not over! After a Christmas dinner cooked by my brother tonight, we're going home to exchange gifts with each other. Tomorrow is a family party so we'll get to see everyone in my family...many of whom haven't seen us at all since we broke the news, so it will be lots of congrats tomorrow I'm sure.
We got a great gift for baby, especially since now baby can hear....it's a children's book called "Hello, Nittany Lion!" I'll be reading book for baby many, many times! We wish everyone a very blessed Christmas and joyous new year. 2008 will be great!

18 Weeks

We've reached 18 weeks! (that was Sunday) and these pictures were taken that day. 18 weeks is the start of my 5th month...which means I am now halfway. I can't even imagine how much more my belly will grow if this is halfway! I'm sure you notice that I'm wearing maternity clothes in the pictures. That was my first day of wearing them, and I have to say it's quite comfortable. I've recently purchased a few things, and I'm sure you'll see all of them many times throughout the remainder of the pregnancy!

How baby is developing this week: Head to bottom, baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he or she weighs almost 7 ounces. Baby's busy flexing his or her arms and legs — movements that I'll likely start noticing more and more. The blood vessels are visible through the thin skin and the ears are now in position and stand out from baby's head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around baby's nerves, a process that will continue for a year after baby's born. If I'm having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from us during an ultrasound -- an ultrasound that will happen soon! Stay tuned :-)