How our baby is growing:

Our little Peanut now weighs about 5 pounds from what the doctor can tell (like your average cantaloupe) this is just a tad above average and he/ she is probably close to 18 inches long. We had Grandma & Grandpa Pierce and Grandma Severson join us for our last perintology ultrasound where got to see all of Peanut’s hair on his or her little head. It looks a lot like a mohawk right now standing straight up in the amniotic fluid, but looks like there is a lot of it. His/ Her fat layers — which will help regulate his/ her body temperature once s/he's born — are filling her out, making him/ her rounder. His/Her skin is also smoother than ever. Peanut’s central nervous system is maturing and his/her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If Peanut decides to come early, most 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. Unfortunately for mom there is no sign at this point that Peanut will come early.

How my life is changing:

Nothing has changed, but we are extremely busy this month, so really trying to stay on top of things and save July for relaxing. We also start all our baby classes this week, so looking forward to getting through these. They are all so informative, but we waited until the very last minute to book all these and there is just a lot to take in. Our first class Getting Ready for Baby we learned how to change a diaper (or Jay did), three different burping methods, swaddling, how to test bath water and a few other things. We also had our first Preparing Your Mind and Body class (5 hours long on a Saturday) which is kind of like the old Lamaze classes. We learned some breathing exercises and Jay had to give me massages to practice how to keep me comfortable during labor. We also saw a video of birth which Jay hadn’t seen since Sex Ed. I think this helped him realize just what we’re in for. I’ve already read all the books and watched my mom give birth to Kelly, so my apprehension to the whole labor and delivery was already pretty vivid. He has a big job ahead of him in the delivery room and I know he will do great!

We also celebrated Auntie Kristen’s birthday this weekend which was one of the hottest weekends I think we’ve had since I’ve been pregnant. Boy I couldn’t have been more miserable. Thank goodness we live in San Diego and not on the East Coast or in Arizona …I would melt!

Peanut’s second Baby Shower was on Sunday the 22th at Grandma Shari’s house. She did a wonderful job with a duckie theme that her and her friend Julee planned for Peanut. It was a great time with a lot of Shari ’s friends, my old high school friends, my two sisters and both my mom and Lisa. Some fun games were played; my favorite was the one where you have to guess what kind of candy bar is melted into the diaper…rather disgusting, but so funny! Peanut was spoiled for sure and received lots of wonderful gifts from everyone.

How our baby is growing:

This week our baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (about the same as a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. S/he's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his/ her skeleton is hardening. The bones in his/her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him/ her to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How my life is changing:

How our baby is growing:

By now, our baby weighs 3.75 pounds (similar to a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in my uterus. I am also gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to our little peanut. In fact, s/he'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as s/he fattens up for survival outside the womb. S/he now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His/Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as s/he plumps up in preparation for birth.

How my life is changing:

The onset of pregnancy is very real these days and getting around is more and more difficult. I’ve started parking in our visitors parking at work, so that I can avoid walking up two flights of stairs to get to my office. I am winded so much easier and I am walking so much slower than usual with a slight discomfort. I guess with all the hormonal changes in pregnancy there is a lot of loosening of joints and ligaments that attach my pelvic bones to my spine. This can make me feel less stable and cause pain when I walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or bend, or lift things. My doctor actually recommended a belly band to help support my belly when I go for long walks. I am trying to get in 3 – 4 long walks a week and averaging about 2 miles for each walk. Again, I am not moving very fast, but at least I am still getting some exercising in.

On a more exciting note my office threw us our first baby shower this week. It was a surprise shower at Pacifica Del Mar and it was just wonderful. Sarah my office mate was the master mind behind the event and it was just perfect. Jason and Grandma Shari were there and my whole department. We played a few games that Deena and Melissa came up with. One of them was to guess how many squares of toilet paper would fit around my belly. It was 10 squares…oh my! There was cake, prizes, decorations and presents! They all went in on a photo printer, so all the grandparents will be up to date on the latest photos of peanut and a gift card to Babies “R” Us. This is all feeling more and more real!

How our baby is growing:

This week, our baby measures over 16 inches long. He/she weighs about 3.3 pounds (kind of like carrying around four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. S/he can turn his/her head from side to side, and his/her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his/her skin. This must be the reason I am feeling HUGE. Peanut is also still very active which is very normal at this stage, but the good thing is he/she knows when it is time for bed. I haven’t had any problems with Peanut waking me up in the middle of the night just the normal trips to the lou.

How my life is changing:

I have noticed the muscles in my uterus tightening now and then. I had no idea what was going on until I was talking to my friend Bynn and she told me I was having contractions. They’re called Braxton Hicks contractions — and are normal in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they are infrequent and painless. I am having them on a daily basis and should keep an eye on them if anything were to change it could be signs of preterm labor. I also had my last business trip this week which I am very grateful for since sitting or standing for any length of time is just not very comfortable any more. I am still doing some exercise not as much as I am use to, but my friend Krista and I have been meeting after work a couple times a week to walk up Torrey Pines. I have noticed that it is getting harder for me to power up the hill which is very frustrating for me, but I guess this is all part of the process.