Baby is 29 weeks old and as big as a squash!

Baby is 16.7 in. and 3.8 lbs. Wow!
Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments."

We went to an orientation at a pediatric clinic near our house last night to tour the office and meet one of their five doctors. We got a lot of questions answered and feel very comfortable! Now, we just have to decide which doctor we want for mister man. They all seem very capable, but we have to do some more research.

We finished our birthing classes and learned a lot! I feel much more confident about labor now. Don't get me wrong...I'm still nervous, but I feel better. We have a breast feeding class on Monday at the hospital and then we are done with the classes. Only about 10 more weeks until we get to meet our sweet baby boy! We can't wait!

A Newborn's Conversation with God

Jim's grandma sent this to me and it brought tears to my eyes—beautiful!

A baby asked God, 'They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?'

God said, 'Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.'

The child further inquired, 'But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.'

God said, 'Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy.'

Again the child asked, 'And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?'

God said, 'Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.'

'And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?'

God said, 'Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.'

'Who will protect me?'

God said, 'Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.'

'But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.'

God said, 'Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.'

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, 'God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name.'

God said, 'You will simply call her, 'Mom.'

28 weeks...so much done, so much left to do!

The past seven months have flown by! I can't believe we only have 11 more weeks (give or take) before we meet our son. I've been overly emotional lately thinking about it. It's so overwhelming...What kind of person will he be? What kind of parents will we be? How will our world change?

I've been feeling good, except for the past couple days. Baby boy is resting his body on my left side. Obviously I don't know how he's positioned, but it feels like he is totally stretched out. I can feel his hard little body right above my pubic bone and right under my ribs. This is the first time that I have been really uncomfortable. Jim has had to help me get (or roll) out of bed in the morning and the two or three times in the night that I get up to pee. The great thing is that mister man is moving a ton. There's nothing quite like feeling him move. Even if it's uncomfortable, it's so magical and reassuring.

I had my glucose tolerance test this morning...man, that sugary drink is nasty. I haven't received the results yet, but I had a raging headache and felt like poo all day after drinking the stuff. Not fun!

Here's what we've accomplished so far...

• Purchased nursery furniture and bedding;
• Purchased some baby clothing (we couldn't help ourselves);
• Toured the hospital and pre-registered;
• Started our child birth prep courses (we have one more on Monday and then we have one breastfeeding prep course);
• Selected a pediatrician (we have a welcome meeting next week to tour the facility);
• Finished our birth plan;
• Finished our registries (Target and Babies R' Us) this was really overwhelming and took more than one trip and lots of research to complete; and
• Purchased baby book.

Here's what we still have to do...

• Start baby book;
• Finish hallway closet so that we can transfer guest bedroom closet items into new closet and storage;
• Finish remodeling the kitchen;
• Paint an accent wall and the molding in the nursery;
• Install new blinds in nursery;
• Put our guest bedroom furniture in storage and set up nursery furniture;
• Have my baby showers! (The "friend" shower is Feb. 20 and the "family" shower is March 6...so excited);
• Wash nursery bedding and baby clothing and organize dressers and closet;
• Pack mommy/daddy hospital bag and baby hospital bag;
• Install car seat in car and have it inspected for safety;
• Cook and freeze dinners; and
• Hire a cleaning service do a deep clean of the house.

Phew! It looks like a huge list, but most of it will be really fun and the rest will fall right into place. My dad is going to help with the remodeling and I know that I can count on my mom and friends to help with the nursery if needed. We cannot wait to decorate and set up the nursery. I think that will make it feel so real.

Baby is still the size of an eggplant this week. New veggie next week!

We still get questions about the name, but we don't have one selected. Our lips are sealed until he's born anyway!

Hello third trimester!

I'm 27 weeks along and officially in my third trimester! We are so excited for April to come so that we can meet our little boy!

Our childbirth classes are going well and we are learning a lot. We are busy getting the house ready and will pick up the nursery furniture in early February. It will be so much fun setting things up and decorating. I can't wait!

As we get going on decorating, I'll be sure to post pictures.

The question we most often get is "Have you picked any names?" The answer is yes...and no. We each have a name that we like, but we haven't been able to sell each other on it. Our plan is to wait and meet our little boy and see if either name fits him. We aren't going to tell people the names, only because we don't want to hear negative reactions or "I knew a boy with that name and he was..." You get my drift!

Christmas pictures at Fort Steilacoom Park

We had Christmas pictures taken in early December at a park near our house. Our friend's daughter, Kylie, took them and did a great job. http://www.kyliedanielson.com/.

Here are our favorites!

It's been a month and boy have things been happening!

We are 26 weeks pregnant! Our little boy is now the size of an eggplant and likes to move and grove in my belly! It's amazing to watch my skin roll and he moves underneath it. Sometimes I can lightly push on him and he pushes back, which is so neat! He's approximately 1.5 to 2 lb. and 13.6 to 14.8 in.

We had a great Christmas and spent lots of time with family and friends. We cannot wait until next year when we will have an eight-month-old! April will be here before we know it, so we are starting to get things ready. Our guest bedroom was set up as a guest bedroom, so we have to store the bed and take the wardrobe and cedar chest to my mom's for storage. Once that is done, we can paint an accent wall (the room is a chocolate milk color and matches the bedding well) and then pick up the nursery furniture.

My wonderful friends have started planning a baby shower in February and my mom and my aunt are planning one in March. This little guy is going to be set!

We started our childbirth prep classes last week and will go every Monday this month. There are about 10 other couples in the class and everyone is really nice. I'll also take a breastfeeding class the first Monday in February.

Buckaroo!

We found little man's bedding online and got a screaming deal! He's going to be our little cowboy!

BOY OH BOY!

We are having a boy! We got to see our little man via ultrasound Dec. 10 and it was amazing. Here is his debut...

Baby boy's profile:

His little foot:

His "manhood" (magnified):

We took our tour of the hospital today, which was really neat. We got to pre-register, which will make admitting a lot easier when time comes. We also got to tour the labor and delivery floor and the postpardum floor. We are taking our childbirth classes in January and are very excited!

This week, and for the next two weeks, baby is the size of a papaya. Here's what I learned...

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Weekly Survey: 21 Weeks

How far along: 21 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: +9 at last appointment
Maternity clothes: Pants yes, shirts are a mix
Stretch marks: Starting to get them on my lower belly. Not worried about it though!
Sleep: Lots! I'm in bed by 9:30 p.m. even on weekends
Best moment this week: Feeling Baby Taylor move outside my belly
Movement: More and more each day!
Food cravings: Juice, chocolate, cheese
Gender: We find out Dec. 10!
Labor Signs: No! Thank God.
What I miss: Wine and not having to get up at night to pee
What I am looking forward to: Finding out what we are having and getting our family pictures taken this Saturday
Weekly Wisdom: Drink lots of water, even if you have to pee a lot

Football, kicking and more!

Baby Taylor has been a mover and a shaker over the past two weeks! I love feeling him/her move.

We went to our first Apple Cup Saturday and the Huskies spanked the Cougs 30-0! Baby Taylor enjoyed it too!

This week, Week 21, baby is the size of a banana, 10.5 in., 12.7 oz.

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

Week 20, baby was the size of a cantaloupe, 6.5 in., 10.6 oz.

I know, it seems like a cantaloupe is bigger than a banana, but I'm just going by what the site says!

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!