Bump Picture

25 weeks, 2 days.

3D/4D Ultrasound

We just finished our first 3D/4D ultrasound! Here is Nicholas Paul Lundberg :) He is perfectly breech right now, so hopefully he'll move over the next few months. He was literally holding on to his feet when we first started the ultrasound! We saw him blink, pucker his lips, suck his thumb, open his mouth, and move his hands around his face a lot. He seemed very annoyed by the poking, but hopefully he'll forgive us - because it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! We were all absolutely astounded. The office was really nice, and they have a giant screen on the wall for viewing the ultrasound. As soon as Nick was on the screen, I was completely overwhelmed. We are having a second 3D/4D ultrasound between 32 and 35 weeks. We can't wait!

Here is the full video footage of the ultrasound:

Twenty-Five Weeks

Today Nick is 25 weeks old. Only 105 days to go! We still haven't been able to hear Nick's heartbeat with the stethoscope, but we'll keep trying. He is moving and tumbling around in there a lot - my sister and Jeff have both felt him and seen him move now. I think he is pretty much developed now - he'll just keep getting bigger and his brain will keep growing! Better keep taking my omega-3 supplements!

According to The Cradle, during this month, the buds for Nick’s permanent teeth will come in, high in the gums behind the baby teeth. Nick’s spine will be made up of 33 rings, 150 joints, and 1,000 ligaments, all of which are used to support the body’s weight. All of those structures will begin to form during this month.

According to Pregnancy Weekly, Nick weighs about 1.5 pounds and measures 13.5 inches from head to heel. He is becoming stronger as his stem cells continue to develop into bone tissue, and his bones become solid through a process called ossification.

According to Baby Center, head to heels, Nick now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if we could see it, we'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

According to The Bump, I should let Jeff put an ear to my belly -- he might be able to pick up Nick's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving Nick a healthy pink glow. Nick is also soaking up my antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and Nick will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

Tomorrow is our 3D/4D ultrasound and we are so excited!! We will post all of the pictures and the video (if possible) as soon as we get home. It will be our first glimpse of what Nick might look like when he's born! We are so happy to be having a baby now that all of this technology is available. It's difficult to believe our own mothers never saw us on an ultrasound, let alone a 3D/4D ultrasound.

Carrying On The Tradition

When Jeff's parents announced to his maternal grandparents that they were having a baby, they gave them grandpa and grandma coffee mugs for Christmas. We intended to tell them when I got pregnant the same way - but in our excitement, we simply forgot and told them over the phone. So we decided to buy them mugs for Christmas! Here is Jeff holding the mugs his parents gave his grandparents (his grandma still has them - this picture is from January 2008!), and here are his parents holding their new mugs today.

Like Father, Like Son

Baby Nick received a special Christmas gift from his Grandpa and Grandma Lundberg - a UM letter sweater his dad wore when he was little! Here is a picture of Jeff in the sweater (circa 1980) and a picture of the sweater in its box from today. We can't wait to photograph Nick in this sweater! We are so grateful to Jeff's mom for saving this sweater and keeping it in such great condition for all these years. We hope to save it and be able to pass it on to Nick's son one day, too!

Merry Christmas!

Baby Nick wishes everyone a Merry Christmas! Here are Nick's very first Christmas gifts - from his Aunt Krystyn and Uncle Zack, of course :)

Bump Picture

24 weeks, 2 days.

Twenty-Four Weeks

Today Nick is 24 weeks old. Only 112 days to go! We bought a stethoscope to try to hear Nick's heartbeat at home, but so far we've had no luck. We tried again last night and heard nothing - but we both SAW Nick kicking, instead of just feeling it! It was so cool to see the top of my bump move. I am still having a pretty symptom-free pregnancy, although I have to be careful of how I sit or my back starts to hurt. I still haven't had round ligament pains or any other stretching pains, thank goodness! But Nick is definitely growing - I look more pregnant every week :) We are looking forward to our 3D/4D ultrasound, which is a week from tomorrow. We will receive four color photos of Nick, and a DVD. I'll post as much here as I can!

According to The Cradle, between now and Nick's expected date of delivery, his feet will almost double in size, from about 1.8 inches (45 mm) to 3.3 inches (83 cm). At this point, being pregnant is nothing new—it’s become a way of life! If I were still experiencing some stomach upset and nausea, eating an easily digested snack every two hours may help me feel less nauseous (but I never felt nauseous).

According to Pregnancy Weekly, Nick weighs about 1.2 pounds and is just under 12 inches from head to heel. His lungs have started secreting surfactant, the substance that keeps the moist, interior surface of the lungs from sticking together; and he is practicing breathing. Nick's eyes are also watching for light and his ears are listening to my heart beat and my stomach growl.

According to Baby Center, Nick is growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

My midwife said I could start feeling Braxton Hicks contractions any time. She also told me to keep my eye out for signs of pre-term labor. Babies born as early as 27 weeks have a very high chance of survival, but I am working hard to keep baby Nick inside for as close to 40 weeks as possible :) Every day it sinks in a little more that I am going to be a "mother." I have a feeling I hardly know what the word means yet :) We both fully expect every aspect of our lives to change completely - so anything less than 100% change will be a bonus!

Prenatal Appointment

Today I had my prenatal appointment for December. It went well - my weight gain is right on target and Nick's heartbeat was in the 120s/130s. My midwife nervously told me she is switching practices, but she had no reason to be nervous - her new office will be about ten minutes from mine, instead of the hour it takes me to get there now! So I am definitely switching practices with her. I have already scheduled my next appointment with her new office for January 22 - that is a big appointment, it's when I have my glucose screening. I have to drink an orange drink, wait an hour, then have my blood drawn. I'll be 28 weeks the week before, which is when I have to start going every two weeks instead of once a month - so my midwife is moving her office just in time! This also means I'll deliver at Henry Ford West Bloomfield (www.henryfordwestbloomfield.com), instead of Providence Southfield (unless there are construction delays). It's a new hospital and it sounds amazing - here's the patient room description:

"Studies have shown that private hospital rooms reduce the rate of infection by 50 percent. Our own informal survey also has shown that all patients would prefer rooms of their own. So at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, you'll find only private rooms.

Each is outfitted with all the comforts of home, including a sleeper sofa, kitchen facilities, and a flat-screen TV with Internet access that gives you the ability to see your family, access information about your particular condition, communicate with your nurse, order a movie or shop online from one of the many retail stores on Main Street. The rooms in our obstetrics unit feature Jacuzzis so laboring mothers can be made more comfortable.

We've thought of every last detail - from the warm color palette borrowed from a Michigan autumn to the artwork from local artists that hangs on the walls. Speaking of walls, ours are curved, in order to make our rooms feel as cozy and inviting as possible. You'll also find a beautiful armoire for your clothes, shelves for flowers and cards, and an upholstered headboard adorning your comfortable bed.

Supplies are stocked in every room and workstations are located right outside your door, so you can expect assistance as soon as you need it, and food when you want it. Not ready for dinner until 7 p.m.? We offer 24-hour room service. As long as it's OK with your doctor, it's OK with us."

My midwife and I talked about delivery - I'm having such an easy pregnancy, I don't have any pregnancy questions, just labor and delivery questions! She answered all of my questions and I loved her answers. She said she gives an average of 2-3 episiotomies a year, which is very few, and she said she only gives Pitocin if the woman wants it. She also said I can bond with the baby and nurse the baby right away after birth, that she has waited 2-3 hours before to weigh, measure, etc. the baby. She encourages staying well-hydrated too, to avoid an IV, and only gives IVs if the woman is getting dehydrated (usually from vomiting, she said). She has heard of my Bradley coach before and said she's very experienced and very good, so I'm excited to start my class in January! I feel very confident that I can have a natural birth, if Jeff and I prepare ourselves as best we can and work with my midwife during labor. I'm nervous but excited - because at the end, Nick will be here!

Nick's Stocking Stuffers

His first Baby Gap jeans and onesie! These jeans are so adorable - they have two little snaps where a zipper would usually go, and the insides of the legs snap up for easy diaper changing. They are super soft denim and they are fully lined with t-shirt material. They are the teeniest jeans ever! 0-3 months :) They are so teeny, they fold up small enough that they actually fit in Nick's stocking!

Bump Picture

23 weeks, 2 days.

Twenty-Three Weeks

Today Nick is 23 weeks old. Only 119 days to go! I feel him moving a lot, and Jeff has been able to feel him three times now. For some reason he almost always stops kicking and moving when I tell Jeff to try to feel it! I read that I could start having Braxton Hicks contractions soon - not sure how I feel about that. Maybe it's good practice? I went to my first La Leche League meeting tonight. I didn't learn anything new, but it was nice to be around other moms and lots of kids. I am so excited to nurse!

According to The Cradle, fine, downy lanugo covers the baby’s entire body, including the head. During the next six weeks, the baby will grow in ways that will safeguard its survival if born prematurely. Every day the baby spends growing in the womb is a day filled with developmental progress!

According to Pregnancy Weekly, Nick now weighs about one pound and is approximately 11.5 inches head to heel. He is continuing to develop facial features and I am probably feeling a lot of movement as he continues to explore his body and world in the comfort of his own personal "living womb." Nick now has eyes that open and close, ears that can hear, and a thumb well worth sucking. If I feel him making regular, jerky movements, I shouldn't panic - Nick just has the hiccups!

According to Baby Center, I should turn on the radio and sway to the music. With Nick's sense of movement well-developed by now, he can feel me dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), I may be able to see him squirm underneath my clothes!! Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that his increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as a dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Here is the stocking we bought for Nick. Each of us in our little family has a blue stocking now :) I can't wait to fill it for him next year! Who am I kidding - I'll probably buy a *little* something to put in it this year :) Maybe a wrist rattle?

Bump Picture

22 weeks, 2 days.

Twenty-Two Weeks

Today Nick is 22 weeks old. Only 126 days to go! He has been very active - I feel him moving at least three or four times a day, usually a couples times each time. I still feel great and I definitely feel lucky to be having such a pleasant, easy pregnancy. My chiropractor said a baby's temperament in the womb is usually similar to his temperament after birth, so I think Nick is going to be an easy-going guy - just like his dad!

According to The Cradle, at the end of this fifth month of pregnancy, my uterus has reached my belly button. The baby in that uterus measures about 7-1/2 inches (191 mm) from crown to rump in length and is about the size of a Barbie or Ken doll. In less than two weeks, the baby has gained more than 3 1/2 ounces (100 g).

According to Pregnancy Weekly, Nick weighs about 15 ounces, measures just under 11 inches head to heel, and is growing eyelashes and eyebrows. Little taste buds are forming on his tongue, and his testes begin descending from his abdomen.

According to Baby Center, at 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, Nick is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If we could see inside my womb, we'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

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

We ordered Nick a personalized Christmas stocking. I've been trying to control myself with buying stuff - we are going to buy a dresser this weekend to keep Nick's stuff in, and then maybe I won't be able to control myself at all!! I am looking forward to finishing my pregnancy books, so I can start on the baby books. I already looked up what Nick *should* be doing next Christmas - he'll be about 8 months old. Next Christmas should be really fun!! He won't be able to open his own presents, but he should be sitting up and pulling up to sit up from his tummy, and he may even be cruising! And he'll definitely be able to play with the toys we buy him :)

Bump Picture

21 weeks, 2 days.

Twenty-One Weeks

Today Nick is 21 weeks old. Only 133 days to go! I am finally feeling him move. It feels like he's just bumping around in there, although at first it felt like when I lose my stomach on a roller coaster or fast long elevator. It's amazing to finally feel him moving around in there, and my pregnancy books say he is establishing awake and sleep cycles, which I may even start to be able to predict! My weight gain/bump growth has been very gradual, so I'm not having terrible stretching pains or round ligament pains, and I'm not getting stretch marks yet. At least I feel like I finally look pregnant, and not just fat :) And thanks, Becky Simmons, for giving me Ina May's birth book. I'm excited to read it!

According to The Cradle, right now Nick looks like a miniature newborn. His face looks peaceful with closed eyes, nostrils, and a nicely formed mouth. Every once in a while, his thumb or finger will slip into his mouth and he will practice sucking.

According to Pregnancy Weekly, Nick weighs approximately 12 ounces and is about 10.5 inches head to heel. Nick's measurements will be given from head to heel (as opposed to crown to rump) from now on as he is stretching out and an accurate, full-body measurement is easier to take. Nick is busy moving within my uterus, surrounded by amniotic fluid, learning how his arms and legs move, and using his hands to feel his facial features, which I may be able to see on an ultrasound.

According to Baby Center, Nick now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. I may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. I may also discover a pattern to his activity as I get to know him better. In other developments, Nick's eyebrows and lids are present now.

According to The Bump, Nick 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, I should think about what I want Nick to eat as I prepare my own lunch.

Jeff and I are in North Carolina for one more day. We have had a lot of fun, spending time with Nick's Aunt Krystyn and Uncle Zack and their friends here in North Carolina. Krystyn and Zack are coming to Michigan for a week at Christmas, so it's not long until we'll see them again - yay :) Krystyn and I went shopping today on Black Friday - I bought one more pair of maternity jeans and some scrapbooking supplies so I can make a pregnancy scrapbook.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Baby Nick wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving :) We are certainly thankful for him, and for all of our friends and family!

Bump Picture

20 weeks, 2 days.

Twenty Weeks

Today Nick is 20 weeks old. Only 140 days to go! I look more and more pregnant every day. I still don't think I've felt Nick move but I'm not positive. I am sure eventually I will. Our integrated screen results came back "negative" - whatever that means. Obviously the most exciting thing that happened this week was finding out our baby is a boy. We are so excited!! It's so fun to be able to say him, his, he, and Nick.

According to The Cradle, Nick weighs about 11 ounces (308 g) and measures about 6 1/3 inches (160 mm) in length. Most women feel movement for the first time between weeks 17 and 20. Feeling movement helps form the attachment or emotional bond between the mom and the baby that will last a lifetime.

According to Pregnancy Weekly, Nick is now about 6.5 inches crown to rump (about 10 inches head to heel) and weighs approximately 10 ounces. Nick is now big enough that I may be able to tell when he or she is awake or asleep based on the level of activity. I can also see a lot of movement in the ultrasound image. Looking at ultrasound images of other babies can help me figure out what I'm looking at when I see Nick's image.

According to Baby Center, Nick weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He'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, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.) He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

According to The Bump, Nick is now the size of a cantaloupe! Nick gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, I should think about what I'd like your Nick to eat as I prepare my own lunch.

Jeff and I are going to North Carolina to visit my sister and her husband for Thanksgiving. We leave tonight and we are coming home November 29. I am very excited for my sister to see my baby bump in real life!

Here are some cute things I bought at Target for Nick - I couldn't resist:

We're Having A Little Baby Boy!

We had our "big" ultrasound today and found out we're having a boy! Nicholas Paul Lundberg is still on track for an April 10 or 11, 2009 delivery. We were able to see our son's arms, legs, hands, feet, bladder, kidneys, belly, face, all four chambers of his heart and both sides of his brain! We only received four pictures - here is one where you can see Nick's little hand.

Now we are even more excited for the 3D/4D ultrasound in December!

Bump Picture

19 weeks, 2 days.

Nineteen Weeks

Today Baby Lundberg is 19 weeks old. Only 147 days to go! Still feeling great. I had a cold this week, and I never would have thought I could get through a cold without Dayquil and Nyquil, but I made it. I still haven't felt the baby move yet - at least I don't think I have. Less than a week until we find out if Baby L is Baby Nick or Baby Kate!

According to The Cradle, occasionally, Baby L will hiccup, causing a rhythmic jarring of my abdomen every two to four seconds or so. While there is no air to intake, hiccupping in the womb involves the same sort of muscular reactions as in an air-breathing child. The hiccupping generally stops in about a half hour.

According to Pregnancy Weekly, Baby L weighs approximately 8 ounces and is about 6 inches from crown to rump. The exterior layers of skin tissue are developing to form Baby L's one-of-a-kind fingerprints. The amniotic fluid that surrounds Baby L allows for him or her to freely move his or her arms and legs and is also sometimes swallowed to practice digestion.

According to BabyCenter, Baby L's sensory development is exploding! His/her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he/she may be able to hear my voice now, so I shouldn't be shy about reading aloud, talking to him/her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes me. Baby L weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His/her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his/her body now. His/her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his/her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on his/her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

According to The Bump, vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats Baby L's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) We might get to see the vernix at birth, especially if Baby L is premature.

I am strictly in maternity pants now, although some of my regular shirts still fit, and my maternity shirts are all still too big. Maternity pants are soooo comfortable!! We are beginning to research daycares (after struggling with choosing a nanny or daycare, we have decided to go with daycare). As soon as we find out the sex, we'll be able to plan and buy so much more!! I really feel like this pregnancy is flying by - I am almost halfway done and I remember taking the positive test like it was yesterday. I am trying to enjoy every minute!

Cloth Diapers

Here is a link to a great article that sums up the reasons some people may choose cloth diapers over disposables. It's really long, so I'm providing the link instead of copying and pasting the whole article:

http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/articles.asp?id=756

We bought a Bum Genius diaper on Friday just to see what they're like. The store only had green, so we only bought one. This is an all-in-one one size fits all cloth diaper, with a waterproof polyester cover and organic cotton interior. The manufacturer says these diapers fit babies from 8-35 lbs. Here are some pictures - these are not the cloth diapers our moms used!

These have elastic sewn in on the leg openings and the back. It has a full strip of velcro across the front to make the size adjustable. It has two velcro closure tabs, and two inside tabs to close the velcro tabs with when washing the diaper.







Here is the inside. It has a sewn-in full cotton liner, and two cotton "inserts" that are sewn in at the top and bottom, so you can adjust them depending on the size of the baby. You can also buy additional inserts if your baby needs them.







You can see the three rows of snaps in this picture. This is what makes the diaper one size fits all - you snap it up for smaller babies and leave it all the way unsnapped for the biggest babies.





We are very comfortable with our decision to use cloth diapers. We know it won't be the easiest thing to do, or the most convenient, and because our baby will be in daycare while we work, our baby still might have to have disposable diapers on at least some of the time - but we think we are making a good decision and we are going to try our best to stick with it!

Bump Picture

18 weeks, 2 days.

Eighteen Weeks

Today Baby Lundberg is 18 weeks old. Only 154 days to go! Still feeling great. Waiting for the round ligament pains to start, and hopefully I'll feel the baby move soon! I still don't think I'm showing very much yet, which is why I haven't posted any bump pictures. I think I just look like I've gained weight, instead of looking pregnant. Hopefully in a couple more weeks it'll be more obvious!

According to The Cradle, sometime during this week the process of myelinization begins. Myelinization involves coating the nerves with a fatty substance called myelin to speed nerve cell transmission and to insulate the nerves so messages are uninterrupted. Baby L, who has been growing so rapidly inside me, now measures 5 1/2 inches (140 mm) in length, big enough for me to cradle in the palm of my hand.

According to Pregnancy Weekly, Baby L weighs about 6.5 ounces and is 13.97 centimeters long from crown to rump, or about the size of a large pickle. The digestive system is starting to produce meconium, its first fecal matter.

According to BabyCenter, head to rump, Baby L is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weighs almost 7 ounces. Baby is busy flexing its arms and legs — movements that mom will start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. Baby's blood vessels are visible through its thin skin, and baby's ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from its head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around baby's nerves, a process that will continue for a year after baby is born. If baby is a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from view during an ultrasound.

According to The Bump, Baby L is now the size of a sweet potato. Baby L. has become amazingly mobile, passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And Baby L is finally big enough that mom will soon be able to feel baby's movements.

Only 11 more days until we find out if Baby L is Nick or Kate!

I finished all of the baby wipes. Here they are - all 89 of them! A friend of mine from high school who is also pregnant told me about this great place in Ann Arbor that does cloth diaper seminars. www.treecitydiapers.com. Jeff and I are going to the next seminar on December 6. They carry all of the brands of cloth diapers, and they will demonstrate them, talk about proper care of the diapers, all that good stuff. I can't wait!

Seventeen Weeks

Today Baby Lundberg is 17 weeks old. Only 161 days to go! Still feeling great, still don't think I've really "popped."

According to The Cradle, this was a week of rapid, whole-body growth for Baby L. Existing structures became larger and more well-developed, but no new structures were formed. The chances were good that this week's growth spurt for Baby L. also resulted in a growth spurt for me (but I don't think that happened!).

According to Pregnancy Weekly, Baby L. is approximately 5 inches long (crown to rump) and weighs just less than 5 ounces. He or she should weigh more than the placenta from this point on. Since Baby L.'s hearing has become more finely tuned, he or she may respond to loud noises and mom may feel movement at the sound of large trucks passing or a slamming door. Epidermal (skin) and fatty tissue are developing all over Baby L.'s body to protect it after it is born and a substance called vernix is beginning to form on the skin tissue to protect it from the long exposure to amniotic fluid.

According to BabyCenter, Baby L.'s skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — his/her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Baby L. weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he/she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. He/she can move his/her joints, and his/her sweat glands are starting to develop.

I still haven't felt the baby move and I am anxiously awaiting that. Now that some sources say my baby can hear, I have to watch my language in the car on the way home from work! Only 2 1/2 more weeks until we can call the baby Nick or Kate. This pregnancy is flying by so far - so hopefully the next few weeks do too!

3D/4D Ultrasound Scheduled!

We just scheduled a 3D/4D ultrasound for December 27. I will be 25w1d. I wanted to schedule it then so my sister can go with us :) Her family will be in town for Christmas for a week.

We are having it at Vision Within 4D Imaging Center in Troy, Michigan. Here is the link:

http://www.visionwithin4d.com/

Their website has tons of examples of 3D pictures. We will purchase one of the packages that also includes a DVD of the ultrasound (which is the 4D part of it, I suppose!). We're very excited!

Cloth Baby Wipes

Jeff and I have decided to use cloth diapers with our baby. While researching cloth diapers online, I came across several websites that recommended using cloth baby wipes as well as cloth diapers. So, I decided to buy a sewing machine, learn to sew and make our own cloth baby wipes! It's a nice project I can definitely complete before the baby arrives, and it helps me to feel like I am "preparing" for our baby's arrival.

I bought three different kinds of fabric: flannel, terry cloth and fleece. All of the wipes have a flannel side, 1/3 of them have a terry cloth back and 2/3 have a fleece back. As UM fans, we thought it would be funny to make some Ohio State baby wipes, but unfortunately, it does not appear as though tOSU has chosen to license its logo to fabric manufacturers. So we had to settle for our second-biggest rival, MSU. I found MSU fleece and flannel. The other baby wipes have a fairly gender-neutral yellow baby-themed flannel, with either blue terry cloth or blue fleece as the other side.

There are several "recipes" for baby wipe solution online. The one I think we're going to use is a mixture of water, baby oil and baby wash. We will put it in a spray bottle or squirt bottle and get each wipe wet as we use it. Then, we will just stick the wipe(s) in with the diaper and wash them altogether! We anticipate running a load of diapers/wipes every 2-3 days, so we are not at all concerned about the smell.

We have not yet decided which cloth diapers we will use. I've read good things about Bum Genius and Fuzzi Bunz diapers, but our research is on-going on this topic.

Sixteen Weeks

Today Baby Lundberg is 16 weeks old. Only 168 days to go! So far this pregnancy has been really easy. No morning sickness or nausea, or excessive fatigue. I am starting to show but it kind of just looks like I ate a big lunch or dinner. I can't wait to really pop out!

According to The Cradle, Baby L. measures 4 3/4 inches long (120 mm) crown to rump and weighs 3 3/4 ounces (104.5 g), having more than doubled its dimensions in a mere two weeks.

According to PregnancyWeekly, Baby L. now weighs just over 3 ounces and measures about 4.5 inches long. His or her fingernails and toenails are now fully formed, and internally baby's urinary tract and bladder are functioning, emptying about once every hour.

According to BabyCenter, Baby L is getting ready for a growth spurt, and in the next few weeks Baby L will double in weight and add inches to his/her length. Baby L's 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. Baby L's ears are close to their final position, too.

I should have started this blog earlier. I didn't think of it - I stole the idea from one of my sorority sisters. :)

We scheduled our "big" ultrasound for November 19, 2008. That is when we will find out if Baby L. will be baby Nick or baby Kate!

Typically moms feel their babies start to move between 16 weeks and 22 weeks, so I am anxiously waiting for that. It's called "quickening." Our baby's eyelids are fused shut, but it can still sense light. Soon our baby will be able to hear.

Stay tuned!

Twelve Weeks

Here is our twelve week ultrasound, taken on October 1, 2008. You can see Baby L's head, chin, leg and umbilical cord. Baby L jumped a lot during this ultrasound - it was very fun to watch!

According to BabyCenter, this was what was going on with Baby L at twelve weeks: the most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his/her toes will curl, his/her eye muscles will clench, and his/her mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if mom prods her abdomen, baby will squirm in response, although mom won't be able to feel it. Baby's intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into the abdominal cavity about now, and the kidneys will begin excreting urine into the bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. Baby's face looks unquestionably human: the eyes have moved from the sides to the front of the head, and the ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, baby is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

Eight Weeks

Here is our eight week ultrasound picture, taken on September 2, 2008.

According to BabyCenter, this is what was going on with Baby L at eight weeks: webbed fingers and toes are poking out from baby's hands and feet, his/her eyelids practically cover the eyes, breathing tubes extend from baby's throat to the branches of his/her developing lungs, and his/her "tail" is just about gone. In baby's brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. The external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether baby is a boy or a girl. Either way, baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though mom still can't feel it.