Week 22 Belly Pic

Hello Friends & Family--

Can we say the baby bump has finally arrived? Really I think it's just my rib cage that has exploded! I'm down to two pairs of jeans that fit comfortably (I haven't even attempted my dress pants). Thankfully, where I work when the weather gets cold, jeans are a staple around here. I may attempt to use a belly band with them after the New Year. If not I'll see if I can let some "nice" pajama pants slide as work attire. We are pretty casual, but I'm not sure if I'd be pushing my luck!

Everything is still going really well. I'm happily "growing" and looking more and more pregnant each day. My "waddle" as Chris refers to it, is becoming even more distinct. I can't explain to him (or most other males) how sitting in a car for a little as 10 minutes and then trying to walk around the mall makes me so stiff and uncomfortable to even walk normal. He just laughs at me. In his defense I'm sure it is quite the site :) Can't wait until I'm even further along, I'm sure I'll be quite the entertainment! Look for the penguin next time your out in shopping :)

As we plan our MILLION mile journey across Iowa and Nebraska to see family, we hope the weather holds steady and we will have a safe trip. (Note to our family, this is probably the last year we go on this adventure-everyone is always welcome in Wisconsin though! I just don't think that the feasibility of driving 20+ hours round trip with 2 dogs, a cat and a baby will pan out well).We wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope to blog next week with the typical stat & bump posts, but if not I'll make up for it after the Holidays!

Week 22

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 22 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby Z is the size of an Papaya!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: ??? I need to weigh myself ???

Maternity Clothes: Down to 2 pairs of jeans that fit.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: He's a mover & a shaker! Very active boy, but like they say it's all nocturnal movements :)

Sleep: Still sleeping through the night.

What I miss: Eating w/o the effects of reflux :(

Cravings: Nothing this week

Symptoms: Acid reflux...grr!

Best Moment this week: Chris was able to feel the lil' man kick for the first time! I'm sure there will be more opportunities, but it was nice to finally share that with him!

Love,

Chris, Amber & Baby Z

Random Update

Hello Friends & Family--

I was perusing through the stats on the blog and thought I'd share with you the origins of some of the visitors from the last few weeks or so. Interesting that Croatia made the list :) To all of my new friends I hope that I'm keeping you entertained!

Pageviews by Countries

United States

U.S. Virgin Islands

Germany

Croatia

Russia

I also thought I'd update you on our trip to St. Lucia over Thanksgiving. As some of you know, Chris and I spent our 5th Anniversary/Babymoon/Honeymoon in St. Lucia ( a Caribbean Island in the West Indies). It was a wonderfully relaxing and warm 7 day trip! I can't believe we waited so long (hint, Chris). It sparked his traveling interest and we are very much looking forward to our Australian trip in 2012 (May need a babysitter....if the little bugger doesn't get to come along too!).

Here are a couple of pictures from the trip!I'll be posting more on either FB or perhaps the blog...over 400 pictures to go through!

Love,

Chris, Amber & Baby Z

Stats: Week 22

Hello Friends & Family--

We are quickly approaching the Holidays (we've even celebrated one Christmas!). I'm hoping that after all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season we'll really be able to start directing all of our attention towards the little man. Plus, we've signed up for our parenting class through the hospital (it will start in Feb) so that will give us some more insight on the hospital where he'll be delivered. Not much has changed this week. I did receive a few maternity sweaters for Christmas that I've been "testing' out. Maybe I can even wear them next year, they are pretty comfortable!

Week 22 Stats:

Real estate within your belly is getting tight, with growing baby leaving little room for your lungs to...well...breathe. Expect the huffing and puffing to start soon. There's not much room for your belly button, either -- it'll pop out any day now.

Baby's now the size of a papaya!

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.

Love,

Chris, Amber & Baby Z

Week 21 Belly Pic

Hello Friends & Family--

What you've all been waiting for (or maybe it's just been me), an ACTUAL baby bump picture! I'm finally starting to pop out! It only took 21 weeks. So now my pants are fitting a little snugger and I've been able to use my belly bands this week (awesome bands that go over your jeans so they don't have to be buttoned to wear them--may even use these when I'm not preggo).

I can also tell you that my memory is terrible right now. I used to pride myself on my keen ability to remember nearly every detail, and sadly I can't remember what I wore on Monday. The plus side to that is my slight anxiety about having everything laid out has diminished because I can't even remember what I was anxious about, haha. Don't worry I still remembered to get our Christmas cards and shopping together though!

We've moved the picture backdrop to the Christmas tree, for now I can't resist! This year we 'cheated' and picked out a tree from a lot instead of cutting it down ourselves. Yet, I feel like this by far is the most perfect tree we've ever had. Oddly enough I think they were the same price too! Oh and we added red bulbs this year :)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 21 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby Z is the size of an Banana!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained roughly 4 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: Started using my belly band this week on a few pairs of jeans--but still in normal clothes.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: Felt my first real kick this week while laying in bed. Ever since then I can feel him move a lot more!

Sleep: Still sleeping through the night.

What I miss: Any hot drink with caffeine.

Cravings: Grilled cheese with pickles, first real craving! And of course it was at 9:30pm! My loving husband didn't think twice and whipped one up--man I love him!

Symptoms: Acid reflux...grr!

Best Moment this week: Feeling little man kick!

Love,

Chris, Amber & Baby Z

Week 19/20 Belly Pic

Hello Friends & Family--

**Old post, 21 week pic coming tomorrow!

Since we kind of missed last weeks belly shot, I'm just combining weeks 19 & 20. Truthfully, there's not a lot to see so I'm sure you couldn't have seen much of a difference. Even though I know I'll regret saying this later, I wish I was showing a little so I actually looked like I was 5 months pregnant. I'm sure I'll eat those words later :) Oh and don't mind the miss matched clothing and awesome hair, haha.

I forgot to mention that Baby BOY Z, was 10 ounces at the ultrasound! So tiny!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 20 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby Z is the size of an Cantelope!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained roughly 4 lbs, where I have no idea.

Maternity Clothes: Still in all my normal clothes.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: A little fluttering :)

Sleep: I can sleep anywhere I've determined, especially airports/planes.

What I miss: Hot tea :(

Cravings: Good chinese.

Symptoms: Nada

Best Moment this week: Seeing our son on the ultrasound, it's absolutely amazing. Yes, I cried!

Love,

Chris, Amber & Baby Z

Stats: Week 21

Hello Friends & Family--

Things are still going really well! Baby Boy is doing great and I think is finally starting to grow (well enough so that I can notice). These past couple of days are the first real days I've felt pregnant and at 21 weeks it's about time! **I still need to post last weeks pic, but that would mean I need to find the camera cord! I'm on it though! In other news, we are starting to work on the nursery, in small stages of course. We are currently replacing all of the original windows in the house and the nursery window was just completed this weekend! Yes, this is something we are doing ourselves (with the help of a couple of friends). They were much needed as the other windows were old and single pain, not very efficient! With the window out of the way we are now onto deciding on a paint color and getting the decorating started! We still have not picked out a theme OR a name, but I assure you we are working on it!

Here's what our little man is measuring out at this week!

Your Pregnancy: Week 21

Gasp...is that a stretch mark?!! Take deep breaths and remember -- they'll fade after delivery No stretch marks for me as of yet! Your skin may also feel dry and itchy, especially over your emerging bump. Take a cue from your fetus, now coated by vernix (a milky, protective cream), and slather on the lotion.

Baby's now the size of a banana!
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, if baby is a girl, her womb is now stocked up with her lifetime supply of six million eggs (the number will drop to around one million by birth).

Hope everyone is surviving all of the snow and cold weather! This last storm brought us around 10", but not nearly as much as our neighbors to the North--Minnesota received 20"! Yikes!

Love,

Chris, Amber & Baby Z

Stats: Week 20

Hello Friends & Family--

I can't believe that we are halfway through the pregnancy already! I've been so blessed to have been in such good health and spirits thus far! I'm still not really showing, so I'll be combining the 19/20 week belly shot into one--later this week. Maybe you all will be able to see a difference from my first pic? My doctor tells me that I should be living up every moment that I'm still not showing, the uncomfortable days are just around the corner. I'm sure she's more then right, but I still can't help but to want to look a little bit pregnant, haha.

Week 20

Congrats! You're halfway there...and at one of the great milestones of pregnancy. The weight gain has just barely begun.

Baby's now the size of a cantaloupe!
Baby 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, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

Love,

Chris, Amber & Baby Z

It's a...

BOY!

Hopefully we have a little Husker/Badger/Cyclone football player on our hands! We would have been elated either way, but I know Chris is thanking his lucky stars above that he got his son! Don't worry all the names we agreed previously on were all little girl names, so back to the drawing board! Even though we thought it would probably be a boy we couldn't agree on any names, figures.

Overall, the ultrasound went awesome! They took almost 80 pictures (mostly for measurement purposes) and printed around 10 for us along with a CD too! She told us we have an adorable and very healthy SON! He's measuring perfectly: lungs, heart, kidneys and the rest of the organs are all fully functioning! What a relief! She did say I'm probably a week off on my due date, but that they won't be changing it, still April 23, 2012 for now. Cute side note, the little guy had his hands over his face the entire time so they had trouble getting a good profile picture, towards the end he moved both legs up to his head too! Little stinker! She had me move around and use the restroom thinking maybe he'd move around, but he didn't until the very LAST shot! We've got a rascal on our hands already! Oh but don't worry we had no trouble determining it was a boy, go figure!

I'll leave you with a few pictures of our little boy!

The final shot--when he finally stretched out to show us his cute little profile!

This is a 3-D Profile shot.

It's a boy--the shadowy material in the background is the umbilical cord.

A foot! I fear he may have inherited Chris' feet. :)

Little legs!

Yes, those are his 2 hands and foot near his head! Comfortable, huh?

The last 2 are more 3-D profile shots!

Love,

Chris, Amber & Baby Z

Stats: Week 19

Hello Friends & Family--

We have officially landed back in the lovely and COLD Wisconsin. I have loved our WI weather thus far, but hearing the forecast for 5-8 inches tomorrow doesn't sit well. Especially after 7 days in paradise! I'm happy to report that I had no difficulties at all while in St. Lucia, but I'm still getting a little concerned that I'm still not showing nor do I think I've gained any weight (even after all the amazing food)! So, on Friday we have our next scheduled appointment to hear the heartbeat and make sure everything is on schedule, maybe she'll have some more insight for me. THEN on Monday we have our BIG ultrasound! Better get your votes in for Boy or Girl (side, top right poll).

Here's how Baby Z looks at 19 weeks (almost 1/2 way through--on Saturday in fact)!

Those nasty leg cramps are probably making it tough to get comfortable. One way to ease the pain: Extend your leg and flex your ankle and toes toward your knees. Or enlist your partner for a calf (and back!) massage. Good news: Your now-bulging belly should get you a little more compassion from everyone around you. No one believed me on our trip when I was nearly 5 months pregnant, no sympathy there! Haha.

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

Love,

Chris, Amber & Baby Z