Shannon's Pregnancy Journal
Due Date - September 30, 2005

09/17/05 Welcome to the world, Kyla Elizabeth!

On Friday night, I really wasn't feeling too hot by the time Erick got home (around 5:30). McKenna kept asking for Souplantation for dinner so we decided to go. I paid $8 at the all-you-can-eat salad bar and did not eat anything. I had a complete salad in front of me that I could not stomach. Erick got me a slice of bread. I took about 2 bites and couldn't eat any more. I was positively nauseous. I was feeling some strong contractions but couldn't really get to a clock to time them. They were about 5 minutes apart. We left the restaurant and I immediately threw up in the parking lot. That was my first clue that this could be the real thing!

We got home and Erick got McKenna ready for bed. I asked her if we could read her bedtime story in Mommy's bed (because I couldn't imagine sitting on the floor next to her bed while in that pain) and she was very happy to oblige. We read Snow White and I timed contractions....3-5 minutes apart. I timed them from 8:20-10pm and they stayed pretty consistent and got increasingly painful. I called my Mom to come stay at our place while McKenna slept. I called my sister and told her to meet us at the hospital. Off we went, hoping we wouldn't be sent home for false labor!

We checked in and were sent to a delivery room where we underwent a thousand and one questions about my health history. She checked me and I was dilated 4 cms and 60% effaced (its like no two medical professionals can measure the same. Somehow I lost 10% of my effacement progress?) She suggested I walk for a half-hour to see how I progressed. I walked around my room and was so exhausted when the 30 minutes were up! She checked me again at 1am and said I was 5cms. She asked the on-call OB what he wanted to do and he officially admitted us for delivery. Woohoo!

They decided to let me labor on my own until morning. It was not a restful night. I was still extremely nauseous. I hadn't had a solid meal since lunch on Friday and after throwing up, I was pretty low on energy. And with all the nurses coming and going, I got very little sleep. Unfortunately, my contractions fizzled out so they began pitocin at 5:20am. Because my water was still intact, it was slow-going. After a few hours they asked me if I wanted an epidural. I really wasn't in enough pain and didn't want to stall my labor any more. But if I didn't get it then, I'd have to wait for the anesthesiologist to get through 2 c-sections. I learned my lesson from my last labor - I wasn't waiting. I told them to go ahead and order one. He came fairly quickly and after I was all set up, the nurse checked me and I was 6 cms. Around 10am I felt a pop and my water began leaking. The nurse checked me again and I was 6-7 cms and the water had not fully broken. We waited a little while longer. She checked me again, this time breaking the rest of my water and I was a steady 7 cms.

Now generally, 7-10cms is the fastest yet physically the hardest part of labor. And generally, the epidural takes care of the pain part so its "generally" just the fastest. Not this time. My epidural decided to wear off. So there I was with a high level of pitocin causing stronger contractions, during the transition phase, WITH back labor and no pain relief. One contraction right on top of the other. They called the anesthesiologist to ask him to up my dosage in my epidural but he was in another c-section. I laid on my side in the worst pain I could possibly imagine. I did not want anyone touching me. But at one point, I was able to see the blurry image of my husband and my sister standing near my bed and it comforted me. I was in too much pain to say so or to tell them that when they weren't in my line of sight, my contractions somehow seemed worse. But I do have that recollection that their near presence helped ease the contractions a little bit.

By the time I was a 10, it was a race. We were waiting for either the anesthesiologist to get there or the OB to get there so I could start pushing. The anesthesiologist came just in time to give me a half dosage (which took care of most of the pain) and then the OB arrived. After 17 hours of labor and 3 sets of pushes, Kyla Elizabeth entered the world at 1:16pm weighing 8 lbs., 8 oz. and 20.5 inches long.

I don't remember crying much when McKenna was born. I think I was so excited and so surprised that there was an actual baby in there. But with Kyla I cried quite a bit. I'm sure that a lot of it was just pure exhaustion and relief. And a lot of it was that it brought back the sweet memories of McKenna's birth. But especially, with Kyla's birth, I now KNEW what my love for this little one would grow to be. With McKenna, I had no idea what I was in for....no idea how much I would grow to love her. But after being a mother for these past two years, all it took was hearing that teensy little cry for me to just know how much love I had in my heart for her. And it came pouring out the moment I heard her, the moment I saw her.

At the same time, being a mother these past two years showed me how much I could worry. Already I find myself staring into Kyla's sweet, trusting eyes and worrying. Will that bruise near her eye go away or will she have to see an eye specialist? Does she have a touch of jaundice like that one nurse thought? Will I be able to keep her safe from all of the things I've (so far) successfully avoided with McKenna? Will I be able to show each of my girls how much they each mean to me, as individuals and as the collective role of being "my children"?

I have so much joy and elation that God chose me to be the mother to these two particular girls. As much as I will always worry, I know that He did not assign me this job only to abandon me to it. I know He will teach me, show me, stretch me. I really had no idea as a first-time mother how much motherhood would change me. Now I have some idea. And though I know each child is different, I know that God will be as faithful to us with this one as He was with the first. I look forward to how He will mold me as a mother of two. And I look forward to getting to know this beautiful little girl who is my newborn daughter....

Kyla Elizabeth Bieger

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Week 38 (September 9 - September 15)

I really feel like Kyla will be here at any time! I went to the OB on Wednesday. I am 3 cms, 70% effaced and she stripped my membranes. With McKenna, that is all the same statistics 2 days before my water broke. Of course, I was further along with her (she was born at 39w3d) so we'll see. But I've been feeling lots of strong contractions. They're either sporadic or (when they're regular) about 7 minutes apart. So not quite time. But soon. Oh! And I weighed 162. Woohoo! I will probably keep under my goal weight!

Today was McKenna's first day of preschool. It was the ONE day that I did not want Kyla to arrive. My fear was that I would go into labor while Kenna was in preschool and she'd come home to Mommy gone for 2 days and she would never want to leave for school again, for fear that Mommy would disappear again. So you can imagine my panic when I was walking the very short distance to Kenna's school (its at the church directly across the street) and I began to feel incredibly painful contractions. I was pushing McKenna in the stroller, she was all dressed and very excited to go. I got to the street and was about to cross and suddenly froze. I could NOT move. As much as I wanted to, I could not go anywhere. I was absolutely paralyzed with pain. So I stood there and all I could think was "Ok, when I can move, do I go forward and take Kenna to school? Or do I turn around and go back home?" I decided to do my best to take her to school. She was so excited that I would hate to have brought her home and had the pains turn out to be nothing. So I pushed my way across the street and to her classroom and did my very best to act like I felt fine as I put away all her belongings in the cubby and explained that she was staying with Miss Elaine. Fortunately, McKenna made it very clear that she was ok being left and I was able to go. It took me a good 15 minutes to get back home because I had to walk so slow. But I made it and laid down and eventually, the pain did turn out to be nothing.

Oh, one another noteable from the week. We were at Target and McKenna and I were waiting near the door for Erick. There was a group of teenagers staring at me and one girl asked me when I was due. I said 2 weeks. She actually came up to me and started rubbing my belly and her boyfriend asked "Are you sure its not twins?" Are you kidding me?

Cravings: Nothing particular. In fact, my appetite seems to be diminishing.

Aversions: Just a lack of interest in food.

Symptoms: Painful contractions, wiggly baby with lots of hiccups, tired and irritable, just overall very uncomfortable and ready to not have such a big belly anymore.

Kyla: Our baby is now considered to be full-term, even though our official due date is still two weeks away. Eighty-five percent of babies are born within two weeks of their due date, so Shannon will probably give birth sometime in the next four weeks (Note: Shannon's OB induced when a baby is one week late. And since Kyla is already a big baby, she probably won't let me go that long!). While we're watching for signs of labor, our baby is shedding lanugo, the fine hair that's covered her body for months. She may have some of it left on her shoulders, forehead, and neck when she's born. She'll also have lost most, if not all, of the vernix, the creamy wax-like substance that's protected her skin from the amniotic fluid. So what happens to the cast-off vernix and lanugo? Some of it ends up in our baby's intestines, where it becomes part of the meconium. Meconium is the greenish-black, tarry substance that will make up Kyla's first bowel movement after she's born. It also consists of dead cells, amniotic fluid, and waste products from our baby's liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. Kyla's kidneys are filtering some waste too, but they won't be functioning fully until after birth. Kyla's growth rate is losing speed, but she's still making strides: Her length is probably closing in on 19.5 to 20 inches, and her weight is nearing 7 pounds.

A baby at 38 weeks

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Week 37 (September 2 - September 8)

Lots to update this week. First, Kyla is officially full-term! Yay! We had our 36 week appointment last Friday. Everything was looking good. She said she was pretty certain Kyla would break the 8 pound mark and that she was head down. She also did the GBS test but hasn't received the results back. I think regardless of the results, I will probably request the antibiotics during labor anyway. I tested positive for GBS last time and you can be positive one week and negative the next. Since my nephew's recent stay in the NICU was possibly a result of being exposed to GBS, I don't want to take any chances.

After 36 weeks, I start seeing my OB on a weekly basis. So I saw her again today. Kenna again asked for them to listen to Kyla in HER belly and the nurse was kind enough to oblige. She actually put the Doppler over Kenna's heart so we got to hear her heartbeat. It was a sweet moment as I remembered that it was just a little over 2 years ago that I was sitting in those same offices, listening to that same tiny heart beat.

My weight gain has slowed down (hallelujah!) so I'm hoping that I will end this pregnancy at the same weight that I did with McKenna. I weighed 166 at the time of delivery with McKenna. I currently weight 161.5 right now. So there's a good chance I'll get my wish.

My OB did an internal exam and I'm already dilated to "a two, a stretchy three even." And I'm 70% effaced. That's about how far along I was a week and a half before McKenna was born so I'm hoping this means that Kyla will make her arrival in about 2 weeks!

She asked me if Kyla was still moving and I mentioned that the past day or two seemed to be much less and much slower. I was completely expecting her to just reassure me that its because Kyla had so little room to move. But she wanted to be safe and sent me off to have an NST and Ultrasound. The appointment was for 1:30 so we rushed home, called my Dad to come and babysit, called Erick's worked to let them know he'd be late, ate a quick lunch and took off again. The results were just what we were hoping for though. The technician said that Kyla is actually moving quite a bit but because I'm already contracting fairly often, I can't feel her movements through the contractions. But Kyla was handling all the contractions quite well herself and there was no need to worry. They also checked my amniotic fluid level via ultrasound and she said there is plenty. In fact, she said that if my water breaks on its own to "look out!" LOL! I do recall that when my water broke with McKenna, there was quite a lot of gushing. So we'll see if my water breaks on its own again.

It was so wonderful to get to see Kyla on the ultrasound. The tech. confirmed that yes, she is indeed still a girl. And yes, she will indeed be chubby. She said she has lots of hair but that means nothing to us. McKenna was born with a fair amount of dark hair and it all fell out and we had a completely bald baby for the first year and a half. So we pretty much expect the same for Kyla.

We're getting very excited for her arrival. It seems unreal that she will be here so soon. Our apartment is almost completely unpacked but I still have a lot to do. I need to clean her car seat cover, install her car seat, pack my hospital bag, call the hospital to confirm that my registration has gone through, make a list of people to call once labor starts, get directions to the various people who will need to know how to get to the hospital, prepare the bassinet…hmm, I think that's everything. But even with all that's on our to-do list, we feel as prepared as we can possibly be for our little girl to arrive. We can't wait to get to know her and to give her a billion hugs and kisses.

Cravings: Ice cream, milk

Aversions: Hmm, nothing comes to mind.

Symptoms: Everything has pretty much remained the same though I've experienced more frequent and often painful contractions and my back hurts almost like it does during PMS. The sciatic pain has improved some. Breathing is a little easier but I need to pee a lot more. Another pregnancy-brain moment - I left my diaper bag/purse at Chuck E. Cheese the other day. Didn't even realize it until we got home.

Kyla: It's likely that our baby is more than 19 inches long and weighs at least 6 and 6.5 pounds, nearing her final birth weight. These last few weeks are important, though; she's still gaining half an ounce of fat per day. This fat helps her body regulate her temperature and keep an even blood-sugar level. The brain, and the skull that houses it, continue to grow. Shannon may feel as if Kyla's dropped down into her pelvis-and perhaps she has. This dropping, called lightening or engagement, can occur a few weeks before our baby is born. The new, lower position may take some pressure off Shannon's squished lungs and diaphragm, making breathing easier for her.

Kyla at 37 weeks
(Her arm and hand are shielding her eyes but you can see her nose, cheeks and lips looking straight ahead).

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Weeks 35 & 36 (August 19 – September 1)

Whew, what a couple of weeks! From August 16 – September 1, Erick was on vacation which was perfect because we had a LOT to do in that time!

On Aug. 20 our family and friends threw us a wonderful baby shower. It was so beautifully decorated, the food was yummy, and we got a TON of wonderful gifts. We were so grateful for how generous everyone was – not only with gifts but with their time and creative energy as well. Thank you again to everyone! And be sure to check out the pictures so you can see what a fun time we had!

Just a few days after that we were given the ok to start moving into our new apartment. I was really surprised and frustrated with how little I was able to do. I honestly thought I would have no problem at least carrying light things from one apartment to the other and unpacking. But after 2 trips back and forth, I would be completely exhausted. I was unpacking clothes into our dresser and I felt dizzy and out of breath and had to sit for the whole project. It didn’t help that we were dealing with 95-100 degree temperatures for most of the week either. I can handle being 35 weeks pregnant. I can handle moving. I can almost handle high temperatures like that (not really, I’m pretty wussy about hot weather). But you put all 3 together and it was almost impossible for me to function. And it’s not like I got to take a break from chasing after and serving the needs of a 2-year old either. That part of the job took enough of my energy as it was. Suddenly, you throw moving into the mix and its very easy to push yourself too far. There was even a night that I thought I was experiencing real contractions and I worried that I’d sent myself into early labor. I had gone to the new apartment to really do a deep-cleaning on it and had been bent over scrubbing the toilet and all of a sudden I felt such a tight and painful feeling and I couldn’t catch my breath. I stopped, waited until it passed and then kept working until it happened again. So I stopped and sat down and I realized, it wasn’t a contraction at all…it was Kyla kicking me and stretching out EXTREMELY hard. I guess she didn’t like me bending at the waist! All I can say is THANK GOD for our wonderful family and friends that helped us move! If not for them, Erick would’ve been doing this entire move all by himself. And while he has truly worked his butt off and without complaint, that is too much for one man to handle. So thank you, thank you, thank you to those who have been helping us. You truly are lifesavers!

While we still have a lot of work to do, we are almost settled into the new apartment and it is AWESOME. It’s so much cleaner, bigger, cooler (great a/c!), cozier then our old apartment. I’m really enjoying getting to set up Kyla’s room before she is born, a luxury I didn’t have before McKenna arrived (we were in a one-bedroom apartment when Kenna was born). We’re doing her nursery in a fairytale theme with the colors lavender and sage. It’s really turning out pretty. I wish I had all the money in the world because I just adore decorating bedrooms for my little girls.

Hmm, what else. I did have a doctor appointment on the 19th. Everything is going perfectly. McKenna asked the nurse to listen to her belly too so she laid on the table and the nurse put the Doppler on Kenna’s belly. Then the nurse tapped it so Kenna could actually hear something. We told Kenna that it was the raisins she’d eaten dancing in her belly. She thought that was pretty cool. She’s been talking to Kyla every day in my belly. She nuzzles her nose against me and tells Kyla “Nose Nuzzles!” She tries to hold my belly in her arms and says “Kyla, I hold you?” And when she can’t lift my belly she says “Woah. It’s big.” LOL kids and their honestly, gotta love it.

Cravings: I got a very strong craving for something I had never even had before – the Pink Cloud sandwich from Alicia’s in Brea. I’ve never even been to Alicia’s before but a bunch of the ladies from EV Free used to go all the time and they mentioned this sandwich once. At the time, I thought it sounded totally disgusting. Turkey, mayo, lettuce, cream cheese and cranberry sauce on sourdough bread. For some reason, I remembered this sandwich description a couple of days ago and could not shake the craving for it. So I called around (I didn’t even know where Alicia’s was located!) and asked “Is this the restaurant with a sandwich called the Pink Cloud?” She said “It sure is!” I said “Great! I’m sending my husband right over.” And you know what, it was freaking delicious.

Aversions: Chocolate, pizza

Symptoms: Well, thanks to the heat and the fact that I’m almost 36 weeks pregnant, swelling was a big factor this week. Had to take off my wedding ring and put on a super-cool cubic-zirconia ring. I know I could just go ringless but I’d rather not look like an unwed mother. I’m tellin’ ya, when you’re walking somewhere with a pregnant belly you can actually see people look right from your belly to your wedding finger. I notice it all the time and it cracks me up!. So I just put on a fake ring to avoid the judgement. Also, my belly is so big that almost none of my clothes fit anymore. Here is a 35w6d belly pic for ya. I think that Kyla has either dropped or is at least lowering. Heartburn is not quite as bad, breathing is a little easier and I have to pee a trillion times a day. I’m also a little emotional. I almost lost it just out of frustration for not being able to physically do anything during this move. And also, have you seen that Kodak commercial? The one where the kids are walking through the museum and he asks them if they can hear the pictures talking? The kids all ask “What are they saying?” And he says “They’re saying ‘keep me…share me….and I will live forever…’” Ok, for some reason I get teary-eyed during that commercial? One especially bad symptom is the sciatic nerve pain. Its been bad enough to stop me in my tracks, cause me to yelp or wince in pain – its almost crippling at times. I swear I'm not being dramatic. There are times when I literally cannot move because of it. Oh and I can’t forget the pregnancy-brain syndrome. Let’s see, I bought a brand new bottle of salad dressing, came home, took it out of the bag, set it on the counter while I cleaned out my fridge and then promptly threw it in the garbage with all the “bad food”. Didn’t notice that until a few days later when I couldn’t find the dressing anywhere. Or shopping for a couple hours at Target, getting all the way to the counter only to find I’d left my wallet at home. Unfortunately, this symptom does not improve once the baby is born. I think I'm still experiencing "pregnancy brain" from my first pregnancy. I think its just a side effect of motherhood.

Kyla (Week 35): It's very important to eat lots of iron-rich food in the third trimester. Kyla absorbs this crucial mineral from Shannon’s body to build up iron stores in her own body, mostly in the form of red blood cells. The majority of the absorption takes place in the final months before delivery. And with Shannon being slightly anemic during this pregnancy, its even more important that she continue to take her prenatal vitamins as well as the iron supplement that her OB prescribed. The head-down, or vertex, position is the ideal position for birth. Labor goes more smoothly when the baby's head, the largest body part, comes through the birth canal first. About 3 to 4 percent of babies haven't flipped to this position by 35 weeks. If something other than the head appears first, the delivery is called a breech birth. Amazingly, despite the tight quarters in Shannon’s uterus, our little acrobat may turn several more times before she's born. Kyla’s arms and legs are getting chubbier as she continues to gain weight. By the end of this week, she may weigh up to 5.5 pounds and measure around 16.8 to 18.5 inches long.

Kyla (Week 36): Our baby loves hearing us read or sing. In fact, studies show that newborns prefer the sound of their mother's voice over other voices. Every night when Shannon reads to McKenna, Kyla seems to wake up and start squirming, almost as if to remind us that she’s listening as well. Research has also found that newborns show a preference for a song that was played to them repeatedly while they were in the womb. Kyla’s head is specially designed to travel through Shannon’s cervix and pelvis. The bones in her skull aren't fused together yet; this loose construction makes her head very shapeable so it can squeeze through the birth canal without harming her or Shannon. These bones will gradually fuse over the first year of life. Kyla now weighs between 5.5 and 6 pounds this week and measures nearly 19 inches.

A baby at 36 weeks

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Week 34 (August 12 - August 18)

Woah. I'm 34 weeks already! YIKES! For some reason, that number just makes it feel like this is the home stretch. I know that the next 6 (more or less) weeks will both fly by and drag by. On the one hand, I have been so busy with McKenna that the entire pregnancy has just flown by. And since we'll be moving this week, I know that will occupy a lot of my time as well. But on the other hand, that last month of pregnancy can be brutal. Its so exhausting and uncomfortable. I remember the night before McKenna was born, I was just beyond irritated with everything. I was so sick of timing contractions that turned out to be nothing, sick of going to the doctor, sick of being hot and huge. So I'm trying to prepare myself for that as well. Though I have been fantasizing about working out, wearing skinny clothes, having a glass of wine, drinking full-caffeine coffee, sharing raw oysters at our favorite restaurant with Erick, and being able to see my feet again. You really don't know how much you miss those things until they've been gone for awhile.

I had the most disturbing dream last night. I haven't dreamt of Kyla very much throughout the pregnancy and I'm sure that's because I'm not as worried as I was when I was pregnant with McKenna. But both times that I have dreamt of her, I have been unconcious during the birth and woken up and not had my baby with me and had to fight tooth and nail to find her. In last night's dream, I woke up and asked for my baby and they said she was in the nursery. My sister led me to the nursery and we had to go through room after room of babies...ALL of them were deformed babies. A lot of them had the same condition that my brother was born with. I started to get scared and I asked her if something was wrong with Kyla. She said "No, not at all." And when I saw Kyla, she was 9 pounds, 2 oz. Anyway, there was more to the dream but I'll spare you all the boring details. It was just a disturbing dream because of all the babies with deformities and then it also showed me a little where my subconscious lies because I really AM scared I'm gonna have a 9 pound baby! LOL! With everyone telling me I'm so huge, it makes you wonder...!

Cravings: Cereal. Lots of cereal. I've been loving Vanilla Almond Special K and Cran-Vanilla Crunch. Mmmm, I'm gonna have some right now.

Aversions: Nothing really. Unless it might cause me heartburn.

Symptoms: Baby movement - I noticed a difference between Kyla and Kenna. When McKenna was in my belly and someone would touch my belly, she'd kick more. When someone touches my belly now, Kyla stops moving. I feel her feet up under my ribs a lot. My stretch marks are growing :(. Heartburn gets to be really bad at night. I've had a few bouts of nausea, especially if Kyla gets really wiggly after I've eaten. I'm exhausted! Partly because McKenna's afternoon naps have been REALLY short so I haven't been getting a mid-day nap. But anyway, by the time I get her to bed by 8:30ish, I am beat!

Kyla: She is moving around less frequently, mostly because of the cramped quarters. Of course, it may not seem as if she's settled down—now that she's so big (about 4.7 to 5 pounds and 15.5 to 16 inches long), Shannon can feel even the slightest movement. In fact, since our baby is right up against the wall of the uterus, Shannon is getting good at guessing which body part (foot? elbow? arm?) is protruding. Regardless of the eye color Kyla will end up with, right now her eyes are blue. The pigmentation process in her iris won't be complete until her eyes have been exposed to light for several weeks after birth. Her final eye color may not be evident for years.

A baby at 34 weeks

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Week 33 (August 5 - August 11)

Its been another good week. Kyla has been active and I generally feel pretty good. I think my biggest challenge has been 1) trying to keep McKenna from sitting on or accidentally kicking my belly and 2) not pummeling people who tell me I'm huge. Within a 4 hour span, 3 people commented on my size today. And I was napping for 2 of those hours. Its really hard to even be polite or gracious about it anymore. Usually they just get a deadpan look followed my an "Mm-hmm. Ok, well, nice talking to you."

McKenna continues to be very interested in Kyla. She takes my hand, wraps it around her hand and asks "Kyla move?" That means she wants me to put her hand on my belly wherever Kyla might be wiggly. She's felt her a few times and gives a big grin when she does. She talks to my belly and says "Love you Kyla." She puts her milk cup up to my belly button and says "Kyla? Some?" I ask her when Kyla is coming and she says "Kyla soon. Months." About the only thing she CAN'T seem to understand is that if someone out in public asks about her baby sister, Mommy doesn't really appreciate it if she lifts my shirt up to show them where Kyla lives. LOL!

Cravings: Mexican food, sour candy

Aversions: I was not so happy with the garlic mashed potatoes I made the other night. The garlic did not sit right with me.

Symptoms: I'm noticing more stretch marks. Kinda sad. But oh well. Its not like you were ever gonna see me in a bikini on the beach anyway. Heartburn, heartburn, heartburn. I'm getting pretty sick of having to get up in the middle of the night to pee. I HAVE to sleep with some sort of support under my belly now. At least a towel or small blanket. If I lie on my side (the only way you can sleep at this stage of pregnancy) then my belly is too heavy and I have a hard time breathing. I really feel like a beached whale.

Kyla: Our little girl's brain is still developing rapidly as her five senses get ready for the world outside the womb. At this point, she can see the liquid world around her; feel sensation when she grabs a toe or sucks on a finger; taste the amniotic fluid she's swallowing; and hear Shannon's heartbeat, voice, and the grumble of her stomach. Of course, there's no air in the amniotic sac to carry scent, but if there were, she could also smell her environment. Because of tremendous brain growth, our baby's head circumference has increased by nearly half an inch just this week. Our little one now measures 16.5 inches and weighs more than 4 pounds, and she'll double her weight over the next seven weeks.

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Week 32 (July 29 - August 4)

I felt pretty dang good this week! I think maybe the iron supplements, more fluids and napping during McKenna's nap have all played a big part in that. It's not as painful to walk even short distances anymore and I just generally feel a lot better. Less heartburn, less BH contractions, etc. I still have those things but they're not as bad now. And while I'm not able to keep up with the chores as much as I'd like, I am able to at least find enough energy to keep the place from turning into a disaster.

I am exhausted though. I really do need that nap in the day. I get to sleep from about 2pm-4pm and even still, I end up feeling tired and ready for bed around 9pm.

I had my OB appt. on the 2nd. All is well. She said my weight, blood pressure and measurements are all right on track. Kyla's heartbeat sounded great and she is moving plenty! Usually its all her movement that gets my BH contractions going!

McKenna is busy preparing to be a big sister. She has been spending most of her playtime with her baby dolls - feeding them, putting them in her baby swing, putting them down for naps, showing them how to watch Dora (she tells her dolls "Baby, that's backpack!") Every single night she asks to read the "sissy book" (I'm a Big Sister Now) and she practically has it memorized! She tells everyone about her "baby sister Lyla" and asks to give "Lyla huggies and kiss". She says that Kyla lives in my button (belly button). And after the doctor listened to Kyla's heartbeat on Tuesday, McKenna asked to lay on the table and then lifted her shirt, pointed to her belly and said "Lyla!" She wanted us to listen to Kyla in HER belly too!

Cravings: Any kind of cereal, meat, iced tea. And one day I had a craving for donuts. I didn't indulge then. But the next time we went grocery shopping I grabbed some of those Gem donettes. OH! And Souplantation had the most yummy bread - it was s'mores toppings on focaccia bread! OMG It was so delicious. I actually wrapped up an extra piece and took it home. Erick was teasing me the whole night about how I stole food from an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Aversions: Soda and coffee. Which is good since I shouldn't have those things anyway.

Symptoms: A very wiggly baby. Her movement seems even more forceful then McKenna's was and I really think McKenna was a very active baby. Kyla is able to wake me up and keep me awake though! I also have to go to the bathroom a lot more often in the middle of the night then I did my first pregnancy. Heartburn is almost constant but its not unbearable like it has been (although as I type this, I do have a pretty mean case of it...its always worse at night). My hips are not nearly as sore as they have been. Just a little bit at night if I've laid on my side too long. And standing up doesn't hurt quite as bad on my pelvis. A little, just not as bad. The worst is if I'm on the floor holding McKenna and for some reason I need to stand while holding her. Its physically impossible to do it now. I have to set her down, pull myself up, and then pick her up.

Kyla: Our acrobat may be standing on her head now: Most babies settle in the head-down, or vertex, position by this week. Ideally, she'll stay put until Shannon gives birth. But remember, she has a mind of her own—she might decide to change positions several times before she's born. Shannon might feel her jostling into place as she flips, especially if she does so late in the pregnancy. The amount of amniotic fluid in Shannon's uterus right now—about two pints—makes it fairly easy for Kyla to switch from head up to head down. Over the next eight weeks, the amount of fluid will decrease as the amount of baby increases. Kyla weighs between 3.5 and 4 pounds and measures about 17 to 18 inches stretched out.

A baby at 32 weeks

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Week 31 (July 22 - July 28)

So we were walking through Robinsons-May today and Kyla kicked me harder then either baby has ever kicked me before. It was shockingly hard and I let out a loud "OUCH!" Loud enough that the makeup lady 4 counters away heard me and as I approached she asked "Did you get kicked?" LOL! I guess the whole department store heard me! It really was the hardest kick I've ever felt!

So bummer - I'm getting a stretch mark. I didn't get any on my belly during my first pregnancy. But I can tell one is developing above my belly button. So far, no linea nigera but my belly is just covered in blue veins. Its so bizarre looking! I don't remember this happening last time?

Nothing is more complicated right now then house cleaning. I simply cannot bend over. I bend two or three times to pick something up and that's it. I'm done. I can barely breathe, it hurts my belly and my back to bend, it hurts my lower pelvis to stand back up, my energy level is zero. Its so tiring. And I'm one of those people who just gets more tired and overwhelmed if there is housecleaning that needs to be done. It almost makes me feel depressed. It certainly puts me in a fowl mood. Erick can attest to that!

We did get a chance to start a baby registry at Babies R Us this week. That was a lot of fun. It was so different registering this time. This time we got to bypass the towels and wash cloths, burp cloths, pack 'n plays, high chairs, etc. and just head right for a lot of fun decorative items and a few things we wished we'd had with McKenna.

Cravings: Taco Bell, fresh fruit, popcorn. Tonight I had a small cup of tangerine sorbet with fresh strawberries on it. It was heaven in a little cup.

Aversions: Soda - I know it will just cause heartburn and will make me feel worse physically.

Symptoms: Oh...everything that I was feeling last week - baby movement, hard kicks and squirms, baby hiccups, sore pelvis, frequent heartburn, mild swelling, minor foot cramps, sleepless nights, frequent urination, numb hips, sore coccyx, low energy. You know...just your average pregnancy woes and wonders.

Kyla: Baby may seem less active as the weeks progress. In fact, less-frequent movement now means she's right on track (assuming Shannon can still count 10 movements in an hour each day). Her movements are simply becoming less erratic and more organized; also, there's not as much room in theuterus as there was just a few weeks ago. Kyla is about 11.2 inches long from crown to rump (17 inches stretched out) and weighs about 3.3 pounds. She's been in the fetal position, with her legs tucked, for a few weeks now. She still has lots of growing to do—she won't get much taller, but she'll put on another 2 pounds this month. In nine more weeks, she'll be ready to greet the world!

A baby at 31 weeks

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Week 29 (July 8 - July 14) & Week 30 (July 15 - July 21)

I figured I may as well combine both of these weeks since I'm late updating last week's. Sorry about that. My sister's baby (Gavin Christopher Henry Catalano) was born on Thursday and took a detour to the NICU. So a lot of time, thoughts and prayers have been going into that and some of the normal routine got put on the back burner. The good news is, Gavin is showing awesome improvement and will hopefully be home in a few days. If you'd like an update on him, feel free to email me. For the privacy of my sister and brother-in-law, I won't post any details here.

As for my pregnancy - everything is chugging along just fine. I can tell you that after a couple of visits to the NICU where the majority of the babies are premature (many of them born at the stage that Kyla is at now) I can say that I am in no hurry for this little one to come out. I am of course still very uncomfortable but when you see all that these tiny little babies have to go through, it makes me wonder why some girls are taking Castor Oil or other measures to try to induce labor on their own when there is no medical reason for it. Pregnancy is hard, no question. But we should be thankful for every moment that we have to carry out babies.

The muscles in my lower pelvis (especially on the left) really hurt. I asked my OB about it and she said that its just strain from carrying the baby. It's possible that I "prefer" that side whenever I get up from bed or sitting and so its just putting additional strain there.

My heartburn is bad enough and constant enough that even fat-free milk doesn't work a lot of the time. So I had to break down and get a bottle of TUMS. I hate taking them. I'd rather just drink milk since that provides true calcium and adds to my fluid intake. But the heartburn is bad enough that I just have to take something else.

My appointment went well today (July 18). I'm a little appalled at how much weight I'm gaining. I swear it doesn't seem like I am gaining that much and it doesn't seem possible that I am because I don't think I'm snacking as much as I did during my pregnancy with McKenna. Not to mention I'm much more active this time. Last time I sat at a desk every day from 8-5. This time I'm chasing after a toddler all day. But the scale doesn't lie. I wonder if this means Kyla will be a big baby? My doctor still isn't concerned so I'm trying not to be either.

My blood pressure is fine. My Glucose test came back normal (so no Gestational Diabetes) but I am slightly anemic. So since anemia can worsen as pregnancy goes on, she prescribed an iron supplement. Kyla's heartbeat sounded great. The nurse told McKenna "That's your baby sister in there." And Kenna nodded and said "Dyla" (Kyla). And the nurse said "She's saying Hello big sister!" And Kenna leaned toward my belly and said "HELLO!" She's been talking about Kyla quite a bit and seems to really be getting excited about the idea of having a baby sister. She watches Big Sister Dora every day (multiple times a day).

Cravings: Fresh fruit, especially peaches and nectarines.

Aversions: Pizza again.

Symptoms: Kyla's squirms are so fun. I can feel distinguished body parts now. Especially her knees. And she has had hiccups several times this week. I can feel them near my right hip so I think she is facing forward with her head down near my right hip and her feet up near my left rib cage. Other symptoms include sore pelvis muscles, very frequent heartburn, mild swelling of the hands and feet, a few minor foot cramps, a terrible time turning over every night in bed, my hips get numb if I lie down on one side for too long, my coccyx is often SO sore that I have to lie down rather then sit, and I need to nap most afternoons. Thankfully, McKenna takes a consistent 2 hour nap. So if I'm home, I try to nap at the same time.

Kyla (Week 29): This week marks an important milestone in our baby's brain development: The brain has matured to the point where it can help regulate body temperature. Of course, our little one isn't ready to do it all on her own yet; she still needs the warmth of Shannon's body to keep her toasty until birth. She also continues to develop nerve cells in her brain. By the time she's born, she'll have hundreds of billions of them. That seems like a lot, but she needs to stock up, since she won't produce any more after birth. Kyla is looking more like a full-term baby, too. She's plumping up nicely; the surface of her skin is smoother and paler because of the fat she's starting to gain. This fat will be an important factor in her ability to keep warm. She also has eyelashes; she may be batting them at you right now! Despite the increase in fat, Kyla is still pretty thin—only about 2 to 3 percent of her 2.7 pounds is made up of fat. Crown to rump, she measures 10.4 inches, but if you stretched her out, she'd be more than 16 inches long.

Kyla (Week 30): Kyla's brain continues its amazing development. Up until now, its surface has been smooth. This week, the brain begins to take on its distinctly wrinkled appearance. These wrinkles are called convolutions, and they allow the brain to hold more brain cells. As some things develop, others disappear, like lanugo, the ultrafine hair that covered our baby's body. She may still have patches of it on her back and shoulders, however. Eating well is tremendously important in the third trimester because Kyla is taking nutrients directly from Shannon to build up her internal stores and to gain weight. The calcium from the milk Shannon drinks goes directly to building Kyla's bones, and the iron in Shannon's prenatal vitamins and iron-rich foods boosts Kyla's iron supply, which will last until she's 6 to 9 months old. Protein is also crucial in these last few months, because it supports healthy cell growth throughout Kyla's body. Our baby weighs about 3 pounds this week and is a little more than 10.8 inches from crown to rump. Her total length, including her legs, is about 17 inches.

A baby at 30 weeks

 

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Week 28 (July 1 - July 7)

I really didn't think I could get much more uncomfortable. Pretty much everything I mentioned last week was plaguing me this week, if not more so. It was getting dang near impossible to get myself up off the ground (which unfortunately is a necessity when you have a toddler because you're ALWAYS on the ground or bending over).

However, today was significantly better! And I'm pretty sure I know why....

Working as much as I have and being as busy as we've been, I've been eating so much garbage and drinking a lot of caffinated beverages - mostly drive-thru meals w/soda and coffee first thing in the morning. Today I ate so much better and I felt a world of difference from it. So basically, I need to knock off the crappy diet and start taking better care of myself (and Kyla). I'm already living in fear that she'll be a super wound-up kid because I've had a lot more caffeine during this pregnancy then my last.

I went in for my Glucose test on Wednesday. Bleck! The drink was FAR worse this time. Last time it was a carbonated orange drink so it was similar to orange soda. This time it was a flat lime syrupy drink. I really did not think I could finish it. I expected to throw it up but somehow I did down the entire 10 oz. in the required 5 minutes. I started to feel really woozy about 15 minutes later but thankfully it passed by the time they needed to draw blood (they make you wait one hour before they draw the blood). I'm sure I'll get my results at my appointment on July 18. Hopefully it will be fine but I am little worried that I won't pass. I BARELY passed last time. This time I've had a lot more sweets and fruit juices. And I didn't think that feeling woozy as a result of the drink was a very good sign. So we'll see.

Today McKenna kissed my belly. I asked her "What is your baby sister's name?" And she answered "Lyla" (which is how she pronounces Kyla). I thought it was neat that she is beginning to make and understand the connection.

Cravings: I have just about finished off an entire batch of Greek salad in one day. Erick will not be pleased when he finds out that all that is left is a few dregs and morsels.

Aversions: None. Though I've been craving less snacks.

Symptoms: A very squirmy baby. She moves at all hours of the day and night and actually is strong enough to wake me at times. Heartburn hasn't been too bad this week. Pelvis pressure eased up a lot today. Mild swelling in my feet. A few extra foot cramps this week too.

Kyla: Last week, our baby opened her eyes for the first time in four months, and she began to see light and shadows. This week, if you shine a bright light against Shannon's abdomen, Kyla may open her eyes and turn away from the light, as if to say, "Hey Mom, shut that off—I'm trying to sleep in here." Kyla's sight isn't the only sense that's working. Her brain wave patterns indicate that she's responding to sounds in the environment. What's she able to pick up? The sound of our voices, the growl of Shannon's stomach, even noises outside the body. Her brain waves are also starting to show differences during sleep. These sleep cycles will become clearer and more distinct as she gets closer to her due date. This is a vital stage in Kyla's lung development. Blood vessels are forming throughout both lungs. When she takes her first breath of air, her lungs will absorb the oxygen, then send it into these vessels, which will circulate the oxygenated blood throughout her body. Kyla is also just starting to manufacture a substance, called a surfactant, which keeps the air sacs in her lungs from sticking together. The surfactant will allow her to breathe properly after birth. The bronchial tubes are also maturing, dividing into smaller and smaller branches. Kyla is gaining weight rapidly now—she may weigh about 2.3 pounds. Crown to rump, she measures 10 inches, but if you were to stretch her out she might be around 15 inches long.

A baby at 28 weeks

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Week 27 (June 24 - June 30)

I am soooooo uncomfortable. I have to walk extra slow because there is so much pressure on my pelvis that it feels like my bones are gonna break. When I sleep, my hips get sore pretty frequently so I have to turn over all night long and that is a chore because my belly is so heavy. I can't lie on my back which is driving me nuts because my back is really sore every day and needs the flat position to stretch out. And yesterday we were at the mall, I was changing McKenna at a changing
station and my back suddenly just froze up in pain. It was awful. I almost called Erick into the women's restroom to get McKenna for me. I had to lie down, take some Tylenol and rest and it's still sore today. A few days before I had some really sharp pains at the top of my belly, near my diaphragm and needed to lie down, drink water and rest because if I made any movement, it got worse and I could hardly breathe. So uncomfortable is definitely the word of the week!

I am also unbelievably tired of hearing how huge I am. Seriously. I usually respond with a good-hearted "I know, I'm really growing huh?" and this week they're getting a snappy "Well I'm 5'3, what do you expect to happen when your uterus is the size of a basketball?"

One thing people do that I think is cute is they request that I try to deliver Kyla on a particular day. When I say I am due in September, a lot of people will say "Try for the 21st! That's my birthday" Or something to that effect. I always think that's a cute response. And certainly a welcome change from "You still have 3 months? You're huge. Are you carrying twins?"

What I AM really grateful for is that Erick is allowing me extra money from our budget to pamper myself which helps my mood greatly! This week he sent me to get a manicure, pedicure and hair cut and I felt worlds better after that. And even though I didn't plan to buy new maternity clothes this time around (still had all my old stuff) he has taken me shopping several times so I can get a few cute new shirts and accessories. So I really am very lucky that he likes to spoil me so because I feel like I need it. I just felt so frumpy and ugly during my last pregnancy and I didn't want to feel that way again. I do still feel frumpy but maybe not nearly as ugly. = )

I can't wait to be skinny again though. I will have the same attitude that I had after I delivered McKenna...which is that I know I will maintain some weight and I will not expect myself to get down to my pre-pregnancy weight. It will be a little difficult this time around I think. Last time, I told myself that I didn't need to feel pressure to get back to my pre-pg weight. And not only did I drop all the weight, I dropped 11 EXTRA pounds and with no effort. So how can I not hope for
the same this time? I just have to remember that it's highly unlikely. I'm older and this is my second baby. Certainly I am bound to keep on some of the weight? Certainly I will need to work out this time.

Cravings: I've craved Taco Bell but haven't indulged because of the fat content and the heartburn factor. I've also craved ranch dressing. And chocolate.

Aversions: None

Symptoms: Sore everything. Lots of baby kicks. I can feel them in my ribs, my hips, everywhere. Heartburn aplenty. I also have a very sore belly because a certain little munchkin has been BITING everything lately and actually bit my belly! So now that hurts.

Kyla: After being fused shut for more than four months, our baby's eyelids can open again. This, combined with the facts that the visual part of her brain is active and most eye structures are complete, means our little one can see the world around her, limited though it may be. She can't make out objects yet, but she sees light and shadows. By paying attention to her movements inside, Shannon can get a good idea of how Kyla spends her days...and nights. Just like babies in their
mothers' arms, our little one gets lulled to sleep by rocking. Shannon's daily activities may not feel like rocking to her, but the amniotic fluid provides such a cushion that all Kyla feels is gentle swaying. So she's likely to sleep more during the day. It's a different story at night, once Shannon lies down to get some rest. Suddenly, Kyla's awake and ready to party! Our little one will gain about 1 pound over the next month. This week, she's up to 13 inches, crown to rump, and weighs about 2 pounds. Though she's growing quickly, her brain and lungs are still immature. Luckily, she's got 13 more weeks to get ready for the outside world.

A baby at 27 weeks

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Week 26 (June 17 – 23)

Oh my goodness, this little girl is strong and active! She kicks so hard that she knocks the breath out of me a little! And she has so many active periods throughout the day and night (maybe I need to cut back on the caffeine!) One of my favorite moments of the week was sitting on the couch with Erick and McKenna, just playing and enjoying our family time and getting some very active kicking out of Kyla. It was like she wanted to make sure she was in on the family time. I can’t wait until the four of us are all sitting on the living room floor together. But for now, I’ll enjoy the forceful rib-tickling from my little Ky.

Cravings: I could not pass up a chocolate donut today. Shame on me.

Aversions: None

Symptoms: Almost constant heartburn, tons of baby movement, moodiness. I also forgot to mention that several weeks ago, a brown spot showed up on my skin near the corner of my eye. I think I remember something similar showing up in the same place when I was pregnant with McKenna. Kind of looks like a sun spot. Hopefully it will go away after Kyla is born.

Kyla: This week, our baby's nostrils are starting to open up, which gives her the chance to practice breathing using her muscles and lungs. There's no air to take in, of course, so instead she "inhales" and "exhales" amniotic fluid. By the time she's born, she'll be a pro. Kyla is also flexing some of her feeding muscles— her lips and mouth. Her sucking reflex is so strong that if her hand floats by her face, she'll suck on her thumb or fingers. Ultrasounds often show babies in utero sucking their thumbs. In fact, some babies are born with sucking blisters on their fingers, thumbs, lips, or hands. Sucking is just one of the 70-plus reflexes our little girl will have when she's born. Grasping is another of those many reflexes. If you hold out your finger to a newborn, you'll be amazed by the strength of her clutch. Kyla is practicing her killer grip right now. Her favorite pull toy is her umbilical cord, which she likes to yank and tug. Don't worry; the cord is up to the challenge. Kyla is about 13 inches long and weighs around 1.75 pounds.

A baby at 26 weeks

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Week 25 (June 10 - June 16)

I had my OB appointment today. It was as standard as standard could be. My blood pressure, weight, fundal height and Kyla's heartrate were all perfect she said. I thought I was going in to have my glucose test but she said to come back anytime between 26-28 weeks because that's when they prefer to do it. So I'll be going in later on this month. I made my next appointment for July 18.

I'm feeling great. Heartburn continues to plague me and I have a ton of pressure in my pelvis. Almost every time I stand up I have to wait for 2-3 seconds while the pressure of Kyla and my uterus settles with the gravity. If I try to walk before that then the pressure on my pelvis hurts to much. But other than that, I feel pretty good. Kyla is squirmy and forceful at all hours. I feel her at night more than I did with McKenna.

Depending on who you asks, third trimester begins with the 26th-28th week. So I am (more or less) about to start my third trimester.

Cravings: Turkey & Avocado sandwich, cereal

Aversions: Macaroni & Cheese (can you believe it Jenn? I actually made M&C and then did NOT want it!)

Symptoms: Wiggly baby, heartburn, pressure on pelvis, sore belly button (which is unfortunate because McKenna really enjoys poking my outtie).

Kyla: Your baby measures 12 to 13 inches and weighs about 1.5 pounds. Her skin is still thin, wrinkled, and pale, but she gets a bit plumper every day, thanks to the fat and muscle she's continually adding. Right now tiny blood vessels called capillaries are starting to develop below our little one's skin, and these will give it a pink hue. And she's still swallowing amniotic fluid. Too bad it doesn't come in different flavors! The brain's cortex is developing into layers. Most of the action is still controlled by other brain areas that developed much earlier. The human cerebral cortex is the most elaborate brain structure in all the animal kingdom, giving us the ability to think, plan, and feel in complex ways.

A baby at 25 weeks

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Week 24 (June 3 – June 9)

I am soooooo tired this week. I’m sure it’s partially because of pregnancy and partially because I’m working more. But I am just beat. I seem to do just fine in the first half of the day. But by the time I need to go to my evening shift, I am so tired that I feel like I’ll fall asleep at my desk. Then when I do get home, I’m starving so I’ve been eating junk for dinner (read: fast food) instead of cooking the good stuff at home. So I eat junk and then conk out for an early bedtime. I’m gonna get so fat this time around, I just know it.

Last night, I had Taco Bell for dinner. Boy did I regret that around 3am. I suddenly got such a jolt of acid reflux that hurt so much, I sat straight up in bed gasping. It was so painful! Though apparently not painful enough to teach me a lesson because I had it again for lunch today.

Kyla’s kicks are getting very strong and I’m loving it. Sometimes she gives me such a hard kick or jab that I actually laugh out loud. Pregnancy has got to be the craziest oxymoron – it’s the only time when so much pain and discomfort can make someone so happy. But it truly does make me happy. I love getting kicked in the ribs. And I’m really looking forward to labor and delivery. Isn’t that twisted? I do remember that labor was the worst pain I’d ever felt in my life and yet I’m completely looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to almost everything about labor and delivery – the water breaking, the countdown to being dilated, the pushing, the hospital food – and of course…getting to see my little girl. I love seeing them all bundled up tight in the hospital blankets, sleeping in their little glass bassinets. There is only one thing I am truly not looking forward to and that is being away from McKenna. I will of course have her brought to the hospital for visits. But I just will miss her to pieces while I’m away from her!

Cravings: Well yesterday my friend Laura mentioned a beer-cheese fondue and let me tell ya, I could go for some of that right now! Taco Bell was of course a craving since I ate it twice in 24 hours. I bought the ingredients for Greek Salad today and that sounds really yummy too.

Aversions: None that I can think of.

Symptoms: Super-strong karate kicks from Kyla, terrible and continuous heartburn, exhaustion, sciatic nerve pain. I haven’t felt that in a long time. Today I got up from my desk and felt like tailbone was dislocating.

Kyla: Jumping and diving, rolling and kicking—our little one is having a great time training for the Baby Olympics. Just as Shannon settles in for a good night's sleep, Kyla starts her workout. Babies are most active between 24 and 28 weeks. After that, there won't be enough room for her to perform the acrobatics she's so adept at now. If our baby could look down at her chest, she'd get her first anatomy lesson. Because her skin is still thin and transparent, it's possible to see the blood vessels, bones, and organs beneath it. Her skin will continue to thicken as the months pass, until it's opaque like ours. Even though our baby's eyes are still fused shut, all the parts of her eyes are present, including the retina, which completes its development over the next month. The iris, the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have any pigmentation. Kyla’s eye color will fill in over the next few months, though their final shade won't be settled until after she's born. Most Caucasian babies are born with slate-blue eyes and their final color is not established until near their first birthday. Our little gymnast weighs up to 1.3 pounds this week and measures 10 to 11 inches.

A baby at 24 weeks

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Week 23 (May 27 – June 2)

I sure do love seeing Kyla’s name on our home page. I just enjoy seeing my two daughter’s names together like that. Kyla is really super wiggly and her kicks are REALLY obvious now. She stays much lower than McKenna did but she is constantly turning sommersaults and it feels like she is bouncing back and forth between one side of my tummy and the next, like a swimmer kicking off from one side of a pool to the other. I’ve probably made her hyper-active because I drink a cup of half-caff coffee every morning, whereas with McKenna I had very little caffeine ever. LOL So maybe Kyla will be born naturally PEPPY!

I worked through my entire pregnancy with McKenna and one of the benefits of that was that I could feel her movements all day long while sitting at my desk. With this pregnancy, I miss a lot because I’m busy with regular SAHM stuff. But this week, I’m helping out with my old job so I’m right back at my same desk. It’s been a lot of fun because its such deja vous to be sitting at my same desk, pregnant again, making the same regular trips to the same bathroom, propping my swollen feet up on the same CPU, etc. Some of my co-workers haven't seen me since my last pregnancy so I've gotten a lot of surprised looks when they peek in my office and there I am, 2 years later and still pregnant!

Cravings: Pringles dipped in tuna fish w/mayo. No, that is not something I normally have. That is definitely a pregnancy-specific craving. Shrimp. Greek Salad (particularly the garlic-herb feta). Tropical fruit salad. Top Ramen.

Aversions: None that I can think of. Even pizza doesn’t sound too bad right now.

Symptoms: Foot cramps continue to plague me. I feel just HUGE and I apparently look it because I'm getting a lot of rude comments from people. My fingers are getting some mild swelling. Surprisingly, heartburn has not been too bad this week. And LOTS Of wiggly baby movement.

Kyla: Now that bones in her ears have hardened, our baby can hear us and prefers our voices to any other sound. The amniotic fluid that surrounds our baby is the perfect place for her to grow into a healthy newborn. The salty fluid keeps her warm, protects her from infections, and is buoyant enough for her to exercise her developing body. Right now the amniotic sac contains about a pint of fluid, which is refreshed every three to four hours. Kyla looks like a tiny, thin newborn. She now weighs close to 1 pound and measures 9 to 10 inches, about the length of a Barbie doll.

A baby at 23 weeks

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Week 22 (May 20 – May 26)

This has been a fairly uneventful week, pregnancy-wise. I was pretty moody and often emotional. I cried twice while watching Beaches. Now, I know it’s a sad movie but I’ve seen it a billion times. I should be desensitized by now. I cried while I was reading a magazine article. The weird thing about that was I was getting a pedicure at the time. Since I’m not someone who cries a lot, it was surprising that I would cry in that place at that time. It wasn’t exactly an emotional setting. I know I cried over a few other things as well. I couldn’t even tell you what they were, they were that ridiculous. But I know I cried often this week.

It was a fun week for pampering though. I got a pedicure, I applied some sunless tanner (no cancer for me, thanks), I bought some new nail polish and bronzing powder, and I got two new maternity shirts with accessories. Well, actually, the maternity shirts at Target were hideous. So I bought shirts in the junior department that had empire waist lines and I bought them in L and XL. The XL will probably last me the whole pregnancy. The L will fit me for a few more weeks at least. It was too cute to pass up.

Kyla continues to be very wiggly. Instead of having a set time of day that she is wiggly, it seems like she is awake all the time. I love it now because I can’t get enough of the movement. I wonder if I’ll feel that way when her kicks start to get painful….or if I’ll feel that way if she’s awake constantly after birth! LOL!

Cravings: Greek salad, chocolate, and lots of fluids but regular water is not satisfying. It needs to be Gatorade or iced tea or fruit-flavored waters (Propel, Fruit2O or Aquafina Flavorsplash).

Aversions: Well I broke down and ordered pizza out of sheer convenience. And I did not enjoy it at all. I had to force down one piece.

Symptoms: I got the WORST foot cramp of my life last night. I mean completely horrible and painful. It brought me to tears. Also, bad heartburn, lots of baby movement, moodiness and exhaustion.

Kyla: As if concentrating on a tricky math problem, our clever baby can furrow her brow. And now she's actually getting eyebrows to do it with! These fine hairs, like the hair on her scalp, don't contain any pigment yet—they're pure white. Her eyelids are completely developed too, though they're fused shut until about 28 weeks. Jumping jacks may be our baby's favorite activity these days. Now that her arms and legs have reached their final proportions (but not their final size), she's exercising them vigorously—kicking, flexing, and clasping her hands. Speaking of her hands, fingernails now completely cover her fingertips, just as ours do. And they keep growing. In fact, we may need to trim our baby's nails right after she's born so she doesn't scratch herself. Even though our baby measures more than 9.5 inches now, she still doesn't weigh much—about 13 ounces. At this point, she has only 1 percent body fat. But from here on out, she'll be adding layers of fat, which will help her to produce and retain body heat. Our little one's fat is a lot like the kind Shannon is putting on during pregnancy. It's called brown fat and is readily turned into energy to keep both of them on an even keel.

A baby at 22 weeks

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Week 21 (May 13 – May 19)

Now before I announce what Baby Bieger #2 is….let me tell you how terrible I slept all night. I was sooooo excited for today’s ultrasound. I didn’t get to sleep until 12:30am. I slept very lightly all night, like a kid waiting for sunrise to see if Santa came. At 1:30am, I woke up from heartburn and had to get up for some milk. At 3:30am, I woke up when Erick came home from a midnight showing of Star Wars. At 5am, I woke up because of Erick’s snoring. Usually I nudge him to turn over and that fixes the problem but not this morning. I laid there for a half hour before I gave up and went to the couch. I finally fell asleep again at 6am and then had to get up at 7:15am. As tired as I was though, the excitement of the ultrasound gave me plenty of energy.

Erick, McKenna and my sister all came along with me. The tech took a long time to measure everything (baby is measuring 5 days ahead) and the baby has all the working and necessary parts including….a uterus! It’s a girl!!!!! We are having another beautiful daughter! Instantly my mind began flooding with all that it meant – a sister for McKenna! Tea parties and dress up! Two weddings to pay for! We get to shop for more fun girly clothes! My mind just went round and round. I forsee a Halloween with two Disney princesses in a few years! Most importantly, the sweetness and the spirit that comes with two daughters….I am really looking forward to the sounds of sisters giggling and knowing that my two girls now have a best friend for life in each other.

So to answer some of the inevitable questions:

· Her name will be Kyla Elizabeth.

· No, we are not going to try again for a boy. We want to have 3-4 children. If one or two of them happen to be boys, that’s just as wonderful as if all 4 happen to be girls.

· No, Erick is not disappointed. He loves having a daughter. He is an excellent father to her and knows exactly how to be with her. What is more special then the father/daughter relationship? Who loves a man more than his little girl? And now he has TWO little girls to smother him in kisses, TWO little girls who will have him wrapped around their fingers, TWO little girls that he will be an excellent father to…raising them to be strong and intelligent women of God, and one day, TWO little girls to walk down the aisle. If ever there was a man qualified to be the father of two daughters, it is Erick.

· Yes, we do have an u/s photo! It was so cute. She smacked her lips together like she was thinking “I sure could use some breakfast right about now.”

· Yes, we immediately went shopping just as we did the day we found out McKenna was a girl. And one of the things we bought: matching pink dresses for the girls to wear the day we bring Kyla home.

The rest of my appointment went well. Nothing much new really. I go back on June 16 and will have my glucose test then.

Cravings: Fresh fruit (especially watermelon), cereal (particularly the peaches & strawberries Fruit Harvest cereal).

Aversions: Still pizza and buffalo wings.

Symptoms: Lots of baby movement (Kyla is as wiggly if not more so then her big sister). Heartburn. Light-sleeping. And one of the crummy parts of pregnancy – heavy belly. Its such a pain to turn over at night. I can’t sleep on my back at all and to turn from side to side is a strain. Bending over to pick up toys/clothes/cookie bits is exhausting. I feel like I lose my breath every time.

Kyla: Kyla’s heartbeat gets stronger and louder every day. Up until a few weeks ago, our doctor needed a special device called a Doppler to hear it. Now all that's needed is a stethoscope. Kyla is already starting to sleep and wake in subtle cycles. Ultrasounds show that unborn babies may even settle into a favorite sleeping position. She might tuck her chin into her chest, clasp her hands under her chin, or tilt her head back. Kyla weighs between 10 and 13 ounces and is around 9 inches long, the length and weight of a banana.

Kyla at 21 weeks

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Week 20 (May 6 – May 12)

Woohoo! Halfway! Halfway! This is one of my favorite pregnancy milestones. Halfway means I’m looking pregnant and not just fat. Halfway means I’m completely in maternity clothes. Halfway means I can feel lots of baby movements every day. And my favorite – halfway means we get to find out the baby’s gender! Just one more week! I can…not….WAIT!! I’m so excited! Don’t even ask me what I think this baby is or what I want it to be. I have NO clue! I am totally and completely stumped on the gender and I will be thrilled with whichever gender the baby is. I just can’t wait to know!!

In the beginning of my pregnancy (even though this was totally planned) I was so scared about the idea of how I’d cope not only through the newborn stage again…but how I’d do it with a toddler in my life as well. The idea was very overwhelming. Now I’m just EXCITED! Seeing how McKenna is growing and maturing makes me feel a lot more comfortable not only about her own capabilities and self-sufficiency but about how much I know she will love to have a sibling. I think anyone who knows McKenna would tell you that she will love being a big sister and she will love having a baby in the house. I know she won’t love everything about the idea and won’t love the idea all the time. But I truly believe she will enjoy it more than anything. And as far as the difficulty of the newborn stage, I just have to remind myself that although it will seem like endless nights and exhausting days, it really is only a brief amount of time when it comes down to it. And there are so many more joys that will make up for those difficult moments. Now that I know that the stage will be a short one, I think I’ll be able to face it with a lot more strength then I did before.

Cravings: “I’ll have what she’s having.” I’m very easily influenced by what other people are eating. I think all within about 5 minutes I wanted tartar sauce, strawberry shortcake, crème puffs and salad. Right now I just made myself want miso soup, shrimp tempura and beef teriyaki. Earlier today, I wanted twizzlers and an ice cream. Now mind you, I’m not indulging in all of these cravings (some, not all). I’m just saying that all it takes is for someone to mention something and I’m thinking “yep, I want some of that!!” Though I do think I’ll ask Erick to pick up some Japanese food for dinner tonight.

Aversions: Anything that will cause too much heartburn.

Symptoms: Lots of baby movement, big ol’ belly, heartburn and very tired. Not necessarily tired like I want to sleep. Just running out of breath quick enough that any physical activity kind of wears me down. Foot cramps were pretty bad this week. I hate those. My back gets sore more often. I’d say that’s about it. All-in-all, I feel pretty good.

Baby Bieger: Last week, vernix started to coat our baby's skin. This week, s/he's completely covered with the creamy substance, which will protect his/her delicate skin from the amniotic fluid. Our baby is truly starting to experience the world around him/her, limited though it may be. His/her brain has been working overtime developing the nerve centers dedicated to his/her senses, and they're coming alive. S/He's more responsive to the changes in the world around him/her: Shannon’s activity, sounds in the environment, and even the taste of the amniotic fluid. Shannon has probably felt the baby rolling, diving, and kicking inside her belly. Now she might also feel a rhythmic jerking. No, s/he's not tapping out a tune; s/he's hiccupping. Most babies get the hiccups in utero, possibly due to an immature diaphragm having spasms. There's nothing that can be done to stop the hiccups, but there's no need to—they won't harm our baby now or after s/he's born. After establishing a scalp hair pattern several weeks ago, our baby is moving to the next step: growing hair. And this isn't lanugo; it's the real deal. But don't get visions of a lustrous mane just yet. Most of this hair will start to fall out two weeks after birth. Don't worry—our little one will gradually grow permanent hair, which will probably be lighter in color than the hair s/he has at birth. Elsewhere in our baby's head, the bones of the inner ear are now fully formed, and the nose is beginning to develop into its recognizable shape. Our baby weighs about 7.5 to 9 ounces and measures approximately 8.5 inches. You could cup the little one in the palm of your hand.

A baby at 20 weeks

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Week 19 (April 29 – May 5)

My attitude this pregnancy is very different. Two examples – I push myself physically more than I did last time. Mostly, that is because more is required of me now. I have a toddler to tend to, I have chores that need to get done. But don’t worry, I’m being sensible and allowing Erick to help me often. I’m just saying that last time, I did not push myself at ALL. If anything, I coddled myself. I just realized the difference today as I was on my hands and knees cleaning our kitchen floor.

Another example – Someone came up to me today to “chat” about my pregnancy and first when he guessed that I was 5 months pregnant (I’m 4 months), I did not get offended (though I do think people should NOT try to guess something like that!). Then when he told me some pregnancy horror stories, I did not let myself feel concerned about them. Not even when he told me that he knew a girl who had a short torso (like mine) that died because the baby crushed her organs (sure, that happened.) I still don’t understand why people feel the need to tell you pregnancy horror stories when you’re pregnant but nonetheless, I did not pay it any heed (whereas last time I probably would’ve jumped right online to research it.)

I do feel HUGE though. I swear I feel like I’m 9 months pregnant. It’s hard to believe that I actually weigh less now then I did at this stage with McKenna. I definitely think I look bigger. I’ll post some belly pics next week.

Cravings: Greek salad, chocolate chunk cookies, cheddar cheese, root beer.

Aversions: Nothing comes to mind. But often my heartburn is so bad that particularly spicy/acidic foods cannot be eaten because I know I’ll just regret it.

Symptoms: Continuous bad heartburn. The only benefit to constant heartburn is that it makes me drink more milk. Lots of baby movement and getting stronger too! Very tired and unmotivated. I think (hope) that is lifting though because today seemed better then the rest of this week. Oh and of course - breathlessness.

Baby Bieger: If we're carrying a girl, the reproductive system is already well established. The vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are in place, and the ovaries contain more than 6 million primitive egg cells. When our baby is born, that number will have shrunk to about 1 million, which is all the eggs she'll ever have. If we're having a boy, things are also moving along. The male reproductive system is nearly fully developed. Testicles have formed and have been secreting testosterone since about week 10 of our pregnancy. The external genitalia, which became male in the first trimester, are continuing to grow: A scrotal sac is usually evident by now. Around this time, the skin starts to produce a creamy substance called vernix caseosa, which is made of oils secreted by the skin, dead cells, and lanugo, the fine hair that covers the body. This waxy coating protects our little one's skin from the effects of floating in amniotic fluid. Most of the vernix will disappear before birth, unless our baby arrives early. Preterm babies are often born still covered with a lot of vernix. Even full-term infants will have a bit of vernix in the creases of their skin. Our little one measures about 7 inches and weighs anywhere from 6.5 to 8 ounces. There's a definite upswing on the fetal growth chart now, so we can expect some big gains in the coming weeks.

A baby at 19 weeks

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Week 18 (April 22 – April 28)

The biggest and best news of the week is that Erick got to feel the baby move! I was lying on my back in bed and I could feel some really strong movements so I told him to come and feel. I was hoping he’d get to soon. He felt McKenna around 18 weeks too and I know its something he really loves and looks forward to. Also, the baby can start to hear outside sounds around this time so Erick has started talking to my belly again. I always feel like I’m eavesdropping on a special conversation when he talks to our babies in utero. = )

The baby is moving a lot. I’m hoping we have another wiggly one on our hands because that is my all-time favorite part of pregnancy. So far the baby has a predictable pattern when I notice movement. In the mornings around 9:30ish and in the evenings around 8ish. I feel him/her the most in the morning if I lie down and in the evening while I’m at the computer. It is absolutely impossible for me to go about my business when I notice movement. I always have to stop to take it all in and I can’t help but just smile and enjoy every second of it.

I’m definitely getting noticeably bigger. My neighbors have started to ask if I’m pregnant (probably hoping to God that I AM and not just getting fat! LOL! ) I also had to go and buy some new maternity clothes. NOTHING fits anymore. I have my old maternity clothes but some of them didn’t sit through storage all that well (some are inexplicably stained or the little ties in the back are falling off. I just knew maternity wardrobes were a rip-off!) Not to mention that when you have a toddler around, clothes get dirty DAILY. That means I can’t wear my pants more than once between washings because they now have cookie and strawberries on them. So off to shopping we went and I bought two new shirts and 2 pairs of capris. And Erick treated me to a new pair of strappy little sandals too, so I at least feel semi-stylish again. I would just like to add a mini vent that maternity clothes are neither affordable nor cute. Everything truly cute is extremely over-priced. Best case scenario, I’ve found clothes that are “cute enough” for “low enough” prices.

Cravings: I am STARVING lately! My big cravings are red meat (beef teriyaki, meatloaf, Yoshinoya beef bowl), miso soup, Frito’s with bean dip, Twizzlers, and Welch’s White Grape Peach Juice. It’s actually the peach part of it that I crave but I couldn’t find straight peach juice. Poor Erick has been sent on many dashes around town to accommodate my cravings.

Aversions: Still pizza. What is with my disdain for pizza lately?

Symptoms: Still battling terrible heartburn (which is why every single one of my cravings lately are rather unfortunate. They all cause heartburn.) Milk continues to be my relief for that symptom. I actually seem to have a battle with myself about going to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I rarely had to get up when I was pregnant with McKenna but this time around I have to so much more. I will actually wake up having to pee but before I can drag myself out of bed to go, I fall back asleep. This will continue through the night for several hours until I actually have dreams about going to the bathroom. I’m very, very tired and have a lot less energy (which stinks. I was enjoying all that energy). I forgot to mention that a couple of weeks ago, my belly button became a full outie. It never fully popped out last time but it is now!

Baby Bieger: This week, our little one is developing one of the characteristics that will make him/her unique: fingerprints. Pads of fat accumulating on the fingertips and toes will turn into distinguishing swirling lines. The large intestine has been tacked down to the back of the abdominal wall, and many digestive glands are forming. This developing digestive system has been going through its paces for several weeks already: The baby is swallowing amniotic fluid, which then makes its way through the stomach and intestines. Now, that fluid combines with dead cells and secretions in the intestines to form meconium. Meconium is the black, tarry substance that will eventually make up our baby's first messy diaper. The baby weighs up to 7 ounces and is about 6.5 to 7 inches, top to bottom.

A baby at 18 weeks

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Week 17 (April 15 – April 21)

I had an OB appointment today. Erick and I decided not to do the AFP test this time around. I asked the nurse if anything would show on an AFP screening that would not show on an ultrasound and she said no. So since my ultrasound is next month, I didn’t see any point in taking time out of my day to get blood drawn. If the test came back positive, all that would mean is there is the POSSIBILITY of a problem and thus would probably have me needlessly worried UNTIL my ultrasound. If the test came back negative, then I’m paying out of pocket to find out that nothing is wrong….which is essentially what I’d find out in a month anyway. I just didn’t see the point to spend the time and money AND having to get poked with a needle.

The nurse looked for the heartbeat for a long time and couldn’t find it. I wasn’t worried because I’d just felt the baby kick about a half hour earlier. So we waited and my doctor came in and it took her a long time to find it too. Turns out the baby would move away from the Doppler every time it was placed on my belly. Finally, the little stinker stayed still long enough for us to hear a strong and healthy heartbeat. It kind of tickled me to think of our little one in there being playful (or perhaps stubborn?) by avoiding the Doppler.

We set our next appt. for May 19 at 9am. That’s when we’ll find out if we’re having a second beautiful daughter or our first son! We can’t even begin to feel like we have a preference. There are just so many wonderful possibilities with either scenario that we feel so blessed either way. I just want to KNOW so that I can start focusing on the actual possibilities and dreaming of what our family will soon be like! Not to mention, I’m ready to start calling this little one by name!

Cravings: I can’t think of anything particular. I’ve been LOVING Watermelon Gatorade Ice but it causes bad heartburn.

Aversions: Coffee. I had to give up my morning cup. I even tried making it half-strength but I just can’t do it. It makes me feel really bloated and gives me bad tummy aches. Then I end up getting cramps because I’m dehydrated so it’s just not worth it.

Symptoms: Lots of little baby movements. Even one or two really big movements the other day. Heartburn is pretty much nonstop from afternoon to bedtime. Which is kind of a bummer because all the best foods cause heartburn. Very thirsty! Milk is the only thing that doesn’t cause heartburn so I drank 4 glasses in a row the other night.

Baby Bieger: This week, our little one starts to plump up a bit. The fat that's acquired, also called adipose tissue, helps produce and retain body heat. Fat tissue is also important for metabolism, since it's a great source of energy. This is a time of tremendous growth—our baby might measure up to 6.8 inches and weighs nearly 5 ounces. Our little one has been working on two basic reflexes for a few weeks: sucking and swallowing. By the time our baby is born, s/he'll have nearly all the reflexes that we do, ones that will help him/her survive and learn about the world. If we're going to have a girl, a special set of tissues is developing into the uterus and vagina. If a boy is in our future, these same tissues are taking another path: The penis has formed and the prostate has begun to take shape. The testosterone-secreting cells, which formed a month ago, are key in orchestrating these developments.

A baby at 17 weeks

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Week 16 (April 8 – April 14)

The theme of this week’s entry is HEARTBURN. My lord, it’s bad! I even woke up in the middle of the night from it and had to get up for a glass of milk. I believe that was the night I had Kielbasa stew for dinner with citrus punch to drink so what did I expect right? I’m a little more tired then I have been the past couple weeks. I’ve been catching brief naps here and there and trying to get to bed early. Also, my belly hurts! Right behind my belly button it just feels bruised! I don’t know what is causing this but it’s so painful and every time McKenna wants to poke my belly button (she likes to do this a lot), it just hurts so much! Oh speaking of, today McKenna put her face to my belly button and said “Hi baby!” We really haven’t mentioned the baby to her much (it’s still too early for her to understand with it being so many months away) so that was a cute surprise that she said that.

Cravings: I have never had these before but my friend Laura mentioned BBQ pork sandwiches so now I’m just dying for one. I’m also craving a Greek salad so I went and bought the ingredients for that today. Erick took me out to dinner at an Irish restaurant down town and they had the BEST salad with real blue cheese so I’ve been craving that as well. I made McKenna some scrambled eggs today and as soon as I smelled them I wanted one pretty badly. And my friend Kathleen introduced me to a trail mix that they make at Wal-Mart (Sam’s Choice: Indulgent) and that has been my snack of choice for the past few days.

Aversions: STILL fast food. I seem to only want to eat at home lately. Maybe I might be willing to do Souplantation or Pick-Up Stix but so far the typical fast food restaurants do not appeal to me. Very different from last pregnancy when I ate that stuff constantly.

Symptoms: Fierce heartburn, little baby pokes and flutters, a little more tired, sore belly button, my belly hair has returned and standing on end (LOL, if you’ve ever been pregnant then you know what I mean), and I seem to have a lot of stomachaches lately. That’s not fun. Oh, also, about 2-3 nights a week I need to get up once around 2am to go to the bathroom.

Baby Bieger: The appearance of body hair and possibly head hair was the big story last week. This week, thanks to strengthening muscles, our little one is working on lifting the head and neck from their curved position. Being able to straighten out a bit makes sitting up a possibility. Our baby is also moving those arms and legs frequently. These workouts could even get a sweat going, since the sweat glands have already formed (of course, Shannon’s uterus will keep things at just the right temperature). Our little one is about 4.5 to 4.75 inches long and just under 3 ounces.

A baby at 16 weeks

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Week 15 (April 1 – April 7)

Some days, I totally forget I’m pregnant! I feel so good physically and I’m so preoccupied with my busy toddler that it’s just really easy to forget that I’m even pregnant! My only reminders are nighttime heartburn, a big belly, and tiny baby movements whenever I’m sitting at a computer. It’s really been very nice to not only feel so well but to have bursts of extra energy. It’s helping me to be able to keep up with housework as well as have the energy to tend to all of McKenna’s needs.

Cravings: Still pickles! I also continuously crave crispy beef tacos from Jalapeno’s Grille but I don’t want to eat out too often so I’m suppressing the craving as much as I can. Avocados have also been a favorite this week as well as pineapple.

Aversions: Fast food. Although my sister did convince me to eat at Arby’s today. I think I was easily swayed more by the idea of not having to fix food myself then I was by the actual food we were gonna pick up.

Symptoms: Bigger belly (I can still wear low-rise jeans but all other pants are too tight. I can wear a couple of pre-pg shirts but mostly, I’m in maternity shirts now.), Baby movement (at least once a day). Heartburn at night. But it hasn’t been too miserable like it was in the first trimester. Bursts of energy.

Baby Bieger: By the end of the week, our little one's scalp hair pattern will be established for life. Some hair might begin to sprout, although it's usually not evident for a few more weeks. Of course, this is no guarantee that our baby will be born with a full head of hair; some babies stay bald until several months after birth. Ultrafine, soft hair called lanugo is also appearing over your baby’s entire body. This downy hair, which protects the delicate skin from the amniotic fluid, usually disappears just before or after birth. Underneath that lanugo is a fine layer of skin through which you can see blood vessels, which are already transporting blood. Mouth development continues—our little one may even be sucking on a thumb right now—and facial movements are a regular occurrence. If you could peek inside my uterus (and don’t even ask because the answer is no), you'd see a tiny fetus that weighs anywhere from 1.7 to 2.5 ounces and measures 4.1 to 4.5 inches from crown to rump—about the size of a small grapefruit.

A baby at 15 weeks

 

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Week 14 (March 25 – 31)

This has been a really nice week. I’ve felt the baby about a dozen times. I’ve felt fantastic! No nausea, minimal heartburn and tons of energy! My belly is getting bigger and it’s getting harder to bend down to pick things up or to tie my shoes. Not impossible, but nonetheless, my belly is hard to ignore. I’ve had some Braxton Hicks contractions which I had asked my OB about when I had seen her last week. She said my uterus just remembers what it did last time and I have an “active uterus”. Its simply responding to me when I do any strenuous activity or if I haven’t drank enough water. The same general rules apply – come in if there are more than 6 an hour or if they are extremely painful. If not, just lie down and rest, drink lots of water. I can tell they are nothing serious. They’re sporadic and always following strenuous activity (like letting a certain little munchkin ride on my back like a horsey).

I have no complaints for this week! I’ve felt so great and I’ve gotten so much accomplished. I don’t even feel the least bit tired in the mornings. I do take a nap in the afternoons every so often but even after a short-nap I wake up feeling refreshed. That doesn’t usually happen even if I’m NOT pregnant!

Cravings: Pickles, Spanish olives, Greek Salad at Souplantation, Tacos at Jalapeno’s Grille, Cool Ranch Doritos, Fresh Fruit, Propel Lemon Water.

Aversions: Fast Food restaurants.

Symptoms: Baby movement, high energy, mild heartburn, mild BHC, very thirsty, definite frequent urination. Way, way more than my first pregnancy.

Baby Bieger: A smile forms this week! Our baby’s mouth can even open and close and is starting to make swallowing and sucking motions (watch out, thumb). Those facial muscles are really getting a workout! The esophagus, windpipe, larynx, and vocal cords are all in place. Of course, the vocal cords can't make any sounds yet, since our little one is floating in fluid. But they're already being prepped for that first loud wail after birth. With each passing week, our baby is looking more like the little person we’ll meet the day Shannon gives birth. By now, the eyes have moved to their proper place at the top of the face, and the ears have moved from the neck to the sides of the head. The jaws have been complete for a while, and the palate is now "zipping up," closing from front to back. Our little one weighs about 2 ounces and measures 3.2 to 4.3 inches long.