paper gowns are stupid.

okay. this is the last belly pic you get because, to be honest, i'm sick of looking at it and i think you should be as well. i was at target today where a lady -we'll call her demon seed - told me i sure was big; was i having twins? i went immediately home and comforted myself with a wonka bar. i do not think i will leave the house again as it is dangerous out there.

39 weeks for the love of god.

wee stats:
*heartrate: 140 bpm

me stats:
*poundage: negative 1 pound thank you very much -- not that demon seed would notice.
*rising blood pressure
*intermittent fat fingers
*grumpy disposition
*have an area/shelf at the top of my stomach where i can store small objects, monies and wonka bars

Week Thirty-Nine

• The lanugo has mostly disappeared, (probably not- you've seen herschel right?) but you'll probably find a bit on her shoulders, arms and legs and in those protected little bodily creases. It will vanish completely on its own in time.
• His lungs are maturing and surfactant production is increasing and fully prepared to take on the outside world!
• Your baby doesn't have much room to move (that means it's time to move on weebaby)
  
• His body continues laying on the fat stores that will help regulate his body temperature after birth. In addition to normal fat, he is accumulating a special "brown" fat in the nape of his neck, between his shoulders and around organs. Brown fat cells are important for thermogenesis (generating heat) during his first weeks.
• Your infant's weight is around 7.25 pounds (3288gm) and length is 19.9 inches (50.7cm).

eviction notice.

anytime weebaby.... anytime.

38 weeks. 38 pounds. isn't that nice.

wee stats:
*heartrate: 153bpm
*on the move constantly


me stats:
*poundage: + another 1.5 (38 total. sigh. pity party starts in five minutes) that is like carrying around a 38-pound Guadalupe yellowtail shown here by some proud sport fisherman. * we will need a wide angle lens for the next belly pic

*cursed with a wonderful uterine environment. weebaby is sure to to never want to leave.

*the following may be too much information for some but i am a whopping 1 cm dilated. in case you were wondering, that is not enough.

Week Thirty-Eight

• If he is the "average baby," he weights 6.8 pounds (3083gm)and is 19.6 inches (49.8cm) long.
• Have you noticed she hiccups a lot? Because there is no air around her, those breathing exercises cause amniotic fluid to get into her windpipe.
• Your child's intestines are accumulating lots of meconium. Meconium takes on the role of being your baby's first bowel movement -- removing the waste that has accumulated.
• He may have a full head of hair now
• Circumference of head and abdomen are about the same size for your baby.
  

running out of weeks here.

wee stats:
*very relaxed - we could see breathing movements on the ultrasound which, according to the doc, equals one extremely non-stressed baby
*the official estimated fetal weight as of 12/5 is 6 lbs 12 oz... while i am happy that wee is not a gigantic russian baby, i can no longer blame all of my weight gain on a mere almost 7 pound baby. sigh.
*head down
*cramped and, i think, getting tired of being so if my sore ribs are any indication

me stats:
*pretty much a textbook gestator so far according to the doc thus confirming my suspicion that i am mostly perfect or at least way above average in most things. i have just jinxed myself and will now probably have 36+ hours of excruciating labor
*rising blood pressure
*no weight gain (for once) but it's only been a week. i'm sure i'll have gained 14 pounds by my next appointment which is in 4 days.
*generalized edema
*ready to be normal again...mentally (but not physically) done with pregnancy



when do you think wee will get here? the official due date is 12/27 but there's already a few predictions in....the winner will get a prize of some sort - not really sure what that will be but it is sure to be super fine and is also sure not to be a piece of the placenta as requested by lauren (this request was immediately struck down by yours truly although i understand wanting a piece of a placenta as fabulous as mine and wee's)

Week Thirty-Seven

• This week, the average size is about 6.3 pounds (2859gm) now and 19.1 inches (48.6cm) length.
• She is official full term now but can still benefit from extra days in the womb.
• Your baby continues to practice breathing movements. Isn't it amazing how she can breathe "under water?"
• Grasp is firm now. It won't be long until you'll feel that strong little fist confidently grasping your finger (or tightly clenching your hair)!
• A few weeks ago, your baby would move her eyes toward light. Now she turns towards light outside the uterus.
• " As the uterine wall stretches and thins allowing more light to permeate, he develops definite daily activity cycles. You will want to be sure to establish good patterns yourself at this time, thus encouraging them in your child.
  

doc update:

wee stats:
heartrate: 153 bpm
activity status: soccer goalie

me stats:
poundage: +7 pounds (yes. in two weeks. i have posted a new pic of me above)
activity status: all time low, hence the seven pounds



next week: ultrasound for the estimated fetal weight or the day that i find out i'm having an eighteen pound baby.

because everyone should hear this one.

so i came downstairs and was lying on the couch with herschel......we're watching my belly move around and i say how i get really nervous about this whole labor thing sometimes and i feel like i'm going to throw up my butterflies and he says, seriously, "i know, i get that way right before i have to go to the dentist"
seriously. i don't have the energy to make this stuff up.

belly up.

belly pic from today: herschel has sympathy belly (with hair for added panache)



the month of wee showers:

it all began in bainbridge, georgia on 11/3......
i am having issues with pictures from this shower so these will have to do to show the massive bounty from our home town. i can't even describe it all. wee's presents filled my mom's suburban but don't underestimate the jetta (herschel) because everything made it back to athens in one trip - including me, my big bag and troublesome cub.




then....11/11......soybean shower time with herschel's lab..... i don't have any pictures but there was a big turnout and everybody pitched in for our super fine wee monitor
and, as if that wasn't enough, there were more gifts in addition to the monitor. hersch works with some generous people. it must be the soybeans.

since i don't have any pics, here's the image from the e-vite...


and finally 11/17...... the partay shower at charlie and erin's... shown here with corinn who was one of our shower gifts. we decided we would give her back to chris and cliff since they seemed kind of attached to her. that is a happy baby.
even maynard had a good time.
a baby plunger simply because of genes inherited from herschel

here's some people pics... including two of my vet school friends who traveled across state lines for some weebaby shenanigans... thanks emily (and ryan) and carrie












and, of course, pin the poo on the baby.


hersch and i feel so lucky to have such good friends and family. everyone's generosity has been a bit overwhelming and we can't thank everybody enough. we are set for baby gear... all we need now is wee.

thanks again everybody!

and now, two weeks worth of fetal development for your reading pleasure...

Week Thirty-Five

• The average baby weighs almost five and a half pounds now.
• Most babies born now will survive and without many long-term problems.
• Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this week. These layers of fat will help him regulate his body temperature. They also provide those cute little dimples on elbows and knees!
• Her hearing is fully developed.
• It's getting crowded! Your baby is now taking up most of the uterus and you may even feel like your chest has run out of room! Soon enough though, baby will move down and you'll be able to breathe easily again
  
• Your baby is 18.2 inches (46.2cm) long and weighs 5.3 pounds (2383gm).
• The testes have completed their descent in males.

Week Thirty-Six

Your baby is almost ready and most likely, so are you! The only organ still to mature is the lungs. While certainly you are both growing anxious to meet, remember that each day (up to 42 weeks), that your little one stays within your womb will multiply his chances to breathe on his own.

If he hasn't already, this week your baby may drop into the birth canal. While breathing for mom becomes easier, walking may be the exact opposite! If he's not your first baby, this "lightening" may not occur until right before labor.

Fat is dimpling your baby's elbows and knees, and forming creases in the neck and wrists. (fat dimples are a necessity in my book)

His skin is growing smooth and, shall we say it, "baby" soft.

His gums are very rigid. It won't be many months before you'll see his teeth.

She has a fully developed pair of kidneys and her liver has begun processing some waste products.

Your child's average size is now 18.66 inches (47.4cm) and 5.78 pounds (2622 g). Between now and birth she will gain about an ounce a day!