BillyandAshlee.com

Here’s the latest pics!

Oh, and I thought I’d mention I really do own more maternity clothes than those jeans that have been in 85% of the pics!!! Mom bought me an entire wardrobe, honestly! We always take the pics on Saturday mornings, and well, that’s pretty much what I wear then! I’m sure they’re will be a bit more variety as the weather gets warmer!

I’m so happy we FINALLY made a decision!! We totally changed our mind on what we were looking at when we got the store (which was about the 10th time we’d been there!) We did get Ragazzi furniture, but their new, less expensive, Bambino line. And, we changed our mind and decided to go with a convertible crib. I didn’t mind spending the money knowing that the baby will be able to use this furniture for the next 18 years! I definitely think it will grow with the baby and we’ll just buy another furniture set for the next kid! I’m very happy with our decision:). It’s made in Chile and is Chilean pine, which is a harder and a “tighter” wood than normal (North American?) pine. It also uses the same hardware, dovetailed drawers, etc. as Ragazzi’s normal line. We ended up with the crib, conversion kit, double dresser, and nightstand.

This is the crib, showing what it looks like as crib, toddler/day bed and full size bed:

but in a cherry finish like this:

and then this double dresser in cherry:

and nightstand in cherry:

We aren’t crazy about the feet on the dresser and nightstand, so we might chop them off to be a bit shorter…we’ll see:).

It will take up to 8 weeks to come in, but they have to check to see what they already have in their warehouse here, so we might hear as early as next weeek!

It feels great to have that done, the last piece of furniture we need for the nursery is the glider! We already have it picked out (a Dutailer at BRUS), we might go order it this weekend!

Your Baby’s Development

By week 23, your baby is taking on the shape of a full-term baby — but her bones and organs are still visible beneath a thin layer of translucent skin.

Although your baby continues to add fat to her body, she still looks wrinkly. This happens because Baby’s skin develops more quickly than fat accumulates. However, she continues to grow, and by the end of the week will measure about eight to nine inches long.

Here are other developments this week:

• She’ll begin moving around more than ever, stretching and flexing the muscles in her arms and legs, fingers and toes.

• Skin pigment is being deposited this week to create your baby’s skin tone.

Your Development

As your uterus gets larger, it rests on top of the bladder, increasing your need to urinate frequently. At the same time, the growing uterus may trigger more back pain, pelvic pressure, leg cramps and headaches as you approach the end of your second trimester.

Some of this discomfort may affect how well you sleep. The closer you get to your delivery date, the more wakeful you may become. Anxiety, frequent urination, heartburn, and general discomfort may result in restless nights. Try to remember that this uneasiness will most likely stop once Baby arrives.

And finally, here’s the latest belly pic at 22w3d!

Sorry no belly pic yet! Billy was in a motorcycle safety class all weekend (Friday 6-10pm, Sat/Sun 8-5), so we finally took the pic last night, but it isn’t uploaded yet. We bought a new digital camera last week and he still needs to install whatever on a computer. Hopefully tonight!

This week is going to be crazy busy…I have an audit to finish and a few to plan before we start our vacation on Saturday. We leave a week from tomorrow (Tuesday, 5/31) for NYC! We can’t wait!!

Your Baby’s Development

This week nerve endings become functional enough so that Baby can feel! She may experiment with this new sense of touch by stroking her face or feeling other body parts to see how they move. You may feel Baby stretching her muscles by pushing against the muscular wall of your uterus with her feet or head.

In addition, Baby’s liver is busy breaking down bilirubin, a substance formed by the breakdown of hemoglobin in blood cells. Because a baby’s liver can only break down a limited amount of bilirubin, the excess is passed on to you through the placenta to filter from your liver. Baby weighs almost a pound now, and is seven to eight inches long. Although she’s filling out, her body still appears wrinkled because she lacks a significant layer of fat beneath her skin.

Other developments taking place this week include:

• Baby will form distinct lips.

• If Baby is a boy, testes, which have been tucked up inside the pelvis, will begin to descend into the scrotum this week and immature sperm will form in the seminal vesicles.

• Baby’s eyes will complete formation, although the iris (the colored part of the eye) will still lack pigment.

• The pancreas, essential to hormone production, will continue to develop steadily.

Your Development

By now you may have gained between 12 and 15 pounds. Starting this week, you’ll begin to put on weight more steadily, averaging about half a pound per week.

This week you may also begin to notice your uterus practicing for delivery with an irregular, squeezing sensation called “false labor” (or Braxton Hicks contractions). This refers to an irregular tightening of the uterus that may get stronger and longer as pregnancy progresses. Near the end of your pregnancy, it may be difficult to tell the difference between strong Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor pains. If the contractions become painful or if you have more than four contractions in an hour, contact your doctor, because painful, regular contractions may be a sign of preterm labor.

No time to write, still studying and need to get to bed!

Your Baby’s Development

What does a baby dream about as she drifts lazily in the womb? We may never know, but beginning with this week a baby’s sleep begins to settle into identifiable patterns. You might be able to tell when Baby is sleeping if you notice that her movements slow down dramatically at certain times of the day.

Some experts believe that your eating and sleeping habits, along with how much light and noise there is in your environment, all combine to help Baby synchronize her internal clock.

Here are some other developmental highlights that occur this week:

• At this point, Baby’s brain will be growing very quickly, especially the structure deep in the center of the brain responsible for producing brain cells. This structure will disappear shortly before birth.

• During this week, Baby’s general growth pattern will slow down. However, different organs will continue to mature, Baby’s heart will get stronger and her legs will reach the correct proportions.

Your Development

The average mom has now gained between 10 and 15 pounds. You may put on as much as a pound a week from now on.

If you’re feeling out of breath around week 21, don’t worry that you’re out of shape. As your body continues to change to accommodate Baby, and your expanding uterus further compresses your lungs, breathlessness usually becomes more pronounced. You may also notice your back aching a bit now, so it’s a good idea to be conscious of your posture and take care to lift and carry properly.

I had my 20week appt today and everything looks great! I’m up 15 pounds, which the dr. said is fine, that it puts me on track to gain 30-35 pounds which is within the recommended 25-35 pounds. The heartbeat sounded good and I measured 22cm, which is 22weeks. He said that was good, so I guess measuring 1.5 weeks ahead is fine! My next appt is on 6/6 and is another routine appt. (weight, blood pressure, heartbeat and measurements).

Since I’ve been home, the baby has been kicking like crazy (well, the baby has been kicking like crazy since Friday night!) and I could tell they were pretty strong, so I watched and I can SEE them now!! Billy’s on his way home and is really excited to watch! Of course this kid will stop kicking the second he walks in, I think he/she likes hiding from daddy:).

Well, we STILL didn’t buy a crib! I think we’re going to get the first set I posted below (just the crib and dresser), but Babyland is having a Memorial Day sale, so we’re going to wait a few weeks to order.

Billy felt kicks for the first time today!! He had a dream last night that he felt one and then this morning he actually did! He felt another again this afternoon…I think he finally believes there’s actually a baby in there:).

I have a dr. appt tomorrow, should be really routine…weight, blood pressure, heartbeat, and my measurement.

I have been trying to study all weekend for the CIA exam I have in a few weeks, but haven’t made too much progress, I’m about 1/4 of the way done. Hopefully I can study in the evenings this week, but work is busy too and I’ve been working longer hours. I’m sure I’ll find the time somewhere!

Just a quick post, we’re on our way out to the farmers market to get our produce for the week and to go HOPEFULLY actually BUY a crib and not just look for the 1,000th time! I’ll post more later!

Your Baby’s Development

The 20th week is an important time for Baby’s sensory development, as nerve cells serving each of the senses (taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch) are now developing into their specialized area of Baby’s brain. As these existing nerve cells get bigger and make more complex connections with each other, the brain’s production of additional nerve cells will slow.

Believe it or not, you’re halfway there on the journey toward holding your new baby! Your little one now weighs about nine to 12 ounces and has grown to about six to eight inches in length. She’s come a long way since her first days as a microscopic collection of cells, but has a lot more growing to do—remember, the average newborn is 18 to 21 inches long and weighs six to nine pounds at birth.

Other baby developments this week include:

• Under the protective vernix coating, Baby’s skin will continue to develop into three layers: the dermis, epidermis and subcutaneous layers.

• Baby’s nails and hair will continue to grow.

• Baby’s heartbeat will be stronger now, and will beat about twice as fast as your heart. You can hear it this week through a stethoscope.

• Baby will take up more and more space in the uterus, and her continued growth will put more pressure on your lungs, stomach, bladder, and kidneys.

Your Development

There are a few things that you may be experiencing for the first time when you reach the midpoint of your pregnancy at week 20. One change is that your uterus has reached your navel. At 20 weeks, your uterus is probably growing at about 4/10 inch a week. (If you’re much bigger, your doctor may perform an ultrasound to see if you’re carrying twins or if your estimated due date is correct.)

The enlarging uterus also will begin to stretch your abdominal muscles, and they may begin to pull apart as Baby grows. First-time moms may not notice such a separation, but with each pregnancy it becomes more visible. These muscles are attached to the lower part of your ribs and stretch down to the pelvis. You can see the separation more clearly if you lie down and raise your head, tightening the abdominal muscles — you’ll notice a bulge in the middle of your abdomen. It isn’t harmful or painful, and although exercising can strengthen these muscles, the bulge will still occur. After you give birth, these muscles will return to their original place, and the separation will become less noticeable.

You may also notice your skin is getting itchy as the uterus grows. This is because as your uterus grows, it stretches your skin. Lotions may help soften skin and ease the itch.

Don’t be surprised if your belly button has changed from an “innie” to an “outie” and starts to protrude. This change is a result of the pressure behind it. (It will revert close to its pre-pregnancy shape after delivery.)

Other changes you may notice this month include the appearance of varicose veins. Most women who experience varicose veins are genetically predisposed to this condition. Varicose veins are simply blood vessels that are filled with pooled blood. They usually appear in the legs or vulva. Wearing support hose, lying on your left side and elevating your legs can help drain the veins. It’s also as good idea to stay off your feet, wear flat shoes and avoid crossing your legs. Varicose veins usually become less noticeable after delivery.

Additionally, you may suddenly find yourself short of breath. Some women have a bit of trouble catching their breath as their internal organs press against the lungs. This breathlessness will usually continue until the baby “drops” or moves into position in the pelvis (for first pregnancies, this usually happens four to six weeks before birth; with subsequent pregnancies, it occurs closer to when labor begins).

Better late than never right? We took the pic on Saturday but are just now getting it uploaded!

We spent all weekend looking at cribs and have them narrowed down to a few, including these:

As you can tell, I think we’re pretty set on the style, just need to pick the brand! Hopefully we can make a decision and buy the crib and dresser this weekend!

We also picked out this glider from Babies R Us that we’ll order soon: