Sascha's arrival

On the evening of December 5th I started feeling some contractions, but I thought that they were just Braxton hicks. After 11:00 pm I decided to start timing them and they were about 15 minutes apart. I tried to sleep but of course that was impossible, so around 2:00am I decided to get up and take a shower... just in case, after a long shower I felt a lot better and thought it was probably false labor and went back to bed. At 3:05 am, I ran to the bathroom and told Jeromey "My water just broke". By then there was no doubt, this was the real thing, she was really coming.  To back track to my time spent before that, I had enjoyed a very long walk on Torrey Pines beach, made it all the way to Flat rock area and back in about hour and a half. Then we went out to eat to our favorite Thai restaurant - "Taste of Thai" and I ordered Spicy Noodles, Jeromey's favorite spicy dish... just not quite as spicy as he gets it. So I think those two combined probably helped our little girl come a bit early. :)

By 4:45 pm we were at Scripps Memorial Hospital and I was getting hooked up to all sorts of monitors. My contractions started being a lot closer together, 4 to 2 minutes apart, but I was only 2 cm dilated.  At 6:00 am I was 3 cm, and I got an epidural and felt so much better. In another hour I was 4 cm, then Dr. Marshall came to see me and said that she would be back in the afternoon in hopes that I would be closer to 10cm by then. Well things progressed a little quicker than that. By 10:00 am I was 7 cm dilated and when they checked at 11:30 I was already 10 cm, so they paged her to come deliver sooner. The nurse said to get ready to push even though Dr. Marshall hasn't come, she said that since it was my first baby it will take some time to get the baby all the way down. When I started to push, she said she already saw the head and that we need to stop pushing and wait for the doctor. She said I was a very good pusher. haha

The doctor came at 12:15 and we started pushing once again, I pushed through 3 contractions and the baby came right out. She had the cord wrapped around her neck, but in just a matter of seconds we heard her first cry. She was born on December 6th, at 12:35pm weighing 6lbs and 1 oz and 19 and 1/2 inches long. Healthy and Happy we are now a family of 3.

Growing belly

Here are the pictures we've taken, which I've put together to see the progress. I was trying to do them on a monthly basis since 4 months, and that's not exactly how it worked out, but close enough!

The doctor said that I was still only about 1 to 1&1/2 cm dilated. I gained about 25 lbs. I felt a few contractions last night, but they weren't regular so it's pretty safe to assume that they're just the Braxton Hicks or fake labor.

Week 38

Yet another week has gone by. Last week the doctor told me that I was 1 cm dilated and everything is going well, she has definitely dropped some more. I am done with work so now and I am just waiting for her to come!

When will you be here? :) We want to meet you!

Here is how big my belly has gotten at 38 weeks. It's amazing that there is still space in there for her to move which she does quite often.

Week 38 Development:

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Week 36 and 37

She's almost here! 3 weeks left. I am seeing my doctor on a weekly basis now. Last visit I mentioned that the baby has moved and I was feeling her hiccups on the side now, which for me was an indication that she was no longer head down. After the doctor felt around, she wanted to make sure with a quick ultrasound and the baby did move back head down so I think she only stayed in the breech position for less than a day or two which is good. Also even though I am measuring small, she assured us that they don't really let patients go too much over their due date, may be just a few days, so I am willing to bet that she'll be here before the 20th of December.

Week 36 Development

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

Week 37 Development

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully 

mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Our friend Abtin and Erin came over during Thanksgiving break and he snapped this photo of us.

The baby room - all done!

It's finally finished. We put the finishing touches in over the Thanksgiving weekend. The room turned out better than Jeromey or I could have imagined. Here is a little picture of it.  Even the drawers are full with little tiny clothes, and blankets. I can finally say that we're ready.

Baby Shower

I had the best time at my baby shower. I must say I have the most wonderful friends and family. It's hard to put in words, but everything was perfect. The decorations, the food, the games, the gifts, everything! I got a very cute Parenting 101 book, where people wrote their advice for a particular age starting from birth to 30 years old and I read some of the out loud, they were so funny! Everyone really put some thought and humor into them. The Video questions were probably the funniest and the most unique idea. There were over 20 questions to answer and then my answers were being matched up with Jeromey's answers. Well little did I know that Jeromey had his answers videotaped and edited at a friends house. So after I answered, they would play his answers on a projector screen for everyone to hear. His delivery was probably the best part, and of course the answers were hilarious, and a few made me a bit emotional.
Here are a couple of memorable ones: How many diapers has Jeromey changed in his life? My answer was going to be very few, I said well may be 5, just to give him the benefit of the doubt. His answer was: while he watched quite a few of them being changed, but has never changed one himself and he plans on continuing that supervisory role! Hah, we'll see about that. And another question was: if we had a plan for who was going to be responsible for what and when especially at night time? I said we haven't really made a plan, but we really should, while Jeromey said that he's investigated the issue and has talked to many reliable sources which was also backed up by medical research that between the hours of 10pm and 8am, the baby calls for the mother 95% of the time, and for the father 5% of the time, so he's planning on sticking to that schedule. Nice one daddy! =) That of course got lots of laughs!

Towards the end of the shower when Jeromey came over to get me, he was presented with a "Daddy Doody Belt" that was equipped w/tongs, diapers, wipes, air freshener, gloves and a mask. He'll be needing that very soon to step outside his supervisory role of changing diapers.

Here are a few pictures from the party. Check out the coolest Diaper Cake, as well as the real cake w/the teddy bear on it wearing a diaper. All so cute! Thanks to all my friends and family as well as Jeromey's family who planned everything and also to those who were able to come celebrate, it wouldn't have been the same without you! We got some awesome gifts, and we cannot wait to use them when the baby comes. Jeromey and I are so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Week 35 (8 months)

This week has been progressing well. Every single day is different. One day I am feeling like an energizer bunny for a little while, the next day I am completely drained. Going to work has been a total drag, but one of the hardest things has been getting out of bed lately, or even switching sides to sleep on, and that has to be done multiple times during the night... my stomach just feels so tight and the pressure doesn't ease up. The baby hiccups are a daily occurrence and the heartburn as well. My internal temperature is completely off, I am hot all the time and my palms are constantly sweating and it's November! I can only wonder how it would be like if I was this big in August, not so much fun! At least I haven't had much swelling in my feet, I am very thankful for that! A few days ago I got up and I couldn't move my right leg, apparently I sat for too long while too much pressure built up on my sciatic nerve and it took at least 15 minutes for me to try and do various stretching exercises to make it ease up. Finally after Jeromey had helped me w/the stretching and pulling, I was able to walk it off. I've gained somewhere between 20-23 lbs so far.

We went to visit our friends Leslie and Matt who just had a baby 3 weeks ago, so I finally got to meed Anderson who decided to come a few weeks early! He was so tiny - almost 7 lbs, much like a little doll, and so peaceful, I just kept staring at him, thinking in just a few weeks I'll be holding a baby that belongs to me. He is an adorable little peanut, it will be fun to watch them play together when they get a little bigger :)

We have the crib set up already, but still waiting for the dresser since the one we picked up was damaged. I am hoping it will come in this weekend so we have Thanksgiving week to finish setting everything up, it's all definitely coming together nicely. I can't wait till my baby shower on Saturday, I know there will be some surprises there too, since everyone has been very hush hush about the details on it.

Week 35 Development:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Baby shower at work - it was a surprise!

Little did I know that my coworkers have been planning a shower for me.

I was caught completely off guard since another coworker Steve is retiring so we went to lunch for his retirment celebration and I was told that we were having dessert for him in a few hours after lunch in a conference room. So I walked into this room thinking that we're still celebrating Steve, only to have a completely clueless look on my face when I found out that people were actually there for Jeromey and I. He of course knew what was going on the whole time. My face turned bright red, I got pretty emotional and speechless. It was a very nice surprise to say the least. I got lots of baby goodies from everyone and a very pretty signed a frame.
Here are some pictures, the cake was delicious!

Week 34

I am definitely feeling like I am getting to the home stretch. The last few days have been tough. Seems that I cannot be in a sitting position for too long, once I get up I feel a ton of pressure and I am super slow and crouched when I start walking, after a while I am able to "walk it off" and start looking semi-normal, but still slow. I started to get concerned because sometimes it was quite painful, so once I called the doctor they wanted me to come in earlier than scheduled just to make sure everything is ok. Today we saw Dr. Marshall and she reassured us that things are going well. Apparently the baby has now dropped so her head is quite low and that's where the increased pressure is mostly coming from, so it's not early contractions or anything like that and I am not yet dilated which is good. The baby is just getting ready to come out and I have to take it easy and bare with it. I am definitely going to try and work for a few more weeks and then either try to arrange to work from home or go on disability for the last few weeks after Thanksgiving. She's moving all the time, and I feel the hiccups daily as well, I just can't believe how much I've grown and carrying around such a big belly, I should have measured it from the start just to compare! I've gained a total of 19-21 lbs, and I have less than 6 weeks to go (assuming she's coming on time or before the due date of December 15)

Week 33 Development:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Week 33

Last week was a bit more stressful than the previous with the fires and being displaced for a few days. Our friend Leslie who was due only 3-4 weeks before me delivered last week and had a healthy beautiful baby boy! 4 weeks early... I was freaking out a bit after I found out, wow, she can really come any time now? Well I am still hoping to hold out for a few more weeks. We don't yet have a crib or a dresser and the baby shower is still yet to happen in a couple of weeks, so I am feeling extremely unprepared which is not like me at all. My parents did get us a stroller and a car seat so I guess we'll be ok since we'll have something to bring the baby home in :).

I am feeling good overall, just really tired. It is becoming more and more difficult to sleep as the baby grows. Some nights I wake up and get up almost every hour or two, and towards the end of the night I'm sometimes able to get good 3 hours in. If I sit for too long and then get up, I feel a ton of pressure on my bladder and I wobble to the bathroom, so I am starting to get more awkward I guess, and that's not so fun being awkward and at work, I am thinking that depending on how things go I may be done w/work after thanksgiving or shortly after.
There is definitely less and less room for the baby and you can clearly see her move around and shift her weight in my belly, as well as stick her limbs out the side. I think I've gained about 17-20 lbs at this point... I don't think it will be too hard to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

Week 33 Development:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Week 32

I am feeling the baby hiccup daily now, it's kind of cute, and doesn't usually last for too long. At first I was a bit alarmed since it's been happening on a regular basis, but I've been reading up on it and it seems to be a normal thing, so I guess not to worry. Everything is else seems to be going ok.

On another side of the news we had to evacuate on Monday morning because of the wild fires that were getting close to us. It was quite scary, and the air quality was pretty terrible, but luckily we were able to come back home Wednesday afternoon. We stayed at my sisters' for 1 night and at Jeromeys' dad's house for another night. It was a relief to be able to come back home. We'll be staying inside for a while since the air quality is probably going to be bad for some time.

Week 32 Development:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Baby Room - Work in Progress

Here are the stages of the baby room. Daddy hard at work trying to get the stripes perfectly straight! Thanks to a couple of our wonderful friends who came over and helped get things started!

It's not quite 100% complete, but it looks just about done in the last picture. I'll probably post another photo once we have the crib and everything else moved in.

Week 31

We had another appointment a week ago, and everything went very well. I found out that my glucose blood test came back fine, and all the other tests have been good too. She even told us that the baby is already head down. Our next appointment will be in 3 weeks from today, and then another one in 2 weeks. After the 2 week appointment I think I'll already be 36 weeks and we'll be going to the doctor for weekly visits. I've been feeling pretty good, just getting heavier and a little more difficult to get around and do simple things like get out of a car or pick something up from the floor. It's so amazing how your body changes to accommodate a baby growing inside.
I finally got around to taking another picture, so here is the latest. I've gained about 16-19 lbs so far. Lately, I'm constantly hungry. My midnight snack for the last week has been a peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich. I really haven't craved anything else.
So I've been resisting to buy anything for the last 7 months, but about a week ago I started looking and there is just so much cute girly stuff, it's hard to resist.
A few nights ago, the baby was super active, she was really starting to kick hard and instead of the front I feel it on the side, where there is not much room, so Jeromey and I were observing as a limb would periodically stick out of my side, it was pretty amusing. Also I think she got the hiccups a few days ago, it was the first time I felt rhythmic light kicks that would indicate the hiccups.


Week 31 Development:
This week, your baby measures about 16 inches long. He weighs a little over 3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Week 30 (7 months)

The baby room is almost done! Jeromey took a day off last week to get a good start on it, and we had some wonderful friends who came and helped out as well. I've been taking pictures of the progress and I must say that it looks better than I imagined it would!
I am feeling pretty good this week, last week I had one day where I probably was only able to get about 3 hours of sleep, I just couldn't get comfy and I had heartburn, but then the next day I recovered. :) It's probably time to post another picture of the growing belly, it's definitely growing so much faster now.
I've gained somewhere between 14-16 lbs so far, and it all just seems to go in the belly which is nice, can't complain about that! I definitely get tired more now, and a little off balance. I've been climbing up 3 flights of stairs to go into work, and after I am done, sadly I am totally out of breath!

Week 30 Development:
Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Week 29

The last few days the kicks have felt so much harder than previous weeks. It definitely feels like the baby is starting to have less and less space, yet she's moving a ton, which is fun! Last friday we went to the Dave Mathews Band Concert, and I wasn't sure how comfortable I would be sitting on the ground for a long period of time, but it was fine. I had a fun time, I felt a bit sore towards the end of the night, but it's definitely much better to sit of a long time rather than stand for a long time. Just 4 years ago, Jeromey took me to see DMB for our first unofficial date! Time is definitely flying by! I am in my 3rd trimester already and the baby will be here before we know it! I can't wait to finally hold her!

Week 29 Development:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Week 28

Last night was soo uncomfortable. I went to bed early (before midnight), then woke up around 11pm and could not fall back asleep, I got up every hour until about 2:30am. I think it was the worst night so far: not being able to sleep and find a comfortable position, with the lower back being in a lot of pain. Every time I seemed to doze of, the baby would start kicking like crazy too, haha, that's doesn't exactly help fall asleep.
I am going to try and take it easy for the rest of the week, so that I am not completely exhausted and falling asleep at work. I am really hoping that the next 2 and a half months aren't like this.

Week 28 Development:
By this week, your baby weighs a little over 2 pounds and measures almost 15 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Week 27

I am still feeling pretty good, just exhausted at the end of the day. Yesterday our work moved to a new building and everyone was getting situated in their new place, lots of people walking around. I had two people point and notice that I had a big belly. People say the funniest things, and the most random things, especially when they don't know you, but for some reason want to acknowledge the fact that you're pregnant.


Week 27 Development:

This week your baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to him, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking?

Week 25 and Week 26 (6 months)

We had our week 25 appointment last week. The wait was super long because the doctor had to pick up extra appointments since Dr. Lim wasn't there for some reason.
But we finally got to see her. She listened to the heart beat which was at 140, and I told her that I had some pain in my leg, probably from stretching a ligament by pushing boxes w/my feet. Since things are loosening up in my body, she said to take it easy which I have been. It hasn't been too bad, just some days I really feel it in my lower back and the leg, probably when I walk too much or bend down too much. It's difficult to get used to it because I still want to do so much during the day, but the tiredness gets to me before I can say I am finished. Here is the latest picture! I gained about 10 lbs so far. She kicks quite a bit, I love feeling the movement, I think it's the coolest thing during the whole pregnancy.

Jeromey and I went to his high school reunion which is always interesting. There was one girl there who was due in 10 days, and a couple others who just had babies, so it was fun to talk to them and hear about their experiences.

I think we'll start on working on painting the nursery in a few weeks! I can't wait to see what it will turn out like.

Week 25 Development:
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. Her hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after she's born.

Week 26 Development:
Your baby now weighs a little under 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches, from head to heel. The nerve pathways in her ears are developing, which means her response to sounds is growing more consistent. Her lungs are developing now, too, as she continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid — good practice for when she's born and takes that first breath of air.

Week 22, Week 23 and Week 24

Yes, I am a bit behind on the posts. It has been a busy 3 weeks to say the least because of the move, but we're are all moved as of last week, and now just working on unpacking. We love our new house, and it is already starting to feel like a home. Luckily we still have a few months to work on the nursery and get everything situated.

I've been feeling pretty well, just super tired, mostly because of all the running around we're doing lately, I get completely exhausted at the end of the day. Sometimes it's hard to find a comfortable position to sit or sleep. The pillow I got a few months ago is definitely coming in handy at night.

I've gained a total of about 5-7 lbs at this point. The belly is looking huge (will post a picture soon) at least to me, some people have told me that I am small, and the kicks feel strong, I can even see her actual kick sometimes if I stare and wait for it. That's been fun! Sometimes it feels like there is a soccer match going on inside me, I can't help but giggle when that happens. Jeromey can feel them as well, when he puts his hand on the stomach, so now we can share the experience, sort of... One night he decided to start singing and the kicking definitely picked up, it was pretty funny.
I am on my way to 3rd trimester, these last few months have flown by.

Week 22 Development:
Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

Week 23 Development:
Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.

Week 24 Development:
Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance **that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

Week 21

We had another doctors appointment today with my original Dr. Marshall who is now back from her maternity leave. I think Jeromey was disappointed that he didn't get to see Dr. Lim and joke some more with him about baseball, football or golf. I really like both of them, but I usually feel more comfortable w/a woman doctor.

It took her a while to find the heart beat, but I was really calm because the baby was just kicking earlier so I knew I didn't have much to worry about. She averaged at about 150 beats/minute.

The doctor said that the AFP test came back negative for everything which was great news, and I finally found out that my blood type is O positive, and Jeromey says that his is the same, so most likely it will be the same for the baby. Also she said it's perfectly normal that I haven't gained much weight in the first half of my pregnancy and if I stay active and gain less than 35 lbs, I may have an easier delivery... hah, I guess we'll find out if that's true or not much later.


Week 21 Development

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.

Ultrasound Day

If the pink ticker below doesn't give it away... we're having a GIRL! It was very exciting to find out! I guess my intuition was correct, I really believed it was a girl since we found out I was pregnant.

Well to say the least Jeromey and I were both overwhelmed with emotions on this day. It was almost as if the reality of actually having the baby set right in, not that it didn't before, but this experience today made it that much more real.
We went to a place called XDI Ultrasound (http://xdiultrasound.com/). Everything checked out ok, 10 fingers and 10 toes. Her heart beat was strong at 160 beats/minute. The technician took all sorts of measurements and we were on our way out with a ton of pictures, DVD, VHS, and CD-ROM of the whole 45 minute appointment captured. Quite amazing.

It started out as a regular Ultrasound, but after he told us the sex of the baby, and was done taking all sorts of important measurements and making notes, we switched to 3D and 4D and could see the baby's face. We were told she was wide awake and we saw her swallow fluid, move around, kick and even yawn. My due date got moved to December 15th as well. Less than 20 weeks to go and we can't wait to meet her!

Here is a 4D picture of the face and another B&W one

Week 19 and Week 20 (5 Months)

Well we took the baby to Cancun, and had a fun time with our friends! Our last vacation before the baby is born.

Ultrasound tomorrow! Time is flying by, 20 weeks already and I am 1/2 way there.

Hopefully the baby will cooperate and I'll find out if it's a boy or girl and if not Jeromey will be excited since he wants it to be a surprise.

The baby is kicking now, I can definitely feel the little movements especially in the evening time, it's very gentle. In just a few weeks Jeromey might be able to feel it too. My belly has grown quite a bit. Here is the latest picture.

Week 19 Development

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.

Week 20 Development

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery)

Week 17 and Week 18

We're off to Cancun tomorrow! I am super excited for a chance to get away for a few days and relax. The last few weeks have definitely been intense, an emotional roller coaster. I should have known that selling and buying a house is not going to be an easy task. We are finally in escrow for the condo and things are moving right along, and I am sure we'll soon be able to find a home that we love, where this little baby will grow to be very happy. Other than the "house stress", I've been feeling pretty good. On the weekends I get a lower back ache and that's not very pleasant, it doesn't really go away until I go to sleep at night and wake up the next morning. My body is used to sitting all day Monday - Friday, so when I am up doing a million things over the weekend, it really seems to take a toll on me, I get exhausted! I still have not gained any weight, but I can sure eat! My belly has grown soo much, I will try and take another picture soon to compare with the last one I took at week 13.

Week 17 Development:
Your baby weighs about 5 ounces now, and he's around 5 inches long — about the size of a large onion. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

Week 18 Development:
Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Week 16

We had another appointment yesterday. It was supposed to be in another 4 days but I had to call the doctor in the morning because I got really anxious and needed some sort of confirmation that everything was ok. I had felt the baby moving, also described as "flutter" or "quickening" for a good week, and then last week it stopped, and I haven't felt anything since. I moved in positions that earlier made the baby move, I had a full stomach and still nothing. I tried not to worry and let it go to my head since it is still super early to even feel anything, but after 3 or 4 days or so I just couldn't stand it anymore, so after I called the office and described what was going on, they moved my appointment so I can come and make sure the heart beat is still strong, and to our relief it was! The doc made fun of me and said that it's too early to feel it, and I probably felt a burrito in there implying that it was just indigestion or something of that sort. I am still convinced that it wasn't but, oh well as long as things are ok.

While getting some paperwork for the labs and my ultrasound (which is now scheduled for July 30th), Jeromey kept joking w/the doctor and said something about his bad swing to the right when he played golf last Friday and thinking of Dr. Lim who is an avid golfer, to which the doctor didn't hesitate and said you know your wife will go into labor and she will not be getting an epidural... it was pretty funny. Then Jeromey quickly decided to fix the situation by writing him an apology email from the Blackberry, to which the doc replied with "apology accepted, but she still might not be getting an epidural". I think I am going to have to leave Jeromey at home next time...


Week 16 Development:

At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

Week 15

Considering that I already started feeling the baby move, it's been an exciting week 14/15 already. I get more uncomfortable at night, and I am constantly thinking about food although I still haven't gained any weight. I get hungry every few hours, but can't seem to eat too big of a portion. I feel like I have about the same energy as before, some days more, some days are a bit on the lazy side. Sometimes I look down and I see the belly and still cannot believe that it's mine and it's growing every day, it's like I have to pinch myself.
I few people told me that they believe that I am having a boy, I think it was based on the lack of morning sickness, however a couple of people predicted a girl. Hope to find out soon, and solve the big mystery. Jeromey doesn't want to find out, so we'll see if I can keep this one a secret, hah, probably not for very long.

Week 15 development: At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help develop the air sacs in his lungs. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but his taste buds are beginning to form. And if you have an ultrasound, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or girl! (Don't be disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down the sex depends somewhat on how clear the picture is and the position of your baby during the ultrasound; he may be curled or turned in such a way as to keep you in suspense.)

Moving or Kicking???

I felt the baby move this morning when I woke up. I switched sides to lay on my left, and felt a fluttering motion inside, it was really low and nothing that I've ever felt before. After a few seconds, I moved again and it stopped, so I didn't think much of it.

Then a few hours later when I was at work I bent down to pick something up and felt it again, and then again. Now 3 times, I thought that's definitely something! It wasn't really kicking, or at least that's not how it felt, I just sensed some moving going on. Almost 15 weeks, and I felt it! Yay!

Week 14

This week has been pretty easy so far.

I've been waking up and feeling a little dizzy and weak at times, I think it might be the blood sugar being low in the mornings, so I should probably start eating something before getting up to get my energy up. On Saturday I had to pee about 5 times in 1 hour, it seemed that as soon as I sat down I felt like I had to go again, it was really funny... totally ok if you're at home, but pretty annoying if you're out somewhere. The first thing that crosses my mind is where can I find a bathroom. :) And this is only the 4th month? I can only imagine what it will be like as the baby gets bigger and bigger.

Week 14 development:
Head to bottom, your baby's 3 1/2 inches long — about the length of a lemon — and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces. Her body's growing faster than her head, which now sits upon a more well-defined neck. By the end of this week, her arms will have lengthened and will be in proportion to the rest of her body. (Her legs still have some growing to do, though.) She's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair all over her body (called lanugo). Her liver starts secreting bile this week, a sign that it's already functioning properly, and her spleen starts contributing to the production of red blood cells. She's also producing and discharging urine into the amniotic fluid, a normal process that she'll keep up until birth. You still can't feel your baby's movements, but her hands and feet (which are now half an inch long) are more flexible and active. Thanks to brain impulses, her little facial muscles are getting a workout as she squints, frowns, and grimaces. She can grasp now, too, and she may be able to suck her thumb.

Week 13

Last week quite a few people at work found out I was pregnant. One person pointed at my belly and just asked me, so I guess it was time to tell, so that was exciting. Little by little more people are finding out.

I haven't been feeling that great lately. I have a headache that keeps returning, and I feel really tired and sometimes dizzy. Last Saturday I fell asleep watching TV at 6pm and didn't wake up till about 9pm, it was a bit unusual. The next day I woke up and felt great. Then the headache came at that night and lingered until mid day the next day, I had to take Tylenol.

I haven't gained any weight, although I think I do eat plenty and often. My stomach is definitely growing though, it's quite noticeable if I wear clothing that's a little tight. I finally posted a picture!

My coworker brought her 6 week old baby in today and I got to hold him, he was super cute and pretty quiet.
By the way, it's a boy! haha, just kidding, we don't know for sure... that's just according to the Chinese Calendar. My guess is actually a girl, and Jeromey of course thinks it's a boy. We probably won't find out until the end of July. Feel free to make your own guesses! Either way we're super excited, and sometimes in disbelief that it's actually happening!

Week 13 development:

Your belly may soon be big enough to announce to the world that you're expecting, but your baby is still tiny. In fact, he's only about 3 inches long crown to rump — roughly the size of a jumbo shrimp — and weighs just about an ounce. Despite the small proportions, there's a fully formed baby inside your womb now. Much more proportional than it was a few weeks ago, his head is now only about a third the size of his body. His tiny, unique fingerprints are already in place. His kidneys and urinary tract are functional, and he's starting to urinate out the amniotic fluid he's been swallowing. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed.

Week 11 & 12

No weird cravings, food aversions include red meat and other things that just smell, food likings include - salad, chicken, pasta based meals, bread. By the way I think I am actually further along than I was measured for week 6-7, so I combined week 11 and 12. Not that it really matters, but it just makes more sense to me. :) May be it will be confirmed at the next ultrasound which will probably happen after week 16 sometime.

Our 2nd Appointment is tomorrow, I am totally anxious, I've been waiting for 5 weeks now! May be I'll post an update tomorrow if there is anything exciting to tell.

We heard the heart beat again, it took a minute or two to find which seemed like forever, but then we heard it! Yay! What a relief!

I keep meaning to take pictures of the belly, but I've been really anti-pictures lately... so may be one of these days I'll start since the tummy seems to already be pooching out(especially at night) and I still need to scan in our first picture of the ultrasound, it's really tiny ... you can't even really tell, but it's still super cool.

Week 11 development:

Your fig-sized baby is now fully formed — measuring 1 1/2 inches long and weighing in at a quarter of an ounce. His skin is still transparent, allowing many of his blood vessels to show through. Some of his bones are beginning to harden, and tiny toothbuds are starting to appear under his gums. His fingers and toes have separated, and he may soon be able to open and close his fists. He's already busy kicking and stretching, and his tiny movements are so fluid they look like water ballet. These movements will increase as his body grows and becomes more developed and functional. As his diaphragm develops, your tiny tenant may also start to get the hiccups. Because he's still so small, though, you won't feel any of his workouts or intrauterine gulps until sometime between weeks 16 and 20.

Week 12 development:

Your baby's hit the 2-inch mark (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. Her face is beginning to look more human. Her eyes, which started out on the sides of her head, have moved closer together on her face, and her ears are near their final positions on the sides of her head. Your baby's intestines, which have grown so rapidly that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into her abdominal cavity about now. Her kidneys are secreting urine into her bladder. Her nerve cells have been multiplying rapidly, and synapses (neurological pathways in the brain) are forming. Your baby may have acquired more reflexes by now, including sucking, and she'll even squirm if you prod your abdomen.

Week 10

Am I seriously 1/4 of the way there? It just feels strange because I haven't had any new symptoms yet... so not that many people know or can tell that I am pregnant, which is fine.

Week 10 development:
Your astonishingly tiny baby has graduated from embryo to full blown fetus! And so it should be, as they've been hard at work growing as fast as possible—almost doubling in size in the past three weeks! Amazingly, you’re in for a repeat size doubling performance within the next three weeks! Your tiny champion still weighs less than a quarter of an ounce but has already completed the most critical stage of their development. Using Doppler technology, your doctor or gynecologist can let you hear their tiny rapid fetal heartbeats this week (145-165 beats per minute!). Your little one’s major organ systems are developing, including a functioning digestive tract capable of moving food all the way through their bowels. The final shiny gold star on their fetal behavior chart for the week: your little scrapper has already developed defense mechanisms to protect them on reflex!

More good news for mom: the placenta has grown substantially, in both size and function. It is now beginning to manage some of your child’s hormones, finally taking some of the hormonal burden off of you! Since the placenta has gradually taken over the hormone production for your baby

Week 9

I got a body pillow for Mother's day! haha, I don't think I'll be needing it for a while, but it's pretty comfy.
Lately I just can't finish a meal, I can only eat a small portion unless I am totally starving, otherwise I start to feel kind of sick, although I get hungry again in just a couple of hours. This made me drop a few pounds in the last week or two, which I really don't mind. I am pretty sure in just a few weeks I'll be gaining all of that back and more! Something to look forward to. :) Another thing to look forward to is our Cancun trip that we just booked with our friends in the 3rd week of July. This will be our last vacation for a while, so definitely something to enjoy.

Week 9 development:
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — barely the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce, but he's poised for rapid weight gain now that his basic physical structure is in place. He's also starting to look more and more human. His embryonic "tail" is now completely gone and his body parts — including organs, muscles, and nerves — are kicking into gear.

His eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. He has earlobes, and by week's end, the inner workings of his ears will be complete. His upper lip is fully formed, too, and his mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The tips of his fingers are slightly enlarged where his touch pads are developing. All major joints — his shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles — are working, enabling your baby to move his limbs. As for his heart, it has divided into four chambers now, and the valves have started to develop. External sex organs are there, but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks.

Week 8

This week has been a bit less energetic, but still not too bad. I am definitely feeling more tired and low appetite at times, and that's after coming back from an very relaxing all girls trip to Palm Springs. I got so much good information from all the moms there, it was really fun! I am very much anticipating the arrival of the little Lewis. :)

Week 8 development:
We've got almost one whole inch of baby to measure! Your little embryo has finally reached the one-inch mark (30mm) at last. And if it were possible to take a peek, you could see your tiny baby with your naked eye! What’s more, your baby is finally starting to take on some very distinct human features. For starters, their little tail (really just the spinal cord) has disappeared completely. It’s nice to know your baby can no longer be mistaken for a sea creature! Additionally, both their toes and fingers are prominent with very little, if any, webbing. Upper and lower limbs all show recognizable joints (elbows and knees) and the lower limb bones are starting to ossify. But don’t expect your baby to resemble either parent quite yet. Right now, your baby’s head is disproportionately larger than the rest of their body--making up almost half of your little one’s height and weight!

Week 7

So I've been feeling much better in the last few days, it's almost strange. I even went back to my favorite Kick boxing class last night. Although I didn't push myself too hard since I kept thinking to not overdo it, I still felt like I got a little bit of a work out. Now if I just do this, go on my favorite walks at Torrey Pines and Yoga regularly or at least 3 or 4 times a week, I think I'll be in pretty good shape. So much easier said than done. It seems that I haven't gained any weight yet... although I seem to be eating or snacking all the time. I did notice that if I overeat, I start feeling sick, so I try not to do that.
I got my blood tests done yesterday - they wanted 5 tubes of blood, that's a lot! But at least I didn't get poked a bunch to find my vein, she got it right away, so it wasn't too bad.

BabyCenter.com - week 7 development:

Now almost half an inch long — roughly the size of a raspberry — he has elbow joints and distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. In his oversized head, both hemispheres of his brain are developing. His teeth and the inside of his mouth are forming, and his ears continue to develop. Eyelid folds partially cover his tiny peepers, which already have some color, and the tip of that nose. His skin is paper-thin and his veins are clearly visible. Your little one also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. His liver is busy producing red blood cells, and a loop of your baby's growing intestines is bulging into his umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from his tiny body. You can't feel his gyrations yet, but your baby is like a little jumping bean, moving in fits and starts around his watery home.

Sick...

So last night was my first time feeling sick. Not fun, but I survived. Pretty much every kind of food made me nauseous. Watching Jeromey eat chips turned my stomach... go figure. On top of that, our power went out at 10pm, not that I really would mind, I just went to bed, woke up a million times to go the bathroom... that's always fun! haha, oh the joys of being pregnant. Hopefully all worth it in the end.

My first appointment

I was feeling pretty nervous, since I had no idea what to expect. Also my regular OBGYN Dr. Marshall is actually on maternity leave herself until the end of June, so I am having to see a doctor that works in the same Scripps Del Mar office, Dr. Lim. I've never seen him before, so it was my first time meeting him as well. He made Jeromey and I pretty comfortable. He asked Jeromey if he's ready for this, and J answered that he's been ready for years now. :) I only wish I could answer with the same confidence. We had an ultrasound done, and we got to see and hear the heart beat which was pretty cool. You could even see the tiny thing pulsate. It measured .75cm, and I was told that I am 6 weeks and 3 days. My due date is December 17th, but of course that can change. My original estimate was that I was at 7 weeks already and due date of Dec 14th. So we got our first picture and a bunch of information. Then we sat down in his office, where he made a ton of jokes when asking questions. He asked if I drank a 6 pack a day, and Jeromey started laughing like crazy. Then he told Jeromey to do all the work in the house and help out, that was great!
Overall it was a good visit. I still need to go to the lab to get some blood work done, but otherwise our next appointment is not until June 1st - I'll be around 11 weeks.