La Vita E Bella

Baby Sesame - Week 33

This week your baby may be anywhere between 17 to 19 inches in length and weigh more than four and a half pounds (or five and a half pounds in Baby V's case!). Your baby could grow a full inch more this week alone — especially if he has been on the shorter side. Weight gain can range from a third more growth to a full doubling before the big debut. The level of amniotic fluid in your uterus has reached its maximum, making it likely that you have more baby than fluid now. That's one reason why you're probably feeling lots of nudges and pushes — there's less liquid to cushion the blows. (Of course that means you're even closer to your baby now!) If your uterine walls had eyes, here's what you'd see: your fetus acting more and more like a baby, with his eyes closing during sleep and opening while awake. And because those uterine walls are becoming thinner, more light penetrates the womb, helping your baby differentiate between day and night (now if only he can remember that difference on the outside!). And good news! Your baby has reached an important milestone about now: The development of his own immune system that (along with antibodies from you) will be able to provide protection from mild infections.

My, What a Big Baby You Have!

So glad it’s Friday. I’ve been waiting for today all week. The work day is more than half way over, and I get to look forward to a wonderful, relaxing weekend. Tonight, Kayli and I may try and run out and find an outfit for the baby shower – but we’ll see how we feel after work. Seeing that the shower is next week, I should probably get out and find something I can wear. I’m hesitant to BUY something since I’ll only get a use or two out of it – but I also have nothing “nice” to wear. Just jeans and T’s, and I should probably make myself look put together. That should be a fun little trip, since basically I get mad at EVERYTHING I try on. It’s either cute and WAY too expensive, or cheap and ugly. I’m going to pray for the perfect outfit….and so should you J

Yesterday was my doctor’s appointment. I gained 1 pound in 3 weeks, and the doctor told me how impressed she was with how well I was doing. That was great to hear, especially considering the poundage I put on in my 2nd trimester. My blood sugar levels are not very consistent – but she said she wanted to watch them for another 2 weeks before making a decision about taking medication. Hopefully they’ll begin to pan out – or atleast stay where they are (the low numbers are out-weighing the bad ones). I was still measuring big (2 weeks ahead), and the doctor ordered an ultrasound to check on Baby V’s growth and the amniotic fluid. Otherwise, she said everything looked great and she felt like I was doing really well. My next appointment is in 2 weeks, and I’m sure she’ll discuss induction with me further.

The Curse of the Halloween Candy

I’m damning all Halloween candy to hell. It’s from satan, and a MAJOR distraction on my road normal blood sugar levels. I swear every bowl (on every fellow employees desk) screams my name as I walk by minding my own business. The Snickers are the worst. They taunt me the most. I’m only human – I can only say no so many times before I give in to their yummy goodness! The temptation is just too strong some times. Today, I managed to withstand the temptation by pulling out some smoked turkey, carrots, and diet root beer. A far cry from a cute, mini little Snickers – but keeping my mouth busy keeps my mind busy as well.

Baby Sesame - Week 32

This week your baby weighs almost four pounds and could be up to 19 inches long. And though that's a head-to-toe length, your baby is actually back to a curled-up position (you try standing up in those cramped quarters!). You're likely feeling tapping and squirming instead of your baby's signature rocking and rolling. That's because, while comfy, your baby is a bit tight for exercise space right now. Your baby has also probably settled into the head-down, bottoms-up position in your pelvis. That's because the fetus's head fits better at the bottom of your inverted, pear-shaped uterus. It also makes it easier during childbirth if your baby comes out head first. Fewer than five percent of babies prefer the bottom-down (or breech) position by full-term. Don't worry if your baby hasn't assumed the head-down position yet. There's still a good chance he will flip head-side-down before birth — even in the tight confines of your uterus. While your baby is still getting nourishment through the umbilical cord, it won't be long before you'll be bringing on the breast milk or formula (and soon after, the mashed carrots and peas). In anticipation of that momentous transition to mouth feeding, your baby's digestive system is all set and ready to go. And because your baby is accumulating more fat, his skin is finally turning opaque (like yours), which means those see-through days are over. Though weeks away from D-day, your baby's looking more and more like a newborn. And speaking of that big day, hope you're resting up for it — because your bambino certainly is. In preparation for that big first date with you, your baby is sleeping like a baby — with sleep cycles of 20 to 40 minutes long (which would also account for the decrease in movement you're likely feeling these days).

Time is Ticking Away...

Last night I finally got to begin catching up on my favorite telvision shows. My TIVO is currently holding the recordings of Grey’s Anatomy, Six Degrees, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Dr. 90210, Miami Ink, and America’s Next Top Model (and those are only the new shows! I also have a few Baby Story’s, Oprah’s, Divine Design, Redesign, and Debbie Travis Facelift recorded!!!) I have not had a chance to breathe since leaving for Reno a week ago yesterday. I know the last time I posted was Tuesday afternoon. That night I watched the Keyes boys for a couple of hours (and as most know, they do not have television), I also watched them all Wednesday night – so my plan last night was to stay up as late as possible. Well actually, I ended up catching up on last week’s Greys episode, followed by yesterdays episode – and tonight Kayli and I plan on settling into the couch from 6pm until every single show has been watched (she missed a majority of them as well). So basically we’ll be brainless couch potatoes this evening– but you know what??? Neither of us care. We will be willing subjects in the destroying of our brain cells J

And They Lived Happily Ever After....

Congratulations Matt and Nicole!!!

Baby Sesame - Week 31

As far as growth goes, your baby's still on a roll, measuring an impressive 18 inches and weighing in at more than three pounds. You can still expect your baby to gain at least three to five pounds, possibly more, before you two meet. Your baby's brain is working overtime these days, developing faster than ever. Connections between individual nerve cells are growing at a frenetic clip, and your baby can now perceive information from all five senses. Sure, your baby can't smell anything right now, but that's only because he or she is still submerged in amniotic fluid and needs to be breathing air to get a whiff of anything. Lucky for you — and your baby — yours will be one of the very first scents your baby breathes in, a scent that will quickly become his very favorite. So what's your little dove doing all day while you're busy feathering your nest for his arrival? Making faces, hiccupping, swallowing, breathing, pedaling with little hands and feet along your uterine wall, and even sucking his thumb. In fact, some babies suck their thumbs so vigorously while in the womb that they're born with a callus on their thumb (what a little sucker!).

So....When Do I Get a Break?!?

Talk about exhausted. The last few days have been filled with a whirlwind of events, and if there was ever a time I needed to catch up on sleep, it's NOW! Matt Elliott was married this weekend in Reno . Trei was asked to be a groomsman a few months back and we had both planned on attending. About a month ago we had mutually decided that I was not going to attend. The cost of the ticket, plus taking a day off work made us decide that it might be a good idea for me to stick around Orange County. Well, early last week, Trei and his mom talked and decided they really wanted me to attend, so 2 days before Trei was scheduled to leave, I asked for Friday off and bought a ticket. Talk about a quick decision!!

We flew out of Orange County Thursday night at 9:30pm. We arrived in Reno at 10:40pm and were picked up by Trei's dad. That night everyone had gone to bed, so Trei and I changed and slipped into bed as well. The next morning came creeping up on us really fast. In fact, Trei went downstairs about 5:30am because I was hogging the bed. I don't blame him though. I'm sure it wasn't very fun sharing a double bed with a woman who has a good 2 foot basketball for a stomach. Plus all the extra pillows I sleep with really didn't help either. I got myself out of bed around 8am and met everyone downstairs. Trei and his dad had plans to golf all day with Matt and his groomsman, so I was on my own with the ladies (Trei's mom, Grandma, and sister). Once we picked up Karissa from the airport, the 4 of us ate lunch, made a trip to Kohl's and then headed back to the house for some Oprah and down time before getting ready for the rehearsal dinner.

Tummy Time!!

Well, we're at week 30 (or is it week 33?!). Anywhere from 8-10 weeks to go. I feel like my stomach has grown tremendously in the last 4 weeks. It's hard to believe that Baby Vossler will double, if not triple, his size from now until his birth day. I can't imagine what my tummy will look like then. All I know is I've managed to escape the stretchmark fairy up until this point...I wonder how long I'll be able to hide! :) Enjoy.

Baby Sesame - Week 30

Your baby's height and weight haven't changed much in the past week. He weighs about 3 pounds and is 17 inches long. The big news is your baby's brain gain. Until now, the surface of your baby's brain was smooth. Now, your fetus's brain is taking on those characteristic grooves and indentations. The reason for this change in appearance? Those wrinkles allow for an increased amount of brain tissue — a necessary change as your baby prepares for life outside your womb, and the street smarts he will need. Another big change this week: Your baby's bone marrow has taken over production of red blood cells (before, tissue groups and then the spleen took care of producing the blood cells). This is an important step for your baby, because it means he is better able to thrive on his own once born (with a little TLC from you, of course). So it's in with the new (brain cells, red blood cells) and out with the old (lanugo). Much of the lanugo — the soft, downy hair covering your baby's body — is beginning to disappear now because both fat and the brain are regulating your baby's body temperature (so no need for that furry coat anymore). But you may see a few leftover strands of fur on your newborn's back and shoulders. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and fills out your uterus. His eyes open and close, he's able to distinguish between light and dark, and he can even follow a light source back and forth. Your little boy goes to sleep now! When he's not asleep, he's busy making faces, bopping around, hiccuping, and nudging you. Once he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have a visual acuity of only 20/400 — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from her face. ("Normal" vision in adults is 20/20.)