Friday, July 20, 2007

Lay off the beer

Friday, July 20, 2007
Today, our office went on a retreat to the Tulsa Aquarium. While we were there, I decided to feed the sting rays! As I was buying the food, the man that was helping me all of a sudden said "UM, I don't mean to be rude but..." (I went into panic mode, thinking "Is my bra showing?" "Is it my undies?"). He then pointed at my stomach and said "I think you need to lay off the beer." Then he gave me extra food so Sadie could feed the rays too!

Sadie's First Baby Shower






On Wednesday, Trace and Nancy threw me a surprise baby shower at work! It was so beautiful! Here are some pics:






Am I Having Twins???

NO! SO stop asking...it isn't funny :)

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Baby Sades is growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's over 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. Her 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.
The top of my uterus is now an inch or so above my belly button, which means it's about the size of a soccer ball, which is funny because I could swear she is playing soccer in there sometimes.
Last night I got to watch my tummy bounce up and down while Sadie had the hiccups! Brian was outside, so he missed it :(.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Where are my ankles???

Tuesday, July 10, 2007
I have noticed some mild swelling (to put it lightly) the last few days, especially in my ankles and feet. It's called edema, and it happens because changes in my blood chemistry cause fluid to shift into my tissue and because my ever enlarging uterus puts pressure on the veins returning blood from the lower half of my body, slowing circulation in my legs. Edema is often worse at the end of the day and in the summer. My body will eliminate the extra fluid after I have Sadie (which is why I will have the pleasure of urinating often and sweating a lot for a few days after delivery). Needless to say, my ankles look like marshmallows. Yum.

Sadie Rose is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. Her skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare her for breathing. She can swallow, but she probably won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as a dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze Sadie when she hears them outside the womb.

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Sunday, July 1, 2007
Sadie now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at close to 11 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 (is it blond or brown?) 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.

It is funny what a stigma it has become to touch a pregnant woman's stomach! Even close friends hesitate before they touch the belly. For now, I would welcome anyone, but ask me how I feel about it in a few months!

Even though the books I am reading say I could possibly have stretch marks on my tummy by now, I only have them on my hips. I can see the veins on my tummy and chest though, and have some dark spider veins on my stomach.

The Number of People at My Party