Week 28 - Welcome to the 3rd Trimester!!

By this week, Baby Ashley weighs in at around two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 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 the womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

It's hard to believe that we're already in the home stretch of the third trimester! However, I have to keep reminding myself, that due dates (Ashley's is May 18th) are based on 40 weeks - but babies are "allowed" to come two weeks before to two week after that date. (if the calculations were right!) So, yes I ONLY have 12 weeks left (now THAT sounds crazy!!) but it could end up being only 10 more or as many as 14 more.  But still....  And on the calendar we're technically only 2 months away since she could come any time in May.....wow! Ready or not, here she comes! (in her own time preferably!)

Week 27 - Last week of the 2nd Trimester!!!

This week, Ashley weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. I've been noticing more of a pattern to her waking hours - versus it just being all day and all night! :) As long as I'm moving, she's pretty content to just float along. But once I settle down for more than a few minutes she's awake and kicking! I really feel it while I'm driving and there's pressure on my belly from the seat belt or my waistband or when I lay down on my left side. She's pretty consistent with where she tickles and I love it every time! I think Katelynn finally felt her move too. There's been a few times I've had her feel but not sure if she really got it. It's really cute when I have her put her hand on my belly because she always bends down and puts her ear close as if to hear her too!  She says Ashley is playing hide and seek and then she'll say "Baby! Come out come out wherever you are!"  She's such a great big sister already!!  She even got out her little playschool dr. kit stethoscope and "listened" to her through my belly. I have to watch her though because she'll come running up to me to kiss, hug, or talk to the baby and she runs right into my belly - ouch!! But it really is cute.

With more brain tissue developing, Ashely's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were born now. I can chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements I might begin to feel to a case of baby hiccups, which should be pretty common from now on. I haven't felt them yet, but looking forward to them! Both girls had lots of hiccups in-utero (more so with Katelynn than Kristen) so I can only expect Ashley to do the same! Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so I'll just relax and enjoy the tickle!

It's amazing how fast - and yet how slow - this pregnancy is going. I'm finally starting to show "enough" that people are making more comments. The other day I wore a shirt that made it look like I was over-due and had lots of comments! :) I think I'll put that shirt away for a while!!  ha ha. Next week I am officially in my 3rd Trimester - yieks!  It's getting exciting!

Week 25 Baby Update

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, 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. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

I finally got to the Y this week and started swimming. It was nice to be back in the pool and nice to finally be getting some exercise! (it's been WAY too long!)  Although after about 20 minutes my belly had had enough and it was time to get out! Some of those muscles weren't used to being stretched like that. I think Ashley liked it too because I don't think I felt her at all while I was in the pool - of course it wasn't long before she made sure I knew she was there again! She's normally VERY active, which I love! Even at night too, which aside from the lack of sleep, I still love!

One thing I think I forgot to mention from last week:  Katelynn is very routine about saying good-bye and says "hug and squeeze!" as she comes to give me a hug. Last week as I was dropping her off for her swim lesson she gave me a "hug & squeeze" and turned to go, but quickly stopped, came back and hugged and kissed my belly and said "bye baby!!" Completely unsolicited! I loved it!!!