30 Weeks!!

1. How far along?: 30 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). 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.)
3. Weight gain?: -2 lbs. 
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants and maternity shirts. 
   
6. Best moment last week?: Our baby shower!  We were blessed with many things, beautiful weather, great time with family and friends and yummy food!
7. Food cravings?: Fresh fruit 
8. Symptoms?:  Braxton Hicks contractions, fatigue.
9. Gender?: Baby Girl!! Cara Joyce.
10. Movement?:   I feel her everyday!  
11. Belly button?: . Still in!
12. What I miss?: Nothing.
13. Labor signs?: No
14. What I'm looking forward to?: Camping in a few weeks because it might be awhile before we get to go again.

19 weeks vs 29 weeks

19 weeks

29 weeks

29 weeks!

1. How far along?: 29 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) 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.
3. Weight gain?: -1 lbs. Almost back to my pre-pregnancy weight.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants and maternity shirts. 
   
6. Best moment last week?: A week of sunshine!  Although it was a bit hot yesterday (84* inside the house).
7. Food cravings?: Fresh fruit 
8. Symptoms?:  Braxton Hicks contractions
9. Gender?: Baby Girl!! Cara Joyce.
10. Movement?:   I feel her everyday!  Still in!
11. Belly button?: . Still in!
12. What I miss?: A cold beer would have been nice the last couple days since it's been so hot.
13. Labor signs?: No
14. What I'm looking forward to?: Our baby shower on Saturday!!

28 weeks!

1. How far along?: 28 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: By this week, your baby weighs 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 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.
3. Weight gain?: -2 lbs. Almost back to my pre-pregnancy weight.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants and maternity shirts. 
   
6. Best moment last week?: We planted our seeds for our veggie garden!  So excited to see how it works this year.  I love fresh veggies from the garden.  Also, pregnancy related, we made it into the 3rd trimester.  We are in the home stretch!
7. Food cravings?: Fresh fruit(still!)  
8. Symptoms?:  Still having contractions every now and then.  I've had a few instance of nausea.  I really hope the morning sickness isn't coming back.
9. Gender?: Baby Girl!! Cara Joyce.
10. Movement?:   I feel her everyday!  She has been a little more quiet the past few days though.
11. Belly button?: Still in, not too much longer till it's flat/out. 
12. What I miss?: Nothing.
13. Labor signs?: I was/am having some contractions.  I got checked out and everything seems to be going fine (no preterm labor).
14. What I'm looking forward to?: Getting her crib and getting her nursery done.

27 weeks!

I missed the check in last week but here is a picture. :)

And here is week 7 for comparison!!

26 weeks!

1. How far along?: 26 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days.
3. Weight gain?: -4 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants and maternity shirts. 
   
6. Best moment last week?: Cara got to take her second trip to Arizona (we were there when I was 5/6 weeks).
7. Food cravings?: Fresh fruit (strawberries, peaches, melon) (still!)  
8. Symptoms?:  Still having contractions every now and then.  I've been getting tired in the afternoons.
9. Gender?: Baby Girl!! Cara Joyce.
10. Movement?:   I feel her everyday!
11. Belly button?: Still in, not too much longer till it's flat/out. 
12. What I miss?: Nothing.
13. Labor signs?: I was/am having some contractions.  I got checked out and everything seems to be going fine (no preterm labor).
14. What I'm looking forward to?: Getting her crib and getting her nursery done.

25 weeks

I missed the 25 week check in because we were enjoying some sunshine in Arizona! Here are a few pictures.

24 weeks!

1. How far along?: 24 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.
3. Weight gain?: -5 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants and maternity shirts. 
   
6. Best moment last week?: Ryan got to feel Cara kick!!  Melt my heart :)
7. Food cravings?: Fresh fruit (strawberries, peaches, melon) (still!)  
8. Symptoms?:  Still having contractions every now and then.  I'm having some issues with sleep.
9. Gender?: Baby Girl!! Cara Joyce.
10. Movement?:   I feel her everyday!
11. Belly button?: Still in but it's definitely changing. 
12. What I miss?: A cold beer would be nice as the days are getting warmer and sunny. :)
13. Labor signs?: I was/am having some contractions.  I got checked out and everything seems to be going fine (no preterm labor).
14. What I'm looking forward to?: We are leaving for Arizona for a week on Friday! So excited for sunshine and hot weather, as well as relaxing with Ryan.

23 Weeks!

My shirt looks weird in this picture.  It's a regular tank top and it doesn't really fit anymore.  It's too short in the front.  I'm finding that with pretty much all my non-maternity shirts.  Must mean baby girl is growing!

1. How far along?: 23 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby'sincreasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.
3. Weight gain?: -5 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger! :)
   
6. Best moment last week?: It's been a rough week but the sun is shining so I'm thankful for that.
7. Food cravings?: Fresh fruit (strawberries, peaches, melon)
8. Symptoms?:  I am feeling ok.  It's been a rough week and I'm having some physical pains.
9. Gender?: Baby Girl!! Cara Joyce.  
10. Movement?:  I feel her every day.  Some days its more then others but nothing consistent.
11. Belly button?: Still in.
12. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
13. Labor signs?: I was/am having some contractions.  I got checked out and everything seems to be going fine (no preterm labor).
14. What I'm looking forward to?: Easter is on Sunday and its supposed to be 68*. Woohoo!!

22 weeks!

1. How far along?: 22 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily. (Taken from baby center)
3. Weight gain?: -7 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger! :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  She is really starting to move.
7. Food cravings?: Chinese food sounds really good!
8. Symptoms?:  I am feeling pretty good, other then some back pain
9. Exercise?: Not really exercise but stretches for my tailbone/sciatic pain.
10. Gender?: Baby Girl!! 
11. Movement?: Yes, I'm feeling her most days.  
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: Meeting a friend for coffee on Friday.  :)

21 Weeks (2 days late!)

1. How far along?: 21 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.
3. Weight gain?: -7 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger! :)
   
6. Best moment last week?: Cara's nursery is almost all painted!! We have 1 more wall and then we will start to put it together.
7. Food cravings?: Food in general.  I'm hungry all the time.  Now if I could just start to gain some weight.
8. Symptoms?:  I am feeling pretty good, other then some back pain and constantly hungry.
9. Exercise?: Not really exercise but stretches for my tailbone/sciatic pain.
10. Gender?: Baby Girl!! Cara Joyce.  
11. Movement?:  I feel her every day.  Some days its more then others but nothing consistent.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: Progress on her room!

4 weeks vs 20 weeks

Baby Cara is definitely getting bigger.  Here is a comparison of 4 weeks (right when we found out) to now at 20 weeks.  I can't wait to see what I look like towards the end and then of course once Cara joins us!!

20 weeks. . . Half way there!!

1. How far along?: 20 weeks.
2. How big is baby?:Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)
   He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).  Cara was 9ozs. at our ultrasound last week!
3. Weight gain?: -8 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger! :)
   
6. Best moment last week?: Finding out we are having a healthy baby girl!
7. Food cravings?: Nothing this week. 
8. Symptoms?:  I am feeling pretty good, other then some back pain and constantly hungry.
9. Exercise?: Not really exercise but stretches for my tailbone/sciatic pain.
10. Gender?: Baby Girl!! Cara Joyce
11. Movement?:  She has been moving all around.  I don't feel her consistently yet but hopefully soon.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: Nice weather this weekend!  Hopefully we can get some garden stuff done.

It's A Girl!!!!

We found out yesterday that Mini Finney is going to be Cara Joyce Finney!  We are very excited (although we would have been just as excited if it was a boy).  Here are some pictures of our baby girl!  After the ultrasound we went to Kohls and Ryan picked out an outfit for her.  :)  My heart melts!!

A quick clip of our wiggle worm!

19 weeks!

1. How far along?: 19 weeks.
2. How big is baby?:Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. The hair on her 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. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.
3. Weight gain?: -8 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger! :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  I think I felt baby move.
7. Food cravings?: I really want some fresh peaches.
8. Symptoms?:  I am feeling pretty good, other then some back pain
9. Exercise?: Not really exercise but stretches for my tailbone/sciatic pain.
10. Gender?: Unknown. Should find out today!!
11. Movement?:  I think I felt baby yesterday.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: Anatomy scan today!!

Our Birthing Plans

I have been seeing a midwife since about 12 weeks.  We started out with an OB but I have always wanted to use a midwife.  With the IVF and twins at the beginning we thought we had to see an OB. I want to be able to be comfortable with my provider and know that I am getting individual, 1 on 1 care.  I don't want to be just another patient.  I am using a midwife that 2 of my past doula clients have used.  Everything I have heard about her has been great so I knew when the time came that I wanted to use Melissa.

We are planning a med-free birth at a freestanding birth center.  I hope it is a short (hehe!!), intervention free birth.  I am not planning too much because I know that labors go however they do.  I want to try things and if they work great, if not then we will try something else.  Some things I plan to try are heat, cold, water, massage, different positions, breathing and relaxation.  We will have a doula, as I feel they are valuable to both myself and Ryan.

I read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and feel very empowered by it.  I'm excited for labor and delivery and to hold my sweet baby.  I will probably re-read the book once July gets a little closer.  I'm not 100% sure who will be with us for labor and delivery.  I want to be able to relax and focus on myself birthing without having to think about all the people in the room.  The birthing center is different then the hospital because the only medical staff in there is the Midwife and her assistant.  In addition to them, Ryan will be present and our doula.  Everyone else is still up in the air.  At this point I'm leaning toward my mother in law and mom if she is able to be there only for the pushing stage.  We have time to decide and will do whats best for Ryan and I.

After the birth we will stay at the birth center until we feel comfortable going home.  I'm excited that we don't have to spend a day or 2 in the hospital afterwards.  It will be nice to go home to the comfort of our house.  I look forward to breastfeeding and Ryan and I bonding with our baby together.

I will post our birth wish once we have one.  I like to call it a birth wish because that's what it is.  Our wishes for our birth.  We understand that we don't have control over a lot during the labor and delivery so we will state our wishes and hope that things go as we wish.  We do understand that things come up and are prepared for our plans to change if needed.  We want everyone involved to be healthy and safe in the end.  That's all that matters!

18 weeks!

1. How far along?: 18 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
3. Weight gain?: -8 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger! :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  Scheduling our gender ultrasound.
7. Food cravings?: Strawberries.
8. Symptoms?:  I am feeling pretty good, other then some back pain
9. Exercise?: Not really exercise but stretches for my tailbone/sciatic pain.
10. Gender?: Unknown. Should find out in 1 week.
11. Movement?: Not sure.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: Anatomy scan next Tuesday!!

17 weeks!!

1. How far along?: 17 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.
3. Weight gain?: -8 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. I think that I do have a little belly now. :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  I might have felt baby move a couple times.  Not 100% sure though.
7. Food cravings?: None this week.
8. Symptoms?: Nauseous occasionally. But over all feeling better!
9. Exercise?: Not really exercise but stretches for my tailbone/sciatic pain.
10. Gender?: Unknown. Should find out in 1-2 weeks.
11. Movement?: Not sure.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: Midwife appointment tomorrow  and the anatomy scan in a few weeks.

16 weeks

1. How far along?: 16 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.
3. Weight gain?: -8 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. I think that I do have a little belly now. :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  I might have felt baby move 2 or 3 times.  Not 100% sure though.
7. Food cravings?: Strawberries!
8. Symptoms?: Nauseous still.  I haven't thrown up in a week or so.
9. Exercise?: None.
10. Gender?: Unknown. Should find out in 2-3 weeks.
11. Movement?: Not sure.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: The anatomy scan in a few weeks.

15 Weeks!!

I've changed the check-in a little.  It has a few more questions!

1. How far along?: 15 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. 
3. Weight gain?: Still down -9 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. I think that I do have a little belly now. :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  I might have felt baby move 2 or 3 times.  Not 100% sure though.
7. Food cravings?: Nothing this week.
8. Symptoms?:Still sick.  This week has been bad.  I've taken Zofran most days. I was hoping it would be better by now but I think this is my new normal!
9. Exercise?: None.
10. Gender?: Unknown
11. Movement?: Not sure.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: The anatomy scan in a few weeks.