22 weeks!

Our baby girl is the size of a papaya, and her taste buds are becoming sensitive enough to react to what I eat this week.

Baby's Length: 10.94 in.

Baby's Weight: 15.17 oz. (Woohoo! Almost a pound!!)

Our baby girl's previously see-through skin will now become opaque. However, it will remain wrinkly, red, and covered in vernix until more fat helps to fill her out. Also this week, she's fine-tuning his sense of touch (thanks to maturing brain cells and nerve endings). Our baby may experiment with these newfound skills by feeling her face or anything else she can get her hands on. This week, our baby's eyebrows start growing and hair will start sprouting on the scalp, but this varies -- our baby may grow a thick head of dark hair or she may enter the world bald (which wouldn't be all that bad... I think bald babies are soooo cute!! We'll take her either way!).

How far along? 22 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 6 lbs...according to my last dr. appointment...but I have a feeling I've gained quite a few this month
Maternity clothes? slowly but surely... pants mostly, some shirts (but I can still wear my larger t-shirts if I want), I had to go up a size to my new altered work shirts...
Stretch marks? Nothing new to note.
Sleep: Better...sometimes it just takes a while to get to sleep
Best moment this week: Having Monday off to spend with my family!
Movement: Most nights when I'm laying in bed... trying to fall sleep or simply when I sit still.
Food cravings: Food in general
Gender: Girl!!! (Or so they say...)
Name: we really should talk about it... we did talk about a middle name... now we just need to discuss a first name.... but we probably won't be announcing either until she is born.
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: sleeping through the night... but I guess it all comes with the territory
What I am looking forward to: Reading the book "Baby Wise"
Weekly Wisdom: I don't know? Read a good book on babies, not just on pregnancy. (That's what my midwife told me to do, since there may not be time for that after she's here.)

I will try to post a picture of me when Jer gets home to take a picture.

6 years and 21 weeks!!

This is a multi-purpose blog post. (Just fair warning.)



6 years ago, on September 2, 2005, I pledged my love to my very best friend. It's amazing to think 6 years has gone by. We've had our ups and downs, and plenty of learning experiences. But when I think back through it all... it has been worth it!! I wouldn't change a thing as to how our story has played out. God has blessed us beyond measure. I can honestly say that each and every day I respect, love, and appreciate my husband more and more! Thanks, Jeremy, dear, for a great 6 years! Here's to many, many more!!


Now.... what you're really waiting for... a weekly baby update!
This picture was taken at 20 weeks 3 days (so not quite 21 weeks... but maybe this weekend we'll take another... for comparison purposes.)


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.

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.

How far along? 21 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 6 lbs...according to my last dr. appointment...YIKES!
Maternity clothes? slowly but surely... pants mostly (but I can still wear my larger t-shirts if I want), I had to go up a size to my new altered work shirts...
Stretch marks? Nothing new to note.
Sleep: Better...sometimes it just takes a while to get to sleep
Best moment this week: finding out my sister and brother-in-law will be coming up for a visit this weekend!!
Movement: Most nights when I'm laying in bed... trying to fall sleep.
Food cravings: Food in general
Gender: Girl!!! (Or so they say...)
Name: we really should talk about it... we did talk about a middle name... now we just need to discuss a first name.... but we probably won't be announcing either until she is born.
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In.
What I miss: sleeping through the night... but I guess it all comes with the territory
What I am looking forward to: meeting Jellee/B-Flatt (I've started calling her both.)
Weekly Wisdom: Get out and do everything you can when you start feeling better!

We're doing great on the baby front... we've spent some time in the past week registering for gifts. So that was fun! Makes things far more real! Anyway, that's all for now! We covet your prayers, so keep 'em coming!!

20 weeks!! Half way!!

Well, today marks the 20 week mark... we're half way (give or take). It is soooo exciting!

Our 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 — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against her torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of her head to her bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, she's measured from head to toe.)

She's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system.

How far along? 20
Total weight gain/loss: I'm on record for 6, but I think I've gained maybe now 7 or 8 (total) in the last 2 weeks.
Maternity clothes? Pants... and some shirts (if I want to look pregnant hehehe)
Sleep: Some days good, some days... eh... not so good. But I have found that on days when I'm tossing and turning it's a great time to pray over our baby girl. Her health, her life... just everything. I feel like it's a good bonding time. So... I don't usually get too crabby that I can't sleep (anymore), as long as I can get a nap in at some point the next day.
Best moment this week: Seeing amazing ultrasound pictures of our little princess... and finding out that she is indeed a princess (and not a prince). It was soo cool. The last picture we had of her was when she looked much more like a jelly bean than an actual baby. Everything checked out great! So... we were very pleased! A healthy baby... and now we know it's a healthy baby girl!!
Movement: Usually at night when we're laying down, or watching tv. She lets me know she's there.
Food cravings: Ehhh...nothing in particular... just food in general. I am enjoying decaf unsweetened iced tea like there's no tomorrow.... Also, I have found that if someone mentions a food... I typically have it on my mind, and will seek it out!
Gender: Girl! (Or so they tell us!!)
Name: Haven't really talked toooooo much about it. We've thrown out a few ideas, but we will probably wait til she's here (to confirm she really is a girl...) to announce it!
Labor Signs: Nope! (Which is good!! We like 'em well done, not rare.)
Belly Button in or out? In where it's been forever!
What I miss: Drinking diet coke at leisure....
What I am looking forward to: finishing the registry... and having baby showers!!
Weekly Wisdom: I don't know that I have any... does anyone have any they'd like to share?
Milestones: 20 weeks I think is a great milestone!!

That's it for now...
The princess and I need to go take a nap! We've got an exciting night down at the Indian's game!! Sooooo... here we go... nappppptime!!

K

Which team??

Well... at 19 weeks 3 days the above picture is of Baby Girl Flatt! Yes folks that's right. We're headed down the road of cutsie pinkness, pretty dresses, and amazing frills! Hehehe...

Jer and I are very excited. But more importantly we praise God that she is a beautiful HEALTHY little girl as far as the ultrasound goes. So thank you Lord for our precious little one!

As the psalmist David wrote in Psalm 139:13-16
¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

We love you Baby Girl!! Go team pink!

Priorities....

Well folks... it is the eve of our big gender revealing ultrasound. My mind is racing. But as I sit here going back and forth with "I think it's a boy.... nah, it's a girl for sure" type of thoughts... I keep coming back to the same thing....

Lord, we don't care what the gender is... we just want a healthy baby! That is my prayer. Even if Jellee decides to be camera shy, or perhaps is in that uncomfortable position (see the link in the last post)... it really doesn't matter. And honestly, I don't even know that I would be disappointed... as long as everything else comes back as he/she is healthy. :-D

So, that is our prayer. A healthy baby who can be a blessing to those he or she meets. One who we can train to love God and love others. Besides, not like we won't figure it out in a few months anyway.

Well... I guess, we'll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings! But, I am mentally going over my priorities.

Have a good one! Stay tuned!!

19 weeks!! 1 week shy of half way!!

At 19 weeks... our baby is about the size of a mango (or so the websites tell me).

Now for a ridiculously uncomfortable picture... according to the other website I check regularly... our baby looks someone like this at 19 weeks. click here (poor baby! I hope he or she is in a little bit more comfortable position than that.)

And now I will give you the regular weekly update according to babycenter.com. (Please note, I have made it gender neutral, because some people have pointed out that this website usually refers to one gender... and they --ehem.... Katie H.... ehem--- do not like that hahaha)

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! His/Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he/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.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His/ Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his/her body now. His/Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

So, there you have it folks... please ask before you decide to speak directly to my belly... otherwise, it may be a little awkward. :-D

We find out on Monday (if Jellee cooperates) the mystery of his/her gender!! So, if you haven't voted on the poll on the right, feel free to get their vote in. Right now, between the poll I have put on facebook, and the poll on here (which I'm sure there is some over lap...but I don't care hehehe) the poll is leaning towards team pink!! So... guess we'll wait and see now won't we!! Stay glued to your facebook and this blog for more exciting updates!!

K

The sounds Jellee makes....

Today we had a great doctors appointment. Everything came back great. The urine test came out fine, my blood pressure was fine (and for those of you who know me well, know that at a doctors office, that is rare), and my weight was fine.

Baby Jellee did well too! He/she had a mighty fine heartbeat at 156 beats per minute!! (Of course, it was so quiet at first I actually thought it was just my heartbeat echoing from afar. That did send a little bit of a panic... but the midwife laughed it off and said "nope, that's your baby!")

Now... if I do this right... hopefully this video will upload and you too can hear the amazing sounds of baby Jellee. (Yes, the video isn't amazing quality, but it's from my phone... what do you expect? ) Thanks for the prayers! Today was such an answer to prayer. With great reports all around.