22 Week Appointment

Today I went to the midwife and had a great checkup. Blood pressure looks great. According to the doctor's office I've gained ten pounds (which is great and right where I should be). The size of my uterus is also normal and exactly where it should be. This is another indication the the due date is accurate.

I asked the doctor about the size of Ethan from the ultrasound last week and looking at specific measurements things look good. His skull measurement is only in the 74% range, but his specific arm and leg bones are in the 90% percentile. Which means he is not really big, just long. We may or may not have an ultrasound again at around 34 weeks.. this is not normal at this doctor's office.. usually you do not have a 3rd ultrasound but with this baby they may decide later its needed. The midwife is not worried about this pregnancy, and at this point was clear that there is no reason to think I can't deliver the baby in the normal way. Everything looks great.

I've now started to feel the baby kick several times a day! Today I felt him while at the doctors and then later in the evening. I love it!

Right now I am definitely in the honeymoon phase. I feel great and I LOVE being pregnant!! I love caring the baby and knowing he is growing. I love picking out baby stuff and working on the registery. I love feeling so connected when he moves and kicks inside of me. Wow.. I've wanted to be pregnant for a long time and I think that adds to my own enjoyment of the experience. Everyday I look forward to the day when I can hold and care for this child that is growing inside me. I am constantly reminded that this child is a gift from the Lord and a special miracle

Week 22

Saturday marked 22 weeks of pregnancy. The most recent development is that I've started to feel baby Ethan kick more and more. I had been feeling some light movements and flutters (quickening) but Friday night I felt a firm kick, then put my hand on my belly and felt him kick my hand! Since then I've been feeling firm kicks several different times a day and I've felt him kick my hand a few more times. Steve has yet to feel this, but we are hopeful it'll happen soon! Today in church I felt him kick and then when I looked down I saw the belly move like a kick was coming from the inside. Wow.. what an amazing thing to see if life inside you moving and kicking. I love it! Other than that I feel great. Tomorrow I see the midwife and I am hopeful for a good report. I will post here for anything significant from the doctor.

Ultrasound

These are different and better quality pictures from the ultrasound. Basically I figured out how to capture pictures from the DVD! These show hands, feet, spine, and boy parts. I would love to put a piece of the video up but that did not work yet, we will see if I am able to work on that more this weekend. Everyone that we've told about having a boy is very excited, as are we! For me, these pictures clearly illustrate Psalm 139 vs. 13 and 14 - "you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Pictures

Try this link for ultrasound pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.967665144688.2413071.55716527&l=83704bb88e

2nd Ultrasound

Today we had our second ultrasound.. pictures are coming soon, but I had difficulty uploading them.

Here are the highlights:

- Its a boy!!

- He is very big - measuring in the 90% percentile on lengths, brain size, and overall weight.

- Overall weight is estimated (this is not exact) to be currently 1 lb. 3 ozs.

- Everything looks healthy, and He was active, but then became shy and kept covering his face with his arms/hands.

- Steve and I both thrilled and can't wait to welcome Ethan James into family when He and the Lord decide its time!

Week 21

Well there was not much to update this week on. I've started to feel more random baby movements, but still not all the time and it comes and goes.. some days I don't feel anything, other days I feel very specific movements. Steve has not yet felt the baby move, but he is getting more excited everyday for the arrival of our baby. This week has been filled with lots of July 4th activities, including some at school and some at church, with today including some fun activities with friends.