Week 35

7/25/2013

Dear Brookelynn,

This week you are the size of a honeydew melon 18 inches and 5.25 pounds. We are almost full term, only two more weeks to go!  The best news is that today marks a huge milestone in your development, at this point all of your major organs are complete.  There is no need for medical intervention if you decided to join us early, the doctors wouldn't try to stop you, but with that said you can hang out for another two weeks, but I won't complain if you decide to come before we reach the 39th week mark...I'm not really looking forward to being induced, but...if we have to we will get through it just like we do everything else, but hey at least the doctor doesn't want me to go all the way to 40 weeks! 

A big event in the news occurred this week your future husband was born, he's a little Prince. Prince George Alexander Louis was born in England to Prince William and Kate Middleton.  I'm sure you will find your very own Prince one day but it is kind of special that you are born in the same year as the first Royal baby for the family. 

As for Mommy I'm pretty sleepy these days, I continue to go to the doctor twice a week and have had some funny experiences.  I may have lost a small part of my mucus plug this week as well but I'm not quite sure. I do know that I'm having more contractions according to my non stress test but I continue to only feel them in my cervix, the nurse said that's good because it will make induction easier if my cervix is dilated. Fingers crossed! And my belly has dropped a little. 

The funniest story for the week was when I was icing my hoha because it was swollen (one of the many joys of pregnancy) and when I got up to go to the bathroom my pants were soaked! As well as my underwear. I was pretty sure that my water did not break because my panty liner was not wet on top. And my pants were hard where it was wet from the starch of the corn. Ha, ha! But Glammy, Unkie, and Mommy had a good laugh. GeeGee and Unkie were concerned still so they investigated the bag of corn I was using and it did have a hole in it!  I don't think I have ever seen your Unkie laugh so hard before. 

In other news I went shopping again and got you, your 6 month picture outfits!  I couldn't resist! -XOX! Here's to a few more weeks before we get to meet you! 

Week 34

7/19/2013

Dear Brookelynn,

This week you are 17.75 inches long and the size of an average cantaloupe, weighing in at about 4.75!  You sure are getting big!  The waxy protective coating called vernix is getting thicker now.  Your lungs are continuing to develop to prepare you to breath outside the womb. 

As for Mommy, I'm exhausted but I keep moving...every night I have to wrap my feet, put my stomach band on, wrist band (due to my new symptom...loss of feeling and tingling in my right hand. The doctor says its normal...I have just about every normal pregnancy problem and they keep multiplying), and I have to ice my hoha, feet, and hand! Every inch of my body is swollen and the doctor says I could easily have 10-15 pounds of water retention! 

This week we had two doctors visits and NSTs. Everything still looks good but you are quite the mover.  You only cooperated the entire time when Glammy went. It was interesting to see the small contractions happening in my uterus but Mommy doesn't feel them yet. The nurse said its quite possible that I won't and I will only have cervical contractions (those I feel, but they don't hurt...they just shock me), however, I don't think Mommy will be that lucky considering everything else we have gone through.  Pregnancy just isn't for Mommy, but that's ok we can still have a little brother named Blake he just might not come to us the same way you did, but we will love him just the same! 

It's crazy to think we are only 3 weeks away from full term! Fingers and toes crossed we make it to 35 weeks so your lungs can finish developing! -XOX! 

Week 33

7/12/2013

Dear Brookelynn,

You are getting bigger by the week and we are getting closer to your birthday everyday.  I'm getting more excited for that day to come but I'm also a little afraid, because we don't know exactly what will happen.  And as you know Mommy is a planner and likes to know what to expect before things happen.  But, that's ok, we will get through it just like we have everything else so far. I truly believe it will be a fairy tale ending to this long and scary baby bump story and it will mark the beginning of our next chapter together...Life with Brookelynn! 

At 33 weeks you should be the size of a pineapple, 17 inches and 4.25 pounds, however, my sweet chunky monkey you are still measuring one week larger which is amazing considering our complications!  So, since you are measuring 34 weeks in size you are the size of an average cantaloupe, 17.75 inches and 4.75 pounds.  But, we will stick to our schedule for now since things can change as we are continued to be watched.  The doctors say you will continue to gain half a pound a week from now until birth if things continue as they are. Your skeleton is also hardening with the exception of your skull, which will not fuse together completely but will overlap to allow you to grow all the way until,early adulthood. 

As for Mommy, the nurses say I'm really tiny but as you grow so will Mommy's weight. I will gain about a pound a week...it's hard to lug around this extra weight for me since I'm not used to it, but I did get a belly band that seems to be helping my muscles a lot!

This week has been entertaining and full of appointments.  Mommy and Daddy took an 8 hour Lamaze, labor and delivery class which was very long, boring, and not very helpful! We tried to make the best of it.  We learned one breathing technique that will work for me if I have to use one, its kind of a game that can be used as distraction. We also learned there are only two birthing positions that can be used with an epidural and once it is inserted you can't have food. Basically, the class focused on natural birth and breast feeding which just isn't Mommy's thing. 

I have been pretty tired this week and my eyes are becoming puffy which is also a normal pregnancy symptom.  I think I just about have or have had all of them. We met with our regularly gynecologist and she said everything looks great and we also had an ultrasound this week, you are so cute.  Even the technician said.  I think you look just like Unkie Jessie when he was a baby.  The specialist said everything looks great but that we will still keep up with our two to three appointments per week. 

After all those appointments I had my first Non Stress Test (NST). Well, you cooperated for five minutes before you went MIA.  Then they tried to find you again but couldn't. So they called a more experienced nurse in who said that I was too small for the straps and they had to cut them (I liked hearing that!). Well, they found you after a while but you only cooperated for another ten minutes.  The nurses then tried to talk to you, I told them that wouldn't work because you stop moving whenever you know anyone other than me is touching my belly. I have to snap my fingers to signal anyone to feel you move to out smart you.  Then they put a vibrating paddle on my belly and that pissed you off royally!  You threw a fit! The doctor luckily didn't make me wait another 20 minutes! And the best part is we get to do this twice a week until you arrive, it should be interesting! 

Well, 49 more days or less until your grand entrance into the world! -XOX! 

Week 32

7/5/2013

Dear Brookelynn,

This week has been a little bit more eventful than last.  We have a lot to share with you, nothing to exciting, but we are defiantly getting closer to meeting you...I just can't wait! 

You are now about the size of a large jicama (16.7 inches and 3.75 pounds).  You are really starting to plump up, although you already had a lot of baby fat...but there is nothing as cute as a chunky monkey baby.  The thin lanugo hair that formed earlier in your development has started to shed now, as well. Your hair and skin will begin to become soft, I just love the smell of new babies, nothing comes close to it except for maybe puppies.  

This week I sanitized everything for you, it only took three hours and was quite the job.  It was nice to get that off the to do list.  Glammy and I made 20 custom burp rags for you too. They turned out pretty good for our first time. Mommy had to take a break because my ankles became really swollen, that has been a problem lately. It doesn't help that we have been having a heat wave and temperatures are as high as 109. Ugh!

Your Daddy and I attempted to set up your sleep monitor and video monitor in your nursery but that ended with a return!  There were too many cords.  So $300 more later we got something we liked much better for your room.  We got a wireless video monitor and a sleep monitor that is much more high tech and more efficient.  It's going to give Mommy more peace of mind and now I don't have to figure out how to conceal all the wires.

Daddy and I also went on our hospital tour in Roseville.  It was very informative, we learned a lot and what to expect when your birthday arrives!  Next week should be a busy one as well, we have a check up with Dr. Claus, a non stress test, and an ultrasound with the specialist.  Tomorrow should be entertaining as well we have an 8 hour child birth class in Roseville! Wish us luck! -XOX!