Arden's 3d Photo Shoot

Well, we finally had a 3d photo shoot of Arden today. It was a lot of fun. She was pretty cooperative although she did keep putting her hands over her eyes or in her mouth blocking our view of her face. She also kept putting her legs behind her head. I didnt realize what a contortionist I had in my belly. She seemingly fills up every little bit of space she has in there. She's very long.

In the ultrasound session we got a CD with 35 pictures from the session and a 30 min DVD that is in 4d so you can see her moving and rubbing her eyes... Plus we got some pictures printed out, too. It was really very cool. I am posting a few of the pics so you guys can see how cute she is. My mom and big sis swear she looks like I did when I was a baby. I hope she does, but I can't say conclusively that she does!

I am 28 weeks this week. I guess I will post Arden's stats:

The amount of Arden's brain tissue is increasing and what was a smooth surface of the brain is now more characteristic of the grooves and indentations of a developed brain.

• Arden has eyelashes and eyebrows, but the ultrasound showed that she doesnt have very much hair yet! (I didnt have much as a baby either!)

• Her lungs are now capable of breathing air.

• Though still lean she is starting to get chubbier.

• She can open her eyes and will turn her head toward a continuous bright light on the outside.

• Baby's Size (head to rump) this week: 10 inches
  15.75 inches (head to toes)
• Weight: a little more than 2 lbs

The Home Stretch!

This week marks the beginning of the 3rd trimester of this pregnancy!!! WOOHOO! I am 27 weeks and ready to get into the home stretch. Arden is getting a lot bigger. My belly is getting quite round and conspicuous although people still can't believe how far along I am. They guess that I am about 5 months max.

I am finally on break from school although I still have other assignments to do for law journal. ARGH! But I have had the opportunity to use some of my free time to do things to get ready for Arden's arrival. Auntie C and I painted the baby's room this weekend. It was a 3 day process. The walls are a "mint hint" (a VERY pale mint) in a satin finish with alternating 6" and 2" stripes in "peridot" (which is a bit of a darker mint, kind of sage-ish) in a semi gloss finish so the stripes "pop" as Auntie C says. She is the designer and I have given her creative control. I picked out the bedding that I liked which is pink, green, and a bit of yellow in a patchwork quilt, and she picked all the accessories to go along with it, mostly pink (of course!). Check out my registries. The links are on this blog on the right hand side of the screen. It is a lot of fun picking out all of this stuff. Now I will have to get everything in the room. I can't wait. I think this is the best part, getting all of the cute stuff together!

Well I guess I will give you Arden's stats for this week. She is really growing and developing so quickly!

Arden is really starting to fill up my uterus. This week she weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with her legs extended. She can now open and close her eyes, and she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. She may suck her fingers, and although her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if she were to be born premature. With more brain tissue developing, Arden's brain is very active now. Wonder what she's thinking? Me too!!

Loving the Classics

Exams are almost over. I have one more on Monday then I'll be done. Whew, I'm glad this semester is over!

Arden Is doing well. She is getting bigger. I am having a hard time sitting up now. I guess my belly really is getting bigger. It seems like everyday its a little bigger (I guess that's because it is!) I can't sit straight up in a chair. I kind of lean back in the chair and lean to the side when I want to get up because I cant sit straight up from a reclined position without feeling the baby get "crunched". Other than that I am doing well.

Ari has taken to listening to classical music. I bought her some Baby Einstein CDs the other day and she really likes them. One of the CDs has some lively songs and other more mellow songs. When a lively song comes on, she kicks and moves around like she is dancing! When a more quiet song comes on, she is still. I can still feel her moving but she just seems to be listening. Its really cute. So I put the headphones on my belly while I study or work on the computer and just let her listen to the music. They say that she will remember the sounds from the womb and may find any music I played her comforting when she is born. Luckily I like the songs on the CDs too, just in case I find myself listening to them non stop when she's born!

Well I am 25 weeks but will soon be 26 weeks (on Sun. 12/11) So I think I will post stats for 26 weeks.

• Arden is putting on more weight at this time. She now weighs a little under 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches from head to heel.
• This week marks a special time as Arden's brain wave activity begins for the visual and auditory systems. The nerve pathways in her ears are developing, which means her response to sound is growing more consistent. It will be some time, however, until the baby comprehends what she is sensing.
• Ari's lungs are developing now, too, as she continues to take small breaths of amniotic fluid - good practice for when she takes her first breath of air when she's born. Her lungs secrete surfactant to keep the lung tissue from sticking together.
• At this point Arden has completed two-thirds of her stay in my womb.

Pictures Finally

Well I finally have some pictures of me to post. These are from around Thanksgiving when I was somewehere around 23 weeks. I'll be 25 weeks on Sunday the 4th (6 months). There still isnt much to show, but I do have a little belly. I actually have gotten noticably bigger since these were taken. People are finally starting to ask me when the baby is due. I guess I am certifiably pregnant now. :)

I went to the doctor today and my total weight gain is about 10 or 11 pounds. It's hard to tell because I have changed doctors so the scales are different and I think the other one was a little off. So this is my best estimate, as I dont have a scale in my house!

I hope all is well with everyone. I will post Ari's ultrasound when I get a chance to scan it. I've been so busy. :)