Hilarious SNL Baby Spanx

Week 36, 6 days - 19-22", 6.5 lbs

I am officially "full term" so Baby Ng could arrive any day now. Until then, he'll gain about 1/2 oz a day. I have an appointment with my OB on Friday, so maybe he'll give me some indication when he thinks I might go into labor. I am anxious, excited, and nervous (is that the same as anxious?) all at the same time. I really hope our Babies R Us completion certificate comes in the mail this week. I'm itching to have everything ready for Baby Ng's arrival...

Week 36 - 19-22", 6 lbs

6 lbs?! Whoa! No wonder I waddle and feel pain when he kicks!

We just took this picture the other day. It doesn't look much different from 5 weeks ago, but I sure feel different:

Happy birthday to A last week:

His favorite, UNI (yech!):

Week 34, 22", 5.5 lb

I can already foresee that these next few weeks are going to seem the longest and hardest. Baby Ng may not grow any taller/longer, but he'll keep getting heavier (at the tune of 1/2 lb or more per week). And with amniotic fluid at its peak amount, no more cushioning from the punches and kicks Baby Ng delivers almost constantly now. Nevertheless, Alan and I are in great anticipation for his arrival. I can't wait to hold him, feed him, and try to stay calm while he's screaming at the top of his lungs ;). At our last Labor & Birth class, the instructor asked us what we are most looking forward to. I said a play date...but I gave it more thought since then and I can't wait to take him on his first bike ride on Valley Forge Trail. Like in a little trailer or seat...and then eventually on his own bike! Aw, how adorable!

(all images from REI)

Week 33 - 19", 4.9 lbs

I can't believe it's only 6 more weeks until the (expected) birth of our baby boy! We went to Babies R Us (BRU) on Saturday to buy the remaining items off our registry. They give you 10% off and if you open up a store card, you get another 10% on top of that (which is like 15% off entire purchase). We didn't want to wait too long to get things ready for his arrival.

So we get to BRU and the salesperson tells us that those 10% completion certificates are mailed out by "corporate" once every month, and not printed by each store. So that means that we can expect the completion certificate either 2 weeks before our due date or 2 weeks after! Neither sounded reasonable to us. Why would they make first time parents, who have only the baby things they've received as gifts, wait until 2 weeks before their due date to complete their registry?! (I know this is fuel for the fire for those who have strong feelings against BRU)

Now, I kinda knew this in the back of my mind when the salesperson explained it to us when we first started our registry, but A and I were still upset by the fact. The best the salesperson could do for us is to tell us to call the store manager a few weeks before our due date and see if he/she can get corporate to send us the completion certificate earlier.

In the meantime, A and I will start purchasing items one at a time using those 20% coupons (either online or in-store). It's a better deal anyways, as long as we don't have to pay for shipping.

Progress picture

I can't believe we waited 8 weeks between taking pictures of the expanding belly! Below is Week 22 and Week 30, which we took at Ridley Creek State Park where the baby shower was held.

He weighed in at over 3 lbs Week 30. He is DEFINITELY a mover and a shaker. I feel like he's constantly moving around in there, practicing for his big debut! He'll be growing at about 1/2 lb a week from now until he's born. So counting from Week 30, that's 10 more weeks to go. He'll put on about 5 lbs! I can't believe there's still room in my belly...

It's Week 31 now, and he's already turned to get into position to drop into the pelvis and eventually be welcomed into the world. Apparently, he's also close to his birth length and will just spend the remainder of the time gaining weight.

And in case N wonders what she'll look like pregnant ...

Week 30 - 18", 3.2 lbs

At my last check-up, I hadn't gained any weight. The doctor wasn't concerned since I had that 8-lb weight gain early in the 2nd trimester. But I sure feel like I'm carrying more and more each week. He's creeping up there on the scale, but I can't imagine that he'll gain another 3 lbs in the next 9 weeks! Can my abdomen hold anymore?

Week 29 - 17", 3.1 lbs

I am 10 weeks, 3 days until my due date. It sounds so close! But then again, I am about 5 weeks, 3 days from my thesis defense, so...

It's like after every meal, and even drink of water, I feel like my tummy can't hold anymore! Quite uncomfortable though understandable since I have a 17" long baby inside me! Craaazy!

Week 28 - 17", 2.9 lbs

I am officially in my third and final trimester. The past six months have gone by so fast! Our baby is about 17" (no longer measured crown-to-rump, but head-to-toe), which is close to how big he'll be when he's born, and almost 3 lbs. And boy, is space at a premium in the tummy area! Sometimes after I eat, I have trouble taking deep breaths because of everything pushing on my diaphragm. This trimester, the baby is beginning to turn in preparation for birth (head down toward cervix). Starting this week, I'll be visiting the OB/GYN every two weeks.

Week 27 - 15", over 2 lbs

The size of our little boy is can no longer be compared to fruit anymore. He's 15" (that's longer than a foot!) and over 2 lbs in weight! I can't believe that I am a week away from the beginning of my third trimester. The doc said I should feel regular fetal movement by Week 28, but he's been moving everyday for several weeks now. It's a crazy cool feeling. It's like mini earthquakes in my tummy.


Luckily, leg cramps first thing in the morning have gone away (it only lasted 2 days). Sometimes I get restless leg syndrome before bed, so I just make sure I'm really sleepy before shutting the lights off (usually reading makes me sleepy).

This week I'll go for a glucose tolerance test. It is a screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). I have to drink a glucose solution and then my blood is drawn after an hour. If glucose levels are high after that hour, I may have to go back for a 3-hour test. Wish me luck ;)!

Week 25 - eggplant :O!

Whoops, skipped a Week 24 post! But now, I'm Week 25 and 4 days (roughly 6-1/2 months). This week, Baby Boy is 9.2" (size of an eggplant) and 2 lbs! It's crazy to think that I'll be carrying around a 7 lb baby in the next few months!

In other news, not only did the knob break off of our washer, it has completely stopped working. Great timing too (sarcasm) as we have a big pile of laundry to do!

Luckily, both Sears and Home Depot were having sales on Energy Star appliances.We decided on a GE top-loading washer.

We got 10% off at Home Depot with free delivery & haul-away of our old washer PLUS $100 rebate from PECO (pdf form). While we were out shopping, we also checked out refrigerators too, since ours was probably in this house since it was built in the 70s. Turns out, PECO will PAY $35 to recycle your old, working refrigerator! They have limited pick-up dates. So, if we got a new fridge, we'd have to time it just right so that our old one is taken away on the same day the new one is delivered. We like this black one from GE.

Week 23 - ear of corn

How, an ear of corn is pretty big! About 8.5" and 1.5 lbs! Crazy....

Some crazy things happening this past two weeks. Last Wednesday, I discovered a screw planted right into the rear passenger-side tire of our car. It even had a washer too! So imagine this stuck in the tire!

I imagine it got there from all the construction going on at the train station parking lot. They should do a better job of cleaning up. Every time I drove with the windows down, I hear the "clank clank clank" of the washer bouncing between the screw head and tire. Very strange.

Well, I drove on it for a few days. Didn't even notice a change in pressure or tire shape. But then Sunday, after church, "fuamp fuamp fuamp". Where'd the clank go? Uh-oh....I pulled over and lo and behold, completely flat. I thought I'd be able to make it to a gas station or Cosco or something so I drove a little further. But it just didn't feel right, so I pulled over again. I'm glad I stopped when I did, otherwise I'd be riding the rims.

Luckily, I stopped right in front of a house, and there were people inside (it was Easter, maybe everyone was out). Anyways, I left my cell phone at home (the one time!), so the nice people inside let me borrow their phone to call Alan (who had to work that morning).

Anyways, A comes out to meet me (I'm only 5 min from home), and we call a tow truck. And here is our car being rescued....

The car's still at the dealership. Guess we'll get our oil changed and car alarm checked out while it's there.

Week 22 - Papaya

Whoa, Baby Boy Ng is now over 1 lbs! (1.2 lbs to be more like it). He's also about 8" CRL. Apparently, he's going to double in weight in the next 4 weeks....I think we'll be able to start to feel his kicks from the outside in the coming week. Last night I thought I felt some strong punches/kicks but A didn't catch it in time.

Week 20 - Banana

This week, baby's CRL is 7 in (as long as a banana!). I can't believe he/she is already so big! Though he/she has a ways to grow...

This afternoon, A & I are going for my 20-week ultrasound. We'll be able to see how he/she is developing - organs and all - and whether or not he/she is a he or she! I'm mega - excited and probably had a dream about it.

I can't remember where I put my last copy of Lucky magazine, which really stinks because there was some cool stuff in there that I wanted to make a note of. Did I leave it on the train? Did I leave it at the gym? Argh!

We got our first issue of Parents magazine last week. I can't believe I'm officially HALF-WAY through the pregnancy and that we are going to be parents very soon. Such different roles we'll be playing. But we're excited and we have lots of support from family and friends so we're not too anxious...yet...

Week 19 - still a mango!

Our baby is now 6.5" crown to rump, which is half an inch longer than last week. He/She is also at around 10 oz.

We're so excited to get our 20-week ultrasound next week! I want to know...boy or girl!

In random pictures...

 

Got a sweet $25 VISA gift card for completing a survey for a student group on campus

Coco's all twisted taking a nap this past Sunday

Week 18 - Mango

Mmm....mango....just checked my calendar, and I'm officially 18 weeks, 1 day. Our baby is now 6", the size of one of my favorite fruits :). In just 2 weeks, A & I will go for our "anatomy" ultrasound and get to see all of the organs...including the one that tells us if he/she is a boy or girl! Exciting!

In other news, we're starting to get nervous since I haven't secured a job for after graduation yet...

Week 17 - sweet potato

5.5" long this week! Crazy! I just went to the doctor's on Wednesday. When the nurse weighed me, she said "Wow." I didn't know what she meant until the doctor came in. Guess I didn't gain much weight the first three visits and then just gained 8 lbs in the last four weeks! She said as long as I don't keep consistently having 8-lb/month weight gain, I should be fine. I should aim for about 25-35 lbs weight gain (and I've already gained 14 lbs). Dang! That's crazy! I'm going to be at least 145 lbs by July!!!

Week 16 - Turnip

Baby Ng is the size of a turnip, which is about 5" long. That's also a bit shorter than the length from wrist to tip of longest finger. This weekend, I thought I felt the baby move, but I haven't felt him/her since, so I'm guessing it was something else. Oh well! I look forward to a few more weeks when we can find out the sex of the baby and also start to feel him/her move regularly.

Week 15 - avocado

This week our baby is between 4 and 5 inches! He/She is also starting to hear - better watch my voice...I want him/her to be part of a peaceful family...

I've noticed that my stuffy nose, especially before bed and in the morning, has gotten a bit worse. Apparently, that's also attributed to pregnancy hormones and may not get any better as the pregnancy progresses. Better whip out the humidifier, else I'll rub my nose right off!

Week 14 - Navel orange

This week, our baby is the size of a navel orange (4.5")! At this point in the pregnancy, I should be gaining about a pound a week, or 4 pounds per month.

A friend of ours is having her second baby and is due the beginning of July. She is definitely showing! It's just so interesting to see the difference between our bellies even though we only due four weeks apart. Babies really do grow fast -- that's why people refer to pregnancy times in weeks and children's ages in months.