Merry Christmas- Ryan, Nicole and Our Baby Girl

Daddy and I were so happy to have gotten the best early Christmas gift- Finding out that you are a girl! We decided to tell the rest of our family and friends in our Christmas cards. We had our the photographer that took pictures at our wedding come over to our house and take pictures!

Week 20- Size of a Mango!

It is your first Christmas! Mommy is still loving being pregnant. It is such a blessing and miracle! We spent Christmas Eve at the Shanahan side. Grandma Cindi had the whole family over. Then, we celebrated Christmas day at Grandma Lisa & Papa Dan's house.

 Your Baby
Your baby will be developing regular sleep patterns by now, so much so that you may be aware of them – especially since most babies get more active when mom tries to go to sleep. If your baby is a boy, his testes will have started to drop into his scrotum, and if your baby is a girl, her uterus is now completely formed. At this point in your baby's development, most of its energy is going towards gaining weight. Your baby is no longer the length of a pickle but that of a banana (a fruit which you should be eating due to its high potassium levels). The placenta is now as thick as it will get, and it is still busy supplying your baby with all the nutrients, oxygen and waste disposal required. If you’re having twins, both may be sharing one placenta or they may each have one of their own.

Will I Be A Ginger Girl Or A Ginger Guy?

Daddy and I could not wait very long to share the good news- That you are a girl!

The Shanahan Side

We shared with the Shanahan side of the family on December 19th which was the same day we had our ultrasound. Grandpa Jeff, Grandma Cindi, Aunt Jen, Uncle Chris, Grandma Phyllis, Uncle Jason and your cousin Alyssa were there. We went to Nick's Pizza Pub. We played a gingerbread card game. Everyone in the family got a scratch off gingerbread card. All the cards had ginger boys and ginger girls on them except the one winning card. The winning card had three girls on it. Whoever, got the winning card had to yell out if you were a boy or girl. Aunt Jen got the winning card and she told everyone at the table that you were a girl. I gave her a book called, "The Gingerbread Baby" to always remember that day. Afterwards, we ate gingerbread girl cookies that I made. I decorated them by making pink frosting dresses with bows.

 The McCord Side

Today (December 20th), we shared the news with the McCord side. Papa Dan, Grandma Lisa, Uncle Nate and Aunt Noelle were there. We played the same gingerbread game with them. I decorated boy and girl gingerbread cookies this time and I had each of them pick the cookie that showed if they thought you were a boy/girl on the plate in front of them. This is what they picked:

Grandma Lisa- Ginger Girl

Grandpa Dan- Ginger Guy

Uncle Nate- Ginger Guy

Aunt Noelle- Ginger Guy

Grandma Lisa got the winning girl card! Grandma Lisa got to keep a Gingerbread Baby book too. They were all very happy to hear the news! Afterwards, we ate a mostaccoli dinner together to celebrate!

Week 19- Grapefruit- It's A......?!?!?!?

 Today we had our big 20 week ultrasound. The ultrasound tech was laughing as she watched you. She said, "This one likes to move!" She also thought it was funny how you kept pressing your legs up against my stomach and holding them there. She said, "No wonder you feel her all the time!"

The ultrasound tech spent 15 minutes measuring and checking to make sure everything was healthy and growing on track. Afterwards, she asked if we wanted to know what you were. She then said, "It looks like it's a baby.....girl!" I was so surprised! I said, "REALLY?!?!" Daddy was not too surprised because he thought you were a girl all along! We are both so excited!

The best part of all is that you are healthy! The Dr. said, "Everything looks perfect. All the things that are supposed to be there are there, and there is nothing there that should not be there!" Notice your feet pressed up against my tummy in the ultrasound photo! So cute!

Your Uncle Nate also got engaged during my 19th week of pregnancy on December 23rd, 2012! Rebecca will be your aunt soon and you will get to be a flower girl in their wedding :)

Your Baby
Your baby is now covered in vernix (a white protective coating) that keeps your baby’s skin from damage inside its watery world. Some babies are born with this coating still present, but the closer to the due date, the less there will be. Your baby is looking more like a baby than ever before, with proportioned arms and legs, fat layers under the skin, and clearly defined facial features. If your little one is a girl, she will already have half of all the eggs she will be born with (in order to give you grandchildren someday). Sex organs are now identifiable, so if you want to know if you’re having a girl or a boy – you’re about to find out. And if you’re having twins, you might be having one of each. Right now your baby is only awake about 6 hours a day.

Week 18- Dragon fruit

You continue drumming on my tummy at night! I can faintly feel you here and there during the day but your favorite time seems to be after dinner time. Daddy can feel you every time he puts his hand on my stomach at night time! It has been fun for he and I to relax and watch tv together while feeling your little kicks! I always wonder what you are up to in there!

Next week, daddy and I find out if you are a boy or a girl! Daddy thinks you will be a girl but I think you will be a boy! Here are some other guesses:


Grandma Lisa- Girl
PaPa Dan- Girl
Uncle Nate- Girl
Aunt Noelle- Boy
Great Grandma June- Girl
Grandma Cindi- Boy
Great Grandma Phyllis- Boy
Uncle Dave- Boy
Aunt Jen- Boy
Aunt Jess- Boy

Like I said from the very beginning: I don't care what you are as long as you are happy, healthy and have a kind heart!

Your Baby
Your baby is about the size of a pickle now, and its weight will increase about 6 fold over the next month. This is true for twins as well. Fully surrounded by amniotic fluid, your baby is practicing breathing with amniotic fluid, and its chest is moving in rhythm as if breathing air. Your baby's hearing has now developed so that sounds outside the womb can be heard much clearer. The immune system is busy preparing for life on the outside as well. Myelin (a protective coating of the nerves) is now being produced. An ultrasound at this point would be able to detect any abnormal structural issues, although birth defects are rare and nothing to be worrying about. Your baby's umbilical cord is growing to continue to support your baby's growing needs.

Daddy Felt You Kick at 17 Weeks!

Today was the first time I had daddy try to feel your kicks. He was able to feel them! The first day he felt you was December 10th, 2012 while I was just finishing up my 17th week of pregnancy. You got a few pretty good jabs in for only being the size of an orange. He was so excited. He told his family about it the next day. You must be a strong little thing because according to a lot of the information I have read, it is still pretty early for a dad to be able to feel from the outside! Go little navel orange!

Week 17- Orange- Playing Soccer in My Belly!

I have been enjoying feeling your little kicks every evening! This is also the first week that people are finally starting to notice my growing belly! I love having a little baby bump.

 Your Baby
Those veins that have been showing through your baby's skin are becoming less obvious as fat begins to form. Even though your baby has had taste buds for quite some time, it is only now that differences in flavor are made. Your baby is now the same size as the placenta and its little heart is busy continuing to pump 25 quarts of blood a day. The meconium (the first bowel movement your baby will have after birth) is now forming in your little one’s bowel. Your baby is now big enough to fit into the palm of your hand, and is about the size of a small bakes potato. Your baby's brain is communicating constantly with the nervous system and muscles, and feeling movement is more likely now.

Maternity Clothes Shopping!

This weekend I finally boxed up my regular clothes and went maternity clothes shopping. I am so excited to have a little baby bump forming! People are finally starting to notice and comment on my belly this week :)

Baby Room Underway!

Auntie Noelle and picked up your crib today at Buy Buy Baby and then we assembled it! It is so exciting to begin preparing your room for you.

Week 16- Avocado- Feeling Some Action in There!

I have felt teeny tiny flutters the past few weeks. However, this week I know it is you for sure! The first time I finally realized it was a large movement on November 27th, 2012. You have been moving around like crazy at night when I lay down. You begin after dinnertime and continue for the remainder of the night. I can't feel you as well when I am moving around during the day but I can sure feel those little kicks when I am relaxing!

Your Baby
Even though your baby is still quite small, only about the length of your mascara, its heart is now pumping approximately 25 quarts of blood every single day. Your baby is continually becoming more active, busy practicing all those movements that the tiny body already can perform. The bones inside your baby's body are hardening, and those tiny legs and arms are now completely formed. Even though your baby's eyes are still closed for the time being, they are making little movements, and even have the ability to sense changes in light through the eyelids. Your baby's flexible thumbs now make it possible to grasp, preparing for the day when that tiny hand will wrap around your own finger.

16 Week Appointment

We were hoping to be able to see you today. However, today was just a regular check up with no ultrasound. The Dr. listened to your heartbeat and it was in the 140's today. The Dr. said babies heartbeats are quick in the beginning and then settle down to their regular rates as you get further along. The old wives tales say above 140 is a girl and below 140 is a boy! We shall see!

Week 15- Pear- Our Lil' Turkey

 

Happy Thanksgiving! Grandma Cindi had Thanksgiving at her house for the Shanahan side at noon. Then, Mommy & Daddy hosted Thanksgiving for the McCord side of the family. I made my first turkey and Grandma Lisa, Papa Dan and Aunt Noelle came over.

Your Baby
You may not be feeling as tired, but your little one is now able to rub its eyes, yawn and even blink. If you eat or drink something that your baby doesn’t like, you may notice a tug on the umbilical cord – not really, but your baby now has the ability to grasp the cord. Your baby's hairline is forming, and hair is now growing on its head. Even eyelashes and eyebrows are growing. If you’re hoping to find out the sex of your baby, unfortunately it is still too early, but it won’t be long. Even though your baby is hiccupping regularly, there is no sound as your baby's windpipe is full of fluid at this stage. Your baby can also now hear sounds.

Daddy and Mommy's First Anniversary

Today was our very first wedding anniversary. It is funny to think how fast things have changed! Last year we were getting married and this year we are so lucky to say that you are on the way! We celebrated tonight by eating a piece of the cake from our wedding night and having a toast with the flutes from our wedding night. After that, we watched our wedding video and reminisced about that exciting day on November 19th, 2011.