Week 38- Pumpkin

Well Rylan, you are due any day now! We are laughing because everyone thought you would be early the whole time and you are proving everyone wrong. It is so exciting to look at all your things around the house. We can't wait until you are here to use them all. Here are pictures of some of your things.

Your Baby
Your baby’s skull is still soft to allow for the trip through your birth canal. Some of the tiny bones in her body won’t fuse together until after birth. At this point your little one is ingesting a lot of amniotic fluid, which is resulting in the build-up of meconium, (the first bowel movement that she will have after birth). Your baby’s tiny fingernails continue to grow but are kept soft inside your uterus. Be prepared to cut them shortly after giving birth. Your baby is gaining about one ounce every day at this stage. The lubricant that will keep the lungs from sticking together during breathing is being readily produced.

Week 37- Winter Melon

You are full term! We are ready to hold you and love you! We can't wait for your arrival! We are so happy that you made it this far as our doctor thought you could potentially come too early! Here are some of the family predictions of your birthday! Your actual due date is May 14th.

Mommy- April 19th (Wrong already)! I will go with May 19th as my next guess.

Daddy- April 27th

Cousin Alyssa-April 29th

Aunt Jen & Aunt Noelle- May 1st

Papa Dan- May 7th

Grandma Cindi thinks sometime during the 39th week

Pregnancy Symptoms- Eating a lot of ice cream and cookies! However, I loved these things before so I don't know if you would consider these cravings! Daddy is eating it with me too! I am still feeling plenty of movement and hiccups.

Total Weight Gain at Full Term- 35 lbs 

Mommy made you a book with all of your family members in it. I can't wait to read it with you.

 

Your Baby
Your baby will weigh, on average, between six and six and a half pounds this week. Growth slows down now, and your baby is busy practicing for life after the journey through your birth canal. Your little one is plumper now, and the fat stores are sufficient that if born now, your baby would not require an incubator to keep warm. Lungs are fully developed, which means your baby would be able to breathe on its own if born now. Usually babies are head down at this point, but they can drop right up until the time of birth. If you’re having twins, they will weigh between five and seven pounds at this point, but if they are smaller, they may need some extra time in an incubator to keep them warm. 

Week 36- Honeydew

Our doctor gave us great news today! Mommy has been resting since 27 weeks to keep us both healthy. Our doctor told us that we were at a point in which you are ready to be born! He said I can continue my usual activities and not rest as much as before. The contractions I had in the beginning never caused any changes and in no way affected the pregnancy. Thanking God!

Pregnancy Symptoms- NESTING! Mommy has been in a crazy nesting mode! I have organized the whole house, gotten the house cleaned, organized your closet/drawers, installed the carseats, washed all your sheets, washed all your clothes and prepared your whole room. Mommy & Daddy also made a play room for you in our guest bedroom with all of your toys that you got from the shower. It is so nice to see all your things in our house after the baby showers. We have a bassinet next to our bed and we plan to have you sleep in our room with us while you are a young baby. The house is also stocked with diapers, wipes and all the baby essentials! We are ready for you whenever you decide to arrive.

Your Baby

Your baby is about six pounds and will gain approximately one half of a pound a week from now until birth. That protective fat layer will make up about 15 percent of your baby's weight at birth. Even though your baby's gums have ridges that look a bit like teeth, the real ones won’t make their appearance until about three months after birth. If you’re having twins, they’re probably on their way, if you haven’t gone into labour yet. Your baby is probably sleeping about 90 percent of the time, and there isn’t much room to move around anymore, although you will still be feeling movements. Your baby's cheeks are developing fat and those cheek muscles are developing, creating that lovely chubby appearance.

Shanahan Side Baby Shower

Today I am 35 weeks and 5 days pregnant. The Shanahan side of the family threw their baby shower today for you! It was at the Thornwood Clubhouse and the theme was "Rustic/Cowgirl." Grandma Cindi, Aunt Jen and Aunt Jess hosted the shower and did a great job decorating! Everyone brought a book and a gift.

Here are some of our favorite pictures from the shower:

Gifts

Grandma Cindi, Grandma Phyllis, Aunt Lois, Grandpa Frank/Sue & Uncle Dave- Jogging Stroller

Aunt Jen, Josh/Jen Griffin, Sherry Griffin, Robin Moser & Dana Pasholk- Carseat & extra base

Aunt Jess- Horse paci, horse rattle cowgirl outfit/socks

Grandma June- Snugabunny play mat

Grandpa Dan- Baby book to fill out

Great Grandma Phyllis- Book of prayers, outfit with bow
Great Grandma Donna & Paul- Snail coin bank, bracelet to be engraved for dedication 

Aunt Noelle & Grandma Lisa- Rainforest jumperoo, John Deere Outfit

Barb- Bottle set, milk storage, elephant toy & outfit

Aunt Jeanne- Two books

Melissa Van dusen- Dress/hat/shoes, fleece swaddle & burp cloths

Mandy Kerruish- Diaper bag, bath travel set, outfits & toys

Becky Shueler- Buy Buy Baby gift card and crocheted blanket

Sue Watkins- Book & sleep sack

Peg Dorrance- Diaper genie

Anne Baker- two books

Aunt Liz, Anne, Tracy and Great Grandma Monica- Pack n' Play with bassinet

Anita Heilmann- Deer outfits, deer stuffed animals, deer towels

Betty Gyorr- Bedtime stories and bathing set

Jane Holly- swaddles, wash cloths, ouchy gel pack

Barb- Photo frame, lamb pillow/playmat

Mary Weilandt- Gift card, camo food dinner set

Aunt Tracy & Amanda- Bambi outfit and St. Patrick's Day outfit

Aunt Jen- Dress with cardigan

Meagan Bentley- Sheep sound machine, swaddle me, blanket, country girl dress

Kim Christiansen- Baby Einstein crib soother, swaddles

Week 35- Coconut

We had our final ultrasound this week at 35 weeks. The Dr. said you are in position for birth and everything looks great! They say you are about 6 1/2 lbs and that if you are born at 40 weeks you will probably be about 8 1/2 lbs. The ultrasound tech was laughing again because your feet were resting on top of my tummy! They were the same way at our 19 week ultrasound! She took a picture of your feet resting on my belly. She said it looks like you are holding it up like my belly is going to cave in :) Keep holding on in there little Rylan and keep growing!

Babies Sleep/Wake Pattern

• Wakes up really early in the morning! Around 6 am and stays awake through breakfast!
• Rests most of the afternoon
• Wakes back up in the evening around dinner time and is VERY ACTIVE the rest of the night!
  

 

Your Baby

Your baby is about five and a half pounds and this is the start of rapid weight gain (not for you). If you’re carrying twins they will weigh slightly less, as they don’t have as much room to grow. From now until birth your baby will gain approximately one third of a pound per week. A lot of this is the all-important fat to keep your little one warm for the first few weeks after your baby is born. This brown fat is different from the white fat that we women know well. Brown fat contains more cells that create body heat, and this in turn prevents hypothermia. This brown fat appears on your baby's upper spine, back and shoulders. When Grandma pinches your baby's adorable chubby cheeks, it’s the white fat that she’s turning pink.

McCord Side Baby Shower

Today I am 34 weeks and 5 days pregnant. It was the McCord side baby shower. Great Grandma June, Grandma Lisa and Aunt Noelle hosted the shower. It was at Jameson's Charhouse in Huntley, Illinois. Everyone brought a book and a gift. I can't wait to read all the sweet little books we got to you at bed time every night.

Here are some of our favorite pictures:

 

 

Gifts

Great Grandma June- Lightweight Stroller

Grandma Lisa- Snugabunny swing

Aunt Noelle- Pink GT Convertible walker

Aunt Rebecca- Summer outfits, dresses and mother baby figurine

Aunt Debbie- Baby Outfits

Aunt Sue- Baby movement sensor

Sara Lucania- Diapers and bathing soaps

Angele Amato- Horse Outfit

Kathy Pourchot- 1st Bible, cross, baby sling & photo frame

Grandma Cindi & Great Grandma Phyllis- Boppy, pacis, rattles

Aunt Jen- Onesies, swaddlepod, waterproof sheet savers

Aunt Jessica- Two deer outfits

Erin Aydelott- Baby Einstein play table

Aunt Viv- Deer Painting

Lauren Bulgatz- Summer infant superseat

Lindsey Robertson- Onesies, summer outfits, summer hat

Jenna Stober- Rattle, bottle warmer

Danielle Squires, Serena Lerma, Danae Honcoop- bath toys, supermat playmat

Courtney Kuzynowski- Munchkin dinnerware, bibs, rattle, teehter

Stacy Greenberg- Country girl outfit

Rachael Hall- Onesies, outfits & mom book

Rachael Mullen- Outfits, socks, layettes

Lisa Hansen- Baby Gift Card

Sabrina Leis- Onesies

Michelle Kabat- Onesies

Beth Straka, Whitney Orlando, Martha Pankow & Lindsay Navarro- Toys, glowworm, onesies, rattles

Laura Strus- Made a blanket & onesies

Teachers of Cambridge Lakes- Snugabunny Bouncer

Week 34- Butternut Squash

The pregnancy continues to be going great! Our doctor keeps happily reporting that all the rest at home is working and the contractions I have been having are not affecting the pregnancy at this point. 34 weeks was a big milestone and we continue to pray that we make it full term. God is hearing our prayers.

You are getting so big! I can feel you hiccuping multiple times a day. Mostly after I eat a meal. I can also tell which body part is moving when you move. Sometimes I give you a little poke and you move back in response. You are still most active at night! You wake up every night as I am about to go to bed and have a party in my stomach! You also wake up super early in the morning and tend to sleep the afternoons away. We love you baby girl!

Your Baby

Your baby weighs about five pounds now (think of a bag of sugar), and most of the lanugo (body hair) is gone. Your baby's immune system is no longer relying on the antibodies from the placenta, which is important to protect your little one at birth and for the rest of its life. The vernix (thick white layer of protection for your baby’s skin) is disappearing, but there will still be a little bit left at birth. The intestinal and digestive systems are fully working by themselves and your baby is peeing into the amniotic fluid, up to a pint a day. Hopefully you’ve stocked up on nappies (diapers). Even though the placenta is capable of supporting your baby until birth, it will start to age this week.