37 Weeks = Full Term!!

Tomorrow I will have completed my 37th week which means that we have a full term baby on our hands! He still has 2 1/2 more weeks til my due date, though, and according to the doctor, I'm not showing any signs that he's coming soon. He might just be a good little grandson and wait for his Granny to get here. It was really hard for her to get good measurements because he's so cramped but she estimates that he weighs about 2.95 kg (6 1/2 lbs). Somehow she was able to get some good footage of his face despite barely being able to measure his abdomen (probably because his booty was up under my ribs).



I call this the "I don't wanna be bothered" face. I expect to see this a lot in the future.



This one is kind of hard to tell what you're looking at but he basically has his mouth open with his tongue sticking out. Don't worry, he doesn't really have a hole in his nose, it's just the weird angle.

And here's a fun video:

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Update

I had 2 doctor visits yesterday! Fun! Baby Bryce also had his first test. It was a non-stress test and he passed with flying colors. It was fun to sit and listen to his heartbeat for a while. The nurse did have to come in and shake my belly to get him to wake up, though. That's fun. Even then, he didn't really wake up. He gave a couple of good kicks in protest and then settled back to sleep. I'm still holding out hope that means he's going to be a good sleeper. (Please let me live a little longer in my ignorant bliss.) The doctor also checked me out and said that I have no signs of early labor and my iron is high enough for me to be a blood donor, although I wouldn't mind at this point if he came just a little early. Being huge has lost it's luster. The other doctor appointment was with an internist. Czech hospitals want you to have had a full physical (including EKG) before you deliver a baby in their facility. I'm as healthy as a horse, even though the little suction cups they used in the EKG kinda freaked me out. That's all the news I have for now. Sorry there aren't any pictures. It's so cramped inside me it's hard to tell what's what now. I'll update again next week!

34 Weeks (a.k.a. 8 Months!!)

We had another great doctor's visit today. Baby Bryce is doing great and growing well. He now weighs in at an estimated 2 1/2 kg (5 1/2 lbs). The doctor also estimates if he stays in for another 5 weeks, he'll probably weigh in at about 3 1/2 kg (7 3/4 lbs). He's also partially engaged, but apparently that's not a big deal. Dr. F just can't help herself when she gets a good shot at the baby's face; she just has to try out the 3D. Today, he was sleeping again with his left hand up by his face.



He's getting pretty crowded in there now. Today when we found his hands, his feet were right up next to them. Comfy. Here's a good profile shot. I'm gonna say he's got his Daddy's lips and chin.



He's still moving all the time but not as big as before. I guess we have the cramped quarters to thank. Every once in a while, it's like he gets tired of being folded up and he stretches out really big. It makes my belly go really lopsided and can be pretty uncomfortable. Speaking of belly...



34 Weeks Fun Facts:
1. Belly button is still strange looking. Not quite an 'outie' but some days it does stick out a little more than others.
2. I just love hearing, "Wow! You look like you're about to pop!"
3. Braxton Hicks contractions have arrived. Fun, since it feels like someone is sitting on my chest (yes Mama, I told the doctor this - it's normal) and makes me feel like I'm gonna wet myself. My belly also gets really lopsided and alien looking. Some days, it seems like I have them every 5 minutes, other days I just have a few.
4. Breathing is becoming very difficult sometimes. Especially when he shoves both feet up under my ribs. I can usually push him back down, though.
5. Swelling is pretty minimal and only when I walk a lot and am hot. Or when I fly.

From now on, I'll see the doctor about every week so we'll have more frequent updates. Maybe not photos but we'll see.

Love,

The Very Pregnant One

As Promised...

The video. Like I said yesterday, he's snuggled up and sleeping so there's not a whole lot of movement.

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Our Doctor is Awesome!

Once she measured his growth progress (head, belly and leg), Dr. Figurova decided today to try the 3D again because our baby boy was in a better position. I think she might have been more excited than us to get another look. He was sleeping peacefully and didn't hardly budge the whole time. I hope that's a good sign for future sleeping once he's on the outside.

It's amazing that this...



...translates into this with the push of a button...







(The blob to his right is the placenta. It makes for a good pillow)

He's measuring now about a week ahead of schedule (mainly due to his head circumference.) The doctor measures his femur length, abdomen circumference, and head circumference separately and then looks at them together to get an estimate of how his measurements compare to an average. If he's with averages, he should be measuring at 30 weeks and 4 days. Based on his measurements, though, he's at 31 weeks and 5 days. Dr. F also estimates that he weighs 1735 g (3.8 lbs). Big boy. That would probably be why my belly has grown considerably in the last few weeks.



Dr. F also gave us another DVD of the 3D but it's taking forever to load. Hopefully, I'll have that up tomorrow.

27 Weeks (aka 6 months)

I have officially completed 6 full months of pregnancy and 2 full trimesters. We're now in the homestretch! We had a 3D Ultrasound today but he was pretty uncooperative. He had his hand in front of his face the majority of the time. I really don't know where he gets it from, but I think he might be shy. Either that, or he doesn't like his sleep interrupted. If that's the case, I think I know where he might get that from...



The doctor gave us a DVD of all the video clips of us trying to get this boy to show his face. Every once in a while, you get a good glimpse (like the still photo above where he's quasi-saluting). It was like peek-a-boo. He even squeezes his own cheek at one point. He just might be the cutest fetus ever.

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Getting even bigger!



27 Weeks Fun Facts:

1. Belly button is still looking very strange, poking out just a little.
2. Nighttime is still Baby Bryce's favorite time for exercise.
3. If our baby boy is measuring with monthly averages, he's about a two and a quarter pounds and about 15 inches long.
4. Definitely snoring now, although only sometimes. I totally blame it on the cold I've had.

Ultrasound Photos!!!

We finally got some good ultrasound photos! Last time, the doctor just printed a picture of his big foot but this time, we got some good shots for the baby book. And please notice that my name on the ultrasound is 'Beastley, Valerie'. Obviously I didn't see my regular OB for this one, or she would have gotten my name right.



A picture of his face. You can see his right eye, right cheek and nose but the left eye is in shadow.



And a good profile shot. I think he has his Daddy's lips.



And further proof that he is indeed a boy. He'll be so embarassed I put his boy parts on the internet.

24 Weeks (5 1/2 Months)

At almost 6 months, I'm feeling like I can't get much bigger but I know I've got a long way to go.



And I thought I'd include a photo my baby daddy just in case y'all were wondering. He loves when I call him that.



24 Weeks Fun Facts:
1. Belly button is looking very strange. It's not poking out, just stretched completely flat.
2. Heartburn has begun. But only if I eat a big meal.
3. He's moving/kicking/wiggling like crazy. His favorite time for gymnastics is just when I get comfortable and ready to go to sleep at night.
4. Cravings have progressed to mainly sweets (I was hoping I'd avoid the massive sweet tooth) and things I can't get here. I am hungry all the time, though. It may have to do with eating smaller meals, though.
5. Not too much back pain but my lower ab muscles do get quite 'achy' after a day of walking.
6. If our baby boy is measuring with monthly averages, he's about a pound and a half in weight and about a foot long.

Here's a video of our son in doing his late evening aerobics. At about 11 o'clock on my belly is where the action happens. It's harder than you'd think to catch this little jumping bean in action. He'd be going to town, jumping and wiggling, then I'd start up the camera and he'd stop. Little booger.

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20 Weeks

We see the doctor again on Tuesday so I'll have more pictures of our baby boy up soon. For now, here's the latest belly shot. I'm feeling him move a lot now and every now and then, Matt gets in on the action. We've also decided on a name... Bryce Alan.

A New View...

I was on the scale this morning (not fun anymore) and realized I can't see the numbers anymore. I have to lean forward past my belly to see just how much I've been gaining. I knew this day would come, but I hadn't expected it so soon. I can still see my toes, though. For now.

The Verdict.....

I know there's still time left on the poll but we've already been to the doctor and want to share our news...

Baby Beasley is a....

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BOY!!!!!

To quote the doctor: "It is a penis from every direction!" So we're pretty positive. Still working on a name...

Here are the pictures from today.

Practicing catching a baseball already.


And one big foot.


And here's the 17 week shot (aka 4 months - I thought 16 weeks would be 4 months but nobody asked me, the math teacher):


16/17 Weeks Fun Facts:
1. Feeling fine. Still no morning sickness. The little bit of yuckiness I was feeling is completely gone.
2. Still sleeping. A. Lot.
3. Still peeing. A. Lot.
4. Maybe feeling the baby move a little. Or someone is popping popcorn in my belly.
5. No swelling or puffiness. Unless you count my belly.
6. I may or may not snort every once in a while in my sleep. And wake myself up.
7. Cravings include: anything with lots and lots of flavor. Not as much chocolate and sweets as I thought I would crave. Fruit and fruit-flavored candy. Apples with peanut butter. Sour cream and onion Pringles.
8. Food aversions include: raw veggies (yuck!). Ranch dressing.

12 Week Ultrasound

We had another doctor appointment today. This time, she spent about 30 minutes examining all the baby's organs and measuring bones and all that. Baby seems to be perfectly normal. She was able to see the brain, liver, diaphragm, stomach, intestines, and heart.


And here's the baby about to suck its thumb. Speaking of thumb, we saw each hand with 4 fingers and a thumb. Please also notice that the leg is fully extended, kicking me. Feel sorry for me in about 3 months when those are in my ribs.


Waving hello!


And sucking again...

Watch Baby Grow!

Click on the title to see this post.

Belly Photo: 3 Months

This photo was taken on the last day of my third month (12 weeks). Sorry it's so yellow but it was dark outside and so we only had the overhead lights and yellow walls (they really are yellow). I'll try to take it during the day next time so we have some natural light and you can tell where my belly ends and my arm begins. Anyway, so my belly is starting to poke out a little. I don't really look pregnant, just like I've eaten too much for lunch. I'm not quite needing maternity pants yet but my normal ones won't button.