Growing Growing Growing!!!

Alright, I have a confession to make -- I screwed up how many weeks along I am! Already, making mistakes, not a good sign. Basically somewhere I skipped a week, so, we are going to skip on of the produce photos and just combine the developmental facts into one photo... So, with that said, a week an a half ago, week 16/17 the baby was the size of an Avocado!

And here's what Baby Bean was doing during that time:

Bean's ears are forming and can now pick up my voice!!! Can you believe it?!! The Bean has also already begun growing eyebrows and lashes, and even forming taste buds! (I hear that babies tend to like what their mother's eat while they are pregnant -- if this is true, The Bean will be partial to blueberry bagels, vanilla yogurt, asperagus, neopolitan ice cream, and green bell peppers, among other things :) ). In addition, Bean's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints. Already, fingerprints!! Can you believe it?!!

We just finished week 18, and the Bean was the size of a sweet potato (still one of my favorite foods) -- the photo will be posted after we take it tonight. But, here is what The Bean did last week: Bean has become extremely mobile, passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. Supposedly the baby's finally big enough for me to begin feeling the movements soon -- there have been a couple of times when I have said, "Hmm, that was an interesting feeling -- was that you, Bean, or was that just gas?") So, I cannot confirm or deny if I have, in fact, felt the baby move yet, but I'm sure I will some day soon!!

And, in 2 days we get to find out if we are having a boy or a girl, I am almost beside myself with anticipation!!!

Wonderful Weekend

The past couple of weeks have been very very stressfull at work for me -- we are getting audited by the SEC (which is kind of like the IRS for what we do). Anyways, my main jobi s making sure that our records and our procedures are compliant with federal regulations -- a pretty easy task, that is until I have pull it all together and make sure that all the wholes are filled and everything is perfect because these guys have the power to shut us down. Thus, the last couple of weeks have been quite stressful preparing for this week when the auditors are in our office.

So, that laid the groundwork for this weekend. Friday I took off early after I had done all I could for the audit (at this point my brain had literally shut down and would not work any more). I ran some errands and then finished getting my house ready for a very special guest who was coming in later that night.

At 8:30pm that evening I picked my dad up from the airport. :)

We had a wonderful weekend. Saturday we went to the Museum of Science and Industry (thanks to the Chicago Public Library, we were able to check out free passes for each of us, so we only paid for the special exhibits that we wanted to see). This museum is AMAZING!! we did 2 special exhibits: 1. we toured a captured German U-Boat -- that was really really cool (it was especially cool to hear my dad whisper little facts here and there that the tour guide didn't know/include. it's great having a dad who knows so much about so many things :) ). 2. we watched an IMAX about the universe from photographs taken by the Huble Space Station (we got to see stars being born, the death of stars, millions of galaxies, etc. it was beyond amazing). God really is beyond comprehension.

Next, we went to get Chicago Deep Dish pizza at Lou Malnatti's then we went home. When we got home, my dad installed a light in my kitchen that I asked him to make frmo scratch (i will post a photo later), and then we watched a movie.

Sunday we went to church, ran some errands, drove to the subburbs to check out a vintage fair, and then came home a tackeled a few projects I wanted to get taken care of (like, fixing a hinge on my closet door, hanging some branches on my dining room wall, replacing all the brass knobs in our kitchen with the champagne corks I have been preparing for a few weeks, and some other random things).

The weekend was a wonderful weekend. It was definitely way too short, if you ask me. My dad blesses us so much when he comes to visit. Not only is he one of my favorite people in the world and I love getting to spend time with him, but (and it's pretty selfish to say maybe) it's pretty great that his love language is acts of service. While I didn't have him doing major projects this time, the fact that he helped us make the house pretty and more like a home, really made my feel incredibly loved. And, it's so wonderful to watch him and Pablo interact and watch how my dad enjoys teaching Pablo how to do some of the handyman things.

All in all, it was the perfect way to end 2 weeks of stress, and to relax me enough to head into this week with the auditors.

Week 14 and 15

Dang!! I am so sorry for not posting the update of Baby Bean the last couple of weeks -- let me tell you, the last couple weeks have been so busy and very stressful. But of course, no excuse. Thanks to several of you who have been staying on top of me, here are the updates.

Week 14: Baby Bean is the size of a lemon!!

This week The Bean started sucking his/her thumb (so stinking cute to think about!! but already i'm worried that based on his/her parent's luck with braces, this is a habit that we will have to break ASAP to avoid a similar outcome, if possible, for the little guy!) and wiggling his/her toes. again, I repeat, so stinking cute!! In addition, The Bean's kidneys, liver, and spleen are continuing to develop. And, the baby grew hair for warmth is week! (this is not the type of hair that he/she will come out with. he/she will loose it while still in the womb).

As for me, during this week I can with out a doubt say that I am already falling head-over-heels in love with the life growing in my belly. I am actually getting really really excited (aliebit terrified) to by a mom.

As for weird things happening with me -- during week 14 my belly button was no longer centered (don't worry, as The Bean grew during week 15, the the button straightened out again). Also, my pants began to get very tight this week.

Week 15: Baby Bean is the size of a Orange!!

Can you believe how The Bean is growing!! This week The Bean is getting to be more porportionate: the legs are finally longer than the arms! way to go Bean -- keep them legs growing like Mama's!!! (but, be kind to her tummy when you are "readjusting"/trying out for the World Cup). Speaking of kicking (while I have not felt the baby kick yet) all 4 joints are working and he/she is supposedly wiggling and squirming away. I can't wait to feel that first little inner nudge. It's supposed to happen any week.

As for me, during week 15, the pants I was able to wear at all diminished to 2 pairs thus, I went shopping and bought a couple that were 2 sizes bigger! My belly isn't incredibly big, nor will it realyl affect my pants waist I think, but my hips have started opening up which is where the bigger pants have come in. It's difficult to find the right pair though b/c while my hips are wider, and I have a little belly, I'm still the skinny Anna which makes for difficult pant shopping.

In addition, Pablo and I went to our first birth class last night (we are doing the Bradley Method). I left feeling pretty overwhelmed, but very excited about all the prep-work we will do during this next 12-week class. In addition to information and prep about the birth and how Pablo will be my coach, I am also learning the stretches/exercises that will help my body prep for the whole ordeal, as well as how to practice relaxing different parts of my body. It's all veyr informative.

Pablo and I have begun to discus the Baby's room, which I could not be more excited about!! We are also talking about me not going back to work 6 weeks after the baby is born (which was the original plan) but rather me staying home with the baby -- something I never EVER thought we would talk about/consider, but the fact is, I'm already in love. I can't imagine leaving this tiny beautiful daughter/son of mine only 6 weeks after meeting him/her. Man! how things have changed in my heart in the last couple of months. Yes, it may be hormones, but I think God made women get those hormones for a definite reason.

Anyways, I will try to post more regularly. Hopefully the next couple of weeks will calm down significantly.

Ps. we find out the sex of the baby on Sept. 30th (that is if he/she is cooperative) :)

Love you all!!