Belly Diaries – Week 19 May 29, 2009

Your pregnancy: 19 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby’s growing:

Your baby’s sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don’t be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.

How your life’s changing:

Think you’re big now? You’ll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you’re resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it’s from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they’re called chloasma, or the “mask of pregnancy.” You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or “dark line.”

These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you’re outdoors. And if you’re self-conscious about your “mask,” a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

(taken from www.babycenter.com)

Sleep, sweet beautiful sleep May 28, 2009

When Andrew and I first got married we almost bought a full size bed. The house we were moving into was old and the queen boxspring would not fit up the stairs. At the time we figured it would not be a big deal. We snuggled all night anyway

Thankfully someone talked some sense into us and bought us a split boxspring so we could stick with a queen, because up until a few months ago we had two adults, two kids and two dogs all in our bed. The dogs got the boot first. They were the easiest to kick out. The kids got to stay a few more weeks and then that was it. We had had enough.

So Andrew and I came up with a schedule and split up the nights evenly. We each took turns getting up in the night with the kids. The first few nights were rough. Andrew ended up getting up more with Miracle and I got up more with Axel. They just responded better to us that way. Each morning the kids got a sticker for staying in their own beds and were working towards a party.

It only took two or three nights! Axel is pretty much sleeping through the night every night, all night long, in his own bed. Miracle sleeps through most nights but still gets up now and then. Last night she was having a particularly hard night and it was so much easier to let her come in our bed because I enjoyed the snuggle time rather than dreading the tossing and kicking.

And Andrew and I get to snuggle each other all night. We are closer because of it. Just the closeness of being together alone. And let me tell you, our bed seems giant now!

Looking back, the thing that frustrates me is that we didn’t do it sooner. The task always seemed so overwhelming. An impossible feat. But now my kids are happier, I am happier, my husband is happier. We all sleep better and our health, physical and mental well being are all improved.

Some tips:

• Just do it. Don’t wait for this or that. We kept putting it off. After Miracle’s cold is gone, after I’m done preparing for this….. There is never a perfect time, and it just gets harder.
• Split up the time. All the other times I tried to get them into their own beds, I didn’t ask for help. It was so much easier when Andrew and I came up with a plan together and worked towards the same goal with the same rules.
• Be flexible. Andrew noticed when I was struggling with Miracle and got up to help me. I knew when Andrew was out cold and it would be easy to just walk Axel back to his room considering I was awake anyway.
• Offer rewards. They loved the stickers. Miracle could really care less about the party. And the reward for Axel is mini-golf. A cheap, fun, family activity.
• Explain to them before you start what the plan is. Remind them during the night why you are doing what you are doing and about their rewards.
• Praise, Praise, Praise. Every morning Axel woke up so excited because he knew how pleased I was.
• Reward yourself!

Good luck! And peaceful sleep to all of you.

Sponge bobby boy May 27, 2009

That’s what Axel calls him. We recently started letting the kids watch Sponge Bob Square Pants and they are in love.

In the past we have been not so good about limiting TV time but recently we have all been doing really well. Normally it is all Noggin for the kids. It is educational and I have to say I can notice the things they have learned from the shows. Miracle learned to count from the little pieces that play inbetween each show, and Axel latches on to every lesson from Yo Gabba Gabba. He even gets his friends to eat all their food at lunch by singing them songs from the show!

But since the switch over to Nick I have noticed one very bad effect. As I was watching an episode with Axel a few nights ago he asked me for every item in every commercial. I brushed it off then but the next day I received this e-mail from Woodwinds Health Campus:

Did you know?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Psychological Association recently issued some sobering news concerning advertising and children. Among their findings, they discovered that the average child who watches television views 40,000 ads each year. They are exposed to even more advertising in newspapers and magazines, on the radio, the Internet, or on billboards.

Advertising and your child

The research study showed that children under the age of 8 tend to accept advertiser messages as fact. Their easy acceptance of marketing messages for fast and sugary foods in particular can lead to unhealthy eating habits. The most common products advertised to children are sugared cereals, candies, sweets, sodas, and snack foods. The study”s findings show that children express a preference for products with as little as a single viewing of a commercial.
The AAP recommends avoiding or reducing the effects of advertising on young children by limiting television viewing time or taping shows to be viewed later without the ads. Talk also to your child about what he has seen, either on TV or on a billboard or other media, how he feels about what he”s seen, and how you feel about it, too. Talk about how advertising does not always tell you everything you need to know about a product.

The line that really hit me was “tend to accept advertiser messages as fact.” Think about it. It seems so obvious, but sometimes we need a little reminder. They are learning everything, and why would the t.v. lie to them? So last night when Axel asked me for something I tried the suggestion above for talking about the ad with him. I was talking in general and told him that not all the things in the ads are as cool as they seem. His answer was, “Well they said it is cool.”

Point taken.

Long Weekends…. mmmmm May 26, 2009

I hope everyone had a simply fabulous long weekend! I personally did not go anywhere but got so much acomplished! After posting the series on Proverbs 31 I have found myself very challenged to work harder at being me. This past weekend was a perfect opportunity to get started!

Friday night Andrew and I took the kids to Ikea to look for chairs to go with our new table. We ate supper there first. They have pretty good food and the kids and I ate for under $6. No joke. We decided to wait on the chairs so we could save up and get a little bit nicer ones. I am really struggling paying so much for chairs! Considering the price of the table though I think we’ll be ok. We did pick up a few garbage cans for the bathrooms and some cute plastic dishes for the daycare.

Saturday was packed full. We went to the Farmer’s Market in the am and picked up rhubarb, hummus and flower bouquets. I love fresh cut flowers around the house and at $5 a bunch you can’t go wrong. They still look beautiful.

After we came home I did some cleaning, got my hair cut, ran some errands, did some more cleaning and then went to the Gathering at Oakwood. Awesome food and worship if you ever want to join us on the fourth Saturday of each month. THEN, I finally unpacked Miracle’s bedroom. She is so excited. She keeps running in there and looking at all her toys and yelling “It’s MIRACLE’S room!”

I must confess I skipped church Sunday. Sorry Mom. I had more cleaning to do because at noon we hosted a wedding shower for the Children’s director who is getting married this weekend and moving away. You will be missed Dawn!

You would think that after all of that I would be tired. You know, take a break? That is not the case. I unpacked and cleaned out the garage. Then I cleaned out, vacuumed and washed the car.

Then I crashed. Big time. My head started pounding and my legs turned into noodles. So I took the kids to Chipotle and then went to bed!

Monday morning I went to a flea market in Elko to pick up a trunk that my mom got for me. I have never been to a flea market before but it was pretty neat. Lots of fun little treasures to be found!

When I got home I helped Andrew get his bike back from the Sabin’s where it has been since the accident (thanks guys for letting us store it there for so long!). That was definitely done with mixed emotions! Then we went and had $.75 tacos at Acapoulco! Yummy.

So what does all of that have to do with working on the new me? Less procrastination, harder work, more time with family, taking care of myself, trying new things, creating an inviting place for my family and friends to be…… the list goes on and on. It feels so good. Add in more time with God and some exercise and I am feeling great! Wohoo

Belly Diaries – Week 18 May 22, 2009

Your pregnancy: 18 weeks

See the big picture

How your baby’s growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He’s busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you’ll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they’re still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he’s born. If you’re having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you’re having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.

How your life’s changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don’t spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it’s best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven’t already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you’ll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby’s growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you’re working with is accurate, and see how many babies you’re carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby’s first photo album!

(from www.babycenter.com)