For Peyton, with all my love...

I knew that I didn't want to just leave this blog without an "ending"... but I just haven't been able to find the words. So instead I'm going to borrow the words of another bereaved mother that I found online.

We Wanted a Baby

By Judy Smith

We wanted a baby but had an angel.

We wanted to nurture, but instead were comforted.

We wanted to watch our baby grow, instead our child helped us grow and change.

We wanted to teach about life, but were taught how to be more compassionate,

understanding and thoughtful toward others.

We wanted love; instead we were shown what unconditional love is all about.

We wanted to hold our baby in our arms,

instead we hold him in our hearts.

We wanted to be a normal family;

instead we have an angel that has touched so many lives in an incredible way.

We wanted intense joy, instead we were taught to look at each beautiful moment

in our lives as a treasured gift,

the highs are higher- the lows are lower- each day and minute counts.

We wanted a baby, but instead we have

an angel to always guide and love us.

We wanted to be parents, and we are.

Countdown to Baby!

Well some of you may have heard through the grapevine and for some this all may be new... but Mark, Mango and I had quite the exciting week/weekend! I'm going to start the story with where we are now... comfortably resting and home and gearing up for baby! We had gone to the Dr. for a regular check-in and although baby looked great, my blood pressure was a bit higher than normal for me, so combined with some mention of swelling the Dr. wanted to run some labs to just be sure everything was on track. Well he was just as surprised as we were when the labs came back indicating that I may have preeclampsia. So what is that? A very complicated and very poorly researched complication that they believe you actually have from the moment of implantation but that doesn't show itself until later in pregnancy. So to cut a long story a bit shorter, the Dr. had us come back a few days later to check in again and my blood pressure had unfortunately gotten a bit worse, leading him to recommend a stay in the hospital just to be monitored and looked at a bit more closely over the weekend.
Mango and I spent the weekend in the hospital, with Mark there most of the time of course, and we got a visit from a specialist who deals with more "high risk" pregnancies at our Dr's recommendation to ensure that we covered our bases. He did an ultrasound and again everything looks great with baby and as far as preeclampsia goes mine is still classified as mild. So both Drs are very comfortable with me being home on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. We will check my blood pressure at home and visit the Dr. weekly to check in.
So where does the countdown come in?? Well... Mango is going to be coming out a little earlier than his due date! With preeclampsia there is no "cure" other than delivering the baby... and the further you carry the baby the more you are running the risk of further complications and therefore further interventions. So again, both Drs agree there is no reason to heighten that risk once we get baby full term, which is 37 weeks. So right now our goal is to keep him happily baking up until 37 weeks at which point we'll get to bring him home!
So like I said at the beginning, we're all home and happy and under the watchful eye of a very thorough and caring doctor. We're excited to have this time to focus our energy on getting ready for baby! Thanks for all your support and don't be worried, Mango much prefers excitement and happiness in preparation for his arrival rather than unnecessary concern!!

32 Weeks

How time flies when you are baking a baby! I'm having quite a bit of fun getting ready for the arrival of our little one! I spent just about all day Sunday getting all of his fabulous gifts (thanks everyone!) from the shower laundered and put away... I also got my first taste of what it's like to do laundry and clean all day and yet somehow all my clothes are still dirty and most of the house is still a disaster! I suppose that's a good thing to get used to right about now?

Today I'm going to meet a potential pediatrician, hopefully the only one I'll have to go meet given our schedules are pretty packed these days with work, bradley classes, meeting with our doula, prepping for baby... oh yea, and of course, not over doing it in my last trimester! So anyways, as Mom and Dad continue to prepare ourselves and our home for the new arrival, this is what he's up to in my belly:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. In case you can't tell what this is, he is supposedly about the size of a large jicama:

Of course, I also had my photos with Katy last week which was super fun! We go to go walk around a really nice park by their house, and I even convinced Mark to be in a few with me. I haven't seen all of the photos just yet, but Katy was kind enough to get a few to me quickly so I could put them on the blog this week:

31 Weeks

Wow, 31 weeks, so exciting! Mark and I had a fabulous weekend, thank you so much to Sandy and Charlie for flying all the way out here to visit with us! We enjoyed our apple picking with his parents and made a super delicious apple pie with the apples. We also had a fun trip to the Wild Animal Park with Katy, Ben and family...and actually I have a few photos from that, but unfortunately didn't take them off the camera yet, woops! Then of course, my shower, which was fabulous! Thanks to Aunt Bonnie it was delicious as always and so nice to get to see everyone and celebrate little Mango! He also got lots of awesome presents, now Mark and I just have to actually set it all up and get his room ready for him!

Other than that, we have our first appointment with our new doctor (and the only doctor we'll have to go to for the rest of the pregnancy! yay!) on Friday. I've still been feeling really good, the fun of having him kicking around in there is far outweighing the little gripes that come along with feeling quite huge. :-) I'm also excited for this coming weekend, for Katy to take some maternity photos of me, so finally I'll have some cute ones to show as opposed to ones like this which are great for showing off my new double chin (haha!)

Here are Mango's "stats" for this week: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy. Other than the comparison to the oranges, Mango is still compared to the same fruit size as last week, so no fruit picture this week.

30 Weeks!!

Wow, the time has flown by and suddenly I am 30 weeks pregnant! What an exciting week to celebrate too!! Mark's parents are coming in to town on Thursday and we have lots of fun things planned... Friday we're going to go out and go apple picking in Julian (yum!) and then out to dinner at the always delicious Stone Brewery with my parents. Not sure what we're up to Saturday just yet, but then Sunday is a big day for Mango...the baby shower!! I'm so excited to see everyone and celebrate our growing baby boy! Can you tell I'm excited for this weekend?

So now that I'm at 30 weeks I don't know if I have too much to report for myself... I am pleased to say it appears I have the feet swelling under control for now thanks to the suggestion of our Bradley teacher, that nettle leaf tea really seems to be helping! Other than that we're just trucking along, watching this belly grow and trying to adjust to the little aches and pains that come along with suddenly carrying a large squash in my belly.

So without further ado, here are Mango's THIRTY week "stats": Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision – which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.) This week, he is the size of a:

For my photo this week you can tell I had another photographer than myself and my self timer, hehe... but I'm sure Katy would like me to let you know that this was with my camera and very spur of the moment, so clearly not up to her regular standards. :-) This was actually taken two days ago when we had our glorious spa day (thanks mom!) but it was so much better than my normal photos I had to use it even though it's a few days pre 30 weeks:

29 Weeks (whoops again!)

Oh dear, late again! Thank you to Eddie for reminding me today that I was a tad behind!! Always nice to know people are waiting for their Mango updates. :-) The DeGeorge family has had a busy week, we started our Bradley class on Tuesday night. It seems like it will be a pretty entertaining and informative class that should give us a lot of information from nutrition now all the way to after Mango is born. It's also nice to spend some time with other couples who are right where we are, including a few other mama's from my prenatal yoga class. In addition to starting our childbirth class, we've also been busy on the phones and internet doing some more research on birthing options. We had our latest appointment at our current Dr's office (all's well with Mango and mama!) and were informed one of the Drs is leaving the practice. Ultimately this just means we have a much greater chance of some random on call Dr. delivering Mango. We were never loving the idea of possibly getting a random Dr., but when the chances went up it seemed like a sign that maybe we should explore other options. So we are! We had a few ideas of our own and a few from Doula Rosie we're looking into, and overall we feel like it's a positive thing that will result in a more personalized birth experience!

So, lots going on around here, and of course Mango continues to grow, here are his "stats" this week: Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain – which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester.
And some more proof of the ever growing Mango, my ever growing belly!!

Woops!!

I just realized that I forgot to post this week! So here's a slightly delayed 28 week post. We are continuing to get a kick out of my growing belly, still guessing at just how big it might get over the remaining 12 weeks! Our next check-up is next week and after that we go to the every 2 week appointments, starting to seem pretty close huh? We have finally decided on a name for our little guy which is pretty exciting, but now that it's so close, we're just going to let him tell you what it is after he's born. :-)

On a non-Mango related update, we have a pretty exciting weekend coming up. Can't believe it, but the Peanuts are turning 3!! Saturday we'll be at their hot air balloon themed birthday party which should be quite cute if I know my sister. Chris and Tara are coming down for the weekend too, so we're excited for that as well!

I don't think there's too much else to report this week, so here is the Mango update: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can open and close his eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing, but it won't be long before he's batting those beauties at you. He is about the size of a:

3rd Trimester!! (27 Weeks)

Wow, hard to believe it's already the third trimester!! Well I suppose there are some signs... the aches of growing so much so fast are starting to set in a bit and taking a toll on my sleeping, but it's well worth it for the fun of watching my belly grow and feeling Mango moving around in there! We've also started getting some cooler more fall like weather, which is really nice! It is weird though, I'm starting to think I look very different...which is sort of surreal, you'll maybe see what I mean in my photo below, or maybe it's just me, haha who knows! Not too much else to report for this week, just starting to get really excited and crossing things off our pre-baby to-do list!

Here are Mango's "stats" for this week: This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle. This week, he is the size of a:

Here is my belly shot for the week, am I crazy or do I just look different? Haha

26 Weeks

Week 26, and holy moly I can't seem to focus on anything other than the HEAT right now!! The thermostat in our house goes up to 80... and the little notch that tells you the current temperature is literally flattened up to the side as if to say "I can't even tell you how hot your house is right now!!" We could turn on the air, but by the time we get home from work it's only a few hours before we get the nice cool Escondido night air, so normally I just tough it out and park myself near a ceiling fan. So, that being said, this will be quick so I can go do just that! Mango and I are doing well, continuing to enjoy the ever changing supply of movements I can feel, some of which are pretty entertaining to see from the outside too!

Here are Mango's stat's for the week: "The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days. This week, he is about the length of a:Due to that horrible heat I mentioned, I came home and immediately turned super shiny and put on workout shorts... so excuse the black and white photo which is meant to make my super frumpy attire look slightly less so!

Crafting Mama (part II)

Well this project started when I was googling nursery ideas after we found out Mango was a boy. I knew I wanted a room that he could grow into as a child and not just one that was fit for a baby... so when I saw the idea of a huge animal mural I thought "what little boy wouldn't love an almost life sized giraffe in his room?" From that point on I was pretty determined to make one... but how?

My original plan was to cut out a little giraffe from card stock and project it onto the wall, like a big shadow puppet. I thought this would be perfect because I was really worried that trying to draw a huge giraffe free-hand would be almost impossible to get his scale right. So I cut out my little mini giraffe and proceeded to try to cast him on the wall. Well for many reasons this was an epic failure, mostly I think due to the fact that we don't have the right kind of light for it. I was a little discouraged at this point....looking at that huge wall and wondering how to get my giraffe on it. Then Mark had the brilliant idea that I could try free-handing it with chalk. The chalk made it so that I could see the giraffe very clearly AND so I could easily wipe it totally clean because the walls are painted with a semi-gloss paint. So I figured it would still take a lot of tries, but this way I could get him right before I painted. Well it actually only took two tries and I got him just how I wanted... so then THREE coats of yellow paint later... and voila! I hope Mango likes giraffes as much as his cousin Keenan!

25 Weeks!

Mango and I had a monthly check-in today with the doctor and everything went well! My belly is measuring right on track and blood pressure is good, Mango's heart rate is also perfect, although he did repeatedly kick the Doppler while the midwife was trying to listen, I found it pretty amusing! This visit was exciting as we're getting super close to the 3rd trimester (only two more weeks!) we started talking more about our birth plan and preparations for a smooth labor.

Mark and I have also made some serious progress to the nursery in addition to the mobile from my last post, Mark finished repainting our old dresser so now his room has almost everything it needs furniture wise! Now I get to do more of the fun stuff and add some color to the room, can't wait for the long weekend to get some serious crafting and painting time in (still determined to finish that Italy painting, and getting closer!)

Here are Mango's stats for the week: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture. This week he's about the size of a:Here's my bump today, getting big!

Crafting Mama!

Well I have more than a few ideas up my sleeve for nursery crafts... so I was quite pleased to actually complete one today! I thought an origami bird mobile would be awesome for a few reasons: after all of the origami birds at our wedding that originated from my first gift from Mark (an origami duck) they have personal meaning to us, they are beautiful and brightly colored and Mango's room is going to be adorned with lots of adorable animals! So I knew the first step was to make a bunch of birds, which actually proved to be a good way to pass the time at miss Edith's birthday celebration while we were waiting for labor to really kick into high gear.

Then came the challenge, how to assemble a mobile that was cute and looked the birds were flying BUT that the birds wouldn't get all tangled up the second we turn on the ceiling fan. So ended up borrowing ideas from a few different craft blogs and came up with the plan to paint crafting rings (for wreaths and stuff) white and then string the birds onto a wire firm enough to stand their ground in the breeze. From there, the mobile just sort of organically formed itself and I'm quite pleased with the results! Can't wait to add some more crafts to the room!

24 Weeks!

Wow, 24 weeks already, I had heard that the first pregnancy drags on...and maybe I'm not to that phase yet, but it seems like time has flown by! Not too much to report from this week, we didn't get too much done on his room this week since we had family in town (I know Chris and Tara came to meet the new babies, but it was still great to hang out with them, we can pretend they came to see us!) and then Mark was out of town the last few days. Just continuing to enjoy my pregnancy and we have started reading some books from our doula that are actually getting me excited to experience our birth, crazy right?!? So without much else to report, here's my belly this week:

Here is Mango's 24 week update: Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long, he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon. This week, he is the length of a:

I just love this and had to share...

So I've discovered a new little trick baby boy will do for me that just makes me fall a little bit more in love every time it works! I was thinking today how he wasn't kicking as much as normal and I wanted to feel a few little kicks, and I tried this yesterday so I thought it might work again... if I put my hands on my belly where he normally kicks (I don't push or anything, just rest them there) he kicks them. It's the cutest thing, I guess he can feel the warmth...but it melts my heart and I just had to share!

23 Weeks (and Mark's Birthday!)

Yesterday was 23 weeks and also Mark's birthday! We had a pretty uneventful actual birthday dinner given it was a weekday, but I did make one of his favorite dinners (breakfast at night, with french toast, eggs and potatoes) and a tasty angel food cake. We went out to dinner over the weekend and then went to a concert at the Embarcadero in downtown SD, it was a pretty fabulous time. We saw Dennis Deyoung (styx lead singer) singing in front of the San Diego orchestra... they even finished up the last song, Come Sail Away, with fireworks over the bay, pretty fabulous!

Other than Mark's birthday... this week has been good so far! Mark and I met with a few birth doulas since we are really hoping for as natural of a birth experience as we can in a hospital. We met an awesome doula who actually lives pretty much next door to us and is also a Bradley Method teacher. We're excited to take her classes starting in October and hopefully meet some other local couples! We also made some progress on Mango's room, he has nice blue walls now and his crib has been assembled. We also have his changing table, but haven't put that one together yet. Pretty exciting to see everything slowly coming together! Speaking of coming together, my belly is not hiding from anyone anymore! Yesterday I got told that I had a "pretty belly" by a stranger and also am pretty sure I heard a man tell his wife to "watch out for the watermelon" as he walked by me and tugged her to his side of the sidewalk... not sure what to think of that remark. Here's my belly photo for 23 weeks:


Not much to report about Mango this week, still enjoying my 2nd trimester... just getting ready for baby as much as we can before I get too big to be as active. :-) Here are his 23 week "stats": Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound , you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb. It seems like this weeks fruit is smaller than last week, but I guess we're back to weight now, not length... so Mango is now the size of a (in case you can't tell, that's a papaya):

22 Weeks

Sorry Grandma! She let me know last time I posted late that she was indeed checking regularly and was aware of my late posting, hehe. It's good to know people are reading my blog and I'm not just talking to myself, but here I am... posting late again! The real reason is that I was planning on posting a photo and haven't had a chance to take one so I kept waiting... but now I think it's time to just say I'll put the photo up next week huh?

Anyways, on to the real reason you're here- Mango is doing great in his comfy little home! Although my belly is certainly not little anymore, it is quite noticeable and has even started to develop that lovely little racing stripe that some lucky pregnant women get. Mango calmly slept through his baby cousin being born! The nurse was a little concerned with me watching the birth that I could have "adopted contractions" which I wasn't aware of before choosing to watch, but we were both able to watch the beautiful Edith being born and it was AMAZING!! Mango also had another friend born just a few days ago, Jason and Michelle delivered their gorgeous little girl (Harper) and we got to visit her in the hospital! With all these babies popping out Mango and I have had a few chats about how he will get to play with the girls, but not yet!! Nothing quite as exciting as babies being born has happened in our house this week, although his crib did come yesterday and I'm pretty excited to get it put together, like Mark said "it will look a babies room once we do that!"

Here are the growing boy's "stats" this week: At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash, in case you can't tell what is in the photo) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

21 Weeks

Pretty crazy to think we are now officially past the half way mark! Not too much to report, we had a little check up yesterday and all is well with Mango and Mama. He's definitely an active little guy, kicks are a daily treat for me and you can see them from the outside normally at least once a day! Even the Dr. seemed a little surprised by that, he's a strong boy! :-)

This is certainly an eventful week, aside from Mango, Katy will be having her baby tomorrow (unless we get a surprise today) so I'm taking the day off work so I can be there for her birth, so exciting! Katy is doing quite well, if not a little bit bored, in the hospital. Muffin is also doing well, we won't know how long she will have to stay at the hospital until she comes out tomorrow... so we are quite anxious to meet the little one and see how she does out of Mama's belly! I may not get in an update tomorrow depending how crazy the day goes, but I will update soon with news of the delivery!

Back to Mango's 21 week update, here are his "stats" for this week: Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now. This week Mango is the length of a:


I also took a belly photo this week, although I think the black shirt is making it look smaller because it looked much bigger in the last one a few weeks ago, hehe.

20 weeks (a little late!)

Well this was a big week for Mango, he is halfway to his due date!! I can't believe how fast it's gone and we're starting to get pretty excited about meeting the little guy (but NOT yet Mango!!) Sorry for the delayed post, but if you aren't friends with my sister on facebook and don't follow her blog you probably have not heard of the excitement we've had this week. She is 33 weeks pregnant and her water broke on Wednesday, little Muffin as her baby is called is apparently trying to one up her siblings, who were born at 34 weeks. Katy and baby are both doing well and in the hospital, she has not actually gone into labor yet, so the doctors will let her wait up to one week before they need to induce (it's very risky for little Muffin to stay in too long without her amniotic fluid.) Right now it looks like she'll probably be born at 34 weeks like Paul and Amelia. Unfortunately this means she'll probably have to stay in the NICU for about 2 weeks, but the good news is we have living (and adorable) proof that babies who come out at 34 weeks grow up to be adorable and happy kids. So with all that going on I got distracted and forgot about my blog, so please keep Katy and her family in your thoughts this week and I will certainly update you when the little one is born.

As far as Mango, like I said we're just enjoying our time with the little man, he did a new trick yesterday (although Dad was unfortunately not home to see it.) He was doing some pretty big kicks so I looked down and I could actually see it a little from the outside! I can't wait for Mark to get to see it himself because it is pretty entertaining! Here's Mango's stats update for the week:

You're at the halfway mark — congratulations! Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel. He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (although some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery). This week he is the size of a:

Week 19

Wow, hard to believe we are at 19 already! The last week has been a lot of fun, talking about names and plotting fun ideas for his nursery! I have so many ideas I have to try to contain myself, hehe. Not too much to report as far as new things for me, still enjoying life in the second trimester and showing off my baby bump! We did have a pretty big event for Mark though, he finally got to feel Mango over the weekend, I think Mango was trying to give me a birthday present so he did lots of big kicks (or body slams or something) into my belly in a row and Mark could feel them clear as day, that was pretty exciting! Here is the bump this week:

Here is Mango's 19 week update: Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and measures 6 inches, head to bottom. The hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he 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. This week's fruit is pretty exciting too, this week he is the size of a:

And the Anatomy Scan Reveals.... (and 18 weeks)

A healthy baby BOY! Everything looks good on our little he-mango, he is even actually measuring about a week ahead of our due date. The ultrasound tech said she doesn't know if the Dr. will change our due date or not, or if they will just think he's a big boy, so we'll find that out at the next appointment. It's pretty fun knowing what I'm carrying, I feel even more attached to my little son than I did before. We have also gotten a bit more serious about the name search now that we know, although boy names are quite tricky! My newest hobby for the last day in a half is stalking blogs for nursery ideas... I had contained myself up until now since we didn't know what we were having, but now I think it's a flat out addiction. :-)

So here is our 18 week update on our big baby boy! Head to rump, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long and 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. 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, although he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

This week our baby boy is (supposed to be but actually may be larger than):

Week 17!

Well we made it through our busy weekend and I think the shower was quite a success! Unfortunately, I was so busy I didn't really have time to take pictures, but Katy of course took some herself so hopefully those might pop up on facebook soon?

We had a regular check-in appointment today, and although we still don't know the sex of Mango, we do have our anatomy ultrasound scheduled! Mango had a good strong heartbeat, and somehow I still have only gained 4 pounds total, but the midwife was just happy I didn't lose weight again this month. So stay tuned next week for the big reveal, we cannot wait!!

Otherwise, I am continuing to enjoy the lack of morning sickness and over tiredness, although I have noticed a few other symptoms popping up: the more exciting one being the occasional big kick from baby being big enough for me to feel! Mark is anxiously awaiting the day when he can feel it too, he still tries just about every night. :-) The less exciting symptom being some difficulty sleeping, but you can't win 'em all I suppose.

Also, if you haven't seen the trip photos yet, check out facebook, we posted lots on there! So now, on to Mango's 17 week update: Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now, and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

This week, Mango is the size of a:

And in case you are curious, a baby the size of a turnip is able to produce a bump much larger than a turnip!

16 Weeks (and a few days!)

Wow, I can't believe I'm two days late on this post already! Holy moly what a busy week! Mark and I (and of course Mango!) have been super busy this week getting the house nice and pretty for Katy's baby shower/the unveiling of the new house for most of our friends/family! It's been great to have a reason to finally get those photos hung and those last boxes put away but it sure has been busy! Not to mention me trying to make an attempt at some craftiness so that the queen of crafting can have a cute shower! :-)

The good news in all this is that Mango definitely decided around week 15 to relieve me of most of the really tough first trimester symptoms. Still get pretty tired, but otherwise I'm feeling quite fabulous and enjoying my ever-growing belly. We have our next appointment next week so hopefully we'll schedule the anatomy ultrasound then and know when we can find out if Mango is a she-mango or he-mango!

So that's my excuses for my late post and no belly photos, but the good news is with my new energy I should be able to get the trip photos sorted and a belly photo taken after the weekend! Here's the Mango update:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length . Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. This, week Mango is the size of a:

15 Weeks and back at home!

Well our trip was fabulous! We did lots of sight seeing including tons of amazing natural formations and furry friends (even 3 bears, but all from safe distances). Fortunately Mango seems to have turned the corner into the second trimester and I was feeling pretty good the whole trip, with the exception of the occasion urgent need for food. As you can imagine we took a TON of photos so I'm still working on sorting through them, but here is one of us at Zion:

Now for the Mango update: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces. She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. Our little one is now the size of a:

13 Weeks

Today is 13 weeks which means the middle of this week we officially cross over to the second trimester! We both can't quite believe how quickly this first one has gone by even though some days seemed to drag forever. Not too much to report today, the morning sickness continues to get a bit better but the tiredness is still hanging around very regularly. We did have a little check-in appointment today which went well, other than somehow I have managed to lose a pound since the last appointment! If you hung around me at all you would know this is a completely ridiculous situation given how much I am eating now, I'm pretty sure my entire office has put on 5 lbs just being around my constant snacking!

Other than baby updates Mark and I are pretty excited for our big camping trip next week, so don't be alarmed when week 14 doesn't pop up on Tuesday. We will be gone a full week with 6 nights of camping and 3 little hotel night breaks in between. Our trip starts off in Zion, then a long trek to Yellowstone and our last big stop is the Grand Canyon.

So anyways, without further ado, Mango's 13 week update:

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head -- which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby weighs nearly an ounce. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed and your odds of miscarriage drop considerably. This week Mango is about the size of a:

Week 12

I know it seems like I'm always posting a day behind...but this time I actually had a reason! We had our ultrasound today for the screening they do around 12 weeks I wanted to wait until after that. It was by far the most amazing thing yet! We got to see the whole baby at once and he/she was moving all over the place! The best part: we finally have pictures to share that really look like our little one! The first two smaller ones you can see a foot on the top (top right of the baby) and a little hand in the bottom one and the second one I think is pretty obvious. :-)

Our Baby 12 Week Update:

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. Due to lots of pictures on this post and not wanting to make it too long, I will just tell you baby is the size of a plumb.

And finally, I'm going to start putting in the belly photos because I think you can finally tell it's a baby in there and not just an extra large dinner! I'm still working on the pictures, so excuse how silly I look in this one, hehe:

11 weeks and another sneak peak!

We went in yesterday for a quick little check-up and we got to see our little Mango again! The first ultrasound was amazing just as confirmation that I was actually pregnant and getting to hear the heartbeat. BUT, today we could actually see tiny hands and legs and even a little nose/ears! That feeling was indescribable, seeing a real little baby in there and hearing the heartbeat, suffice it to say there really are no words.

I also know that I have been slacking on the Hawaii photos and hopefully I will get some up this week, but I am still clearly a few weeks away from trimester 2 and the extra energy everyone swears I will have to do things like post pictures!

In addition to the update from babycenter, here's my quick "mom" update: I do have what at least appears to be a bump. It's quite small, but has started to get a few pats around the office none the less. Similar to last week, the morning sickness has been at a minimum, although not gone entirely but the lack of energy is still going strong! So, without futher ado, our 11 week update from babycenter:

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden. She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two -- nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.