18 Weeks to Go and Counting

Dec. 28 Week 21

 

Starting to get a substantial "bump" right along with substantial internal bumps on a regular basis. I was able to get Mark to feel a good one and I think the bambino's mighty strength freaked him out a bit. Now that the holidays have pretty much come to a close, we will be getting started on a registry and getting the nursery together. Its a daunting task, but someone has to do it, I'm pretty sure that we are the someone who has to do it hahaha. We had a great holiday and got lots of fun gifts to start setting around the room and hang in the closet once its put together!

[Pretty sure this baby is either practicing the kickstart on its imaginary dirtbike or is going to be a soccer player right now]

The Red Head Conundrum

To those of you who keep asking or predicting that we will have a red headed baby based solely on the fact that Mark is a red head, here is a science lesson in genetics for you.

RED HAIR GENE (rr):

The following possible situations resulting or not resulting in redheaded offspring...

1. Both parents are carriers. As shown in this punnett square, father (yellow) and mother (pink) contribute one of two possible alleles (R or r) of the MC1R variants to the baby. As a result, there is a 25% chance that any of their child will inherit two r alleles from each parents and will be a redhead.

2. One parent (e.g., mother) is a redhead and the father is a carrier. In this case, every child will inherit one r allele from their mother and has an equal chance of inheriting the R or r allele from the father. Therefore, the chance of each child being redheaded is 50/50.

3. If both parents have red hair, then all offspring will be red headed (rr).

4. If one of the parent does not carry the red hair (r) allele, then no matter what the other parent's genotype (RR, Rr, or rr), none of their children will have red hair.

So in conclusion, I do know know if I am a carrier of a red head gene so there is a 50% chance only if I carry a gene somewhere, and if I don't carry a gene then there is no chance. Mystery solved.

Focus Project 2010

Rate it please, take just one click. You can rate it every day ;) -- check out David Kelly as well. http://t.co/1t98eHC

Jessica info@delorenzophoto.com - Focus Project 2010

20 Week Ultrasound

Dec. 20 Week 20

Ultrasound went great! Got to see the little bambino moving around, waving and sucking its thumb. I think the most amazing part was seeing its heart pumping and all the internal workings. It it still kind of impossible to believe that is inside of me. I have now talked myself out of thinking its a boy, into thinking its a girl. The doctor told us he would say when to look away which he never did which leads me to believe he was either pulling something shady or figured we wouldn't be able to make it out. Which in all honesty, I couldn't have made it out if I tried. Anyway, I think its a girl haha. They gave us a ton of pictures, including those creepy 4D ones, which I was hoping for. By the end when she took those pics the baby was all squished up, so we didnt get any great views, plus I guess its still pretty early since their faces aren't really filled out yet. So it looks all lumpy and frail haha. I'd say based off these pictures it has marks chin.

two floaty things by the head are the hands

left foot

legs crossed

all squished up hiding its face

all squished up

thumb sucker

Another Appointment in the Books

Dec. 7 Week 18

Had a routine appointment this morning to check up on the heartbeat and my growing baby lab. Doc said everything looks good and that the baby sounded like a wild child, "must be a boy, just kidding, you can't tell from a heartbeat". Apparently, the bambino was super active this morning as it was last night. I was trying to sleep and kept getting little pokes, mostly while I was watching Nicole Kidman on Conan. Maybe it liked her Aussie accent haha.  In two weeks we have a level 2 ultrasound where they do all the measurements and could determine the sex, BUT we aren't finding out :) Can't wait to see it on the monitor again!

I have been having the weirdest dreams lately, stealing a school bus was the day before last, and last night I gave birth in some kind of lodge, everyone was there except Mark!! Wondering what tonights feature will be....

Below is a cool video from BabyCenter.com

Hoot Too Cute to Boot!

OWL BANK Yellow

Finally bought something for the Baby's room. I figured I would steer away from the piggy bank because I prefer owls to pigs. Now to start organizing my thoughts to start getting this nursery design together after the holidays.

Was That a Kick Batman?!

Dec. 1 Week 17

About 2pm today I felt the little bambino inside for certain. I had gotten up and walked around the office a few minutes and upon returning to my oh so exciting desk at my oh so exciting cubicle, I felt some rumblies in my tummy. Not your average digestive rumblies either. Only what I can best describe as unpainful pops. There was a couple in succession, then I realized, heyyyyyy wait a second! I actually pressed my hand in on my belly and waited for another and low and behold i felt it. It definitely was not a pop of air, there was something behind that little bump!!! I was actually surprised at the strength, it almost felt like someone was on the other side of my belly with a finger lightly poking back at me. I guess there is someone on the other side!! :) The next couple of minutes, there was some swishing and that was it. I will be paying more attention now to my gears inside and who is running the show in there from now on. Of course I messaged Mark online right away, I'm so excited!

Your baby is approximately 6 inches/ 14.2 centimeters long from crown to rump and she weighs about 7 ounces/ 190 grams. It's chest moves up and down to mimic breathing but she's not taking in air, only amniotic fluid.

To Bark or Not to Bark

Nov. 23 Week 16

Just patiently awaiting the next couple of weeks and waiting for some kicks and punches from the bambino. Still feeling really well, a little tired here and there but relatively normal. Dance class is getting harder as far as endurance, I get tired so much more quickly. Lots of aches and pains though from all the stretching and moving of my parts inside. The baby can make out sounds now, and can hear voices and the dogs barking. Speaking of which, trying to decide if I should get all military on the dogs and make them settle down or continue on as normal. I am getting mixed results, some say now that the baby can hear, it will be come used to the everyday sounds and it might make it easier for it so sleep through it once its born. Makes sense huh? Sounds a lot easier then getting my two shelties to stop barking hahaha.

Your baby is now about the size of an avocado (about 5 inches / 11.6 centimeters long from crown to rump and weighing approximately 4 ounces / 100 grams). In the next three weeks he'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling his weight and adding inches to his length.

Jeans Too Tight, Too Early for a Belly Band

Nov. 19, Week 14

 

My solution

My jeans have recently become uncomfortable to sit in at work all day, due to the fact that I am growing a little human. They still zip up, but having to sit at the computer all day puts a damper on my comfort level. I haven't found a belly band that I like or feel I need to wear yet, so I got innovative. I started out with a rubber band, but found that a simple elastic hair tie works great. It is small enough that I don't feel it and it give just the right amount of give that I need right now since I am not showing that much yet. I just loop it around the button, through the hole, and back around the button. I usually wear a shirt that goes over my waist band anyway, so no one can tell. I should have china make me a million hair bands for 50 cents and market them as "Petite Waistline Extenders" hahaha.

May I Borrow Some Mushrooms?

 

Delicious dinner from last night, homemade pierogies sauteed with capers, mushrooms and onions in olive oil and a mixed greens salad with raspberry vinaigrette. Thankfully, my "neighbor" had some mushrooms to spare!