Week 23 Update

How your baby's growing: Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.

How your life's changing: If you dealt with headaches in your first trimester, they might be subsiding now. (Many women have headaches in early pregnancy, thanks to pregnancy hormones, changes in circulation, and/or sinus congestion.)

You may notice some mild swelling sometime during your pregnancy, especially in your ankles and feet. It's called edema, and it happens because changes in your blood chemistry cause fluid to shift into your tissue and because your enlarging uterus puts pressure on the veins returning blood from the lower half of your body, slowing circulation in your legs. Edema is often worse at the end of the day and in the summer. Your body will eliminate the extra fluid after you have your baby (which is why you may urinate often and sweat a lot for a few days after delivery). In the meantime, put your feet up when you can, stretch out your legs when you sit, avoid sitting still for long periods, exercise regularly to increase circulation, and wear support stockings (put them on first thing in the morning). You may be tempted to skimp on liquids, but you need to drink plenty of water, because keeping hydrated actually helps prevent swelling. If you notice severe or sudden swelling in your hands and face, be sure to call your midwife or doctor because it may be a sign of a serious condition called preeclampsia.

Nice, relaxing weekend

To celebrate our 1-year anniversary, Anthony and I went to the Blue Moon Beach House on Camano Island. We've visited this B&B once before and fell in love with it. It was nice to go back for a visit and just relax by watching the water, playing cards and taking bubble baths!

Also, we saw a WHALE! It's a very common siting, but the whale was only about 100 yards out from our deck. It was awesome!

Again, here is another "belly bulge" update. (We don't plan on doing these all of the time, there have just been several special occasions in the last month :)

Mother's Day

It was my first mother's day. I like to consider myself a mom already...I mean, Anthony is a daddy too. And, we will celebrate accordingly :) Here is a "belly bulge" update.

Week 22 Update

How your baby's growing: Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

How your life's changing: You may start to notice stretch marks on your skin as your abdomen expands to accommodate your growing baby. Some pregnant women never get stretch marks, but at least half do. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color), and they become more apparent as pregnancy progresses. They can appear not only on your tummy, but also on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. Lotions won't prevent or eliminate them, but they help with any itching. Also, you may no longer be an "innie" — your navel is flat and may soon pop out. It will revert to its usual shape after birth.

Another interesting skin quirk you may notice during pregnancy is something called vascular spiders. These are little areas of raised, reddish skin, with tiny branches. Commonly found on the face, neck, upper chest, and arms, they're caused by the higher levels of estrogen in pregnancy, and they usually disappear after delivery.

Week 21 Update

How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.

How your life's changing: You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual aches and pains associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. Relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester will bring some mild discomfort from carrying a baby who is nearly full-term.

That's not to say you don't have some minor glitches to deal with now. Increased oil production may have given you a mild case of acne, for example. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap and water twice a day, but don't take any oral acne medications — or even use any topical acne products — without checking with your practitioner first.

You're also prone to varicose veins now (especially if your mom has them). That's because pregnancy puts added pressure on the veins in your legs. (Your blood volume is increased and your uterus puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, the large vein that returns blood from the lower half of your body to your heart.) As if that's not enough, an increase in the hormone progesterone causes the walls of your blood vessels to relax, so as your baby and uterus grow, the veins can become more and more prominent. Varicose veins tend to worsen with each pregnancy, and while they're most likely to show up in your legs, they can also appear on your vulva.

If your legs ache, put maternity support hose on first thing in the morning. Increasing your circulation with a brisk walk each day can also help, as can elevating your legs and sleeping on your left side with your feet propped up with a pillow.

Growing Ely equals growing Mamma

As some of you may or may not know, we just visited Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Eleven of us went to celebrate my friend Jessica's 30th birthday. It was a nice "babymoon" for Anthony and myself. We spent a lot of "couple time." We're constantly reminded this is very important :) While we were down there, we took a photo of my ever expanding tummy. Just thought you'd like to see how much Ely is growing, along with Mamma!!!

Week 20 Update

How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)

A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)

Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).

How your life's changing: You've made it to the halfway mark — Congratulations! The top of your uterus is at the level of your belly button now, and you've likely gained about 10 pounds. Expect to gain an average of about another pound each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron for your developing baby and the placenta, and to keep up with your expanding blood volume. Iron-rich foods include lean red meat, poultry, fish, lentils and other legumes, spinach, and iron-fortified cereals.

Week 19 Update

ALTHOUGH, the radiologist said I was 19.5 weeks on Friday, April 28th...

How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and 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.

You may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen (perhaps extending to your groin) or even a quick, sharp, stabbing pain on one or both sides, especially when you change position or at the end of an active day. This is round ligament pain, and it's caused by the stretching of the muscles and ligaments that support your growing uterus. It's nothing to be alarmed about, but if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes persistent and severe, call your practitioner.

You may also have noticed some skin changes lately. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from increased estrogen. Patches of darkened skin are also common during pregnancy. When they show up around your upper lip, upper cheeks and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may see these splotches on your arms or other areas that have been exposed to the sun. Your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva may also darken during pregnancy. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line." All of this darkening is due to a temporary increase in melanin, the substance that colors your hair, skin, and eyes. For most women, these darkened spots will 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.

Meeting Ely for the first time.

As most of you know, our next (an possibly last) ultrasound was on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 5pm. During this appointment, the doctors are doing tests and measurements to check for any problems or birth defects. And, if the parents like, the gender of the baby can be seen. OF COURSE, we wanted to find out! There's no way I could wait another 4.5-5 months to know if Baby E is a boy or a girl. About 15 minutes into the testing the doctor asked if we'd like to find out the gender...my heart began pounding SO HARD! The words that would leave this woman's mouth would change my life forever...would I be attending football games in the misty rain of Seattle or would I be spending hours waiting in line for ballet recital tickets???? I was dying!!!!! Finally, she pointed to Baby E's area between the legs. She said, "here are his legs and..." OBVIOUSLY, there was something there :)

IT'S A BOY! We both had big grins and tears in our eyes (I think). No longer is this Baby E (which he will always be Baby E), but he is now Eleazar Gipson Malaki (he will go by Ely, pronounced: E-lee). He's this little man growing inside of me. This wonderful being that one day will be climbing trees, breaking bones and wanting a cool car. Crazy thoughts roamed through my head as she continued to point out different angles that assured us that this baby is a boy. It was a wonderful feeling that I'll cherish for the rest of my life. My first child, my first son, my first dose of TRUE motherhood...who in the world will ever love him as much as me? I'm already worried about who'll he'll marry :)

The good news continued...the radiologist was observing all tests during the ultrasound and came into our room to share that Ely looked great. She saw no problems in his growth or measurements. All of his fingers and toes were accounted for. And, as far as she could tell, we had a healthy baby boy. WHEW!

It was fun to watch Ely roll around, kick, play with his "parts" and practice nursing. We were able to watch him for about 45 minutes and even have a 5 minute video of him! After our appointment, Anthony and I decided to celebrate our news with a nice dinner in Belltown where we discussed what kind of career we think he might have or what college he might attend. Yes, we're getting a little ahead of ourselves, but it's fun to think about.

Saturday morning had more surprises in store for us. As I was writing to Ely in a journal we started for him, I felt a little flutter in my stomach. I've been feeling these "flutters" for a week or two, but have not been able to determine if the feelings were of the baby or just gas :) I placed my hand on my stomach, and within seconds Ely kicked. I screamed with excitement and Anthony came running in to make sure everything was ok. He didn't kick for daddy again for another half hour, but soon enough, Anthony was able to feel Ely kick. It was a fantastic morning.

The surprises continued into the day with a surprise engagement party hosted by several (dozen) of my friends. It was an amazing party and a great way to continue the weekend.

The final surprise came at bedtime Saturday night...as I was watching TV in bed, Ely kicked so hard it made me jump. I couldn't believe the strength of the kick. Honestly, it scared the crap out of me. I didn't know what to do. I was scared to move. But, also excited that Ely was giving me "love taps." I can only imagine these "love taps" will continue to get harder and more often. This is finally getting interesting.

I know this entry is VERY long, but I didn't want to leave out ANY of the details. Enjoy the ultrasound pictures, as they might be the last photos of Ely until he is born.

I love you all!