Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she’s born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you’ve been nervous about preterm labor, you’ll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Today was Mothers Day =) What a day, I woke up slowly and snuggled with Jess for a while, after which he surprised me with the Sweeny Todd Collectors Edition. (woot! Can’t get enough Johnny!) Then we went to Ikea to FINALLY get the Drawers for my mom, and met her at the Bowling Alley. Jess Bowled a 124, the highest of anyone playing…in that game. I sat on the sidelines and acted as a novelty as our little “bundle of joy” proceeded to kick me to tears. However, Mom and Tony both got to feel her move and that made it worth it.

We then went to Mi Casita for a Mexican Mothers Day brunch. You know the food is good when you and two other tables are the only “white folk” in the place. The owner even came over and warned us the buffet was “very authentic” and if we didn’t like it we could order from the menu and he wouldn’t charge us for what we took from the buffet. Nice guy.

We all overate, Jess went back home (he had a tooth pulled last Friday and was not felling well) My mom and Grandma went to see What happens in Vegas a new Camren Diaz/Ashton Kutcher movie. It was really cute.

Did I mention why my Grandmother is in town? She came up for the baby shower… it was a total shock and surprise. Here is proof:

Yep that’s a good pic, the others I am making such silly faces because I am crying so much. I’ll think about uploading them later. It was a great surprise and a great gift! They had apparently been planning it for over a month. Way to go keeping a secret Mom! The baby Shower was a huge success and everyone had a wonderful time. A great big thanks and kisses out to Stephanie for opening her home to so many people and to Ali and Melissa for doing such a great job planning everything, thanks to Victoria as well for video taping.

I will upload pics and videos soon, but that will be quite a project. =)

Yesterday I took my math Final, Hooray! I am so done with that class. Usually my classes are 5 weeks each, but Math 208 and Math 209 are a joined class and so it is a 10 week class. We covered 4 regular college classes in 10 weeks… a little overwhelming? Yes. glad it’s over? You bet!
To celebrate Jess and I went to the Training Table for some burgers and fries (this as I daily bitch about how I have gained 45 pounds during this pregnancy). Oh well, it was a celebration. Jess and I are both done with school… for now.
We sat eating our cheese fries and discovered a new use for my belly, it is a Magic 8 Ball! You rub and shake the “Magic 8 Ball” and if she kicks on the right side, the answer is yes, if she kicks on the left, no, and if no kick at all… ask again later, the answer is unclear.

YAY! Fun with Tummies!

How your baby’s growing:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She’s rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren’t fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don’t entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) 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, she’ll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.
Today at my doctors appointment, I got some interesting news. I am 75% effaced. He thinks she will be coming the first week of June! I am still really trying to not get my hopes up in the event she stays in until the 22nd… or later.

How your baby’s growing:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She’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.

I read this outloud to Jess just now and we both laughed outloud. “heading into a growth spurt” hahahahaha! What has she been doing? might I remind you she has gained 3 weeks on this pregnancy and it looks like she may gain more all said and done. Might I remind you mu original due date was in July and I am now pushing early Fathers Day… So her growth spurt has been happening on and off since week 18. I fear the growth spurt she is heading into!

I find it harder than ever now to not sleep on my back. That is by far the most comfortable position, but I wake up short of breath and know it is also decreasing oxygen to the baby. *Uugghh* I reiterate. Anyone who says, I love and/or miss being pregnant does not remember the facts.

A baby asked God, ‘They tell me you are sending me to earth soon, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?’ God said, ‘Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.’

The child further inquired, ‘But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.’ God said, ‘Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.’

Again the child asked, ‘And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?’ God said, ‘Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”

‘Who will protect me?’ God said, ‘Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.’

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, ‘God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.’

God said, ‘You will simply call her, ‘Mom.’

–(This was sent to me in an email, author unknown)

How your baby’s growing:Your baby’s about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it’s not very keen; even after she’s born, she’ll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she’ll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Dear Mom and Dad,

Things are getting a bit cramped in here, and I am thinking about a transfer to the “real world”. However, I am not quite sure that I am ready yet. I like how warm it is in here. I heard the weather forecast this morning.. Rain and Snow? Come on, GET REAL! I’m not coming out until there is no sign of snow in the forecast for months! How does June Sound? Yep, that Dr. K is pretty smart, predicting the day I want to come out. He must be able to read my mind.

So, Dad, I was thinking, since Mom gets to feel the kicking and moving all the time, I figured I would try to show up around Fathers Day (I figure that will make Grumpa happy too). It is the least I can do as a Thank you for helping to create me. But don’t be too mad if I don’t make it on time, I am a woman after all and I have to prepare for my big debut. My hair is just not cooperating and I simply must get a manicure before showing my face. But keep in mind even though I may be late, I won’t dissapoint.

And Mom, I love you, but enough with the spicy food! You think it gives you heartburn? My stomach is tiny compared to yours and I just can’t take it anymore! Can we switch to Chinese over Mexican? Please!?! Trust me we will both sleep better all said and done. But, keep those belly rubs coming (you too Dad!) I love em!

Whew! Typing from the womb is tough, and I am getting sleepy, besides water aerobics start in 20 minutes and I don’t want to be late. I simply must nap before I start otherwise I won’t have the energy to finish the entire 1 hour class.

Much Love

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you’ll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby’s hardening skeleton each day.

How your baby’s growing:By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She’s also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.