After several weeks of waiting, the building of our new house has begun!They started digging the basement sometime this past weekend. It is nice to have it started and hopefully it will "take off" from here. Last night (in the rain!) Gma and Gpa Oakley went with us to look at it for the first time in the daylight. (Went and looked Monday, but it was already dark) Below are some pics of our wonderful hole! :)
movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her 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 her when she hears them outside the womb.
squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her eyes have formed, but her 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 her body and the deep wrinkles on her skin, which she'll sport until she adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside her belly, her pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.
At Cessna, there is always an annual food drive that runs June-October of each year. So the other day I stopped in on a book fair that was supporting the food drive. I saw this Bible and couldn't pass it up! I never thought I would be able to shop for Rachel while being at work! :)
This past weekend we went to a family reunion in Newton, KS (Skiles side of the family) We had lunch, played a few games, and visited with relatives we hadn't seen since last years reunion. (It occurs every July) After the reunion was over Aunt Monica and I hit the Carter's store at the outlet mall in Newton. We picked a great day to be there! SALES, SALES, SALES! Mommy bought some things and Aunt Monica bought her first "big girl" outfit. (size 12 months) I hadn't bought her anything "big" yet! Below are the pics of what we got! :)
I am definitely starting to feel kicks now, not only "movement." She doesn't keep me awake at night, but I fear that is coming! Since the info below says she should be able to hear me, I sing to her now while I am in the car and laying down. Sometimes she reacts, sometimes she doesn't. Probably just coincidence! She is now the size of a carrot! Incredible! :) See the info below about the 21 weeks of pregnancy!
I took another belly picture yesterday. (well actually Daddy took the pic!) I hadn't taken one in 4 weeks, but this time I didn't notice as much difference as in the past. Maybe it is just the camera...we saw yesterday that Rachel is growing, and I must be growing because Daddy is calling me "chunky monkey" and "chunko bunko!" :) Needless to say, I am not worried about there not being much difference in the pics. The one on the left is at 16 weeks and the one on the right at 20 weeks.
Well, we had our doctor's appointment on Wednesday...This past weekend I had been having so pretty bad pains in my lower back and real low in my stomach. The pain kinda concerned me throughout the weekend, but I had no bleeding so I just waited to ask the doctor at my appointment. She didn't seem worried, but just "concerned" so she ordered a sonogram for late yesterday afternoon, "just to make sure." At the sonogram the tech was supposed to measure the length of my cervix. (They told me if the length of the cervix is to short that can cause pre-term labor) The tech said that she though everything looked okay, but that she wasn't a doctor and if there was a problem my doctor would call me. But I felt reassured that the tech thought it was okay. She said I might just be having "growing pains" or I might go to my regular M.D. to see if I had a UTI or kidney infection. I haven't had the pain since Tuesday night, so maybe it was just growing pains! Because she sure is growing!
Since we had the sonogram we were able to see our beautiful baby girl again! She has grown so much just in the past 3 weeks! (I will post the pics as soon as I get them on the computer) Her heartbeat was at 155 and she seemed to be moving around just fine! I guess she is just doing perfect! :)
Well, we have made it HALF way! It seems like it has gone fast, but here is another whole half to go! We went to the doctor yesterday, and while we were in the waiting room the doctor had to leave for a delivery. So my appointment was rescheduled for tomorrow. The start of this week has been the first time I have been "uncomfortable." And I think it has only begun! :)
See the info below about the 20th week of pregnancy.
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 — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of her head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, she's measured from head to toe.)She's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).
Saturday we had "professional maternity" pictures taken at Portrait Innovations. I thought they turned out pretty good. There were 5 different poses that we got actual prints of. Then we got a CD with all the pictures on it. Below are the 5 plus a few more!
I have always said that I was NEVER going to name my baby before she got here. I said I had to for sure see her to be able to name her...well, I have changed my mind! Lots of people told me that I would name her before she was born, but I really thought I would stick to my guns; but I guess that didn't happen! :)
Our daughter's name will be Rachel Elise Skiles. The name was actually Daddy's idea and then Mommy liked it too. It isn't anything really "unique," but we love it! We spelled it how it is spelled in the Bible and then the middle name was one I picked out of the book I bought. (At least the book was good for something!) When we actually decided it was hard to keep it a secret! I guess it is common knowledge now! Maybe I will think twice about using the word "NEVER" next time! :)
She is now big enough that I am feeling her several times throughout the day, but it is exciting every time! One more week and we will be half way! :)
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, taking 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.
