Week 30

Your baby has probably reached three pounds and about 14 inches in length. She’s also filling out a bit as she continues to gain weight, and these layers of fat help her to appear less wrinkled.
As practice for breathing after birth, your baby is mimicking breathing movements by repeatedly moving her diaphragm in a rhythmic way. This can trigger hiccups if she inadvertently inhales amniotic fluid. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid now surrounds your baby, but that volume decreases as she gets bigger and has less room in your uterus.
Here's what else is happening this week:
* Baby's head continues to grow, and brain growth speeds up even more.
* Baby's hearing is improving; nearly all babies can react (by movement) to sound by this week.



On Sunday all of his kicks were way down low and yesterday they were all up high, so he's still got room to flip completely around in there. :) It's hard to believe that there are just 77 days until my due date! It's getting more real all the time and I'm so excited to meet this little guy!

Nesting and A Name!

The past few days have been really busy and it's all because I'm nesting. Suddenly I felt this *urgency* to get a bunch of things done around the house. I haven't even been able to nap when Lily does because I've wanted to take advantage of the time that she's sleeping to get more done! I'm really tired but I feel driven! Here are just a few things I've been doing the past couple days:

• Bought and hung a new shower curtain liner
• *Thoroughly* cleaned both bathrooms
• Vacuumed
• Uploaded pictures to the computer and then to the Creative Memories Photo Center website and copied them to a CD for safekeeping
• Ordered A LOT of photos - I was several months behind - including doubles for Grandmas
• Lots of laundry
• Grocery shopping
• Placed a CM order and drove all the way out there to pick it up
• Wrote a letter to Shinta and mailed it to her
• Two trip to the bank to make deposits - yay!
• Got a shelf hung in Lily's room (Andy did most of the work - he has way more patience than I do with that sort of thing)
• Got a few things hung in the baby's room (Again - Andy was really helpful here)

I'm sure I'm forgetting something but that's just a sampling of what I've been up to the past couple days. :) I should mention that Andy did get the baby's room painted while Lily and I were gone last weekend! It looks really good and we're really pleased with the color.

And, I think we have a name picked out! It's such a miracle, really. Maybe a week ago or so Andy mentioned a name to me and I thought to myself, "I really like that. That could work." It makes me really excited because I had been praying that God would bring us to a name without either of us having to campaign for it or having to persuade the other. We talked about it again last night and both of us still really like it. So we'll just try it out for awhile and see how it feels. It's really nice to have something to call him besides Baby. I almost feel giddy about it today. :)

Pics from Last Weekend

Well, wow. Blogger didn't want me to upload any photos today! It took numerous tries and a lot more time than I appreciated! Nevertheless, here are just a couple highlights from last weekend.

Sisters. :) Mandi and Bryan have the cutest apartment. They've painted every room and I love the colors. Mandi hosted a Pampered Chef part on Saturday and I think every person that walked into the apartment commented on how cute it is.

Lily, Dawn and Mandi
Bryan had a weekend class and so we didn't get to spend a lot of time with him. I feel bad that I didn't get a single picture of him!

Grandma Elaine and Lily Elaine at Cousin Chrissy's Party

The Anderstrom Cousins minus Kyle and Mandi

(l to r) Jonathan, Robbie, Chrissy, Tim, Mike and Dawn

Week 29

Now that organ and nerve development is almost complete, your baby will start gaining weight very quickly this week — mostly in the form of body fat. This fat will provide insulation for Baby and will fill out most of the wrinkles in her skin, making her look like a plump, healthy baby.
In addition, Baby's brain continues its important developmental work this week. In fact, it is growing so quickly now, it may cause her flexible skull bones to swell slightly. The folds and fissures of the brain continue to develop, allowing room for important interconnections between nerve cells. During this week, brain wave patterns begin to look like those of a full-term baby.
By this time, your baby may weigh just under three pounds and is a bit less than 14 inches long.
Other important developments in the 29th week include:
* Baby will begin to produce prolactin, a hormone that will help your body produce colostrum. (Colostrum is the first breastmilk you’ll produce and is filled with nutrients and immunity-enhancers.)
* Insistent kicking action will occur as Baby's muscles develop. Later in this trimester, these movements will slow down as Baby gets bigger and the uterus gets more cramped.
* Baby's skeleton will continue to harden.
* Baby's lungs will continue to mature.
* Baby's downy lanugo hair will begin to shed into the amniotic fluid. She may still have some on her body at birth, but this will fall off in the first week or so.
* Toenails will continue to grow.
* Retinas will continue to develop. (verybestbaby.com)

He has been really busy in there lately! Wednesday and Thursday of last week he was particularly active. Ordinarily I love his movements but it was starting to get a little annoying - sort of like Chinese water torture - it just wouldn't stop and I was going crazy. Now he's back to his normal activity level. :) Sometimes I feel his kicks/punches on the top, left side of my belly and sometimes I feel them way down low. I've told him he needs to get situated before it he's too big and it gets too crowded. :) I had my blood glucose test today. I forgot what a long wait I'd have between drinking that stuff and getting my blood drawn. Lily was with me and she was a trooper. We were at the doctor's office an hour and a half and it was so boring for her but she did great. Now I'm nervously awaiting the results of the blood test. I really, really don't want gestational diabetes. I LOVE sugar!

Lily and I drove to Stevens Point on Friday to visit Mandi and Bryan. My friend Lisa went along and did a Pampered Chef party for Mandi's friends. It was a quick trip but a lot of fun. We stayed at a very icky hotel. There was a big event happening in Stevens Point and I had trouble finding a hotel with a vacancy. And now I know why our hotel had a vacancy! I'll spare you the details but trust me when I say it was gross. On a positive note, Lily and I slept together in the hotel bed and she did awesome! I can't believe how fast she's growing up. It was nice not to have to bring the pack 'n play. :)

On Sunday afternoon we went to a party for my cousin Chrissy. She took as much leave as she could to come back to Minnesota to see family and friends. She heads back to her base soon and leaves for training in either Washington State or New Jersey in July and then for Iraq in September. It was really fun to see her. She's turned into such a cool person and she's as funny as ever. When I asked her what her plans were she said she was just gonna go fight a little war. She's definitely concerned about going to Iraq but she's handling it so well. She was hand picked as one of only 13 people from her base to go. She's the only female. She can do 55 push-ups in a minute! She'll be back in November of '09 and then she goes to Turkey for a year. Anyway, it was great to see her. And a little sad since it'll be such a long time before we see her again. We'll be praying for her LOTS while she's gone.

Week 28

This week marks an important milestone for Baby's brain development. Until now, the surface of your baby's developing brain was smooth. During this week, Baby's brain begins to form its characteristic grooves and indentations, allowing the brain’s surface to expand while it develops within Baby's tiny skull. At about two pounds four ounces and 13.8 inches from head to toe, your baby has certainly come a long way!
Other important developmental advances continue as well:
* Baby will continue to add layers of fat under her skin, and will get plumper with each passing day.
* Hair on Baby's head will continue to grow.
* A boy's testes are usually completely descended into the scrotum by this point.
* Baby's lungs are now capable of breathing air. (verybestbaby.com)

Lily's New Favorite Thing - Playdoh!

Saturday morning while Daddy was at work we spent about 45 minutes at the kitchen table playing with Play-Doh. Yesterday at the gym was her first experience with Play-Doh and she loved it. She had gotten a set for her birthday (from Nathan) but we had been saving it. This was the perfect time to bring it out!

Making shape cookies

Daddy and Lily after church on Sunday

Lily and Mommy - pretty in pink!

Making "spaghetti"

Figuring out the rolling pin

Mommy's creativity :)

I wanted to include Baby Becker in the family fun!

More art by Mommy

It SNOWED on April 11th!

The weather man said it would snow but I didn't believe it. After that gorgeous weekend we had (see Spring Swing below!) I thought spring was here to stay! But this is becoming the winter that won't die. It started snowing Thursday night and snowed off and on all day Friday. School was cancelled and the roads were pretty bad early in the day. I went to the Post Office and got stuck in the driveway when I got home. I backed out a couple times and tried to gun it but I got completely stuck. I got Lily out of her car seat and trudged through the snow to the house. I called Andy at work to warn him that he'd see the car at a funny angle in the driveway when he got home. Andy put the snow blower and shovels in the shed last weekend! He had to hike through the snowy yard to get them out again.

Thank the Lord for snow blowers! This was heavy, wet snow!

Uncle Mark and Lily building a mini snowman. :)

It's fresh snow - it can't be too dirty, right?

A mini snowman snack

Lily wasn't happy to see the yard and her swing set covered in snow this morning, but judging by her smile it seems she's changed her mind. :)

Baking with Mommy

I found a yummy recipe online for Chocolate Chip Cookies with oatmeal in them. Mmmm! They were in an article about how to keep your husband in love. :) I think it worked. :) Lily asked for a chair to stand on because she wanted to help. How cute is she???

Stealing a little dough. Yummy!

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

I got a free book as part of a program offered by our insurance company. One of the sections I was reading stood out to me. I've been trying to enjoy these last few months as a mom of one. I realize that never again will I have only one child and that starting some time in July Lily will have to share me. I'm not trying to sound super serious but it's something I've been thinking about. So I'm just trying to cherish each day with her.

Here's what the book said that started me on this train of thought:
This month marks the end of the second trimester of pregnancy. Things will undoubtedly be exciting during the last three months until your baby arrives, but they'll also likely be a bit stressful. You'll be busy buying final supplies, finishing your baby's room, attending childbirth classes (nope) and making more frequent visits to your health care provider. Plus, the last three months of pregnancy will bring new physical demands on your body.
Make an effort to enjoy this month of your pregnancy - before the craziness and discomforts of the final months begin. Take some time to think about your pregnancy thus far and write down your thoughts in a journal (or blog). Play soft music or talk soothingly and lovingly to your baby. Take photos so that you can show your baby what you looked like when he was "under construction." Do whatever works for you to revel in the emotions and sensations of being pregnant. They'll be gone in just a few short months.

Week 27 - 3rd Trimester Begins!!!

This week marks the beginning of the third trimester — and a big developmental change as Baby's fused eyelids finally open. The lids have been closed since early pregnancy to protect the developing retina at the back of the eye. The retina is the part of the eye that receives light information, and transmits the information to the brain for interpretation. The retina develops its normal layers during this week.
Although Baby may not have grown much taller, she now weighs more than two pounds. Right now, your baby looks like she will at birth, just a little thinner and smaller.
Other developmental changes include:
* Lungs, liver and immune system are still developing.
* As hearing continues to develop, some scientists suggest Baby may start to recognize your voice, although sounds may be muffled because waxy coating still covers the ears.
* Response to sound will become more pronounced as the development of the auditory nerve is completed.
* Baby's brain continues to grow and develop rapidly. (verybestbaby.com)

It's hard to believe I've entered my third trimester!!! I guess I was thinking that was still a couple weeks away. Less than 100 days to my due date! The time is flying...

I had a check-up yesterday and they did the second ultrasound to try to get a better look at his heart. They saw everything they needed to see and it was SO FUN to see him again. This ultrasound technician was much more friendly - she made it so enjoyable and she took time to point out his little organs and things. She printed some more pictures of him too which made me really happy. In one photo you can see his profile and he is sucking on his fist - it's really cute. We got another peek at his private area and he's still a boy! :) I also had the treat of stepping on the scale yesterday and that wasn't as much fun. I've gained 20 pounds so far. My goal for this pregnancy was to gain no more than 30 so that gives me 14 weeks to gain no more than 10 pounds!!! Yikes.

We've picked out a sports theme bedding set for his room. I figure that Andy is really into sports and this is his son so it seems appropriate. I ordered a football clock and rug and there are some other fun accessories that go with the bedding. When it gets here we'll figure out a paint color that coordinates. Getting the room painted is probably our next step.

Spring Swing!

Lily has been looking forward to getting back out to her swingset for *months*!!! Today was the big day! The temperature was in the 50s and all our snow is nearly melted. She spent some time on both swings - the "baby" swing and the "big girl" swing - and took a few trips down the slide. She had a ball!!! There was a tiny pile of snow in the backyard so we built a snowman. He was about 14 inches tall. :) But a lot of the snow we got this year was the dry, powdery stuff that just blows around and doesn't stick together. So we took advantage of our last opportunity to build a snowman for this winter! It was such a gorgeous day! I even wore flip flops!!! :) Andy's dad worked for him, so he was home with us all day which is always nice. We like having him around. We got some other things done today (Andy did most of the work) - put the snowblower in the shed, cleaned the garage, cleaned the grill, bought a lawn mower and brought some baby stuff out of storage. It was exciting to see some of that stuff again! I'll try to get some of that organized this weekend. We still have some stuff in Andy's parents' basement - our swing, exersaucer, carseat, etc. So we'll have to get over there and find that sometime before the middle of July...