Basketball and Baby Dolls

Week 36: "Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position."

My new perch is the couch in the den. After going to the doctor Thursday and talking to him about the aches and pains of moving/sleeping/sitting in chairs, he wrote a note for work and I now will spend the final 3 weeks before Beta arrives mostly on the couch. Thankfully, it is March Madness. While I am not a huge basketball fan (other than UT and Big 12), it is a lot better than normal daytime TV.

Many people have been asking if Celia understands what is going on. She does know there is a baby in my belly and talks, sings and cuddles with it often. Today, Celia didn't have school (Good Friday), so she was home for her nap. When she woke up, she sat in my lap on the couch. Only after a few minutes did I realize that she had something under her shirt. It was a tiny babydoll!! She apparently had played with her dolls before falling asleep and wanted a baby in her belly, too. I laughed a lot and she seemed a little embarrassed at first. Now she is walking around with the baby in her shirt. I am sure she still doesn't understand the full impact that a new baby will have in her life, but she is very excited. She is just sure that the baby is a girl.

Sprinkle and Honeydew

Per Mommy's weekly email, "Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight." Mommy says that apparently I didn't get the memo as I continue practicing my gymnastics like I am going for the 2024 Olympics.

Some of Mommy's work friends had a lunch "sprinkle". I got some cute green clothes (my sister loved those), some cool "day of the week" socks, Children's books on Charleston (my future home), bath stuff and gift certificates (so Mommy and Daddy can buy me pink or blue clothes after I arrive). It wasn't until friends arrived that we realized that most of the guests were pregnant. It was really neat to visit with friends and share stories.

Week 33

Now I weigh a little over 4 lbs. (like a pineapple) and have passed the 17-inch mark. I don't look so wrinkled and alien.

This weekend, Mommy, Daddy and Big Sister all made another try at finding a baby book for me. I didn't realize how hard finding a simple book to write about my big events would be. Of course, most of the books are pink or blue, so not knowing if I am a boy or girl makes it difficult. Second, most of the books these days have pages that go through elementary school. Mommy says that isn't realistic and would just be setting herself up to give me a half completed book. They finally bought one with a giraffe on the front (very gender neutral) and only has a few pages that will go beyond the first year.

Does anyone really complete the "first day of school" page in their second child's baby book?

Only 5 1/2 weeks left!!