32 Weeks

Wow, how are there only 8 weeks left in this journey?? This second (and now third) trimester have really flown by, and we can't wait to meet our little girl soon! Here's what she's up to this week:

At this point, 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 plumpsup in preparation for birth. By now, your baby is about 16.7 inches long and weighs about as much as a large jicama.

A few weeks ago, the girls at school threw a shower for me, and we had a blast! I work with such great people, and it was really fun to share the party with them. Plus, a lot of them are mommies (some more recent than others), so it's great to hear all of their advice!

Lindsay's cake... wow, it was good! It was half chocolate and half vanilla. My sister Abi even said it was the best cake she's ever had (which is a huge compliment coming from her)!

Some of the gifts... so fun to see all the cute pink paper and tissue!

It's fun to have other teachers that are also pregnant so we can share stories! Here are a few of the girls that were able to make it to the shower...

From L to R: Kara (due in Jan), me (due in Feb), and Emily (due later in Feb)

My 32 week ultrasound went very well, and the doctor said everything looks good for both me and Lindsay. I've started to feel pretty tired again (back to afternoon naps while I can!), so the upcoming Christmas break will be a welcome one. It will also give us a chance to put the finishing touches on the nursery. We've also started attending childbirth classes at the hospital -- definitely great information, but eye-opening for us both!

30 Weeks: Belly Pictures

30 weeks! I can't believe we're getting so close... between Thanksgiving and Christmas, this last trimester is going to fly by! We have so many things to be thankful for -- my glucose test came back normal last week, the doctor said everything looks good so far, and we're slowly but surely getting things ready for our little girl! Here's what Lindsay's been up to this week:

"Your baby is about 15.7 inches long and weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). Her eyesight continues to develop, thought 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."

The weekend before Thanksgiving, my dad took some amazing "belly pictures" of Todd and I. Here are some of our favorites:

A few more notable things that have happened in the last few weeks...

- Nesting has officially taken over! I've made a "master list" of things around the house that need to be cleaned/cleaned out/completed before Lindsay's due date. Poor Todd... he's been very patient with me! :)

- This little one is SUPER active (thankfully mostly during the day!), and I can always count on her to start moving around about 5 - 10 minutes after I eat or drink anything. She also likes to roll around whenever I'm sitting still or laying down.

- So far, I've been very blessed that I've felt pretty good since getting over morning sickness. The only part that's been hard is riding in the car for more than about 20 minutes -- I guess she runs out of room when I sit, and she's not shy about letting me know about her discomfort!!

We have our next ultrasound in 2 weeks (routine for our doctor's office), so hopefully we'll have some more good pictures of Baby Anglin to share! Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving break!

November Already?!?

WOW... where is the time going? Not too long ago, it felt like February was an eternity away. Now it (and Lindsay) will be here before we know it! Here's what our little girl is up to this week:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's also continuing to put on baby fat -- she now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches from head to heel (an English hothouse cucumber).

The most exciting part about the last week is that Todd has been able to feel Lindsay kicking! I've been putting his hand on my belly for weeks now and asking, "Did you feel that?", but last week he finally gave me a strange look and asked, "Was that you??"! It's been fun to sit and feel her movements get stronger, and I've noticed she's most active at about 10 AM and again around 9 PM (or really whenever I lay down to take a break). She really got moving when we sat next to the band at the high school football game on Friday night.. wonder if that means she'll be into music like Todd and I are??

25 Weeks: A Rutabaga

I have to admit, I had to look this one up too to see what it looked like... at least I've heard of a rutabaga (mostly because my dad and I used to call each other "rutabaga breath" when I was little... not sure where it came from though!). Anyway, here's what Baby Anglin is up to this week:

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight - a pound and a half - isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will start to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair -- and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Our big accomplishment this week is that we've finally chosen paint colors for the nursery -- we've decided to go with two shades of green that match her bedding, with hot pink accents like curtains and pictures on the wall. The nice thing about her bedding is that there are about 15 different colors in it, so we can't go wrong no matter what we put with it!

Her tastes haven't changed much -- cheetos, Rocky Road ice cream, ham sandwiches, and grilled chicken top the list of "good foods" that I can pretty much eat whenever. I have figured out a few things she is not a fan of (and by that I mean it gives me heartburn or a stomachache) -- ranch dressing, red meat, and anything greasy (like chicken nuggets or pizza). At least I'm a fast learner! :)

24 Weeks: Ear of Corn

Another week, another vegetable comparison for our little girl! Here's what she's been up to this week:

Your baby is growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

The baby preparations are well under way now: we have a crib, bassinet, and changing table, the bedding has been ordered and should be here in a few weeks, and we're FINALLY narrowing down our paint colors for the nursery. Even though it's a small part of the to-do list checked off, at least things are being checked off! :)

Todd and I have also been doing a lot of "cleaning out", and it feels good to get things out of our house that we're no longer using. I've been focusing on one room at a time, and tackled our master bedroom this last weekend. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but we still had boxes from when we first moved in that we never took the time to unpack! I figure if we haven't missed it in the last 2 1/2 years, we probably won't miss it at all.... plus, I keep thinking of all the extra "baby stuff" we're going to be accumulating in the next few years! Probably good to clean out now to make room!

The "To-Do" List keeps getting longer...

So for those of you who know me or have ever had to work with me, you know about me and my lists. And binders. And calendars. And possibly have noticed my love for the Container Store. Anyway, being pregnant comes second only to planning a wedding as far as staying organized goes! So while I'm working hard to get a least one "baby" thing off my list each week, I feel like I add two or three more things each day that just HAVE to be done before she gets here. Not that everything has to be perfect, but I know there will come a time in the not-so-distant future where I won't care if anything gets done except a nap, so I'd rather try to get as many things done now as I can!

So back to why you're really here.... here's what Baby Lindsay is up to this week:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music! With her sense of 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 (your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner) probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

I am definitely not seeing her move yet, but I can feel her start to kick and move around more and more every day. Todd is waiting patiently (well, kind of patiently) to be able to feel her through my stomach, but so far, he hasn't been able to feel her quite yet. What a moment that is going to be -- I can't wait for his reaction!

22 Weeks: Moving Right Along

Sorry I missed last week, but now we are at the 22 week mark and things have gotten very busy around our house. We've started to realize that we need to do those projects we've been putting off the last few years if we want to ever get them done! So Todd's been painting our bedroom this weekend and I've been cleaning out things to donate. Here's what Baby Lindsay has been up to while we've been busy working:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti 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 developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her eyes have formed, but her irises (the colored part) still lack pigment.

I feel like there is more to do than we can possibly get done before she gets here, but I've been trying not to go into "over-planning" mode and just take one day at a time. I know it will all be okay, but you know me and my lists! This past week, our crib was delivered and Todd put it together up in Lindsay's room. I think that made it much more real to us -- someone's going to be sleeping there in about 4 more months! It actually made me feel better to know that even if nothing else gets done, at least she has somewhere to sleep. :)

20 Weeks: Half-Way There!

We are at 20 weeks (5 months), and it's hard to believe we are already half-way there! Here's what's going on with Baby Anglin this week:

This week, your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces and measures 10 inches from head to heel -- about the length of a banana. She's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for her digestive system.

This last week has been a little rough for me -- I seem to have caught whatever cold is going around our school, and my body is definitely taking longer to recover than normal. Understandable, I guess, considering all the other things happening right now! I've been sleeping a lot, and thankfully I have some wonderful friends at work that have been looking out for me. I am happy to report that I'm finally starting to feel better, so hopefully this goes away for good soon!

Around the house, we are starting to get serious about decorating and getting everything ready. We've also officially picked a name... Lindsay Paige Anglin will be here in February!

19 Weeks: Now we can pick a paint color!

This week, we got our most recent glimpse of Baby Anglin.... and it's a girl! She is measuring right on target, and weighs 12 ounces. Here's what else going on with her this week:

"Your baby measures 6 inches, head to bottom - about the size of an heirloom tomato. The hair on her scalp is sprouting (wonder if she'll be blonde like Todd and I both were when we were little?). This is a crucial time for sensory development: her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch."

Now that we know it's a girl, Todd and I started looking at nursery stuff this weekend, and it was so much fun to see all the cute, soft little things the stores had. For all his "boy" talk since we found out I was pregnant, Todd is excited about having a little girl and has started to realize the fun that will come with it (even though I had to explain what a "tea party" is... guess he and his brother didn't have those when they were little!). We've also started talking about paint colors and decorating ideas, and most importantly little girl names... we'll reveal soon.

We are constantly amazed when we look back at the sonogram pics just how much has happened in there in just a few short months. I can't believe so many more changes are still to come! Here our two favorites of Baby Anglin. Enjoy! :)

She's ready for Piggies and Paws, Tanya! :)

18 Weeks

Wow, 18 weeks! Here's what Baby Anglin is up to these days:

Your baby is busy flexing its arms and legs -- movements you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. Blood vessels are visible through your baby's thin skin, and the ears are now in their final position. Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weighs almost 7 ounces.

We had a doctor's appointment last week, and got to hear the baby's heartbeat again -- nice and strong! I feel like I'm starting to finally really look pregnant, so we'll get some pictures up soon. We also got to make our ULTRASOUND appointment for next week -- Todd and I are so excited to finally get the chance to find out what Baby Anglin is! We'll definitely keep you posted....

School is IN

Well, school has officially started and I've been exhausted! My bedtime has shifted to around 9:00 each night, and I definitely don't feel like doing much once I get home from school. Other than being tired, though, I've felt really good! Enough about me, here's what Baby Anglin is up to at 17 weeks:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and its umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and measures around 5 inches from head to bottom.

The "flutters" I started feeling a few weeks ago have gotten stronger and more consistent, and Todd can't wait until he can feel them too! I also had my first "real" craving this week: bean dip and fritos, which was crazy because it was at like 10:45 in the morning. It also passed pretty quickly, which was good since I was at school and definitely did not pack any bean dip with my lunch! :)

4 Months!

We are now officially 4 months! It seems like time is going by faster now, and I know it will go even faster with school starting tomorrow. Before we know it, Baby Anglin will be here! Here's what's going on this week:

Get ready for a growth spurt! In the next few weeks, your baby will double in weight and add inches to its length. The legs are much more developed now, and the eyes and ears are moving closer to their final position on the head. The patterning of your baby's scalp has begun, though locks aren't recognizable yet. Your baby has started growing toenails, and its heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day. Right now, it's about the size of an avocado (4.5 inches long and 3.5 ounces).

In my last post, I talked about being able to feel the first flutters of movement... well, that movement has definitely become more consistent with each passing day! It seems like the baby is most active right after lunch and through the afternoon for now (at least that's when I can feel it the most), so we'll see if that changes as it gets bigger. Speaking of "it", I'm so ready to find out if Baby Anglin is a boy or a girl! I feel bad calling it "it" all the time! Hopefully we'll get a glimpse in a few weeks at our next ultrasound...

It's that time again....

I'm a little late with the Week 15 update, so I'll just share the most interesting part of Baby Anglin's development this week:

Although the eyelids are still fused shut, your baby can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, they are likely to move away from the beam. Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple).

For about the last week, I'm pretty sure I've been feeling Baby Anglin start to move around -- it's such a tiny flutter, though, that it took me awhile to recognize it! I've also started back to school, and I've felt pretty good so far, just pretty tired by the end of the day. I think it's really helped me to get on a schedule and to be busy again so I can't focus on whether or not I'm feeling sick. Either way, the kids come back on Monday, so we'll see how that goes! I think I'll definitely have a much earlier bedtime this year... I never thought I'd say this, but 9:30 is looking pretty good.... :)

14 Weeks: Making Progress!

14 weeks, and the I'm officially heading into the 2nd trimester... woo-hoo! Thankfully, just in time for school to start back, I'm having mostly good days (with the occasional not-feeling-so-great day), which is a blessing since my 7th graders will be here before I know it. Anyway, here's what Baby Anglin is up to this week:

Your baby can now squint, frown, pee, and possibly suck its thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, the facial muscles are getting a workout as the baby's tiny features form one expression after another. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week - a sign that it's doing its job right - and the spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Your baby is also stretching out: from head to bottom, he/she measures 3.5 inches (about the size of a lemon) and weighs 1.5 ounces.

I had a doctor's appointment this week, and so far, so good. They also said I might start to feel him/her moving around in the next few weeks... I can't wait!

On a different note, I've been "unofficially" polling friends and family, and so far most of them think Baby Anglin is a girl... pretty bold statement, considering there were about 12 baby boys born at our school in the last few years compared to just 3 girls! What do you guys think?

13 Weeks: The Shrimp

Here's what Baby Anglin is up to this week:


Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, his/her veins and organs are clearly visible through the still-thin skin, and the body is starting to catch up with the head. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

I love the food analagies -- it definitely makes it easier to visualize just how much things are changing each week! I also read that by 13 weeks, every organ and system is pretty much formed (just VERY tiny), and that the next 27 weeks are all about growing. Todd and I have started thinking about names, but nothing too serious until we find out if it's a boy or a girl (probably the end of September).

Since all of this started, I've had a few cravings: anything cheese, coke icees (no more than one per week), and yellow cake with chocolate frosting. I've also loved salty things more than sweet so far, and pretty much survived all summer on Goldfish crackers!

12 Weeks: The Lime

A teacher at our school is having a baby this fall, and I have loved reading her blog about how her little one is progressing each week. So, I'm going to "borrow" her format to share how our little one is growing. Just remember, all credit for this awesomeness goes to Hayley!

When I found out I was pregnant, I signed up for babycenter.com, a website all about pregnancy and babies. Each week, they send me an email "update" on what Baby Anglin is up to. Here's what they say about 12 weeks:

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his/her toes will curl, his/her eye muscles will clench, and his/her mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response (although you won't be able to feel it). His/her face looks unquestionably human: the eyes have moved from the sides to the front of the head, and the ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby is just over 2 inches long (the size of a lime).

Isn't that crazy?? It's amazing to think all this transformation is going on, and yet Baby Anglin is only 2 inches long. On a completely unrelated note, the morning sickness part is slowly fading away (yay!), only to be replaced with the tired part. I feel like I'm sleeping all the time! But I guess I better enjoy it now.... I hear there's not going to be much time for that in about 6 months! :)

And Baby Makes Three....

Yes, it means just what it says... Todd and I are having a baby! I am officially 12 weeks this week, and our due date is February 4, 2011. It has been SO HARD to keep the secret this summer! We've had several ultrasounds, but here is the most recent picture of Baby Anglin, taken at 9 weeks:

The doctor says everything is looking good, and that baby looks healthly and has a strong heartbeat. It is an incredible feeling to hear that heartbeat for the first time!! I'm also pleased to report that after a summer of not feeling so great, I'm finally starting to feel better and a little more like myself, which is perfect since school is about to start again. :)


We will try to keep everyone updated at least once a week about Baby Anglin's happenings, so make sure to check back to watch him (according to Todd) or her (according to Abi) grow. :)

Yeah, it's been awhile...

I know, I know, it's been awhile. But in my defense, I tend to lose track of dates/days during the summer because it really just doesn't matter! I do plan to get much better at updating the blog this summer, so definitely don't give up on me yet....

For a little update, not much happening at the Anglin house. We had to postpone our Hawaii trip to later in the summer, but we will be heading to my cousin Meghann's wedding soon! It will be fun to see the rest of the family and take a little mini-trip to where I grew up (Midland, TX).

We also found out recently that we have a little raccoon family living under our deck. Our dog Toby has been trying to tell us for weeks, but we didn't believe him until we saw the four of them climbing the tree outside our living room! I know raccoons aren't the best thing to have in your backyard, but they are pretty stinkin' cute when you look at them through a window -- like little old-timey masked bank robbers! We'll see if we can catch some pictures soon.

Yeah, that's about it -- upcoming wedding, new raccoon family... not exactly the season finale of Lost or anything, but about as exciting as it gets around here for now! :)

Raemi

33 Days and Counting...

So TAKS testing is over, and we're in the home stretch -- summer is right around the corner! It seems like each year is going by faster and faster, but this time of year is the part that especially flies by. This summer is a big milestone for me.... I'm about to start my 5th year of teaching! I am so glad I had the courage to go through the alternative certification process and become a teacher. It definitely wasn't easy, but I love it and can't imagine myself doing anything else!

When it Rains, it Pours!

So I thought I was finished with the photo blocks for awhile, but boy was I wrong! I had a few teachers ask about them, so I brought a sample up to school for them to look at. Before I knew it, I had 12 new orders! These are much more custom than the gigantic order of 43, so this round will be MUCH more fun and much more personalized. While I'm working on those, here are a few more pics of different ones I've done:

University of Texas

Texas A&M

Texas Tech

Local Schools

Misc.

The ones I'm doing now are much more custom and not just the standard "school" theme, so I'll post those when I finish. I know what I'm doing this weekend! :)