Our baby girl this week - 30 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. 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.)"

I'm so excited!! Isn't it time for her to get here yet!!!

Here is a pic of what our baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy.

Latest and greatest

All, just an update on what's been going on the last few weeks. We had the baby shower on July 1st (pics to be posted soon). Then on July 4th Mark Jan and I met up in Holland for a visit with family and friends and for a wedding (Bas and Nathalie, Bas was the blonde groomsman in our wedding). The wedding was beautiful and also my first Dutch wedding! boy are they long! haha. We had a blast though at the wedding, and also hanging with family, and visiting friends like Gjalt, Gerreke, and Martijn (Gerreke and Martijn got hitched not too long ago!!). Once back in the states I got sick. Doc said it was a respiratory infection (did i spell that right?) and today is the first day I've felt normal all week. I didn't go to work all week either. It was that bad. So bad actually that Mark Jan and I realized it's the sickest I've been since we've been together. But don't fret, the baby is just fine. No harm done. We saw the doc on Monday and all is well. We will see her again in about a week and a half. We are at the point now that we have to see her every 2 weeks instead of once a month. And at 32 weeks I get another ultra sound so I get to take a peek at the little girl one more time before she heads our way. Well that's about it. check back soon for shower pics and an update of tummy pics (little late with this one but i think we can let me slide right? hehe)

Our baby girl this week - 29 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about half a pound more than he did last week (about 2 1/2 pounds total) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester."

Looks like the baby will be sucking nutrients from me big time from now on. So if i'm super tired and eating like a cow, blame it on her!! haha

Here is a pic of what our baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy.

Our baby girl this week - 28 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"By this week, your baby weighs a little over 2 pounds and measures almost 15 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open and close her eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing, but it won't be long before she's batting those beauties at you."

Here is a pic of what our baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy.

Our baby girl this week - 27 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"Your baby is really starting to get big. This week he weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He now sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on."

We are off to Holland this weekend for Bas and Nathalie's wedding. We will see family and friends. I'm excited we'll be able to share a small bit of the pregnancy with them!!

Here is a pic of what our baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy.

Our baby girl this week - 26 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"Your baby now weighs a little less than 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches. Her weight will more than triple between now and birth as she rapidly puts on baby fat. She'll need that fat to help adjust to colder temperatures outside the womb and as a source of energy and calories in the first days of life. It's not uncommon for newborns, especially those who are breastfed, to lose weight (sometimes as much as 10 percent of their birth weight) in the first week after birth."

Here is a pic of what our baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy.

The Ever Growing Belly

June 20, 2007 (24 weeks)



May 16, 2007 (20 weeks...half way!!)


April 15, 2007 (16 weeks)



March 17, 2007 (12 weeks)

Our baby girl this week - 25 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for a more rounded one. As your baby gains weight, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more like a mini newborn. His hair is probably recognizable now in color and texture, although both may change after he's born."

I can feel the baby move all the time now. Especially when I'm laying down. The dr was right on the money. 3 to 4 weeks and there she was kicking and punching! It feels pretty cool actually!

Here is a pic of what our baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy.

Photos of mommy and baby room from 6-11-07

Brandi and i decided to take some pictures this weekend. The first one you can see how Mark Jan's painting job came out. We LOVE it! So now we just need all the rest of the stuff to go in there! hehe
Here are the pics...

Our baby girl this week - 24 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes for a pretty lean figure, but her body's filling out proportionally. Your baby's brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds may be working now. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily. Your baby can hear more now, and you may even notice her startle at loud, sudden noises. But she's probably getting used to the regular noises she hears around the house, such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner."

So the doctors and all the baby sites count in weeks. but most normal people count in months. this becomes tricky because when you count in weeks there are 40 of them which equals 10 months. but we all know its supposed to take 9 months not 10! So I'm 24 weeks this week which I guess translates into 5 & 1/2 months. thats pretty far! at least it seems futher when you count in months rather than the weeks. hehe

Here is a pic of what our baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy.

Our baby girl this week - 23 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. He may be able to feel your movements now, so put on some tunes and dance around the house. No matter what race your baby is, he looks red now due to blood vessels showing through his transparent skin. His true skin tone will develop over the course of his first year. Blood vessels in your baby's lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing, but complete lung development will take many more months. The lungs are the last organ to fully develop."

I finally felt our little girl move on Saturday at my nieces' dance recital. she started kicking for a good 30 seconds. Mark Jan and my brother both got to feel it with their hand on the top of my tummy. Then on Tuesday night, I didn't feel anything, but happened to be looking down at my tummy and you could see her wiggling around in there. she would poke the tummy out in different places and if you pressed down on my tummy it was really hard where she was. i hope she does that again soon..that was the coolest thing EVER!!!!

Here is a pic of what our baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy.

Bumble Bee Baby Bedding (say that fast 3 times)

Yesterday Mark Jan started and finished painting the baby room. It's looking awesome so far. It's two different colors, yellow and green (matching the baby bedding we've picked out). There is a chair rail being put up today, again by the handy dandy Mark Jan, and the yellow will be above the chair rail and the green below. The furniture will get there today!!! James and Michelle (michelle is my new friend and faithful carpool buddy - james her hubby) have very generously offered to help us put the furniture together tomorrow afternoon. In return they will get to eat my fabulous hamburgers. haha. I'm thinking the boys will do most of the work while us girls "supervise". Afterall we have experience (both supervisors at work!!). Then all that will be left is the bedding which we've picked out and registered for and are just waiting to see if it shows up as a shower gift. If not, then we'll buy it and set it all up probably in July or August sometime. I can't wait!! Here is a quick look at the bedding we picked out. It's so soft!! We also registered for most of the other things in the picture like the paintings, shelf, mobile, etc. Did I mention we're totally psyched!!

Our baby girl this week - 22 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out. Your baby's eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks some pigment. Your baby's lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. You won't actually see her first tooth until she's around 4 to 7 months old, unless she's one of the rare babies who are born with teeth."

WEIRD....there are babies born WITH teeth already out!?!?! Did NOT know that!

Here is a pic of what our baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy. And I still can't feel the little girl moving around... Few more weeks.

Doctor Visit

Went to the doctor today to get the "results" of the ultrasound that I had last week. Other than telling us it's a girl, there was a purpose to the ultrasound. They wanted to make sure she had all the correct parts and that everything was working correctly and in the right place. Doctor said everything came back normal and that there was nothing to report basically. so thats a load off! also, she said that because of the placenta being right there in front, i probably won't feel the baby for another month. so i'm kick free for another 4 weeks it seems. from watching brandi squirm from her little boy's movements, something tells me that not feeling her isn't a bad thing. haha. summary...baby girl is healthy and active and growing and waiting to be born!

oh and i found out today, my doctor is pregnant as well! haha. this will be her second. as far as i can tell it should have no impact on delivering our baby, so i'm not worried right now.

love to all and till next time....

Our baby girl this week - 21 WEEKS

From Babycenter.com....

"Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth. Your baby is really on the move now. Fetal researchers say babies move about 50 times an hour even while sleeping. All that movement helps stimulate your baby's physical and mental development. You may not notice 50 kicks, punches, and twirls during the day, but as you're settling down at night, don't be surprised if your little guy seems ready to dance the night away. "

Last week when I went to the doctor, they said she weighed 12 ounces and was 10 inches long. So it seems she is on the same track with babycenter in terms of length and maybe just a tiny bit ahead on weight.

Here is a pic of what a baby might look like at this point in the pregnancy. Don't worry, she'll have a much bigger room when she comes out of there!

Also, you can see from the picture that the placenta is in between the baby and the tummy. The doctor said that positioning and that the placenta may be thicker right there is why I can't feel the baby yet. The placenta is acting as a cushion. So the baby kicks and punches it, yet I feel nothing! I'm sure that won't last much longer though.

And the belly grows on....

March 17, 2007 (12 weeks)


April 15, 2007 (16 weeks)


May 16, 2007 (20 weeks...half way!!)

It's a girl!

These are sonogram pictures taken on May 14th. 1 day shy of the big 20 week mark. Enjoy!

Look at the pointy nose like mommy... and that little circle above my tummy is my knee!



And daddy's long legs (crossed at the ankles)....





My legs are so long i look like a pretzel...







at the very end you can see me gulping amniotic fluid...a little taste of what my parents can expect - an open mouth!!!

First Blog

Ok all. This is my attempt to create an easy to update, informative, and pleasing to the eye webspace so we can share info about the baby and other things going on in the life of Mark Jan, Lisa, and baby! More to come.....