We made it Full Term

37 Weeks Pregnant 

With just three more weeks to go and at about six and a half to seven pounds, baby Wilson is doing great. At this point we can expect her weight gain to be about half an ounce per day. Since she is considered full-term now, she would likely thrive if born today. For the next few weeks, she'll be doing a lot of practicing; inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, possibly sucking her thumb, blinking, and pivoting from side to side. Her head (which, by the way, is still growing) will, at birth, be the same size circumference as her hips, abdomen, and shoulders.

Merry Christmas

Christmas in Austin was amazing! We spent the morning at my parents house then drove to my grandmothers in Karnes City (about 2 hours away) to spend the afternoon with my aunts, uncles and cousins. The rest of the week in Austin was relaxing. We saw a movie, ate lots of Mexican food and even celebrated Andrew's birthday with some old friends. And not only was our flight home a success, we were upgraded to first class. I guess all those trips Andrew's been making to Japan are finally paying off!

Kelly & I Christmas Eve

Andrew and I Christmas Day

First Class Flight Back to Boston

36 Weeks Pregnant

Baby Developments

Baby Wilson is still packing on the pounds at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds.  She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covers her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covers and protects her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. She swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, which will form the contents of her first bowel movement.  At the end of this week, she will be considered full-term. Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks (Babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term).

Me: 36 weeks, Kelly: 28 Weeks

What are your Biggest Fears

A couple weeks ago Andrew asked me what my biggest fears are about having a baby.  I laughed and told him I didn't know where to begin. I know starting a family is going to be an amazing experience, but I'm also a realist and know there will be challenges as well.  Aside from the fear that my body will never be the same, I have to be responsible for another human being!! Andrew and I are both pretty independent with busy schedules so I was glad we took time to talk about this and how we expect things to change.

What I'm looking Forward to...

Christmas of course! This year we are spending Christmas in Texas with the Smolik's. It'll be a much shorter trip than usual as we'll only be there for 5 days vs. 10. I've read that airlines will let you fly up to 36 weeks so we're cutting it very close.  I'll be 37 weeks when we return to Boston so I'll have to keep a doctor's note with me when traveling. Good news is my Austin OB (and his entire practice) have been notified by my family that I'll be in town should anything unexpected happen. 

Happy Holidays!
A Christmas Dance by Erica & Andrew

35 Weeks Pregnant

Baby Developments

Baby Wilson doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she tips the scales at about 5 1/4 pounds. Although she's still extremely active, her movements have slowed a bit, except for when she decides to kick her foot up underneath my ribcage! Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete.  These last few weeks she'll focus on continuing to gain weight.

Week 25: December, 13 2012

And the Count Down Begins

We only have 5 weeks left until we meet Baby Wilson, should she arrive on time. My doctor said they will let me go up to 2 weeks past my due date, but if this little one is anything like her daddy (punctual in every way) she'll be right on time! Now if she's like me, that's a different story. This past week I made, what I hope was, my last trip to BuyBuy Baby to finish out the necessities on our registry. I also packed my overnight bag for the hospital. Andrew has helped with a little nesting as well. He put together the pack 'n play for our bedroom which is where she will sleep for the first couple weeks.  Now we just need to make sure all those baby soothing gadgets work (swing, bouncer, humidifier, sleep sheep...).  Every night when Andrew and I brush our teeth before bed, we walk into the nursery and look all around or sit in the rocking chair, waiting in anticipation, I guess. We just can't wait to meet her!

34 Weeks Pregnant

Baby Developments

This week baby Wilson weighs about five pounds and could be as tall as 20 inches by now.  Her tiny fingernails have probably reached the tips of his fingers and getting ready for her first manicure.  Her skin is smoother than ever now that she's added on some body fat.  These layers of fat will help regulate her body temperature once she's born. This will be very important as it's already snowed here twice this year!! Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well.

Week 34: December 6, 2013

In the Holiday Spirt

Well the Christmas decorations are up and the parties have begun.  Last week we attended our favorite holiday party hosted by our Realtor here in Boston. It's a casino themed party with lots of great prizes and fun people.

Getting Ready For Baby

The nesting is FINALLY starting to kick in. This week I was able to wash my first couple loads of baby bedding, towels, clothes and I even packed my hospital bag. Andrew and I also attended a few of our parenting recommended classes such as "Parenting Preparation Education" and "Breastfeeding 101." I couldn't be more ready! 

33 Weeks Pregnant

Baby Developments

This week baby Wilson weighs a little over 4 pounds, and may grow up to a full inch over the next week! At this point her brain is coordinating breathing, sucking and swallowing. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal.  These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Week 33: November 29, 2012

Santa's Workshop Has Taken Over Our House

Christmas is by far my favorite time of year. Evey year, Andrew and I pick out our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving and have everything decorated within hours.... usually. Well suddenly pregnancy exhaustion has come full circle. Lately I haven't' been motivated to finish the decorating or to put away the shower gifts. For every ornament I put on the Chrismas tree, I think to myself, I'm going to have to take this down and wrap it up just 2 weeks before I'm due. Poor Andrew is living in Santa's workshop full of baby toys, shipping boxes and Christmas decor scattered about. I really hope the nesting desire kicks in soon. Only 7 more weeks until we become a family of 3.


Looking Forward To...

Finishing setting up the nursery. This weekend my goal is to finalize the window treatments, put on the bedding and set up/organize a few of the other gifts we've received. I'm also looking forward to my 34 week check up next week. It's always fun to hear her heartbeat and learn the progress she's made.