One month

Weight: 7 lbs 14 oz

Length: 20.5"

Clothing size: Newborn

Diaper size: Newborn

Eating: Caleb takes 2.5 oz of breast milk with half scoop of formula seven times per day.

Sleeping: Caleb sleeps 4-5 hours at a time during the night and usually has to be woken up to eat. We haven't really been able to establish a consistent daytime nap schedule because of all the doctors' appointments. He usually falls asleep in the car when we're going to/from appointments, though.

Highlight of the month: Caleb left the NICU and went home on November 5th. He was there for ten days.

I'm back!

So much has happened since my last post. I will try to get this blog up to speed over the course of the next few days. For now, though, I leave you with some photos of the little guy who has been consuming my time lately.

38 weeks

My induction was scheduled for Monday, October 29th, but we found out a week before that there was a scheduling error at the hospital. I got rescheduled for Friday, October 26th, so that put my delivery date at exactly 38 weeks. I didn't take time to write down all of the "weekly milestone" answers that day, but here are a few...

Total weight gain: 18.8 lbs

Belly button - in or out: It stayed in!

Stretch marks: No stretch marks!

The photo was taken in Caleb's nursery before we went to the hospital. My labor/delivery story is coming next...

36 weeks

Gender: Boy

How big is baby: At my ultrasound on Tuesday, Caleb’s estimated weight was 5lbs, 9oz.

Total weight gain: 16.6 lbs

Maternity clothes: The weather is cooling down some, but I refuse to buy any more maternity clothes. I’ve been wearing maternity skinny jeans, maternity tank tops, and non-maternity cardigan. I’ve been going through my non-maternity fall clothes and have found a few things that are large enough to fit.

Belly button - in or out: It’s still in!

Stretch marks: I still don’t have any stretch marks!

Movement: Caleb is still very active, even though he’s running out of room. My doctor got quite a laugh about how much he was moving, while she was trying to listen to his heart beat during my appointment on Wednesday.

Food cravings: My favorite snack this week has been honeycrisp apples and peanut butter.

Food aversions: I’m still avoiding milk.

Baby items purchased: I ordered a diaper bag and a few other things that we didn’t receive at any of the baby showers.

Gifts received: We had our final shower on Friday and received several wonderful gifts from the ladies in our Sunday School class.

Labor Signs: The contractions seem to be further apart than they were over the last couple weeks. They now tend to be about 30 minutes apart. At this point, my doctor is fine with me having them and doesn’t want me to take any Brethine to make them stop.

Milestones: When I was at the hospital having so many contractions three weeks ago, we decided that our goal was to make it to 36 weeks. I’m so glad we’ve made it this far.

What I am looking forward to: I’m scheduled to be induced on October 29th, if Caleb doesn’t decide to arrive sooner.  I will be 38 weeks, 3 days at that point.

34 weeks

Gender: boy

How big is baby: Approx 17.75 inches and about 4.75 lbs.

Total weight gain: 15.4 lbs

Maternity clothes: I have three pairs of maternity jeans, but only one pair is still comfortable.

Belly button - in or out: It's still in, but it's so shallow.

Wedding ring - on or off: I'm not even attempting to put my wedding ring on, but I wear my fake ring everyday.

Stretch marks: None!

Movement: Caleb is still pretty active.

Baby items purchased: We bought a four-door sedan on Saturday. There was no way we were going to try to mess with getting a car seat in/out of Brad's old two-door coupe.

Gifts received: We had a shower with friends last Friday evening and one at Brad's office yesterday. Caleb now has so many clothes, socks, and shoes!

Labor Signs: When I went to the hospital for a NST last Saturday morning, I found out that what I thought might be Braxton-Hicks were the real deal. I was given an injection of Brethine to relax my uterus and slow the contractions. The contractions intensified that evening, and I went back to the hospital. Brad and I spent four hours there. I got another Brethine injection, as well as a prescription for Brethine tablets to take at home. I had my cervix checked, and I was less than 1cm dilated... good news! I also had a biophysical profile done, and Caleb scored perfectly! On Monday, my doctor told me to quit working and go on bed rest. I finished out the work day and have been taking it easy since Tuesday. My next NST was on Tuesday afternoon. I was still having some contractions, and Caleb's heart rate was dropping during them. I got steroid injections on Tuesday and Wednesday to help his lungs develop. we're preparing for our little guy to come early.

Memorable moment this week: See "labor signs" above.

What I am looking forward to: Even though I'm on bed rest, my doctor is going to let me make the two hour drive to my hometown for a baby shower tomorrow.

32 weeks

Gender: Boy

How big is baby: Approx 16.7 inches and about 3.75 lbs.

Total weight gain: 17.8 lbs

Maternity clothes: Everything I wear is maternity, except for a few dresses and workout clothes.

Belly button - in or out: In, but it’s very shallow.

Wedding ring - on or off: I can get my ring on and off, but it’s difficult.  I was afraid that one day I wouldn’t be able to get it off, so I bought an inexpensive ring at Macy’s and wear it most days now.

Stretch marks: Still no stretch marks!

Symptoms: My lower back and hips are starting to ache a little, and I got sick once this week.

Movement: Caleb is still very active.  Sometimes I ask him to give me a little break, but he doesn’t seem to care.  

Gifts received: We received a Target gift card from one of Brad’s cousins.  

What I miss: Sleeping on my back... I really don’t like sleeping on my left side all the time.

Memorable moment this week: A lady sitting beside me at Bible study asked how many kids I have. I told her that my first is due in 8 weeks. She said, "Oh. I saw all the snacks in your bag and assumed that you must have small children". I replied, "Nope. Those are my pregnancy snacks."

What I am looking forward to: Our first baby shower is this Sunday!

30 weeks

Gender: Boy

How big is baby: Approx 15.7 inches and about 2.75 lbs.

Total weight gain: 16.6 lbs

Maternity clothes: Most of my t-shirts don’t fit now, so I’ve started raiding Brad’s closet for a few larger t-shirts to wear around the house.

Belly button - in or out: It’s still in, but barely!

Wedding ring - on or off: I can still get my ring on in the morning, but it’s really tough to take off in the evening.

Stretch marks: None!

Symptoms: My back (mainly on the right side) is pretty sore by the end of the day.

Movement: Caleb moves around all the time.  I think he take naps during yoga, but he’s active again within 5-10 minutes of class being over.

Baby items purchased: We ordered the crib mattress and some artwork for the nursery walls.

Memorable moment this week: A little boy at Hotter ‘n Hell Hundred asked “What’s wrong with your tummy?”  That’s probably the funniest pregnancy question I’ve been asked.

What I am looking forward to: My doctor will be out of the office next week, so I’ll see the PA at my appointment on Wednesday.  Getting to hear Caleb’s heartbeat at the appointments never gets old to me, and I always look forward to it!