39 week ultrasound

So at our last appointment on Friday I was measuring big and my doctor was worried about how big the baby was getting. So she sent us for another ultrasound.

We got it done yesterday. A baby at 39 weeks is pretty scrunched up in there so it was hard to tell what a lot of the body parts were. She confirmed he is definitely a boy and gave us a couple of pictures of the face and profile. The one on the left is the face looking at us. I pointed to the eyes, nose and mouth. Just the right eye is really visible, the left seems to be in the shadow. The picture on the right is the profile. You can clearly make out the little nose, but the mouth is kind of odd because there's some of the umbilical cord or some bubbles or something right in front of it. We did get to see him move and he is doing well practicing his breathing. All in all, the technician said everything looks good. He is in the 66th percentile for size which puts him right at 8 pounds at 39 weeks. So we'll just have to see how much longer we wait as to how much bigger he gets. We go back to my doctor on Wednesday to discuss the results and see what she wants to do.

38 weeks

Just when you thought I couldn't get any bigger...

37 weeks

37 weeks on Sunday (7/18). Less than 3 weeks until the due date.

This weekend we worked like crazy on the nursery and the house for our Austin baby shower. We've still got some to do on the nursery, but the shower was great. We got a ton of much needed baby stuff! Thank you everyone!

We're planning to finish up the nursery this week, take inventory of all our wonderful gifts, then head to the baby stores for the final things we'll need to get ready for Britton. Then hopefully we'll have a few days of quiet time before the baby is here!

36 weeks

This weekend we went out to Lake LBJ and stayed at The Ruehlman's lake house with a big group. We went out on the boat and just took it easy. Pretty fabulous.

Otherwise we're just working like crazy on the nursery. Painting should be finished on Thursday just in time to move in the furniture and decorate. Nothing like a little procrastination, right?

35 weeks

5 weeks to go! We start weekly doctor appointments next week. My feet are swollen beyond recognition these days and they only go down slightly in the morning. I went to my first La Leche League meeting the other day. It's an organization that supports breast feeding. I'm also starting to feel my first little contractions (which is completely normal at this point).

Britton is now approximately 5 1/2 lbs this week, but the estimates are a little less accurate now as babies take on their own growth patterns these last few weeks (this is where genes kick in and make them gain a little faster or slower). Ryan and I were both above average size babies (or I would have been had I been full term) so it's likely he'll at least be a little big. And the last time at the doctor, after she had felt him to see how he was laying and measured my belly, she asked me about this. I asked her why she wondered and she wouldn't really give me more than a 'oh just curious'. So I'm not sure if he feels big or what. I am still measuring normally.

34 weeks

33 Weeks

Britton is now 5 lbs and up to 20 inches long. He's turning into a real baby! 7 weeks to go on 6/20!

After our fabulous shower, we have all kinds of great things to put in his room! And a whole library of precious books. Now if we can just get the window installed and the room painted, we'll be ready to go :)

After the shower

As soon as we got back to Austin, we carried everything in the house and Ryan wanted to see it all. I went back to change clothes and get ready for bed and when I came out he was reading the instructions and practicing using the Moby wrap (it's a baby carrier). He then tried on the front to back carrier as well. He's very excited.

For those who didn't hear, our name will be Ryan Britton Joyce. And we'll call him Britton.

Commerce Shower

Over Father's Day Weekend we had a shower in Commerce. It was so cute, and we received a ton of great gifts. We're so lucky to have so many great hometown friends!

31 Weeks

31 down, 9 to go! Can you believe how big I am? I wore the turquoise sweater to work, but we figured you couldn't get the full effect of the belly with the sweater on.

The doctor confirmed at our appointment last week that Baby J is already head down and probably won't completely reposition again, so we're in good shape there. I've started going to prenatal yoga to help my hips and back loosen up as things are getting pretty uncomfortable these days. And my feet are officially a size larger. But otherwise, we are doing great!

30 Weeks

Excuse the picture. This was before makeup in the morning, but Ryan was leaving so I wanted to get a pic before we forgot. 30 weeks down, 10 to go! He's 18 inches and a little over 3 lbs this week. Baby's growth will slow now as his brain, lung, nervous system, etc development kick into high gear.

28 Weeks

Baby J is now 3 lbs and 17 inches long (according to my books, the doctor hasn't measured that or anything). She is measuring my belly, and it is a little big right now, so he may actually be bigger than that currently. Countdown is 12 weeks!

On Sunday we went to our childbirth education class. Pretty graphic, but informative. Talked about relaxation and effacement and epidurals and toured the hospital. Then, we went to the doctor on Monday and had the gestational diabetes screening test (you just drink this juice that is like orange triaminic) and then they take blood to test your insulin and blood sugar, etc. Results are pending.

Like the big pile of baby stuff we're collecting in the office (the piles of stuff behind me in the close-up belly photo)? :)

27 weeks

So Mother's Day came and went. I got an iphone! And now that I have a camera again, I'm going to turn over a new leaf and start updating this thing.

We're now at 27 weeks. They say I'm now carrying a basketball, though I feel bigger.

We've now officially begun the 3rd trimester. 13 weeks to go and counting!

South Padre Trip

We went to South Padre and stayed in my company's condo for the weekend. Went fishing and layed by the pool. Pretty uneventful trip, but fun to relax for a couple of days.

Baby Boy Joyce

Our first pictures of Baby Boy Joyce. We have a video tape (yes, our high technology perinatologist only records on good old VHS tapes), so we'll have to find somewhere that can put if on a DVD for us. I think this is a picture of the bottom of his little foot. This one is much more clear. It's his little profile. And for anyone who is still not sure, the ultrasound technician circled the little boy parts. In this one, he is laying on his back, the head is to the left in the photo and his legs are folded up in front of him.