Christmas and new baby photos!

Hi Everyone! Jan here taking a turn at updating the blog. Well, we had a wonderful Christmas weekend. We spent Xmas eve with our friends, Julie, Johnny and their 1-yr old Sawyer. We had some good food and some great wine. For Xmas dinner we were with Rachel, Brian, their 6-month old Willow, Brian's dad Wido, and the Gunshors. Another great meal and great friends. All the socializing aside, I really enjoy the basics of Xmas the most. For us Koorns this means getting up early and taking a few hours to open presents. This year for whatever reason that meant getting up at 5:30am. Kelly made a wonderful strata for breakfast (bread, egg, prosciutto bake...) and while that was cooking we made our way through the pile of presents.

I have to say that we took it easy on the gifts for one another this year but more than made up for it with gifts for Kelly's belly. Kelly got me a nice new pair of jeans (casual Jan) and a very nice cashmere sweater (dress up Jan). In turn I got my pregnant wife a new vacuum cleaner. It sounds worse when you read it... but she really did want a new one. Our personal gifts aside the bulk of the gifts were related to baby which was just fine with us. My favorite were the books. Arie got us a kid's book by Barack Obama - A Letter to My Daughters. While intended for older kids it is a great exploration of some of the Americans that helped shape this country. Kelly got some flash cards with letters and animals with the corresponding first letter in their name. She also bought me a book called Daddy Hugs... definitely a book meant to be read and experienced while reading. Looking forward to that one. I bought a few Dr. Seuss books - Green Eggs and Ham (probably because I was hungry when I ordered) and Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? (which tells of unfortunate souls of the universe such as poor Harry Haddow who can't make a shadow! Yikes!). We also received several more baby items which I won't detail here.

So, that was our Xmas weekend. Fun and gift-filled as to be expected. But, even with all of those presents we received an even greater gift today... we got to see our little girl! 33 weeks we were checking in to see how she was growing - she's at the 51st % for size at this week and weighs approximately 4lbs 6oz. A good healthy weight. Everything else with her is very healthy. Her heart rate was a steady and mature 145 which is a little lower than 150+ of the early days. We got to see her ultrasound too. She is in the right position head down and even has a foot up that she likes to stick in Kelly's ribs. Brain is big and beautiful and as the doctor said "You can use this scan as photographic evidence that she does, in fact, have a brain when she does something stupid when she's a teen." Below are two photos, one profile and one in 3D. I think she is looking a little more like Kelly now, but you really can't read too much into these scans except that... well... she's perfect. But that's just a Dad talking. Love you all!

Merry Christmas To All!

Instead of posting pictures of me & this growing belly for a change, I'm including some better views for this week's post: Jan & Gary, one of our four-legged babies, enjoying a little play time; our Christmas tree; and one of my stocking, which as you can see is sporting a teeny stocking on the side, much like I am sporting a little extra person on the side these days!

I had a checkup last week and am happy to report all's well with me & the baby. We both have healthy normal heart rates and my uterus is measuring exactly where it should at this point. Interestingly, the uterus should measure approximately the same number of centimeters from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus as you are far along in number of weeks pregnant - so for me last week at 31 weeks I measured right on at 31 cm. Additionally the doctor could tell just by feeling my uterus that the baby is in a head-down position, where she will likely stay for the remainder of pregnancy. A good thing since that's the position she needs to be in for labor & delivery! We have an ultrasound appointment next week, and Jan & I are both so excited to get to see the baby again, for what may be the last time until she's really here.

We're looking forward to celebrating Christmas this weekend celebrated by friends continuing traditions we've shared in the last few years. On Christmas Eve we'll have dinner with Julie & Johnny & Sawyer, then we'll spend Christmas morning just the two of us opening presents, and later Christmas dinner with Rachel & Brian & Willow. We hope all of you have happy celebrations, wherever you are and whoever you're spending the holidays with. Lots of love! Kelly & Jan

Your Baby in Week 32 of Pregnancy
What's up with your baby? She's starting to get ready for her big debut, tipping the scales at almost four pounds and topping out at just about 19 inches. In these past few weeks, it's all about practice, practice, practice as she hones the skills she'll need to thrive outside the womb — from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. And speaking of sucking, your little one has been able to suck her thumb for a while now. Something else to note: As more and more fat accumulates under your baby's skin, she's becoming less transparent and more opaque. See what baby looks like this week.

9 Weeks & Counting!

When I first realized I was pregnant, I was something like six weeks along. With 40 weeks total of pregnancy, thinking I had 34 weeks to go made the idea of an actual BABY seem so very distant. And now here we are, today I'm 31 weeks pregnant, and counting down the remaining weeks in single digits. That BABY is getting bigger and bigger (and the kicks, rolls & punches she gives me all the time confirm that) and more & more of a reality every single day. We can't wait.

Jan & I have been talking about getting some belly shots taken of the two of us, so we can always remember this special pre-baby time in our lives, and celebrate the changes (and then some!) happening in my body. I got extra inspired for belly shots after seeing some of these examples today. Nothing says pregnant quite like a gun & a watermelon, amirite? Anyone?! (Note: sense of humor required when you check the link, please.)

What's our little Primo up to this week? Glad you asked!
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.5 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. You can expect your baby to gain at least three to five pounds, possibly more, before you two meet. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Your baby's brain is working overtime these days, developing faster than ever. Connections between individual nerve cells are growing at a frenetic clip, and your baby can now perceive information from all five senses. Sure, your baby can't smell anything right now, but that's only because he or she is still submerged in amniotic fluid and needs to be breathing air to get a whiff of anything. Lucky for you — and your baby — yours will be one of the very first scents your baby breathes in, a scent that will quickly become his or her very favorite.

Until next time! XO

Spring Gulch

Jan & I went out to Spring Gulch in Carbondale today where we enjoyed a nice long walk. Spring Gulch is a cross country ski area, but since we weren't sure how the skiing would be this early in the season we planned instead just to walk out on the road. It was great to be outdoors moving around and having quality time to talk about - what else? - the baby!

In the last few days I have been experiencing some Braxton Hicks contractions. No, not the real deal contractions, Braxton Hicks are more like practice contractions where the uterus gets really tight just for a short period of time. It's a pretty wild feeling but not anything that made me nervous or too uncomfortable. Click here to learn more about what Braxton Hicks contractions are.

We hope everyone enjoyed a great weekend & thanks for checking in! It's hard to believe Christmas is just two weeks away! Does everyone have a Christmas tree up? Who's been naughty, and who has been nice?!

30 Weeks & the Size of a Watermelon...

And I'm not talking about the baby! I read online today that "my belly is probably the size of a watermelon." The picture above confirms that one! I've said it before & I'm sure I will say it again & again in the next 10 weeks - I am very lucky that Jan loves my growing belly as much as he does. In fact it was his idea to take this picture so that we document the bump! As you can see we've got our Christmas tree up, and with all the snow we've had so far this winter we're enjoying the feeling of the holidays from inside our cozy home.

Today's milestone: I'm 30 Weeks pregnant! Jan says: If I were running a mile around a track, I would be on my last lap. It feels good to have three-fourths of pregnancy behind me and still so much to look forward to. Tonight we are taking our last pre-baby class at the hospital, an infant CPR class. Of course we hope we never have to use what we learn, but we want to be as prepared as possible for anything that comes our way.

At this point in my pregnancy I'm currently a little obsessed with watching the baby move around in my belly. It's one thing to feel the flutters, kicks & rolling around, but it's so wild to be able to really see it. The other night I had a magazine propped up on my belly, and she kicked me so hard it moved the magazine! It's so reassuring to feel and see that she is growing and getting stronger every day.

Baby's development at 30 weeks:
You baby's length is about 16 inches—about as long as a laptop computer—and she measures almost 11 inches from crown to rump. She weighs approximately 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. From now until delivery, every baby will gain weight at a more individual rate. Your baby has doubled in height over the past six weeks, and from now until delivery, she'll gain only a few more inches in length. Don't worry if she's in a strange position (what your care provider might call a "transverse lie"). There's still plenty of time for her to get settled into the head-down position for birth. She's floating in about 1 1/2 pints of amniotic fluid and has some room to move. Your baby's most important organ, her brain, continues to develop at a rapid pace. Her eyes are able to track light, and some researchers have theorized that exposing your belly to light may stimulate development. Try moving the beam of a flashlight slowly over your belly in a dim room, and see if she reacts.

Love to you all & thanks for checking in!

It's All Coming Together...

Thanks Mom for the crib!
We got a crib for the baby's room (previously our office) this week and Jan put it together yesterday. I did a bit of research looking for good cribs for petite moms after being advised by friends to keep in mind that you have to reach in to pick up / lay down the baby. I'm happy to say the crib I found via online reviews seems to be a good choice! As you can see it's waist high on me, and once I don't have this belly getting in the way I should be able to reach in pretty easily.

Week 29: Butternut Squash

I'm in the middle of week 29 today and still feeling good - a little tired, but good! I had a monthly checkup today and everything is right on track. The doctor said the baby sure is growing, and I got to hear her heartbeat, steady at around 150 bpm. At this point I will start going to the doctor every two weeks, until around week 36 when I will go for weekly checkups.

On Monday we finished our five-week long childbirth class, with the last class focusing on what to expect right after the baby is born & infant care. Jan got to practice changing a diaper - I'm happy to say he is a natural! On Tuesday night we attended a breastfeeding class at Aspen Valley Hospital, after which we were able to get a private tour of the maternity wing. As we said in a previous post, AVH remodeled the maternity wing a few years ago, and we were really impressed with what we saw on the tour which included a peek at the nursery, a labor room and a post-partum room.

The highlight of the tour: as we went in to the labor room we could hear a woman in the room next door being encouraged to push. And a few minutes later - a baby crying! It was a little emotional, realizing we were a few feet away from a baby being born and the parents' lives being changed forever. And of course knowing that will be us in a couple of months!

And now, how your baby's growing at 29 weeks:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because her bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Three Cheers for the Third Trimester!

Today marks the first day of my third trimester of pregnancy - meaning just 12 weeks to go to our due date. With the busy ski season kickoff and holiday season ahead of us, it already feels like this final trimester will go so fast. Our childbirth class comes to an end next Monday, and while we realize we don't really know what to expect when labor day comes we do feel better prepared and educated about our options (epidural, anyone?). The baby's movements are very regular now, with my bedtime being her favorite time to wake up and get moving. (As people say, she's preparing me for her inevitable nighttime feeding schedule.) Sometimes I feel her rolling around and maybe flipping over, while other times I feel some big punches & kicks! It's so reassuring to me to feel her moving in there, and Jan says he likes seeing me hold my stomach when she is moving around.

Thanksgiving in the Roaring Fork Valley looks like it's going to be a white one, with a winter storm warning, blizzard warning, an avalanche watch and high wind warnings for the Aspen area in effect for the next few days. We are grateful that we'll both be able to stay home on Thursday and enjoy a traditional turkey dinner at home with friends, and of course we're also thankful that I'm enjoying a mellow pregnancy and looking forward to the next chapter of our lives with our baby girl. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Do you have any special plans with friends or family? Add a comment, as always we'd love to hear from all of you.

A quick recap of how the baby has developed in the second trimester:
Your baby is very, very busy in the second trimester. For one thing, she's sprouting hair, her ears and eyes are moving into their correct positions, and she's starting to suck and swallow. By week 18 of pregnancy, she weighs about as much as a chicken breast, she can yawn and hiccup (so cute!), and she's got fingerprints on those tiny digits. By week 21 of pregnancy you should be able to feel her newly coordinated arms and legs give you little jabs and kicks and in week 22 of pregnancy, her developing senses start to smell, taste, see, and hear. By six months, your baby takes a cue from you and starts to pack on the pounds; in fact, she'll likely double her weight in the next four weeks. Capillaries are forming to carry blood through her body and those little eyes are starting to open. By the end of your second trimester, you'll have a two-pound human in your belly!

And what's happening in week 28:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures nearly 16 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. She's busy adding new skills such as blinking to an already impressive repertoire of tricks like coughing, sucking, hiccuping, and taking practice breaths. Your baby's sleep now includes the REM (rapid eye movement) phase — and that means she could be dreaming already (what do you suppose she's dreaming about?). Click here if you'd like to see what an in utero baby looks like at 28 weeks.

Baby on Board

Husband and father to be here - Almost done with the second trimester which, if I remember my grade school math, means there is only one trimester to go. The baby is really moving around with good consistency and today Kelly and I were even able to see (not just feel) the kicks and movements. It's pretty amazing. We also received our first major baby gift, a stroller! (Thanks Mom & Dad!) As you can see from the picture the stroller is fun looking and should be great for the neighborhood and walking around town.

Knowing that I'll have a daughter I have been looking for female role models that I can teach her about - athletes, business women, etc... So, I'd like to ask who you all, our friends and relatives, who are your favorite female role models? Please post in the comments below.

Week 26: Childbirth Class!

Above are a couple of pictures from our trip to Indiana last week. My dad showed Jan how to drive the John Deere, then Jan took some of us girls out for a hay ride. Yeehaw!

We attended our first childbirth class last night, just another step on our way to parenthood! There is only one other couple in the class, so we were able to get very helpful information from the instructor and lots of attention. I don't want to name names or embarrass anyone JAN PIETER KOORN - but someone asked a lot of great questions according to the teacher! We have three more Monday night sessions, covering everything from natural childbirth to epidurals, breastfeeding to diaper changing and more. In case you are wondering, yes, we watched "the video" and we both survived.

One thing we learned last night is that Aspen Valley Hospital delivers on average less than one baby per day. We feel very fortunate that we'll give birth there, knowing we'll get lots of attention from the staff due to such a low patient/staff ratio. The maternity wing was remodeled within the last few years, and we know from visiting friends who have had babies since the remodel just how nice the rooms are and how special all that attention makes you feel.

Primo continues her gymnastics routine both day & night, and some days I feel like she & I are both doubling in size on a daily basis! She seems to wake up & get moving right around my bedtime, making sleep a little tough for me, but worth it in that I find all of her punches & kicks reassuring. I feel so lucky carrying this little girl around with me every day, and if losing some sleep is the worst part of pregnancy I can handle it!

And now your weekly baby update:
Your baby weighs about 1 1/2 pounds and has undergone a growth spurt in the past few weeks. From weeks twenty to twenty-eight, she almost doubles in height and now would be about a foot tall if she could stand. This week marks a major milestone in your baby's hearing and sight. Your baby's hearing system (cochlea and peripheral sensory end organs), which began fine development during week eighteen, is now completely formed, and over the next few weeks, she'll become increasingly sensitive to sound. In about a month, you'll feel her jump if she hears a sudden loud noise. Sound passes easily into your uterus, which helps her ears develop. Her eyes are almost fully formed and are now beginning to open. Did you know that all babies have blue eyes in the womb, no matter what their genetic inheritance is? A baby's eyes don't get their final color until a few months after they are born. The air sacs of the lungs, called alveoli, will be developed by the end of this week and will begin to secrete a substance called surfactant that keeps the lung tissue from sticking together.

Ultra Photos!

Here are a couple of new photos from our trip to the doctor today. Everything is still healthy with her. Weight is just above average and as you can see from the photos she's quite a looker (I'm a biased of course being the proud dad!) Enjoy!

Week 25: Colts Superfans!

Thanks Mom for all the Colts gear!

We had a great time catching up with everyone in Indiana, got to see the Colts win Monday night football, and I think my baby bump went through a major growth spurt in the last week! The baby is moving so much these days, she keeps me up at night but is on the move during the day as well. Jan likes feeling those kicks & punches as much as I do, and we both feel like time is flying by and she will be here so soon. Yay!

I have an ultrasound tomorrow morning so hopefully will get some new pictures up on the blog over the weekend - so please check back!

And now your week 25 baby update:
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 begin 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. Small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths.

Milestone! Week 23

For the past six weeks or so I have been hogging feeling the baby move all to myself. That all changed this morning when Jan finally got to feel her move! (Up to this point he just hasn't been able to feel all that rolling and flipping.) I really should have him writing this week's blog post to give you his POV. All I can tell you is Primo acted up right on cue, doing a few big rolls, twists & turns just for him, then calling it a day. She is on the move lately, still no big kicks or punches, but definitely doing somersaults (and using my bladder as a trampoline) at all hours, day & night. Her ears must be burning because she is in fact rolling around as I type!

Work continues around the house as we're making room for her and getting ready to move our home office down to the guest room so that what is now our office can become the baby's room. Jan has been very busy going through stuff in the garage, and I have been very busy procrastinating about going through much of anything else. I keep thinking I have all kinds of time before the baby comes - but it really does feel like time is flying by. The next 17 weeks (or less, or more - it's not really up to us) will go quickly and she will be here before we know it! We can't wait.

For week 23 - How your baby's growing:
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, 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 — such as your dog barking cat meowing or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb. This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby's weight in the next four weeks alone should double. You have probably heard your developing baby's heartbeat through a Doppler a number of times already (though you never get tired of hearing it), but by now you can also hear it through a standard stethoscope. What a heart throb!

Week 22 - Notes From an Old Mom

Being pregnant is really a fun time and so entertaining. I get a kick out of everyone's interest and occasional expertise in this subject.

The most common questions people ask when they realize I'm pregnant: How far along are you? How are you feeling? Are you going to find out if it's a boy or a girl? I realize people are just making small talk and the answers to these questions don't matter to them nearly as much as they matter to me! And I realize now that if you've never been pregnant before those are the first things that come to mind when you find out someone is pregnant. "How are you feeling?" is well-intentioned no doubt, but after answering it so frequently I feel like saying that I'm pregnant - not sick - and feeling pretty good thank you! The two don't necessarily go hand in hand.

There are other funny things people say to you when you're pregnant. Like the midwife who told me at my first prenatal appointment not to be too worried about how short I am, there's still a good chance I can have a natural delivery (huh?!). Or my friend who told me the reason I didn't have any morning sickness is because I'm an old mom (for the record, the books & websites all refer to it as "advanced maternal age" - and I'm not sure which of those labels I prefer!). Everyone has a theory about why you should or shouldn't find out the sex of the baby. People you barely know want to know what baby names you're considering - as if we'd give up our favorite name ideas to coworkers or casual acquaintances. When people ask what our due date is, and I say February 15, everyone - and I mean EVERYONE - says "Ooooh you might have a Valentine's baby!" Is that a thing? I mean would we be excited if it was on Valentine's Day? I guess these people would be, but personally I think it could really jinx our poor girl to saddle her with a Valentine's birthday.

As grandparents-to-be, aunts/uncles/cousins-to-be, whatever your relationship to Primo, Jan & I wonder what kind of conversations you are having about the baby? Have you gotten any strange/funny/unusual advice or anecdotes? Reply in the comments or if it's easier send us an email! We'd love to hear how you are anticipating her arrival and what you're hearing or saying about Baby Koorn!

And now your week 22 baby update:
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 even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her eyes have formed, but her irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her body and the deep wrinkles on her skin, which she'll sport until she adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside her belly, her pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily. Blood is traveling through the umbilical cord at four miles an hour, fueling her growth with oxygen and nutrients.

20 Weeks Down, 20 To Go!

Hi everyone, just a quick 20-week update before the weekend. By now you all know the bun in our oven is a girl (or if you didn't, you do now!). We've been having a lot of fun going through the alphabet coming up with potential girl names, thinking about nursery decor and wondering if we'll put her on skis or a snowboard & how soon. Jan of course can't wait to teach her to ride a bike.

Indian summer continues in the Rockes, with daytime highs close to 80 and lows in the 40s. Ideal weather for hiking & biking & playing outdoors! Jan has been doing some night mountain bike rides with the guys to get warmed up for 24 Hours of Moab (which is next weekend, October 9-10) and I've been hiking just about every day. We anticipate doing more of the same this weekend & hope you are also enjoying some good weather.

And now your baby update for Week 20:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against her torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to her bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, she's measured from head to toe.) If you're having a girl, her uterus is now fully formed and her ovaries are holding about seven million primitive eggs.

Curious what it's like to be 20 weeks pregnant?
Now that you’re at the midpoint of your pregnancy (20 weeks down, 20 more to go!), that little cantaloupe in your belly is becoming more of a reality as you feel her movements and draw smiles from passersby who see your baby bump. You might also be noticing that your nails are stronger (though they could also turn dry and brittle) and your hair (all over your body) is thicker and fuller than usual — all thanks to pregnancy hormones and increased circulation, which furnish extra nutrients to hair and nail cells. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on.

Have a great weekend & check back next week to see what's happening in week 21! XO

Thanks to those of you who participated in last week's poll asking what you want Primo to be, boy or girl. 3 out of 4 readers are hoping for a girl, and that's what we're getting! Jan & I are very excited that we're having a daughter and look forward to spending the next 20 weeks trying out girl names and picking out items for her nursery.

For now we are still calling her Primo - the nickname stuck! - but we are curious if any of you have name ideas you'd like us to consider. If you do please add a comment to this blog post below with your ideas! We have a couple of favorites in mind for now, although we won't reveal any until we have a baby in February. We really would love to hear your suggestions.

We have enjoyed some gorgeous weather this last week while on vacation. Pictures in today's post are from a hike up to the Hunter Creek Valley above Aspen on Friday and a cruiser bike ride down to Carbondale this afternoon. As you can see, my belly is filling out - I am definitely pregnant!

What's baby up to at 19 weeks?
Your baby is between five and six inches long and weighs about seven ounces—about the size of an apple. If the baby is a girl, early ovaries contain follicles with forming eggs. Soon, half of the genetic material for your potential future grandchildren will be formed. Pictures of babies at this age show them touching the membrane of the amniotic sac, touching their own faces, reaching for the umbilical cord, pedaling their legs, and sucking their thumbs. Your baby may already have a preference for the left or right hand. In the brain, areas of the nerve cells that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing are becoming specialized and are forming more complex connections. Loud sounds as well as any feelings you may have of stress or alarm may be communicated to the baby. The baby responds to these stresses by becoming more active. Practicing yoga and meditation can be good for your sense of calm and balance.

Don't forget to enter your favorite girl names in the comments! Lots of love to you all - XO

A Husband's POV

Hi family, friends and fans. Jan here - I wanted to do the next blog post so here you go. This was only the second appointment I've been to through out the pregnancy so it's exciting just to be a part of it. I find the scientific side of these appointments just as exciting as the emotional part. The view of the baby, the measurement tools, etc... all give the parents-to-be such a great idea of the health of the baby is shaping up as well as... you guessed it... the sex of the baby. Before, in ancient times, the sex of the baby was only discovered at the time of birth. Now we have the opportunity to know if it will be a he or a she months before they arrive. Kelly and I decided that we did in fact want to know what we were having so after the appointment we had the doctor write it down for us and put it in a envelop for us to open later (which we did over a nice Italian dinner). While the sex was kept a secret throughout the appointment, we did find out that the health of the baby was perfect (whew!).

All the measurements indicated a healthy baby. The one that stuck out as a little different was the length of the arm, which was a tad on the long side. In my head, I was thinking "Perfect. Extra reach will give a nice kick to a tennis serve. Or it will give extra pulling power in the pool." The other thing that was fun to see was the movement of the baby... Primo was going crazy in there showing off for us. I'm really surprised that Kelly can't feel that activity.

Anyway, here are a few shots from the screening. The first shows the profile: What do you think? Boy profile or girl profile? The second shows the sole of the baby's foot... pretty darn cute huh?

Thank you all for participating in the gender poll last week. The results are in and it looks like the majority of you, like us, are eager to find out if it's going to be a little Primo or a little Prima. We'll keep you all posted if & when we decide to find out!

The big news this week is that I'm starting to feel the baby moving! So far I haven't felt any real kicks or punches, it's more like a distinct fluttery movement in my abdomen. When I feel it I can just imagine our tiny little baby swimming around in there! Jan can't wait for these movements to be strong enough for him to feel too - looks like he'll have to wait at least a month though as the baby is still too small for movements to be detected by anyone but me. Lucky me!

We're planning a much-needed staycation next week. We're not setting up the nursery just yet (for those of you who think I'm an overplanner - surprisingly - I'm not planning it yet) but we hope to clean things up in anticipation of making room for Primo later this winter. In addition we're both really looking forward to being out of the office, offline, and enjoying some vacation time right here in our own backyard!

And now for your weekly baby update:
At 18 weeks, your baby is about 5 to 5 1/2 inches long from top to tail and weighs a little more than five ounces, about the size of a lobster tail. While in earlier weeks, your baby may have been able to sense sound with her primitive ear structures, this week, the bones of the ear become fully formed along with the part of her brain that processes signals from his ears. There's still plenty of room in your uterus, so your fetus can be quite active with her new muscles. She may change positions frequently, cross her legs, recline, suck her thumb, and turn somersaults. Her retinas have become light sensitive, and your baby may be able to detect a glow if you shine bright lights at your belly (even though her eyelids are sealed).

Take a Hike!

I am 17 weeks pregnant today and still feeling good. I have been hiking a lot, and even getting Jan to give up some bike rides and join me on a few great hikes. Saturday we hiked Red Hill, a quick loop close to home, and Sunday we hiked up to Savage Lakes above Basalt - something like 6 miles roundtrip and most of that was above 10,000 feet in elevation. It was very windy + very cloudy = very chilly! But it's a nice hike to some alpine lakes, we packed a picnic lunch and made a day of it. Great views of the valley from up high!

We have our next ultrasound appointment in about two weeks. At that appointment we will be able to find out the sex of the baby, if we choose. In talking to our friends & coworkers, it's very obvious that people have strong opinions on this subject! Some people say there aren't many big surprises in life (I disagree with that, BTW) and that we should wait until the baby is born to find out. Or that the anticipation of finding out is what gets you through those final weeks. Other people say pregnancy and babies offer up enough surprises, and recommend finding out so that you can plan at least mentally on having a son or a daughter. And that knowing boy or girl lets you narrow down your name choices.

We want to know what you think! Please participate in our poll on the right - should we find out the sex of the baby? We'll post results next week.

And now, for the weekly baby update:

Baby's now the size of an onion!
Your baby weighs 5 ounces now, and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. His umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes now feature one-of-a-kind prints. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop. Your baby's eyes (which have fortunately finished their migration to the front of her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed. And here's some proof that your baby is truly one of a kind. Within the next week or so, the pads on his fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints).

Bump Watch

Here we go!

Sixteen Weeks - Twenty Four To Go!

Hi everyone! Jan & I don't have a lot going on this week so I'm going to let the baby's growth do the talking for this post. I changed some settings on the blog so anyone should be able to post comments now - optional of course but have at it if you like! We'd love to hear from you. Keep in touch & have a great Labor Day weekend! XO

Week 16 of Pregnancy: Fetal Development This Week

Listen up: Tiny bones in your fetus's ears are in place this week, making it likely that the baby can hear your voice when you're speaking (or singing in the shower) at 16 weeks pregnant. In fact, studies have found that babies who are sung to while they're in the womb recognize the same tune when it's sung to them after they are born (so choose your baby Muzak with that in mind).

And baby's busily boning up in other ways. For one, the backbone (along with the back muscles) is stronger now — strong enough, in fact, to enable your baby to work on straightening his or her head and neck even more. Baby's crown-to-rump measurement is between four and five inches in length, and weight is hovering around three ounces.

This little one's a looker — with a face that has both eyebrows and eyelashes — but a skinny looker since there's no baby fat yet. And here's the skinny on baby skin: It's practically translucent now, so if you took a peek inside your uterus, you'd be able to see your baby's blood vessels under that thin skin.

How your baby's growing:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Fun Second Trimester Fact:
Your baby will be 32 times heavier by the end of the second trimester than it was at the beginning. It will go from weighing in at a mere 1 ounce to tipping the scales at 2 pounds. If a newborn grew at the same rate, she'd weigh about 240 pounds by the time she was three months old!

15 Weeks - 176 Days To Go!

One week in to the second trimester and things are going really well! It seems everything I've read about the second trimester being the "honeymoon of pregnancy" - where you get your energy back and start feeling like your old self - is true. I've definitely had more energy and am not feeling as tired as I was in the first trimester. I feel very lucky to be feeling this good!

Jan & I hiked up Aspen Mountain this past weekend to meet some friends for Bluegrass Sundays. This hike takes you up more than 3,000 vertical feet in about 2 1/2 miles and there is not one flat step along the way - it's a real grunt! I felt pretty good about myself for doing it while pregnant (pats self on back), and Jan kept himself motivated knowing there would be lunch & cold beers at the top.

Those of you who know me well may know that I'm typically pretty doctor-phobic, and of course, pregnancy is no time for being doctor-phobic! So far I've had a handful of various appointments, have been poked, prodded, had blood drawn, and seen the baby via three ultrasounds. It's all worth it when we get to see the baby moving around! We got good news today that everything was normal with the first trimester screen blood work, one of many tests along the way. I've got more blood work to look forward to next week, and another ultrasound in week 19. We'll have more pictures of the growing baby after that ultrasound.

Wonder what Primo is up to this week?

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). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds.

We can't wait to feel all of that movement - something to look forward to anywhere between weeks 16-20!

...and we're back!

Hello everyone!

Jan & I thought having a baby on the way was a great reason to resurrect the short-lived blog - and this time actually keep it up. It's an easy way to let everyone know what we're up to, how the pregnancy is going, and what the baby is up to.

As Jan said in his email last week, we've affectionately nicknamed the baby Primo, meaning first in Italian. It's a little more personal than saying "the baby" or "it" all the time. Primo may just turn out to be a Prima - time will tell!

At 14 weeks, Primo is now approximately the size of a lemon. Pretty impressive considering when I realized I was pregnant the baby was about the size of an appleseed! At 14 weeks:

Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth.

I'm just starting my second trimester and still feeling pretty good - no morning sickness at all, mostly very tired. They call the second trimester, when you get your energy back and feel like yourself again, the honeymoon period of pregnancy. I'm waiting for things to be that good!

I added a few more images from the ultrasound we had on August 12. It is amazing just how much you can see at this point, when the baby is only about 7 cm long. Needless to say we can't wait for the next ultrasound!

Jan & I are very excited about Primo and so happy to have finally shared this big news with you!