first day back to the gym!

john was off today, so i was able to go the the gym. it feels good to work out again!

pediatrician yesterday...

Harper was up to 7-96 lbs yesterday at pediatrician. only a few ounces short of her birth weight! i am so siked about this.

today was her first time to the grocery store. she got a lot of attention but slept the whole time.

harper sleeping on christmas morning

Harper woke up at 4 am for breakfast. she went back to sleep...unfortunately i couldn't :(

harper in her bouncer

Harper's first visit to the pediatrician...

all looked good! she is back up to 7.69 lbs- no signs of jaundice.
our pediatrician is Barbara Bernstein at Mount Laurel Kids first.

Harper has arrived!!

Harper was born on Saturday dec 20th at 11:12 am. I was 40 weeks 4 days pregnant. My labor started soon after going to bed on thursday night around 2 am friday morning. It lasted around 31 hours!!
Harper weighed 7 lbs 12 oz at birth. When we left the hospital she was 7 lbs 5 oz. Today was our first pediatrician appt. and she weighed 7.69 so we are headed in the right direction. I am breastfeeding only so her weight is a huge concern to me but i feel optimistic now.

i have never been happier and never been so exhausted! John is taking the whole week off and it is really helpful to have him home.

i am going to try and keep this blog going for my family and friend across the country.

now i am going to go take a nap.

no baby yet

overdue....

i am officially overdue. i hate being late for things!
i am crossing my fingers she will come on her own in the next 9 days!

dr. appt....

i am only about 1/2 cm dilated, baby's head is very low.
next appt is fri. at 2:45.

40 weeks pg...

final picture??

40 wks pg from babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds (a small pumpkin) and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

How your life's changing:

After months of anticipation, your due date rolls around, and... you're still pregnant. It's a frustrating, but common, situation in which to find yourself. You may not be as late as you think, especially if you're relying solely on a due date calculated from the day of your last period because sometimes women ovulate later than expected. Even with reliable dating, some women have prolonged pregnancies for no apparent reason.

You still have a couple of weeks before you'll be considered "post-term." But to be sure your baby is still thriving, your practitioner will schedule you for testing to keep an eye on her if your pregnancy continues.

You may have a biophysical profile (BPP), which consists of an ultrasound to look at your baby's overall movements, breathing movements (movement of her chest muscles and diaphragm), and muscle tone (whether she opens and closes her hand or extends and then flexes her limbs), as well as the amount of amniotic fluid that surrounds her (important because it's a reflection of how well the placenta is supporting your baby).

Fetal heart rate monitoring (called a nonstress test or NST) will generally be done as well — by itself or as part of the BPP. Or, you may have what's known as a modified BPP, which consists of an NST and an ultrasound to assess the amount of amniotic fluid.

If the fetal testing isn't reassuring — the amniotic fluid level is too low, for example — you'll be induced. If there's a serious, urgent problem, you may have an immediate c-section.

Your practitioner will also check your cervix to see if it's "ripening." Its position, how soft it is, how effaced (thinned out) it is, and how dilated (open) it is can all affect when and how your labor is induced. If you don't go into labor on your own, you'll be induced, usually sometime between 41 and 42 weeks.

today is my due date!!

i cant believe it is finally here. it looks like Harper will be making a late arrival.
i have a dr. appt in an hour so we will see!

no baby yet.....

today dad and i went to get my toyota inspected. it failed emmisions so now one more thing to do!
then we went to walmart for some pyrex and rubbermade dishes for JOhn.

keli made us matzah ball soup for lunch.

late this afternoon i vacuumed and washed the inside of the toyota so we can
install the baby seat.

tonight is the eagles game.

39 week appt...

i had a 45 min NST today. everything looked great.

no internal exam!

i will be going back twice a week now until baby comes.

next appt is tues dec 16th at 2:15! (my due date)

heartburn and nausea

i am feeling like crap and cannot sleep. i just took some tums and i am going to try and prop myself on a pillow. maybe i ate too much today :(

39 weeks from babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.
How your life's changing:At each of your now-weekly visits, your caregiver will do an abdominal exam to check your baby's growth and position. She might also do an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started ripening: softening, effacing (thinning out), and dilating (opening). But even armed with this information, there's still no way for your caregiver to predict exactly when your baby is coming. If you go past your due date, your caregiver will schedule you for fetal testing (usually a sonogram) after 40 weeks to ensure that it's safe to continue the pregnancy. If you don't go into labor on your own, most practitioners will induce labor when you're between one and two weeks overdue — or sooner if there's an indication that the risk of waiting is greater than the risks of delivering your baby without further delay.

While you're waiting, it's important to continue to pay attention to your baby's movements and let your caregiver know right away if they seem to decrease. Your baby should remain active right up to delivery, and a noticeable slowdown in activity could be a sign of a problem. Also call if you think your water may have broken. Membranes rupture before the beginning of labor in about 8 percent of term pregnancies. Sometimes there's a big gush of fluid, but sometimes there's only a small gush or a slow leak. (Don't try to make the diagnosis yourself. Call even if you only suspect you have a leak.) If you rupture your membranes and don't start contractions on your own, you'll be induced.

39 weeks.

my goal this week is to walk for 30 min/day everyday.
yesterday i walked for 45 min.

38 week dr. appt.

everything looks great with baby! she moved a lot during the NST.
i had a cervical exam- i am not sure why i was dreading this. it was not
painful at all. i am not dilated yet- not that it means anything anyways!
next appt is fri dec 12th at 2:15.

Your pregnancy: 38 weeks (babycenter.com)

How your baby's growing:

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

How your life's changing:

For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can.

Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain. Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia.

washing baby clothes

today i am washing all the newborn baby clothes and sheets just in case she comes early.
now i just have to figure out what she will wear home from hospital.

i also put the mattress protector on the mattress, cleaned the closet, and put together the baby bathtub.

a beautiful quilt for Harper!

thank you, Elena! it is absolutely beautiful, you are so talented. we love this blanket so much!!

more gifts for Harper!

thank you cheryl, john and laura, and anna!

2 weeks from today...

is my due date.

my mom's first baby was 5 days early. if only i am so lucky!!

38 weeks

keli comes home tonight...

if you read this, i will meet you at baggage claim at 9:40!
i am so excited to see you and karmin!

vikings beat the bears last night...

and are now in first place in the NFC north...
the game was so awesome, and i actually forgot i was
pregnant for a good 3 hours. i cannot wait to feel normal
again all the time!

2008 National Football Conference
NFC EAST	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STRK	DIV	CONF
NY Giants	11	1	0	.917	352	206	Won 7	4-0	8-0
Dallas	8	4	0	.667	299	260	Won 3	2-2	6-4
Washington	7	5	0	.583	208	222	Lost 1	2-3	6-4
Philadelphia	6	5	1	.542	319	249	Won 1	0-3	5-4
NFC NORTH	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STRK	DIV	CONF
Minnesota	7	5	0	.583	287	260	Won 2	3-2	5-3
Chicago	6	6	0	.500	281	268	Lost 1	3-2	5-5
Green Bay	5	7	0	.417	334	295	Lost 2	3-1	4-6
Detroit	0	12	0	.000	203	393	Lost 12	0-4	0-9
NFC SOUTH	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STRK	DIV	CONF
Tampa Bay	9	3	0	.750	280	200	Won 4	3-1	8-2
Carolina	9	3	0	.750	285	231	Won 1	2-2	6-3
Atlanta	8	4	0	.667	298	242	Won 2	2-2	5-3
New Orleans	6	6	0	.500	337	301	Lost 1	1-3	3-5
NFC WEST	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STRK	DIV	CONF
Arizona	7	5	0	.583	338	313	Lost 2	4-0	5-4
San Francisco	4	8	0	.333	262	313	Won 1	2-3	3-7
Seattle	2	10	0	.167	216	311	Lost 5	2-2	2-8
St. Louis	2	10	0	.167	159	360	Lost 6	0-3	2-6

i cant believe that it is finally december!!

and that we will have a baby this month! i am soooo ready!!

2 weeks from tomorrow is the due date and i really hope she comes
on time, because i prefer to not be induced.

37 wk appt.

todays appt was pretty normal. i had my stress test- and all the other normal stuff.
everything was good, and next appt is fri dec. 5th at 2:15.

37 wks

month 9...the final fruit!

At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.

Your pregnancy: 37 weeks (babycenter.com)

How your baby's growing:

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Surprising Facts: Signs of labor

There's no way to predict when labor is going to start. Your body actually starts "preparing" for labor up to a month before you give birth. You may be blissfully unaware of what's going on or you may begin to notice new symptoms as your due date draws near.

Here are some things that may happen in the weeks or days before labor starts:

• Your baby drops. If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel what's known as "lightening" a few weeks before labor starts as your baby descends lower into your pelvis. You might detect a heaviness in your pelvis as this happens and notice less pressure just below your ribcage, making it easier to catch your breath.

• You note an uptick in Braxton Hicks contractions. More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions can signal pre-labor, during which your cervix ripens and the stage is set for true labor. Some women experience a crampy, menstrual-like feeling during this time.

• You pass your mucus plug. The mucus plug is the small amount of thickened mucus that blocks the cervical canal leading to your uterus. The plug may come out all at once in a lump, or as increased vaginal discharge over the course of several days. The mucus may be tinged with blood (which may be brown, pink, or red), in which case it may be referred to as "bloody show."

• Your water breaks. Most women start having regular contractions sometime before their water breaks, but in some cases, the water breaks first. When this happens, labor usually follows soon. (If contractions don't start promptly on their own, you'll be induced.) Whether the amniotic fluid comes out in a large gush or a small trickle, call your doctor or midwife.

How can I tell if I'm in false labor or true labor?
Sometimes it's very hard to tell false labor from the early stages of true labor. Here are some things that might help you sort it out:
• False labor contractions are unpredictable. They come at irregular intervals and vary in length and intensity. Although true labor contractions may be irregular at first, over time they start coming at regular and shorter intervals, become increasingly more intense, and last longer.
• With false labor, the pain from the contractions is more likely to be centered in your lower abdomen. With true labor, you may feel the pain start in your lower back and wrap around to your abdomen.
• False labor contractions may subside on their own, or when you start or stop an activity or change position. True labor contractions will persist and progress regardless of what you do.

full term!

37 weeks seems like a huge milestone. and knowing that she may be here in 3 weeks is super exciting!!

Pete and Ashlee Welcome Son Bronx Mowgli Wentz

Kevin Mazur/Wireimage

Pete Wentz and wife Ashlee Simpson-Wentz have welcomed their first child, a baby boy. Bronx Mowgli Wentz arrived on the evening of Thursday, November 20th in Los Angeles, Calif., weighing in at 7 lbs, 11 oz and 20 ½ inches long. In a statement, the couple's spokesperson shares:

"Ashlee, Pete and baby Bronx are all healthy and happy, and thank everyone for their well wishes!"

After a month of rumors, Pete confirmed the pregnancy in May, saying, "Every woman, no matter who they are or what they do for a living, has the right to wait at least three months before sharing this very personal news. I apologize to anyone who felt misinformed but the truth is, the person and growing baby is who I felt most loyal to protect and defend."

The couple was out and about during the pregnancy, most notably appearing at the MTV VMAs in September. In recent weeks, Pete, 29, and Ashlee, 24, laid low as they awaited their baby's arrival.

www.celebrity-babies.com

36 week appt.

i had my group b test, non-stress test...and results from 35 week u/s.
baby is measuring in the 57th%. not too big, not too small.

i have to do a fetal movement chart now everyday.

i have appts. now once a week. next appt is nov. 28th at 1:15.

bh contractions...

i am starting to get contractions a lot during the day. it is becoming really uncomfortable if i bend over.
last night i could not sleep because i kept feeling the baby's foot- i swear she is going to kick right through the side of my stomach soon. she is always hiccuping too!

36 wks from babycenter

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby 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.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

How your life's changing:

Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!

You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.

Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.

Next week

weekend

john and i had laura, john, and jackson over for breakfast sunday morning
then watched the miserable eagles and vikings lose.

kaley came over for a few hours and then we went to see the new james bond movie.
when we got home we watched amazing race and the unit.
it was a really nice weekend!

1 month to go!

due date is dec 16th!

i feel wobbly and shortness of breath...

it is really hard for me to sit up or lie on my back- i start losing my breath really fast.
even sitting while driving the car or being in the passenger seat is just really a chore.

i have noticed that i cant even walk or climb the stairs anymore without swaying side to side.
the weight gain is making it very difficult to bend over, and do simple things like empty the dishwasher.

i have 2 pairs of pants that fit, and a few long shirts. i was really hoping to make it without buying maternity clothes- but it is not looking good! maybe i can find something on clearance at Target.

Scott and Kelley Wolf Expecting First Child, a Boy!

AP

www.celebrity-babies.com

Former Party of Five star Scott Wolf and his wife, Real World: New Orleans alum Kelley, 32, are set to be parents for the first time! Confirming the news to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush, Scott, 40, revealed that they are "very excited" to be expecting a baby boy. Kelley is about five months along and is due in the spring. Scott told Us Weekly,

"Yeah, she's glowing! It's the greatest feeling. It's the greatest gift of all time!"

The couple were married in May 2004.

Phoenix Suns' Raja Bell Welcomes Son Tai Brooklyn

Phoenix Suns shooting guard Raja Bell and his wife Cindy welcomed son Tai Brooklyn Bell on Sunday, November 9th in Phoenix, AZ. He weighed 6 lbs, 8 oz and was 18 inches long. Tai is the second child for the couple, who are also parents to 18-month-old Dia.

Raja, 32, began his professional basketball career in 2002 when he joined the Philadelphia 76ers. He later went on to play for the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz before joining the Suns.

Source: Phoenix Suns Official Website

Mayim Bialik Welcomes Second Son, Frederick Heschel

Adrian Varnedoe/Pacific Coast News

Update: We've heard from Mayim, who gives us the details and tells CBB about her delivery experience with her second son!

"Frederick Heschel arrived at 8:32 a.m. on Friday, August 15th, weighing in at 7 lbs, 15 oz and 20 ¼ inches long. His first name is for my grandpa, and his middle name is for Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma. In Hebrew, Ephraim Hirsch.

He was born after a remarkably fast and beautiful natural one-and-a-half hour labor at our home, assisted only for the final pushing stage of labor! I used hypnosis for pain management. Frederick was born with my water never breaking, known as being born "in the caul" (amniotic sac). Our 3-year-old, Miles, watched the whole thing from his highchair while eating granola!

Frederick is exclusively breastfed on demand and doubled his birth weight by two months of age! Miles does not attend preschool, so he is home with us all the time, is adjusting really well and doing pretty great."

It's Another Girl For Adam Sandler and Wife!

from popsugar.com

stretch marks?

i have a feeling i might be developing stretch marks. my stomach has
been really itchy and now i am starting to get a rash. :(

35 wks

35 week from babycenter

How your baby's growing:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How your life's changing:

Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.

35 week u/s

the baby is measuring right on target. she is head down. i am not posting pics since it is so blurry.
her back is pushed out to my stomach so it is hard to even see her- plus she has so little room in there that it is pretty impossible to get a descent pic!

next appts.

monday nov. 10th -u/s at larchmont at 11 am
friday nov 21 36 wk appt at 1:45

34 week appt.

i just got home from my appt.
the dr. said that the baby is head down and in position already.

he also said i get an ultrasound on monday! i am so excited because
i havent seen the baby since 18 weeks!

if i don't give birth by 41 weeks, the dr. will induce so the latest b-date
for baby is on the 23rd! so i will definitely will able to drink wine on christmas!!!!

34 weeks

34 weeks

Your baby has bulked up like the average cantaloupe -- to about 4 3/4 pounds. (Length: almost 18 inches, head to heel.)

flu shot

i got a flu shot at the CVS minute clinic today. it was really convenient and fast and i highly recommend the place!

election day- go VOTE!

week 34 from babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
How your life's changing:By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.

i am going to go vote right now.

i am excited!

i am starting to feel like i cant get enough oxygen...

it is getting really hard to breath which makes it difficult to sleep without feeling
like i might suffocate:(

contractions...

i am starting to get BH contractions a lot after i go to the bathroom.

things i still need to put together...

-bouncer
-pack n play
-exersaucer
-black stroller
-diaper genie
-highchairs
-install car seat base in toyota

pramulator

Awww... baby's first Airstream. This incredible carriage -- part antique pram, part hand-shaped aluminum panels -- makes for a pretty sweet set of wheels.

from ohdeedoh.com

i am so excited...

that it is november and i am having a baby next month!

only 6 trick or treaters last night!

i now we are stuck with 5 lbs of candy!

uncomfortableness....

somehow i cannot sleep at night anymore. once the clock hits 4 am i finally get comfortable, and i fall asleep really good- but then i cannot get out of bed in the morning!

i still have 6.5 weeks to go and i cannot imagine getting any bigger. i am so heavy now it is hard move around and sit up in a chair.

i still think 1st trimester was way worse being sick all the time!

33 wks pg

Week 33: Water Weight

This week your baby may be anywhere between 17 to 19 inches in length and weigh more than four and a half pounds. Your baby could grow a full inch more this week alone — especially if he or she has been on the shorter side. Weight gain can range from a third more growth to a full doubling before the big debut.

The level of amniotic fluid in your uterus has reached its maximum, making it likely that you have more baby than fluid now. That's one reason why you're probably feeling lots of nudges and pushes — there's less liquid to cushion the blows. (Of course that means you're even closer to your baby now!)

If your uterine walls had eyes, here's what you'd see: your fetus acting more and more like a baby, with his or her eyes closing during sleep and opening while awake. And because those uterine walls are becoming thinner, more light penetrates the womb, helping your baby differentiate between day and night (now if only baby can remember that difference on the outside!).

And good news! Your baby has reached an important milestone about now: The development of his or her own immune system that (along with antibodies from you) will be able to provide protection from mild infections.

from whattoexpect.com

33 wks from babycenter.com

How your baby's growing:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Weeks 33-36 (Month 8): Honeydew

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

halloween votives

Here is another simple (but messy) Halloween Craft! You need just a few supplies. My Mod Podge has gone bad I think, so we used it along with Elmer’s Glue (My daughter sorta mixed it together—she is 3 so this wasn’t exact science). I think Mod Podge alone would have been fine. We were using items we had so we used orange crepe paper on a roll for the pumpkins and white tissue paper like you use to wrap a gift for the ghosts.

My daughter coated the outside of the baby food jar with glue/Mod Podge.

She then took pieces of crepe paper and put it on the jar. We gave the whole thing another coat of mod podge. It is important to dab gently so you don’t tear and wipe the crepe paper away.

We made faces with scraps of black construction paper and then waited for them to dry.

Once they were dry I thought they probably could have used another coat of Mod Podge, however that could be because mine was old. I didn’t want to get it back out so I just gave them a shot of clear spray paint.

from http://www.skiptomylou.org