Lucy Elizabeth Masson

Summarizing Week # 21:

Many people have responded to our personal e-mail account regarding our last post, so I wanted to publicly introduce Lucy Elizabeth Masson. Her officially due date is May 11th, 2009- but we all know how that goes- what is it, give or take 2 weeks on each end? So, theoretically, she could be born any time between April 27th, 2009 through May 25th, 2009. Honestly, I don’t if I can wait that long!

At about seven inches in length and almost 11 ounces in weight, Lucy is about the size of a large banana –and- during our last ultrasound, see the photos below in our last post, the technician notes that the baby is just under one pound. Woo Hoo- she’s a whopper all ready! But, I think the coolest part of the entire experience was seeing her heart up close where you were clearly able to distinguish all four chambers of the little “lub-dub.” Hope she has lots of room in that heart for love, because she is greatly loved by us already and we haven’t even met her yet. How on Earth does that happen? How can you fall in love with a little being that you haven’t met –or- fall in love with a little person who isn’t fully developed? Wow- this whole process is VERY intense!

At 21 weeks pregnant, your baby swallows at least several ounces of amniotic fluid each day — not only for hydration and nutrition, but also to practice swallowing and digesting — skills your baby will need as soon as he or she arrives in your arms. And keep this in mind: The taste of the amniotic fluid differs from day to day depending on what Rachel’s eaten (spicy Mexican food one day, or sweets another). And that smorgasbord of tastes won't be lost on your baby. That's because your little one has very developed taste buds already. In fact, researchers have noted that babies who were exposed to certain tastes in utero via the amniotic fluid were more eager to eat foods with that same taste after birth. Want your baby to eat his or her broccoli later? Eat yours now! Your developing baby still has a great deal of room in your womb — though like anyone who lives in one space for a long time, this tenant will soon begin to feel cramped. Until those uterine walls start closing in, however, there's plenty of space for twisting, turning, and even an occasional somersault (so that's what you were feeling last night!). With all that belly dancing going on, it's hard to believe your baby gets any sleep at all. But believe it or not, your fetus sleeps as much as a newborn, perhaps 12 to 14 hours per day! (Now if only you could get some sleep!)

Summarizing Week # 22:

Guess what? At 22 weeks pregnant, Lucy has finally broken the one-pound mark. This week, she is making more sense of the world as her sense of touch develops. In fact, her grip is quite developed by now — and since there's nothing else to grab in utero, she may sometimes hold on tight to that umbilical cord (don't worry — it's tough enough to handle it). The sense of sight is also getting more developed. Lucy can now perceive light and dark much better than before (even with those fused eyelids). Unless Rachel and I are shining a flashlight over her belly (which you can do, by the way), it'll be mostly dark for Lucy inside that cozy womb. Moving up from the eyes, the eyelashes and eyebrows are well formed now — and even more hair is sprouting atop that cute little head. Hair at this stage of fetal development has no pigment, so it's bright white- yippee- we have a little toe-head!

In General:

Today is New Years Eve 2008, it’s snowing like crazy outside- we’re expecting four to six inches by 6pm… and by 9pm…. We’re expecting Sandy and Debbie to arrive at our house. Tonight, we will partake in our New Year’s Eve tradition of eating fabulously delicious food prepared by Rachel, we will imbibe spectacular cocktails again created by the wonderful Rachel, and we will no-doubt engage in some smack-talking and good ‘ole fun during the many hours of board games- Cranium, Apples to Apples, and Scrabble are at the top of the list tonight. Tomorrow is supposed to be down right balmy, but if we can bear the frigid temperatures, we may try to get some snow shoeing in prior to Sandy & Debbie’s departure at 4pm- I promised Debbie that I’d kick them out by 4pm because she has to work early on Friday morning (as do I).

We had a wonderful Christmas and Hanukkah with our families; as always, we received many thoughtful gifts. Speaking of which, I think Lucy had more gifts under the tree than we did- Rachel’s sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Jake, purchased a beautiful traditional Winnie-the-Pooh bedding set for us along with wonderful outfits, Betty bought a Curious George jack-in-the-box, my Aunt Marlene crocheted a beautiful blanket, a book from Auntie & Joe, and my grandparents bought some wonderfully adorable outfits. Needless to say, Lucy made out like a bandit!

As always, I took many photos of the holidays with the family and I’m sure I’ll take many photos of our adventures tonight. I will make it a priority to post some of the photos of Rachel and the growing belly as soon as they’re downloading. Speaking of Rachel… I’ve somehow forgotten to mention her too much… Gee Whiz! Anyways, Rachel continues to feel great- She continues to work out daily and she is healthy. However, she continues to be easily tired and goes to bed around 8pm nightly, but she also works out at 5am… so, in general, we are on different sleep cycles as I can’t possibly fall asleep that early, nor could I drag my bum out of bed that early- I like my sleep and I hate the cold mornings of the winter!

Cheers to everybody

for a

Safe & Happy

New Year!

The Stream of Life

I just wanted to share this sweet poem with everybody...

Pink -or- Blue....

Rachel and I are so happy to FINALLY share the following ultrasound scans with with...




The official ultrasound.... and the verdict is in....



The profile of our princess...



Happy Feet...

And a HUGE round of applause...

Baby Masson's First Onesie...

Introducing Steven...

Rachel and I have tossed the idea of having a "known" donor in our lifes vs. an unknown donor (i.e a sperm bank) for a LONG time now- our conclusion was that we would have a conversation with a wonderful couple to see if they were at all interested.

Steven and Jeremy, who Rachel and her mother knew for many years (prior to me meeting them at their restaurant, The Front Porch Cafe) are fabulous individuals who want to assist Rachel and I in the process of having a family. I don't know what year this photo was actually taken, but Steven (the donor- is on the left) and Jeremy (his life-partner/ husband is on the right). I'm also hoping that the "boys" will send us more recent photos and a "bio" on themselves, soon.
Peace,

love

&

cheer!

20 Weeks...

The Masson baby weighs about ten ounces and has a height, crown to rump, of about six and a half inches- Think small cantaloupe (and probably as sweet too). Is it a boy cantaloupe or a girl cantaloupe? We'll be able to find out the baby's gender on Monday December 22nd, 2008 @ 3pm. Apparently, if the baby is a girl, her uterus is fully formed this week and her vaginal canal is starting its development. She also has primitive eggs in her tiny little ovaries now, seven million of them — though by the time she's born, that number will be down to two million (still more than she could ever hope to use). And interestingly, your baby girl will be born with all the eggs she'll ever have.

What if the baby is a male? If it’s a boy, his testicles have begun their descent this week, though they're still located in the abdomen, waiting for the scrotum to finish growing so they'll have a place to drop into in a few weeks. Though the external genitals in both male and female fetuses still have a way to grow, you should be able to find out the sex of your baby during the ultrasound exam.

Two appointments ago, Rachel was offered an additional prenatal test. Our theory on these tests have been: 1) As long as our insurance covers the majority of the cost; and 2) As long as there aren’t risks to either Rachel or the baby’s health. So, she had a simple blood test done- actually a small prick of the finger for an “AFP Test.” We didn’t know much about the test, other than it was looking for genetic markers that would indicate the likeliness of genetic abnormalities. With a little research, I found some additional information. Also, our mid-wife, Maggie, is WONDERFUL at explaining the details and especially the “pro’s” and “con’s.” But here’s some more information for all of you who were not in the room with us when Maggie gave her explanation.

When is the Alpha-Fetoprotein test performed?
During the period of 15 to 20 weeks gestation, about halfway through pregnancy, many pregnant women are offered and encouraged to undergo more invasive prenatal testing. One of the tests available is called the AFP or Alpha-Fetoprotein test. The AFP test is a blood test used to screen the baby for certain conditions. The blood taken is that from mom, but a sample can be obtained for testing from amniotic fluid. The AFP test is not a diagnosis. It can only be used to test for the increased likelihood of an abnormality or birth defect.

What is Alpha-Fetoprotein and why is the AFP test done?
Alpha-Fetoprotein is a substance produced by the fetus in utero. AFP stops being produced once the baby is born. The AFP is excreted in the fetal urine which crosses into the mother’s blood stream. This is why AFP can be detected by a blood sample taken from the pregnant mother.
High levels of AFP can indicate an increased chance of the fetus having a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. Another possibility with a high level of AFP can be a low level of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus. An abnormally low AFP level can indicate an increased risk of Down syndrome.

The AFP is rarely performed alone. AFP is usually part of a test called a “triple screen.” The purpose of the triple screen test is to use the results of all three blood tests to increase the accuracy of the results. There are practically no risks involved with having the test performed.
The accuracy rate of the AFP test is estimated at 80%. Many times women who under go testing are given results that indicate a high risk for birth defects and the baby is born without an abnormality. This is referred to as a “false positive.”

Parenting Decisions...

After spending an entire weekend with my 2 neices (ages 11 weeks & 2 yrs 9 mnths) and my nephew (1 yr 9mnths), Rachel and I are 100% certain of one thing... We NEVER intend to have three children under the age of three at any point in our parenting career! Granted, my neices and nephew are well-behaved, wonderfully talented, and purely beautiful children- caring for them and their needs is virtually impossible! Jerad (my brother) and Vera (my sister-in-law) have their hands FULL!

Here's some photos of our weekend:

Pig Pile on Auntie Erica.

Laylah.

Shmooshy-faced Ellianna with Auntie.

Rub-a-dub-dub...
Moose-a-man's in the tub!

Brunch at The Blue Heron with Santa...

Ellianna wanted NO part of photos with Santa. She just wanted to play with his bells while other children and parents were trying to take photos.

Rachel & I at the Brattleboro Retreat 2008 Holiday Party.

WOO HOO! We survived a full weekend of 3 children under the age of 3... two of which had runny noses and were crabby toddlers at times. There's nothing like teamwork! We look forward to the challenges that lie ahead with parenting a newborn and acknowledge the importance of working together to establish a routine that works well for both of us and the baby. In less than one week, we may know the gender of the Masson baby! We've officially began our 20th week, I will have more fun-filled baby facts in a later post this week! Hope everybody is happy abd healthy this holiday season!
Cheers to all!

9+ Months of Pregnancy...

Instead of the 12 days of Christmas, this is the 9+ months of pregnancy…

I hope the holiday season is treating everybody well out there. Today is the first time we’ve had actual snow hit the ground this season… it’s more than a dusting, but not a true accumulation; perhaps we’ll get two inches of snow, but it’s supposed to turn to rain and it’ll either ice over or disappear. Yee Haw for the lovely New England weather!

Rachel continues to feel well and has begun to feel the flutter of movement in her uterus. She continues to work out and yesterday was “re-invigorated” after reading all of the benefits of exercising during pregnancy. Me, I continue to sleep in and hibernate like a bear until the very last minute of the morning- you know, the last minute that if I pass, I will be REALLY late for work- yeah, that one! I don’t like the winter, I don’t like the cold weather, and all I want to do is stay in my bed where it’s warm. Rachel is quite opposite- she’s a “Get up & Go” type gal… she heads to the gym at some un-Godly hour- I don’t even hear her alarm go off most mornings and she returns before I get out of bed. Yeah, we definitely have a routine!

So, last week we visited Maggie, our beloved midwife- she’s wonderful! Everything is progressing as expected- we heard the heart beat (as we do at every appointment), she asked a billion questions, answered our three billions questions, and then scheduled an ultrasound for December 23rd, 2008 @ 8am. Do you know what that means? It means that we MIGHT know baby Masson’s gender two days before Christmas. YIPPPPEEEEE! In my mind, I’m more excited about that appointment than I am about Christmas! Plus, the parents and grandparents will most likely get little picture frames as gifts that say “It’s a _____!” I will definitely post a blog on that day!

Alright… so, we’ve entered week # 19… what does that mean? Well, our baby is about six inches long and about eight ounces in weight –or- the baby is the size of a large mango (thus the "large" mango picture above). Not many people know, but one of my favorite movies is the Matrix, and in “What to Expect” they say that our “little action figure is able to choreograph Matrix-like moves” meaning that the baby has more control over his/ her movements of it’s limbs because the arms and legs are finally in proportion and the neurons are now connected between the brain and the muscles. Plus, the cartilage throughout the body is finally turning to bone. Another huge development this week is the formation of the vernix caseosa; the actual latin translation is “cheesy varnish” which is greasy and white, and is made up of lanugo (that downy hair), oil from your baby's glands, and dead skin cells. This waxy "cheese" may not sound too appetizing or attractive, but it's there for good reason: Vernix protects your baby's sensitive skin from the surrounding amniotic fluid. Without it, your baby would look very wrinkled at birth (sort of what you'd look like if you soaked in a bath for nine months). Our baby is lathered in anti-wrinkle cream!

Rachel hasn’t added her two cents to our blog yet; she stresses over what she’s going to write. Additionally, I haven’t been able to gather pictures and information about the donor to introduce him yet either. I will work on both of those topics for future blog entries. For now, I leave you with this great quote I found online:

“The moment a child is born,
the mother is also born.
She never existed before.
The woman existed, but the mother, never.
A mother is something absolutely new.”
~Rajneesh

Beginning Week # 18 with Excitement...

Did you know that because Rachel’s uterus is growing so rapidly, that her center of gravity shifts? Not only is her uterus the size of a cantaloupe, her lower back has pulled forward and her abdomen is now thrust out more. The most fascinating fact of this week, for me, is that in the next few weeks, Rachel will be able to start feeling fetal movements; they’re described as feeling like gas bubbles, but this is definitely assurance that she’s carrying a baby and not just the produce department (as “What to Expect” always describes size in comparison to produce). I’m not exactly sure how Rachel’s shifted center of gravity affects me, but I wonder if this means she will topple over more easily or if she shouldn’t be climbing ladders or standing at great heights. Hmmm…. Six feet in the air is a great height to me, does this mean she needs to sit all the time? Gee whiz… according to WebMD, the only time women notice a difference in their balance is primarily during the third trimester causing them to feel “perpetually off-balance” which is caused by a hormone called Relaxin which apparently is released towards the end of pregnancy to allow the hips, knees, and ankles to be more flexible and ultimately it makes the woman feel more wobbly, achy, and more likely to fall. I guess I’ll continue to allow Rachel to stand tall for now because good posture is very important to alleviate some of the related back aches and pains associated with pregnancy.

At this point, most women are visibly pregnant… but Rachel is still “theoretically” pregnant because to the unsuspecting, ordinary person, Rachel appears to be a six foot tall, slender woman who, as always, is glowing, happy, and boisterous. Though, on my way to work this morning, I got a call on my cell phone from Rachel stating “My work clothes don’t fit me anymore (because of the baby bump).” To which I replied, “Well, you could wear my clothes.” But after a brief second of thought, we both agreed: 1) As most of you know, she & I have entirely different styles- not to mention the feminine nature of her clothing and the masculine nature of my clothing, and the pure fact that I don’t share well with others (yeah, you heard me correctly- I think it’s a product of being the oldest child & always being forced to share things with my younger brothers- I don’t know, but that’s a good excuse and I don’t necessarily have to take responsibility for it); and 2) She’s much taller than I am which would cause my pants to be “high waters” or my shirts to be “½ shirts” none of which would be appropriate for her business attire needed for work. So…. Yes folks, we’re in a clothing quandary… but alas, Rachel found a decent solution which was recommended by, our trusty, advice giving, queen of all things motherly, Kim, and secondly “What to Expect.” She purchased a “belly band.” (I hope I’m not sharing too much information because this could be cause for Rachel to banish me to the couch, or worse, the camper). Anyways, Rachel has another check-up with the midwife this week (I think it's on Thursday) & I'm sure I'll have more information following that appointment, but because I lack time-off, I don't get to attend the meeting with her. BLECH! I believe that we will be able to have an ultrasound during the week of Christmas where we "could" discover the gender of our baby... we'll keep our fingers crossed!

According to a “well-known” pregnancy store, a “belly band” is a seamless, maternity accessory band that you wear at your waistline, over your unbuttoned pre-pregnancy pants, over slightly big maternity pants, or around the waistband of any maternity clothing that falls down. Rachel purchased one and wore it all day yesterday. She reports that it was comfortable, soft, and easy to wear. At first, I totally didn’t understand this contraption and she said “It’s like a tube top for your belly.” Which for some odd reason, made much more sense to me… I know nothing about tube tops, they actually puzzle me, but for some reason, it helped me better understand this new article of clothing. The band holds up your pants, disguising unzipped/ buttoned pants, and creates a smooth belly surface (or a lack of bulkiness around the belly bump). The best part, that makes the MOST sense to me, with the belly band, no one has to know your pants are undone or loose. And, according to the “well-known” pregnancy store, you can conceal your belly band or let it peek out from under your top for that hip, layered look. If your shirt rises, it looks like a t-shirt or camisole - not a funky mechanism (like safety pins or straps) to expand your waistband or hold up your pants. Thank god for the belly band because maternity clothing is ungodly expensive and mostly ugly, non-fashionable, and unappealing to my beautiful wife.

Now, what the HECK is going on inside Rachel’s belly (or uterus to be exact)? Well, the baby is definitely growing like a weed; he or she is about 5 ½ inches long and approximately 5 ounces. The baby continues its acrobatics, but this week has also perfected its yawn. Not only is he/ she becoming more talented and acquiring more tricks, but the nerves are now covered with a substance called myelin (which speeds messages from nerve cell to nerve cell), are forming more complex connections. And those in the brain are further specializing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. Talking about hearing, the baby's is growing more acute, making him/ her more conscious of sounds that come from inside your body.

Okay, so that is the “facts and statistics” and details of this week. But, many of you might want to know what is going on in our lives outside of Rachel’s uterus. Well, Rachel’s travel for work has ceased for the time being, well as least through the holidays. She continues to be busy with work, but luckily, she had the week of Thanksgiving off during which time, she completed some items on the “honey-do list.” Window treatments were at the top of that list over the past week, especially because we had company for Thanksgiving. Rachel installed, purchased, and dressed our living room windows- we now have a much warmer and inviting living area. Additionally, yesterday we went to Home Depot to purchase paint for the walls that have been stark white since we moved in a little over two years ago. We finally agreed upon “Cobblestone” with an accent wall of “Cup of Cocoa” which both are in the earth-tone, tan/ brown spectrum. We’re also in the process of obtaining some assistance with re-doing our bathroom. A brand new toilet sits in its box, in the kitchen, while the ceiling has a brand new heat light and is awaiting a skim-coat and ceiling paint, we’re anticipating a purchase of a pedestal sink in the near future, and will most likely also paint the walls and the wood work. As for me, I’m still working my tail feathers off at the Brattleboro Retreat as a therapist in the co-ed residential program. I’m currently completing a certificate program at a local graduate school in non-profit management and I’m working approximately two shifts per week in the admissions department (at the Retreat) assisting with admitting patients who require in-patient level of care. I enjoy my job, but it was blissful to have four consecutive days off over the holiday weekend. We continue to entertain, train, and parent two wonderfully needy dogs, Riley and Grace, and two independent cats who crave attention, Midnight and Greta. Lastly, the weather in New England continues to exhibit unstable, and undesirable forecasts- yesterday, it rained, snowed, and became slushy; today its “mild” and we can expect temperatures in the low-50’s, and by Friday we can expect extremely cold, and unpleasant weather- highs, as described by the local radio station, in the low-30’s with wind-chills causing it to feel much colder. Now I ponder…. “Wouldn’t it be much easier to hibernate until the baby is born?”

We're cookin' a baby in this oven...

So, as many of you know, I haven’t seen much of Rachel over the past two weeks as she’s been traveling non-stop for work. Rachel has been lucky enough to visit the warm west-coast in Southern Californian and was able to view the effects of the catastrophic wild fires first-hand in Anaheim, CA., she slept one night in our bed in Greenfield, spending less than 24-hours in Massachusetts before she ran off to Washington D.C. and the Virginia areas for more college fair fun. Despite her physical absence from my life over the past two weeks, she has been on my mind constantly… it’s bizarre to think that there is a baby doing acrobatics in her uterus, while she runs around both the west and east coasts. She continues to feel well and hasn’t had (knock on wood) any negative symptoms (i.e. morning sickness).

Right now, according to “What to Expect” (during week # 12) the baby is in constant motion and because it weighs half an ounce now, and the crown-to-rump length is about two and a half inches, Rachel wouldn’t be able to feel the baby’s daily calisthenics. Apparently, at this point, babies begin growing at different paces, some faster than others, some more slowly, though they all follow the same developmental path. In the past two ultrasounds, the fetus has appeared “top heavy”, meaning that the head was about half the size of its body, which was expected, but by the time the baby makes his or her entrance into the world, its head will be only one-fourth as large as the body. It’s amazing how anatomy & physiology work and how Rachel’s uterus is cooking up a little person!

Since we’ve missed a few weeks of blogging, I thought I’d provide a mini-recap of the developments over the past few weeks. As noted earlier, Rachel continues to feel well and she isn’t having any overt pregnancy symptoms. She’s gained a mere 1.6 lbs. She continues working out at the gym with our faithful friend, Josianna. And more importantly, while away, Rachel continues her gym routines at the hotels where she stays. She tends to be a little more tired than usual and she definitely craves sweets. Here’s what “What to Expect” says about the specific baby developments over the past few weeks:

Week # 12- Fetal Organs and Systems- Most of your baby's systems are fully formed. This week marks a turning point for your baby. The herculean task of developing new bodily structures is nearing an end as most of your baby's systems are fully formed. Now comes the maintenance phase, during which your fetus' systems continue to mature for the next 28 weeks and the organs get to work. The fetal digestive system is beginning to flex its digestive muscle — as it starts practicing contraction movements, a skill your baby will need after birth to push food through the digestive tract. The pituitary gland at the base of the brain has started producing hormones. And the bone marrow is making white blood cells, which will one day help your baby fight infection.

Week # 13- Fetal Growth Rates- Your baby's intestines are also in for some big changes right now. Up until this point, they've been growing in a cavity inside the umbilical cord; but now they're moving to their permanent (and more conveniently located) address, in your baby's abdomen. And to serve your growing baby's needs, the placenta is also growing. It weighs about an ounce now and will weigh one to two pounds at birth. Your baby's vocal chords are also developing this week, because sound can't travel through your uterus, you won't be able to hear any sounds or cries just yet, but those vocal chords will get a good workout once that baby is born.

Week # 14- Your Baby is a Mover (But Not a Shaker Yet)- WOO HOO- Welcome to the 2nd trimester!!!! Growing by leaps and bounds, by week 14 of pregnancy, your baby is leaping and bounding. He/ she is on the move almost constantly — and those movements are a far cry from those jerky twitches of last trimester They are now ballet-like, smooth and fluid. Your baby’s neck is getting longer, helping his or her head stand more erect. This gives your 14-week-old fetus a more straightened-out appearance. Growth is happening on top of the head as well, your baby could be sprouting some hair (though the final color may not be determined until birth) and the eyebrows are filling in, too. Hair growth isn't limited to the baby's head, though. He/ she is also covered with a downy coating of hair called lanugo, largely there for warmth. Most of the lanugo will shed — though some babies, especially those born early, still have a fuzzy coating at delivery (it sheds soon afterward).


Week 15- Baby Kicking and Curling- So what keeps your baby busy all day? Mostly, your fetus is in rehearsals — practice, practice, practicing, and getting ready for that big debut. Babies practice breathing, sucking, and swallowing so that when they leave your comfy womb and move into your comfy house, they'll have the skills necessary to survive. Fetal body movements continue to get practice this week, too. But because your baby weighs so little (a bit over two ounces), you won't feel the calisthenics going on inside your abdominal gym. But don't let that fool you. Your fetus is holding daily aerobics classes — kicking, curling toes, and moving those little arms and legs.

Week 16- Baby's Hearing Develops- Popping out of your clothes yet? At 16 weeks pregnant, you're getting to the point where the bulge in your belly says "baby" and not "fat." So, when you’re screaming about “getting bigger”, remember that the 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. 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. 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.

On this day, the day before Thanksgiving 2008 (November 26th), Rachel is beginning week # 17. Our baby is about five inches long and more than three and a half ounces — they say, it’s the size of an open hand. The Masson baby's body fat is beginning to form and will continue to accumulate through the end of your pregnancy. By the time he/ she is born, body fat will make up about two-thirds of his/ her weight. The baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises such as the Grace or Riley barking, will actually startle the baby (and also get him/ her used to such noises). His/ her eyes (which have finished their migration to the front of his/ her head) are making small side-to-side movements and can even perceive some light, though the eyelids are still sealed. And since practice makes perfect, the baby is sharpening his/ her sucking and swallowing skills in preparation for that first suckle at the breast or bottle. In fact, most of the survival reflexes that he/ she will have at birth are being perfected in utero right now and there’s some proof that he/ she is truly one of a kind- within the next week or so, the pads on his/ her fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints).

Today, I give thanks to my beautiful wife and the family that we are beginning. I also give thanks to the wonderful friends and family that have supported us through this adventure! I hope everybody has a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season.

Yesterday, today, & Tomorrow

Today there were record numbers of voters at the Greenfield High School. The entire parking lot was full and I had to park between the football field and the hockey rink. For those of you unfamiliar with Greenfield, it is a rural town in Western Massachusetts with 13,736 residents (as of July 2007). Generally when I go to vote in the morning prior to work, it takes approximately 20 minutes, ten of which are spent socializing with individuals that I haven't seen in years. Today, I arrived promptly at 7:05am and did not get back into my car until 7:45am. It's important to point out, I did NOT socialize this morning- I was on a serious mission- vote & get to work!

According to: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/, Greenfield has 11,526 registered voters as of October 15, 2008; the breakdown is not so surprising- 3,831 democrats, 1,243 republicans, 6,335 unenrolled, 56 green rainbow, and 21 working families (which from my calculation still leaves 40 unaccounted individuals). Anyways, back to my point... it was a crazy, mob scene at good 'ole GHS this morning. Not only were we voting in a historic presidential campaign, but there were some necessary ballot questions as well as races for senate, congress, and a wide array of important political positions.

During our primaries, Rachel and I researched the ballot questions and decided early on how we would vote. Question # 1 proposed a law that would reduce the state personal income tax rate to 2.65% for all categories of taxable income for the tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2009, and would eliminate the tax for all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2010. Question # 2 proposed a law that would replace the criminal penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana with a new system of civil penalties, to be enforced by issuing citations, and would exclude information regarding this civil offense from the state's criminal record information system. Question # 3 proposed a law that would prohibit any dog racing or racing meeting in Massachusetts where any form of betting or wagering on the speed or ability of dogs occurs. And lastly, Question # 4 calls for supporting legislation that would establish health care as a human right and opposing any laws penalizing the uninsured for failing to obtain health insurance.

Who out there is asking "What the hell does this post have to do with the Masson baby?" I agree, Right? Where am I going with this rant... well, today's election is historic and will ultimately impact, not only us as voting adults, but will ultimately impact our baby and future generations. Todays election is inspiring millions of Americans to vote and has caught the attention of our international peers, as well. Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, could become the nation's first African-American president. And, if the Republican nominee Sen. John McCain wins, he would be the oldest person elected to a first term as president, and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, would be the first woman vice president.

Today kids, I voted and DAMN IT, I hope this time... the presidential candidate that I voted for wins!

Week # 13

Today begins week # 13 and the final week of our first trimester. I'm so exhausted that I can't possibly type anything coherent, but I wanted to post our latest ultra-sound photos. During the appointment today, the baby was an active little thing... bouncy, moving it's arms & legs, and sucking it's thumb like CRAZY.

In the top photo, you can see fingers & toes. The next photo shows the baby sucking on it's thumb. And lastly, you can very clearly see facial features. Apparently, we won't know the gender until week # 20.
... sigh...

Week # 11

Welcome to Week # 11…

As I write this, Rachel is lounging in a shwanky hotel in Houston, Texas, lying in a king-sized bed, watching television, enjoying room service, and definitely fulfilling those wacky food cravings! I, on the other hand, am working my tail feathers off (working 40+ hrs. in 4 days), pulling the house back together from Riley’s independent evening alone in the house from 7:45pm – 11:20pm (she flexed her Great Dane power by refusing to go back into her crate following play time with my mom), packing my belongings and prepping our house for the wonderful dog-care savior, Julia. I’ll fly out of Bradley at 7:15am on Friday (10.17.2008) to meet Rachel in Dallas, Texas. We’ll spend a night in Dallas visiting one of my best friends from high school, Heather (Breshers) O’Connor, and then we’ll drive over to Austin for the remainder of our visit (until Thursday) to spend time with Cruce, Rachel, and their baby dinosaur (Crucie). I’ve never been to Texas and I haven’t seen Heather since graduation day in 1994, and spending time with Cruce & Rachel is always a BLAST! This is going to be a wonderful and well-deserved break from the monotony of our daily routines here in the spastic weather of New England. My only concern while I’m away is being able to follow my New England sports teams- the Red Sox and their lousy, unenthusiastic quest for the World Series, and the dying dynasty of the New England Patriots… ughhh… maybe I need a break from both of them, too. Regardless, I am in desperate need of a vacation!

We’ve entered week # 11 of Rachel’s pregnancy. I’m not sure if she’ll kill me for sharing her wacky food craving story or not, but she’s in Texas, and a delayed death is the best way to go! Hee hee hee! Last Saturday, we were hanging out at the house with my niece and nephew. The weather was beautiful, it was the most perfect autumn day in Greenfield, and we had plans to go apple picking followed by a fund raiser at Landmark College called “Empty Bowls.” Originally, we planned to take the kids for just one evening (Friday to Saturday), but we always have this mushy-gushy feeling when we wake up the morning that we’re supposed to return them; we call their parents and arrange to keep them for an additional night. Generally, we regret this phone call towards nap time that afternoon or by the end of the weekend when we’re absolutely exhausted, accomplished nothing all weekend, and realize that we have to return to work in a few short hours. Anyways… back to my story… Rachel had been “craving” cinnamon rolls and decided that she wanted to try her hand at making them from scratch. She left me with the kids and took a road-trip to our favorite "mom and pops" operated grocery store, Foster’s, for the missing ingredients. She came home with one bag. I looked into the back and saw the ingredients which made perfect sense to her craving and the necessity for cooking. However, she then says to me “What you don’t see is my impulse buy.” Now, if I was Grace (our puppy), I would’ve looked at her with a cocked-to-the-side head and ears perked, and a huge imaginary question mark in a bubble above my head. She then said “I love you.” And of course, I became more suspicious. Rachel then launched into a story about how the seafood department manager at Foster’s told her that he hadn’t seen lobster prices so inexpensive in the fourteen years that he had worked there, and thus, Rachel purchased two one & ½ pound lobsters for $5.99/ lb. The seafood department would have our “afternoon snack” steamed and ready for pick-up at 3pm. Being a HUGE lobster connoisseur, I feel that I “lucked out” in the wake of Rachel’s “wacky” food craving and I didn’t have much room for complaining. Needless to say, the cinnamon buns were not created on that day, but Rachel prepped the dough for the 24 hour “rising” period and proceeded to make delicious cinnamon buns on Sunday morning.

Now, onto the facts and figures that I have learned this week regarding our little piece of fruit in Rachel’s belly. Wait, has anybody else out there noticed that every time a resource describes the size of the fetus, they compare it to a fruit, nut, or vegetable? Anyways… I’ve been scouring two websites daily to keep me apprised of necessary knowledge, facts & trivia: http://www.visembryo.com/ and http://www.whattoexpect.com/. The visible embryo website self describes as visual guide through fetal development from fertilization through pregnancy to birth. In my opinion, it is much more factual-based and scientific, rather than “What to expect” and their educational approach to both pregnancy and parenting.

According to the visible embryo, the fetus length, from crown-to-rump, is about 1.25 to 1.68 inches (31 to 42mm). The major areas of growth include: head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, limbs, and skin. One of the most exciting facts that I found is that the face has developed a human appearance. Apparently, sockets for all twenty teeth are formed in the gum lines, the nasolacrimal groove forms on the upper lip, separate folds of the mouth fuse together to form the palate, and early facial hair follicles begin to develop. Our fetus is becoming a little person! Previously, we noted that there is a possibility that we would be able to recognize a gender during our next ultrasound on Monday October 27th, 2008. The information notes that genitalia begin to show female characteristics (labium minus, urogenital groove, labium majoris) and male characteristics (glans penis, urethral groove, scrotum). However, neither male nor female genitalia are fully formed. I think the ultrasound will be “We have a good suspicion that your baby will be a ______ (fill-in the blank with a gender). For some odd reason, both Rachel and Stephen believe that we’re having a girl. Jeremy and I are more skeptical of their rationale since they formed their opinions prior to insemination!

“What to Expect” makes the fetus more human-like, rather than a science experiment and/ or an alien that has implanted itself inside Rachel’s uterus. They say that Rachel will continue to feel tired and they explain the cause nicely. It’s a relief to read about the woman’s experience because it allows for both of our anxieties to rest, especially to note that what Rachel is experiencing IS, in fact, normal. Here’s what they say:

Are your two favorite positions these days sitting and lying down? Pregnancy fatique is normal, especially at this stage. That's because you're running a baby-making factory that's in business 24/7 (and since you're the only employee, you're on the clock around the clock), causing your pregnant body to work harder at rest than your nonpregnant body did on the run. And for the next few weeks, a baby's not the only thing in production — so is the placenta, the magnificently complex mission control that will serve as your baby's life support system until delivery. The result? You feel tired and overworked, even when you're not doing a darn thing. Your energy should pick up once the placenta's up and running and your system adjusts (as best as it can) to the hormonal changes of pregnancy — probably early in the second trimester. In the meantime, keep your blood sugar level up with frequent snacks of complex carbs. and protein (cheese and crackers; nuts and dried fruit), try a little exercise (which can actually give you an energy boost), and most of all — listen to your body. When it calls for a break, take one.

Not only does this website speak to the emotional aspect of the changes (i.e. exhaustion), but they also speak to the bodily changes, and the fetus development (similar to the visible embryo). They note that it is common during this time for the woman’s lower abdomen starting to protrude now. The woman’s body begins to produce the hormone progesterone which can cause an increase in bloating, burping, and passing gas. For us “gastric girls” these are actually common occurrences because our digestive tracts have been surgically altered. During pregnancy (according to "What to Expect"),

the production of progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue in your body — including the gastrointestinal tract — slowing down digestion to allow more time for the nutrients from food to be absorbed into the bloodstream and passed to your baby. But what's good for baby isn't always good for mom. The uncomfortable fullness you feel in your abdomen, especially after eating, might only get worse for some women. As your uterus grows, it'll crowd the stomach and intestines, putting more pressure on the digestive tract, and causing you to feel even more bloated during pregnancy. But here's some consolation: your baby won't feel your pain. In fact, your baby is oblivious to all your intestinal distress, and may even be soothed by the gurgling of your gastric symphony.

This concludes my educational information section regarding our baby’s development. What are some fun things to talk about and to begin conversations? Some open-ended questions for people to ponder: How do we accommodate two large families and many, many friends for a fun-filled baby shower –or- do we have more than one? What have others done? Also, we’re always in search of the “BEST” products on the market for the baby – we’ve begun to register for items, but I don’t know much about this stuff. Does anybody out there have experiences with the video baby monitors? What are the items that we may forget to register for, but should be “must-haves?” Has anybody out there (besides Kim & Rachel + Cruce- we’ve already picked their brains) used cloth diapers? If so, what brands and what was your experience? Are there any tips or tricks that people have used to combat mood swings, cravings, or gas?


We will definitely post information following our phase II ultrasound on October 27th, 2008, but until then, I will (most likely) have sporadic e-mail access because we’ll be road-tripping through Texas. Oh wait… anybody have suggestions about places I MUST visit while in Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio? Since I've shared intimate details of Rachel's pregnancy, I will share a guilty fact about myself... While in Austin, I really want to check-out the "Coyote Ugly Saloon." Yeah, yeah, yeah… I know… no need for comments… I’m still young & crazy after all these years of pretending to be an adult!

Pets...

**Photo Credits = Tee Crawford **
Right now, our dogs & cats are our "babies." They have NO idea what they are in for once May hits... Here's a photo of our innocent and unsuspecting dogs. Riley is the white Great Dane & Grace is the golden Labradoodle.

Week # 11 updates coming soon!

Week # 10

Whew... it's been a LONG week! Our appointment(s) went very well. Because Rachel is so tall, they had difficulties locating the fetus, so today we went in for our first ultrasound. It was so exciting! We saw the heart beat 176 times per minute (it looked similar to a butterfly flapping it's wings), there's four limbs, a head, and the very beginning formation of a spine. Our baby is happy, healthy, and PERFECT!



"What to Expect" says this about Week # 10:

Your baby's growth is fast and furious now. He or she is nearly an inch and a half long and the size of a prune, but not nearly as shriveled (even with all the time it spends in water). In fact, your baby is really taking a human shape now. Bones and cartilage are forming, and small indentations on the legs are developing into knees and ankles. The arms (complete with elbows) can flex already, but don't run to the store for a baseball bat just yet. Though your baby's arms are taking shape and getting stronger, each one is only about the size of this number 1. The tooth bud fairy is making her appearance this week, heralding the arrival of your baby's little choppers, which are forming under the gums. (Those pearly whites won't break through the gums until your baby is close to six months old). Other systems are go, too. Your baby's stomach is producing digestive juices, the kidneys are producing larger quantities of urine, and, if your baby's a boy, he's already producing testosterone (yikes!).

Rachel continues to have no signs of morning sickness or any nightmare pregnancy symptoms. YIPPEEEE! We're hoping to post a blog entry in the next week or so about the donor (Stephen) and his spouse (Jeremy). They are wonderful men who we adore and greatly look forward to introducing you to them soon!

Week # 9

Week 9 means that our embryo is officially a fetus! WOO HOO! Our baby is approximately one inch long and has develop a heart beat which could be heard with a Doppler (a handheld ultrasound device that amplifies the lub-dub sound the heart makes). It's exciting to know that this week, some of the organs begin to form (the liver, spleen, and gallbladder) and minuscule muscles. We are extremely excited to have our first visit to the midwife, Maggie, on Tuesday October 7th, 2008.

Rachel has been quite lucky thus far. No morning sickness, but she has been quite tired. This morning, we stayed in bed until almost 7:15am- normally, she is awake and running out the door to the YMCA around 5am. But, according to "What to Expect" (http://www.whattoexpect.com/) Rachel is experiencing "pregnancy fatigue." They say that "extreme fatigue during pregnancy is a common symptom, especially in the first trimester. And for good reason. Making a baby is hard work — make that very hard work. Consider this: During these first weeks and months of pregnancy, your body is manufacturing the placenta — your baby's life-support system. What's more, your body's metabolism and hormone levels have increased significantly while your blood sugar and blood pressure tend to be lower. Add it all up, and it's no wonder you feel as if you're competing in a triathlon each day." Alas, I have the third trimester to look forward to, because they say "The good news: You'll recover a lot of the get up and go that has gotten up and left once your body has adjusted to being pregnant and your baby's placenta is finished developing — somewhere around month four. The not-so-good news: Pregnancy fatigue is likely to reappear during the last trimester as the demands of toting around a larger fetus increase."

But don't worry folks, not only is she experiencing pregnancy fatigue right now, she's also in the midst of what they refer to as "swing time." No, this isn't a fun afternoon in the park... this is "amazing: One minute you're getting a medal for being the best spouse in the history of the world, the next you're being berated by a sobbing woman. Don't fight these mood swings, it's the hormones talking…and they'll be doing a whole lot of talking in the months to come. A hug, if you can get close enough, will do wonders. And keep a tissue box handy for those insipid TV commercials that will reduce her to tears." I've already threatened to move out of our house & into the Jeep Commander with the dogs!

Needless to say, it's Friday night and I'm sitting here on the computer because it seems to be the "safest" room in the house... only seven more months of hiding in the computer room! (Unless she bans me from the computer after reading this post!)

Welcome!

Today, Rachel and I decided it would be appropriate to begin blogging about our experiences with pregnancy and motherhood. We hope that you read the blog often, that you offer feedback & comments, and that you continue to offer your love and support through this amazing journey.