Well, I yet again write to you from snow-covered New England… currently, Rachel is sitting on a patio in downtown Santa Cruz eating Mexican food with her dad. I can’t even begin to explain my jealousy! After an extended trip yesterday, due to delays and lovely snow storm related travel, Rachel arrived safely in San Jose around 9:30pm (i.e. 12:30am our time)- my poor wife was exhausted and my daughter, Lucy, was expressing her discontent with flying. Apparently, Lucy was kicking up a storm and generally acting unhappy immediately following the air travel. Picky little girl already –or- should I say “She knows what she likes?”
This is week 26, thus, we’re officially into month six of Rachel’s pregnancy. Approximately 14 weeks to go! WOO HOO! What to say about the recent pregnancy developments? Well, we posted this past month’s ultrasound photos below and Rachel is scheduled to have another one on February 19th, 2009 @ 8:30am- we’ve invited my grandparents to join us for the appointment. Lucy continues to develop as expected and is one healthy little girl!
Here’s what “What to Expect” says about Lucy’s development:
Lucy’s eyes — which have been closed for the past few months (so that the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop) — are beginning to open. What this means is that she is able to see what's going on now (unfortunately the view in Rachel’s uterus isn't all that exciting). The iris, the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have much pigmentation (that'll fill in over the next month or two), so it's too early to start guessing her eye color (Rachel has blue eyes and Steven has brown eyes). Even the color she is be born with might not be the permanent shade; so we may be kept guessing until she is close to six months old.
Lucy’s brain-wave activity is kicking in at this stage in fetal development, which means she can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them. Not in so many words, of course, but with an increase in pulse rate or activity. And talking about activity, at your her current height and weight (about nine inches tall and two pounds), and at the rate she is growing, she will soon be feeling a little cramped in Rachel’s uterus. Not to worry, there's still plenty of room for her to grow. It just means our little gymnast will have less room for somersaults, cartwheels, and other Olympic feats.
What else can I tell you this week? Well, Rachel’s sister and mother are in the process of planning our baby shower; looks like it will occur in Vermont on April 4th, 2009- but don’t forget to bring presents for me because it’s the day before my birthday! Hee hee hee! Just kidding! We’re definitely in the pre-planning stages of this event, but we will keep people posted. I ordered cookie cutters (see above & below) in the shape of a baby bottle and a baby carriage so we can share my grandma’s delicious sugar cookies with our guests! Rachel and I are also in the early phase of scheduling birthing classes and tours of the birthing center at our hospital.
Needless to say, everything is falling into place and our dreams of beginning our family are becoming a not-so-far-off reality!
