5th Month Reflections

Here is what's been going on in the 5th month:

- I am very confused on how to count the months in pregnancy. Between my books and the internet, there are at least 3 different ways people count them. For my use, I have concluded that I will use the system that has my due date actually landing on 10 months... it seems to make the most sense to count each 4 weeks as a month.

- My instincts were right all along. It's a boy! It actually took me about a week for it to sink in still. Now seeing all the little boy things in the store makes me melt!

- Picking a name is going to be hard! Blaine and I have mostly differing taste in names, and only a few we both like.

- Designing the nursery is also more overwhelming than I thought. I've started with a 33 page document on my computer filled with clipped pictures of ideas, bedding, colors, and such.

- I am very disturbed at the way my belly button is continuously morphing. It has so far journeyed through stages of innie, flat-ish, semi-outtie, lop-sided outie, and now flatting again. It's really weird!

- It's crazy to hit the halfway mark at 20 weeks. Really, it's astonishing to realize how fast its gone and how soon he's going to be here!

- I am still obsessing about my weight gain. At 20 weeks, I've gained 11 lbs. I am no longer 'underweight' on the chart :( ... now I'm hovering at 'just right'. It's time to cut back on the ice cream!

- Right at 20 weeks, the little kicks started! It's so much fun to feel the little 'thumps' in my belly. I am really looking forward to when they are strong enough for Blaine to feel.

Belly Pictures - Month 5

17 weeks (baby is the size of a turnip): 18 weeks (baby is the size of a sweet potato): 19 weeks (baby is the size of a mango or heirloom tomato): 20 weeks (baby is the size of a cantaloupe):

It's a ...

It's a BOY!!!

I had my fetal anatomy ultrasound at 18 weeks and Blaine and I are thrilled to be expecting a son! Even better news yet is that the baby is perfectly healthy!!! Our baby boy:


I have always had a habit of enjoying medical television shows, and when I get laid down on the exam table, a flash of all the abnormalities that can happen to anybody fly though my head. As the technician talked us through each part of the exam, it was like reaching a new, previously unknown levels of joy with each phrase that came out of her mouth.

"baby is 8 inches long and about 8 ounces"
"all four chamber of the heart"
"each leg is measuring just right"
"the nose and mouth look just right, no cleft"
"I see a thumb with four fingers, and same on the other hand"
"stomach and bladder are functioning perfectly"
"wow, the head is measuring large ... but still within normal range"

What?!? Did I hear that right?

Sure enough, the little guy has a head circumference that measures in the 97% percentile. My own fault for marrying the smart guy with all the brains! Is it too early to get an epidural NOW?

Then the moment of truth ... looking right up at the baby's bottom, there it was! We have a boy on the way! After that I could hardly stop crying for the rest of the exam. I have thought it was a boy all along (since I was only a few weeks pregnant, I just had a gut feeling). Blaine thought it was a girl, and he stood firmly with the minority as most of our friends and family thought it was a boy. I really would have been thrilled either way, but somehow, knowing and picturing whether it will be a son or daughter makes it so much more real. It was awesome, overwhelming, and so joyful! I'll never forget the look on Blaine's face afterwards. He looked so happy, and kept shaking his head muttering how awesome it was and that he felt dizzy.

Here is an edited clip of the ultrasound video. I set it to music and gave it sub-titles ... now it makes me cry when I watch it!

Now that we know it's a boy, the trigger has been pulled on the next stage of Project Baby Prep in the Shelton house: choosing a name and nursery design!

In Good Company

It's been one of my joys of pregnancy to be expecting at the same time as one of my best friends. Molly was scheduled for a c-section as she neared the end of her pregnancy. Since it was the last week before she became a mama of 2, I was thrilled to treat her to the "last burger" at our favorite lunch spot, Five Guys. It must have been quite a scene to see two pregnant women devouring juicy burgers and greasy fries!

Afterwards, we asked a stranger to take a photo to commemorate our kindred maternity-hood. Here we are with Molly at 39 weeks and me at 17 weeks. I was shocked to look in the view-finder of the camera to see how BIG my belly looks in this picture! I think it's official: no more beer gut for me, I've "popped"!

Nathan Blaine (our first Godson!) was born 3 days later on July 30th at 11:30am at 7 lbs 14oz and 21.5 inches long. Welcome to the world little burger-baby!