39 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights for the Week:

How Far Along: 39 weeks

Fruit/Veggie: He is now the weight of a mini watermelon.

Size: a little over 7 pounds and about 20 inches long

Baby Changes: Chandler 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. (supposedly boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath. Chandler has frequent hiccups. I found out its because there is no air around him and when he practices breathing, it can cause amniotic fluid to get into his windpipe. I wonder if he will have them alot once he is born. The circumference of his head and abdomen are about the same size now

Best Moment this week: My parents came in town this past weekend. I got to spend Saturday with my mom and we had so much fun together. We did some shopping at Half Priced Books, lunch at McAlisters, pedicures, dinner at Fuzzy's. :)

Gender: precious BOY, Chandler Owen

Movement: He is still pretty active everyday. Sometimes I feel like he is trying to get out but I am sure he is just crammed in there. :)

Food/Drink Craving: lime popcicles, strawberry ice cream, fruit, salad, chocolate *Still no spaghetti

Sleep: Sleep has been rough. I can't wait to sleep on my tummy again! I think I am sleeping at about 2 hour intervals at this point.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting our sweet baby boy! We are really excited but I have been able to really cherish these last few weeks as well. I have really loved being pregnant. Everything is ready to go just waiting on him!

Here is a picture of his glider recovered. I think I am going to work on making a little throw pillow for it. We wanted to cover it with a gender neutral color. My sweet cousin gave us this amazing glider, Thanks Alicia. We love it.

His window is finished. We are going to eventually hang pictures and such on it with little clips. You should have seen me 38 weeks pregnant squatting over on a stool painting. Funny site I'm sure. My amazing husband did all the chicken wire and hooks!

Symptoms: My feet and hands are still very swollen. I am having more lower back pain. Contractions are picking up but none "true labor" contractions.

If I don't go into labor before Tuesday we will have more to report then. :)

Apparently some can't wait 2 more days for an BABY update. :)

38 weeks 5 days

Today we went to the doctor for my weekly checkup.

They check my blood pressure and it was considerably higher than my "normal" but they rechecked it and it had gone down a little.

My feet/hands are still really swollen.

His heartbeat sounded like a horse trotting, very strong and loud. Still around 150bpm.

I am dilated to a 1.

Not much progress but at least my body is starting something.
She said it would be very possible for him to come in the next week so we will see.

I will go back Tuesday if I haven’t had him and we will discuss what to do from there.

Keep praying he comes before the 5th, she leaves that day for vacation.

Either way we are trusting he will come at the perfect time.

38 weeks

See all my bags/pillow packed in the background? Oh and the AMAZING fan.I feel like you can tell a big difference this week from last week. Anyone else agree?

Don't forget to comment here and tell us when you think Chandler will arrive. Right now we have no July guesses, only ones for August 1-10. August 6 seems to be a popular guess with 3 votes. What do you think?

Pregnancy Highlights for the Week:

How Far Along: 38 weeks

Fruit/Veggie: He is now as long as a leek

Size: about 7 pounds and is around 19 or 20 inches long

Baby Changes: Chandler's intestines have accumulated a considerable amount of meconium (the code name for black, tar-like baby poop). Nice huh? He might just scratch himself in the womb as his fingernails have probably grown over the fingertips now. His lungs continue to mature and his brain and nerve function are working better every day.

He is tending to a few last-minute details like shedding the skin-protecting vernix and lanugo. He's also producing more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in his lungs from sticking to one another once he starts to breathe.

Best Moment this week: Well really this is a "best thing" in general about getting ready for Chandler but I wanted to share this week. We have honestly been given SO much to prepare for him. We have spent very little and people have really gone above and beyond being generous to help us. Everything we had on our list that we needed or some things that we just wanted we have been blessed with.

Besides all the wonderful shower gifts these are other things that I can think of that people just came up to us and asked if we needed.

-crib, glider, car seat, Moby wrap, sling, baby clothes/hats/shoes, diapers, travel system stroller, jogging stroller, toys, diaper bag, bassinet, travel swing, and I am sure there are more that I just can't think of right now.

Two different times we specifically had been talking about needing something and someone asked us if they could give us theirs. How blessed we are. We know that God promises to take care of his people but this was a tangible/practical way we really saw that happen in our life.

Also, we put the car seat in the car this week!

Gender: precious BOY, Chandler Owen

Movement: I think he is slowing down as the room is strinking. Still some slower harder movements. He has awake/sleep periods now. He is still getting the hiccups alot. Yesterday I had a flat part of my stomach around my belly button area..it felt really crazy.

Food/Drink Craving: ice water, milk, cereal, juice, fruit, strawberries, chocolate chip pound cake (this is Kirbys fault, since she gave me the best recipe!) *Still no spaghetti

Sleep: Sleep is off and on. I wake up often some to use the restroom and some just because...the times usually vary but I can always count on waking up right around 2:30.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting our sweet baby boy! We are really excited but I have been able to really cherish these last few weeks as well. I have really loved being pregnant. We are still only lacking his glider being recovered and finishing his window for the wall.

Symptoms: My feet and hands are very swollen now but my doctor said she thinks we are still okay because I have no other symptoms of preeclampsia. Normal daily things are getting harder to do like putting clothes in the dryer, driving, getting up, etc. He is pushing down pretty hard now but I know that is to be expected.

Doctor visit Update

I went to the doctor today.

Everything went great. His heartbeat was in the 150's and my blood pressure was good.

I was concerned about being so swollen but she said that with my levels and the temperature outside she thinks everything is normal.

He is head down and has dropped. Yay. We were kinda thinking he had. She said his head is very low and that I haven't started dilating but my cervix is starting to thin. She said my body is definatly preparing for labor soon.

So, probably no baby this week but we will reevaluate next Tuesday, July 27 and see what has changed.

She leaves August 5 for vacation so keep praying he comes before then!

Any last minute advice/suggestions?

37 weeks

I start my weekly appointments next week. Every Tuesday until he comes. Hopefully we will know more on Tuesday.

Don't forget to comment here and tell us when you think Chandler will arrive.

Pregnancy Highlights for the Week:

How Far Along: 37 weeks (he is now officially "full term")

Fruit/Veggie: Again, I don't know where these people come up with these. He is now the length of a Swiss Chard...(the coin beside it is a quarter)

Size: about 19 inches and 6 1/3 pounds

Baby Changes: If I was to go into labor now, Chandler's lungs would likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.

Chandler is putting on weight at a very fast pace during the 37 weeks pregnant stage. The fat is getting deposited on his cheeks, knees and elbows and these are becoming dimpled due to fat deposition. He is putting on weight at the rate of ½ ounce per day. 

His skin is fast losing its wrinkled appearance and the skin colour is becoming pinker. He is breathing very well by now. He weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel.

Best Moment this week: Cody and I had childbirth class on Saturday. I didn't really know what to expect but it was actually a fun time that we got to spend together. Our instructor was awesome and answered lots of questions we had.

Gender: precious BOY, Chandler Owen

Movement: He is pushing around alot. Slower harder movements. He is still getting the hiccups alot.

Food/Drink Craving: Really most food hasn't sounded good this week. I haven't been very hungry. These things sound somewhat good...limeade, water with limes, purple grapes, milk, cereal, juice, fruit, yogurt, turkey sandwiches *Any type of red/spaghetti sauce has been the worst during the whole pregnancy, hopefully this will change because I like spaghetti. :)

Sleep: Sleep is going okay. I feel like considering the circumstances I am sleeping good. I wake up often and sometimes I can't go back to sleep but being home I can always take naps during the day if I really need it. I almost rolled off the bed the other night..

What I am looking forward to: Meeting our sweet baby boy! We are only lacking his glider being recovered and finishing his window for the wall. Everything has batteries now and is put together ready for him to use!

My sweet friend Candice made his changing pad cover and covered his Boppy this week.
Thanks sweet Candice. Your the best!

I made this canvas to go over his crib this week.

Kendra gave me these cute canvas pictures to go in his nursery.

We got his baby book in the mail this week!

Also, we got our package of cloth diapers, diaper sprayer, wipes, and wet bag.

Symptoms: Well, my belly button is officically GONE. I have always had a deep innie belly button but it is totally flat now and a little of the top pokes out.

My feet and hands are considerably swollen now. They other day my "fake" pregnancy wedding ring which I bought 2 sizes bigger was actually tight. Yikes.

Still no contractions, well they might be happening but none that I feel yet. I am feeling more pressure this week. Maybe he will be dropping soon.

I feel like my hair/skin is returning to pre-pregnancy. They have been really dry all through pregnancy and now I am starting to see the oil returning. Sad day.

1 Year Ago Today...

We bought our 1st house!

July 15, 2009

And here it is today...

July 15, 2010

It is crazy to think how much has changed and it has only been a year. It is all because of my wonderful husband. He has seriously done 99% of the work.

Thank you Cody for all your hard work in making our house a home. It is beautiful and I love it.

Just looking at the outside of it these are some of the changes....

we can actually see the front of our house now

there are LIVE plants in the courtyard and the grass goes all the way to the wall

there are no ugly numbers about to fall off the house

(this is what I was intiallly so concerned about, of course)

we have the coolest little lights

all the gutters have nice little guards

(I don't think we have a picture of these for some reason) :)

we have a cute mailbox, not like this one

the grass is actually GREEN

AND there is a fence to hide that nasty trash can. :)

Comment and Tell Us What You Think!

We want to know when you think Chandler will be here. If you want you can also guess his birth weight and length. We will announce winners after his birth. Here are some details to help you with your guess.

• His original due date was August 3 at 8 weeks.
• Then he measured August 10 at his 12 week ultrasound.
• At our gender ultrasound he measured August 1.
• Our doctor said he could come anywhere from July 20-August 10.
• His "official" due date is August 5.
  

Blueberry Muffins and Pancakes

We really love having frozen muffins to heat up for breakfast. I saw this recipe so I decided to try it. I doubled the recipe and it made 36 muffins. I did taste one and they were really good. :)

They aren't super sweet like the packaged kind but they will be yummy heated up with some butter for breakfast.

Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup blueberries - (fresh/frozen- I used fresh but either will work)

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees
-In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and sugar; mix well.
-In a separate smaller bowl beat eggs lightly and stir in milk, and oil.
-Quickly stir egg mixture into dry ingredients.
-Carefully stir in blueberries
-Spoon mixture into greased muffin cups and bake for 15 to 17 minutes.

Yummy Pancakes
1 1/2 cup flour
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 T sugar
1 1/4 c. milk
1 egg
3 T melted butter
1 T Cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients in separate bowl. Then mix the two together.

36 weeks

I actually cheated. This was from two days ago.

Pregnancy Highlights for the Week:

How Far Along: 36 weeks

Fruit/Veggie: the weight of a Crenshaw Melon (I had no idea what this was so I added a picture for all those visual people) :)

Size: 18 1/2 inches and almost 6 pounds

Baby Changes: Chandler is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath.

At the end of this week, Chandler will be considered full-term. His gums are firm with ridges that look somewhat like teeth. He has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping. He will become alert and turn his head toward light and sound just as a newborn would.

Best Moment this week: My sweet friend Ashley's wedding. I have taught with Ash the past 3 years and now we are both starting a new season of our life. I am sure going to miss her. She got married to the man of her dreams on July 3. It was such a beautiful day and we are so excited for them.

Gender: precious BOY, Chandler Owen

Movement: About the same. Slower harder movements. He is still getting the hiccups alot. They seem so fast!

Food/Drink Craving: water with limes, purple grapes, milk, chocolate, juice, fruit

Sleep: I am sleeping some, my legs and hands have started to fall asleep while I am sleeping. I will wake up to them tingling.

What I am looking forward to: We have a few things to finish but we are mostly ready to go. I have bought all the things to take to the hospital, we aren't "packed" but we have most everything ready. I need to work on the changing pad cover, boppy, and the canvas for above his crib. Here are a few things that have been finished recently.

This is above his changing table/dresser.

Crib is finished! Yay.

And thanks to my dear friend Candice his car seat is finished too. I actually bought the tutorial off Etsy for $3.99 but we made everything ourselves. Little did I know we were actually recovering the entire thing instead of making a cover. I learned alot.. how to rip off bias tape, how to make my own patterns, and how you should always take pictures so you know how it goes back together. :)

Symptoms: Same as last week: I feel hungry but get full really fast these days. My "sore spot" has been somewhat better this week, it comes and goes. I haven't felt any contractions yet.

Happy Birthday Cody!

This weekend was really busy with Ashley and Kevin's wedding but not only was it their wedding day but it was also Cody's birthday. I know this is late but I didn't want to miss posting about my sweet husband.

They don't look anything alike do they?

My parents, his parents, his sister, aunt, and grandma all came Saturday night for a cookout at our house.

I had to put this one for Ami! :)

Happy Birthday love.

It's crazy how my love for you grows more and more everyday. You are going to be such a wondeful father. I admire your love for the Lord, your ability to make everything look so good, your hardwork, dedication, and passion for people. You have grown so much this year and I am so thankful that God gave me you.

I love you!

Sweet Little Anneke

Yesterday in the mail I got a package from my cousins daughter, Anneke.

She is precious.

Quite the artist. This is what she did most of the week at Mo Ranch.

She is the age of the kiddos in my class. I love their inventive spelling and creativity.
"I am not sckerd ov sarcks's" :)

Here is what was in the envelope.

Lots of sweet notes. My favorite part about the whole thing was my name, Chillsei.

She has 2 younger brothers that she had draw pictures for me too. "Griffon's picher".

The picture to the far left I am guessing is saying Chelsea sews "Chellsei sows", maybe since I took some sewing project on vacation. I could be wrong about this one.

Adorable.

35 weeks

I went to the doctor on Tuesday. My doctor was out of town so I saw the midwife at S&W. She was really great. She said that he is measuring right on track. She listened to his heartbeat but I think we were talking so much that she forgot to tell me what it was. She felt his head and he is still head down. I only have three more scheduled appointments. We did find out that my doctor goes out of town the day after my due date. So we are praying that little Chandler would come before August 5.

Pregnancy Highlights for the Week:

How Far Along: 35 weeks

Fruit/Veggie: the weight of an average honey dew melon

Size: a little over 18 inches and about 5 1/4 pounds

Baby Changes: Chandler doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pound. 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.

Best Moment this week: My sweet College Station shower. It was so cute and such a fun time of fellowship and prayer. We feel blessed to have such amazing friends that are truly like our family.

Gender: precious BOY, Chandler Owen

Movement: I feel like I can feel him moving more this week. Maybe because he is getting bigger the movements are harder. It is really funny to watch my stomach move.

Food/Drink Craving: water with limes, root beer (again), Fiber One Bars (Oats and Chocolate), candied jalapenos, chips and salsa, yogurt

Sleep: I am sleeping some just feel really restless. I guess with the potty breaks and trying to balance on your side its understandable.

What I am looking forward to: Finishing his nursery. Chandler's bumper is almost done, just the ties to go. We finished his name plaque for the wall but need to hang it. I need to work on the window wall hanging and something to go above his crib. We are getting more and more anxious to meet him as the weeks go! Also, since we had the College Station shower we just need to go shopping to finish up buying all the last minute items.

Symptoms: I feel hungry but get full really fast these days. My "sore spot" has been somewhat better this week, it comes and goes. I haven't felt any contractions yet. He does get the hiccups about once a day or so.