37 WEEKS, 2 days!!!

Hello! I have some incredible news to share......I am FINALLY considered FULL TERM!!!! Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooo! The good news is, if I arrive now, my lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though my due date is still 19 days away. I now weigh approximately 6 1/3 pounds and measure over 19 inches, head to heel. Things are getting a bit tight in here and I'm just about ready to pop out and meet you all! Mommy and I have felt some "Braxton Hicks" contractions off and on the past couple of weeks which apparently is her body's way of training for the big event! I sure can't wait to meet Maddi and Kaiser too, they have been really curious and I need to claim my territory in the new house! By the way, we are getting all settled in to our new home in Farmington, MN. Mommy has been cleaning, washing, organizing.........preparing my "nest." It will soon be all ready for my arrival. Daddy has been working VERY hard and is looking forward to a nice 2 week break to spend with me and mommy SOON! We'll keep you posted as the time gets near! Take care everyone and keep your eye on this site....a picture of me will be posted before you know it!

Belly 35 weeks, 5 days (not that I'm counting)

Baby Shower-34 weeks

Thank you Gma Yudy for travel system!

35 weeks....my name is FINALLY out!

Mommy and daddy FINALLY made their decision on what to call me....yeaaaaah!....Kiera was my favorite name too! (Wish I could have told them and made their decision easier!) :-) It's about time, considering it's been 35 WEEKS!!! I now weigh about 4 3/4 pounds- about like your average cantaloupe-and I'm almost 18 inches long. My fat layers, which will help regulate my body temperature once I'm born, are filling out, making me rounder. At my last check up, the doctor said "we know she'll be a bigger than average-sized baby..." whatever that's supposed to mean! What's "average size" these days anyway! My skin is apparently smoother than ever, and my central nervous system and lungs continue to mature as well. If anyone is worried about preterm labor (mommy has been a little bit,) you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. Mommy and daddy hope I keep cooking until my expected arrival date since they have quite a bit to do before I arrive. Congratulations to daddy on his promotion which will move us all up to a suburb of the twin cities-Farmington, MN on October 1st! Daddy is now working in Mendota Heights and mommy will stay at Mayo as long as the commute is manageable. I'm SO excited because once I arrive, mommy plans to work only 3 days a week...that means she gets to stay home with me and the pups more often! I can't wait!

BIG THANK YOUs go out to the hosts (Heather, Brandi, Tanya, and Kirsti) and all of mommy's friends who attended her shower and for all the wonderful gifts we received!!! We had a BLAST!

I'll keep you posted as the countdown continues.......5 WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

31 weeks

Well, I am FINALLY getting around to updating everyone on how things are going. I am 31 weeks, 5 days and growing strong! Had my check up last week and all is well. Head down and sunny side up, I am just passing the time until I am ready to join the real world. Just 8 weeks to go!!!! I have been told I measure in at ~16 inches and I'm heading into a growth spurt. I am really starting to wiggle along nicely now, and I can even turn my head from side to side. I am moving my arms, legs, and body am beginning to plump out as fat accumulates underneath my skin. As you can see above, mommy's beginning to plump out as well..hehe.
My new room is FINALLY ready to go....daddy hung my favorite monkey picture last weekend!
My new dresser with MP3 player monkey and baby picture of Maddi :-)

Belly at 29 weeks, 5 days :-)

Look at me now!!! I'm growing steady! Don't have much time to chat, but wanted to share the picture of mommy's tummy, and let you know I passed my latest physical with flying colors. Head down and moving briskly, I am in the perfect position to enter the world in just approximately 10 weeks! WOW!!! :-) For the record, I weighed in at 3 pounds 5 ounces this week. Doctor says I'm "not too big" and I measure just 2 days difference from my due date. I still am scheduled to arrive around Gramma Judy's birthday...October 27th! Hope all are doing well.....more to come soon!

28 WEEKS!!

How is everyone doing? I'm finally filling you in on what I've been up to lately. At 28 weeks, I now weigh about two and a quarter pounds (about like a chinese cabbage) and measure ~14.5 inches from the top of my head to my heels. I am really starting to wiggle now, pushing mommy's tummy out. I am now blinking my eyes, which are sporting eyelashes. My eyesight is developing, allowing me to see the light that filters in through the womb. I'm also developing billions of neurons in my brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. (ONLY 11 1/2 more weeks!!!) Thought I'd share the picture of Maddi catching a little snuggle with mommy's belly! I tried to kick her several times, but she didn't even flinch...I think doggie day care wore her out!! :-) I sure can't wait to meet her and Kaiser in person. We will never be bored! I have a check-up next week with a formal ultrasound so mommy, daddy, and doctor can see how I am positioned and check out my movement. I'll keep you posted with my report card!