It's The Final Stretch

Two weeks to go! We can't believe that our little man is almost here. I have been going in for weekly visits and he's weighing in at 7lbs. and 11ozs. now! I'm feeling pretty tired and have slowed down a lot, which is hard because we have so much last minute stuff to get prepared for his arrival.



My mom and sister put on a baby shower for us a few weeks back. We received so much stuff. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful group of family and friends that offer so much support. Luke is one special baby. I wanted my shower to be a surprise. They did a good job keeping the secret. I found out the morning of when we were bringing Emma to her t-ball pictures. Lyla kept whispering to me from the back seat of the car "Baby Shower"...lol. Jamie told me we were going out for a brunch and that he wanted to dress the girls up so I connected the dots. She is lucky she is sooooo cute.

Can you say KankleSourusREX! That is code for giant ankles, OMG! You have to see these things (pictures to come). I've been retaining quite a bit of fluid. I have what they call edema. It's not too painful. Jamie has been good to me and rubs them a lot to help move the fluid around.





I finally have Luke's crib area set-up. It looks adorable. We are working with limited space but I'm happy with the turn out. I've created a list of to-do's and have been working through it. I'm hoping to have it finished by the end of this weekend. Things left: install Luke's car seat, wash newborn/0-3 baby clothes and linins, pack hospital bag and take family belly pictures. I keep saying I'll pack my hospital bag tonight...I really need to get that one done! I have a feeling we are going to have an early arrival (I hope)!




Luke has been pretty active in my belly. Some times when he moves you can see it from just looking at my belly. Other times if I have my hand on my belly I can feel his body parts moving around pushing outward. It's a little weird but very cool. I am not too frightened of what's to come of labor. We'll see if that’s a good or bad thing. I'm feeling pretty confident I'll get through it ok. It's been done how many times before me? I'm going to try and breath my way through it and will get an epidural if I need it. Hopefully this plan works. Wish me luck!

Almost 33 Weeks!

It's been a while. Things have been moving along quickly. Luke has been growing rapidly. At his last routine ultrasound and checkup he was measuring a week ahead of schedule. We had a follow-up prenatal diagnostics visit today and he is weighing 4 pounds 12 ounces. One of his kidneys is measuring a bit above average which means we will have to go for some follow up testing. We are just staying positive and hoping that things will work themselves out before his arrival. Everything else is looking normal and the Dr. confirmed yet again we are definitely having a boy...lol.



He has been moving about quite a bit in my belly. Slowing down in frequency from his movements this past month but they are stronger and visibly detected from outside my belly. You can actually see my belly twich sometimes when he is moving about. He is most active around lunch time which has changed from his normal evening gymnastics.

We have been preparing for his arrival at the apartment. We picked up his crib and moved our bedroom/nursery. We'll be assembling and organizing things over the next few weeks. A big thank you goes out to my friend Laney who gave us her crib from her son Jordan. I'll post some pictures once we have it set up. I love it and can't wait to see it with the bedding.

Overall I've been feeling pretty good. My hands have been sore and tingling and my ankles get a bit swollen by the end of the day but this is quite normal according to my Dr. and is fine by me because the pain is minimal. It just feels strange. I've been a bit tired but nothing like my first trimester so I'll take it!

I had a baby shower at work last Thursday which was a big surprise and a lot of fun! I'm hoping to have some baby bump updates for you by the end of the week. My aunt Joanne is going to take some better ones for me at the end of the month. I can't wait. I've posted his most recent ultrasound pictures below. The ones taken today had pretty good detail of his face. It was very cool seeing him. When seeing him through the ultrasounds he has been keeping a hand up by his mouth. I can't wait to see if he does this outside of my belly too. Hopefully he doesn't suck his thumb like mommy did...

Drum Roll Please...

Here are the pictures you all have been waiting for. You'll see there is some serious progression from 8 weeks to 27 1/2 weeks. Enjoy <3

Week 27- Our Baby Boy has a Name!

Sorry it's been a while. I've been putting updating the blog off in the hopes to update you all with a baby bump picture but my schedule seems to be too busy to capture an image of my quickly growing belly. Hopefully I can get one this weekend. But, we have marked a milestone, Jamie and I have agreed on a name! Out little man is no longer nameless: Luke Alan Campbell is his name. We are both very excited to have a name picked out for him. It proved to be a challenging task but with patients and compromise we named our son.



What's In a Name?
The name Luke is Greek in origin. It means to be a native of Lucania, a region of Italy. Luke is also sometimes used in the English form which means bright, light or illuminate. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration (2006), Luke is the 43rd most popular name of new babies. Alan is a family name in the Campbell family. It is given as a middle name to the first born son. Jamie is very proud to keep this tradition alive.

Some Famous Luke's



What's Luke Up To?

Our little guy is about 15 inches long now and is weighing in at about two pounds. He has been pretty active in my belly. I feel him bouncing around in there at different times of the day. One time it caught me off guard and was so prominent that I actually said ouch out loud! Jamie finally was able to feel him moving about my belly. Luke is very active at night when I'm laying down to sleep. If he is positioned just right in my belly you can hear his heart by placing your ear up to my stomach. I had a Drs. Appointment last week that went well. We have another ultrasound scheduled the beginning of April. Can't wait to see some pictures it feels like it's been forever.

Other Stuff
Overall I've been feeling pretty good. I've run into some minor complications along the way but for the most part I've been doing well. On Valentine's weekend I was admitted over night to labor and delivery for a kidney infection. I'm on antibiotics for the remainder of the pregnancy to keep this in check. Kidney infections are prone to reoccurring in pregnancy so hopefully the medication will keep it regulated because I don't want to endure that kind of pain again until labor ;0) I did get a sneak preview of what it's going to be like when the big day comes, so I look at it as a fire drill. I also had a glucose/diabetes scare. I failed my 6 month screening and had to go in for elaborate testing. Fortunately the extended test came back normal and I'm diabetes free. What a relief! My belly finally popped a few weeks ago. Wednesday my jeans fit and when I went to put the same pair of jeans on that Saturday I couldn't even get the button near the loop. The following Tuesday barely and of my shirts fit. I've been maternity clothes shopping here and there and I've also been fortunate enough to have friends let me borrow maternity clothes. Strangers have finally started approaching me and asking if I'm pregnant and when I'm due.

Roseanna's Little Banana

I had another Dr's. appointment this past Monday. No ultrasound this time though. It's not as much fun when I can't see my little man. I heard his heart beat though and it's good and strong. He is right on target according to my Dr., who I finally got to meet. Her name is Dr. French and she seems to be a good match. Still no name for the little one so hang in there. We will let you all know once we have decided. Who knew the naming process would be so difficult! We have agreed on baby bedding. I love the nursery theme and hope you do to.

Our little guy is the size of a banana this week. My dad always called me Roseanna Banana so I guess that has some genuine meaning to it this week ;0) He is weighing in at 12.7 ounces and is about 10.5 inches long. He is working hard at gaining fat to store on his bones. I have been pretty helpful with this as I have already packed on 20 lbs. andhave been an ice cream monster lately. Today I'm craving something spicy and am wishing there was some Indian or Creole food closer to my office but I'll just have to forfil that craving at dinner tonight. Overall I've been feeling pretty good. My belly is definatley reshaping and looking pretty pregnant these days.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

We're 1/2 Way There!

It's week 20 already, well tomorrow will be, which means we are half way through this pregnancy. Time is going by fast. I moved in with Jamie this past weekend and am getting settled. Jamie's daughters Emma (5) and Lyla (2) are very excited for thier baby brothers arrival. I tell them he will be coming early summer and Emma asks if that's before Valentines Day. Too Cute. We still haven't decided on a name for our little man yet but are working on it, so stay tuned! My dad/Grampy wanted me to let you all know that he knew it was a boy all along. He has been calling him baby Jake from the get-go. I mentioned in an earlier posting that my mom and I were guessing he was a boy and I did'nt mean to leave Big Pops out...lol!














What's Going On With Baby?
He is weighing in at about 10 ounces this week and is measuring approximately 16 centimeters from crown to rump. Now that all his organs are developed and systems are working on their own, so he is just working on growing big and strong for his arrival. I have been feeling him move around more frequently and am loving it. It's not occurring every day but a few times a week. Within the next two weeks it should pick-up. He tends to be up and about when I'm winding down for the night. My pancake kick has subsided a little. I've gone back to my old egg eating ways with a pancake here and there. Hot fudge sundaes is what I'm talking about these days!

It's A BOY!

Boy, oh boy, it's a Boy! We found out this morning at our 18 week ultrasound. He was being a bit difficult and refused to show the goods at first but he soon gave in and we were delighted to hear the news. Jamie was exceptionally happy, he said in the doctor's office, "I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty excited" and he followed that up with a fist-pump on the way out. So bring on the blues, greens and yellows...

I have posted some updated images above. You can see some profile pictures of his head an his "man parts"...I can't figure them out, so better luck to you! The technician took several different measurements of his brain, heart and a few other organs. Growth is exactly to date, 18 weeks and two day. I found that very remarkable seeing that's exactly where I am today.

My Mom (Mimi) has already whipped up a baby blanket for the little guy! She crocheted it, it's green and very soft. I kind of want to keep it for myself ;0) Mimi and I had a hunch I was having a boy, contrary to Aunt Brenda and Rosie's needle test...thank God! Jamie thought we were having a girl so he was pleasantly surprised. We will be sharing the news with Emma and Lyla tomorrow. Lyla was hoping for a boy so she will grateful. Emma on the other hand was hoping for a girl so we will have to let her down ligthly but I'm sure she will be equally excited.

I have been feeling pretty tired again lately but overall pretty good. There were a few different complications that have cleared up since my last visit which is a big relief. I did however test high risk for Downs Syndrome. I'll be going in for further input/testing for that on Monday. Praying that it's just a false-positive result which happens often.

Here's what's going on with our baby boy this week:
The baby has grown to 14 centimeters crown to rump. Adding two ounces in just one week, he tips the scales at seven ounces. His limbs are lengthening, and at last, his body length is catching up to his head size. His bones are still malleable but are beginning to ossify. He is about the size of a mango. Although he has been very active during our ultrasound appointments I haven't felt any more kicks. They should pickup any day now...I'm looking forward to it.

Week 17

One more week down. I changed my Dr. this week and had a meet and greet with the hospital. I will be delivering in Beverly with Dr. Amanda French. Today I signed up for birthing classes. Those will start up in May, which seems like forever away. Next Friday is the big day...we will be finding out the baby's gender! Stay tuned :0)

My baby bump is continuing to grow. It's still not too visible through my clothes but it's poking through. I've grown about 2-3 dress sizes already! Baby is measuring about 12 cm from crown to rump this week. He/she is developing unique finger and toe prints. The baby is now digesting and making it's own bowel movements (don't worry they don't stink yet :) His/her blood is circulating and the umbilical cord is growing long and thick due to his/her rapid growing needs.

Week 16

Surprise! I'm 16+ weeks pregnant. I'm getting very excited and figured I could use this blog to share my excitement while keeping my family and friends informed on new developments. The baby's due date is June 23rd. On December 14th I received my early risk assessment and all results came back normal which was a great relief. During that visit I had my most recent sonogram, as you can see from the pictures the baby is developing pretty quickly. The sonogram shows the head and chest profile. You can see very good detail of the brain, eye, nose, lips, ear and spine. We will be finding out the baby's gender at the end of January so stay tuned for an updated sonogram and the BIG NEWS! On New Year's Day I think I felt the baby move for the first time. I felt a squirming sensation in my belly. My belly is getting a bit bigger but it's not too obvious yet.

The Baby's Development at 16 Weeks:

Right now our baby is about the size of an avocado measuring 4 1/2 inches long head to rump and is about 3 1/2 ounces. His/her legs are much more developed, his/her head is more erect that it has been and his/her eyes have moved closer to the front of his/her head. The baby's ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his/her scalp has begun, though hair is not recognizable yet. He/she's even started growing toenails. There is a lot happening inside too. For example, his/her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as the baby continues to develop. It's so amazing knowing I have all this activity going on in my belly! What a blessing :0)