Tummy VS. Tummy

I know all I've posted recently is "baby this, baby that" but that's all that's been happening really. Aside from work-work-work.... so not to bore everyone with yet another baby-related post, but it is exciting for us!

We took these tummy-shots the day of our shopping trip. Robyn has wanted to post her own tummy-shot first (on her blog) but hasn't had time. In the meantime, our tummies are starting to grow at an amazing rate so I needed to rush to get this one out the door. Will post another double-tummy-shot around Thanksgiving (couple of weeks).

I know most of the blog readers are moms, but I have to say, it is the oddest feeling to have your belly morph into this cute little ball. Knowing what you are growing inside you just seems crazy. I keep thinking of the movie, Alien ... hopefully our baby isn't as crabby as those aliens when they come popping out! ;)

Gobble! Oink! Hee-Haw!

My mom dropped by yesterday and we went to Jack & Jills, a pre-owned baby and maternity boutique in Medford. My mom got a few great items that were definitely worth the buy. Inchworm picked up a few things for herself/himself and then bought daddy a present. Our first baby items purchase!














I must say, Inchworm is such a bargain-shopper! We picked up an Eddie Bauer Front Carrier for $28.00. I almost didn't buy it because I have been wanting to wait until January to buy anything baby-related. I had a feeling that it was too great of a price, and I was right...we checked online later and found the exact model for $80.00! I wanted a manly carrier for John and I plan to eventually get a carrier like Fiona's, Mei Tai for myself. I am really impressed with all the smart pieces of this carrier though. It has tons of great padding in all the right places and easy in-and-out buckles for both you and baby, plus a back support piece. I of course had to try it on when we got home. We put Mr. Cuddly Bear in a farmer onsie and a knitted hat my mom and I make. He was trying to impersonate Inchworm. (I know I look like a ghost... the camera really washed my skin out!?)

Tea, Lunch and Giant Sweets!

This is us [L to R: Mom, Robyn and me] at lunch, tea, and oh man! Dessert with a capital "D"! To be honest, I think dessert here at Country Cottage (in Phoenix, OR) was originally made for giants, but it seems since not many giants come by, us normal-size-people get to try our hand at finishing off insanely huge portions of dessert. It is tradition, at least for the Jentzsch and Ford families, to order a multi-desert choice and share the fare.









We only ordered two items: banana cream pie (Robyn's pick) and Chocolate Cake (my pick). Holy Cow!! We split up more than half of each dessert to take home. We would still be in a coma if we even made an attempt to finish the trays off!

Robyn and I in some of our new garb. What a fun day with the girls!

Inchworm: 14 weeks

Inchworm is stretching out! We have reached "lemon week" (for size) From head to bottom, baby measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

This week's big developments:

• The body's growing faster than the head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck.
• By the end of this week, the arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of the body (legs still have some lengthening to do).
• Baby is starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over the body.
• Inchworm can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his/her thumb!
• Thanks to brain impulses, the facial muscles are getting a workout as the tiny features form one expression after another.
• The kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him/her— a process he'll keep up until birth. [gross!]
• The liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right.
• The spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells.
• He/She can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him/her sucking the thumb. (very true! I actually hit 14 weeks a couple of days ago... and we caught Inchworm in the act of sucking his/her thumb!)
• Though I can't feel the tiny punches and kicks yet, Inchworms arms and legs (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Fat Lumpy Bellies

Today Robyn, Mom and myself went shopping for our first maternity wardrobe. It was quite the adventure! You can really only get things from a few select stores here in Southern Oregon. We got the bulk of the wardrobe at the one maternity shop in the Rogue Valley Mall (I forgot the name).

So this is us with our first changing room session. You might say we grew instant [lumpy] tummy's here. I've heard this can happen when trying on tummy-clothes!

OK so for those of you who aren't catching on, the dressing rooms were equip with a pillow-like tummy with elastic strap that velcros around your waist. Of course we had to run around with our funky looking bellies. It was quite fun to do a Santa Claus type, "ho ho ho!" and make the fake belly bob up and down. hee-hee!




We also went out to lunch/tea at Country Cottage, my mom will follow her post with photos of that. The above pictures were taken with my cell phone camera. You'll have to read my mom's blog for our tea party pictures at lunch. We've also got dual belly pics of Robyn and I (some funny ones in our new pants as well), but I promised Robyn I'd wait until she posted her own belly photos on her blog.

I'm pretty sure we're only a month-ish away from being this big (but not quite as lumpy!). I am curious how big I'll get before we go to Europe. I hate to pee on planes, but with 24 hours of flying (one way) I'm sure I'll have to deal with it more than a few times.

Party On!

This year for Halloween, we had a party at the Swartz's house which includes: Heather, Mike and kids: Morgan, Miranda, Sage, Justin and Sabrina. (Heather is my cousin). It was also Mikes Birthday!

I invited my friend Emily from work, she came as a vampiress. I was dressed as a "frump". We weren't sure if we were going to make it so I never made an effort to plan a costume.... John had also been sick for a week and a half... but we made it! yay!

Ben was in charge of planning the Haunted rooms which turned out to be a blast for the billion kids that showed up. Heather and Mikes house is very spacious so is great for a large gathering. Heather invited 70 or so people (all of whom seemed to show up!). We are planning to do Thanksgiving there this year, it should be a blast!

Randy was some sort of Disco-Pimp... Uncle Mike and Aunty Kathy as farmers.... *lol*



















Dad grew some locks, Methias was grumpy and sari was a ghost...? (j/k)

Little do Heather and Mike know, next year we're going to take over their Ginormous play room downstairs to create a VERY scary full fledge haunted house. We will see!

Inchworm: Almost 14 weeks ("polaroids")

I had another prenatal appointment today for Inchworm. They normally just use a Fetal Doppler for hearing a heartbeat....which was amazingly loud, healthy and going strong!

As promised, I convinced the doctor to do one more ultrasound. I really didn't have to convince much, everyone at the Dr's office is very pleasant, always relaxed and in a "no rush" attitude.

She/he seemed to be asleep at first, which was a disappointment because it's easier to see with movement.... then she/he started hiccuping. That was hilarious to watch as the vertebra curled quickly, bending the whole body with each hiccup.

Polaroid #1:
This is a pretty good representation of the head and torso. You can clearly see the bubble of a head (darker areas are the brain/skull), she/he is face down (sideways in my belly) on the big white area, which is the placenta. The vertebra is also quite prominent as it glows bright white and has distinct ridges. Legs and arms are not very visible here.

Polaroid #2:
This one took a little bit of staring to get it right. Click on this small image to see the same one w/out all the lines.










Inchworm is curled on the pillowy placenta facing the "camera", sucking her/his thumb. If you look close enough, you can see she/he is laying on her/his right side, sucking the right hand with a dim left arm on the placenta. Follow the very visible vertebra down to the tiny little legs (one is more prominent).


Polaroid #3:

This is just the last one. It isn't quite as clear as the others... but looks a lot like the top scan. Overall, this was a very exciting appointment for us.

There are arguments that too many ultrasounds will harm the baby (radiation), but I was selfish and wanted pictures for the blog and to be able to show John (and everyone) how baby-like Inchworm is getting. John said that the baby will come out with a tan if I keep asking for them! *lol*