99 Days

I can't believe we are under 100 days.  After the first trimester was over this has really flown by.  I have loved the second trimester.  At 25 weeks Mac began to feel heavy.  His heart rate at 25 weeks was 145.  One morning last week Mac woke daddy up by kicking him in the back.  My parents have already gotten him his own stocking and snowman.  YAY!  I feel like I am very behind on getting ready for him.  My mother in law is making the bedding.  I almost have all the patterns picked out.  I have begun my registries and for now it looks like I will be registered at Target and amazon.com.  I have already done the dirty work in finding the sites with the best prices.  Wherever the item is registered is the cheapest place to get it.  We are done looking at daycares and are now on to interviewing nannies and checking out home childcare programs.  Daycares appear to be a lost cause for a baby in this area. 

I am in love with my baby bags and all his adorable clothing that has already been given to him by sweet friends.  I maybe having a little to much fun buying things for him when he is older.  My girlfriends think it is a blessing to my bank account that this baby is a boy.  We are going home to TN for Christmas.  I am so excited to see my family even if it is only for a few days. 

The cord

I wanted to post more detailed information about a two vessel cord.  I did not want to make the last post any longer than it already was.  During the anatomy ultrasound, one of the things the sonographer looks for is the presence of three vessels within the umbilical cord: one vein (which carries oxygen and nutrients from you to the baby) and two arteries (which shuttle that waste back to you, to be processed and disposed of by your kidneys). Instead of those three vessels, our baby's cord has only two: one vein and one artery. Two-vessel cord — also known as single umbilical artery (SUA).   Researchers don't quite know what causes SUA, though they theorize that the second artery disappears at some point during early pregnancy.  I feel the chance of this happening is higher than 1% because sometimes it is not even identified until the baby is born.  When we were all babies they were not able to check for this.  Do not quote me on this, but I think when the cord develops the heart, kidneys, bladder, and GI tract also form at the same time.  That is the reason they look over each part in great detail to make sure the anomaly is isolated to the cord only.  The thing that I hate the most about this is the thought that while he is in the womb he is working harder than he will once he is out.  I am sure he does not realize it.  So I hope that if all is good and developed he will come a little early.  He is measuring ahead of his due date, so we will see.  Once again we are very thankful that all is well. 



6 Months

6 Months

Mac now weighs 1lb 7 ounces with all his measurements at average for his age.  I have gained 9 lbs and have still managed to keep up a workout routine.  He has been labeled as "Super Active" by the past two ultrasounds.  That makes me laugh out loud because everyone that knew me as a child knows I was a wild thing.  This sweet little boy is going to probably give us a run for our money.  I am looking forward to every minute.  Daddy and I can see you moving every night.  The first time you heard music you were going WILD.  I am hoping that it means you will love music as much as I do.  I haven't had any specific cravings and my appetite is the same as it's always been.  My belly has literally sprouted these past 4 weeks.  I sometimes feel that is gets bigger each day.  Mike's first comment to me on Wednesday morning was "babe your front end is definitely bigger than the back end."  Men know how to tell it like they see it. 

We were extra thankful after this ultrasound (US) because at his 18 week US they found out that he only has two vessels in his umbilical cord instead of three.  I chose not to tell many people about this at first because it could have been something and vice versa.  I knew after the 24 week US we would know if lots of extra prayers were needed.  Well, he is perfectly healthy and this is suspected to be isolated to the umbilical cord only.  PRAISE GOD!!!  So baby Mac you have already had one heck of a photo shoot.  On Tuesday you had a level 2 US and an echocardiogram by the baby heart God of DC.  Apparently fetal cardiologist are one in a million.  She told me that the size of his heart right now is that of a marble and I was blown away at how well you could see each chamber.  I am so thankful that I have found this amazing facility and group of doctors to have our baby with.  There is a 1% chance of having a two vessel cord.  I told Mike we should go and play the lottery!!! I really wasn't to freaked out by it because having a medical background I knew that since there were no other issues at the 18 week US that more than likely he was going to be just fine.  Since all is well we are supposed to have an ultrasound every four weeks from here on out to monitor his growth and kidney function.  I am excited to be able to go into an US and just enjoy seeing our baby boy.  Baby Mac you are already one tough little boy! We love you so much!!
XOXO,

Mom & Dad