Welcome Home, Daddy!!

Bryan came home Sunday evening after a long, long six days of travel. Jack and I were playing in the garage. Jack knew he was going to see daddy - but kept assuming it was going to be on Skype. When a silver Camry pulled into the driveway Jack asked me, "Who's that, mommy?" I told him I didn't know.

All of a sudden he dropped his toy, whimpered, "Daddy?!" in his sweet little voice - and his little legs darted towards Bryan as he was getting out of the car. 

Of course, I cried. 

Jack couldn't believe his eyes. He just stared at Bryan with a grin on his face, speechless. Then we went inside and Jack showed Bryan his room, LBN2's room, his new fish, my shoes ... everything. 

For the last two days I've heard nothing but, "Daddy, will you play with me?"

Monday Bryan and I went to the doctor to see about LBN2. We got our -hopefully- last ultrasound. We watched together as LBN2 smacked his lips and wow - does he have chubby little cheeks. His weight is definitely on track. I am 2 cm dilated and all the ladies at the OB are obviously nagging Dr. Oldham to help us out.

So after some discussion, Bryan and I will check into the Women's Pavilion at East Georgia Medical Center at 7am Friday morning for an amniocentesis to test his lung maturity. If they are 110% sure he's good to go - we'll stay there and induce. I'll be 37.5 weeks. 

I'm optimistic. I know every baby is different ... but Jack was induced at 38 weeks, perfectly healthy.  Bryan was very stern with me - and said by no means are we moving forward if the baby or myself are at any risk. 

I will not jeopardize our health, but man do I want Bryan home for this.

So please, let's pull together our prayers for a strong baby on Friday.

Week 37: A Stalk of Swiss Chard (LBN2)

Full term! 

This means that if he were to arrive now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though my due date is still three weeks away. LBN2 should weigh approximately 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel. 

But we know last week LBN2 measured 6lbs 15oz. What did he come in measuring this week? A whopping 7lbs 10 oz!! Jack's birth weight at 38 weeks was 7lbs 2oz.  

Week 36: Crenshaw Melon (LBN2)

LBN2 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 her nine-month amniotic bath.

At the end of this week, LBN will be considered full-term.

36 Week Appointment

Well today I had my 36 week appointment. I met with the Nurse Practitioner - and after finding out that Bryan is in Afghanistan and he'll be home Saturday (ish) in hopes of meeting his son - she was all about getting this baby out (assuming he's healthy)! She told me I had a 'healthy' baby. My belly measured at a whopping 43cm. LBN2 measure 6lbs and 15 oz - with a 38 week head. 

So, Monday we're going to meet with the doctor for another ultrasound to double check his lungs and see if they are developed and he's breathing. If so, and all of the other stars are align, we may have a baby before the 4th of July!

Someone has Jack lips and a Jack scowl:

Sibling Comparison

Don't forget Jack at 35 Weeks

Jackisms

While playing with his animals, Jack was curious which animals I like the best.

Jack: Mama, do you like giraffes?  
Mama: Yes, Jack, I do.
Jack: Mama, do you like cocks? 
Mama: Excuse me - What did you say?! (Trying not to laugh)
Jack took a moment, thought about it and replied, "Mommy, do you like hawks?"

Week 33: Pineapple (LBN2)

This week LBN2 weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

32 Weeks with an Update (LBN2)

32 weeks = 8 weeks left to go!

A little news to share - Bryan's leave is set from June 22 - July 12. Awesome right? Downside? LBN2 is due July 17.  I talked to my doctor at my check up. He's a huge fan of keeping babies inside until they are ready to come out. However, due to the "situation," he's willing to induce no earlier than 39 weeks - making my new due date July 10ish. Downside? Bryan's leave dates include travel. He'll more than likely already be on his way back to Afghanistan.

What do I need everyone to do? Cross your fingers, toes and say your prayers that LBN2 wants to make like Jack and come 2 weeks early!

Week 30: Cabbage (LBN2)

LBN's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Not a Morning Person

Jack always finds his way to my room. It's one of those things that I've grown not to fight. Should I? Probably. But my heart gets a little soft for my lonely kid. I told him the other day he needed to sleep in his own room. His response?

I'll sleep in my room when Daddy gets home.

It's fun to figure out what parts of him are Bryan and which parts of him are me. It's not so much fun to find out which of your bad qualities were passed down as well, however.  

Jack has inherited my sleeping. Up all night and a total brat in the morning. It's rather hard to get two sleepy heads out the door in the morning. It was SO much nicer when he got me up for work! 

Good Morning Sunshine, II

Good Morning Sunshine

Will I ever get to work on time when I'm getting TWO little boys ready for school??

Good Morning, Sunshine! It's time to wake up!

Leave. Me. Alone.

Bryan Update

1. Visit http://brenthitchcock.com
2. Read the April Newsletter (.pdf)

Jack and I had a chance to Skype with Bryan this weekend. The good? Bryan got to see Jack and Jack got to see Bryan. The bad? It made Jack miss his daddy. The ugly? It made Jack REALLY miss his daddy.

Jack showed his daddy all sorts of toys. Bryan showed Jack his room. Jack told Bryan stories. And Bryan reminded Jack to listen to his mama (which was nice). Jack ratted himself out and told Bryan he was naughty - and then ratted me out for throwing his toy away after he chucked it across the room.

But now, when I won't give Jack a popcicle for breakfast, Jack REALLY wants his daddy. When I dropped him off at school this morning, Jack screamed for his daddy. Today, after school, Jack was playing with his barn and all of his animals and I overheard a lot of 'daddy' talk. Jack told me he even cried for his daddy when he visited preschool today.

Poor kid.