Everyone keeps asking “so when do you find out?” And honestly, all that goes through my head when I hear that question is “please dear God let our baby be healthy!” We will just be beyond THRILLED if we hear the word “healthy” boy or girl! Either one will fit great into our family. Of course, it is so exciting to find out the sex, but it is so different with this pregnancy. For the first 15 weeks or so, I would wake up and think “is the baby ok today?” It’s just hard coming off 2 miscarriages. You don’t forgot them. It’s harder to relax, to get excited. But finally, my mind was eased when I  started feeling movement every day. And let me tell you Baby Hope is possibly just as active as Abel was in the womb. (makes me a little nervous!) ha!

I’m clearly growing. Here I am at 19.5 weeks!

(Note: These pictures are being taken in our home office. We have finally started the process of changing it into a baby’s room. Note the desk in the background lying on its side.)

Abel could stay in his pj’s all day if I let him. (I don’t) Literally, I have to rip them off his body. Getting him dressed in the morning is NOT pretty. After about a 10 minutes battle and sweat dripping all over my body, we finally accomplish that horrendous task.

I am so thankful for our lazy mornings. When I start to get grumpy at night (because this is my only time to work), I quickly remind myself that I wouldn’t change anything, because I get to raise my son and be home with him almost every day. I am so thankful that God has given me a job that allows me to be a stay at home mom.

This morning he just looked ‘too cute’ after his bath, so I grabbed the camera. (something I need to do more, because lately I feel like I haven’t been taking as many photos of him.) He loves to get in our bed after his bath and just cuddle and watch the local pbs station.

So here is my little babe enjoying his “lazy morning”.

And if you care, here is me at almost 18 weeks! (Almost half way there!!!!) And I feel great! I decided to take a picture this morning, because I had a ton of “uterus growing pains” last night and this morning I was like “woah, baby hope you packed on some weight last night!”

This morning was my 11 week check-up and all looks good. THANK GOD! The doctor couldn’t find the heartbeat with the doppler, so I started to panic and she reassured me that it was ok and off we went to the sonogram room. As soon as she put it on my belly, up popped Baby Hope having a grand time in my womb with a nice, strong heartbeat of 160. Calmness FINALLY swept over me. God knew I needed to see my baby. I wasn’t supposed to have a sonogram this morning, but I’m so thankful that I got to see my little nugget in there. I was so happy it had arms and legs and a huge head (just what it is supposed to look like at 11 weeks.)

So, say Hi to Baby Hope (or Poggy as Abel calls him/her).


And I finally popped. I made it 3 weeks farther then I did with Abel, so I’m proud of myself. I remember I couldn’t button my pants at 8 weeks with Abel. I’ve been jogging almost every night in hopes I stay in shape (I didn’t say to not gain weight, because I am clearly doing fine in that department. Weight just sticks to me when I am pregnant.)

Sadly, daddy Seth has yet to take one picture of his second child (it’s actually hard saying second, since this is really my 4th), so Mama Juju took action and here you go.

Funny thing is by this time with Abel, Seth had taken over 30 pictures of my belly in order to create this.

The Gestatation of Abel: Time Lapse from Seth Nickerson on Vimeo.

(You don’t need to remind me how huge I was with Abel. I clearly can see that.)

Poor Baby Hope is already experiencing second child syndrome. No worries, Baby Hope we love you just as much already!

I am only 20% effaced so it doesn’t look like he is coming this week, which I know could change at any given moment. Seth and I are just prepared now that if it happens now, we feel as ready as ever. Next Monday, June 4th, we should know more if and when I am going to get induced.

As for me, I’m can’t sleep. I’m pretty much up all night peeing and then around 4:30/5:00 I just can’t sleep anymore. So, I usually get up b/c I can tell I am keeping Seth up. But now, if he wants to he can easily go downstairs to our guest room for a decent night of sleep.

Here is what is happening this week: baby-gaga.com

It’s the calm before the storm… developmentally speaking anyway. Changes in your baby’s weight have leveled off with only a few ounces of fat added this week. At this point your baby should weigh in at around 7 lbs and 20 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls). Happily, as far as internal organs go, they are now developed enough to function in the outside world although the oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth. With a large boost of antibodies provided by breast milk when nursing begins. Fighting infection and staying healthy should be well within their physical capacity when your little fighter is born. Your baby is now considered full-term.

You can take a sneak peek at a few pictures from the shoot at allisonmorganphotography.com under her portfolio.

I had my 36 check-up and Baby Nick had a huge growth spurt last week-no wonder I was in so much pain. He is measuring in at 37 weeks. I started having contractions last week and boy do they hurt! Since he is growing so much and I am so small, they may induce me even earlier, but they are just going to see what happens each week.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We want to know when you think Baby Nick is coming and how much he will weigh.

I think my little guy will get here on June 8 weighing in at 7lb 13 oz.

What do you think? Let us know your predictions by leaving us a comment.

Here is what is happening this week: baby-gaga.com

The countdown continues… and in fetal developments: most of the bones (soft skull aside) in their little body are now completely hardened, providing a solid structure from which they can now make their grand debut. In physical fitness news: their muscle tone has also improved over these past few weeks, and you’ll definitely be impressed by their steel-like Ulnar grasp (a newborn reflex that occurs if you lay your finger in their palm). Finally, in the fluids/excretion department: the amniotic fluid-to-baby ratio has fallen over these past weeks, although they’re still swallowing fluid (building up even more meconium for that historic first poop), and some vernix caseosa. They will be more than ready to swallow and digest milk after birth. Just in case you didn’t get it quite yet: you’ve got yourself an adorable and hungry 6.5 lbs 20 inch baby—are you ready?

Seth was off to Charlottesville for a guys weekend. I know he had lots of fun visiting with his old college buddies and doing “guy things”.

Here is what is happening this week: pregnancy.org & baby-gaga.com

Congratulations! You’re now carrying nearly 6 lbs of baby not counting their amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord, or the placenta itself. We’re impressed because that’s a LOT of work non-stop. At this point, your little-grower is almost busting out of the womb size-wise, which make their restricted attempts to move much challenging. Of course, your stubborn little sucker is still trying to move around as if they weren’t in a cramped space. And the accumulating baby fat deposits are starting to level off so your little butter ball will be padded and warm when they head out of their super snug little home.

Other interesting facts: Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this week. These layers of fat will help him regulate his body temperature. They also provide those cute little dimples on elbows and knees! His hearing is fully developed, so be sure to talk to your baby. The testes have completed their descent in males.

I’m trying not to stress out, but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything. Everyone at church last night said they think I am going early b/c it looks like he is so big and I have no room left. So needless to say, that freaked me out and I’m starting to panic. Seth and I have been so busy with so many other responsibilities that I haven’t finished his room. So, today is going to be a super nesting day for me. Since my client postponed on me for today (due to losing her calendar and upon finding it realized she had double booked herself-this is my life with disorganized people) I am spending the day washing his clothes and blankets (and praying for the Lord’s strength).

Thanks to our friends Jason & Tonya they were a major help to us this weekend so we were able to get more accomplished in the basement. It is looking so good and I really see it being done before the baby comes. It might not be painted and up to par the way I would like it to be, but I’m at the point now where as long as a bed gets in there and it serves as a guest room I can live with that for now (sure I say this now, but I’m sure I will be driving Seth crazy to have the room painted and all decorated before our guests arrive to see Baby Nick)

I know, you are all DYING to know his name. It drives my family and friends CRAZY. They can’t handle it that we have kept his name a secret, but I can tell you it is not Nick. If you are wondering why we are keeping it a secret, well, it is something Seth and I decided to do because we wanted to make sure his name was something we liked and agreed upon, and a name that NO ONE else gave their input, advice, looks…whatever. We just didn’t want anyone to make us change our minds. Now, I don’t know if will we do this again with Baby Nick #2, since it is extremely hard to keep his name a secret!

Here is what is happening this week: pregnancy.org and baby-gaga.com

Your amazing baby is on the move! They’ve been riding fairly high in your stretched-out womb to this point (while kindly compressing your poor internal organs), but now they’re planning on making the big move to your pelvis this week. If you haven’t already, you’ll be noticing the weight shift that signals they are most likely out of breech position, with their head now resting on your pubic bone. In liver news: although not quite fully formed, your little miracle’s liver is now capable of processing a certain amount of waste. In general, most of your child’s prenatal physical development is pretty much up to snuff and ready for the outside world. Naturally, further weight gain is expected—so you’re still not at maximum capacity despite probably feeling like you definitely are maxed out.

Other interesting facts:

Your baby acts completely like a newborn, with his eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping. You may also find him settling into more of a routine for sleeping & awake times. He has learned to blink and he can also see more clearly when there is a bright light on your stomach and probably has the outline of all your organs memorized!

Antibodies from your blood are being transferred to him. These immunities continue to build until birth. Then breast milk will add even more protection against disease.

Your baby may have already turned to a head-down position in preparation for birth. If he is your first baby, he may be settling into the pelvis with his head pressing against your cervix. Fingernails have reached the end of the fingertips now. He may even scratch his face even before he is born!

Here is what is happening this week: pregnancy.org and baby-gaga.com

For all the weight and bulk you’re lugging around these days, you’d think your little champ should weigh much more than a mere 5 lbs and measly 17 inches in height, but nope, that’s about the average size for a baby in its thirty-third week. In terms of appearances, they’re getting cuter and pudgier every minute—just piling on the baby fat and those adorable little wrist rolls and chubby toes. And as we’re sure you’ve already noticed they’re getting stronger with every passing day. Nowadays, it’s possible to observe a well-placed kick just by watching your belly—but you already knew that didn’t you? Although they’re getting stronger, your bigger-by-the-day baby is losing space to move around, so the actual rate of movement will drop off in the last few weeks, despite that powerful drop-kick they’ve been working on. Did you know you’ll continue feeling their movements even during labor?

Other interesting facts: Amniotic fluid is at its highest level during your pregnancy. Your baby’s head size has increased 3/8ths of an inch due to rapid brain growth. Neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers — forming connections in your baby’s brain will give him the skills he needs to thrive as a newborn. This week, he may be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing. While most of his bones are hardening, his skull is quite pliable and not completely joined. The bones will be able to move slightly to make birthing easier. Your baby takes intermittent deep breaths — of water! That’s okay, though since he gets oxygen from the placenta. This breathing exercises muscles and encourages his lung cells to produce more surfactant (a protein essential for healthy lung development). If your baby is a boy, his testicles will be descending from his abdomen into his scrotum. Sometimes one or both testicles won’t move into position until after birth.