29 weeks (December 25-31)

How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

In other news:
Mike and I have both been off work this past week. It's been SO nice to have time to relax and not have the stress of work! We both still have one more week to savor and here's to hoping that it will go by slowly! :)

We celebrated Christmas at his sister's house on Monday night. Then we went to my mom's house on Wednesday and Thursday. We exchanged gifts there and then came back home to spend our last quiet Christmas Day at our house. Next year will be so much different, but I am totally looking forward to it! :)

For Mike: tickets to the Clemson bowl game (probably our last big trip before Brantley arrives!), the Jason Aldean CD, some socks and other clothes, a Clemson chair and a paper shreader (for us both).

For me: foot bath/massager, Clemson snuggie, body sprays, a baby calendar for Brantley's first year, gift card to get more maternity clothes (yay!), rechargeable batteries for my camera, and some clothes.

We also got some things for Brantley: some clothes, a diaper bag, mobile for the crib, playpen, and a few blankets.

We also went to see Yogi Bear in 3D. It was a pretty cute movie!!

Today, Summerville actually got a little bit of snow! It rained all night and then after church today, snow flurries starting falling. Nothing stuck on the ground but we had snow flurries for a while this afternoon. Then later on tonight, a little bit started to stick, but no big accumulation. At least it was pretty to watch! :)

28 weeks (December 18-24)

How your baby's growing:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

This week marks this first week of the third trimester! I can't believe I only have 3 more months left! This pregnancy has been very easy and I hope it continues to go that way. I had my glucose test this past week at my doctor's appointment. I haven't heard about my results yet though.

Since Mike and I are both on break for two weeks (YAY!), we hope to get some things done around the house to prepare for Brantley's arrival. And I also plan on getting some rest because I know that's one thing that I won't be able to do once he is here! :)

I hope that everyone has a blessed and wonderful Christmas with your families! Remember the reason for the season! MERRY CHRISTMAS!! :)

Free?? Yes, please!

I love free stuff just as much as the next girl. So, when I was reading another friend's blog about receiving FREE Christmas cards from Shutterfly, I thought I would give it a try too!

I have sent out picture cards in the past but did not do so last year. Since I am pregnant this year, I wanted to show all of my out-of-town friends and family members by baby bump and I figured that picture cards would be perfect! In the past I have used other companies but this year I decided to try out Shutterfly because I know a couple of my friends have been very pleased with their products! And after browsing their site, I LOVED the Christmas card designs that they offer!

Since, I am expecting a little boy in March I know I will be using Shutterfly for many other picture related formats. I plan on sending out birth announcements , like these cute designs, when Brantley is born. I will also definitely need photo books made with all of the pictures that we will be taking as well as thank you cards to thank everyone for the great gifts!

I can't wait to finalize our Christmas cards for this year and get them sent out to friends and family and with this great offer, it will be it so much easier!! :) So, check out Shutterfly for all of your photo needs and be sure to send me a Christmas card too! Merry Christmas from me and Shutterfly! :)

27 weeks (December 11-17)

How our baby's growing:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

My mom came to town this weekend to go Christmas shopping. I had my last class for this semester on Saturday morning and then we shopped for the rest of the day. Man, I was exhausted after all that! I was able to get a few presents but still have a few more people to buy for. This coming week is the last week of school for this calendar year. Can't believe that time is passing by so quickly!

Oh, we have also decided on a name. Drumroll please....Baby Smith will be Brantley Richard. We both liked Brantley for a first name and his middle name is in memory of my dad.

26 weeks (December 4-10)

How our baby's growing:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

25 weeks (November 27-December 3)

How our baby's growing:

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Thanksgiving was this week and we traveled to my mom's house to spend time with family. It was great to see everyone, including another pregnant cousin. She is 8 weeks ahead of me and is having a little girl! The food was also delish!! This was a super great time to be pregnant! :)

24 weeks (November 20-26)

How our baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

I went to the doctor this past Tuesday and everything seems to be progressing normally! :) I will have the glucose test during my December doctor's visit.

I really can't wait until Thanksgiving this week! Yummy food, seeing family, time off from work...YAY!!! :) I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving and time with family!

23 weeks (November 13-19)

How our baby's growing:

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in him lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

22 weeks (November 6-12)

How our baby's growing:
At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

I have been feeling him move a lot more lately. It feels like he is turning flips in there! I thought that I felt him kick this weekend, but he didn't do it again so I'm not sure. We went to my mom's house this weekend to see my cousin Miller in his high school play "Beauty and the Beast." It was really good and he was a wonderful (and funny) Gaston! :) While at my mom's house, we went through some of my brother's old baby stuff that she had saved. I brought home a few outfits and some afghans, that were made by family members, to use when he arrives. We are still trying to decide on a name so no update there. I go back to the doctor on Tuesday so I will update then as to how he is doing! :)

21 weeks (October 30-November 6)

How our baby's growing:

Our baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound (probably a little bigger for our little man) and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now.

We are still in the process of deciding upon a name. We know the middle name will be Richard (after my daddy), but we still haven't completely decided upon a first name that we love. It's harder than you think! We also started our baby registry last week at Babies R' Us. It was so fun to pick out stuff for our little man! :) I can't wait to start having baby showers!!

20 weeks (October 23-29)

How our baby's growing:
Our baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. (Baby Smith is weighing more than that probably since he was already about 12 ounces at the 19 week appointment!) He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

We are halfway there! :) Time is flying by!

19 weeks (October 16-23)

How our baby's growing:

Our baby's sensory development is exploding! His brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to him, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on his skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

We went to the doctor today and had an ultrasound to determine the gender and....it's a boy! :) He seems to be growing very well and measured at about 12 oz. (big boy...football player??) He had his hands near his face so we couldn't see that very well but everything else was very clear. Here are some pics of the ultrasounds taken with my camera. After the appointment, we went to Target to buy something blue and bought a cute blue newborn outfit! Now we have to try to decide on a name. So far we are having fun coming up with them! Stay tuned...

18 weeks (October 9-16)

How our baby's growing:
Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

We go back to the doctor next Tuesday to find out the gender! SOOO excited to find out....so stay tuned! :)

17 weeks (October 2-9)

Moving right along...almost halfway there! :)

How our baby's growing:
Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — his lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. He can move his joints, and his sweat glands are starting to develop.

In other news:
Mike was a groomsman in Nate and Leslie's wedding this weekend so that kept us pretty busy. We hung out with Nate's family (who are super nice!) on Friday night at their rented beach house on Folly. Then we went back to the beach house on Saturday to watch the Clemson game (which was not so good! oh well!). The rehearsal was at 3:00 and after that Mike and I hung out at the market downtown until dinner at Poogan's Porch. Dinner was delicious but VERY filling after 4 full courses! The beautiful wedding was on Sunday at St. Luke's Chapel in Charleston and the reception was at the Old Exchange Building. Everything was just perfect for Leslie and Nate and we wish them the best in their marriage! We were glad that we could be a part of your special day! :)

16 weeks (September 25-October 1)

How our baby's growing:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

In other news:
I had my 15 week appointment this past week. It was nothing really eventful. They checked the heartbeat (which was good!) and did the second part of my blood work for testing. We did find out that at the next appointment on October 19th, we will have an ultrasound to hopefully find out if Baby Smith is a boy or a girl!!!! :) I'm SOOOO excited to find out!

15 weeks (September 18-24)

How our baby's growing:
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). He's busy moving amniotic fluid through his nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in his lungs begin to develop. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all of her joints and limbs. Although his eyelids are still fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but he is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")


I go back to the OB on Tuesday so I will update then about how the baby is doing. Not sure when we will find out the sex of the baby but Mike won't be at this appointment with me (due to traveling for work) so maybe at the next visit! (He wants to be there when the doc tells me.) I can't wait to find out so that we can narrow down names and nursery themes/colors!! :)

14 weeks (September 11-17)

How our baby's growing:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

In other news...
Mike and I went to our first Clemson game of the season last Saturday. It was great to be back in one of my favorite places! The weather was still a little warm but our seats were in the shade so that helped a lot! My mom was also at the game. She went with her cousin Tillman and Jeanette and they also took my cousin Miller with them. The game was definitely not a close one...Clemson pounded PC 58-21!! Hopefully we will be able to go to another game this season but if not, I can't wait to introduce our little one to the great place that is CLEMSON when he/she arrives!!! :)

13 weeks (September 4-10)

Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, his veins and organs are clearly visible through his still-thin skin, and his body is starting to catch up with his head — which makes up just a third of his body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.


This week marks the end of my first trimester! I can't believe that it's gone by so quickly already! I am starting to show a little bit and my pants have started to get too tight. I bought my first couple of pairs of maternity pants last week. I'm ready for the second trimester...I've heard you have more energy then because I have been exhausted so far!! :)

12 weeks (August 28-September 3)

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.


We went to have another ultrasound on Tuesday and for some 12 week testing. The baby is growing well but was stubborn for the ultrasound nurse. She had a hard time getting him/her to cooperate with what she needed! Hopefully this is not telling of how the baby will be outside the womb! lol!! :) It was neat to see a little bit of how he/she has grown but our ultrasound pics aren't as good this time. Anyway, I go back to the doctor again in 3 weeks!

It's Positive!!!

Mike and I found out that we will be adding to our family! :) I took 3 positive pregnancy tests on July 16th. We are both thrilled! :) I told Mike by giving him the three tests wrapped up in a Clemson onesie!

I had my first prenatal visit on August 10th to confirm the pregnancy and find out the due date. My doctor gave me an estimated date of March 12th and I was 9 weeks and 3 days at this point. We also got to see our little peanut through a transvaginal ultrasound. (I'll post a picture later.) He/She was moving around a little bit. This made it SO real! :)

Right now, I am 11 weeks and I will go back to the doctor on August 31st for another ultrasound and some testing. I can't wait to see how much our baby has changed!

Info for 11 weeks:
Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden. She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

The end of an era...

...for my beloved car! Let me just preface this by saying that Mike and I have had a TOUGH week! First of all, he had a small fender bender, that was his fault, last Wednesday and his car has been in the shop since then and we have only had one car, which wasn't too bad. Well....it then gets worse. On my way to pick him up on Tuesday of this week, guess what? Yep, I was involved in an accident! However this time, it wasn't my fault and it was MUCH worse than his. (I just had to out-do him...haha!) I, along with the people in the other car, were very lucky to not have been seriously hurt.

To make a long story short, the girl was traveling the opposite direction from me and turned left right in front of my car, causing me to hit her. There was NO avoiding her. As soon as I saw her turning, I knew I was going to hit her. This scared the CRAP out of me! I have never been in a serious car accident before and when the air bags deployed, I didn't know what to think! But all is well for the moment. I am having to go to the chiropractor because I got whiplash but he seems positive that all will be well. We also finally got a rental car to drive today and I will be going back to work tomorrow.

I had to clean out my car today and was almost brought to tears. Yes, I was getting to the point where I needed a new car, but I hated to see my car destroyed like this! It was my first car and had gotten me through college and my first few years of teaching. Many good memories with the eclipse! So, this is kinda like losing a family member! :(

This week taught me a few things...to be thankful to God for keeping me safe and providing for us by giving us GREAT friends and family to help out when needed...teaching me patience and learning to trust him for direction...and to be a careful driver. I have become more cautious (maybe a little over-anxious too) but I'm hoping that I can begin to enjoy driving again.

Here are a few pics of the damage. These were taken today. I took some of my phone at the accident but can't get them to upload on the computer.

Good bye my sweet eclipse! You will be missed! :( You served me well!