Update on Anna!!!!

Well, as most of you know, Anna has been fighting a lot of congestion for a little over a week. Laura took her to the doctor on Monday and Anna is now doing breathing treatments about every 4 hours daily. They also did a test for RSV, which came back negative yesterday. Anna (and Laura) really did not like the RSV test. They stuck about an inch and a half long needle up into her nose. But Anna let them hear about itJ.

Anna now weighs about 11 pounds and 9 ounces.  She is getting very active and definetly has her own personality. She is a very happy baby, always smiling and trying to talk. I’ve also added a few more pictures. Enjoy!!!

 
 
 

 
 

Working on 3 months!!!!!

 In about a week and a half (December 27^th) Miss Anna Marie will be 3 months old. Time has flown by since she was born. I had a great life before she was born and I had a hard time believing that it could get any better. Boy was I wrong! The past 3 months have been so awesome. It’s been so amazing watching her to

continue to grow (Laura and I weighed her yesterday and we are pretty sure she is about 11 pounds). She is starting to develop her own personality. She smiles and laughs all the time. She is such a happy baby! But she doesn’t realize how happy she has made mine and Laura’s lives. We both catch ourselves just holding her and staring at her. I’ve added some of our most recent pictures of her. I’ll try to do this more often. We hope everyone has a very Merry CHRISTmas and safe travels!!!! 

 

So Thankful...

I know I haven’t posted in a while, but I am learning that with a baby, some things get put on the back burner. Anna Marie is doing good and growing too. She is up to 9lb 7oz and almost 21 ½ inches long. She is so active now. She has the most beautiful smile and she is trying so hard to talk to us. I’ve posted some newer pictures of her.

It’s amazing how a child will change your life. She is the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about when I lay my head down at night. When I am at work during the day, I long so bad to be at home with Laura and Anna and spending time with my girls.

This time of year everyone tells what all they are thankful for and I am no different, because I have A LOT to be thankful for. So here it goes…

-          I am thankful to be alive and to have been given more time on this earth.

-          I am so thankful to serve an amazing and awesome God!!

-          I am thankful to have such a beautiful and wonderful wife who is my best friend. She knows what to do when I am down and how to make me smile. I love her so much! I can’t imagine my life without her in it.

-          I am thankful for my beautiful daughter, Anna Marie Smith. I can’t remember what my life was like without her.

-          I am thankful for great parents. They just celebrated their 30^th wedding anniversary. They have taught me what true love really is and also have been great examples of how to be a parent. I couldn’t have asked for better. Plus, they are a great Nanny and Pa to Anna.

-          I have great in-laws. They raised my wife to be such loving and caring woman. They are also celebrating their 30^th anniversary in February. They are a great meemaw and pawpaw to Anna.

-          I am thankful for Tara, Jason, Andrea, Chris, and Leslie. Anna is blessed with great aunts and uncles. Laura and I are blessed with great brothers and sisters.

-          I am thankful for my grandparents. My Nanaw and Papaw have been the only grandparents that I have known and I am very thankful to have them. I am also thankful for grandma Dyer, who has accepted me into her family. This time of year, I miss grandma and grandpa Smith, grandma and grandpa Coleman, and grandma and grandpa Geurin. Love you all!

-          I am thankful for all of my family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I owe a lot of what I am to the examples that you have set for me.  This also includes my aunts and uncles on Laura's side too. Thank you for accepting me and loving me.

-          I am thankful to have  great friends! Its not until you go through a rough spot in you life that you realize that not all friends will “stick by you”.

-          If you are reading this and don’t fall under any of these categories, thank you! Thank you for being part of my life!!!

1 MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is Anna Marie’s one month birthday!!!!!!!! I can’t believe it’s already been one month. We are taking her today to get her one month pictures as well as our first family photo. She is starting to get her own personality. She is so precious and cute!!! She is such a blessing and gift from God. I still sometimes can’t believe that I am a dad. It is one of the greatest feelings in the world. To sit there and hold her and have her look back at me, knowing that I had a part in bringing her into this world.
We have moved into a new place, we now have a two bedroom duplex. Miss Anna has her own room, but it will look so much better once daddy puts her crib and dresser together. Just wanted to give you an update!!!

This is so amazing!!!

WOW! Life has changed so much in the past two weeks. Laura and I have been blessed with such a beautiful baby girl. I know as a dad I may be somewhat biased but I have to say that Anna is the most perfect beautiful baby I have ever seen. It’s amazing how much love I feel for her. I catch myself often just staring at her while I hold her. Whether she is sleeping peacefully or wide awake, it’s amazing to look at her and think how God allowed Laura and me to bring this child into the world. We have been given tons of advice, and we appreciate it all, but even after just two weeks I am realizing that no matter how much people tell you, you still can’t be prepared for everything. Something’s I have had to learn as I go. For instance, I was changing Anna’s diaper last week. I took the old diaper off and cleaned her up and reached over to grab the new diaper to put on her and she had already pooped on the changing pad. Something similar happened to Laura a few days earlier, but apparently I didn’t learn from that.
I hope you all enjoy this blog. I am so proud of my daughter and my wife; I enjoy sharing what happens in our life from our perspective, as new parents! Until next time…

WOW!!! I can't believe she's here!!

 

Well, it's 12:42am on Monday morning and I can't sleep. My baby girl will be one week old tomorrow. This has been one of the most amazing weeks of my life!!!  At this time last week, Laura and I were in St. John's hospital getting her prepped to be induced on Monday morning. The doctor came in on Monday around 8:30am and broke Laura's water. Little did we know how long of a day Monday would actually be. Laura's dialation moved rather normally until she hit 4, which she stayed at from noon on Monday until about 11:00pm. The doctor was leaning towards having Laura do a C-section if the dialation didn't progress. So Laura and I, along with our parents gathered around Laura's hospital bed and asked God to intervene. The nurse came in about 30 minutes later, told us that Laura's dialation had moved to a 10 and that she was ready to give birth. Anna Marie came into this world at 11:58pm on Monday night. She weighed 6lb 7oz and was 19 3/4 inches long. She is more perfect and beautiful than I ever could have imagined. Laura and I are so blessed to have such a beautiful daughter, but also to have such amazing families! Stay tuned on how Anna is progressing!!

It's Almost Time!!!!!!

I can't believe that we are only 4 days away from the birth of our daughter. It seems like only yesterday that I was sitting in the recliner in our apartment watching The Office and Laura came out of the bathroom and all she said was "It's positive". I looked at her, not comprehending what she was saying. Then like a light bulb, it clicked! We're having a baby!!! I had such excitement and joy in my heart, knowing that God was going to bless us with one of the greatest gifts, a child. Boy or girl, I didn't care, this was our child. I will love them no matter what. Then, probably 3 or 4 days later it started to sink in. Then I became overwhelmed with the thoughts of "Am I ready to be a dad?", "Are we ready to be parents?", and all the other thoughts that first time parents have.

As I have watched Laura progress through the pregnancy, I am in awe of how wonderful God is in allowing us to help give life to another human being. It has also been made more real to me exactly how wonderfully blessed Laura and I are with two really awesome families!! I would be hard pressed to find a couple who felt more support and love than, we do. And on top of that we have an awesome church family as well!!

This blog has helped me learn so much each week in this pregnancy. It has helped me understand what Laura is going through and how I can help her. It has also let me know what Anna has been doing. From the time she was conceived up to the time she started learning how to kick her mommy's ribs!! :)

I'm sure a lot of first time dad's say this but I think I am one of the most excited soon-to-be dad's in the world. All my mind can think about is the first time I lay my eyes on our sweet little Anna Marie. Daddy can't wait to meet you baby!!! We love you!!

Week 37 - Only 6 days left!!!!

Well, we are down to less than one week before our beautiful daughter’s arrival. Laura and I will check into the hospital on Sunday afternoon to go ahead and get her prepped to be induced on Monday morning. Anna will be born at St. John’s hospital across the street from Utica Square. Laura and I are so excited to bring our little girl into this world. We know that God has a perfect plan for her life, even though we don’t know what that is, He does!! She is blessed with three wonderful families; The Smith side, the Dyer side, and the Eastland Assembly of God family. I hope you all have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Each week I have learned about each little step my daughter has taken. From conception all the way to now. It has been an amazing ride but I know the fun is only beginning. We love you all very much!! Here’s Anna’s progress this week:

Laura is now considered full-term now and Anna’s final touches are being made. Her crown-to-rump length is now 14 inches and the total length is around 21 inches. She weighs approximately 6.5 pounds.

This week Anna should engage into Laura’s pelvis. When Anna engages, her head drops down into Laura’s pelvis and she might feel a slight sensation called `lightening` as the pressure on her ribs eases. As Anna drops into the final position for delivery, Laura may experience a buzzing feeling and shooting pains in your groin and leg. Normally, most women are able to breathe and eat easier. However, her uterus will now push down harder on her bladder and she will have an increased urge to urinate more frequently.

Anna is now fully mature and ready to be born. However, she is still growing and developing every day. Fat is still being laid down at a rate of a half ounce a day.

Research shows babies can be affected by stress hormones. Laura needs to continue to make time to relax, to have fun, and to rest.

Anna has learned to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing so she can do all three when breastfeeding after birth. Babies practice shallow breathing before birth, using amniotic fluid.

Week 36 - We have a date!!!!

Well, we had a great appointment with the doctor yesterday. With Laura having gestational diabetes, they were concerned with Anna’s size getting too big too quick. This week in the pregnancy, Anna should be around 6 pounds. Yesterday, she measured in at 5 pounds 15 ounces. The doctor said she looked completely healthy. We have set a date of when Laura will be induced. It will be Monday September 27th. Anna will be delivered at St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa. It’s less than two weeks until we see our precious Anna Marie.

By this week of pregnancy Anna’s crown-to-rump length reaches about 13.5 inches and the total length is approximately 20.7 inches.

Anna’s face has filled out significantly and looks smooth and plump. Because she has powerful sucking muscles and has had layers of fat forming for quite some time now, her cheeks have filled out like a newborn's. Her skull is firm, but not hard. Every baby's head has the ability to give slightly so that there is room for her to fit down the birth canal during delivery. Some babies are born with cone shaped heads from the pressure of delivery, but this will go away after delivery.

Week 35

Well, I hope everyone had a great and safe Labor Day weekend! Laura is still on bed rest and she is feeling good. We go tomorrow for another doctor’s appointment where they will check her fluid levels to see how they are doing. Keep her and Anna in your prayers.

Speaking of her, Anna now weighs over 5.5 pounds and her crown-to-rump length is approximately 13.2 inches. Her total length is around 20.25 inches at this point.

This week the pregnancy, Anna’s fingernails will have definitely reached the tips of her fingers. When she is born, her nails may look long and pointy. Anna is less likely to scratch herself at this point because of the lack of room. Fat deposition will still continue and she is getting chubbier and rounder. Anna’s shoulders are plump at this point.

This should be the week that the doctor is going to set a date to induce Laura. With Laura having the gestational diabets, the doctor is planning on inducing on week 38. We'll keep you updated on how things go tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Week 34

Well, as most of you know by now, Laura has been put on bed rest because her amniotic fluid number is lower than the doctor wants them. They like for the number to be between 8-18 and last week Laura’s was at 6.8. Well we went in yesterday, and they checked her fluid levels again and as of yesterday, her fluid level was at 8.8. We just want to thank everyone for all of their prayers and thoughts! We know that this was definitely a God thing! Here’s the scoop on Anna this week.

Anna’s crown-to-rump length this week is approximately 12.8 inches and her total length is around 19.8 inches at this time. She now weighs almost 5 pounds.

Anna’s hair continues to get longer and thicker. Her hair color probably is not going to be the same color from birth onwards. She is shedding most of lanugo, but the amount of vernix caseosa is increasing. She is taking calcium from Laura to lay down lots of bone. Laura is continuing to take her prenatal vitamins and drink milk to ensure that she receive enough calcium.

If Laura were to deliver Anna now, it would probably be called a pre-term infant instead of premature. The only difference is in the maturity, particularly lung maturity. A pre-term baby is less likely to need intensive care because its lungs have developed. Doctors can test lung maturity with an amniocentesis that checks levels of surfactant.

Anna now rests on Laura’s uterus and is no longer floating.

Fingernails now reach over the finger tips and Anna can scratch herself.

Week 33 - Meet the Grandparents

I hope you have enjoyed the past 33 weeks of blogs, we only have about 5 weeks left. I have enjoyed giving you weekly updates on Anna's progress, how Laura is doing, a blog from Anna's perspective, and one where Laura typed a message. This week is a special one too. This week we get to hear from Anna's grandparents. I asked them to write a piece for the blog and just talk about Anna and how they are feeling. When Laura and I read them last night, we were both really proud. So, here is the weekly info about Anna and then the grandparents notes will be below that. Also, I have posted a picture of Laura and I with the grandparents and also a new updated pregnancy photo of Laura. I really hope you enjoy!!!




Anna weighs about 4.4 pounds at this point. Her crown-to-rump length is approximately 12 inches and the total length is around 19.4 inches.

With the exception of crying, she is capable of doing everything that a newborn baby will do. She is restricted now inside of the uterus, but still can kick and move. She sleeps a lot of the time, just as newborn babies do. Her eyes move in the manner of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and researchers believe that babies can dream vividly while in the womb. When Anna is awake, she is listening, feeling and learning. There are billions of neurons in the brain that make trillions of connections. Anna should be settled into the birth position by now. If she were to be born now, her lungs would probably be strong enough to function properly, but she may still need extra care from specially trained doctors and nurses.

Anna’s eyes open during alert times and close during sleep. The eye color is usually blue, regardless of the permanent color as pigmentation is not fully developed. The final formation of eye pigmentation requires exposure to light and usually happens a few weeks after birth.

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We were so much more than thrilled when Derrick and Laura told us that they were expecting! Then, when we found out that it's a girl "Nanny" had to stay in the hospital for a few days, although we're sure that was just a coincidence, lol. Anna Marie...even though we haven't met her yet, we couldn't love her anymore! She is already such a blessed little girl! Blessed to have a mommy and daddy that adore her and will set a wonderful example or her. Yes, there will be sleepless nights, and even some worrying here and there but we know you both will do an awesome raising little Anna. Teaching her right from wrong, caring for others and so many other things. But most of all, dedicating her to the Lord, raising her in church and teaching her to love the Lord with all her heart. We can't wait to see her, hold her and watch her grow! We will always love her, be here for her along with "mema" and "papa" and so much more family. We love you Derrick and Laura! And we're waiting for you Anna Marie Smith...our precious little granddaughter! We love you SO much!!!!
- Pa & Nanny Smith
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We could not possibly be more excited about the arrival into our world of little Anna Marie. Anna will a blessed child from day one. Her Mommy & Daddy are so anxious for her to be delivered into their loving arms. I know they will love, cherish and provide for her in the greatest and most excellent ways possible. Also, she will be blessed by being surrounded by an extended family and group of friends that will love her and be there for her all the days of her life. We are ready to see her and hold her and begin the wonderful job of spoiling her just like grandparents love to do - can’t wait!

- Papa & Mema Dyer

Week 32 -

By week 32, Anna weighs nearly 4 pounds! Her crown-to-rump length is approximately 11.7 inches and her total length is about 18.9 inches.

Now that she has grown so long, Laura is noticing a new discomfort. Anna is probably head-down and may occasionally stretch out and kick Laura’s ribs. The pressure on her rib cage can make her sore, especially if one of Anna’s feet becomes caught. To help prevent this, they recommend Laura sit up straight as much as possible. Because Anna’s demands for vitamins and minerals are higher than ever right now, Laura is continuing to take her parental vitamins for the entire pregnancy.

This week Anna’s movements will peak. The wrinkles in Anna’s face are disappearing and fat is still being deposited throughout her body. Anna’s growth is slowing down from here on out.

I’m not going to give away any secrets, but in the next couple of weeks, we are going to have the regular blogs, but we are also going to have some special entries. You’ll have to wait and see who they are. Also, I will try to get some recent pictures on here.

I hope you have enjoyed keeping up with Anna and Laura during the past 7 ½ months. It has been such an awesome time in my life. I had always hoped for this time in my life, but never thought the buildup would be this amazing…and she’s not even here yet! Laura and I are blessed to have such amazing family and friends. We love you guys very much!!!

Week 31

Anna Marie Smith is continuing to grow each week. Her crown-to-rump length is nearly 11.2 inches and her total length is approximately 18 inches. She weighs approximately 3.5 pounds at this point.

Anna can turn her head from side to side. She is getting very active as she is moving constantly, kicking and punching very frequently.

This week marks an incredible milestone in Anna’s lung development. Before now, the air sacs and branches in her lungs were present but not functional. The lungs were not able to inflate properly. However, now there is surfactant being produced in her lungs. Surfactant prevents her lungs from collapsing outside of the uterus and the baby is able to take in air and breathe properly. The fetal ear is almost completely developed both inside and out. She can hear your voice and other familiar sounds that she will recognize after birth. She is putting on white fat under the skin and the skin's color is pink instead of red at this point. Her fingernails have grown to the end of her fingers and she may scratch herself while she is in the womb.

Laura has now been taking insulin for about a week. Her numbers have gone down to better than what they were but they still aren’t ideal. But we believe that God has everything under control and that he will be with Laura and Anna during this time.

I have enjoyed the past few weeks, being able to “talk” to my daughter. It is so awesome when I talk to Laura’s stomach and then after about 30 seconds, little Anna starts kicking/punching about where I am talking. I am so excited about being a dad. When we first found out we were pregnant, everyone would ask me if I wanted a boy or girl. I would always say that I didn’t care as long as he or she was healthy. But now that I know we are having a girl, I am so happy. She is going to be as beautiful as her mother. She is going to have a lot of women to look up to: The world’s Greatest Mom, two wonderful grandmothers, three awesome aunts, two great-grandmothers, and many aunts and cousins on Laura and my side both.

Week 30 - Only 8 weeks, yes 8 weeks!!!!!

Laura had a doctor’s appointment today. We are at the point to where we go every two weeks. As most of you know, Laura has gestational diabetes, which only lasts during the length of the pregnancy. Laura has been checking her blood for the past week and keeping track of them. The doctor did not like the numbers, so for Laura and the baby, she is putting Laura on insulin. There is nothing life-threatening to Laura or Anna, this is just precautionary. Also, we will have an ultrasound every doctor’s appointment to track Anna’s growth and make sure she isn’t getting too big. Also, the doc said that this means that Anna will be making her arrival two weeks early, at 38 weeks. No definite date has been marked but it should be around the week of September 27th. Please keep Laura and Anna in your prayers that God will keep his hand on them and protect them and keep them safe. Also, here is some info about Anna this week.

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

Week 29 - 11 weeks to go...

At this point in the pregnancy, Anna's crown-to-rump length is approximately 10.4 inches and her total length is around 16.7 inches. She weighs about 2.7 pounds and continues to grow every day.

Babies that are born prematurely can be very tiny. Even a baby that is only a few weeks early can be very small. Anna will grow rapidly from now until week 36, and then at a slower rate thereafter. Generally, boys weigh more than girls at birth. The average baby's birth weight at full term is 7 to 7.5 pounds.

Anna will continue to open and close her eyes in the womb and may be able to see silhouettes of objects or even people in the right amount of light. She should be moving many times throughout the day. Some of her movements are predictable and studies say that if you notice a decrease in fetal movements, you should lie down and do a fetal kick count. We should feel her move approximately ten times in an hour. And Laura said she feels her about 30-40 times in an hour so Miss Anna is doing just fine on the kick count. We tried out the “light test” mentioned above on Sunday night, by taking a light and putting it near Laura’s stomach about where Anna should be. We didn’t notice very much movement. But then I got down and started talking to her, and we could definitely notice movement. She was definitely punching, pushing, and kicking. I think she wanted daddy to leave her alone so she and mommy could rest.

One last thing, since there are only 11 weeks left until her arrival, I wanted to let everyone know that the baby blog will not end with Anna Marie Smith’s birth. The title of the blog will change from “Waiting on a Baby” to “Raising a Baby”. That way, everyone can keep up with Anna’s progress and I will defiantly post more pictures that I do now 

Week 28

As I let you all in on, we have a special guest blogger this week. I had my wife write a little note for the blog. But before I let you know what she has to say, let me tell you what is going on with Anna Marie this week. Anna’s brain continues to develop and is now forming the folds and grooves of a fully developed brain. The amount of tissues within the brain also continues to increase in large amounts. The hair that covers her scalp is also getting longer.


Now a little word from Mommy-to-be!!

Well I have to start by saying I super excited about meeting our little girl in less than 3 months...hopefully :) Every day I can see and feel her moving and growing inside of me, which is the most amazing feeling in the world! Anna has yet to show us her little face in the ultrasounds. The ultrasound tech said she must be shy, but we all know that’s probably not true since she has Derrick and I as parents! She is currently weighing in at 2 lbs and 5 oz. I have so many feelings everyday about being Anna’s mom… Am I going to know what to do when she cries at night, will I be able to handle going back to work after just 3 months, and just how much will our lives change forever??? It’s comforting to know that we will have the support of two awesome families during this time! I am overwhelmed with excitement and joy and cannot wait to see, kiss, hug, and hold our little girl! Everyday my love for her gets stronger and stronger… And for the record Anna has the best daddy ever! I am so proud of Derrick! He does such a good job of taking care of me every day. I can only imagine Derrick with our little girl in his arms!
--Laura

Week 27 - The Third Trimester

Laura has now entered her third trimester, and last, of her pregnancy! Anna’s crown-to-rump length is about 9.6 inches and your baby's total length is approximately 15.3 inches! She now weighs about 2 pounds 3 ounces and is going to grow rapidly during this last trimester! Anna is now the size of a head of cauliflower

If Anna was born now, she would have an 85% chance of surviving. Even though she is still not fully developed, she would be well within the limits of premature viability. We still have approximately 13 weeks left of the pregnancy, and during this time Anna must continue to grow and develop. If she was born at this time, she would have several complications that would require special attention. Because babies do not have adequate amounts of fat at this time, she would have to be kept inside of an incubator for warmth. Because the air sacs in her lungs do not yet have surfactant, she would require an artificial respirator. Her brain, liver, and immune system still need to develop more also.

Over the last few weeks, we have felt Anna kick/punch/push on Laura. She is very active which I think is a good sign. On next week’s blog, I should have a better idea on her due date. They are doing another ultra sound to determine if they need to change the due date. Stay tuned!!!

Week 26

This week, Anna’s crown-to-rump length is approximately 9.2 inches. That is her length from the top of her head to her bottom and does not include her leg measurements! She weighs almost 2 pounds and is beginning to put on weight.

After a month of having her eyelids sealed shut, she begins to open her eyes again this week. Her eyes are almost completely developed. Anna’s eyes are blue in the womb and may change colors later in life. This is true for all races because the pupils do not have their final color until a few months after birth. However, some babies are born with darker or lighter shades of blue. She will continue to put on layers of fat until she is born. She is still lean at this point of the pregnancy though. By the time she is born, she will assume the typical newborn's plumpness. Her skin will still be wrinkled and red, but the fat continues to fill the skin out.

Finger and toe nails continue to grow.

Blood vessels start to develop in the lungs to prepare the baby for life in the outside world.

Anna’s blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture her.

Even though it is still way too soon for your baby to be born yet, the chance of survival without severe abnormalities is now 70% provided it is born in a hospital.

Week 25

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

We are so excited for Anna to arrive and be here with us. Laura and I are very excited to be parents. We know we will learn as we go, but we both have great families to learn from and we both have great parents who were awesome role models!!

Week 24

Anna’s crown-to-rump length is around 8.4 inches and her weight is approximately 1.2 pounds. Although she weighs a little over a pound at this point, growing Anna is still tiny.

Anna's face is basically complete now. Her eyes are close together on the front of her face and they are still shut. Her ears have moved into their final position on the sides of her head. Where they are now is where they will be when she gets here in October  Hair will continue to grow on her scalp and her eyelashes are well developed. Most of her features look the same as they will at birth. Because she is growing and is getting plumper, she no longer has room to do cartwheels and somersaults.

Anna is practicing breathing by inhaling (up to a liter/day) amniotic fluid into developing lungs.

23 weeks

We had an appointment with the doctor yesterday and we had what will probably be the final ultrasound. Anna Hope thought it would be fun to hide from mommy, daddy, and the doctor when they were trying to get a look at her face. She just put her arm up over her face and head. I can explain how happy/excited I am feeling right now. Only 17 weeks left until our little blessing gets here. Well, here's what all is going on this week.
-Derrick


Anna’s length, from crown-to-rump, is approximately 8 inches this week! She has finally reached one pound (The doctor told us yesterday she is right at 1 pound). She is about the size of a small baby doll and looks very human. Her face and body look similar to that of a newborn at this time.

Fat is still being deposited at a rapid rate, but Anna still looks red and wrinkled. Skin is being produced at a higher rate than the fat is, so the skin hangs loosely. She looks red because the skin is losing its transparency and pigment is beginning to form. They say that we should be feeling Anna move, kick, etc and trust me we have. She is not a big fan of her mother walking too much  We have been talking to her. I tell her how happy and excited we are that she is going to be here in a few months and that we can not wait to be her parents. And that we love her very much!!

She now can suck her thumb for real, where she was just sticking it in her mouth. She will continue to swallow amniotic fluid and recycle it as urine. The liquids and sugars that the baby retracts from the fluid is a supplement to the nutrients that the placenta delivers. Laura may be able to feel small `jumps` inside of her when Anna gets the hiccups from swallowing fluid. The pancreas is developing and it will responsible for insulin production, to help break down sugars.

As she continues to grow, she has less space to move around in the uterus. Bones, muscles and organs are growing steadily.

22 Weeks

Anna’ crown-to-rump length is approximately 7.6 inches and she weighs about 12.25 ounces now! She is about the size of a spaghetti squash.

Her body continues to grow and develop every day. The organ systems in her body are becoming specialized for their particular functions. The fetal liver produces different enzymes than it will produce after delivery. The liver is responsible for breaking down billirubin, which is produced by the breaking down of blood cells. Because the life span of a fetal red blood cell is shorter than that of an adult, a fetus produces more billirubin than adults do. Billirubin passes from fetal blood to the placenta and then into your blood. Your liver helps get rid of fetal billirubin. A newborn baby that has high levels of billirubin may show signs of jaundice. Jaundiced babies have a yellowish tint to their eyes and skin and are often treated with phototherapy.

Anna’s senses are developing daily. She now has a full complement of neurons in the brain and is learning about her body and surroundings through touch. Touch is one of the first senses to mature and she may stroke her face or feel her arms and legs.

She now shows an extremely rapid brain growth (which lasts until five years after birth).

Week 21

Anna’s blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture her.

She will be getting much larger during the second half of the pregnancy. Her crown-to-rump length at this time is 7.2 inches and she weighs approximately 10.5 ounces. She is about the size of a large carrot.

Her different organs and systems are maturing. The fetal digestive system is functioning in a simple way and she can swallow amniotic fluid. After Anna swallows the amniotic fluid, she is able to absorb water and sugars from the fluid and then the waste is passed as far as the large bowel. She swallows the amniotic fluid in order to prepare herself for life outside of the womb. Some babies consume as much as 17 ounces of amniotic fluid in a 24-hour period. She already has a high number of red blood cells and the white blood cells are beginning to be produced. Taste buds are being formed on her tongue this week also.

Week 20 - The Halfway Mark

Well, this week marks the half way point of Laura's pregnancy. Anna's crown-to-rump length is 5.6 to 6.4 inches and she weighs about 9 ounces.

Her skin is begining to thicken this week and will develop four layers. Her sebaceous glands secrete a waxy substance called vernix caseosa. She will be born with this wax and it will look like paste. The vernix caseosa is crucial because it protects her fragile skin from the continuous immersion in amniotic fluid. Lanugo hairs secure the vernix caseosa in place and it is thick around the eyebrows. Scalp hair and toenails are beginning to form at this point. Hair can also be seen on the upper lip and eyebrows.

I hope everyone is enjoying reading about Anna and Laura's progress. Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions. Only 20 weeks left:)

Week 19

Welcome to WEEK 19 in Anna’s progress. Yes, I said Anna! For those who have been hiding under a rock, Laura and I found out yesterday that we are having a baby girl, and her name will be Anna Hope Smith. We are completely excited about having a baby girl. I didn’t really have a preference as long as the baby is healthy. But since finding out that the baby is a she, an amazing thing has happened. Anna already has me wrapped around her little finger.

Well, here is some info about Anna this week. Her crown-to-rump length is about 5.2 to 6 inches this week. Her approximate weight is 7 ounces and her weight will increase more than 15 times between now and her birth.

One of the most amazing aspects of her growth and development is that of the fetal brain. Her brain was one of the first organs to appear. Her oversized head shows the brains importance in her development. Because the nerves that connect the muscles to the brain have grown into place, Anna’s movements are consciously directed. Her ears stand out from the side of the head and the buds for her permanent teeth appear. Her arms and legs have reached their relative proportions and her feet are approximately one inch long.

Week 18

Well, this is week 18 in Laura’s pregnancy and I am happy to welcome a guest blogger. Here it is:

Hello everyone, this is baby Smith and I am proud to be guest blogging on my daddy’s blog. Well, this is the 18th week of my existence and I am growing pretty good. I am about 5 ½ inches long. I am continuing to develop fat layers and I weigh about 5.25 ounces. I will continue to grow and develop but my rapid growth will slow down for a while. I have become more sensitive to the outside world and I may start showing my presence through kicks and prods. The bones through which sound is passed to my inner ear have hardened and the parts of the brain that receives and processes nerve signals from the ears are developing. This means I can now hear my mommy and daddy now. I have heard mommy and she likes to sing, I really enjoy listening to her. And daddy likes to tell a lot of jokes. And some of them are funny  I am starting to get used to familiar sounds like my mommy’s heart beating and blood rushing through the umbilical cord. But be careful, I get startled if I hear loud sounds.

Well, that’s about it. I am really excited to meet everyone of you when I arrive into this world in October. I may be blogging again sometime before my arrival, but I will let daddy do it for a while.

Bye!!

Week 17

Welcome to Week 17 in the Baby Smith pregnancy blog. Laura is feeling much better now that she is into her 2nd trimester. The morning sickness has gone away, with the occasional sickness here and there. We think we might have felt the baby kick over the weekend but we are not sure. From a soon-to-be father's point of view, this is such an amazing time! I've had cousins and friends who have been pregnant, but it makes it more real when it is my child. Seeing Laura progressing each week, knowing that our child is growing inside of her is amazing!!!

Our baby's weight has doubled in two weeks and now weighs about 3.5 ounces! The crown-to-rump length of our growing baby is 4.4 to 4.8 inches. If you spread your hand out opened wide, you can see about how big our baby is right now.

Huge changes continue to take place within our developing baby. This week fat begins to form and will continue to do so until he/she is born. Fat is important to the body's heat production and metabolism. Right now, at 17 weeks, water makes up about 3 ounces and fat 0.018 ounces of the baby's body. In a baby at term, fat makes up about 5.25 pounds of the total average weight of 7.7 pounds. The placenta is continuing to grow at an amazing rate. The placenta will continue to develop in tandem with the fetus and it will weigh more than a pound at birth! By this week, the placenta is large and well established with a network of blood vessels that exchange nutrients and waste.

The eyes are facing more forward. The ears are now close to their final position.

Our baby is more flexible with ability to move head, mouth, lips, arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet, and toes. Fingerprints are also forming now.

Week 16

At this point of the pregnancy, our baby is approximately 4.3 to 4.6 inches long and weighs 2.8 ounces. Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight, the child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

At this time, our baby is holding their head erect. Because their muscles are developing, they can make some faces now. Our baby is able to squint, frown and open its mouth. There is enough calcium in the bones that they will show up on an x-ray. Our baby's fingernails are well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because our baby is moving well now, we may begin to feel their movements!

Week 15 / Video

Welcome to Week 15!! I was able to find a really awesome video link of 3D animations of the growth and progress of our baby. You can click on the different time frames to get a visual. It is really cool!!! I'll put the link at the bottom of this weeks blog.

This week, our baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 4 inches and he or she now weighs approximately 1.75 ounces. Our baby is close to the size of a softball.

Our baby is growing at an amazing rate and looking more like a human every day. Because our baby's skin is so thin, you are able to see blood vessels through the skin. Lanugo hair covers the baby's body, but it will be gone when our baby is born. The hair on the eyebrows and head continues to grow. Some babies are born with little or no hair and others have a head full of hair! Even though the eyes continue to move to the front of the face, they are still widely separated. Our baby's ears look like normal ears and continue to develop externally. The bones that have already formed continue to get harder and retain calcium. The baby is very mobile and flexible at this point. They can bend her arms at the elbows and wrists and can also make a fist with their hands.

Here is the link to the video site. Remember, we are on week 15.
http://www.babycenter.com/2_inside-pregnancy-weeks-1-to-9_10302602.bc?scid=dadspreg_20100420:3&pe=2UxlNdj

Week 14

Laura is now in her second trimester! Our baby's crown to rump length is about 3.2 to 4.5 inches long and he or she weighs approximately 1 ounce now. Our baby is about the size of the average fist.

At this time, our baby's face is becoming more developed. The cheeks and bridge of his nose appear and the ears move from the sides of the neck to much higher on the head. The eyes continue to come closer together. A big development from this week onward is the development of lanugo. Lanugo is the fine hair that grows over almost our entire baby. The hairs grow in whirled patterns that follow the grain of his or her skin. These patterns later give way to our baby's fingerprints. The lanugo will be shed before birth and replaced by thicker, coarser hairs. Our baby's thyroid gland has matured and starts to produce hormones. If our baby is a boy, the prostate will appear. And the ovaries descend from the abdomen into the pelvis in baby girls.
The embryo`s soft cartilage is now being replaced with ` real` chalk bones. Our baby has eyebrows, but no eyelashes. Fine, light hair also begins to grow.

Week 13

Well, this is a milestone week for Laura and the baby. This is the final week of the first tri-mester. With the first tri-mester being about rapid development, the second tri-mester is about growth. In this tri-mester, our baby will quadruple in size. What's going on in week 13? Well, the fingerprints have formed on our baby's tiny fingertips, their veins and organs are clearly visible through their still-thin skin, and their body is starting to catch up with their head — which makes up just a third of their body size now. Our baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

Some other things that are taking place in Week 13:
**Bone is beginning to replace cartilage and the ribs are appearing.
**The nose and chin are well defined.
**Movements can be measured.
**The child will begin to learn to suck its thumb.
**The child can open and close its mouth.
**The external genitalia are well defined making it is possible to determine the
baby's gender.

Week 12

Well, this is the begining of week 12 of the pregnacy. Laura and "baby Smith" are both doing good. Laura is still getting some sickness but it seems to be getting somewhat

Our baby's crown-to-rump length is almost 2.5 inches and they now weighs between 8 and 14 grams! In just three weeks, our baby's size has more than doubled and begins to look a lot more human. Even though Laura won't be able to feel our baby moving at this time, he will squint, open his mouth and move his fingers or toes.

Because most of the structures are already formed at this point, few will be formed after this time. The structures will continue to grow and develop throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. Our baby's skeletal system now has centers if bone formation in most of the bones. The digestive system is capable of making contractions that push food through the bowels and it is also able to absorb sugar. The pituitary gland beginning to make hormones.

Our baby develops reflexes and the skin is very sensitive. The brain is fully formed, and the child can feel pain. the baby may even suck his thumb. The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the seventh month to protect the delicate optical nerve fibers.

We only have 28 weeks until our beautiful bundle of joy arrives into this world!! :)

Ultrasound Picture

Well, I was so glad that today finally came. We had our first ultrasound of our baby. I was feeling a little nervous leading up to it just because I wanted to make sure that everything was going okay so far, baby healthy, Laura healthy, etc. The doctor said the baby's heartbeat was 162 beats per minute, and it is a little over an inch long. The official due date is now October 12th. I knew that we were going to be parents before today, but seeing the little person in Laura's belly moving during the ultrasound, seeing the heartbeat made it oh so real. It's so amazing that God allows us to be part of the process of bringing new life into this world. My life has changed so much in past two years. I met and married my best friend. She is so amazing, wonderful, caring, loving, beautiful. Everything I could ever have dreamed of in a woman. And I know she will be a great mother. I am now part of two great families. And now, I am going to be a dad and help raise a child. I am feeling so many feelings right now...excitement, happiness, nervous, anxious to meet our little bundle of joy. Until next time...

Week 10

Although it's barely the size of a kumquat -- a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom -- and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, our baby now has completed the most critical portion of its development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature. If we could take a peek inside the womb, we'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

We have our first ultrasound on Monday March 22nd at 1:30 in the afternoon. I am so excited to get the first glimpse of our beautiful baby...well, we won't find out for a while if its a boy or girl, but either way, it is going to be a bundle of joy that will change my life completely!

First Doctors Visit

Today we had our first doctors visit. It felt good to finally get that ball rolling, even though they didn't really do much today. Just paperwork type stuff and some blood work on Laura. They are going to do an ultrasound on our next visit, March 22nd. They didn't really tell us anything new today. They said she is about 9 weeks along and the projected due date is October 12th. They will know more next time. Well, until next time...

Baby @ week 9

Our new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. It's starting to look more and more human. Their essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Our baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do their tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Their organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Their eyes are fully formed, but their eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. They have tiny earlobes, and their mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, it's poised for rapid weight gain.

Laura @ Week 9

I can't believe its been about a week since I last posted. Trust me we are both still very excited. Laura's not as exhausted as she had been, but she is still feeling it. She went shopping for maternity clothes this past weekend. And she looks cute(see the picture above). We know we have alot of changes in our future, but we are trusting God to take care of everything and lead us in the right direction. I love my wife so much. She is going to be a great mother.

Picture of baby @ 8 weeks

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from our baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs.In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways.

Baby - Week 8

This is week number 8 and this week our baby is the size raspberry (picture to be posted later). Laura is feeling okay, but still somewhat exhausted and nauseous. She is still at Parkside, but hopefully we will have her out of there soon. It is not a safe place for her and the baby to be everyday. So keep her in your prayers as she searches for another job. Not much more new news other than that. I'll keep ya posted!

Our baby is 6 Weeks

We are pretty sure our baby is at 6 weeks (hopefully we will know in the next week or two when we get to see the doctor) and their nose, ears, and mouth are starting to form and take shape. I still can't believe that we are going to be parents.

Laura's Cough

Laura has had an bad cough for the last month or so (even before we found out that she was pregnant)and tonight it got really bad. She was coughing so hard and so frequently that she threw up a couple of times. She has learned something in the midst of all of this coughing though. When she lays down the coughing gets worse, except when she lays on the couch. She has been coughing all night long without an end. But she has been asleep on the couch for the past 45 minutes and has not coughed one single time. I just hope she gets over it soon because I know it makes her miserable. Other than that, things are progressing like normal. Hopefully we will be having news from our first doctors appointment in the next week or two. I'll keep you posted. Everyone have a blessed night!

Laura - Week 6

Well, I thought I would start doing something to let everyone see how Laura is doing. I am going to post a picture of my beautiful wife at each week. This is week 6. She definetly has that "glow"!!! :)

Nothing New

There is really nothing new to blog about but I just felt like I would. We are still extremely excited. Laura is not as exhausted as she had been, but she still is a litte. She's been able to relax and rest most of the evenings this week. Hopefully we will be going to our first doctor appointment in the next week or two :)

Picture of the baby

Time to update again!!! Well, I was surfing the web today and came across this website that shows what size your baby is during each week. Since we are pretty sure we are in week #5, here is a picture of what little baby Smith looks like right now...

Their little heart, lungs, brain, and other organs are starting to develop this week. Only 35 weeks left :)

It's Official!!!

It is now official!!! Laura just got the call from her doctor's office where she did the blood work and she is 100% pregnant!!! We are soooooo happy!!!

February 16, 2010

Well, this chapter of my life is finally here. I am going to be a dad :) Since I heard the words from my wife..."we're going to have a baby!!"...I have had this very large smile on my face that nothing has been able to take off. My mind has been racing since we found out. I'm creating this blog to let everyone know how things are progressing, how Laura is doing, and how the baby is doing. Right now, we are pretty sure she is in week #5. This is the week in which the baby's heart is starting. This is an amazing feeling, knowing that we are bringing another life into this world. A life we will be in charge of naming (that's a lot of pressure), raising, teaching values to, and most of all loving. I have always been told that I would be a good dad, well now I guess we will finally get to find out. I can not wait to hold this little person in my arms and watch them grow up right before my eyes. Well, I better head to bed, 5:30am comes awfully early. By the way, Laura is doing okay, although she is still really exhausted. I love her so much. She is going to be a GREAT mom!!!