Baldric's identity crisis

He now thinks he's a rabbit:

23 weeks

Boo now weighs a little over 500 grams and measures about 29 centimetres from crown to heel (that's almost a full ruler). His hearing is well established and he can make out a distorted version of my voice, the beating of my heart and my stomach rumblings (these happen often!). Loud noises often heard in utero, such as the barking of a dog (Baldric!) or the roar of a vacuum cleaner, probably won't bother Boo when he hears them outside the womb. Numerous studies seem to indicate that the unborn prefer classical music, especially Vivaldi. In addition to advances in Boo's hearing, his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. He can now swallow.

22 weeks

Boo now weighs almost 430 grams, measures just over 27 centimetres long from crown to heel, and is proportioned like a newborn, albeit a thinner version since his baby fat hasn't yet developed. Although he's getting heavier every day, his skin still appears wrinkled because he needs to gain more weight. The lips are distinct and the eyes are formed, though the iris (the coloured part of the eye) still lacks pigment. The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. Even this early, the first signs of teeth appear in the form of tooth buds beneath the gum line. Before we know it, our baby will be born, and soon after, his first teeth will come through.

21 weeks

Boo now weighs about 360 grams. Up until now he has been measured from crown to rump but from this point on the measurement will be from crown to heel. And from crown to heel he is approximately 27 centimetres long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed and the fingernails cover the fingertips. Boo can now hear our conversations. If we talk, read, or sing Boo, he can hear us. Some studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in utero.

Another Scan!

Yup, being part of the NIH research program has meant very regular scans, and we had another one on Friday......

This time, the sonographer offered to flick over to 4d, so we got a quick preview - although he's still a little young so a bit skeletal..... Also, that's the cord over part of his face on the right hand side.....

I can see Rod in him for sure!

20 weeks, 3 days

The Half Way Week!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! We're on the homeward stretch......

Boo now measures about 16.5 centimetres from crown to rump and is steadily gaining weight (just like his mum!). A whitish coat of a slick, fatty substance called vernix caseosa is beginning to cover him and protects his skin during its long immersion in amniotic fluid. It also eases delivery (nice!). Boo's swallowing more this week, good practice for the digestive system. After he takes in amniotic fluid, his body absorbs the water in the liquid and moves the rest into the large bowel.

Cousin Laura from the UK

Adam and I have discovered a new cousin (or more rightfully, she's discovered us, as she's the one travelling and here in Australia). Laura is from the UK - West Midlands - closest main city is Birmingham, and is currently travelling through Australia, then NZ, then Fiji.

We all spent the day together today, and showed some local sights such as McLaren Vale (mmmm, wine tasting for the non pregnant participants), Port Willunga, coastline etc....

Laura is our second cousin......our grandma's sister (Aunty Alice's) grandaughter....or Dad's cousin's daughter....confusing, but we love finding more family!

She's in Australia until January - but will probably extend to March to see the Grand Prix (yes, Rod was happy to find someone new to discuss the finer points with).

Here's a happy snap taken at D'arenberg Winery:

Boo is a.........

Boo is a

BOY!

Yup, well and truly and without a doubt Boo is a little man!!!!!! From the scan today we also ascertained that everthing is A-ok 100% normal and fantastic: 4 heart chambers beating well, 2 kidneys, 2 arms with 5 digits each, 2 legs with 2 feet with 5 digits each.

We got to watch him swimming around lots and making drum playing motions - already becoming a muso!

Here's a piccy of our little son - 'aint he just grand:

So, of course, immediately following the scan and prior to us both going to work, just HAD TO BUY SOME CLOTHES (somehow, I can't imagine every walking into a department store again and actually buying clothes for me!!!):

So, we have the hoody and matching t-shirt:

Another t-shirt that has racing cars and reads "Fastest on the Track" (in honour of when he becomes a Grand Prix driver)....note the matching jeans with the racing car applique:

A safari shirt and jeans, and, the cincher, the yellow muscle shirt for underneath:

And a couple of gender specific ever practical wondersuits........

In case it wasn't obvious, the wondersuit above on the left has the following gorgeous print:

Ahhh, what a perfect day!

12 HOURS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until the BIG morph-scan-ultrasound-thingo.....

This is the one where we all HOPE and PRAY that Boo's legs are WIDE OPEN so we can find out whether Boo is a

HE

or a

SHE

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned (you know us - open books, so you'll all know too!)

So can't wait! So want to go to bed NOW so I can wake up and it's tomorrow!

Nursery - take 1

Ok, thought I'd put some progress shots of the nursery online.....at the moment, not so much "progress" as "we've now got all the big furniture, it's all together, but it's still chaos in there"......

A couple of weeks ago we picked up a 4 square x 4 square bookshelf from IKEA, which Rod put together on the weekend along with the cot lent to us from Petta & Checc. Put those together with the tallboys (featured in an earlier post under the "Nursery" label), and all big furniture is together.

I now need to clean out the cupboard, and we'll be putting one tallboy in there (figure that Boo won't need the long hanging space for a few years yet).

And after TOMORROW (gender finding out day - whoo hooo), we'll be able to pick wall paints and linen themes.......

So, stay posted for the progress shots:

The demise of Baldrics latest Teddy.....

Do you remember the post on the 9th September 2007? "Nanna" (my mum) had bought Baldric a new teddy for his cuddle collection...?

Well, today saw the last "cuddle" from Baldric:

Teddy is now RIPing in our bin...... looks like tomorrow is a visit to the Goodwill store on The Parade for a new teddy (the old lady volunteers think that I'm buying for a neice or nephew as I go in every couple of months for the biggest teddy they have - they actually know me now! ..and I'm too embarrassed to tell them that the teddy's are actually for Baldric....