3 months old today!

(Double click on image to enlarge it)

Today Miss Smith is three months old! Its hard to believe how quickly time has passed. She is now 24 inches long and weighs 13.4 pounds. For the past month she was interested in her hands, but just today she started showing more interest in her feet. Its amazing to watch her become more aware of her body each day!

Life at the Smith residence continues to be absolute bliss! Now that she's getting older she smiles a lot more and interacts with us both. She won't have a problem voicing her opinion when she grows up because she's already pretty good at it!

This week was the first time we left Lily with a friend and it unfortunately it didn't go so well. About two hours into our evening we got a call because she was crying, but wouldn't take her paci or a bottle. We weren't sure if it was gas, trouble taking the bottle, or just adjusting to the new place, but we ended our night out early and brought our baby home.

Of course, we were already missing her so it wasn't too bad!

Our busy weekend

This weekend was Lily's first sleepover. Parker came over to play and just showered Lily with hugs and kisses! He is very sweet and loving toward her. We know that as they get older these two are going to make a great pair!

Lily got out of the baby-cradle-carry stage pretty quickly and has preferred sitting up for a while now. Back in October we discovered that she also loves standing up and she supports her weight very well! It seems like she is growing up too quickly! I thought babies stayed...well, baby-ish for a lot longer!

This weekend we got to visit our friends the Webbs and spend time with Miss Alexa. She's a year older than Lily and is such a big girl! She has so much energy and so much to say, its amazing to see what a difference 12 months makes as children develop! We don't get to see Alexa very often, but each time we do, her little personality shines brighter and brighter!

After all this action, Lily was exhausted!

Bedtime! (7 weeks old)

This is a video of Lily as we got her dressed for bed. It sounds like she was trying to negotiate for us to extend her bedtime. She's very clever like that!

Playing at home

November

Lily got her first lesson in civic responsibility on Tuesday as she accompanied me to the polls. She was so quiet and polite while voting, they even gave her a "Future Voter" sticker. The next day was her two month check up and also the day she got her vaccinations. The shots were probably harder on me than they were on her, but she handled them very well and didn't cry for too long. She slept most of that afternoon, but thankfully didn't suffer from any side effects.

Our first week home after vacation has been a peaceful one. We had to work on Lily's schedule because she was operating on PST for a few days after we returned! Now, she's back on track and we are falling into our routine again. She is currently fascinated with her hands and is always wringing them...as if she was plotting or scheming. It is so cute! And she continues to be as chatty as ever--I'm not an expert, but I believe she is already learning about conversation patterns. She babbles, then pauses as if waiting for a response from us, before continuing on. This little cycle gets repeated throughout our day and it is so fascinating! Not only does she change her tone and volume, but she repeats some of her "words".

Old friends

The first picture is with our old friend (and groomsman), Jared. The second picture is with our new friend Bayley and her dad, Brandon.

Trick or Treat!

Lily (aka Kitty Kokonuts) on Halloween with her cousin Caleb, the turtle.

Our Trip Home

Here are a few pictures from our trip back home (Double click on the image to enlarge it). It was ten days of chaos and bliss!

We were a little nervous about flying with a 2 month old, but she was just wonderful! The hardest part was definitely the increase in luggage.

Our first two days in Spokane were very relaxing. Lily had the opportunity to meet her cousin Caleb and Auntie Carli for the first time. Although Caleb wasn't too impressed with Lily, he was very sweet and gentle with her. He was practicing for when his baby sister comes in January!

Then we were off to the Tri-Cities for four days for Lily to be reunited with Grammy, meet our kind friend Larry, meet the extended family, and be introduced to her Grandpa Delgado and his new family. While in Kennewick, we also celebrated Auntie M's 20th birthday, carved pumpkins, met Auntie M's boyfriend Robert and played with the lovely baby Grayce.

We headed back to Spokane for two more days of family time with the Smiths, a visit to Auntie K's school, an open house with Grandma and Grandpa's closest friends, and the chance to meet Uncle Landen.

From Spokane we headed to Portland, Oregon for our friend Brent's wedding where Lily got to meet a few of our college friends. The bride was beautiful and in seven years, I've never seen the groom happier! Everyone agreed, its a strange thing that we are all married and starting families because it seems like only yesterday that we were freshman! Although Lily was a bit tired at the rehearsal dinner, she was an absolute doll at the wedding.

To answer the question on many people's mind, we ARE considering relocating back to the Northwest. We certainly love our Kansas City life and will be sad to leave our home, our favorite places, and most of all, our dear friends! However, as expected, having a baby has reminded us of how important family is and we are faced with a decision of what type of family structure we want for Lily. We are still in the very early stages of planning and are praying for God's guidance.

Little Miss Sunshine

Almost eight weeks later

This is Lily watching football with Eric.

Its hard to believe that almost eight weeks have passed since Lily arrived and changed our lives! While I truly enjoy watching her grow and discover new things each day, another part of me feels as if the time has passed too quickly! Everything about having a baby has been incredible and I absolutely love love love every minute of this experience!

Honestly, we expected these first few weeks to be much more work than they actually were! Once we were able to spend time together as a family, the parental instincts developed naturally and very quickly.

Lily is just the latest of many many many blessings God has bestowed upon us! She is a great listener, whether we read her Good Night Moon or Leaves of Grass and she always has something to contribute when we speak. Lately she has shown a greater awareness of herself and actually put her thumb in her mouth (previously she had only put her little fist near her open mouth and it was never for more than a few seconds).

Lily loves listening to music! I believe I helped her develop this interest--From the very beginning of my pregnancy I used to put an earphone by my belly when I listened to iTunes at work so she could hear the music too. I know there is no evidence to support my theory, but she has shown a preference for the Continuum CD and Jack Johnson...

Is this merely a coincidence??

Home video

Home movies

When we're not busy taking pictures of Lily, our next favorite hobby is filming her! She has already grown and changed so much in the five weeks she has been with us, I don't want to miss out on anything new she might do or say!

My brown eyed girl?!

So its not official yet, but we suspect Lily's eyes are turning brown like her Mama's!

My girl

Well its been about five weeks with little Miss Smith in our lives and we couldn't be any happier! She currently goes through 12 diapers a day, she wakes up twice at night to eat, and she sleeps really well! These last two days she has been especially social and she and I have enjoyed many conversations together as she tests out her vocal capabilities. Lily is already 10 pounds and has great head control. Her eyes are still gray-blue and we are curious to find out what color they end up! Yesterday she was awake for 5 hours straight giving me lots of time to play, read, and sing to her. She is very alert and always looking around. Its incredible how much information she processes every day!

We are still in awe that such a precious gift was given to us! Its hard to believe that she is part of Eric and part of me, rolled into one tiny body. For all the stories we heard about how being a parent changes one's life, it is only becoming real for us now that she is here. Some days I still can't believe that only five weeks ago, she was a little stranger moving in my belly. I probably repeat this phrase too much but I have no other way to explain this experience--It feels like she has always been a part of our lives!

I thank God for all the blessings we've had in our lives, but this one is by far the greatest! It is so awesome that Eric and I met as an unlikely pair seven years ago, and all along, God would have this sweet moment planned out for us!

One month old today!

All things bright and beautiful

I am absolutely in love with my daughter! She is the sweetest gift!

Words cannot express the joy she brings to us...

She is absolute light and life; All things bright and beautiful!

2 Week update

Its been two weeks since Lily arrived and we are still on Cloud Nine! At her doctor's appointment we learned that she is now 20.5 inches long and weighs 7 pounds 12 ounces--she's growing so quickly! She cried her first tears at the doctor's office, laying on the cold scale as she was weighed. She goes back in October when she'll start receiving her shots--We are not looking forward to that day.

So far Lily is still on a consistent 3 hour eating schedule with long naps in between each meal. From the time we brought her home she has been very alert and already holds her head up on her own for a short time. She is very vocal and spends most of her time making noises--even in her sleep!

Eric and I are so in love with her--its surprising how someone so new and small suddenly means so much to us both! I am already sad when I imagine the day she goes away to college and we don't get to see her every day! We are also amazed with how quickly I have been able to recover from the pregnancy (THANK YOU to the grandmothers for all the help we've had these last two weeks--the recovery wouldn't be possible without you!!). I gained 32 pounds during the pregnancy and am already down to only six pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight (unfortunately that six pounds seems to be in saggy skin). My incision has also healed very well--its about as thin as a pen mark. I think its important to say that I was so blessed during the pregnancy and delivery--everything was much better than I expected!

After a great visit with Grandma Sophie and Great Grandma Minnie, Grandma Christy arrived to spend some time with her very first granddaughter. We cannot wait to bring Lily home to Washington in October so she can meet the rest of her family!

Family Pictures

Family pictures

You are my sunshine...

Our first week home with Lily has been just amazing! She is an absolute treasure! As first time parents, we weren't sure what to expect, but she's adjusted well and is such a happy baby! We've had a handful of diaper mishaps and one spit up event...and we are enjoying every moment! Lily is an excellent sleeper and is a great little eater--she already passed her birth weight! We've had lots of visitors and already been on a few outings--she does very well in social situations (of course!). Lily keeps us entertained with all the cooing and facial expressions she makes--she is such a joy to have in our lives! We hope you all get the chance to come visit or spend time with her when we go home in October!

Our first days together

Thank you to everyone for all the calls, texts, emails, cards, and gifts this week! It has been the best week of our lives and we are so grateful to have such wonderful news to share with you all! Baby Evelyn Lily, or Peach (to some of you), is such a treasure...Its as if we've received all the best things in life--all at the same moment on Saturday! The feeling is very much like other mothers have described--the instant you have your baby in your arms, life as you know it changes. Its been incredible! She is an absolute delight and we cannot wait to introduce her to you all!!

Although we didn't believe it was possible, life at the Smith home just got better! Love you all!! XOXO

She's finally here!

Announcing the early arrival of our baby girl, Evelyn Lily.
Born Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 2:15 PM.
She weighed 6 pounds 11.6 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.

Week 39

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Baby news...

Hello everyone! We just returned from our weekly appointment and so far there isn't much to report. The baby has dropped and she's in the correct position, but who knows when she'll decide to grace us with her presence?! Last week our doctor said if I deliver on our due date she expects little miss smith to be about 6.5 pounds.

As of today I still feel great...just very tired! The swollen hands and feet count is still under 5 days for the entire pregnancy and I was able to go 36 weeks without even the hint of a stretchmark on my belly...sadly, they finally made their appearance heading into week 37.

Time seems to be passing very quickly now as we prepare for the big event...It doesn't seem real that we are going to have a baby at the end of the month! While we've had all year to prepare for her arrival, it is still difficult to imagine that in such a short period of time a brand new little person can be created! God's design is so amazing!

As many of you may know, this pregnancy has been incredible for us! After hearing several horror stories, I am fortunate to say that it was much easier and better than I expected. I truly enjoyed this season in my life and honestly, I am a little sad that it has to end (but oh so excited to meet our baby girl!). I thank our family and friends for all the support, and I thank God for His unending mercy and grace!

Hope all is well with our loved ones!

XOXO

Lilies are my favorite!

Thank you to my wonderful husband for the special delivery today! I've been expecting a UPS package of baby items from my mom, so to open the door and receive these was such a sweet surprise!

Week 38

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)
Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 37

The baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home...

Well we are finally getting settled in to our new place and it feels wonderful! There is still so much to do, but at this point we are pleased with the unpacking progress. There are pictures to be hung, a basement to be finished, a nursery to complete, and a few boxes that still need attention...yet we aren't letting all that work take away from the joy we feel! Every day we find ourselves talking about another feature of the house we both love and thanking God for blessing us with our new home! After all the ups and downs in our housing search, we finally find our perfect starter home and it suites us very well. The neighborhood is great, the location couldn't be better for us, and we will be ready for the baby just in time!

36 Weeks

Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Home Sweet Home

We are now officially home owners and we couldn't be more excited! After a very long search we finally found a place we loved and we closed this afternoon. This weekend will be a busy one as we pack up the townhouse and unpack at our new home. Our first stop when we left the title company was to get a new gas grill for Eric--of course!

Purchasing our first home has been a goal for Eric and I so we feel incredibly blessed! We look forward to welcoming our family and friends into our new home!

I will post pictures as soon as I can.

XOXO

Week 35

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight

Week 34

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which she'll need to regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 33

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 32

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 31

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Update

Pregnancy:

May 30 - First (and so far, only) time my ankles have been swollen. June 14 - First (and so far, only) time my hands have been swollen. Presently, I do not see any belly stretchmarks...but they have popped up in a few other, unexpected places. I wonder if I'll ever wear a bathing suit again...

Eric and I have yet to commit to a name for our baby girl. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause, but we both agree--choosing a name before we meet her just doesn't seem right. We have to see her and spend time with her first.

At this time the baby is healthy and developing right on schedule. I am up 20 pounds and feel great! Thankfully, being pregnant has been much easier than I expected! I hope its a good sign for the labor portion of this whole experience!

Home buying:

The house we were set to close on (on June 25) had a flooding issue in the basement, so we cancelled the contract. We are so happy this issue came up before we actually owned the house! Now we are back at square one and getting ready for a house-touring-blitz! Again, we just want to give all the glory to God for shielding us from the wrong house...we are beginning to wonder if He is preparing us for something yet to be revealed (if the prayers of a righteous person avail, Grandma Sophie and Grandma Christy might get their way sooner than expected).

Family life:

Family life continues to be a blessing! After three months of me leaving the work place, our relationship continues to blossom daily in unexpected ways. Our first year of marriage was better than either of us could have imagined and we look forward to the many ways it will mature and develop in the future. Being at home has given me the opportunity to slow down and really enjoy every day!

We want to thank all our family and friends for their constant love and support as we prepare for this next chapter in our lives--All the kind words, prayers, cards, gifts, text messages, and emails have been much appreciated!

Week 30

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like 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 in your uterus. 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.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 29

Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he 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 getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 28

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open and close her eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing, but it won't be long before she's batting those beauties at you.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Mi casa es su casa

Thanks to everyone for your prayers during our housing search!

A day after my return to Kansas City, we saw a house and put in an offer. The seller accepted and we just had it inspected this morning. The inspection went well, and Lord willing, we are closing on June 25!

While we are not surprised that God continues to be faithful and an amazing provider, we are SO THANKFUL for His grace and abundant blessings!

VACANCY: Summer is our favorite time in Kansas City--its beautiful outside, the city market is open, and there are lots of great activities going on! We currently have two open guest bedrooms and would love to host visiting friends and family! If you visit before the end of June, we live right by the pool! If you visit after June 25, you can be part of the moving chaos!

Week 27

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were 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.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Baby Shower: Tri-Cities

Our second shower was May 16, in the Tri-Cities. Eric and I were honored to receive so much attention and love that day because it also would have been my brother Jacob's 21st birthday! Grandma Sophie and Aunt Marissa were careful not to overlook a single detail for the party, everything was just fantastic! Each of my aunts helped put together an amazing dinner, Cakes Be We customized the cake to match the invitations, and the Escalera's put extra care into their home to make sure it was picture perfect for the evening. Thank you to everyone who was able to make the drive out to celebrate with us--it was so nice to have you all with us as we prepare for our baby girl! Don't forget to check back soon--I know Grandma Sophia is excited to update us all on the Ronald McDonald House donation and how it will be used!

Baby shower: Spokane

Our first shower was Thursday, May 15, in Spokane. Pictures will be posted soon!!

Grandma Christy, Aunt Carli, and Aunt Kristen really went out of their way to make this event special. The fellowship was priceless, the dessert was made with love, and the games were so much fun! Grandma Irmina and Aunt Jo were able to come in from the Seattle area to celebrate with us, along with all the women in Spokane who love us! I am so grateful for all the wisdom on motherhood and all the blessings for our baby girl that were shared! I know I will always have the support and prayers of some incredible women, even if we live miles away!

Our trip home

I just returned from a wonderful, relaxing two weeks back home in Washington and have lots to write about! Eric's sister Carli announced she and her husband Landen are expecting their second child! Their son, Caleb, is such a sweet little guy; we can't wait to find out if he's getting a little brother or sister! Congratulations, Grant family (if you would like to keep updated on their good news, you can visit their blog through the link on our page)!

In our three years of traveling back home, this trip was one of my favorites! Being able to leave for two weeks and not have to worry about all the "work" that was piling up on my "desk" was amazing! I felt like I was finally able to fully enjoy each moment with family and friends and truly be on "vacation"! The hardest part was being away from Eric for so long, but he was able to come out for a four day weekend to be with us. We both agreed that things are better when we’re together!

While at home we were BLESSED to have two baby showers for our little girl! We would like to thank everyone who attended to support us during this precious time! Your encouragement, prayers, and generosity are such a blessing to us. We feel humbled by your thoughtfulness and grateful for your love!

If my stomach wasn't noticeable before, it's definitely making an appearance! It feels like I’ve doubled in size in a very short period of time. I am still at a point where I don't feel "huge" yet, but I am noticing the changes--I keep bumping my stomach on the car door and on chairs, if I try to walk behind someone at a dinner table. The down side of this all is that now I really have to look for new clothes...the up side is that everyone was extremely helpful at the airport today!

Eric and I are currently in the process of house hunting and we are so excited to see what God has in our future! We will be busy the next few weeks touring potential homes. Please keep us in your prayers as we make this very important decision!

I want to send a special Thank You to my wonderful husband for my "Mom to be" Mother's day delivery! You're the best husband I've ever had!!

Week 26

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.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 25

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 a more rounded one. As your baby gains weight, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more like a mini newborn. His hair is probably recognizable now in color and texture, although both may change after he's born.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 24

Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week. Since she's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), that makes for a pretty lean figure, but her body's filling out proportionally. Your baby's brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds may be working now. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily. Your baby can hear more now, and you may even notice her startle at loud, sudden noises. But she's probably getting used to the regular noises she hears around the house, such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 23

Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango). He may be able to feel your movements now, so put on some tunes and dance around the house. No matter what race your baby is, he looks red now due to blood vessels showing through his transparent skin. His true skin tone will develop over the course of his first year. Blood vessels in your baby's lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing, but complete lung development will take many more months. The lungs are the last organ to fully develop.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Sugar & spice, and everything nice...

We want to officially announce the newest member of the Smith family will be a little girl!

Week 22

Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out. Your baby's eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks some pigment. Your baby's lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. You won't actually see her first tooth until she's around 4 to 7 months old, unless she's one of the rare babies who are born with teeth.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Update...

Hello! In response to recent requests for more information I wanted to post an update...

We are few days into week 21 and baby and I are great! I don't own a scale...but the last time I was on one, I had gained about six pounds. My belly is growing a little each day and the people who are closest to us are starting to notice. I am not sure if a stranger would think I am pregnant yet...email me if you'd like to see pictures and give us your opinion! So far I am not experiencing any cravings, drastic mood swings, or any other uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms.

For those of you who were not aware, I recently left my corporate job to stay home and I couldn't be happier! I feel like a completely different person...like the "real" me...and I know it is benefiting the baby! This is a very special time for our family and we are enjoying every day.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and love!!

XOXO

Week 21

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long--the length of a carrot. Your baby is really on the move now. Fetal researchers say babies move about 50 times an hour even while sleeping. All that movement helps stimulate your baby's physical and mental development. You may not notice 50 kicks, punches, and twirls during the day, but as you're settling down at night, don't be surprised if your little guy seems ready to dance the night away.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Week 20

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She'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, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure). A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system.

Information provided by babycenter.com

Special Delivery!

Thank you to all of my aunties for the special delivery we received today! The flowers are beautiful and really brightened up my day! You all are so thoughtful and sweet! Love you! XOXO

Week 19

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom--about the size of a large heirloom tomato. The hair on his scalp is sprouting. If your baby is a girl, she already has 6 million eggs in her ovaries. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. He may be able to hear you as you talk. Research shows that he's learning to distinguish your voice from others, and he'll soon show a preference for it.

Information provided by Babycenter.com