We've got paint!

Our house has been painted! Or at least it was in the middle of that process when we stopped by this past weekend. The green color is the color of the house. The front porch has been painted as well.











Here's a shot of the front of the house from across the street. The shingles are on top, so I would assume they're going to put those up someitme in the next week or so.











And a shot from the back.

We've made a lot of decisions this week on final details--appliances, flooring, interior paint, etc. This week the interior should be getting some drywall, so we'll see some big changes.

26 Weeks

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

Another update on the house

An updated view of the back of the house. All of the siding is done and the deck is up as well. We spent a couple of hours at the house last week with the electrician and hte plumber going over all kinds of details.
















The front of the house, this time showing the porch!













The inside is coming along quickly as well. This is the workshop downstairs. This view is from the stairs before you walk down into the workshop. The workshop is going to be one of the best rooms in the house!

25 Weeks

Head to heels, your baby 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 had our 6-month apopintment last Thursday and everything went well. Little Man was measuring at 25 1/2 weeks instead of 24, which is perfeclty normal. Our doctor said that his size would fluctuate as we progress. At this very moment, he's a little ahead of schedule or just a big baby! My blood pressure and everything else was fine, so everybody was healthy! Our appointment next month is a fun one because I get tested for pre-gestational diabetes.

House update

Here's the newest progress on the house. Still moving right along. The siding is going up as are the windows and doors.











Another view of the front. The house won't be this color when they're finished.













The inside is getting easier to imagine since all of the framing is up and there aren't pieces of wood all over supporting everything. This is the view from the garage door. Sunken living room to your left; kitchen and dining room is on the right side. The window down the hallway is in the master bedroom.








The view from the front door. Sunken living room with the big windows and sliding door, while the kitche is immediately to the left. There will be a 3/4 wall on the left for the kitchen, so this area won't be as open when it's finished.

24 Weeks Picture

Here's an updated pictures of my ever-growing midsection. It doesn't really look all that bigger than the 20 weeks pictures, but it sure feels like it. We're still about basketball size, so no complaints there. I'm a little fearful of what size it'll be by October & November!

24 Weeks

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