MacNut Week 21

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• MacNut is the length of a carrot - ~ 10.51 inches and 12.70 ounces.
• She is now gaining weight steadily, with fat being added to the body.
• Bone marrow has started making blood cells.
• Her small intestine is starting to absorb sugars.

Physical:

• Weight: 137 lb (+11)
• Belly circumference: 35.50 in (+5.00)
• Fundal height: at the U (so, 20 in-ish)
• Appetite has been really good.  Again, I'm hungry ALL the time. 
• Uterus is at the umbilicus and my belly button is getting awfully shallow.
• It is getting increasingly more difficult to put on socks!

Spiritual & emotional:

• We are realizing that this naming thing is not easy.  *sigh* 
• I loved getting together with old 3rd Service CBC'ers this week over a meal at the Mandarin Buffet & Grill!
• We lost MacNut's older sister Penelope at 21 weeks and 5 days.  A big milestone this week is that today (4/30, at 21 weeks and 6 days) I am the pregnantest I have ever been! 
• Another big milestone is that I got visual confirmation of MacNut's crazy kicks/rolls this week.  While I was sitting on the couch yesterday, I felt a biiiig kick.  When I looked down, she kicked again and my buttons moved!  Hahaha...what a kicky little Jumping Bean.  Makes me feel that much more attached to her. 

MacNut Week 20

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• MacNut is the size of a banana - ~10 inches (CHL) and 11 ounces.
• The baby can hear and recognize the mother's voice.
• The mother will probably start feeling the first fetal movements.
• The toenails and fingernails are growing.
• The growth of hair on the rest of the body has started.
• The skin is getting thicker.
• The heart can now be heard with a stethoscope (although I don't think that's true).

Physical:

• Weight: 136 lb (+10)
• Belly circumference: 35.50 in (+5.00)
• I think I'm all caught up with the weight-gaining thing. :)
• Physically feeling great.  A nap here and there help, though.

Spiritual & emotional:

• It has been really good having the Shakals visit!
• I've been doing a lot of research on cloth diapering and I think I'm completely obsessed with this whole thing!  I love it!

Our church

I recently saw someone from our old church at a grocery store.  She's a Chinese woman in her 50's.  This is how our conversation went:

She: So are you going to a white church now?
Me: Well, it's a neighborhood church in the Rainier Valley...  
She: Ohhhhhh...so some blacks & Mexicans, too. [naturally, this statement is accompanied by a generalized look of fear]

Precisely :)

MacNut Week 19

It's a girl!!!  We found out on Thursday that we're having a healthy, active baby girl.

Ain't she somethin'?

Here's a little wave :)

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• MacNut is the size of an heirloom tomato - ~6.5 inches and 9 ounces.
• Your placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby.
• Features of your baby's heart, should be visible during an ultrasound.
• Your baby's genitals are distinct and recognizable.
• Scalp hair has sprouted and continues to grow.

Physical:

• Weight: 134 lb (+8)
• Belly circumference: 34.75 in (+4.25)
• Continue to feel great!  I refuse to believe that I'm "huge"...because I'm pretty sure I'm going to get much bigger.

Spiritual & emotional:

• We were a bit nervous the days leading up to the ultrasound, to be expected.  But the morning of the appointment, we felt completely serene.  It was amazing that the Lord has brought us to this point of complete surrender!
• Also relieved that as I was driving home from the ultrasound, the nurse at my midwife's office called to let me know that the result of the second glucola test indicated that I don't have gestational diabetes (GDM)! *phew*
• Excited to meet our little girl in a few months!

The story of Ng1 and Ng2...and introducing Ng3!

MacNut Week 18

I saw this shirt at a thrift store this week and started drooling!  It was only $3 so I guess it's not bad.

Chin OFFICIALLY felt the baby kick at the beginning of this week!  He felt MacNut kick twice within 30 seconds :)

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• MacNut is the size of a bell pepper - ~5.59 inches and 6.70 ounces.
• S/he can hear sounds and may be startled by loud noises.
• Recognizable active and rest periods.
• The skin is building a protective wax layer (vernix).

Physical:

• Weight: 130 lb (+4)
• Belly circumference: 34.25 in (+3.75)
• That belly keeps a poppin'!
• Lots of energy this week

Spiritual & emotional:

• I filed our taxes this week!
• Lots to be thankful for.

Rollin' with the homies

We had Vietnamese rolls with our small group tonight.  What a delightful group of people!!  We have loved getting to know each person and learning from one another's candid sharing.

Steven & Lindsey

Krista & Lance (aren't they a handsome couple?)

Bao & Chin 

 Our first rolls!  We all did a splendid job :)

(photo courtesy of Lindsey)

Donovan!!

I would like to introduce you all to my newest nephew: Donovan Mychal!  He was born on 3/19 @ 9:30am weighing 6 lb 14 oz and measuring 19.5 in long (although I'm pretty sure they short changed him as he was measured at 22.5 in just one week later).

Donovan pooped all over himself in-utero prior to the c-section

We got to visit him this past weekend and he has already grown so much!  Such a cutie.

Taking a nap with Ông Ngoại 

Oooh!!

MacNut Week 17

Technically, this is what's going on this week:

• MacNut is the size of a turnip (this is getting into ambiguous, highly-variable sizing territory!) - ~5.12 inches and 4.94 ounces
• The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger.
• Baby is about 5 inches (14cm) long crown to rump and would be about 9 inches (23cm) head to toe, if it could stretch out.
• The retina has become sensitive to light.
• The first stools (meconium) are now beginning to accumulate.

Physical:

• Weight: 128 lb (+2)
• Belly circumference: 34.00 in (+3.50)
• Finally surpassing my pre-pregnancy weight!!  Judging by my growing belly & dips in energy, I wasn't too concerned whether MacNut was getting enough nutrients :)  Ever since I've started feeling better, I've been more mindful about eating better.
• Signs of colostrum production this week.
• Had my 1-hour Glucola tolerance test (for gestational diabetes) this week and the results came back slightly high.  So I had to go back in for a 3-hour test! :(  Hopefully it was just falsely high.

Spiritual & emotional

• We picked up the last few pieces from our rental house in Seattle this week.  It was so sad.  So many memories in this house.
• Chin & I celebrated our 10-year DTR'ing (defining the relationship) anniversary this week!  I couldn't have imagined a better partner in life.