CAYLEE JUNE ROSS

Caylee's First Solid Food

2009-12-04T08:49:00.001-08:00

Recent Pics of Little Caylee June Ross

2009-11-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

Caylee's first full belly laughs

2009-09-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

If this doesn't make you feel good I don't know what will.

Pure awesomeness

2009-08-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

2-month checkup

2009-08-05T14:34:00.001-07:00

Caylee just had her 2-month checkup. She weighs 11 lb, 14 oz and is 23 inches long. It was so hard watching her get her first immunizations, but she is perfectly healthy and the cutest baby ever. While we were in the waiting room Cooper saw her laugh for the first time. She’s laughed a few times before, but I’m the only one who’s witnessed it. We just love her so much!

Pics of Caylee

2009-08-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics of Caylee from the past month...

Joleen Rose

2009-08-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Joleen Rose Curtis has arrived! Born August 4th at 2:50pm in Nashville, TN. She weighs 7 lb,2 oz and is 20 inches long. Caylee is so excited to have her 1st little cousin and Cooper and I are excited to have our 1st little niece! Congratulations Stevee and Brendon!!

Happy Father’s Day!

2009-06-21T07:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Father’s Day Daddy!! Thank you for being the best daddy in the whole world! We’re so lucky to have you as our dad! We love you more than you’ll ever know!
XOXO,
Caylee and Chloe

Caylee's 1st Picnic

2009-06-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today was our neighborhood’s summer bash, so Cooper and I took Caylee. She enjoyed her first picnic even though she’s only 2 weeks and 6 days old. Next summer she’ll be able to enjoy the food, moon bounce, games, and swimming pool.

Growing Girl

2009-06-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

Cooper and I took Caylee to the pediatrician on Thursday for a check up. Her Dr. says she's perfectly healthy. At Caylee's 3 day checkup she weighed 6lbs 4oz and only 2 weeks later on Thursday she weighed 7lbs 14oz. Caylee's favorite thing to do is nurse, so I wasn't surprised to see her gaining weight.

The fun begins

2009-06-13T10:49:00.001-07:00

Sorry we haven’t had much time to make many posts lately. We’re slowly getting settled into this new routine. Caylee has been a little angel with the exception of a few late night temper tantrums. That’s to be expected of course. We set up a makeshift studio in the garage. We plan to take more over the weekend but here’s a couple we shot yesterday.

Caylee's Arrival

2009-06-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

Cooper and I had just went to bed on Saturday May 30th and my water broke at 11:55pm! We were so shocked and excited! I wasn’t having contractions so we walked around the neighborhood for an hour. I started having good contractions so we packed up and arrived at the hospital at 2am. I walked the halls of the hospital for a few hours, until my contractions got more painful. After that I was in a hospital bed for the rest of my labor. I wanted to wait until I was dilated to a 5 before getting my epidural. Around 8am my contractions were getting so intense that I couldn’t take the pain any longer, just so happens the anesthesiologist was in a surgery and it would be an hour and a half until he could give me my epidural. Cooper and I breathed through contractions for 30 more minutes then I asked the nurse for any kind of pain medicine she could give me. I was given Stadol and it made me very tired any loopy! I received my epidural at 10am and it was smooth sailing from then on! Caylee was born Sunday May 31st at 1:54pm. She weighed 6LB 8OZ and was 19 ¾”. She received a perfect 10 on her apgar score and 100% on her hearing test! We are so lucky to have such a perfect baby girl and an easy labor without any complications! After Caylee was born I said, “that was easy!!” I only had to push a few times and she was in my arms! I couldn’t imagine my life without Caylee! She is the best baby and has brought Cooper and I so much joy! She melts our hearts over and over every day! She is doing such a great job nursing and we’re so thankful for all the help and prayers from our friends and family! I highly recommend Deaconess Hospital to everyone! The nurses were so wonderful and gave us the best care! I hope you enjoy the pictures! Sorry it took me a while to post them!

Blah Blah Blah

2009-05-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

Angela and I just got back from walking around the hoodski. Our doctor pretty much chewed us out for postponing the induction. It wasn't exactly the reaction we hoped for but then again we both kind of knew how she would react. On one hand she's just doing her job, and on the other hand she needs to respect our decisions with patience and understanding... which she did not. We feel confident in our decision, though we can’t help but feel a little sad knowing we could be holding our baby girl in our arms right now had we stuck with the plan.
We have a doctor’s visit on Thursday and if the baby isn’t here by early next week we will go ahead and induce.

The time has come...or has it?

2009-05-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

Angela and I have been very excited about Caylee's arrival. We actually had it our minds that we’d go into labor before the date we were scheduled to be induced, which is tomorrow at 7:30am. Well, the time has come and Angela and I are forced to make a big decision. Do we want to go ahead with the pitosin and induce labor or do we want to wait a little while longer and try to let Caylee come out when she’s ready? It seems like a simple choice but our doctor(s) have told us sooner is better on account of some minor complications we experienced late in the pregnancy. We’ve heard all kinds of bad stories about pitosin lowering infant’s heartbeats and causing them to go into fetal distress, which would then mean a C section birth. We don’t want that. There are other side affects we don’t like about the drug too. SO….We called the hospital and canceled the induction. We will discuss another date with our doctor tomorrow. We’ll make another post when we know more. With any luck Angela will go into labor soon and we won’t have to worry so much.

Saturday Fun

2009-05-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

There were some really cool clouds out today so I set the tripod up (again) in the driveway while I mowed the lawn. Angela and I just finished walking for an hour straight around the hood. She had a few contractions which was what we were hoping for...

Passing more time....

2009-05-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

Just passing gas...I mean time.

2009-05-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

I've been working from home this week waiting for my wife to go into labor so I thought I'd set a tripod up and make a time lapse sequence of a new roof getting put on our house.

Getting a little impatient! :)

2009-05-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Caylee’s due date, but unfortunately I think she wants to be fashionably late. I was hoping to get checked yesterday, but my dr. was at the hospital with a patient so I only got a non stress test. I’ve been walking and eating foods that are supposed to start contractions. My neighbor made me some awesome Mexican food and I had contractions all night, but they went away once I got out of bed the next morning. I go back to the dr. on Thursday to get checked. Hopefully by Thursday I’ll have dilated even more! I feel like she is so low right now! My pelvic bone is sore from all the pressure. I think that’s probably a good sign that she’s dropping into place. Here are a couple pictures that were taken on Sunday. I was 39 ½ weeks pregnant!

39 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-05-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

We're 39 weeks pregnant and very ready to meet our little angel. Yesterday I had a dr's appt and I'm dilated 2 cm and my cervix is 60-70% effaced. Some of my contractions have started to be painful so Cooper and I have been timing them, but they are still very irregular. I’m hoping to go into labor this weekend, but unfortunately it’s not up to me.

38 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-05-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

We’ve made it 38 weeks! Today I had a dr’s appt. My cervix has started opening and I’m dilated 1 cm! It’s not much, but it’s better than last week when my cervix was still closed and I wasn’t dilated at all! Dr. Wayman said she could feel Caylee’s head. I just think that’s so crazy!! Cooper and I believe Caylee will be born on or before May 20th, but if she isn’t my dr. wants to induce labor May 26th at 7:30 am. Caylee is getting so big that my back has really started feeling it, so last night my wonderful husband painted my toenails and gave me a massage!!

Cloudy Sunday Afternoon

2009-05-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

We've had a rainy weekend here in in E-town. We did a bit of shopping yesterday and have been relaxing all day today. We watched Look Who's Talking last night and I was hoping to see Tiger pull a win at Quail Hollow but that didn't happen. Angela is doing good. She's moving a little slower and struggles a bit pulling herself off the couch. I help her when I can but normally she just makes a cute little grunt and stumbles onto her feet somehow. I'm very proud of her for doing so great. I made a quick little time lapse sequence out of my office window to showcase our beautiful weather. Hope you enjoy.

37 weeks pregnant!!

2009-04-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

We’re 37 weeks pregnant and considered full term. We had our second appointment with the specialist this evening. Caylee has grown a lot in the past 3 weeks. She now weights 5 pounds 12 ounces and she’s 18 inches long. The specialist said if Caylee isn’t born by May 20th, I’ll be induced. I could really tell that she was getting a lot bigger! For over a week now I haven’t been sleeping very good because my back has started hurting and my stomach feels so heavy. My stomach cramps at night while I sleep and my dr. said it’s my pelvis widening and stretching for labor. Last weekend I was having contractions so bad I could barely walk. Cooper and I were really excited because we thought we were going to get to meet our precious daughter, but the contractions went away after a few hours. This weekend we’re going to buy a few more last minute items for Caylee.

36 Weeks Pregnant!!!

2009-04-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

We’re 36 weeks pregnant!! It’s so exciting to think we could meet baby Caylee any day now! Her nursery is pretty much complete and this weekend Cooper and I are going to go and buy the items we really need off her registry before she arrives. I honestly don’t think the specialist will send Cooper and me to the hospital next Wednesday for an induction. I have felt Caylee grow so much over the past couple weeks! She has grown so much that it’s very difficult for me to sleep at night and I’ve even been feeling uncomfortable throughout the day. I did paint my toe nails over the weekend! I was impressed that I could still reach them!! LOL
At 36 weeks she should measure over 17 inches long and weigh about 5.78 pounds. Between now and birth she will gain about an ounce a day!

It's almost diaper time!

2009-04-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

We purchased diapers for the first time today. It was an exhilarating experience to say the least...though it didn't really occur to me until I was bringing them in from the car that each of the 80 diapers we purchased this evening will have their own special mix of baby business in them before they make their way back out of the house. Nevertheless, I remain exhilarated.

Non Stress Tests

2009-04-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

My OB sent Cooper and me to see a Perinatologist last week because Caylee has been measuring a little smaller than normal. We feel a lot better after our appointment with him. He is measuring Caylee small too, but not as small as my Dr. measured her on Monday. He ruled out Placenta Previa and Placenta Abruption as the cause of my bleeding which is good, although they don’t know where the blood is coming from. If the bleeding doesn’t stop in the next few weeks, Caylee will more than likely be delivered a couple weeks early. We have to take a series of non-stress tests. The first non-stress test was done at Deaconess Hospital (as shown in the above video) then I’ll take 2 non-stress tests a week at my Dr’s office and will be monitored a little more closely from now until her birth. We want to thank all of our friends and family for their thoughts and prayers! We are so lucky to have so many people in our lives that care so much about Caylee’s wellbeing!

Tornado Shelter

2009-04-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

We decided we'd better go ahead and get a tornado shelter put in since we keep getting close calls. I really think our particular part of town is somehow geographically attractive to a tornado's path. I don't have any scientific data to back that up but most people around here will agree the west Edmond/Deer Creek area seems to always get a few twisters every season. In any case, I now have peace of mind knowing Mommy, Caylee, and Chloe will be safe.

8 Months Pregnant!!

2009-03-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

We’re 8 months pregnant and I’m still feeling great! I finished Caylee’s bedding and am excited for her to get here so she can try it out :) We start our birthing classes this Saturday and are excited to learn everything we need to know so we’ll feel more prepared.

Fetal development in pregnancy week 32: By now, your baby weighs about 4 pounds and is 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. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair. Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth. Most internal systems are well developed, but the lungs may still be immature.

32 Week Belly Pic

2009-03-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

That's a whole lotta belly! We're getting more and more excited as time goes on. Hopefully this last 2 months will go by fast. We're looking forward to seeing Momma Ross and Stevee Curtis who are flying out here to see us soon!

31 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-03-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

We just had another Dr’s appt and everything is going great! Caylee has been moving around like crazy! It feels like she just dances around all day and all night long, I Love it!! Carrying her in my belly gives me a special bond with her that no one else can have, so that’s really special to me! Cooper loves to feel her kick and watch her move from outside my belly, but I can’t wait to see him actually hold her in his arms for the first time once she’s born! :) I’ve been having more and more Braxton-Hicks contractions, so my body is preparing for Caylee’s arrival. My belly is also getting a lot bigger. I could feel my uterus stretching all day yesterday…it must have been the ½ pound she’s supposed to gain this week…LOL
Fetal development in pregnancy week 31: Her brain enters another period of rapid growth, producing hundreds of billions of new nerve cells! Your baby can now process information from all five senses . Her lungs are the only system not fully mature. She weighs about 3½ pounds and measures a little over 16 inches long.

30 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-03-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

We’re officially ¾ of the way through the pregnancy and we’re so excited to meet our baby girl! I bought an elliptical machine to walk on a couple days a week, but took a break for a few weeks…lol Cooper had to get a picture of me finally using it again. As you can see, Chloe likes to walk on the elliptical too :)
Fetal development in pregnancy week 30: Baby is starting to shed her lanugo- downy hair that was covering her skin. Now that she's chubbier and better able to regulate her body temp, she doesn't need to sport a fur coat 24/7. Your baby has the capability now to produce tears -- yes, within the womb. The bone marrow is completely in charge of red-blood-cell production now. Your baby is now 15.7 inches long and weighs 3 pounds. She will gain a half pound each week until birth.

29 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-03-04T12:30:00.000-08:00

We’re 29 weeks pregnant and things are going great! Caylee loves when I cuddle Cooper at night because she just kicks, kicks, kicks her daddy in the back all night long!. It’s really cute! As you all know I failed my first test for gestinational diabetes and had to go back and take a longer more in-depth test. I passed this one, but my glucose count went from very high to very low. At my next appointment they’ll let me know what I need to do to get my number in the normal range. We had our 4-D ultrasound last week and it was amazing! We could see all of Caylee’s features. We also saw her yawn, stick out her tongue, and chew on the umbilical cord. She is already head down, now she just needs to pack on a few pounds so she will be ready for birth.

Fetal development in pregnancy week 29: Due to the impressive advancements of medical technology, if Caylee is born this week, she'd have a 9 out of 10 chance of survival. Your baby's head is in proportion with her body now and her brain can control primitive breathing and body temperatures. She appears more like a newborn each and every day! Your baby is increasingly sensitive to changes in light, sound, taste, and smell! Her bone marrow is now producing red blood cells and fat continues to develop under her skin. Her length is now approximately 15.2 inches and weight is 2.54 pounds.

28 Week 4D Ultrasound

2009-02-28T11:32:00.001-08:00

Caylee June Ross

28 Weeks Pregnant! 3rd Trimester

2009-02-26T12:45:00.000-08:00

We’ve made it to our 3rd trimester and I feel great, except for having allergies!! I had a Dr’s appt. on Tuesday and Caylee’s heartbeat was normal. I also had to take a blood glucose test to check for gestinational diabetes. I didn’t pass the test so I had to go back this morning and take a longer test where they had to take my blood 4 times, once every hour. I should have the results back either tomorrow or Monday. I just pray that I don’t have gestinational diabetes! On a brighter note…UPS just delivered the baby mattress we ordered for Caylee and tomorrow is our 4D ultrasound and we can’t wait to have some recent pictures of our little angel!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 28: This week she is able to dream while sleeping. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. Eyebrows and eyelashes are now very noticeable! She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. Your baby will be weighing in at around 2.22 pounds and measuring 15 inches.

27 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-02-19T08:01:00.000-08:00

This is the final week of my second trimester. We’re super excited, but a little nervous about buying everything before Caylee is born. Cooper and I ordered her baby mattress and it should arrive in 2 weeks. We also did all of our baby registering over the weekend, which was so fun!! Cooper and I had a great Valentines weekend (Fri-Mon)! We did something fun everyday! Friday we went out to dinner at TGIFriday’s then rented Nights in Rodanthe, Saturday we went to the movie theater and watched The Wrestler & He’s Just Not That Into You, ate sushi at Sushi Neko, then registered at Babies R Us. Sunday we made crepes for breakfast, registered at Target & Walmart, stopped by Sonic for ice cream, then made chicken parmesan for dinner, and Monday we met for lunch then ordered Caylee’s mattress, made chicken fajitas for dinner, and rented Swing Vote.
I’ve finished sewing Caylee’s bedskirt and I’m almost finished with the valance for her nursery window.
Fetal development in pregnancy week 27: This week, your baby weighs 2 pounds and is 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and can cry now, too. Thumb-sucking calms the baby and strengthens her cheek and jaw muscles. Your little one's brain continues its rapid growth. Don't forget to share music, conversation, and even books with your baby!

Cool pictures from my hubby!

2009-02-17T19:18:00.000-08:00

Cooper made these pictures for my Valentines Day present. They match the colors of Caylee's bedding!

26 Weeks Preggo!!

2009-02-11T18:28:00.000-08:00

We only have 14 weeks left if we make it all the way to the due date! We're so excited!! Over the weekend we painted Caylee's nursery and I bought the material to start sewing her bedding! This weekend Cooper and I are going to enjoy our last Valentine's Day without having to find a babysitter.

Fetal development in pregnancy week 26: Up until the 26th week, your baby's eyes have been sealed shut, but now they open and blink. Its hearing is fully developed. As the fetus reacts to sounds, its pulse increases. Your baby will even move in rhythm to music. She can now see, hear, smell, taste and feel. All her senses are intact and will continue to develop after she is born. To support the fetus's growing body, the spine is getting stronger and more supple. Your baby weighes 1.7 pound, is 14 inches in length, and has now completed two-thirds of her stay in Hotel Womb.

Too Close For Comfort

2009-02-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

We had a crazy afternoon full of Tornadoes today. It’s a really sickening feeling watching a tornado head straight for your house. I can’t explain the feeling. Tornados used to be kind of exciting when I was younger but I’ve since realized that I’m not immortal. None of us are immortal. The crappy reality is that we’re all just sitting ducks waiting for the next F5 tornado to totally wipe us off the earth. Luckily there were no major injuries reported all evening. Angela and I are also lucky the tornado passed just north of our neighborhood. I posted some video below of the tornado that ripped through a neighborhood (Oak Tree) 2 miles north of our house. I suppose I’m still a little shook up if you can’t tell from my rambling.

25 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-02-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

Only 15 weeks until Caylee is born!! Cooper and I are getting Soooo excited! We had a Dr. appointment on Monday and everything went great! Caylee’s little heartbeat is just so cute! We’ve finally decided on the material I’m going to use to sew her bedding and curtains. This weekend we’re going to paint her nursery and hopefully I’ll start sewing next week. I’m still feeling great. I found out this week that Caylee loves to kick when I hold other babies. I don’t know if she’s excited or jealous…lol
Fetal development in pregnancy week 25: At 25 weeks there is a 60% chance of survival if born. Your baby's arms and legs have grown to almost the proportions they will be at birth, which is still sort of short. So don't be alarmed when your newborn's arms barely clear her waist. Baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, clear out (like she's taken a super-dose of Sudafed) and she can practice breathing through the nose. The structures of your baby's spine are now made up of 150 joints, 33 rings and some 1,000 ligaments. Can you believe you're growing something that complicated inside of you? The capillaries, the teeniest blood vessels, are now forming in your baby's body, giving her formerly translucent skin a pink glow. The blood vessels in the lungs also develop this week. Baby's hands are now fully developed and she spends most of her awake time groping around in the darkness of your uterus. Brain and nerve endings are developed enough now so that your baby can feel the sensation of touch. The good news is: if your child is born premature now they’ll be more likely to survive without too much trauma as their lungs began to produce “surfactant” last week, which means their tiny respiratory system is getting stronger with each passing day. Your baby weighs about a pound and a half and is about 13½ inches long!

6 Months Pregnant!!!

2009-01-28T12:37:00.001-08:00

I can’t believe I only have three more weeks until my 3rd trimester! On Monday we have our next prenatal checkup so we’ll get to hear Caylee’s little heartbeat again. She has been kicking more and more! If I lift up my shirt Cooper and I can see her kicking from the outside of my belly! It’s so amazing and fun to watch!! For the past week we’ve layed in bed and just watched her kick for about 30 minutes before we fall to sleep. It’s so neat!! I’m still feeling great. Shaving my legs is still easy, but last night I had a difficult time painting my toe nails! I can probably paint them for another week or two, but Cooper will have to start painting them soon! LOL
Fetal development in pregnancy week 24: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. She is now measuring 12 inches long and weighing about 1 pound, 3 ounces. In the coming weeks, your baby will continue to grow and mature at a fast rate, gaining about 6 ounces of weight a week.Her brain is growing rapidly and her taste buds are developing. She is pretty lean at 24 weeks, but she'll soon be putting on some "baby fat" to fill out her frame and her wrinkled skin. She has begun to develop white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting off disease and infection. Her lungs develop branches this week and her inner ear is completely developed. In fact, she has basic control over all of her senses: hearing, touch, taste, smell, and vision! Over the next seven days the sweat glands will be forming in the skin.

Oklahoma Ice Storm

2009-01-26T21:04:00.000-08:00

We're getting a little ice in Oklahoma right now. This normally happens about once every season. This one was just some freezing drizzle so it hasn't been a big deal.

20 Week Ultrasound Video

2009-01-22T07:16:00.000-08:00

Sorry I'm a little late getting this on here. Life has been busy lately. This is some video we took at our 20 week ultrasound.

20 Week Ultra Sound

23 Week Belly Pics

2009-01-21T20:23:00.000-08:00

We snapped a few shots in the back yard over the weekend. We sure like our new Nikon!You can get a super sized image by clicking on each picture.

23 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-01-21T09:17:00.000-08:00

We’re 23 weeks pregnant and doing great! Caylee has been kicking a lot and I still get super excited every time I feel her kick! It’s the best feeling ever!! I’ve had a few Braxton Hicks contractions this week, so my body is preparing itself for labor. This weekend I hope to pick out the fabric for Caylee’s bedding. It’s really a tough decision. If you have any ideas or suggestions I’d love to hear them!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 23: By week 23, the blood vessels in her lungs, important for breathing outside the womb, are developing. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and her eyes continue to develop, though they still lack color. Also, by this week, the bones in her middle ear start to harden. If born now, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, her odds going up with each passing day. In the coming weeks your baby will continue to grow and mature at a fast rate, gaining about 6 ounces of weight a week. Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound and is 11.38 inches long.

22 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-01-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

We’re 22 weeks pregnant and we’ve decided on a name for little Coopela. Her name will be Caylee June Ross. (June is my grandma's middle name) Caylee has been moving and kicking more and more. Cooper was finally able to feel her little kicks on Monday Jan. 12th! I was so excited that he was able to feel what I’ve been feeling for weeks now. My best friend Kara is pregnant!! She is due in July and my sister-in law, Stevee is also pregnant due is August! It is going to be a lot of fun to have girls to talk to about pregnancy and babies that can play together!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 22: At 11 inches and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Your baby can now hear your conversations more clearly than before! When you talk, read, or sing, expect her to hear you. Studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in utero. With some help from mom, baby's liver is starting to break down bilirubin, a substance produced by red blood cells. By week 22, her pancreas, a key player in hormone production, is developing steadily. Her skin may appear wrinkled at this point, but in the coming weeks, she will be gaining enough weight to fill it out. Her eyes have developed, but her irises still lack color. Even though her irises will have color by the time she is born (usually blue), you won't know her permanent eye color until she is at least 9 months old.

Newest member of the Baby of the Month Club!

2009-01-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

Congrats to our good friends Lance and Kathy Morton. Mason Alexander Morton was born 1/7/09 at 9:19am. Angela and I are next in line!

21 Weeks Pregnant!!

2009-01-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

We're 21 weeks pregnant!! It's so exciting to be half way there! As you probably know we're having a precious baby GIRL! I can't wait to start sewing her bedding and decorating her nursery! Cooper and I are so happy that we're going to be parents, it's the best feeling in the world! Everytime we see her on the ultrasound screen we get more and more excited. The day we get to hold her in our arms for the first time will be the best day of our lives!! I've felt her kick a few times now and it's so awesome! I can't wait until she starts kicking more so Cooper can feel her too! Our friends Lance and Kathy had a baby boy (Mason) this morning. I can't wait to get off work so we can go and see him! Lance texted me at 2:30 am to tell me Kathy's water broke and it was hard for me to sleep because I was soooo excited! All I could think about was how cute their baby boy is going to be. I layed there for a couple hours thinking about holding him and thinking about how great it will feel to hold my own baby!! It's just such a miracle...sorry for going on and on...lol

Fetal development in pregnancy week 21: White blood cells are under production. Leukocytes (or white blood cells) form our body's defense system. They help fight infections and diseases. Your little one's skin has changed from translucent to become more opaque. Your infant's tongue is fully formed. If you were able to peek you might catch your son or daughter practicing giving you a raspberry! If your baby is a girl, her womb and vagina are formed. At this point your daughter will have 6 million eggs. This amount decreases to approximately one million by birth. Baby swallows more this week. After your baby takes in amniotic fluid, her body absorbs the water in the liquid and moves the rest into the large bowel. This is good practice for her digestive system! Wake and sleep periods become more consistent. Some research suggests that baby sets her internal clock to match the outside world's even before birth! Your eating and sleeping habits as well levels of light and noise serve as her signals. Length is now measured crown to heel. Baby measures about 10.51 inches and weighs nearly 12.7 ounces.

20 Week Ultrasound pics

2009-01-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

The 20 week ultrasound went great. The measurements are all normal. They are 99.9% positive it's a girl. Here's some pics they gave us. I took some video too and I'll try to include that in a future post.

Post Your Comments!

2008-12-30T07:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, I just noticed I had a box checked under settings that only allowed registered users to comment. Now anyone can comment!

Christmas In Nashville

2008-12-24T21:16:00.000-08:00

At our Dr. appointment on Friday baby Coopela wouldn’t cooperate and we couldn’t find out the gender, so Cooper’s parents bought us a 2D/3D ultrasound for an early Christmas present yesterday while we’re in Nashville for Christmas. Baby Coopela cooperated and we found out that she’s a GIRL!! Today the Dr’s office called us and our quad screen results came back negative! The quad screen tests for neural tube defects such as spina bifida or anencephaly and chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome. That was great Christmas Eve news!!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 19: Your amazing little baby is now around 10 inches in length! If this seems a bit shocking, you’ll be relieved to know they’ve not actually grown over 3 inches, but that their little legs are now straight enough to be measured. This is when doctors begin measuring fetal growth from head to toe, (no longer “crown to rump”). Lanugo (little hairs) covers their whole body now, trapping that charming cheese-like vernix caseosa to the surface to the skin. This week your lil’ fetus will start on an appetizing diet of amniotic fluid which they are now capable of swallowing, digesting, and passing the fluid as far as their tiny “large” intestines. Research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now so start reading and talking to your baby!

Here's a video Cooper made for Dylan in Iraq since he's not able to spend Christmas with us this year.

Christmas Eve 2008

18 Week Baby Bump

2008-12-17T09:17:00.001-08:00

18 weeks pregnant !!

2008-12-16T16:41:00.000-08:00

We’re 18 weeks pregnant and my belly is definitely growing! Any day now I should be able to feel the baby kick for the first time! Cooper and I have been extremely busy this past week so I was worn out, but things are slowing down and I feel great! My next appointment is on Friday. If my dr. has time she will give me an ultrasound to confirm the baby’s sex!! If she doesn’t have time we’ll more than likely just go and buy an ultrasound on Saturday so we can know the sex of the baby before Christmas!!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 18: Your baby measures 5 to 5.6 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 5.25 ounces. The rapid growth spurt is tapering off, but reflexes are kicking in. He can yawn, stretch and make facial expressions, even frown. Taste buds are beginning to develop and he can now distinguish sweet from bitter. The baby can suck and swallow, and he may even get the hiccups. The eyes have become sensitive to light, so if a bright light is shined on your belly, baby will probably turn away. Your uterus, about the size of a cantaloupe, can be felt just below your navel. You're most likely feeling the baby move at this time. A mid-pregnancy ultrasound may be performed between now and 22 weeks to assess your baby's growth and development and to verify the due date. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

17 Weeks Pregnant!!

2008-12-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

We're 17 weeks pregnant, almost half way there! My belly has been growing and a stranger came up to me on Sunday and told me that I had a cute pregnant belly!! :) It was the first time anyone that didn't know I was pregnant actually made a comment to me and it made me happy! Being pregnant is great so far, I'm really enjoying it!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 17: Don't be too shocked but... your baby is EVEN bigger than it was last week, not to mention getting cuter, and smarter every day! As you’ve come to expect, there’s no shortage of growth and development this week: your fantastic little bean stalk has added yet another half inch to their overall height-- making them nearly half a foot long! Their little limbs have reached their relative proportions, and will continue to grow evenly with the rest of the body after this week. Reactive listening has begun for your baby, even though their ears are not yet structurally complete or fully functional. Meanwhile, different parts of their astonishingly complex brain are developing to process your little one’s hearing and other senses, (you know, sight, smell, taste and touch). If you’re having going to have a little girl, her ovaries have already produced millions of primordial egg cells, which, within a few weeks, will develop into actual eggs! If your child is male the prostate begins to develop.

BELLY PIC- 4 MONTHS

2008-12-02T19:24:00.001-08:00

16 Weeks Pregnant!!

2008-12-02T09:14:00.001-08:00

I’m so excited that we’re 4 MONTHS PREGNANT!! Time sure does fly. I’ve been feeling great! Cooper and I have been enjoying each day together. We know that once the baby gets here we’ll be sleep deprived and won’t get to go on dates, so we’re taking advantage of our alone time by getting extra sleep and spending as much quality time together as possible. It’s wonderful to have so much to look forward to….finding out the baby’s gender, the first kick, the next Dr. appointment, baby showers, decorating the nursery, a growing belly, and finally a little baby in our arms!! :)
Fetal development in pregnancy week 16: Fat begins to form underneath skin, providing your baby with insulation for the coming months. Did you know that both baby and placenta are now about the same size? Your little one has reached 4.57 inches and approximately 3.53 ounces. His head and neck are held straighter now. The genitals are developed sufficiently that an experienced sonographer might be able to determine if your baby is a boy or a girl. Her heart is pumping as much as 6 gallons of blood a day beating at a rate about double your heart rate and her bladder is emptying every 45 minutes. If you could take a peek inside, you would witness your child's reflexes in action! (Sucking, swallowing and blinking are now evident.) She is probably even hiccuping even though you don't feel it yet! Your baby has learned to breathe! This is apparent from the regular movements of his chest. Isn't it amazing that he is able to breathe "underwater," inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid? These actions help the lungs to develop and grow. A growth spurt is just around the corner! In the coming weeks he will double his weight and add inches to his frame.

Movin' Right Along!

2008-11-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

Well, had a check up yesterday and the baby has a normal heart beat and seems to be growing at a normal rate. Angela has been doing a great job. We were prepared for the worst during the first trimester but it went really smooth. I hope you enjoy this video I made with clips from our ultrasound yesterday and some other stuff I've shot recently. There will be more of these video's I promise. I talked Angela into buying a new Nikon D90 DSLR with HD movie mode! You won't be able to see anything in HD over the web, of course, because I have to condense the quality way down to be able to upload.

Baby Coopela

Fetal development in pregnancy week 15: You may begin to feel some fluttering movements as baby kicks, flails, twists and turns. She can also grasp, squint, frown, grimace and maybe suck her thumb! Your baby's legs have grown longer than the arms and the body is now longer than the head. And you'll be happy to note that he is moving those arms and legs often! His skin is very thin -- so thin blood vessel are visible. It's covered by a fine, soft layer of hair called lanugo. Lanugo comes from a Latin word meaning "down." This hair is thought to help insulate your little boy. The three tiny bones in his middle ear have begun to harden. The auditory centers in your baby's brain haven't developed yet, so she might not really understand what you say but her hearing capacity is in the process of developing. Fingernails and toenails are growing. Eyebrows are beginning to grow and even the hair on his head is sprouting. It will probably change color and texture after birth. All this and your little one is an amazing 3.98 inches long and may weigh 2.47 ounces.

14 weeks pregnant!!

2008-11-18T16:18:00.000-08:00

We’re 14 weeks pregnant! In exactly one week we’ll have our next ultrasound! We’re really hoping Dr. Wayman will be able to tell us Coopela’s gender so we can come up with a real name!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 14: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little Coopela's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

13 Weeks Pregnant!!

2008-11-11T07:16:00.000-08:00

We're 13 weeks and time is going by faster than I thought it would! I'm doing really good! I haven't felt sick, just a little tired. After work I've been laying on the couch reading one of my 5 pregnancy books...lol Only 2 more weeks until my next Dr. appointment and my birthday!! :)
Fetal development in pregnancy week 13: This is your final week in the first trimester and your little weed continues to grow and grow and grow. Of the three trimesters, this one has been the most important for your little one’s development. Assuming you’ve carefully adopted a healthy diet, continue to exercise and get ample rest, your little one is set up perfectly for even more growth and development in tri-two! Way to go! He or she now weighs about 1.5 ounces and is roughly 3 inches in length. Little hairs, known as lanugo, will start to cover their body this week, as their sense of taste and smell are further refined. Their cozy little amniotic sac is also increasing in size and mass as it continues to fill with more fluid. Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries.

12 Weeks Pregnant!!

2008-11-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

Well, we're 3 months pregnant and doing great! Just counting down the days until my next Dr. appointment (November 25th, I'll be 15 weeks)! I will get another ultrasound and the appt. is on my birthday...how awesome would it be to find out the sex of the baby on my birthday!! :) It might be a little soon, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 12: This week your baby is now almost the size of a lime, weighing almost an ounce and measuring almost 2.5 inches! Her eyes are now positioned in the front of her face and her ears are in position on the sides of her head. Most notably, reflexes have begun! Your little one's mouth is making sucking movements, her eye muscles clench, her toes curl, fingers and hands open and close, and she may even begin to suck her thumb. Though she is still too little for you to feel, she can feel you. If you were to apply pressure to your abdomen, your baby would squirm in response! Her brain has been developing rapidly too. Nerve cells are multiplying, and synapses, or the small junctions across which nerve impulses pass from one nerve cell to another, are forming at an impressive speed. A little lower, her intestines are developing and will soon be moving into her stomach cavity. Vocal cords are forming, the pancreas begins to produce insulin, and the liver begins to function - Responsible for cleansing the blood, storing nutrients, and providing needed chemicals, this is an important event! It's incredible to think how far she has come in just a few short months!

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-31T13:49:00.001-07:00

Here's a few pictures of Chloe in her Halloween outfits!

Her favorite costume is the lobster!! She's going to wear it tonight while we hand out candy to the little trick-or-treaters.

11ish Week Ultra Sound

2008-10-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, here ya go. We had a Doctor visit today and everything went great. The baby's heart beat is normal and it appears to be growing at a normal rate. Still too young to tell the gender but one of the photographs above illustrates how extraordinarily handsome it will be if it's a boy. lol!

During the ultrasound we could see the baby shifting positions and moving its little arms and feet around. Some of our friends have described how incredible this experience is but I’d say incredible doesn’t begin to describe how we felt in that room today. Angela had that same cute little ear to ear grin she had the day I asked her to marry me. Of course she smiles all the time but this one simply makes my knees weak.

I meant to bring my video camera but we both were in a rush and forgot it. I won’t forget it next time though I promise. With love - Coop

11 Weeks Pregnant!!

2008-10-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

We’re 11 weeks pregnant!! Tomorrow is our next Dr. appointment and we should get another ultrasound- with pictures hopefully!!! I’m feeling really good! I do get tired sometimes and am always hungry. I’ve read that you’re only supposed to gain 5 pounds in your 1st trimester and I’ve gained 6 so far with 3 weeks left in my 1st trimester…lol I’m not going to worry about it. They say you gain more weight in the beginning with a boy than with a girl, so who knows…maybe it’s a boy!!
Fetal development in pregnancy week 11: Your astonishingly tiny baby has been hard at work growing as fast as possible—almost doubling in size in the past three weeks! Amazingly, you’re in for a repeat size doubling performance within the next three weeks! Your tiny champion only weighs 1/3 of an ounce and is 1.61 inches long but has already completed the most critical stage of their development. Nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function. Fingers and toes have separated - Take a glimpse at how incredibly precious your child's tiny feet are at this point. Hair and nails begin to grow, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden. The genitals begin to take on the proper gender characteristics - It will be just a few more weeks before your ultrasound can show if you are having a boy or a girl! Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as the kidneys begin to function - This fluid, consisting primarily of water, helps provide a cushion for your baby while she's nestled within your womb. The muscles in the intestinal walls begin to practice contractions that digest food. They're also developing their swallow reflex this week. And lastly, your baby's smelling and other olfactory senses will begin developing this week, which when combined with the maturing taste buds, will provide your baby with their first experiences of taste and smell.

10 Weeks Pregnant!!

2008-10-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

We’re 10 weeks pregnant! It’s hard to believe we’re a quarter of the way there!! I am feeling much better this week. I think my morning sickness (all day sickness) is over! Thank goodness! It was so hard going to work when I felt so nauseated, but I’m glad I did. I'll need my sick days for all the Dr. appointments we'll be going to. Cooper and I have no ideas for names yet. We’re calling the baby Coopela until we find out the sex, but at the rate we’re going we’ll still be calling the baby Coopela until the hospital makes us come up with a name for the birth certificate…lol!! We’re open to ideas and suggestions for names, so leave a comment with names and we’ll add them to our list! Next week is our next Dr. appointment and we’re getting another ultrasound. This time I’m asking for pictures so I can post them on our website for everyone to Ohh and Aww over!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 10: The most critical part of your infant's development is complete. Now you are headed into a period of rapid growth. While a bit strange to envision, your baby's head is now about half its length - Soon the rest of the body's growth will catch up but this area is prepared to keep up with the rapid brain development! Eyelids fuse shut and irises begin to develop - Eye color is also determined by this point. Placenta begins to function this week or next - The placenta is the organ responsible for both the provision of nutrients along with the removal of waste to keep your baby growing strong!

9 Weeks Pregnant!!

2008-10-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

We’re 9 weeks pregnant! Time sure does fly. Only one more week and we’ll be ¼ of the way there!! I think I spoke too soon about the morning sickness...lol I felt nauseated all weekend and yesterday (Monday) I woke up puking. I was still sick yesterday evening so my wonderful husband made us dinner while Chloe and I layed on the couch!! I was nauseated today too, but haven’t thrown up. I layed on the couch during lunch and ate a cup of noodles and drank a sprite (with Chloe of course…she layed on my belly and we took a nap together). I still didn’t feel very good, but I had to go back to work. Cooper was working from home today so he made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take with me to work. I ate that and am feeling much better. My goal is to make Potato Soup for Cooper tonight. I’m hoping I’ll feel up to it. Yesterday I started feeling better at 3pm, but around 5pm things went downhill fast!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 9: Congratulations! Embryo has become a fetus! All organs necessary to sustain life are formed. Baby has begun movement - While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling, shifting, and dancing already! Makes you almost wish for a window to peek in whenever you want! Most joints are formed now - and trust that your little one is practicing bending and flexing. Fetus will curve its fingers around an object placed in the palm of its hand - This is amazing to see! At only nine weeks, if you happen to have an ultrasound, you may observe your infant fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears and nose! Fingerprints are already evident in the skin.

8 Weeks Pregnant!!

2008-10-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

Last week was our first doctor’s appointment. It was a wonderful experience! Cooper and I were able to see the baby on the ultrasound machine and hear the heartbeat! Since I was only 7 weeks pregnant, it took the doctor quite a while to find the baby and the heartbeat. I can’t wait until our next appointment which is on October 29th! I’ll be 11 weeks pregnant so the baby should be much larger and hopefully we’ll get a picture to take home and share with everyone! My doctor’s name is Dr. Wayman and she is so sweet! I just love her! I was very worried about finding a great doctor, but now that I’m going to her I don’t have any worries. So far I haven’t been sick. I get really tired around 2 PM, but since I don’t get home from work until 5:30 I just have to work through the sleepiness. I do take naps on the weekends and read my pregnancy book as much I can! In 8 more weeks we’ll find out if we’re having a girl or boy!! That will be the BEST day ever!!! (next to the day I married the man of my dreams, the day our baby is born, and the day we got Chloe…lol)

Fetal development in pregnancy week 8: Woohoo! You've got one whole inch of baby inside of you! Your little embryo has finally reached the one-inch mark (30mm). And if it were possible to take a peek, you could actually see your tiny baby without a telescope! What’s more, your baby is finally starting to take on some very distinct human features. For starters, their little tail (really just the spinal cord) has disappeared completely. It’s nice to know your baby can no longer be mistaken for a sea creature! Additionally, both their toes and fingers are prominent with very little, if any, webbing. Upper and lower limbs all show recognizable joints (elbows and knees) and the lower limb bones are starting to ossify. But don’t expect your baby to resemble either parent quite yet. Right now, your baby’s head is disproportionately larger than the rest of their body--making up almost half of your little one’s height and weight!

6 Weeks Pregnant!!

2008-09-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

I’m six weeks pregnant now!! Thankfully I haven’t had any morning sickness, but for the past five days I’ve had cramping. It started out very light, but yesterday it got pretty bad! I was very worried that I was having a miscarriage, but from what I hear it’s just my uterus growing to make room for the baby and knowing that really eases my mind. I’m a little tired today since the cramping kept me from falling asleep last night, but as long as the baby is safe I don’t mind cramping and sleep loss! Our first ultrasound is in one week, so make sure to check back next Wednesday to see the ultrasound picture!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 6: This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a coffee bean.

Little Lily is born!

2008-09-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

Our good friends Todd & Mandy Davenport just had their baby girl (Lily) yesterday around 2pm. Angela and I went to visit them last night which increased our excitement level quite a bit. Todd & Mandy just bought a house within a stones throw from us so we can see Lily a lot!

5 weeks pregnant- little baby bump!!

2008-09-17T19:05:00.001-07:00

5 Weeks Pregnant

2008-09-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! Each week I will keep you updated our little baby’s development. Today I am 5 weeks pregnant and our baby’s heart is pumping blood and beating on it’s own this week!! It just makes me so excited to know that!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 5:
The changes to your growing embryo are not quite as drastic this week as they've been in the last few weeks. Growth is now largely focused on their little head, which is starting to develop much more rapidly than the rest of their tiny body. This is because their amazing brain is undergoing some very crucial and rapid development in order to effectively regulate their heart rate, blood circulation, and other vital functions. As for the rest of their miniature body, what were simple limb buds last week are limb flippers this week and the tail is more expressed. Amazingly, within a mere five weeks your little miracle is already developing the rudimentary forms of their liver, pancreas, lungs, stomach and nasal pits while their little heart is already increasing its circulation. Your baby is now a whopping 4-6mm in length.

How we told our parents

2008-09-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Angela wrapped little baby clothes up that said I love great grandma and I love grandma and grampa and so forth. The video above is her family opening the presents.

My parents live in TN so we had "Chloe" send an email to them thanking them for playing with her so much during their recent visit and attached a short slide show of Chloe in her new outfits followed by her telling grandma & Grampa she's going to be a big sister (shown below).

Just double checking...

2008-09-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

Angela took another pregnancy test this morning (actual picture shown above). 3 days ago it took a few minutes for the second line to show up and this time it showed up right away. So we're 5 weeks prego now and I think her stomach still looks flat as a board but she swears up and down there's a little poodge. We realize a lot can happen in the first trimester so keep us in your prayers and I'll do my best to keep her off the booze (only kidding!).

Introduction

2008-09-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

Well as you know already we recently found out we're pregnant with our first child. Our due date is May 20th, 2009 and we couldn't be more excited! Although I was hoping to at least get a few months of practice in we were fortunate enough to get pregnant during our first month of trying. Actually, Angela has secretly been shopping for baby clothes since about the time we got married! Truthfully, though, this is an experience both of us have been looking forward to our entire lives.

Unfortunately, both of our families live far enough away that everyday or even weekly visits aren’t a possibility. While you are welcome in our home ANY time hopefully keeping this blog updated with pictures and video will keep you entertained in-between visits.

We won't know the gender of the baby until around Christmas. You might notice the color of our blog page is pink. Well that's just because Angela's favorite color is pink and I knew I'd get scolded if I chose any other color. All we’re praying for is a healthy baby no matter what the gender!