29 Weeks: Butternut Squash

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. (Babycenter.com)

I realize I never gave any details of the ultrasound. It was an amazing experience seeing our child at such a late fetal age. I have never witnessed one this far along in the pregnancy, so it was pretty interesting. We were able to see the facial features fairly clearly (much more so than the 20 week ultrasound!), down to the skin, and eyelids. We even got to watch our baby open and close it's eye. Poppy was in a jack-knife position, with one foot next to the cheek, and the other leg stretched straight. Poppsters also had one arm raised above the head, and the other tucked under the bottom. And they say the womb is comfortable... I don't know how that could be! We also got to see clearly that this babe, too, has daddy's toes. It's apparently a very dominant trait. My best friend, Abby got to witness this ultrasound with us! We have been buds since we were 10, and been through pretty much every major milestone together, so it was very special to me that she was there. My mom, Anna, and Yo Jung (their Korean guest for the summer), also got to sit in for the last few minutes.

The other highlight of the day was hearing that this ultrasound put my due date as October 4th (rather than 14th), which is closer to the original date again. This makes so much more sense in my mind, and believe that it is more accurate. The midwife, however, did not officially change the due date since it was only 10 days off (they only change it if it's more than 14 days off). So we remain at October 14th, with hopes of an "early" delivery.


I have been feeling okay this week. I have been annoyed by a lingering cold that doesn't seem to be clearing up. I have also found that balancing this heavy belly during daily activities is becoming a bit of a struggle. It's pretty difficult to roll over in bed, play on the floor with Sophia, bend over for any reason, or reach high above my head! Sophie and I have been perfecting the nursing dance as my belly grows as well. It is getting interesting at this point as she has to lay on top of my tummy. Poppy usually rebels and riddles me (and big sis) with kicks! Poppy is getting strong enough now that when he/she kicks, my whole belly moves.

I am growing out of some of my maternity clothes now as well. I have two sizes: 1st half, and 2nd half. The 1st half fit when my belly isn't too big yet, and are a little fitted. They are the "cute" pregnancy clothes that are actually somewhat stylish. The 2nd half clothes are basically patterned tents and never reach any level of "flattering." I always hesitate to dig into the tent clothes, for obvious reasons. No one likes looking like a blimp. Once I get over my hesitation (usually out of desperation), and submit to blimphood, I reach a new level of (semi) comfort again. Clothes that fit right (no matter how unflattering), are just plain comfy.