Week 23, Jan. 22 - Jan. 28

Thursday, January 22nd
Did some more baby shopping today. Couldn't help myself. There's a big sale at JC Penney going. It's a "store wide" sale (for those who love to shop the sales). I also read recently that the "unborn" particularly like classical music. The thing I read specifically mentioned Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" so as I'm typing this the headphones are on the belly. Not a whole lot of activity going on but I do feel her moving a little. Today Ella got some itty bitty tights, little black patent leather shoes, and a couple of "play sets" (shirt, pants, sandles) that are for 3-6 mos. She'll be the cutest little baby in the world. But maybe I'm biased. ;)

My backpack diaper bag by Land's End arrived today. Every little thing I acquire just adds to the excitement. I'm waiting for a "diaper bag essentials kit" to show too. I love when I order stuff online. Gives me something to look forward to amidst the tide of bills.

Baby Update: The bones of the middle ear (the three smallest bones in the human body: the hammer, the anvil, and the stirrup) are beginning to harden to make sound conduction possible. While the baby might be able to transmit sound information to its brain at this point in its development, it's not clear that they have any way of interpreting the sound because the brain is so immature. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.

Friday, January 23rd
Got schedules and information for parenting classes today. We made a decision but the office that handles the registrations is closed on Fridays. :( I hope the dates we selected aren't all full. Even though it's cutting it close we chose Tuesdays from March 30th to May 4th. Now we hope she isn't any earlier than a couple of weeks.

Baby Update: The baby will gain considerable weight within the next four weeks. By week [27], the baby will weigh almost twice as much as it does today. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.

Saturday, January 24th
Oy, the heartburn I had last night. I didn't get to sleep until 2am, though I could have fallen asleep at midnight if not for the pain I was in. I maxed out on Tums, but they didn't help much. I don't know... if not for them maybe it would have been worse. Hard to say. So it's heartburn and a couple of aches that bother me, but nothing else. I got so tired and frustrated last night that at one point I cried. It wasn't long after that though that I finally started to nod off.

Isaac and I have had more and more chances to feel Ella move from the outside. Her movements are still just soft bumps, but I've read that during this sixth month her movements should get much stronger. It'd be funny to rest something on my stomach and have one of her kicks make it fall off.

Tilly has made the crib one of her beds. I'm not too concerned about her being in there just yet. I think once Ella comes (and starts crying) that Tilly will want to stay away... at least at first. I'm very curious to see how the animals react.

Baby Update: The first movements you feel the baby make will be caused by arm and leg activity. These first motions are called "quickening." - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.

Sunday, January 25th
Yesterday was Ella's Grandma Dianne's birthday. Saw some family that I hadn't seen since Christmas, which was good since in the last 4 weeks my belly has seen substantial growth. We were talking about all of the parties that are planned for my family this year. First will be the baby shower, but then this summer my maternal grandparents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately for them there will be a brand new baby that will steal the show. And in July my great-grandmother is getting a 90th birthday party. Lots of good opportunities to show off the baby. Isaac and I will be celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary. Ella will probably be about 2 months old by then. We'll probably take her with us. I doubt I'd be ready to leave her alone for more than a couple of hours.

All in all, it's going to be a very fun summer. I can't wait.

I slept much better last night!! No hearburn!

Baby Center's take on 23 weeks.

Baby Update: The baby's respiratory system is still quite immature. Much more development must take place before teh lungs can trap and transfer oxygen to the baby's bloodstream and can release carbon dioxide when the baby exhales. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.

Monday, January 26th
Not much to share today. Just a heartbeat sound for you. Not a very good one as far as the actual heartbeat goes because Ella was moving around a lot. So it's a very good example of what her movements sound like. Enjoy!

Baby Update: The heat-producing brown fat that the baby has stored in its neck, chest, and crotch area will disappear shortly after birth. During months 8 and 9, white fat will be deposited under the baby's skin. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.

Tuesday, January 27th (120 days to go)
Baby Update: The baby's body is becoming better proportioned. Although the head still looks large in relation to the body, the legs, arms, and trunk are not as short. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.

Wednesday, January 28th (119 days to go)
Baby Update: Fine downy lanugo covers the baby's entire body, including the head. (didn't this book all ready say that like 5 times all ready? It's so repetitive sometimes.) - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D.