We hang this on our nursery door now. It will be a good reminder for others to pipe down. When you find out you are having a little girl, its something you just have to have.

Photos Updated

Check out the link on the right hand side under the links section "Our Photo Albums". I put all of our photos on one spot. I have galleries for our Christmas pics, Nursery and my favorite....Charissa. Check them out. You have seen most before but now make it easier for all of us to see them.

How Bout Them Raiders?!

Yesterday Texas Tech came back from 31 down in the 3rd quarter to win. You can see it here. The game was on the NFL network, the jerks, so we had to watch on the internet. Basically a red arrow moving down the field. Not ideal way to watch but I was excited none the less. Toward the end of the game Charissa got tired and started getting ready for bed. I brought the laptop, on wireless, to the bed and we watched there together. I was so excited took forever for me to fall asleep. I love our school. Bob Knight will be winningest coach in men's basketball, football team beat A&M, and then had biggest comeback in bowl history. Great year. GO TECH.






oh yea, Charissa and the baby are fine.

Mother Quotes

Really liked the quotes here and know they represent our mother to be.

7 Weeks Left

We're just chillin til she comes....

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This week has been amazing for Charissa. She is a shop-a-holic. Christmas night I saw her putting out what she was going to wear the next morning. I asked her why. She told me very clearly, "When it comes to day after Christmas shopping, I don't play". And she didn't. She got her pregnant butt up at 7AM and left to go shopping. Came home at 1 or so in the afternoon. We drove back to our house (hour and a half drive mind you). Hit the stores AGAIN at 4 PM. Were out together until 7. Then at 10 the next morning went back out to the stores. Came home for lunch with me then out AGAIN to the stores. I have called several government help lines but all they give is sympathy. For being 8 months pregnant the girl can still move around.

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Below is a picture of a dress my sister got for our baby girl. Our baby got lots of presents but thought I would show one of them here.

Your Baby's Development

In these last few weeks before delivery, the billions of developed neurons in your baby's brain are helping her to learn about the in-utero environment — your baby can listen, feel, and even see somewhat. Your baby’s eyes can detect light and the pupils can constrict and dilate in response to light. Like a newborn, your baby sleeps much of the time and even experiences the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, the sleep stage during which our most vivid dreams occur!

Your baby's lungs are almost completely matured. Fat will continue to be deposited on your baby's body for protection and warmth. Babies gain a good deal of their weight in the final few weeks before birth.

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas Pics

The above link are pictures of our Christmas at my parents.

We got lots of great gifts and was surprised to see about much our little girl made off with. And she hasn't been born yet! We had a wonderful time with my parents. It was a holiday to remember.

8 Weeks to Go

Below are some pictures of Charissa. She is looking better and better everyday.

Your baby sleeps approximately 90 to 95 percent of the day now. Her skin has become thicker and she continues to gain more of a pinkish color. Your baby's movements will peak this week. Most of the wrinkles are disappearing from your baby's face, and there may be a lot of hair on her head. The weight gain has been fairly incredible recently. Your baby is now almost 4 pounds and is 17 inches long. The final touches are being placed on your baby masterpiece. Eyelashes, eyebrows, and the hair on your baby's head are evident. All five senses are functional. The toenails are completely formed.

Its Her Birthday!!!

Today is Charissa's birthday. She turns....well I am not supposed to say. But it rhymes with 30. We are going out for breakfast and then we are going to the Baby Doctor. Great thing to do on a celebratory day. Then off to live it up with a lunch together at a restaurant of Charissa's choosing. Which means, sadly, it won't be Arby's. :(

But throughout the day we will pamper and love the one who is so dear to me.




Now on to less mushy stuff. We had a leak in our air conditioner up in the attic. We had a crew come and fix it but they stepped through our ceiling. We have a contractor fixing it. It is in our master bedroom of all places. So all of our furniture is now proportioned throughout the house. Best news of all: CAMPING. We moved our mattress to the nursery where we are camped out. Charissa likes being in the "pretty room" but getting up from the mattress is not as fun as I declare it to be. I will let you know how this CAMPING trip went in the future.

We are going this weekend to see my Dad on his birthday. Then stay with them for Christmas. I have the day after off, which is great, and am looking forward to the break. Charissa is out for two weeks from work for Christmas break. She has been on vacation two days and is loving it.

You are now updated. If you want more info, keep checking back....

What will she do?

According to the Department of Labor, here are the top 10 paying jobs for women in 2004 and the median weekly earnings.

1. Pharmacists: $1,432
2. Chief Executives: $1,310
3. Lawyers: $1,255
4. Computer & Information Systems Managers: $1,228
5. Computer Software Engineers: $1,149
6. Computer Programmers: $1,006
7. Physicians & Surgeons: $978
8. Human Resources Managers: $958
9. Purchasing Managers: $946
10. Medical & Health Services Managers: $943

Now my favorite is not on there: Own a professional football team. Maybe when she owns the Dallas Cowboys it will crack the top ten. But I am not going to go out of my way to make her a boy. Just a great business woman who can buy the Cowboys for her old man for Christmas one year.

Perhaps she will grow up and invent something simple but cool; like velcro. Or maybe she will discover the cure for the common cold in a familiar source we have had all along. Whatever she does, it is fine with me.......if I get my professional football team.

9 Weeks to Go

Charissa's random gasps are very entertaining. While talking to me after work she interrupts herself to let out a creative noise to announce the movement of our little girl. Our baby has had movements that you can feel are hard on the side of Charissa and now she is beginning to actually jut out. I guess its cooler to me than Charissa, but I hope to record a creative gasp for all of our amusement. :)

Speaking of our dancing baby....

By now the baby's lungs and digestive tract are nearly mature. Your baby's irises can now dilate and contract in response to light. Due to the deposits of white fat underneath the skin your baby's skin is no longer red, but is now the wonderful newborn pink color. Her fingernails may reach the end of the hands, too. Your baby is now a little over 3 pounds and is 16 inches long.

I can feel myself slowly turning into a parent. I worry allot more now. Wonderment about society, people driving too fast, my habits and temperament, finances, and projects around the house. The answers are not fast coming but a budding maturity is growing. My acceptance of humility is probably the aspect I am holding strong to now. I don't know how to be a dad. However, I am truly excited to learn along side Charissa to be good parents. For soon our prayer, turned miracle, and soon real life baby in our arms; that is motivation to trust in God and celebrate the creation of life.

I love them both

Countdown to Parenthood: 10 weeks left

Wow the countdown is on. The past few months have gone by so quickly. I feel like I should prepare more, do more and learn more before she arrives. But they all say you are never fully ready. Which means I am now ready I guess.

This month we put up our tree and decorated for Christmas. Actually we did it last month. 3 to 3 1/2 hours after we arrived home from Thanksgiving we had our house decorated. Don't you feel like a lazy bum? We both enjoy this season and were excited to do it. The house does look beautiful. And our tree has a button on the floor that scooter has found and managed to turn the tree on twice by himself. I don't know if he realizes his power to control light or not.

I have been sick for 8 days now. Its been a pain to be sick for so long. Please be in prayer for my health and for Charissa dealing with a sick man for so long.

And as with every update, I will include the growth of our baby. I am really getting excited.

Grow, girl, grow!!


By 30 weeks pregnant your baby weighs almost 3 pounds and is just about 17 inches long! Your baby’s permanent teeth have developed and are “waiting” in her gums. At this point, your baby may be practicing nursing as she sucks her thumb. Also, she has a grip so strong it is capable of gripping onto your finger.

Now how cool is that?!

Back by popular demand....

More crib close ups and added changing table pics.....

...... you're welcome.....

The Crib is Ready

This weekend I put the crib together. It was a great experience. I have heard many guys talk about this tasks. They describe it like it as if it were a proud war story they had survived. For me, it was a little different. I put each piece together with giddiness. The excitement was seen on my smile. A joyous and tear jerking experience.

Charissa came in and cried as well. The guest room now looked like a nursery. You can see from the pics below what a great job Charissa did in making the bed skirt and bumper pads. I think they are awesome. She is so talented.

(Click on pictures to enlarge and see more detail)

Week 29 oh My

Your baby's muscles and lungs will continue to develop and mature during your pregnancy at 29 weeks and the weeks ahead. At 29 weeks pregnancy your baby's brain is also developing and maturing, with billions of neurons forming daily. The baby's head is in proportion to the rest of the body. Fat continues to accumulate under the skin. The brain can control primitive breathing and body temperature control, and the eyes can move in the sockets. The baby is becoming sensitive to light, sound, taste and smell.

Starting next week I will change the titles. Next week, week 30, we begin the countdown. With our little girl now growing at an excelerated rate I have to leave this post and find some fruit and water for my wife.

Ok, I am back. I realized I don't have to leave the post; I can walk away and come back. You would never know the difference.

This week, sad for Charissa, has been the most physically uncomfortable she has been. Sleeping, sitting, standing, walking are all more of an effort. Pray for her health and stamina. She is emotionally great as always but the body is not cooperating as it should :)

I am off to do more projects and more water refills for Charissa. This time I am leaving for real.

Some famous people will share their birthday with our celebrity....


15th Feb 1874 Sir Ernest Shackleton
15th Feb 1907 Cesar Romero
15th Feb 1929 Graham Hill
15th Feb 1914 Kevin McCarthy
15th Feb 1927 Frank Dunlop
15th Feb 1927 Harvey Korman
15th Feb 1950 John Adams
15th Feb 1951 Jane Seymour
February 15, 1564- Galileo Galilei, inventor, invented the telescope
February 15, 1820- Susan B. Anthony, Women's Suffrage
February 15, 1964- Chris Farley, actor Comedian, SNL

Or will they? If she is on time and punctual like her dad, then yes. If she is reading the paper when suddenly realizing its time to join the world, like her mom, she may be a day after.

Time will tell. I say, the sooner the better.

Week 28 - The Third Trimester

How Big is the Baby at 28 Weeks Pregnant?
By 28 weeks pregnant your baby is 15.75 inches or more! She weighs in at about 2 and a half pounds during pregnancy at 28 weeks!

Your Baby's Growth and Development

Up until now if you were to look at your baby's brain during your pregnancy week by week it would appear smooth. By about 28 weeks pregnant however this changes, as the brain starts to mature and form grooves that we commonly associate with a human brain. Your baby may also be growing longer hair on her head by pregnancy at 28 weeks, though many babies will come out bald at birth. Others will be born with lovely locks of hair that will fall out and even change color some time after delivery.

Your baby should also be sprouting eyelashes by pregnancy 28 weeks, which will blink repeatedly if you were to shine a bright light on your belly.

I think I am going to try that last line. Just sounds fun.

Super Charissa has finished the crib skirt, whatever that is, and has now completed all her nursery tasks. She now turns her attention on the house itself. (Poor house). I am still working on refinishing the rocking chair. Which is a funny story in and of itself.

I am outside in the garage. I have a TV to watch sports. Some drinks. And cool weather to enjoy. The challenge: Chemicals for the rocker. This gooey substance, approved to sell, recommended by the people at Home Depot actually says "This chemical has been shown to cause cancer in our studies with rats. Please be careful". So me, half high on fumes, and freaking out everytime a piece of hair falls out, laborously works on the rocking chair. I am 80% complete with the stripping, not me the chair, and should move on to staining in December. Its a fun mix of total fear and statifing work. Mostly fear though. I will let you all know how the tests come out afterward.

I am slowly laughing at child humour

Week 27

Your Baby's Growth and Development

Your baby's systems continue to mature during pregnancy week 27 and your little one even starts accumulating some weight in the upcoming weeks.

Up until between the 27th and 28th weeks of pregnancy your baby's eyelids are fused together. After this week or next they will open. The retina or the light sensitive portion of the eye typically starts maturing at about 27 weeks of pregnancy. The layers that form in the retina will allow your baby's eyes to receive light and transmit the information it is receiving to the brain to form images. This basic process is referred to as 'sight'. Imagine that, at 27 weeks pregnant your baby is a tiny, seeing human being! As hearing continues to develop, your baby may start to recognize your voice as well as your partner's. Sounds may be muffled, though, because the ears are still covered with vernix, the thick waxy coating that protects the skin from becoming chapped by the amniotic fluid. The baby will grow over 1/2 inch this week and will be about 14 inches long and a little over 2 pounds!

Her name in Chinese

Curtains Are Done

Week 26

There is a lot going on with our girl this week. The picture below is not our baby, but what she looks like about now....Read with great wonder below....

Your baby’s developed oil and sweat glands are now functioning. Her fingernails, toenails, eyebrows and eyelashes are now fully present and will continue to grow until birth. The fetus can respond to sound and can hear you and those around you. Although we assume that the uterus is a quiet place, the baby has been surrounded by noise for a long time. Things like your heartbeat, digestion, other body functions and external noises are heard by the baby. In fact, you may feel the baby jump at a sudden noise. Your baby is now about 14 inches and weighs a little under two pounds.

The uterus also allows some light to be seen so your baby is aware of light and dark. Your baby’s skin is wrinkled and translucent and may have a reddish color due to the presence of dermal blood vessels. Veins are visible through your baby's skin, although it is quickly changing from transparent to opaque. The following months will see increase in body fat. The lungs continue to mature with the development of “air sacs” and begin to secrete surfactant (a substance that will help your baby’s lungs expand at birth. At this stage of development the various organs have formed.

As the blood vessels in the lungs began last week, the air sacs in the lungs begin this week. The lungs begin to secrete surfactant which covers the inner lining of the air sacs which then allows the lungs to expand normally during breathing.

Besides the active lung growth, the brain kicks in with brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems.

Although your baby's eyes have been sealed shut for the last few months, they will soon open and begin to blink. Depending on ethnicity, some babies will be born with blue or gray-blue eyes (which may change color in the first year of life) and some will be born with brown or dark eyes. Eyelashes are growing in, as is more hair on the head.

This is a picture of the two of us from the summer in Galveston. It is a good picture of our relationship through pregnancy. The two of us have not been fighting or begrudging one another. It has been a great thing to know we have a daughter coming and that the two of us have such a good partnership through it all. I am getting lots of practice serving and know I will have to step it up even more when I have two Charissa's to love on.

We are also getting more and more projects done. Each Monday Night Football game I spend in the garage repairing or building something while watching the game. Charissa has been a sewing maniac doing curtains, bumper pads, crib skirt, and who knows what else for the nursery. She is great. She can make the nursery and the baby all by herself; all with a full time job and teaching college.

That's my girl!!

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A Miracle

We have a cross collection, like many people, but ours, I think, is unique. Every cross has its own story behind it which makes them all great. This one in particular has its own story as well.

We bought a cross that looks similar but said Faith. Was a nice gift to one another and a reminder of the bond that holds us. Through our tough times we bought another cross called Hope. This cross we looked at everyday and hoped for a child. We wanted our faith to push our hope that God would grant us our desire. It stayed on the wall for a long time.

Charissa bought Miracle one day before we even knew we were pregnant. She had faith and hope in what God would do for us and kept it as a secret from me. Just her own sign unto God. When we found out with joyful tears we were pregnant she showed me the cross. It now hangs with all the others with its inspiration and story. As you enter our kitchen you will see all three and can be a witness with us of all the Lord has done.

Week 25

Now that you are 25 weeks pregnant, your baby should be weighing about 1 pound 5 ounces (660 grams). Baby's little hands are busily feeling her surroundings, touching her own skin and the umbilical cord. These little hands are now quite dexterous; baby's fingers can even curl into a fist! At this stage in your pregnancy, you will also start to notice that baby has busy and resting times; and you may be more aware of the fetal activity when you are lying down or sitting still.

Your baby's hearing is so developed, that she may now be able to hear you! This week, the structures of the spine (including 33 rings, 150 joints and 1000 ligaments) start to form. The blood vessels of the lungs are also developing and baby's nostrils begin to open.

The Nursery

We are beginning to get things ready for our baby.
Below are some pics and descriptions.

Corner of nursery with curtains Charissa is still making.....



Antique highchair I am refinishing


We finally have a need for a "chair and a half". This is Charissa's favorite reading area.

Wise Words

Setting a good example for children takes all the fun out of middle age.

- William Feather

6 Months

I can not believe its been six months (24 weeks). Does not seem that long at all. I am still getting use to seeing Charissa with a tummy. Still surprising when I wake up and see her.

Yesterday we went to the doctor for our check up. He said that Charissa looked really good (i think he's hitting on her right in front of me) and that her weight is GREAT. She was happy to hear that. We heard the heartbeat. That is still so cool. It is fast and consistent. (I know because I am an expert.) We signed up for a childbirth class. We are doing the all day long option. Its from 8:45 in the morning to 6 at night. It will be in December. One long Saturday. Nothing like hearing "this will hurt" for 9 straight hours.

After the doctors visit we went home. Another choice to prepare for the baby. We usually go out to eat after each doctors visit to celebrate and talk; but since we are trying to save money we had leftovers. We did the math and figured how much per month having a baby will be and then looked at our financial forecast to see how it would turn out. Charissa now takes the 2-5PM prayer slot and I do the late night "warrior time" prayer hour.

We are excited for the many holidays and family visits we have coming up. Should be some fun for the next few weeks. Below is a description of how our baby is doing...

OH BUT WAIT -

You have to check out these cool websites I found. Now back in the day our parents, when looking for baby names, would go to a thing called a book. (to those under age 54 - its a collection of papers put together that gives information on a printed form, strange I know, but some people really liked it) Our generation of course goes to the Internet. I found these sites really neat to play with. Far and above our baby name research I typed in my name and friends just to see. The first one below is cool. It gives a graph of the name's popularity. The second one is from the government telling you the total number of people with that particular name and also gives you the percentage in the population. Enjoy.

Baby Name Wizard

Social Security Administration




Week 24
You are 24 weeks pregnant. Even though baby is receiving oxygen through the placenta, after she is born, her lungs will take in oxygen on their own. To prepare baby for the outside world, her lungs will now start to produce something that is called surfactant. Surfactant keeps the air sacs in our lungs from collapsing and from sticking together upon exhalation, thus allowing us to breathe properly.

The inner ear, part of the vestibular system, controls balance in our body. Now that the inner ear is fully formed, baby should be able to tell when he or she is in an upside down or right side up position while she is floating and moving in the amniotic fluid.

She weighs in at 1 lb 5 ounces (595 grams) and 30 cms or 11.8 inches total length!

Week 23

This past week has been a busy one for our little girl.

Congratulations, you are 23 weeks pregnant and your baby has hit the one pound mark! Its cute little body is growing to become more proportionate as each day goes by. Now, the bones of the middle ear begin to harden. Also, this week, the pigment that gives color to your baby's skin is deposited.

Even though fat accumulates on your baby's body, her skin still hangs loosely, giving baby a wrinkled appearance. This occurs as the skin is produced at a quicker rate than it takes for the fat to accumulate.

Your baby is now working out daily. Her routine may include regularly working out the muscles in the fingers, toes, legs and arms. As a result, you may start to feel stronger kicking.


If you read that second paragraph you may think that is odd. But fear not, knowing that she is part Ludlow I am sure the fat is growing at the same rate. I know my fat grows at rates faster than what I would think is normal.

Besides my weight, most things are going as expected. I am enjoying my job more and more. Charissa is having some tough times at her job but overall is doing good. She is getting a bigger tummy with each passing week and their is no mistaking a baby grows inside.

Now on to some radom fun stuff...

Your baby's birthstone will be Amethyst (Sincerity)

Your baby's Astrological Sign will be Aquarius

Your baby's Flower is Violet or Primrose (Violet, Sky Blue or Yellow)

Your baby will be born in the Chinese Year of The Pig

This time next year your baby will be 35 Weeks Old!

Your baby will start kindergarten in 2012, be old enough to drive a car in 2023, finish high school in 2025, and will graduate from college with the class of 2029, give or take a year. Can you imagine?

Reason #458 as to why its better to have a girl

"At the age of eleven or thereabouts women acquire a poise and an ability to handle difficult situations which a man, if he is lucky, manages to achieve somewhere in the later seventies."
- PG Wodehouse

Week 22 Tummy

The baby is getting bigger and continuing to practice for life outside the uterus. This week your baby has fully developed eyelashes and eyebrows and the hair on your baby’s head is continuing to grow as his brain begins a rapid growth process. The fetus has fully formed fingerprints and loud noise can “wake up” the baby. She may begin kicking and turning around, too. Your baby’s heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope. Her nose is taking on a more defined shape as cartilage (the soft bone) appears. Your baby is approximately 30-32 cm (10.8 inches) and weighs about one pound.

The Name Game

Everyone is asking if we have picked out a name. The answer is yes. Our name, top choice, will become official later is......

Lou Lou

Just kidding. We have not picked out a name but we are trying. Its fun and hard at the same time. Leave your choices in the comment section below to help us out.

Kick Kick

We felt our first kick today. It was a little under the belly button. Happened as we were watching TV, Charissa felt tiny feet kicking her.

So cool. Only bad part was that it was at night when the baby should be asleep.

Week 21

Well we move on to week 21 but the party has not stopped. Its a Girl is still a phrase to bring a smile to our faces when we have a bad day. Seems to lift moral instantly.

This week in "Growth of a Baby"...

Now that you are 21 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs about 13 ounces (360 grams). She is still able to move about inside the amniotic fluid, and will only quiet down towards the end of this trimester, where she will turn and settle into a head-down position.

Growth starts to slow down a bit now and the heart beat gets stronger. Baby's legs will also reach their relative proportion.

The amniotic fluid that has cushioned and supported your baby in the uterus now has another purpose; the intestines have developed enough so that small amounts of sugars can be absorbed from the amniotic fluid the baby swallows. This sugar is then passed through the digestive system to the large bowel. However, most of your baby's nourishment still comes from you via the placenta.

Up until now, baby's liver and spleen have been responsible for the production of blood cells - in fact, the fetal liver will produce blood cells until the time of birth. Now, the bone marrow spaces are developed enough so that they can also contribute to blood cell formation.

As you might guess I still weigh more than the baby. And as I type this I realize there is a strong chance I always will. That's depressing. Poor fat me :(

Charissa is experiencing some body discomforts now. Back and shoulder tightness. She is a solider through it all but now and then needs a back rub to help out. Over all she is doing great. And why: Because its a girl !

My Pretty Little Girl

You may be aware of sleep wake cycles in your little one. The weight is now up to 10 ounces (283 grams) and the baby measures about 25 cms total length, about 9.8 inches.

Thank heaven... thank heaven...
Thank heaven for little girls!

A Little Girl

We went to the doctor and saw our daughter. She waved to us again. She yawned. She showed us her spine, kidney, stomache, femur bone, and ear. She loves to show off. And I love starting each sentence with She.

Charissa is doing very good and is happy to know dresses and lace will continue to be a part of her life. Scooter is glad he does not have to share me in the rough housing department. That's still to be determined.

I hope to have some pictures up very soon for everyone.

IT'S A GIRL

Week 19

Excitement is growing looking forward to next week when we find out if its a boy or girl. This week we are both doing very well. As is our baby,

This is an impressive week for growth! The baby will increase in weight to 8 ounces (227 grams)! If you are having a girl, her ovaries now contain primitive egg cells. Lanugo appears all over the baby's body. This fine hair will remain until birth draws nearer. Sometimes you can still see some on the baby's face and ears after birth. Permanent teeth buds are forming behind the already formed milk teeth buds.

A few weeks ago we went to Belton to see my family. Click here to see slideshow

Also notice how snazzy I am making the blog. I made the font bigger for those older people who read it. (you're welcome Dad) On the upper right hand corner you can see an email link to us. On the bottom of every post feel free to leave a comment as well. We can communicate about the blog stuff that way. I hope to write up more postings and be fairly creative to keep things interesting for both of us. In the end its about Charissa and our baby. But, I can have fun along the way. ha ha.

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. I still feel like we are on the journey together and know we could not make it with out you. As Charissa says "It takes a village to raise a child"

Psalm 139:13

Psalm 139:13

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

Goin' on 18

We are getting more and more organized around the house. Nesting is not just for women. I am doing many projects and reorganizing the garage. Charissa is helping by doing the nursery, organizing the guest bed room and of course growing the baby. Speaking of baby.....

At 20.5 cms or 8.1 inches total length, your baby is growing rapidly. S/he weighs about 7 ounces (198 grams). The bones are continuing the ossification process. The pads of the fingers and toes are formed and the fingerprints are developing as well.

Here is a funny article on the web Charissa is thinking about: Babies and Football

Now a few weeks ago we had the opportunity to go to Galveston and celebrate Aaron's birthday. (Charissa's brother) His three little girls found out about the baby inside Charissa and were very excited. How excited? When we left, with the help of their mom, they thought of names for our baby. So with out further ado... here is the list from a 7,5,3 year old. A must read.

17 and Growing

Your baby is forming brown fat deposits under his or her skin, by the end of pregnancy this will account for 2-6% of their total body weight. This will help them maintain their body temperature when they are born. The baby weighs in at about 5 ounces (142 grams). This means that the baby now weighs more than the placenta. No new structures have formed. Loud noises outside may actually cause the baby to startle.

Its the last sentence I am not allow to prove. Charissa has rules about scaring her. I don't like the rule but I have to abide by it.

Though we won't have any doctors visits, or showers thrown, the weeks are still exciting just acknowledging the miracle in our house. We have been shown grace through God.

Doctors Visit at Week 16

Well sorry to say that we did not get any ultrasounds pics yesterday. We did hear the heartbeat. It was fun to hear the heartbeat but it was interupted by static every now and then. The doctor told us that the static was the baby kicking! Next doctors appointment is late September, when we find out the sex of our baby! Until then Charissa relaxes and grows a baby.

Click the text to open link: The heartbeat at 16 weeks

Sweet 16

And I thought I had a busy day. Check out what Baby Ludlow has been up to:

Your baby's nails are well formed, and some babies are even in need of having their nails trimmed at birth. The ears have also moved from the neck to the head. Your baby is emptying his or her bladder every 40-45 minutes. The limb movements are becoming more coordinated. Your baby is about 3 ounces (85 grams) and 6.3 inches (16 cms). The gender may be detectable by ultrasound.

And mom is busy too. Today is Charissa's first day as a professor at Blinn. She will have one class a week on Thursdays from 430 - 630.


Tomorrow we are meeting the doctor. I hope to have more pics up for you. If we do get to see our baby I will post this weekend.

Beautiful

Ah, Week 15

The below picture is not of our baby. But it does give a good pic of what a baby looks like at 15 weeks.



So as you can see the little one is doing quite nice, again not ours, but a good view of his/her progress.

Your baby may have developed the habit of sucking his or her thumb! The skin is very thin and you can see the blood vessels clearly underneath. Your baby is about 70 grams. The scalp hair pattern is developing. And the heart is pumping about 25 quarts of blood a day. This will increase to about 300 at term.

This week Charissa has grown more aggitated with her clothing which refuses to cooperate properly. I blame the clothes as well. Outside of the fabric fiasco things are going well for her. She still has days when she does not feel good but even then she has more energy then she used to.

I have been taking some mini seminary classes at the church which I have truly enjoyed. I also tease the dog a great deal, which I too, truly enjoy. You can see him below.

In his usual state: Not cleaning house but instead inclined to lounge on my wife and couch.



I am putting in another cool pic that I found. This was taken during week 8 but wanted to add it in here as well. Its Charissa and her mom. We will get more "tummy" picks up soon for everyone.

Week 14

Whats up with the baby you ask?

The baby is now about 12.5 cms or 4.92 inches. Your baby is now producing urine and actually urinating into the amniotic fluid. It also can practice "breathing" the amniotic fluid in and out of its lungs. Amniotic fluid is an amazing substance. It completely regenerates itself every three hours. We do know that it is partially composed of urine from the baby, but where amniotic fluid in general is made we are not sure. Modern medicine still has some surprises left.

So our baby can pee and breathe. Two staples in life. Way to go baby!

We are doing well. Charissa started back to school and has been blessed with a great team around her. She now goes to bed earlier than before but the extra sleep helps alot. I am doing good and have continued to stay on top of my project list around the house.

Life is going along as usual but the excitement of our first baby is still there. We enjoy going down the baby aisle of the store, reading magazines on parenthood, random discussions on discipline over a taco bell dinner, you know, happy future parents.

Please continue to pray for Charissa's strength and the health of our urinating baby.

Lucky 13

Hard to tell who's carring the baby isn't?

Its Charissa still with that blessing. I just carry extra weight. Its a good trade off and a new way of caring for pregnant women. She will grow the baby and all the extra weight she needs to gain I will hold that for her. No need to put that much weight on her frame. Very loving I know, its the least I could do.

We heard the heartbeat yesterday. No pics to show unfortunetly but did have a great time hearing the very fast heartbeat. We will go back in three weeks. Below is another update on the baby's growth.

There are a lot of things going on this week! All twenty teeth have formed and are waiting (Teething is yet to come!). Your baby approximately weighs in at 1 ounce (28.3 grams). Consider that the placenta weighs about an ounce now as well. Your baby's intestines are migrating from the umbilical cord into his or her abdomen. The villi are also forming in the intestines, these help in peristaltic movements and digestion. The pancreas of your little one is even secreting insulin!

Week 12

The growth is....

While your baby's brain is not the same size it will be at birth, it does have the same structure. Bile is being secreted by this time. S/he weighs about 14 grams and is approximately 3.54 inches in total length. Your baby has its reflexes and also practice movements in the digestive tract. All of this in preparation for extrauterine life.

We are excited to see Charissa starting to get more and more energy with each passing day. I am now talking to the baby but can not tell if its listening to me or not. So the baby is in time out for while for disobeying me.

I have to confess that I lied about our doctors visit. It is next week. So you will have to wait another week for ultrasound pictures. Sorry to dissapoint. I too will go in time out for a bit.

Not much to report other than we are doing good. Its fun to think about being parents. Names have not been a big conversation for us. We are waiting to find out the sex of the baby and then I think we will go name crazy. We will only reveal the name for a monetary donation. So start saving you paychecks now.

Love to you all.

Week 11

How our baby is growing...

If you have seen pictures of babies at this stage you will notice that the head is about 1/2 of the body size. This will change as the baby grows. The iris will begin to develop this week and finger nails appear! Your baby weighs about 7 grams.


We are doing very well. Charissa is slowly feeling the energy coming back to her now. She goes on walks with Scooter and I almost every night now. We both have missed her on our walks. Unfortunetly for Scooter, our pace is slower with the pregnant woman. But we are watching what we eat to ensure a healthy Charissa and healthy baby.

I am trying to tie up all the loose ends and projects before due date. Little painting, little mending and some house love while I can. I want to have the last few months of the pregnancy be as stress free as I can. Not that I can plan life, but I can try.

Thank you all for your prayers and please do not stop. We stil have 6 months to go!!

Next week is week 12. End of the first trimester and probably another ultrasound pick for us all.

Week 10

We won't get another ultrasound for another 3 weeks but I will keep posting updates every week to keep you informed. Charissa is still taking lots of naps and eating lots of snacks. Its like kindergarden all over again.

The baby now enters it's fetal period. The average size is approximately 27-35 mm crown to rump length (CRL), or 1.06-1.38 inches. S/he weighs in at 4 grams, or 4 paper clips. Tiny toes have formed. The eyes are largely open, but the eyelids are beginning to fuse, and will stay that way until 25-27 weeks. External genitalia is beginning to differentiate. External ears are completely formed, as well as the upper lip. The biggest accomplishment this week is the disappearance of the tail!

Week 9

We went to the doctor yesterday. The baby is healthy. Charissa is healthy. And I think real excitement has occurred. Oh we have been before, but it was more victory in getting pregnant and now its excitement about my Son/Daughter growing in my beautiful wife. Now that is joy at its finest.

The two pictures below are our sonogram. The first one is with some arrows to help out. The second one is another shot. This is week 9. Below is from a website I copied and pasted to give you an idea what's going on in the picture.

Your Baby's Development

The tail at the bottom of your baby's spinal cord has shrunk and almost disappeared by this week. In contrast, your baby's head has been growing — it's quite large compared with the rest of the body and it curves onto the chest. By this week, your baby measures about 0.6 to 0.7 inches (16 to 18 millimeters) from crown to rump and weighs around 0.1 ounces (3 grams). The tip of the nose has developed and can be seen in profile, and flaps of skin over the eyes have begun to shape into eyelids, which will become more noticeable in the next few weeks.

The digestive system continues to develop. The anus is forming, and the intestines are growing longer. In addition, internal reproductive features, such as testes and ovaries, start to form this week.

Your baby may make some first movements this week as muscles develop. If you had an ultrasound now, those movements might even be visible, but you won't be able to feel them for several more weeks."

More from John

Now the amazing thing is the last paragraph. The movement. We actually saw it. When the doctor showed Charissa the monitor to see the baby, as if on cue, it began to dance a little. And yes, I say dance not move. Our baby has rhythm.

Our Dancing Baby

If you like you can click on the picture to enlarge the view and save it as well. More updates to come. And please try the link above.