New Widget!

I've added a Google Calendar to the bottom of this page.

I'm hoping to keep birth date/time/gender guesses posted here as well as any other events that are pertinent to this blog.

If you'd like for me to post your guess, leave a comment with the date, time of day (am or pm), and gender you'd like posted for your guess.

Also, for those that don't know - We've decided on names:
Boy: Braden Cai Carroll
Girl: Danica Ainslee Carroll

Week 26

Well, we survived all the travel associated with the holidays. Yea! Fortunately, Daniel was a really good sport and did all the driving. I've gotten to where it's hard for me to drive for more than about 30 minutes...

We had a really good time getting to visit with everyone and look forward to seeing everyone again soon - whether that be before OR after the baby is born.

I'm a little behind on my updates since we were not home over the holidays so here is week 26:

• Your baby weighs just under 2 pounds (850g) and could possibly survive if delivered now. Your baby measures approximately 9.2 inches (23cm) from crown to rump.
• He is growing fast and gaining weight now. His skin is less transparent and is becoming opaque as fat builds up.
• Your baby's heart is beating 120 to 160 beats per minute, as you have already heard at several doctor or midwife visits.
• Until now, your baby's eyes have been sealed shut, but he reopens them this week. The eyes are almost fully formed and the retinas contain all the layers they will have when your baby is born.
• Your baby's eyes are blue right now, no matter the ethnic origin or eye-color of you and your partner since eyes do not acquire their final color until months after birth.
• Your baby is lean right now, but is getting fatter all the time as fat is being deposited.
• Your baby's skin is getting thicker and paler and is becoming less red and wrinkled as more fat is deposited.
• Your baby has eyebrows, eyelashes and fingernails, though all are short and need to grow more.

In my next post, I'll put info about week 27, pics, and more measurements - including how far my belly sticks out back to front (not circumference). ;)

New Pics & Measurements

Weight: 113.5 lbs

Measurements (all in inches)
Bust: 29/35 (Up 3 sizes!)
Waist (HA!): 29 (Up 4.5 inches)
Belly: 32
Hips: 36 (Same)

This Week:


One Month Ago:

Week 25

• Your baby now weighs around 1.5 lbs (700g), and measures about 8.8 inches (22cm) from crown to rump, but this varies from baby to baby.
• Your doctor should be able to hear your baby's heartbeat, using a stethoscope or Doppler ultrasound device. If your partner puts his ear right on your belly in the right position, he might even be able to hear it unaided if there is no background noise.
• Your baby sleeps and wakes in a more regular pattern now. You may notice that your baby is particularly active when you are resting.
• The center of your baby's bones are beginning to harden.
• If your baby is a boy, the testes will start to descend into the scrotum now. If your baby is a girl, the vagina will begin to hollow out and mature now.
• Your baby can make a fist now and may already have a preference for the right or left hand.
• With modern medical technology, your baby would have a chance to survive if it were born now.

"Papa's Cradle"

We had Christmas with Daniel's family this last weekend. One of the items received was built by his grandfather - Dusty. I'm sure we'll get much use out of this!







Dusty has recommended that we add a plaque on the end, like the one above, with the name and birthdate of each child that uses the cradle.

Week 24 & Pic from Last Week

• Your baby is now about 8.4 inches from crown to rump (21cm) and weighs about 1.2 pounds (530g).
• Your baby's face and body now look more like a full-term baby. She now looks close to how she will look at birth.
• The eyes, though they are still closed, are now close together on the front of the face and the ears are in their final position. Eyelashes are fairly well-developed and hair is growing on your baby's head.
• Your baby's movements are becoming more restricted now as she fills up the uterus more. Cartwheels and somersaults inside the amniotic sac are no longer possible, but she can still hold the umbilical cord and touch and feel around her. Though your baby is already living in tight quarters in the amniotic sac, she will soon have even less room to move around.
• Her vital organs are now quite mature. However, since the lungs are not yet fully formed, your baby would have breathing problems if born prematurely at this stage.
• Your baby is becoming increasingly conscious of the world outside and may feel startled when you are startled.
• Your baby may alternate between having very active and very calm periods.
• Your baby may have facial expressions such as frowning, squinting and pursing of the lips.

Last week:

Week 23

I'm going to try and get the next round of belly pics up this weekend. Daniel's feeling a little under the weather right now, so I may have to use the tripod...

• Your baby now weighs almost 1 lb (450g) and measures about 8 inches (20cm) from crown to rump.
• She is becoming plumper as her fat is being laid down at a high rate, but her skin is still wrinkled and reddish. The wrinkled and loose appearance of her skin is due to the faster production of her skin than the fat that fills it out. The reddish appearance of her skin is due to the deposition of pigment as her skin loses its translucent appearance.
• Your baby can kick and punch vigorously by now, but she may also be gently feeling the umbilical cord and rubbing her hands and face against the inside membrane of the amniotic sac that holds her.
• She is still swallowing amniotic fluid (which provides an important nutritional supplement to the nutrition she gets from you via the placenta) and is passing some of it as urine. The swallowing of the amniotic fluid may cause your baby to get the hiccups and you may even be able to feel this as her body jumps inside yours.
• The lanugo hair on your baby's body may turn darker at this time.

Week 22 - Thanksgiving, Guesses, & Themes

Thanksgiving was great! We got to see everyone and relax a little. Now, it's back to the daily grind for 3 more weeks before Winter Break.

Many guesses of gender are leaning toward boy... (Just remember that nothing's been confirmed.)

Some have asked about themes - we're going to go with a safari/jungle theme. I like the safari theme, but the jungle theme has brighter colors... So, we were planning on doing the room in safari and accessories/toys in jungle. :)

• Your baby measures about 7.6 inches (19cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 12.25 ounces (350g).
• Eyebrows have developed.
• His digestive system now functions in a rudimentary manner. Undigested amniotic fluid passes into his bowel which he will eventually excrete after birth. Your baby can suck and swallow and may even suck his thumb.
• Your baby's senses are developing, especially his sense of touch. He can feel his face and stroke his arms and legs.