Chain Gang

It's nearly a daily occurrence at the Swanny house. "Mommy, is your baby going to be coming out today?" Being 3 and only really having a good time concept of "now", it's hard for her to grasp the whole 9 months thing. In fact, Peanut was certain after she moved into her Big Girl Room that the next day Swanny Jr. would be here. (**FYI: name change from Baby Langston to Swanny Jr -- no specific reason, just felt it.)

Despite the stress that we can tell turning 3, moving into a new bedroom, beginning a new classroom at daycare and the anticipation of Swanny Jr. coming has placed upon our Peanut, she's really been quite cute about the new responsibilities coming our way. She is getting excited about all that she can teach him from how to talk, sing and dance to how to brush teeth and use polite manners (okay, so maybe that one is imposed by mom).

In one of my weekly therapy sessions, also known as Monday-morning-catch-up with the Mrs., it was suggested that I make a visual support for Peanut to help her understand the concept of how long it will be before our new little bundle arrives. I asked Peanut this weekend if we could make a paper chain to count down the weeks until the baby gets here to which she replied, "Can we use green and purple, my favorite colors?" So last night, we did just that.

With pre-cut paper strips, Peanut demonstrated that she could use a glue stick like a pro.

She quickly learned how to loop the chains and alternate the colors.

And the final result: a chain taller than Peanut complete with 18 links--one to be removed each week until Swanny Jr. makes his appearance. Today we put stickers on the calendar on her wall: we'll remove a link every time we reach a sticker (Sunday). She even summarized for Swanny tonight what the chain is for: "We take off a loop and when they're all gone that means I'll be a big sister!" I just hope that a week after he arrives and she isn't asking for the chain back so her brother goes away....

Pregnancy Update

I'm avoiding doing work and am on the verge of falling asleep--by the sound of Peanut upstairs singing in her bed I know that she is no where close. So, I thought I would post update information regarding the development of Baby Langston and my ever expanding waist line.



No new specific cravings to report. There are days when I am hungry from the time I wake up until I go to bed and I think my body is starting to show that! Every now and then the thought of a some kind of food or another will grab hold and I indulge myself--Taco Bell the other day with Emily for example. I've felt like I have more energy and am trying to do more yoga. My patience seems to be wearing ever thinner and I think I'm going to make it part of a new year's resolution to try to be more mindful during the times when I feel like I'm going to lose it.



I am now feeling the baby moving off and on throughout the day. He's definately more active right after dinner and right before bed time. Swanny has even been able to feel him pushing on me and slugging me.

We're nearing the end of week 21 and Baby Langston weighs in at a whopping 10 1/2 ounces--jeez, he's not even a pound yet, which sure makes me think about the pounds I've put on to this point! He is somewhere bettween 6 and 7" long. I've read that he is swallowing amniotic fluid now, which brings him nutrients. Apparently now that his taste buds are mature he may be able to taste what he injests--hopefully he likes salsa since I haven't been able to stop thinking of Jardine's today. Amniotic fluid will help him gain some fat on his little bones! Within the next week his little ears will be fully able to hear sounds from the outside. I guess it's never too early for him to get accustomed to Peanut's singing and the dogs barking!

(Disclaimer--this is not Baby Langston, but an ultrasound picture of a 22 week gestation baby I lifted straight off of the iVillage Pregnancy Week-by-Week guide)

Newest Addition

The countdown is on, Baby Swanson's (estimated) arrival date: May 20, 2008!


Here ya' go folks--hot off the press, the first picture of the new Baby Swanson



I know what you're thinking, he or she looks just like Greg! :)

I know it's hard to tell, but Dr. Egglesfield said that the baby has a very strong heart beat. I could see it much more clearly than I saw Peanut's....which after I noted this to the Dr and the nurse, I said, Jeez, I'm already comparing my kids, what a mom! Here is another view:



Crystal clear picture, right?! You can see the head is the part in the lower left and I have to take the Dr's word that we're seeing the back there.

Just wait, by the time I'm 22 weeks, we'll have 3-D ultrasound and a little video to look at to preview the little guy or gal....By the way, we're needing nickname suggestions for Baby Swanson so we can refer to him/her in our blogging....Throw some ideas out...who knows, taking a page out of The Mrs.' book, there just might be a prize involved!