25 Weeks

Head to heels, Adam now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight - a pound and a half - isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair - and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture!

Technically I think I am still supposed to be on bedrest but I went to St. Louis this weekend for my baby shower. I was feeling good at the end of last week and hadn't had anymore spotting scares so I wasn't nervous about going. I am so glad we went - it was the best weekend! Friday we drove to St. Louis and went to my cousin's high school football game when we got in town. I can still remember the day he was born, it's so strange to me that he is now a Junior in high school and towers over me! Then Saturday was my Baby Shower! My sister and 2 aunts hosted it and they did an amazing job! I actually had to hold back tears when I walked into the room because of all of the thought and work they had put into it! It was so me! The cake was gorgeous (my Aunt Barb designed it) and she thought of every little detail. It looked just like the invitation but she had 3 baby blocks put on it also with Adam's initials! And my sister made a diaper cake! I couldn't believe she had made it when I saw it! I had no idea she had any kind of craftiness in her at all! I don't want to take it apart to use the diapers but I am sure there will come a time when I do! We are so blessed with so many amazing friends and family members! They were all so generous and we got so much stuff! We only have to get a few more items and we are all set for Adam! I feel so ahead of the game!

The Hostesses - My Aunt Nancy, Me, My Sister and My Aunt Barb

My Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa) and Bob and I and my Niece (she wanted to be in all of the pictures)

Bob and I

The diaper cake my sister made!

The cake!

I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon - I am sure everything will go fine and hopefully they clear me of the bedrest! (I am not telling them that I went into the office today - I just didn't want to have to take anymore days off since I don't know what I will need in the future and I don't have many more days left at all)!

Dear God,

Thank you for blessing us with such amazing friends and family!

Love, Bob and Alicia

Dear Adam,

Mommy and Daddy have pretty much everything we need for you! We can't wait until you are here!

We Love you! Mommy & Daddy

Scary Morning

We had a stressful day today! I went to work all was well and then went to the bathroom and to my horror saw bright red blood, I freaked out and started crying. I ran to my desk called Bob first and he immediately left the house to drive downtown to pick me up and I then called the doctor and left a message with the nurses. They called me back right away and told me that they'll fit me in as soon as we get there. So we finally got to the doctor and they had me go for an ultrasound - what a huge relief, we saw Adam moving like crazy and his beautiful heart beating! My placenta also looked fine - huge sigh! After the ultrasound the doctor wanted to check my cervix to make sure it wasn't dialating or anything - things looked ok there. He thinks that I over did it a bit this weekend when I told him about watching my niece and nephew and that I had had some cramping on Saturday night. So he said the bleeding could have come from a small tear in the placenta. I am now on bed rest for at least the rest of the week and if I start bleeding again I need to call them immediately. He said he just wanted to be more conservative with us since this is a "delicate" pregnancy. I didn't ask him if it was ok to go to St. Louis this weekend for my baby shower but I am just going to go and sit the entire time I am there, that is if I don't have any more bleeding this week. Too bad Bob and I can't go for our Anniversary Dinner tonight though but keeping Adam safe is much more important right now!

Dear God,
Thank you so much for making everything ok with our angel.
Love,
Alicia & Bob

Dear Adam,
Stay healthy in there! I am so sorry that I overdid it this weekend and might have put some stress on you. Don't worry, Mommy is going to really take it easy now!
We Love You!
Mommy & Daddy

24 Weeks

We are now at 24 weeks! Adam is growing steadily, having gained 4 ounces since last week. He is now just over a pound and almost a foot long. So he's pretty lean at the point but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

I had a busy weekend. I helped my mom babysit my niece and nephew - we had a great time playing and running around but I might have over did it a little bit, I was having really bad cramps on Saturday night, so I took it easy that night and on Sunday. I hope everything is ok with Little Man, I haven't felt him too much since Saturday. So of course I am being paranoid and freaking out that something is wrong even though the sensible part is telling me that everything is fine.

Last night I watched this show that followed 3 couples that had multiples. I cried my eyes out because one couple was expecting to have quads and during one of their appointments they found out that they lost one of the babies. So sad - they showed the delivery and everything. I really can't imagine getting news like that. The good news was that the other 3 babies were perfect. Then another couple was having sextuplets and they took the babies at 25 weeks - it was crazy to watch that and see the tiny babies to know that Adam will be that size next week! I wish Bob would have been home to see it. All six of the babies survived and were healthy so far - what a miracle!

Tomorrow is our 2nd Wedding Anniversary! In a way the time has flown by but in a way it also feels like we have been married forever. This past year was definatly a trying year for us dealing with the infertility and everything but it has brought us so much closer together. I really can't imagine loving Bob anymore than I do today but I know as soon as I see our son in his arms that my heart is just going to burst. I want to thank him for making the past two years the best of my life! It is so amazing to sit here today knowing that the future ahead of us is just going to be so perfect as we start our beautiful family. He is making all of my dreams come true - I am such a lucky girl to have the most perfect husband in the world. I love him more than I could ever express!

We are going to one of my favorite places to eat and I am counting down the hours (pathetic I know)! It's a fondue restaurant and I have been craving cheese lately-so this is right up my alley! Then on Friday we will be driving to St. Louis for our baby shower with my side of the family and all of my friends! I cannot wait to get there and see everyone, the week can't go by fast enough!

Dear God,
Thank you for blessing me with such an amazing husband! Please watch over us as we share many, many, many more anniversaries together!
Love,
Alicia & Bob

Dear Adam,
You must be lazy lately because you have been pretty quiet and not kicking Mommy as much - I just hope everything is ok with you. I worry about you all of the time and I am sure my worry and concerns are just going to increase after you are born. Mommy and Daddy love you so much we don't ever want you to feel pain or be sad.
We Love You!
Mommy & Daddy

23 Weeks

Yesterday marked 23 weeks. With his sense of movement well developed by now, Adam can feel if I dance and move around. He is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing and the sounds he hears are preparing him for entry to the outside world! Loud noises that become familar now - such as the roar of the vacuum cleaner - probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Adam has been really rocking and rolling the past 2 or 3 days! He is constantly moving, such a cool thing. I don't think he wants Mommy to get any work done because when I feel him I find myself daydreaming about what he is doing in there. I want to know what it is that I am feeling, is he turning, kicking, punching his arms? I can't wait until we can feel him from the outside and Bob can experience it.

Last night we started filling out the baby book that we have with information that we can fill in right now. It asks a lot about the 2 of us, where we met, our wedding and honeymoon. It also asks about the baby's grandparents and gives you a mini family tree to fill out. Filling out the family tree was neat - Bob has a file that he got when his parent's passed away that has extensive information about both sides of his family (I think one of his siblings did a report for school and we have them) but it was really detailed and very interesting to read. My family doesn't have anything like that I don't think - so now it makes me want to do something especially while I still have my grandmother around on my mom's side since both of my dad's parents are now gone. These are things I want to make sure that I pass down to Adam and any other children we might have.

Dear God,
Thank you for your continued blessings - you are truly amazing.
Love,
Alicia & Bob

Dear Adam,
Oh boy - Mommy asked for you to kick me and are you ever giving me a taste of my own medicine. But I LOVE it! I am not complaining in the least - please keep on rocking and rolling to your content.
We Love You Sweet Boy!
Mommy & Daddy

Week 22

Today marks week 22. At 11 inches and almost 1 pound, Adam is starting to look like a minature newborn. His lips, eyelids and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. He has fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and deep wrinkles in his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas-essential for the production of some important hormones-is developing steadily.

We had our first baby shower this weekend in Detroit with Bob's family and friends. It was so wonderful and we had a great time! His sisters and sister-in-law did a fabulous job and everything was just beautiful! Adam is one spoiled little baby boy - we got so much for him that I know we will get a ton of use out of! Bob was at the shower too and I think he loved every single moment - especially opening the gifts! We got some Detroit Tigers onesies and Bob was crazy over them! I was having so much fun I didn't even take any pictures - but hopefully my parents will send me some so I can post them soon.

It was strange leaving because I know the next time I will see them all is after Adam is here (unless some of them come to Chicago to visit before then). Adam has such a great family that he is being born into. Between my side of the family and Bob's side of the family he will have 12 cousins already! Everyone is so excited to meet him - especially Mommy and Daddy!

Dear God,
Thank you for blessing us with such an amazing family!
Love,
Alicia & Bob

Dear Adam,
Wow- we got lots and lots of things for you this weekend at the baby shower! You are going to be the cutest dressed boy on the block! Everyone can't wait to meet you!
We Love You!
Mommy & Daddy

21 Weeks

We are at 21 weeks! Adam now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long - the length of a carrot. His eyebrows and lids are now present! His movement will turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges soon (hopefully I can feel him then) and he will have a pattern to his activity!

The cruise with my family was actually really fun! We had a good time just relaxing and hanging out. I think I might have felt Adam while we were on the cruise. We were at the final night show and there was a lot of music being played and I told my sister I felt something like a gas bubble but it wasn't in a normal area you would feel one. She thinks it was Adam. I really can't wait until I feel him more and more.

Yesterday we had our level 2 ultrasound at the OB's office. I am happy to report that Adam is perfect! His heart, brain, kidneys, bladder, stomach and measurements all look great! That is such a huge relief to have that over with and know that he is developing just like he should. He was extremely active throughout the entire ultrasound and wouldn't sit still much at all! It was by far the best ultrasound we have had to this point, Bob and I could have watched him all day! So I know now that he moves around like crazy and I am just praying that I really start to feel him more and more - I can't wait to actually know that it's him kicking me and not questioning it.

Here are a couple of cute pictures we got....

Dear God,

Thank you so much for your continued blessings and for watching over Adam as he continues to grow healthy and strong.

Love,

Alicia & Bob

Dear Adam,

Thank you for the show you gave Mommy and Daddy yesterday! We could have watched you all day. It was so adorable to see your little legs kick around like crazy and move your arms all over the place. Daddy and I are SO in love with you! Keep growing just as you are and keep that movement going, Mommy can't wait to feel you kick me!

We Love You Angel!

Mommy & Daddy

Pictures

Adam's Closet! This doesn't even include the things from my nephew! I have been shopping way too much!
I love this blue color. My dad and Bob did an amazing job on the crown molding and bead board. I just love this room!

Me at 20 weeks.