Da-da-daaaa. Our paint colors. With scanning, this is as close as I could adjust the image to match the "swatch."

As you can see, we're not going with traditional blues, sports, planes, trains etc. I think it's something Baby C will grow into.

'Stone Hearth' will be the color behind the crib. The other three walls will be the 'Porpoise' color. And the ceiling will probably be 'Swan Wing,' but we may choose something else.

Most likely, we'll have something like this in the corner by the window:
 And maybe some Aspen leaves here and there...

Today I am 26 weeks pregnant! We've only got 14 to go! Wow. We better start moving on the nursery. So, what's going on this week with Baby C?

You are 26 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 23 weeks)

• The baby measures 14 inches long and weighs over 1.7 pounds.
• Baby measures 35.5cm long and weighs over 760 grams.
• The feet are 2 inches (5cm) long. Hands are very active.
• The baby's eyes begin to open around this time.

The fetus makes breathing movements, but there is no air in the lungs yet. Hands are active and muscle coordination is such that they can get a thumb into the mouth. Thumb sucking calms the baby and strengthens the cheek and jaw muscles.

The fetal brain scan will show response to touch. Touching and playing with the baby is possible now, as they may respond to your touch through your belly wall. Brain growth continues with brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems starting to develop. Baby is probably very active in the womb, as the most active weeks are typically between weeks 24 and 28. 

 What else is new? Last Friday Greg and I met with the new practice I'm seeing. Yes, I switched practices. The Women's Health Group could not have been a more busy, less attentive practice.  They scheduled me early for TWO ultrasounds and each time I saw the doctor, no questions were answered, my concerns were brushed aside and I was left to feel stupid for asking, and I saw her a whopping maximum of three minutes. I could not have felt less special and less cared for. What do I have to do? Be a high-risk patient to get any attention at all? Anyway - away from the negative, onto the positive. I have a great friend and acquaintance that delivered with Boulder Nurse Midwives. Yes, I switched to a midwifery practice and I don't think I could have made a better choice for myself, Baby C, and Greg.

The office is laid back. You go in, you weigh yourself, they have tea and such available if you want it. Greg and I met with Angela the first time. She spent a good 30 minutes talking with us. Informing us. Asking us questions. Listening to us. And asking if WE had any questions for HER! What a concept, huh? She listened to the baby's heartbeat and talked to him, saying "hi baby... hi baby." She went over my ultrasound results from the other practice. She read everything they wrote down and told us that things looked good. My old doctor NEVER did that. She always just said "Things look fine. We'll see you in 'x' weeks." I left feeling happy and reassured.

Angela noted that at my next appointment (September 10th) I get to do my glucose test. YUM! That will be my last four-week appointment. After that, I start going EVERY TWO WEEKS! After three of those visits, I will be at 36 weeks and will start going weekly. Holy geeze things are flying by.

Now I just need to put together my birth plan... which I will add here that I'm planning on doing this naturally, but I have not ruled out an epidural. I am not going into the hospital planning on getting one as soon as I can. I want to be able to walk and allow gravity to do it's work. I actually want to "labor." I want to be able to sit in the Jacuzzi tub if I want to, or labor on the birthing ball if I feel like it. And if I make it to the transition stage and it's "too late" to get an epidural, I shouldn't have that much longer. I know for sure that I will absolutely NOT have an intravenous pain meds. I will not rule out a spinal block, but I will not "drug" myself or Baby C... just not happening. It's just not for me.

I will get to deliver HERE, at Boulder Community Hospital. I get a queen size bed! I get a glider. I get a Jacuzzi tub. And I don't have to deliver in an ugly hospital gown. It's the little things in life, right?

Anyway - off to make dinner. My chicken aversion is finally gone and we're having teriyaki chicken! YUM. YUM. YUM.