The 33rd Week!

Merry Christmas!

Darren's mom wonders why I am constantly comparing our little precious baby to some sort of produce...well let me explain! The website that sends me a weekly email giving me information about how the baby has changed gives the produce update to create a visual of how big the baby is, etc...it is not because I am obsessed with produce!

This week Owen weighs a little over 4 pounds (just like a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He is getting to be a big boy! Can't wait to meet him!

This weekend was a busy one! Darren and I put together Owen's crib over Christmas weekend! It is a wonderful crib - we love it! We also put together the great glider chair and ottoman that my parents gave us! That is going to be a god sent! My Aunt Sue and Uncle Ken got Owen his bedding set for Christmas and it looks so cute! Melissa and Steve sent us the matching rug and hamper set to his bedding and Mo and Danny bought us our stroller and car set, which we also put together...Owen will be rolling around Chicago in style...the stroller and car seat are great! So thank you to everyone for all the wonderful things! We really appreciate it!

The 32nd Week!

8 months already and counting...only 2 months left..possibly less. I had my 8 month appointment this morning and Owen is doing good - 150bpm and has made me gain a total of 20 pounds already...now that is crazy.

He weighs about 3.75 pounds, ever see what a large jicama looks like? Well that is what Owen's size would be similar to in the the weekly produce update. He is about 16.7 inches long and taking up a lot of space in my uterus. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Coming from two parents who were bald babies (cue balls) until we were 3...Owen probably doesn't have a hair on his cute little head!

The 31st Week!

We got the opportunity to visit with Darren's parents and Steve, Melissa and Morgan this weekend for our impromptu Christmas celebration! We had a really nice time and let me tell you Morgan is the cutest and so content! She is such a good baby and Melissa is a wonderful mother! It was really nice to see and got both Darren and I excited for our new arrival!

I also received my invitation to my baby shower that my friend Lauren, Corrie, my mom and Aimee are throwing for me on January 5th. The invitations are adorable and Lauren put some time into making them - they look like a blue diaper...too cute! People are asking where we are registered at..we are registered at Babies R Us.

This week, Owen measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (like carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. That's my boy!

The 30th Week!

Owen is about 15.7 inches long now, and weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. He has been quite busy kicking and moving around. He has had the hiccups twice today - once at 3am and once at 3pm...he must be on the 3 o'clock schedule!

I got together with my girlfriends this past Saturday for our Girl's Christmas party! We had a good time. The photo is my friend Yvonne, Deralyn, me and Traci.

The 29th Week!

Happy Thanksgiving! We spent the holiday at my Aunt Sue's house and had a great dinner! Darren and I also got the chance to see Lauren and Joe while they were in town and pregnant Corrie!!!

PRODUCE UPDATE!!!! Owen is now the size of a butternut squash and now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain.

The 28th Week!

We are now in our third trimester! By this week, Owen weighs approx. two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes.

I had my 7 month appointment today and got to hear his healthy heartbeat! The doctor said that everything is moving along great!

The 27th Week!

We spent the weekend - cleaning out closets and making room for baby Owen and all of his things...This weeks produce update...Owen weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He now sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. And they say I should chalk up any rhythmic movement I may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on.

The 26th Week!

6 1/2 months! Boy how time flies. I have been feeling very good and Darren is taking good care of both Owen and me. Our books say that Owen probably weighs about one pound and two thirds and is 14 inches in length. The size of (an English hothouse cucumber), from head to heel. It is pretty funny- they always compare the baby to some type of produce! My friend Corrie - who is also pregnant (due in April) do our weekly produce update with each other. Her baby is now the size of a lemon!!!

The 25th Week!

My pregnancy books say that Owen is probably about 13 inches long and weighs a pound and a half. He is getting to be a big boy, and a strong one at that! He is constantly kicking me throughout the day not letting me forget about him in my belly!

We held a 45th wedding anniversary for my parents this Sunday and our family joined us at Tree Guys in Itasca. We all had a really nice time and congratulations once again to my mom and dad - what an accomplishment!

The 24th Week!

6 MONTHS!

We had our 6 month appointment this morning and Owen is doing great! He has made me gain 12 pounds so far and his heartbeat is strong and healthy. I had to drink a bottle of orange junk and get blood drawn (twice) for a diabetes test and I also got a flu shot. But all in all our doctor said I am right where I should be and everything seems to be a-ok.

We also celebrated Darren's 30th birthday (a surprise party) in Seattle this weekend. His parents, my parents, Lauren and Joe and 10 of his friends drove in to surprise him. We rented a great house on the water and all had a really good time. Darren is finally 30...thank god!

The 23rd Week!

No real big changes except that my belly keeps on getting bigger and my little man is a very active one! Owen loves to move around all day long - which always brings a smile to my face. Darren will be turning the BIG 30 this Friday - I am taking him to Seattle for his birthday weekend! Should be fun!

I added some pictures of Kaeden James (Lauren and Joe's son) at the pumpkin patch and Mikey Caldwell (Corrie and Michael's son) on the first day of school.

The 22nd Week!

5 1/2 months! I am definitely getting bigger now! Owen moves all the time. Yesterday he was kickboxing in my belly! Darren felt him really move for the first time! Which was a very cool moment! Owen also attended his first hockey game. Darren and I went with my parents to watch the Blackhawks beat the Red Wings. It was a great game!

The 21st Week!

Owen is moving constantly. He loves to move at night right before I fall asleep and his new thing is moving during the day while I am at work. It is a pretty cool feeling. His kicks are not strong enough yet for Darren to feel them - but I am sure that will change soon!

The 20th Week!

It's a BOY! Darren and I are so happy! We had our 20 week doctor appointment and had our ultrasound. It was the most amazing thing we have ever experienced. Owen was moving around like crazy: sucking his thumb, grabbing at his feet and moving his arms and legs every which way! We also heard the heartbeat - which was a healthy 140 beats per minute! Owen is almost 12 ounces and has all his fingers and toes. Our doctor said the ultrasound pictures look great. Though I have to go back this week and get a few more pictures taken because he was not cooperating and wouldn't turn over so she could get all the pcitures she needed! But again we could not be happier. The newest addition to our family will be Owen Daniel McCarthy.

I also included a picture of Steve and Owen's cousin Morgan!

The 19th Week!

The 19th Week...makes us almost 5 months and about half way thru our pregnancy! I have been feeling really good and just started a prenatal yoga class on Saturday mornings from 9:30-11. I think I will like this class - it is a lot of deep breathing, stretching and connecting with the baby. Really kind of cool if you ask me! I have also been trying to go to the gym and walk for at least a half hour 2 or so times a week.

Well in our next post we will know if we are having a boy or a girl! We find out next Tuesday at our doctors appointment! Can't wait!

The 18th Week!

My stomach really popped out this week! It seemed to happen overnight last Tuesday. My clothes are starting not to fit and when we are out walking around I catch peoples glances looking at my belly! Kind of funny! All in all everything is moving along like clockwork! More to post next week!

The 17th Week!

Hi everyone! We do not have to much new to report..we just had a very relaxing Labor Day weekend and we enjoyed every second of it! We started the weekend off by seeing Tony Bennet at Ravania (it was really cool!) and then we cooked up some good meals together, watched some tv, did a little shopping and that is about it for the rest of the weekend!

We hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend! Don't forget to vote for if you think we will be having a boy or a girl! Your time is almost up before the sex of the baby is revealed on September 25th!

Love you all!

The 16th Week!

Wow - 4 months already! Seriously - is time flying by or what! Darren and I read our baby books every week to learn about the baby and how big he or she is and what they are up to! Our one book says the baby is as long as a dollar bill! Getting kind of big now! And my pregnancy calendar said that today the arms are long enough now where he or she can clasp their hands together! Pretty cool!

Darren and I celebrated our 1st Anniversary this weekend! We had a great time. I felt like a princess. We got a couples massage at the Peninsual hotel, stayed at the Omni Chicago Hotel and ate a great dinner at this new restaurant in the South Loop, Room 21.

Sunday was also my Grandma's 90th surprise party. The party turned out great and my Grandma really enjoyed herself and made it around to talk to all of her 100 guests!

We do not have any plans this Labor Day weekend - except to relax!

Don't forget to enter your choice on the poll, do you think the baby will be Owen or Mia!

The 15th Week!

We are now 15 weeks! I had my doctor appointment this morning and the baby is doing great with a heartbeat of 140 beats per minute and a small case of the hiccups! I actually could tell when the baby hiccupped…it was quite cool! Our next appointment is scheduled for September 25th – that is when Darren and I get to find out if we will be having a little Owen or a little Mia…can’t wait! My doctor said to pay attention because within the next month I should be able to possibly feel the baby move (it will feel like a flutter or butterflies). I will keep you posted if any of this occurs!

We are back from our trip to Trail and the wedding in Penticton. We had such a great time! We got to spend Friday night with Darren’s family (which was absolutely wonderful) it was so nice to see everyone and hang out. Saturday morning we drove to Penticton which is a 3 ½ hour beautiful drive through the mountains. I cannot believe that people actually get to live there and see that everyday! How lucky! We rented inner tubes and “Floated the Channel” Saturday afternoon with 15 of Darren’s friends and attended Ben and Jessa’s wedding at a breathtaking winery Saturday night. Darren has 4 friends that are pregnant and all due around the same time that we are. Babies are in the air!

We will be celebrating our first anniversary next weekend – can’t believe how time flies!

The 14th Week!

We are now 3 1/2 months along! I cannot hardly believe how fast it is going! My belly is SLOWLY starting to get bigger and being tired all the time still is still a major factor. I think I pretty much relaxed all day yesterday and loved every minute of it.

Darren and I went to my friend from college, Alison Landeck's wedding this weekend. And let me tell you - all three of us got a very good workout dancing all night. So we are expecting either Owen or Mia to be a very good dancer when the time arrives!

We will have to do a repeat next weekend because we are flying to Canada for Darren's friend Ben and Jessa's wedding. This will be the baby's first trip to Canada...I think he or she will enjoy it! We will get to see Darren's parents and hopefully some of his family and of course all his friends at the wedding - we are looking forward to it!


Thank you for your previous posts - they are fun to read! We will keep you updated weekly so don't forget to check back periodically!

The 13th Week!

We are now in our second tri-mester! Yeah! I am feeling really good - can't complain. The morning sickness feeling that I had every once in awhile is now gone and I am slowly starting to get some of my energy back. Though I still cannot make it to the gym with Darren in the morning...that is probably more to do with the fact that I just would rather not get out of bed then me being pregnant! (But we don't need to tell him that!)

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