We've opened a baby pool for everyone to guess size and birth date of Junior. The person with the closest guess wins... well... see the nursery theme contest blog entry for our typical baby prize ;). Click the banner below to place your bet!

If you need a little help formulating your best guess, here's a little additional information. You don't have to read too many of these blog entries to place a pretty good gender guess! While December 19th is the calculated due date, Junior has measured for a December 25th due date at both ultrasounds.

Junior's parents were both born a little early (although we were both our mothers' second child, not the first) - Jeff by 3 weeks and Traci one. Jeff was 6 pounds, 2.5 ounces and 20 inches long at birth. Traci was 7 pounds, 15.5 ounces, and 20.5 inches in length. All five Highsmith and Ziller children born to Junior's grandmothers arrived in the morning.

BTW, if anyone enters a weight over 8 pounds, I'm never speaking to you again! :)

Good luck!

This morning we had our second glimpse of little Junior. After getting the images that were missed last time when he was being "difficult", the ultrasound technician used the 3D ultrasound show us some nice face shots. The photos look a little strange (or "like potato salad losing a fight against chicken and dumplings," as Jeff so eloquently puts it!), but it's still so incredible to see a real face!

The tech confirmed for us again that Junior is definitely Junior and not Juniorette. His measurements put him at 22 weeks, 3 days which is means his measured due date is still December 25th, same as the last ultrasound. We got to see and hear his heart beating and it's a little lower than last week - 143 bpm. As she was finishing up her report, I noticed on the screen that the measurements should equate to a weight of 1 pound, 3 ounces. I can't believe such a big guy is in there! No wonder I've been uncomfortable for the past week. He's growing so fast!

That's the last medical update until September 14th when I have my next checkup and some not-so-fun tests done. As long as Junior continues to look healthy, though, it'll be worth it!

This morning I had another check-up and so far, everything is still perfect! The midwife measured my tummy (22-23 cm), listened for Junior's heartbeat (150 bpm), and checked my sugar and protein levels which were both perfect. I've gained a total of ten pounds now which is right on track.

I've been feeling really good lately except for back pain which started up again two months ago (I have a slight c-curve in my spine due to scoliosis that was diagnosed earlier this year). It has concerned me not just because it hurts so much sometimes, but because any type of exercise aggravates it so I hope I'm in good enough shape when d-day comes! I've been going to the chiropractor every two weeks to keep my spine aligned which is the best thing for it now.

Next week's update will be more exciting because we'll be getting another ultrasound and hopefully will have more pictures to share! Junior was too sleepy during the first ultrasound and the tech couldn't see everything she needed to so we'll be going back next Friday morning for another try. I'll drink extra orange juice that morning so he'll have a nice sugar high and be really active - he he! :)

22 Week Belly

Yesterday, Jeff and I took advantage of the back-to-school tax free holiday. I bought some maternity tops while Jeff bought Junior his first book. As you can see from the pictures, it was just what you'd expect from the soon-to-be coolest dad on the block! The newly-published Dangerous Book For Boys covers important topics every boy should know such as timers and tripwires, a brief history of artillery, and letting little Junior know that girls don't appreciate booger jokes the way boys do. Of course, it will be a while before Junior can read this book or even understand the pictures, so Jeff's putting it to good use in the meantime.

This is now Week 20, which means we're halfway to baby time! My little bump is more noticeable now, but its prominence still depends on what I'm wearing. Even when it shows, it looks more like a beer belly.

I think I can safely say that I've been feeling the baby move around for the past week. Some days I hardly feel anything and other days, like yesterday, there are lots of little kicks all day long. Hopefully he'll be active again soon so Jeff can feel since I've been able to feel some of the movements from the outside.