Week 26 - Registry, Sonograms, Kicking & Nursery

26 weeks down, about 14 more to go!

After 3 1/2 hours in Target our Registry is complete. I don't think I have spent 3 1/2 hours in the same store before but it was fun. Lori and I had a great time looking at all the things we need and all the clothes that we want to buy! :-) My mom came along and was a huge help. She pointed out a lot of things that we never even thought about putting on our list.

Lori's Week 20 sonogram for the anatomy checkup revealed an abnormality that the doctor did not seem to concerned about. However, he said that a two vessel umbilical cord is something we needed to follow up on with more tests. Otherwise, Ty is doing great!


Lori and my mom made their way up to Harrisburg a few weeks ago for a another sonogram and fetal echocardiogram. I was unable to go because I was out of town attending a training class for work. Everything turned out OK and the baby is healthy and so is mommy. Oh it's still a boy... For Sure! Lori goes back July 3rd for another checkup and this time I will be going!

Lori has started to feel Ty kicking and punching her every so often. It seems he really appreciates dinner in the evening because he likes to celebrate with a little jab or kick soon afterward. Taking after daddy like any good son does!

My parents have been so generous and purchased the furniture (Crib, Changing Station & Dresser) for Ty's room. Thank You So Much!!! My best friend Jeremy was nice of enough to lend his time to go to my parents, pick it up and help me take it into the house. Thanks to you as well!

Along with the getting the furniture we started the nursery over Father's day weekend. We have chosen to go with a Frog theme... frog border, frog curtains, frog crib accessories, frog stuffed animals. Everywhere you look, there is frogs! :-)



My mom and dad came over on Father's day and while dad was relaxing, mom and I were working hard putting up border. Soon afterward Lori and mom put up the curtains that look great followed by some good Beer Can Chicken on the grill for our Father's Day Celebration. Next year at this time, I will be able to celebrate my very first Father's Day. Wow, how fast time goes by!

Monday evening I put together the crib and changing table which took a few hours but was enjoyable. Although there were a lot of pieces to put together, I did not end up with any spare parts, which I guess is a good thing!

Week 20 - It's a BOY!!!!!!!!

That's right - We are having a BOY!!! This past Monday Lori and I went for her 20 week checkup and anatomy sonogram. Everything is developing well with the baby. Mom is doing great as well. Lori's placenta has also moved naturally so no more previa!

Below is a 4D (3D with Motion = 4D) video of our baby boy!

Finding out the sex of the baby is actually a very small part of the anatomy sonogram. Still photos are taken of every bone and organ. Video in 3D and 4D is also taken all of which is evaluated by both the technician conducting the sonogram followed by a doctor. The entire sonogram took just over an hour.

Baby Boy Smith weighs in about 10 ounces and is approximately 10 inches from head to heel. The heartbeat was measured at about 140 beats per minute.

16 Week Checkup

Lori went to see the doctor today and she got to hear the heartbeat. I did not go in with her, but she tells me she lost a pound. :-) She has been watching her diet and been doing a great job. No sonogram was taken this time but the babies heart beat was a very healthy 167 bpm.

She still is not showing but her clothes are getting tighter by the day. I believe we will be going this weekend to get a few maturnity clothes for Mom! :-)

The baby should be about the size avocado now and weighs 3 1/2 ounces. The length: 4 1/2" head to bottom!

Too Much Work Causes Problems @ Week 12.....

Lori decided to do a little decorating around the house for the spring season. Taking the Christmas tree (yes, we keep the tree up till March, it is decorated in snowmen) and other decorations down and putting new decorations up. All this included moving boxes around and going up and down stairs. I tried to help but the hard head that Lori is sometimes (gets that from her dad) paid for it in the end.

In the middle of the night, Lori wakes up with some minor cramping and more bleeding.

She called the doc the next morning at which time they requested she go to the Imanging Center to have a sonogram done on a more advanced machine. When examined, we were able to see a heathly baby with a strong fast paced heart beat.

The baby even decided to show a little leg. ;-)

When the results were in to the doctor, she diagnosed Lori with Placenta Previa. Previa is a common occurance but something to be concerned about. Basically it is when the placenta is blocking the opening to the cervix. Most of the time the placenta will move away from the cervix, but if not, then a c-section will be needed.

With the diagnoses came along orders of no lifting of heavy objects and pelvic rest. Not a good thing to hear if you are a guy. :-) The doctor also said that she wanted Lori to gain no more than 25 pounds for her entire pregnancy due to her high blood pressure. This kinda stressed Lori out for a little while until I told her she has bigger and more important things to worry about than just her weight.

The baby at this time is about the size of a lime and about a 1/2 ounce. About 2" long from head to bottom.

Week 10 - Bleeding

Lori decided to go to the Chambersburg Mall to do a little shopping. She was walking through the mall when she realized she was having another bleeding moment.

The next day we went to the doctor. This time they thought it was possibly due to the placenta rubbing against a small phybroid Lori has on her uteris. The doctor again suggested rest and relaxation for Lori until the bleeding subsided.

The good thing about the doctor's visit was we got to see Pebbles again and hear the heart beat for the very first time, 170 beats per minute. The doctor said that the baby was healthy and at this time it is about a 1/2" long. About the size of a kidney bean.

Week 6 - Excitement and Depression

We were so excited about having a child until the last few days. Lori has had some bleeding that concerned her enough to go to the doctor.

The doctor thought it was coming from implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall. He suggested Lori take care of herself by resting and keeping her feet up.

This incident caused both of us to tell our parents that they are going to be grandparents. It is not the way we wanted to do it but we felt we had to tell them the situation.

My father received a great Birthday present yesterday.... the first image of his grandchild. My mother immediately nicknamed it "Pebbles" since it is only about a 1/4" in size.