"Baby Girl" Lyrics by Will Hoge

Daddy found this song and played it for you December 22nd, you kicked the whole time:) It's "your song" from now on. We love you so much!

"May the sunlight find your face
Even when the rain does fall
And get back on your feet again
Every time you slip and fall
Keep your heart wide open
And always taking in
And even when it's broken
Be strong enough to fix it up again

Oh little baby girl
Sweet little baby girl
I wish I could hold your hand in this great big world
Oh little baby girl

And I hope your hands are steady
And never need to make a fist
And I hope that when you're ready
You get one never ending kiss
And I hope that deep inside of you
There's a sweet eternal song
And I hope the words are pretty
And that you'll always sing along

And I hope your friends are many
And your laughter's always loud
To help you when you're lonely
And pick you up when you're down
I hope your eyes shine bright love
And learn to see the light
Take the time to listen
Decide yourself what's wrong or right

Oh little baby girl
Sweet little baby girl
Be strong in this great big world
Oh little baby girl"

Dear Camryn.....

Dear Camryn,
Your nursery is decorated, your clothes are washed and ready and your hospital bag is packed. Mommy and Daddy are so ready to meet you and kiss your sweet face, and hands and feet and nose! We love you so much and we are on pins and needles waiting for the day you decide to make your entrance. Please come soon!!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy

37 Weeks!! FULL-TERM!!!!

How your baby's growing:
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Doctor's Appt Today

Had a good appt today. Dr Evans checked my progress and we are still sitting at 2 cm and 70% effaced so no progress since last week. He did say that my pelvis has an arch which makes it not as round and leaves less room for the baby to descend which would only be an issue if it is a BIG baby which Camryn is! So...we go Monday the 28th for the final ultrasound to check Camryn's size again at 8:00am and then the doctor at 9:15 am to see if she has descended any more on her own. If not, then we have the talk on where to go from there. We shall see! But a strong heatbeat again this morning, I love hearing my little munchkin's heart beating!!

Camryn's New Hat is Here!!

Yea!! Camryn's new hat is here! I ordered it from http://www.etsy.com/shop/capsofgrace and it's made by hand and they sent a hand-written note with it! I wanted it to be here so she could wear it home from the hospital so she can come anytime now!!

36 Week Update:)

UPDATE!

How far along: 36 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: 31.5 pounds.....
Maternity clothes: Pretty much living in loungewear as I am still on bedrest and will be until Dec 23rd!
Stretch marks: Just the one!
Sleep: This week, little to no sleep is happening, on top of the sinus infection I have, I can't seem to turn my mind off when it is time to lay down. It seems to be typical when you get this far along in the pregnancy.
Best moment this week: Celebrating Daddy's birthday with our best friends and getting to eat the birthday cake that Nana made from scratch!
Gender: ALL GIRL:)
Belly button in or out?: I am REALLY surprised but my belly button still has not popped!
Craving: No appetite this week, even went to Olive Garden on Sunday with my in-laws for Daddy's birthday but couldn't eat anything!
What I miss: Being able to breathe through my nose!
What I am looking forward to: Doctor's appt Friday to see if I have progressed any further (2 cm 70% right now)
Milestones: Officially made it to the 9th month!! Yippee!!

36 weeks!!

How your baby's growing:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

Camryn's 12 Days of Christmas!

Every year, my mom makes a 12 Days of Christmas basket for her kids and grandkids. Now that Camryn is on her way, the 12 Days basket is ALL for Camryn this year!!:) And Nana ran out of room so it's a 12 Days of Christmas tree!! YEA!!

UPDATE!

How far along: 35 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 31 pounds.....
Maternity clothes: Pretty much living in loungewear as I am still on bedrest and will be until Dec 23rd!
Stretch marks: Thought I was going to win the battle, but I finally got one! Oh well!!
Sleep: Some, when kicking, contractions or having to pee don't interrupt:)
Best moment this week: Getting the contractions stopped again on Sunday at the hospital. Just want to keep her in there 2 more weeks!!
Gender: ALL GIRL:)
Belly button in or out?: Still hasn't popped! I'm sure it will be any day now:)
Craving: Today it was pancakes....so I got some!
What I miss: Cute clothes, but i'll be there soon enough!
What I am looking forward to: Doctor's appt Friday and my sister maybe coming to visit on Wednesday with my niece and nephew!
Milestones: Right now, everyday that Camryn stays in the oven is a milestone:) Just trying to get her to 37 weeks!! Only 2 more to go!!

35 weeks!

How your baby's growing:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (OR BIGGER IF IT'S CAMRYN!) (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

34 Weeks!! But measuring like 36 weeks and 3 days!!

How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (More like 6.4 pounds if it's Camryn!!) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Ultrasound Results

Got great news today! We had our one month follow up ultrasound to re-measure the ventricles in Camryn's brain again. Last appt, they measure a little bit over 10 which was diagnosed as "mild bilateral ventriculomegaly". This basically means that they measure between 10-15 and they should be under 10. The main goal is for them to stay the same size or shrink a bit, just not grow in the month between ultrasounds. When they re-measured today, they had not grown and looked to have shrunk a little bit. Camryn is VERY low so it was tough to get a great measurement but the doctor feels good about everything! We have one more follow-up appt on Dec 28th if Camryn is still in the oven:) The other interesting thing that we learned is that Camryn is measuring 6 pounds 4 ounces at 34 weeks!!! That is one BIG BABY!! That measurement is more like a 36 week 3 day baby! Hopefully she will not go 40 weeks because she would be over 10 pounds!! Oh well, we are just happy to have a healthy baby girl and to have good news from the ultrasound. We love her soooo much already!!

Camryn's Family:)

Mommy and Daddy

Uncle Robby and Aunt Sara

Nana and Papa Reighley

Grandpa and Grandma Brown, Aunt Mikaela, Great Grandma Hoffman, Daddy and Mommy

Aunt KD, Uncle Luke, Cousin Jaeden and Lexi

33 Weeks update......

How far along: 33 weeks 1 day!
Total weight gain/loss: 30 pounds.....uuggh!!! Oh well it's good for Camryn!!
Maternity clothes: Pretty much living in loungewear as I am still on bedrest through this weekend at least.
Stretch marks: Keeping my fingers crossed but so far, no stretch marks!!
Sleep: Up at 12:30, 2:30, 4:00ish and 6:00ish to pee and then up for good by 8:30 right now while i'm on bed rest.
Best moment this week: It's only Tuesday but I'd say our best friends stopping by with dinner and Mike getting to feel Camryn's "hiccups"!
Gender: ALL GIRL:)
Belly button in or out?: I would describe it as completely FLAT, I'm sure it's going to pop any day now:)
Craving: Cinnamon buns, NOT FAIR!!
What I miss: Laying on my back, being able to paint my toenails:(
What I am looking forward to: Doctor's appt Wednesday to find out the next step, do I get to go back to work??? Ultrasound on Monday to measure Camryn's brain ventricles again.
Milestones: Right now, everyday that Camryn stays in the oven is a milestone:) Just trying to get her to 37 weeks!! Only 4 more to go!!

33 weeks!!! YEA!!!

How your baby's growing:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Whoa...what a weekend!

Thursday Night I started having some Braxton Hicks contractions and by the time I took lunch break on Friday, they were coming pretty regularly. I called my doctor and they instructed me to go straight to Labor and Delivery to be monitored. I was hooked up to everything about 2:00 and by that time, the contractions were 2 minutes apart. I was 31 weeks and 5 days on Friday and they decided that was much too early to be having regular contractions. I had 12 rounds of a medicine to stop the contractions and 2 steroid doses to help speed up Camryn's lung development in case she did arrive early. We were sent home Saturday evening about 6:oopm with a prescription for the same medication that I take every 4 hours. I am officially on bed rest for the next 2 weeks to be re-evaluated after that. I am trying to take it easy because every time I do ANYTHING the contractions come back! Check up with the doctor is scheduled for Tuesday at 2:00. When I left the hospital I was 1 cm dialated and hopefully will be staying there!

32 Weeks and Holding....(Hopefully!!)

How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

31 Weeks!!

How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Camryn's Nursery Part Deux!

Awesome site for 3-D video on baby's development

http://www.babycenter.com/2_inside-pregnancy-weeks-1-to-9_10302602.bc?intcmp=Art_Test_related_fet&pn=My%20BabyCenter

Camryn's Cousins at Halloween!

Camryn cannot wait to get here and meet her AWESOME cousins!! Next year we'll have a blast trick-or-treating!!

30 weeks and counting!!!

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Step 1 of Camryn's Nursery!!

My best friend Jeanna came over last night and we painted the nursery!! It looks so good! The next step is organizing and adding some pictures to the walls:) Jeanna's hubby Chris (also our bestest) came over and put in tamper-resistant receptacles so Camryn won't be able to shock herself! Thanks guys we love you!! More pics to come as we finish the nursery!!

Camryn's Photo Shoot Take 2!!

We went back for a 3-D ultrasound re-shoot hoping that Camryn would be a little more active this time! Boy was she!! Mommy ate candy corn and drank a little Coca-cola and that seemed to do the trick!!

28 Weeks Pregnant!

How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

How far along: 28 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: not sure but i'll find out thursday at the doctor!
Maternity clothes: Yes, and I am loving the stretchiness!
Stretch marks: No, thank goodness!
Sleep: still tired enough to sleep through camryn's dance parties:)
Best moment this week: baby shower last Sat and 3-D ultrasound Friday!!
Gender: PINK
Belly button in or out?: neither....it's flat to almost out!
Craving: McDonalds french fries
What I miss: knowing what my feet look like
What I am looking forward to: follow up 3-D ultrasound today and doctor's appt Thursday
Milestones: Made it into the 3rd trimester Monday!!

Camryn's Baby Shower!

What a wonderful evening!! Michael and I got to spend the evening at Chris and Jeanna Holmes' house with friends and family for Camryn's baby shower. It was hosted by my sister KD, Mike's sister Mikaela, My sister-in-law Sara and my sister from another mother Jeanna. There was amazing food, great drinks, beautiful decorations and party favors and lots of gifts!! We got so much to help with Camryn and we are so blessed!! It's off to Target now armed with gift cards to get a few more things for the nursery! Michael and I are so lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives and we can't wait for our daughter to meet all of them!!

3-D Ultrasound!!!

Had the BEST time at Prenatal Peek today!! www.prenatalpeek.com We got there about 4:40 and they took us back to our room for our ultrasound! I was in a NICE recliner and Michael got to sit on a comfy couch. He had a big screen TV to watch with Camryn's pics on it and I had a TV right at the recliner. Camryn was VERY sleepy so she didn't want to move much and she likes to sleep curled up in a U-shape so her hands and feet were up near her face. We will go back Tuesday at 6:15 to try to get some more face shots. I feel so bonded with my daughter and can't wait to meet her in person!!

27 Weeks Along!! (Here is how Camryn is growing!)

Thanks to Babycenter.com

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle

First Panther's Football Game!

Today was the Brown family's first NFL football game. We got to watch the Panthers beat the Redskins even if Camryn had to listen from inside mommy's tummy:) It was a TON of fun and we are going to be buying her a Panther's cheerleading outfit to wear next season! We ate tons of stadium food and Daddy got to drink the stadium beer while Mommy stuck to pepsi:) We are hoping Camryn will stick to being a Panthers fan with us when she grows up but you never know, like her Daddy said today "Who knows she may be a Packers fan when she grows up!"

Hello~! Let me introduce myself! My name is Christie Brown but I will be forever known as Camryn's MOM!! I am new to the Blogging World but my best friend Jeanna has a GREAT pregnancy blog that I love to follow so I thought I would try it! I am 29 years old, married to the love of my life Michael for 4 years and manage a BB&T branch in Graham NC. We are so excited to become parents for the first time!! Mike is a Service team leader at Johnson Lexus in Durham NC and a musician when time permits! We have wonderful family and friends supporting us through this journey and we love you all!!

How far along: 26 weeks, 5 days
Total weight gain/loss: 22 pounds
Maternity clothes: Oh Yeah!! Motherhood has been the place to shop lately:) Got 2 adorable dresses to wear with tights and my "sensible" pregnant shoes!
Stretch marks: Not so far, keeping my fingers crossed!
Sleep: Pretty good until it is time to roll over, that's an ORDEAL one pillow for between the legs, one for under my belly and one to hold onto so my hands don't fall asleep:)
Best moment this week: Everytime I feel Camryn move:)
Gender: PINK
Belly button in or out?: In but on the verge of POKING:)
Craving: Subway's Spicy Italian BMT with lettuce onions salt and pepper and vinegar!
What I miss: Seeing my feet!!
What I am looking forward to: 3-d ultrasound Friday and Baby shower Saturday!!
Milestones: Oct 16th 3-d ultrasound, Oct 17th Baby shower at Chris and Jeanna's, Nov 10 Maternity Photo shoot