37 Weeks

As of today, Jack is considered to be full term! This means that if he were to arrive now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though his due date is still three weeks away.

He now weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Here's a picture courtesy of Baby Center:

Here's the belly pic - I'm huge, there's a 6lb baby in there!

Car seat installed!

Well, we were finally able to get scheduled to have a NYS Trooper install and inspect our car seat for us. We did that at lunch today, so we're all set. It's somewhat of a tight fit in the Mazda...today we realized why people own SUVs, wagons, and vans. Oh well, it will work.

Here's a picture of the seat in the car:

36 Weeks

36 weeks - I am officially 9 months pregnant!

Jack is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath.

I'm wasn't so sure what a crenshaw melon was or what looked like, but I guess this is it, according to Baby Center:

Here's a new belly picture with a comparison to my 14 week picture (yeah I look a little more tired in the second picture....):

35 Weeks

Jack is now over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

A pic of me yesterday after work:

Baby Pool

Since I don't have my 35 week picture yet (will try to get on that tonight)...I figured I'd at least contribute something cool today. I thought it would be fun to have a baby pool for guessing Jack's actual birthday/time/weight/length. It's easy and fun to participate, so join in! I haven't decided on a prize yet because I am tired and can't think straight - but either way, take a guess!

Some helpful information before you take a guess:
- It's a boy! (duh)
- This is my first baby
- His "official" due date is Tuesday, December 8, 2009
- The most my doctor would let me go overdue would be 1-2 weeks.

Guessing Website: http://www.bebepool.com/jackparish

Good luck!

34 Weeks

Okay, this post is definitely late, since I will be at 35 weeks tomorrow! But, I figured I'd get this one in here today for the 34 week post at least since Steve had snapped a picture already.  

Jack now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well.  

Here's a picture from when I was visiting Jay & Denise's new baby, John Patrick Sullivan III (or as he's been known thus far - JPS3). He's very good and the most adorable baby ever. Let's hope Jack looks as good as this little guy!