Baby Auden Millie Robertson

Arrived at 16:11, on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. She weighed 9 lbs., 13 oz., and measured 20 inches long. Welcome to the world, little girl! We are glad you're here!



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A Good Day to Have a Baby

Baby Robertson will arrive sometime today, Tuesday, September 14, 2010. It looks like a pretty day to come into the world. Can't wait!


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Sea Monkey @ 32 Weeks

Clearly, there has been too much going on. Over these unwritten weeks, this baby girl-to-be has come to be affectionately known as Sea Monkey. In May, we learned she'd be a girl. We got the chance to "see" her (as well as one can through layers of muscle, skin, tissue, and organs) and learned she'd have internal plumbing.

At 32 weeks along, we are seven, maybe eight weeks from this little one's arrival. I prefer the sound of two months at this moment, only because it gives me some time to get ready for her yet--and only in the sense of making way for her in the room she'll share with Tate, who needs to get into a big boy bed before Sea Monkey arrives.

Last night, she had the hiccups. With my hand resting on The Belly, she was kicking Monica hard enough that we could see her feet and knees moving across Monica's tightening skin. Then she had a series of regular little spasms that, it turns out, are late gestational hiccups. At this point, Sea Monkey is just about four pounds, and she may be as long as seventeen inches by the end of this week. She spends time blinking and looking around. She can make grabbing movements and funny faces. She's practicing breathing, peeing and listening to what is going on around her now, too.

Tate is fascinated by her, wondering when and where she is, and when she'll come out to play with him. He's very sweet, giving The Belly hugs and kisses at night after stories and songs. He'll be a good big brother, I'm certain.

Peanut 2 @ Twelve Weeks

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Peanut 2's fingers will soon begin to open and close, toes will curl, eye muscles will clench, and mouth will make sucking movements. Apparently, were I to poke Monica's abdomen (which I won't), the baby would squirm in response, although she wouldn't be able to feel the squirming. Baby's intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into the abdominal cavity about now, and kidneys will begin their work.

Nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and synapses are forming furiously. The face looks much more human: eyes have moved from the sides to the front of the head, and ears are now on the sides of the head. From crown to rump, Peanut 2 is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. One source suggested the comparison to a Vienna sausage...

@ 11 Weeks

@ 11 weeks: Peanut 2's head still makes up about half of its length. But the body is about to catch up, growing rapidly in the next several weeks. Eyes are widely separate now; the eyelids fused and the ears low set (they begin migrating to the sides of the head now). Red blood cells are beginning to form in the liver. By the end of this week, external genitalia will start developing. Peanut 2 may measure about 2 inches (50 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh almost 1/3 ounce (8 grams). So maybe a big fig or a small lime. Coolest: fingernail beds begin to form this week, and you could see blood cells through paper-thin translucent skin with that home ultrasound machine...now where did that go?

Peanut 2 @10 Weeks

Monica's at 10 weeks. 1/4 of the way through. Peanut 2 is now the size of a small strawberry. Feet are 2mm long. Neck is beginning to take shape. Body muscles are almost developed. Movement beginning. Ears and nose can be seen, or could if we had our own ultrasound machine. Coolest, maybe: Fingerprints are already evident in the skin.

Yay Bubbles!

For Charlie

We'll get caught up on fall pics soon but this one's for sweet Charlie.

Sometimes school is just so much fun that you fall asleep at lunch