27 weeks

With less than three months to go until my due date, Isabella now weighs in around 2 pounds and is about 15 inches long. At this point, she may have started sucking her thumb. She now has fully functioning taste buds. Her eyelids are beginning to open and close and she should be able to detect changes in light. From what we can tell she's started getting the hiccups this week. Poor girl :(

The countdown:
1 week until the 3rd Trimester
6 weeks until my shower
10 weeks until I am considered full term
13 weeks until my due date

26 weeks... and one day

So I'm a day late on this one. I've been busy. Wednesday is normally my Friday, but this Wednesday we were having technical difficulties at work and I was unable to print some paperwork due Thursday. So I wound up going in Thursday to get that done and do a little grocery shopping/baby shopping. Friday, I attended the Women for Purdue Event with my Aunt Kris, who had flown all the way from Paris, France. Yesterday I had a girl's day with Kathy, Sheila, and Stephanie (Carson also came along for the ride). We did a little shopping in Indy. I was pretty proud of my self-restraint though. I only purchased a Snoogle body pillow and Isabella's first doll. I was dying to check out the new Buy Buy Baby, and I didn't even wind up buying anything! It was a great store though; I will definitely be going back when I have a better idea of what I need.

There are only 97 days left until my due date. Holy cow! We're in the double digits! I finally figured out why I am finding such conflicting lengths for fetal development. Some sources use crown to rump measurements and some use head to heel. According to babycenter.com, Isabella is currently weighing in at about 1 2/3 pounds and measures about 14 inches from head to heel. Her hearing is becoming more sensitve and she is beginning to inhale and exhale amniotic fuid to prepare her lungs for breathing outside the womb.

Isabella received her first gifts this week! So adorable! Here they are, thanks to Kris and Kathy:


Someone asked what we have clothing wise so far, here's a peek at the rest of our little fashionista's wardrobe so far:


The countdown:
2 weeks until the 3rd Trimester
7 weeks until my shower
11 weeks until I am considered full term
14 weeks until my due date

25 Weeks

Isabella is now roughly 13.5 inches long and weighs about a pound and a half, or the size of an eggplant. She's beginning to accumulate fat and although right now she is still pretty wrinkly, her skin will start to smooth out soon. She's also starting to grow more hair, and if we could see her at this point we'd be able to distinguish its color and texture.

Not much has else has been going on in the mean time. I started using a prenatal yoga dvd this week. I'm hoping it will help ease my back and rib pain. I had a doctor appointment yesterday and he said that everything appears to be going well. I'm measuring perfectly and her heartbeat is good.

The countdown:
3 weeks until the 3rd Trimester
8 weeks until my shower
12 weeks until I am considered full term
15 weeks until my due date

24 Weeks

We have viability! Although we certainly don't want her coming out any time soon, she now has a chance of survival outside the womb. So while we hope she stays in there for a while longer it is nice to know she'd have a shot if she decided to come early. She is now gaining about 4-6 ounces a week and weighs about 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pounds. Her lungs are now developed enough to give her a chance of survival in a NICU. She is also starting to develop white blood cells which will help to fight infection.

Here is the requested bump pic:

And an updated countdown:

4 weeks until the 3rd Trimester
9 weeks until my shower
13 weeks until I am considered full term
16 weeks until my due date

23 weeks

Well, the updates only change monthly now. Instead here's a countdown to all the big baby dates coming up.

1 week until she is considered viable outside the womb
5 weeks until the 3rd Trimester
10 weeks until my shower
14 weeks until I am considered full term
17 weeks until my due date

Behind the name..

The meaning of Isabella is "Consecrated to God."

Several queens have been named Isabella, including Isabella of Spain who commissioned Columbus' s most famous voyage, ultimately resulting in the colonization of America by the Europeans.

Austin is a variation of Augustine.

Her nickname, Bella, means "Beautiful" in Italian.

Drumroll please...

Our daughter's name is Isabella Austin Flynn. You can all thank my Aunt Joanna, aka my Godmother, for the reveal. Aunt Joanna, I'd buy you some sort of prize, but having a baby is expensive, as you well know.

Now that it is out, we just want to let everyone know that if you don't like it, please keep your opinions to yourself. This IS her name, it won't be changing so any criticisms will not be well-accepted. However, if you love it as much as we do you are more than welcome to let us know :)