The Whislers.net

Here's what's going on this week with Whisler Baby Boy 2009: 

Baby Stats:

Size: 18½ inches
Weight: 6 pounds

Baby Developments:

Baby continues to put on weight at about ½ pound each week. This layer of fat will help regulate his body temperature after leaving the climate-controlled womb. In fact, he will be 15 percent fat at birth. Even in the womb, he can listen, feel, touch and see. The only thing separating him from living in the outside world is a little thing called the birth canal.

His gums are firm with ridges that look somewhat like teeth, though his actual pearly whites won't start breaking through until he's between three months and a year old.  Little man has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping. In fact, baby will become alert and turn his head toward light and sound just as a newborn would, especially when I start singing select Garth Brooks hits.

Baby is now around 18½ inches long and nearly 6 pounds—just about as big as a breadbox.

What We're Doing:

July 19th was our six year anniversary.  We decided to celebrate our last retreat as a couple in Branson since the doctor won't let us travel long distances.  Laura snagged us a pair of tickets to see Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby and Six featuring, well, six brothers singing a capella.  Both shows were fantastic and we would highly recommend them.  The weather was fantastic so we spent an evening at Branson Landing.  You might recall our "Guide to The Landing" in a previous post. 

Check out these scores:

Old Man Benches - 42

Who Dressed Me? - 14

Farm Report:

Week 36's fruit is an eggplant.  The fruit is botanically classified as a berry, and contains numerous small, soft seeds, which are edible, but are bitter because they contain (an insignificant amount of) nicotinoid alkaloids, unsurprising as it is a close relative of tobacco.

Mark's rating: 6 out of 10

Laura's rating: 8 out of 10

This fruit has possibilities if cooked properly.  The eggplant parmesan seemed to make a favorable impression.

Here's what's going on this week with Whisler Baby Boy 2009: 

Baby Stats:

Size: 15 inches
Weight: 2-3 pounds

Baby Developments:

The baby's eyes are partially open now and can blink. Truly superior babies can actually wink. (OK, there is no way to prove that, but it's fun to imagine, right?)

His eyes have color now, too. It may not be the color he ultimately ends up with, especially if they're light gray or blue. The eyes typically don't settle on a final hue until nine months after baby is born. So when my mother-in-law says that the baby has her eyes, I can politely inform her that they'll most likely change soon. Sorry, Jan.

Little man is downright chubby compared to a few weeks ago. He is about 15 inches long, about the length of an amusement park cinnamon-sugar-coated churro, and weighs 2 to 3 pounds.

What We're Doing:

This week is an unusual one.  I've spent my entire week in Chillicothe running sound for a band.  One tidbit of interesting information, that my future son would certainly be proud of, is the a capella rendition of Vanilla Ice's, "Ice Ice Baby" last night in a talent show.  Absolutely amazing.  I believe there is video, but I'm not sure if it will be distributed.

Next Monday, Laura has a baby appointment to test for gestational diabetes with a glucose screening test.

Here's what's going on this week with Whisler Baby Boy 2009: 

Baby Stats:

Size: 14 inches
Weight: 1 2/3 pounds

Baby Developments:

The retina completes the development of its normal layers this week—all the better to see us with. Well not us, per se, because his eyes are still sealed shut and it's really dark in there, but the baby's eyes are now fully developed.

Brainwaves for the auditory and visual systems are detectable in baby's noggin this week. That means baby's brain is registering things like sound and light. He can't understand what any of it means yet, but he's on track to read a Cover 2 defense in no time!

As hearing continues to develop, baby will start to recognize our voices. Songs like, "Living On a Prayer" and "Don't Know What You Got 'Til It's Gone" have been met with repeated kicks to Laura's gut; an obvious indication of an encore performance from dad. Research has shown that newborns actually recognize familiar sounds after birth. Proof that baby has been paying attention all along.

Break out the sparkling apple juice—baby has now completed two-thirds of his stay in Hotel Womb. The baby is about 1 2/3 pounds and is 14 inches long head-to-heel, or about the length of a burp cloth (otherwise known as our primary wardrobe accessory for the next several months).

What We're Doing: 

This week is the annual Springfield Relay For Life.  Laura and I actively participate on the RFL committee and will be attending the event as Event Directors.  For those of you in the Springfield area, please come on out and see us and help fight against cancer.  I know everybody knows somebody who has been affected by this disease. The event is held at Hillcrest High School from 7 - 9pm on Friday May 15th.  Lots of great things to do for all ages. More details and directions can be found here.

Here's what's going on this week with Whisler Baby Boy 2009:

Baby Stats:

Size: 12 inches
Weight: 1 1/3 pound

Baby Developments:

Things are starting to get a little crowded inside ye o'l womb as baby grows bigger and bigger. I'm sure Laura's ribs are probably pining away for the good old days when they didn't have a foot permanently lodged between them. Yeah, it's going to get worse before it gets better.

Baby's ears are fully functional now. And since they are, it's possible that loud noises and sudden movements can startle the little guy. He's getting used to the everyday sounds inside the womb: the sound of Laura's heart beating, lungs inhaling and exhaling air, and the growling of her stomach. He's also hearing choice musical numbers from his father. Sorry, no shows; audience of two only.

Baby's got a fully developed inner ear now. This means his sense of balance is working and he can tell whether he's hanging upside down or right side up. The little Wiener schnitzel is about the length of a foot-long Chicago hot dog and weighs about 1 1/3 pounds. A little shout out to my Cubs friend out there.

What We're Doing:

We spent the weekend with my grandparents and acquired a glider for the baby room; it's a perfect fit. We also updated the baby registry. Last week I promised that I would post that information on the site...I haven't forgotten about it. Also, before baby arrives, I want to pick up a nice HD camcorder to ensure those priceless moments are captured in 1080i and Dolby Digital 5.1. The research is underway.

Now that the baby kicks constantly, we (I) enjoy talking to the belly and finding out what sounds create more kicks than others. So far, 80's hair band songs seem to do the trick.

Week 13 officially started on Saturday.  Here's what's going on this week with Whisler Baby 2009:

Baby Stats:

Size: 3 inches
Weight: .81 ounces or 20 grams

Baby Developments:

The baby can make a fist and even suck his or her thumb this week—both skills that are über-cute during infancy, but not so much at the age of 9. If we're really lucky, we might catch a glimpse of baby's thumb sucking on an ultrasound photo. That's a framer! Other exciting developments include:

The baby's eyelids are fused shut to protect his eyes as they develop. His bones and skull are solidifying and soon itsy-bitsy ribs may appear. Baby's intestines are finally right where you want them—in his or her belly instead of poking out into the umbilical cord. Baby's tooth sockets are all loaded and ready to pop out baby teeth six or seven months after baby is born (causing baby a lot of pain and Mark a lot of lost sleep). I don't sleep anyway so not a big deal.

Who's that singing...Carrie Underwood? It might be the baby. Her vocal cords and larynx are completed now. She won't be able to make any sound yet, however, because sound waves travel through air and baby is submerged in fluid. It's never too early to start vocal training though.

The baby-to-be now weighs about 20 grams and is nearly 3 inches long, or about the size of a Nutter Butter.  A prize to the individual who can name the Friends episode that references a Nutter Butter.

What We're Doing

Laura has started picking up maternity clothes and I'm doing a lot of credit card swiping.