20 Week Sonogram - ALL BOY!!!

The video is the coolest thing! You can see his little heart beating, facial features, everything...you can even see him trying to suck his thumb.

20 WEEKS - HALF WAY THERE!!!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

How your life's changing:

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you're a first-timer. A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.
Take an extra pillow to bed tonight "I found it so much easier to sleep on my side when I hugged a pillow and wrapped my legs around it. In fact, two years after the birth of my child, it's still my favorite way to fall asleep." — Clara

Surprising Facts:

Getting a good night's restIt may become more difficult to sleep through the night as your pregnancy progresses, thanks to some obvious and not-so-obvious changes taking place in your body. You may be surprised to find that:• You start snoring for the first time in your life, thanks in part to more estrogen, which contributes to swelling of the mucous membranes that line the nose and may even cause you to make more mucus. What to do: Sleep on your side and elevate your head slightly.• Heartburn and indigestion can make it extra uncomfortable to lie down in bed. What to do: Avoid foods that trigger your heartburn, give yourself two to three hours to digest a meal before going to bed, and try sleeping semi-upright in a comfy recliner or propped up with extra pillows under your upper body.• Leg cramps jar you out of a deep sleep. What to do: Ease the cramp by straightening your leg, heel first and gently flexing your toes back toward your shins, or walk around for a few minutes.• You toss and turn all night trying to find a comfortable sleeping position. What to do: Lie on your side with your knees bent and a pillow between your legs. For extra comfort and support, arrange other pillows under your belly and behind your back. Or try using a contoured maternity body pillow.• You become hot and sweaty in the middle of the night. It's common for pregnant women to feel a little warmer than usual thanks to shifts in your metabolism, hormones, and weight. What to do: Keep your bedroom cool and strip down to the bare essentials. Keep slippers and a snuggly bathrobe handy for those nighttime trips to the bathroom.• Getting out of bed is harder than ever! What to do: Roll over onto your side so you're facing the edge of the bed. Dangle your legs over the side and use your arms to push yourself into a sitting position. Plant your feet squarely on the floor and then stand up.

WE WENT SHOPPING!!!

Kara and I went shopping at Babies R Us on Saturday. Thank goodness she FINALLY picked out a bedding set. I bought the bedding set and wall border. Everything else she put on her baby registry. Really cute farm scene.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2908618

Boy how times have changed! There are like 100 different kinds of bottles, diapers, and everything! Even car seats and strollers are a complicated selection!!! The one item that just blew me away was this computerized baby swing! What happened to the old fashion "wind me up" and swing away??? And it didn't even swing, it kinda rocked back and forth!

I did find all kinds of NASCAR Jimmie Johnson stuff. Randy asked if I shopped for Clay or for me!!! The repair guy at the Sprint Store asked me and Kara what if Clay didn't like NASCAR...we both just laughed...it is in his genes!!! How could he not? I've already told Kara and Randy that one of them is going to have to give up their race ticket when Clay gets about 5 years old!!! He will be my little Track Brat (with a #48 shirt on)!!!

Donna

Where the names came from....

Everyone always wants to know where the name came from...here's a break-down.

Clayton: Named after mine and Kara's Papa - Clayton Selph
Lane: For Lane Frost - World Champion Bull Rider who died tragically in 1989.
Altman: Well, we all know where that comes from...

Here is a picture of me and my Papa. Looks just like Kara, doesn't it? He was and always will be THE LOVE OF MY LIFE! And he loved Kara just as much! One of the last things he did, the day before he died, was pull Kara up into the bed with him. I told him that he was not strong enough, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. He absolutely loved that child! Kara and I have always said that when she grew up, she would have a little boy and name him Clayton. Imagine our surprise of this one being a boy, when no-one in our family has ever had a boy first...the first child has always been girls! I was so afraid that she would have a girl and then not want to have anymore!!!

Donna

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Week #19:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, taking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom —about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even more rapidly in the weeks to come. As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? Nothing to worry about — it's from increased estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin due to a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line." These darkened spots will most likely fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

IT'S A BOY!!!!

Clayton Lane Altman

When they first started the sonogram, you could see his little legs were crossing and uncrossing at the ankles. Then he stuck his little hand up to his face and you could see all his fingers. After a little while he did a big ol' flip and said "that's enough", but by then they had already seen everything they needed to see to prove he is all boy!!!