The Miracle: 21 Weeks

So we are now over the halfway point, and I am feeling great! As you can see from our Christmas pictures, I now definitely have a belly that indicates I am indeed pregnant, and not just something that looks like the remains of too many Christmas cookies (although I have been enjoying my fair share)!

Thanks for all your votes in our baby name poll. I think Richard is a little bummed that "Ephraim" is not getting more votes, since it's his favorite. I will be happy with any of the names so the vote doesn't matter to me, but of course it is still ultimately up to us to decide what name we will stick our baby with for the rest of his life, regardless of public opinion! Until we decide on a name I am calling him "E", since I figure he will definitely end up with one of the three.

And speaking of "E", I think that must also stand for "energetic" because he has been moving around a LOT lately! I got such a kick [some pun intended!] letting my family members feel my tummy to check out "E's" increasing movements during our trip to Arkansas over Christmas. He seems to be most active when I am least active (in other words, when I am sitting down, like in the car or watching tv), though I have been blessed that his movements don't wake me up in the middle of the night. Today during our church service I could not only feel his kicks, I could even see them from the outside! He was so active during the worship and the message...I'm not sure if it was because his daddy was preaching or not, but I like to think maybe he could recognize Richard's voice. :o)

It's so amazing to feel how strong he is growing...at 19 weeks his first movements felt like gentle taps, but he is gaining strength and size, and now just 2 weeks later sometimes it feels like the little drummer boy is going to town in my tummy! I'm sure at some point his movements might become uncomfortable, but right now I am just enjoying each little squirm. It is so much more amazing than I could have imagined!!!

Here's a little information on how "E" is developing at this stage:

How your baby's growing:Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night.

What About A Name?

Now that we know we're having a little boy we need to decide on a name. I'm simply going to list out our top three choices. We'd love to hear your feedback even though it may not change our minds. Here they are in order:

1. Ephraim Todd Schneberger

2. Eli Wesley Schneberger

3. Ezra Todd Schneberger

If you have another suggestion, feel free to post it, but I think we're pretty set on one of these three.

It's A Boy!

I was right!...but I'll try not to gloat too much. Actually, we're both just extremely happy that the baby is healthy. He weighs right at 11 oz, which is just a bit over the normal 10 oz weight for this time in the pregnancy. Everything is progressing along as it should. This is obviously the best Christmas gift we could ever hope for. Here are some of the sonogram pics:

This is a great profile shot.

He flashed us the peace sign and smiled!

He also flashed us his boy parts!

We're at the halfway point in the pregnancy. Here's a little more info on his development:

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, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to his bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against his torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)

A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats his entire body to protect his skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)

Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).

The Miracle: 19 Weeks

We're past the 19 week mark - almost half way now. We'll find out if the baby is a boy or girl next week. The baby has been moving a lot this week...I got to feel him for the first time last night! Here is a little more info. on the baby's development:

How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born

Could someone tell me why they keep comparing the baby's size to some type of fruit or vegetable? It just seems kind of weird to me.

Pregnant Lady Tippin'

I found this really interesting article in "Live Science" today.

Like cushy baby strollers, women's bodies have evolved spines that are more flexible and supportive than men's to keep from tipping over while walking during pregnancy.

Pregnancy brings loads of hormonal changes as seeming biological wizardry transforms a woman's body into a baby incubator. As the fetus grows, so does a woman's belly. No surprise, the front cargo pulls her center of gravity off kilter.

If the body architecture failed to take counter measures, pregnant women would be tipping over left and right or walking around with even worse pain than they do. New research detailed in the Dec. 13 issue of the journal Nature shows lower-back vertebrae and joints in women have special features that accommodate the extra weight.

Read The Article

Isn't the human body amazing. For a brief moment, I had this funny image in my mind of pregnant women periodically tipping over. It made me smile - sorry Sara.

I found a new online toy. Actually, I've known about Flickr for some time, but I finally decided to set up an account. It is one of the best, free online resources for photo sharing around. You'll find a link to our online photo albums over to the right.

The direct web address is:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlschneberger/

The slide show on this blog will flip through the most recently uploaded pics. Keep checking back for new pictures, especially as the big day arrives.

The Miracle: 18 Weeks

Thursday marked 18 weeks for the pregnancy. Here is a little info about what is going on with the baby's development.

How your baby's growing:
Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

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.

Kelsey & Ethan

The joys of being an uncle! I don't get to see them that often, but my first niece and nephew were both born in 2007. Now my parents third grandchild is on the way and should arrive in May '08. We'll find out if it is a boy or a girl the week before Christmas. I obviously know it is a boy, but for some reason Sara really wants a girl - go figure. Since I'm always right, it's a boy! I'll let you know if my flawless record stands when we find out around December 21st.

Here is a recent picture of Kelsey.

My sister and her husband brought Kelsey into our family earlier this year.

Ethan came along a few months later as my brother and his wife had their first child together. Mom has had her hands full, since she watches both of the babies most days - but you wouldn't ever hear her complain.

God has opened our household to receive these blessings. May our lives of faith guide them into true knowledge and love of the Lord God.

"When your children ask you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the decrees and the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord our God has commanded you?' then you shall say to your children, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. The Lord displayed before our eyes great and awesome signs and wonders against Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his household. He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land that he promised on oath to our ancestors. Then the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our lasting good, so as to keep us alive, as is now the case. If we diligently observe this entire commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, we will be in the right.'" (Deuteronomy 6:20-25 NRSV)

New Family Blog

With our first child on the way in May, I've decided that it was time to start a new blog - like I needed something else to do...right. Actually, this blog will be dedicated to Family News. Thus the title "Oikos Angello" - the Greek words for family or household and news or report. (On a side note, angels are simply messengers or reporters - not that I think many reporters are angels these days. And economy is household management.)

Check back for updates, pics, and simple thoughts on our sacramental life together in this particular household.

My wife is a recent University of Kansas graduate. She finished up her Master of Social Work degree last May. There is no way that I could have believed then that they would be vying for the No. 1 spot in NCAA division I football this weekend.

I thought, "Well, even though I'm an OU fan at heart, since I'm a good old Oklahoma boy, I could at least root for KU in this game." Unfortunately, they didn't show up to play and MU ran all over them. The final score was pretty close, but it was MU's game all the way. I guess it is better that they lost this game because there is no way that I could have cheered for them next week anyway.

They may not win a national trophy this year, but this Jayhawk is holding something much more valuable to me. My wife thought it would be fun to share our good news this way. Though I can assure you that I may allow this child to be a KU basketball fan...but when football season rolls around it is crimson and cream all the way.

My wife's 16th week of pregnancy was Thanksgiving Day. We are excited and nervous and totally unprepared. But we both knew what we were most thankful for on Thursday. What a wonderful gift.

I'm not one of those who thinks they've got it all figured out. So if any of you seasoned veterans want to give some sound parenting advice, I would love to hear it. Until next time - Blessings in Christ ~ RLS