37 weeks - did you know?

• Baby boy is considered full term!!!
• His weight has leveled off with only a few ounces of fat added this week.  He is about 7 pounds and 20 inches long…of course this all really depends on each baby J
• All of his internal organs are now developed enough to function in the outside world.  The immune system will continue to develop after birth.

36 weeks - did you know?

• Baby Boy continues to put on weight, about an ounce a day.
• He is about 19-20 inches long and weighs about 6 to 6 ¾ pounds.
• Most of his bones (soft skull aside) are now completely hardened.
• At the end of this week, he will be considered a full-term baby!!!

35 weeks - did you know?

• Baby boy is about 18.5 inches long and weighs about 5.5 to 6 pounds.
• The vast majority of his growth is completed this week.  His kidneys are completely developed, and his liver is beginning to process waste.
• He will spend the next couple weeks putting on even more weight!!!!
• Baby boy is beginning to develop its own immune system.  Before it was depending on Mommy's.

34 weeks - did you know?

• Baby Boy is between 17-18 inches and weighs about 5 pounds.
• His central nervous system is continuing to mature and the lungs are well developed.
• If he were to be born right now he would be called a pre-term infant instead of premature. The only difference is in the maturity, particularly lung maturity. A pre-term baby is less likely to need intensive care because its lungs have developed.
• He is still rotating to the head down position for delivery. 

33 weeks - did you know?

• Baby boy between 17-18 inches long and weighs about 4.5 to 5 pounds.
• His skin is beginning to look less red and less wrinkled.
• Fat stores are continuing to be deposited under his skin.
• His bones are all beginning to harden except for the skull.  The skull needs to remain soft and pliable for delivery.
• With the exception of crying, he is capable of doing everything that a newborn baby can do. 
• He sleeps a lot of the time, just as newborn babies do.
• His eyes move in the manner of REM sleep and researchers believe that babies can dream vividly in utero.
• When he is awake, he is listening, feeling, and learning.  There are billions of neurons in the brain that make trillions of connections.
• His eyes are open during alert times and closed during sleep.

Baby Shower - 31 Weeks

On the 21st Nickie was showered with gifts from friends and family.  The chatter of Baby E got everyone excited for his arrival.  It's hard to believe that he will be here in just a couple of months.

Here is Nickie's adorable belly at 31 weeks

And here is here adorable nephew Gabe

Julia (18 weeks) and Nickie

To see all pictures: Click Here

32 weeks - did you know?

• Baby Boy Nilsen is about 17 inches long and weighs about 4.5 pounds.
• His toenails and fingernails are completely formed.
• His lungs are continuing to mature but will not reach full maturity for several more weeks.
• Baby Boy's skeleton has completely formed, but his bones are very soft and pliable.
• Baby Boy has now developed sensitivity to temperature.
• He will gain one third to one half of his birth weight during the next weeks.

31 weeks - did you know?

• Baby Boy is about 16.5 inches long and weighs anywhere from 3.5 to 4 pounds. 
• He is continuing to develop a layer of fat under his skin.  This is in preparation for his arrival into the world and gives him more of a newborn appearance.  During the next several weeks he will really begin to put on the weight, about a ½ lb per week from now until about two weeks before birth.  Average size newborn is about 7.5 lbs and 19 to 21 inches long.
• This week marks an incredible milestone in his lung development.  Before now, the air sacs and branches in his lungs were present but not functionable. The lungs were not able to inflate properly. However, now there is surfactant being produced in his lungs. Surfactant prevents the his lungs from collapsing outside of the uterus and he is able to take in air and breathe properly.
• His ear is almost completely developed both inside and out. He can hear your voice and other familiar sounds that he will recognize after birth.
• Baby boy's fingernails have grown to the end of his fingers and he may scratch himself while in the womb.
• Baby boy's iris color begins to appear around the thirty-first week. Most babies are born with dark blueish-brown or bluish-gray eyes, but this shade almost always changes after birth. True eye color won't be apparent for six to nine months -- final formation of eye pigmentation happens in response to exposure to the strong light of the outside world.  In the meantime, his eyes are being readied for life after birth. Pupils begin to dilate in response to the soft, pinkish-red light that filters into the uterus. Eyes are usually open during alert times and closed during sleep.

30 weeks - did you know?

• ONLY 10 weeks, left! Let the countdown begin!
• Baby Boy is about 16 inches long and weighs about 3 pounds.
• His eyes are becoming more mature, and now he can tell the difference between light and dark.  Babies at 30 weeks can even follow a light source with their eyes.  Once he is born, he will spend a great deal of time with his eyes closed.  Newborns only have the ability to focus on objects a few inches from their face.  While “normal” adult vision is 20/20, a newborn’s vision is 20/400.
• His skin begins to smoothen as fat deposits accumulate underneath.  The fat insulated and is a energy source.  If the baby was born right now he/she would be able to keep itself warm.
• Baby boy is developing reflexes and the skin is very sensitive.
• His brain is fully formed, and the baby can feel pain. 
• Baby boy is “practicing breathing” to get ready for life outside.

29 Weeks

I absolutely LOVE the Landscape Arboretum!!! For out latest photo sesion Erik and Nickie agreed to meet me here for the 29 week photos! They looked so cute together and are so in love! Baby E is so lucky to be born into such a wonderful family.  His Mommy and Daddy love him so much already!!!

Click Here for the rest of the pictures

Amongst Friends

I had to post this, because it's so fun!!  Here is Nickie with one our other friends Julia.  Julia is about 16 weeks pregnant with her second baby.  At our girls night the other night, I couldn't resist making them pose together for a picture or two :)

29 weeks - did you know?

• Baby boy is about 15.5 inches long, weighs about 2.7 pounds and continues to grow every day.  He will continue to grow rapidly from now until week 36, and then at a slower rate thereafter.  The average baby’s birth weight at full term is 7 to 7.5 lbs. 
• He will continue to open and close his eyes in the womb and may be able to see silhouettes of objects or even people in the right amount of light. 
• Baby boy can not only hear, but can also recognize Mommy's voice.  This shows that he can already learn, remember and recognize.  What a smart baby already J
• His brain is growing so quickly now that his soft, flexible skull bones are being pushed outward.  The tiny, complex computer that is the baby’s brain is gaining power and speed.  Once relatively smooth, the brain is now looking more wrinkled.  The increasing number of nooks and crannies provide more room for interconnection between individual nerve cells.  Around this point, brain wave patterns start to resemble those of a full term baby at birth.
• The baby’s muscles and organs are growing steadily, and he is at the peak of its movement about now.  Later in the third trimester, space starts to get cramped and, in turn, fetal acrobatics decrease. 
• The baby’s bones are fully developed, but they’re still soft and pliable. 
• He is starting to store iron, calcium and phosphorus this week.

28 weeks - did you know?

• Baby boy is about 14.8 inches long and weighs in at about 2.5 pounds.  He will continue to gain weight and fill out throughout the remainder of the pregnancy.
• His brain is really beginning to develop into a more complex organ. Up until this point, his brain was relatively smooth, but beginning this week his brain will develop grooves and indentions along its surface. The amount of brain tissue also begins to increase during this week.
• Baby boy's eyes are doing a lot of blinking this week because they're now able to respond to light and dark.
• Baby boy's eyelashes and hair are growing longer.

27 weeks - did you know?

• Just about to the last and final trimester!! Some sources say this week and some say next week...either way, almost there!!!!
• Baby boy is about 14.5 inches long and weighs a little more than 2 pounds.
• Even now, at the beginning of the 3rd trimester, his little lungs are already capable of breathing air while the pulmonary vascular system can provide sufficient gas exchange and the central nervous system can generally regulate rhythmic breathing as well as his basal body temperature.
• Baby boy is on a regular sleep schedule and sleeps and wakes at regular intervals.

27 Weeks

Here are Mommy and Baby Boy at 27 weeks.

It was just a quick session but still so much fun to see how much he continues to grow.

Erik was so excited to tell me how much baby moves around and how much he enjoys feeling him move.  When I got to Nickie and Erik's they were painting baby's room. I can't wait to see the finished nursery :)

Click Here for More Photos at 27 Weeks

26 weeks - did you know?

• Baby Boy Nilsen is approximately just under 2 pounds and just under 14 inches. Baby will continue to put on a lot of weight in the 3rd trimester and fatten up.  He is pretty lean and slender right now.
• The development that is occurring in this stage may seem small and insignificant, but it is very important as the baby begins to prepare for his entry into the world.
• The nerve pathways in the ears are developing and allowing baby to respond more consistently to the sounds he hears.
• Baby boy is continuing to swallow amniotic fluid which is causing his lungs to develop.
• His eyelids have finally separated (they were fused closed previously) and he is finally having his first looks around the studio in Mommy's belly. His eyes are blue in the womb and may change color later in life.  Pupils do not have their final color until a few months after birth.
• Baby boy has recently acquired the ability to say "yes" or "no" in rudimentary sign language as he can now move his head back and forth.
• Brain tissue and neaurons are all developing at a rapid pace, increasing his brain activity and will continue to function at accelaterated levels for the first seven to eight years of childhood.
• Baby boy's blood circulation is completely functional.

24 Weeks

I am WAYYYY overdue in posting these pictures.

But, these are from a couple of weeks ago.

You can see Baby Nilsen has grown a lot since our last photo shoot. 

Mommy and Daddy can feel him kicking, rolling and moving around in there. 

 They are so excited to meet their little man!!!

Click here to see all the pictures from the 24 week session

25 weeks - did you know?

• Baby boy is starting to put on the baby fat, which will be one of the main ongoing changes in appearance in the upcoming weeks.
• Baby is approximately 1 3/4 pounds and 13.5 inches in lenght.  That is the approximate size of a 5 pound bag of flour or eggplant.
• This week baby will be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already) into a better position for delivery.
• Baby boy is now able to do more with his fingers and can now move his fingers to make a complete fist.  His movements become more dexterous, and he will be able to touch and hold his feet. He will also begin to prefer his left or right hand at this time.
• The tooth fairy is hovering over baby boy this week as his permanent "grown-up" teeth are developing in buds high inside his gums.
• Baby boy's nerves around the mouth and lip area are showing more sensitivity now, preparing baby for eating. His swallowing reflexes are developing too. 

24 weeks - did you know?

• Baby boy is continuing to gain weight and starting to fill out. He is about 1 1/2 pounds and about 13 inches long.
• His ears are done.
• His fingernails are done.
• Baby boy is about to kick up the dance party a notch because he can now hear and react to sounds from the outside world.  Studies show that babies find gently music and Mommy's voice most soothing.
• Baby boy's taste buds are still growing.
• His bones are continuing to ossify (harden).
• His brain is growing rapidly.
• Baby boy's lungs are becoming more developed and more complex.  The branches of the main lung are beginning to form as well as special cells that will produce surfactant.  Surfactant is necessary for the airs sacs to inflate easily. 

22 weeks - did you know?

• Baby Boy has pretty much taken on the form of a newborn baby, but is incredibly small.  He weighs approximately 1 lb and is probably almost a foot in length (head to toe).
• Much development will continue to occur over the next 18 weeks. The baby's skin appears wrinkly, but this is because he has not yet gained enough weight to fill the skin out. The baby chub is soon to come!
• Baby Boy's lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath his gum line.
• His eyes are completely formed, but the iris (the colored portion of the eye) still lacks pigment.
• His inner ear is developed and he has his own sense of balance. Balance also promotes physical dexterity, which has him actively feeling out his surroundings where skin, body parts and the resident umbilical cord are the big sensory experiences.
• Baby boy's senses are developing daily. His brain now has a full complement of neurons and the baby is learning about his body and surroundings through touch.  Touch is one of the first senses to mature and the baby may stroke his face or feel his arms and legs.

21 weeks - did you know?

• Baby Boy is very busy moving.
• Baby probably weighs around 12-15 ounces and is around 10 1/2 inches long from head to toe.
• Within the next 5 weeks, baby boy will have another rapid growth spurt and be more than a little lean mean growing maching.  The beginnings of what is commonly called "brown fat" is just starting to fill into help baby retain some body heat, which is crucial as he is not yet capable of regulating his own body temperature.
• His eyebrows and eyelids have finished forming this week.
• The addition of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) has been added to the baby's sleep schedule.  He sleeps approximately 12-14 hours a day.
• Taste buds are being formed on his tongue.

20 weeks - did you know?

Baby boy continues to grow...

• His bones are continuing to ossify and toughen.
• His finger and toe pads are finishing up the creation of its unique finger/toe prints.
• His teeth buds are formed and hidden beneath the gum line.
• Baby boy's lips are pink and more defined.
• His eyelashes and eyebrows are visible.
• At this point he realy looks like a miniature baby - but weighs a mere eighth of what his estimated birth weight will be.

19 weeks - did you know?

• Baby Boy is now about 7 1/2 inches long from crown to rump and weighs about 8 ounces.  Since the baby's legs are actually straight enough to be able to measure now, the baby is around 10 inches in total length.
• Hair is beginning to sprout on his scalp.
• Baby boy is going through a crucial time for sensory development: his brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch.  Because the nerves that connect the muscles to the brain have grown into place, baby's movements are consciously directed.
• Baby Boy's feet are approximately 1 inch long

19 Weeks

Today, we snuck out to a park in Bloomington and had another successful day of baby bump shooting.  The wind was blowing hard, but we still managed to get some adorable pictures of the soon-to-be Mommy, soon-to-be Daddy and the little man growing in Momma's belly.

Have I mentioned how much fun I am having doing these photos?

Click here to see the rest from today's session

18 weeks - did you know?

• At 18 weeks Baby Boy is about 6 inches long and weighs about 7 ounces.
• Baby is busy flexing his arms and legs. There is still enough room for baby to do somersaults or sit cross legged.
• Baby boy can now hear. He will get used to familiar sounds, such as Mommy's heart beat, familiar voices and other daily routine sounds.  The baby can become startled if he hears a loud sound.

17 Weeks - did you know?

At 17 weeks Baby Nilsen...

• Is getting bigger, cuter and smarter every day
• Baby Boy is about 5.5 inches long and weighs about 4 ounces (approximately the size of a large onion)
• Baby's sense of hearing is developing since his ears have fully formed and reactive listening has begun.  Meanwhile, different pasts of the brain are developing to process his other senses as well (sight, smell, taste and touch)
• Baby Boy is more flexible now with ability to move his head, mouth, lips, arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet and toes
• Baby Boy's little fingers and toes are now topped with one-of-a-kind prints

17 Weeks

Tonight, Nickie had some of us girls over for a delicious fondue experience.  It was so yummy!!!  This also allowed us to have another impromptu photo shoot. 

Baby really grew from the last time and Nickie's baby bump is adorable!!!  Enjoy :)

Click Here for More Pictures

Mother's Day Weekend - Nickie's First!

05/07/11 – It’s a BOY!!! On Saturday morning we had scheduled an ultrasound as part of our Mother's day weekend and celebration.  We went to meet Erika for pictures early in the morning and spent some time walking around a beautiful park in Eagan on a sunny morning.  Later that day we confirmed that our little miracle is in fact a boy. We are both so excited and can’t wait to meet our little handsome man. He was so cooperative at the Doctor's office during the ultrasound that we were able to see "Boy" within about 3 seconds. He also showed off his strong legs and growing bones, as you could clearly see the femur, tibia, and fibula bones! It's so much fun to see him grow each week. - Erik


05/08/11 – Happy 1st Mother’s Day for Nickie! What a great day it was to celebrate our Mom’s and the many Moms’ out there that have been apart of both of our lives. We spent the morning enjoying each other as I brought Nickie breakfast in bed. We slept in, ate some breakfast, and then slept some more ☺ Nickie has been a mom for 15 weeks and 5 days, and she has already been the most caring, loving, and amazing Mom I could imagine. I love her so much, and I Thank God for her everyday. Happy Mother’s Day Nickie and I hope you had a great day and weekend; you deserve it. -Erik

16 Weeks – did you know?

Baby Nilsen - 16 weeks

• Baby Nilsen is about 4.5 inches long and weighs around 3.5 ounces - the size of an avocado.
• In the next three weeks, Baby Nilsen will go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling his weight and adding inches to his length.
• Baby Nilsen is starting to grow toe nails.
• Baby Nilsen can grasp withi his hands, kick and maybe even somersault. 
• Baby Nilsen is also able to squint, frown and open his mouth.
• Anywhere from 16-20 weeks Nickie should be able to start feeling Baby Nilsen move.

16 Weeks

On Saturday, we got together for the 16 week photo session. Erik was able to join us for the session and watching the soon-to-be Mommy and Daddy was so sweet. They are both so excited about their new addition and they were beaming the entire time.  Nickie and Erik are going to make great parents.

Click Here to see all of our pictures from today's session

15 Weeks

We are only planning on doing the photo series every two weeks, but since I saw Nickie on Saturday for my daughter's 3rd birthday we thought we would just snap a quick few.  She's still cute as ever :)

This weekend we will have an "official" photo shoot!

14 Weeks - did you know?

14 Weeks is the beginning of the 2nd Trimester!!

• Baby Nilsen is about the size of a lemon and weighs almost 2 ounces, by the end of this trimester baby will weigh about 2 pounds!
• Baby will also grown from about 4 inches today to about a foot in length by the end of the 2nd trimester.
• Baby Nilsen can start making facial expressions, like winces, frowns, squints and grimaces.  Although, this is simply a flexing muscle and not an indication of mood.
• Baby's little hands can grasp things and may be sucking his/her thumb.
• Baby Nilsen has eyebrows, but no eyelashes. Fine, light hair is also beginning to grow.
• Baby's soft cartilage is now being replaced with "real" chalk bones.
• Baby Nilsen's little body and limber limbs are coordinated enough for loads of complicated motions. In fact, the baby's whole body is moving right now! 

More at 14 weeks

I couldn't resist sharing a few more!
I can't wait till our next session at 16 weeks!!! :)

Click Here to see all of our pictures from today's session

14 Weeks

I was so excited to get our photo project underway.  Nickie is simply glowing and she radiated in every picture.  I can't wait to watch this little one grow and to captures the milestones along the way.  Congratulations Nickie and Erik, thank you for letting me document your journey to becoming parents!!

Click Here to see all of our pictures from today's session