40 Weeks In Mommy

More Pictures

2008-11-01T17:02:00Z

We're posting pictures on our Flickr gallery at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markcoffman

Justin is doing great. Lisa's parents (Grammy and Pop-Pop) have been a tremendous help over the past few days. They volunteered to stay in our guest room and take Justin during the fussy times at night. What a lifesaver! We've offered them a permanent stay.

Last night Grammy and Pop-Pop went "on-call" and we tried watching him on our own. They are only a few minutes down the road and Grammy said to call even at 2am if she was needed. We're still learning what he likes but we had a pretty good night.

Some of our friends have coordinated meals for us. We are so thankful for such good friends. I am reminded all the time what a blessing it is to have friends and family to help out and I feel for those who have to do this on their own.

Isn't he a little angel?

Week 40 - Baby Justin Arrives on His Due Date!

2008-10-28T13:26:00Z

Baby Justin arrived on October 27th at 5:18pm, weighing 7lbs, 13 3/4 oz, and measured 20 inches long! Here is a photo of the little man:

He is doing great and is eating well. He had a good night last night and slept well between feedings.

We are so happy and thankful that he is finally here. More pictures to come.

Pregnancy Pool – Guess the Birthday

2008-10-21T18:19:01Z

My friend Rob suggested that we should all guess the baby’s arrival and see who is the closest.

I’ve heard that each child costs approximately $250,000 from birth to 18 years of age, so the prize for this guess will simply be the satisfaction that you were closest.

Post in the comments below. Lisa’s due date is October 27, 2008. The doctor won’t let her go past 7 days after her due date without scheduling an induction.

Ultrasound at 39 Weeks

2008-10-20T16:36:49Z

Here is what we hope to be the ultrasound prior to BIRTH! Mommy is getting a little uncomfortable and has had increasing pressure. It is probably a sign that the Big Day is almost here. Justin’s heart rate was 142bpm today. He’s measuring approximately 7lbs, 4oz today. We both think that sounds like a good size.

Last night was interesting. She started having Braxton Hicks contractions around 7pm, and they were somewhat rhythmic… approximately 8 minutes apart. Nothing we could get a stopwatch out and predict, but this had not happened yet. It was comforting to know that some progression was taking place.

I feel so sad for Lisa, because she just wants to see her son’s face and hold him. The fact that due dates are not exact predictors of birth doesn’t help. You hear so many stories about deliveries being a week or two early, combined with the knowledge that the baby is fully developed by 37 weeks, and it is really difficult to wait. It’s like knowing Christmas is “soon” but not knowing “when.”

And though my anticipation cannot compare to a mother’s anticipation for her child’s arrival, I think about it throughout the day, dream about it at night, and find it hard to have any patience at all.

We did get some encouraging words from one of the doctors Lisa works with. Very nice guy. Right or wrong, he’s saying Tuesday or Wednesday to get ready for this baby. We hope that he’s right. If not, we have a Thursday doctor appointment with her OB.

Here’s hoping the next picture is one with a digital camera and not an ultrasound probe.

Ultrasound at 38 Weeks

2008-10-13T17:03:01Z

Lisa and Justin are getting close to meeting face-to-face. She had a doctor visit on Thursday and he said that she could have Justin at any time now. We're both very happy. My dreams for each of the last 3 nights have been about Justin and about me having my son here, finally.

Here's his ultrasound for this week. We keep hoping the next photo of Justin will be with a camera instead of an ultrasound probe.

Here’s a picture of his ultrasound this week:

4d Ultrasound at 37 Weeks

2008-10-06T16:54:25Z

Here's this week's ultrasound. Justin has never really cooperated when Mommy tried to get a 4D scan done. He is usually up against the uterus which makes it difficult to get a clear picture. And for the last few weeks he's covered his face with his hand.

He is now 6lbs 7oz. Not bad -- Lisa is happy that the growth spurt that he had recently isn't a weekly occurance.

Preggie Pics

2008-10-04T16:14:00Z

We took some more pregnancy pictures this week:

How Accurate are Due Dates?

2008-10-01T14:49:00Z

We're both anticipating our baby boy's birth. I did some research to find out how accurate the due date of a baby is, statistically speaking. What I found is pretty interesting.

This information comes from a paper found at: http://www.transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/birthed/duedatespaper.htm

Looking at the graph, it appears that the breakdown is something close to:

Before 37 weeks: 2%
37 weeks: 3%
38-39 weeks: 10%
39-40 weeks: 20%
40-41 weeks: 35%
41-42 weeks: 20%
Over 42 weeks: 10%

Once Justin's lungs are ready (nearly guaranteed at 37 weeks) we hope he decides he's had enough of the "womb with no view" and comes out!

36 Week Ultrasound

2008-09-30T12:46:00Z

Lisa is 36 weeks along, and she is doing great. We just got back from our anniversary vacation this weekend (today is the actual anniversary). To celebrate, we went to St. Augustine, Florida and enjoyed excellent weather. We walked through the old city and Lisa did very well. Her fingers and toes got just a little swollen. Everyone in the shops commented on how great she looked and asked when the big day was.

Justin has been increasingly active. He has found a little bit of a schedule too.

Early morning - hiccups
Lunch - hiccups
Mid Afternoon - hiccups
Evening - hiccups

Poor little guy. I looked around online and found that not only is this common, but a good sign of a healthy baby. He is really healthy.

Justin has tickle spots too. If Lisa moves her finger back and forth across his foot or leg, he goes crazy. I've wondered if he smiles inside or laughs.

We're less than a month away from his birth, now. I really cannot wait to see him in person.

Here is his ultrasound for this week:

He is now 6lbs, 3oz. Last week must have been a growth spurt. Mommy is not complaining!

35 Week Ultrasound

2008-09-22T16:27:00Z

Justin had his 35 week ultrasound today. He is growing... he is officially 6lbs now, which is an 11oz jump from last week. Incredible.

Justin is doing what he was doing last week - eating. He is licking the placenta wall and swallowing. It looks like we won't have any problems getting him to finish his supper.

He is getting stronger each day -- I'll place my hand on Lisa's belly and feel little kicks here and there and then at some point --- POW! He'll kick so hard that I'll pull my hand away quickly. I think he's saying, "enough already, Daddy!"

5 more weeks!

Ultrasound at 34 Weeks

2008-09-15T18:00:00Z

[sorry for the delay this week. I forgot to hit 'publish']

Wow! Justin has been alive for 34 weeks!

That is 2 1/2 times longer than a cricket,
12 times longer than a male mosquito,
80 times longer than a Gastrotrich.

17 times longer than our taste buds and 1 1/2 times longer than our eyelashes.

Weird statistics, I know...but you think of a lot of things while waiting for your son to arrive.

Mommy was busy this weekend preparing for Justin. She organized his nursery a little bit more, and picked out his clothes for the hospital. We had several "onesies" set aside but our birthing class reminded us that he'll need a T-shirt while part of his umbilical cord remains attached.

Most of our conversation revolves around Justin. We are so excited in anticipation for you, little man.

Justin was pretty calm for his ultrasound this week. His hand was resting across his face. Growing from microscopic size to 5lbs, 4oz (!!!) this week takes a lot of energy and effort. But you wouldn't know it from the rib-kicks and barrel-rolls he is doing.

About 40 days now... we can't wait to see you. We love you, baby boy.

Ultrasound of Baby at 33 Weeks

2008-09-10T12:09:00Z

Justin is 33 weeks along, and he is getting ready to meet the world. It seems like with each passing day, he is more and more aware that there is more to life than his current home. He is getting so big that sometimes a foot or leg will be pushed out and when we tickle his foot he reacts. Justin also seems to know when I have my hand on Lisa's belly vs someone else.

He is 4lbs, 11oz this week. Here is a picture of his face:

We'll see you soon! Less than 50 days now!

Baby Belly Animation at 33 Weeks

2008-09-09T00:01:00Z

Here's an animation of Lisa's belly from 6 weeks to 33 weeks.

Ultrasound of Baby at 32 Weeks

2008-09-02T17:30:00Z

Here is Baby Justin at 32 weeks. He was doing really well. His mouth was right up against the placenta and he was licking and swallowing. He held his hand over his forehead and made a fist, one finger at a time. All that movement made it difficult to see a 4D picture, so we don't have one this week.

Justin's heartrate was a brisk 156bpm. He weighs in at 4lbs, 5oz! He is getting really big. With 8 weeks left to go... at 8oz a week... he might be a pretty big baby. Mommy is really hoping that he gets here as soon as his lungs are fully developed.

We're taking birthing classes now. So far, they're pretty informative. But we're reading a lot too, so a lot of it is review. Next week we will take a tour of the hospital. We're getting so close.

We're also looking at the possibility of banking the cord blood. I'm going to do a lot of research, but it really seems like a good idea and well worth the investment.

31 Weeks: Justin Has 9 Weeks to Go!

2008-08-26T11:47:00Z

Can you believe we're in single digits now .... 9 weeks to go! Justin is moving around more and more each week, preparing for a very fun and active life outside of the womb.

Here is Justin's profile. Blowing bubbles again Lisa caught him licking at the placenta at one point during the scan.

And, HERE is the source of the (sometimes) painful kicks:

31 weeks is long enough to learn Kung-Fu. That's a view of his foot. You don't want to see that view in person because it will be followed by pain. Pwya!!!

Baby Justin Yawns - 30 weeks down, 10 to go

2008-08-18T16:47:00Z

This week, our son shows us what he thinks about "being trapped in a womb with no view" (right, Pop-Pop?). He gives us a yawn for our video.

Ultrasound of Baby at 30 Weeks

2008-08-18T16:32:00Z

At 30 weeks, Justin's development is right on schedule. He was moving around a lot this week, rubbing his face with his hand, hiding from the ultrasound probe, and just being a typical cute baby.

Lisa didn't have a good night last night. She had lots of cramping and vomited during the night. We're not taking any chances and we've called her doctor and she will go see him at 4:30pm today. I think everything is going to be fine, but I hate to see my wife suffer in any way. She has done so well during this pregnancy and has kept Justin's best interests above her own -- not even taking tylenol when she's had headaches. She is going to be a great mom.

When I went to visit her for the ultrasound, she was feeling a little better, but still had some cramping. Justin appeared to be fine. His heartrate was 148bpm, his weight was 3lbs, 4oz, and he was measuring 30 weeks and 1 day. Lisa tried to get a good 4D picture, but Justin had his hand over his face most of the time. He was opening and closing his mouth, and he had the hiccups for a bit.

Here is his cute profile ultrasound for the week:

I'll make another post with this week's video.

Our Baby Boy's Ultrasound at 29 Weeks

2008-08-11T16:37:00Z

This week we found out that Justin loves the beach. He's never seen it, but when Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, and Pop-Pop went there to relax over the weekend, Justin used his vacation to get in some last-trimester exercise. He showed off at dinner, kicking at forks, spoons, and cell phones placed on Mommy's belly. I think he could hear us laugh when he did it, so he kept it up.

Mommy took Justin swimming and it made her sleepy, but not him! Justin continued to punch and kick and roll and turn inside her belly.

Anytime I placed even the slightest weight from my hand on Lisa's belly, Justin would push against it and sometimes with a lot of force! It was very fun and entertaining.

Justin would like to thank Eddy Workinger and family for his first trip to the beach.

Here he is in this week's ultrasound:

Our son is growing quickly. He is now 3.0lbs! We're so happy to see this weight gain. Only 11 more weeks to go! Keep it up!

Here he is, ready to KICK anyone who tries to rest on his home.

We're counting down the days!

The Baby in the Belly is Bored!

2008-08-08T16:43:00Z

For Mother's Day, I bought Lisa a book - Ma! There's Nothing to Do Here! It's the story of how boring it can be when you're waiting to be born. I think Justin can't be having a whole lot of fun in there, despite the daily martial arts practice. I'm getting ready to start a really nice weekend and I wish I could share it with my son. Soon, little buddy! We're going to get to spend a lot of time together and your Daddy can't wait!

I know that right now there are "No puppies. No toys. No girls...zero boys. Not a sandbox or swings...Or those monkey bar things. Not a park or a zoo." ... and nothing to do...

But there are all of those things out here! We can't wait to show them to you!

Justin Kicks Mommy's Belly

2008-08-07T01:55:00Z

Tonight, Justin was really active. He is getting some strength and is showing Mommy and Daddy his skills. We might have a future soccer star!

Week 28 Ultrasound Pictures

2008-08-05T11:55:00Z

This week we're going to post several pictures. Mommy is really great at doing ultrasound and caught Baby Justin in several poses.

In this picture, Justin is showing off a little. "Daddy, can you touch your toes to your head?"

I can't even touch my toes to my HANDS, so he's got me beat there! I guess you have to be flexible to fit in that small space.

Next, we have a great view of his nose and lips. The angle is from below the chin looking up into his nostrils.

His nose is on the right and his chin on the left. Below is a front-view of his face. I can't wait for the day I can see this view in person. I can imagine him looking up at me while I hold him.

Finally, we have his profile shot that we get to see most weeks. It never gets old for me. I love seeing this when I visit Mommy at work and I like to watch his heartbeat.

12 more weeks to go, little buddy! (Mommy is "shooting for 10")

Ultrasound of Baby Justin at 27 Weeks

2008-07-29T11:42:00Z

This week, Daddy went to see little Justin. He's been targeting the same spot inside mommy's belly with his foot, and I wanted to see what that looked like with ultrasound. He was a perfect angel, though. He moved around a bit, put his hand on his forehead, and showed us how he was able to fit in there. One leg was stretched completely straight over his head and the other one was crossed over it.

Justin gave us good views of his lips and nostrils and he proved to us once again that he is a boy.

Mommy and Daddy are so excited about this little guy.

Oh! And we had Justin's future best friend Jack over this week. He was so cute and did so well visiting another home (his first time?). That visit is going to be the first of many as I am sure Justin and Jack will be going over to each others houses a lot.

Here's Justin's ultrasound photo this week:

Pictures of Mommy (and Daddy)

2008-07-28T00:27:00Z

Here are some pictures showing mommy's belly at 26 weeks.

We took these photos at Pop-Pop and Grammy's house. Justin is going to have so much fun running around over there! Lisa's belly is growing daily and she gets comments all the time about how great she looks.

Baby at 26 Weeks

2008-07-23T11:59:00Z

This is Justin's 26th week -- 14 to go! He's doing well. His movements in Lisa's belly are getting more and more distinct... not just the bumps and kicks, but some rolls and stretches, too. With the 2008 Olympic Games just weeks away, he's probably just getting ready for HIS EVENT.

Justin Makes the Cover!

2008-07-23T01:02:00Z

Justin's Room

2008-07-19T17:01:00Z

Mommy and Daddy still have some work to do on Justin's nursery, but here are the pics so far:

Daddy needs to flip the fan blades over to show the darker side, and Mommy and Grammy are planning on stenciling the walls and adding other decorative touches.

We're looking forward to our son's arrival!

Ultrasound at 25 Weeks

2008-07-15T15:34:00Z

Here is Justin's ultrasound at 25 weeks. He is getting really big and is weighing in at 1lb, 10oz!

Justin likes to kick a lot when Lisa rests her arm or hand on her belly. I was holding my hand on her belly and I could feel him moving around in there and the occasional kick. It was a really neat experience. Seeing these ultrasounds makes me want to hold him right now. I know he needs to be in there until very near to his due date (October 27), but I still want to hold him and see him.

For now, I am just glad I get to see weekly changes and updates.

We'll have another official doctor visit this Thursday.

Ultrasound at 24 Weeks

2008-07-09T17:02:00Z

Here is an ultrasound picture at 24 weeks. He is kicking mommy's belly like crazy! Lisa said that he'll kick the same spot over and over. I think he's tired of being trapped in there. Only 16 weeks to go, buddy!

He weighs 1lb, 6oz and his heartrate is around 155bpm. October 27th is the due date. We can't wait.

Mommy has been preparing his nursery. It looks great. I'll post some pictures soon.

Week 24: What's Developing

2008-07-09T16:34:54Z

Justin is getting really big! He fully fills the uterus now, but can still move around and grow as he needs. The next three months he will experience his greatest weight gain.

Justin's lips and mouth gain feeling, and his nervous system is connecting fully. Because his inner ear is developed, he might even realize when he is upside down!

Ultrasound Photo of Baby at 23 Weeks

2008-06-30T17:08:00Z

Here is the 23 week ultrasound, PLUS an ultrasound in 4d at 22.5 weeks:

And the 4d ultrasound just a few days ago:

Justin now weighs 1lb, 4oz. His heartrate was a peppy 155bpm.

Week 23: What's Developing

2008-06-30T16:29:00Z

This week, Justin's nostrils will open. On his teeth, enamel is forming. He is growing each day, and most babies around this time reach 11 inches long. Justin exercises his muscles and kicks mommy several times a day. He likes to work out!

Week 22: What's Developing

2008-06-26T00:15:00Z

The three smallest bones in the human body, the bones of the middle ear, are beginning to harden in Justin's ears. That means that he can now hear us tell him that we love him and we can't wait to meet him. If we were to make a loud noise, we could trigger a "startled" reflex.

Over the next four weeks, he will almost double his weight.

Justin has been kicking and elbowing Mommy and he is moving around a lot. He seems to be much more active at night. He also seems to love when Lisa has something sweet to drink like milkshakes or the occasional Dr. Pepper.

Ultrasound of Baby at 22 Weeks

2008-06-23T17:09:00Z

Here is little Baby Justin at 22 weeks. He measures exactly 22 weeks and is 1lb, 1oz. This is a significant weight because Justin's best friend Jack was born weighing 1lb 1oz and is doing well and about to come home after over 3 months in the NICU.

You can very clearly see Justin's heart in this image. It was beating away at around 150-160bpm.

Justin was moving around and stretching out his legs during the scan. It was very cool to watch. No wonder Mommy can feel him move. He's getting so big and strong!

Week 21: What's Developing

2008-06-19T00:04:00Z

Baby Justin's body is very lean right now -- only 3.5 percent of his body weight is fat. This will change over the next few weeks as his body begins to store and use fat.

Justin's eyelids are still fused but he is now making blinking movements. His spine is now hardened bone, and so are his ribs, humerus bones, and femur bones.

His hands are strong now and can grip with force.

Baby at 21 Weeks (in 4D!)

2008-06-17T12:02:00Z

This week Baby Justin got his first 4D ultrasound picture! Typically, this kind of ultrasound is not done this early, but Mommy and Daddy really wanted to see him in 4D. We can't wait to see him in PERSON!

Here he is!

Lisa also took another profile picture for this week. Cute little guy. Justin is very active lately and Daddy got to feel him kick about 10-15 times one night.

Justin, we love you and we can't wait to hold you. Have fun in there!

Week 20: What's Developing

2008-06-13T01:24:00Z

This week, little Justin's brain begins to grow rapidly, and will continue to grow at this rate until he is five years old.

His lungs are beginning to secrete a substance called surfactant, which will permit them to inflate.

Justin's hair is showing, but right now it has no pigmentation and appears white.

20 Week Ultrasound Photo

2008-06-10T11:51:00Z

Here is a photo of the 20 week ultrasound of Baby Justin. This week he was facing us. He was sleeping and didn't move a lot for the scan, so mommy couldn't get a good picture of his profile. She did get a good look at his feet again. He seems to be awake more in the late afternoon / early evening because Lisa feels him move around a lot during those hours.

20 Weeks! Mommy and Justin are halfway there!

Daddy is very excited about his little boy's arrival. Lisa and I have been working on his nursery and I'll probably post some pictures of it soon.

Here is Baby Justin at 20 weeks:

Week 19: What's Developing

2008-06-08T18:51:00Z

Justin's legs are now in proper proportion to his body. He is swimming around and practicing acrobatics in the amniotic fluid. Mommy can feel him exercise!

His heart is growing stronger and can now be detected with a stethoscope.

Justin looks much like a tiny newborn. He can even do some things like put his thumb in his mouth and practice sucking it.

Mommy's Baby Belly

2008-06-04T00:53:00Z

The baby's growing in Mommy's belly!

Baby at 19 Weeks

2008-06-03T12:08:00Z

Here is baby Justin at 19 weeks! He doesn't look that comfortable but that might explain why mommy is feeling him move around a lot lately.

And here he is looking right at us:

Here are his feet:

18 Weeks - What's Developing

2008-06-01T18:30:00Z

This week, brown fat begins to form near the base of Justin's neck, near his breastbone, and near the urethra. Brown fat keeps the baby's body warm in cold environments, and is present in newborns but only very tiny amounts remain into adulthood. Justin's eyebrows will begin to form this week and should be visible by 20 weeks. His "permanent" hair (not down/lanugo) is going to form on his head this week. Following birth, this hair will get gradually coarser and thicker as it falls out and is replaced.

His sleep/wake schedule is very similar now to what a newborn's is.

Ultrasound at 18 Weeks

2008-05-28T12:20:00Z

Here is a photo of Baby Justin at 18 weeks. He is now approximately 8oz!

Week 17: What's Developing

2008-05-25T14:05:00Z

Baby Justin is now approximately 13cm long!

In his bowel, a substance called meconium is accumulating. It is black and gooey and it is composed of products of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This will become Justin's first POOP.

This week, Justin's prostate will begin to develop.

His skeleton is hardening from rubbery cartilage into bone.

Justin's sense of hearing is developing.

Video of Baby at 17 Weeks

2008-05-19T17:14:00Z

Here's a video of Justin at 17 weeks. In the first part of the video you can clearly see his heart beating. This week it was 155bpm. The last part shows his spine.

Photos of Baby at 17 Weeks

2008-05-19T16:33:00Z

Baby Justin is 17 weeks, 0 days today. Mommy took lots of pictures.

Here's a good profile shot of Justin. During the ultrasound, he opened his mouth a few times.

Justin loves to show off his hand. He's getting pretty big now and it was difficult to get his profile and hand in the same shot.

Here's a picture of Justin looking at us. "Hi everybody!"

Week 16: What's Developing

2008-05-16T21:43:00Z

Wow, this week has brought a lot of changes. Baby Justin has increased his weight six times over the course of the last 30 days. He is now around 6 oz.

The umbilical cord has plenty of blood flowing through it. So much, that it creates pressure like a filled water hose. This pressure was designed to resist knotting and as Justin moves, it tends to straighten out where it can.

Justin does have his own circulation of blood, and it is being pumped through his body by his heart. His tiny heart can pump the equivalent of 25 quarts of blood each day.

Waste removal, respiration, hormone production, digestion and protection are all still the job of the placenta at this stage.

Justin's body is gaining reflex abilities... blinking, sucking, and swallowing, to name a few.

Baby Justin's kidneys have been "traveling" toward their final position for the last 10 weeks, and this week, they should rest in his abdomen.

Justin's body is growing so much that this month, he should reach almost half of the length he will be at birth!

Thumbs Up! I'm 16 Weeks Old!

2008-05-12T17:39:00Z

Here's Justin giving us a "thumbs up" to let us know that he's doing ok in there and growing.

... and here he is "begging" to get out!

Justin is doing well and he now measures 10.8cm -- he is almost too big to measure accurately now!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T14:26:00Z

Happy Mother's Day, mommy!

Love,
Justin

Week 15: What's Developing

2008-05-09T16:45:57Z

Boy parts can be clearly identified this week, as we found out!

Justin's legs are growing and are now longer than his arms. He can move all of his joints and limbs.

His eyelids are still fused shut, but if we were to shine a flashlight through mommy's belly, he'd be able to detect the light and would try to move away from it.

His facial muscles allow him to frown and grimace, and he can begin to suck his thumb.

Justin's skin is very thin right now and blood vessels are visible through it. But his skin is covered by a soft layer of hair called lanugo (Latin for "down"), which helps to insulate his body. He's also getting eyebrows and even a little hair on his head.

Mommy said that Justin loves to move around and is very active (she scanned 2x this week). She can't feel him move just yet, but it is likely that she'll feel his activity very soon.

Week 15 .... It's a Boy!

2008-05-07T12:33:00Z

IT'S A BOY!

A quick scan yesterday revealed what Lisa thought she saw at Week 12! We can now refer to Baby Coffman as a boy, and we've decided on the name Justin Tyler.

We can't wait to meet little Justin! Daddy is already dreaming about the fun ahead and Mommy is thrilled!

Here's the proof!

And... here is the Week 12 shot that we were holding onto in the slightest chance "Justin" was really "Amanda." (Hey, it has happened before!)