Leah's Journal

2010-05-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

stopfxnd vvlkjhgfdsa (as typed by Leah)

I'm almost in school in the Fall and my name is Leah Castleberry.

2010-05-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

Leah cmnbvcfgh (<--- typed by Leah)Leah is almost 5 and is enjoying her last few days at home with mama and daddy before she begins Kindergarten in the Fall. She is SO excited! Right now, she's outside playing with the little neighbor boy. She and Sarah have issues at times learning to share their friends and today is no exception. Sarah insists it's her playdate with him and Leah insists otherwise. Ah, the many joys of parenting.

2008-08-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

Leah Bobeah update!!!! Our big girl is 3 years old now!!! Her red, curly hair is getting quite a bit longer now. Her curls are actually "spiral" curls. They're so cool and fun to play with!! She still comfort nurses at night before bed and first thing in the morning but we're just enjoying it while we can as that precious relationship will be ending all too soon. I will miss it terribly as I always do with each of my children but Lord-willing we will have another little one on the way soon. Please keep that decision in your prayers.
She will start pre-school (homeschool) tomorrow morning after the four older children head off to school. She is super excited about it. I have a lot of left-over curriculum from when I homeschooled the boys. I miss homeschooling a lot. I'll let you know how Miss Leah is doing with pre-school though. :-)

2006-10-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

Leah Bobeah is 15 months old! She quite the little bowlegged runner! She didn't have much of a choice though as she has to be able to run away from her siblings! ;) She also still has quite the crop of red hair! She's such a little precious and mama and daddy (and big brothers and sisters too!) and sure enjoying her more and more each day!!

2005-10-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

Good gracious! Mama's sort of lacking in the 'update' department over here! As you've probably guessed, I'm born now! Actually I'm 2 1/2 months old! I've just started cooing and 'talking' to mama. Mama has also discovered that my tummy and especially my neck are VERY ticklish!! I love to giggle and laugh for my mama and daddy!

Last week I rode on an airplane for the first time. Actually I don't really remember too much about the way there or the way back as I was sleeping the entire time! Mama fed me lots and lots and that's what does it for me every time! Sleepy time!!

39 Weeks...and counting...sigh

2005-07-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

Update on Leah at 39 weeks:
Your baby's ready to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. Your baby's organs are fully developed and in place, and the outer layers of skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

38 week update!!

2005-07-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

(from Babycenter)
How your baby's growing: Your baby has really fattened up. She likely weighs between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds now (boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls), and she's probably between 19 and 20 inches long. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test with your pinky! Her organs are fully developed and in place, but her lungs and brain, though developed enough for her to function now, will continue to mature right through childhood.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If your baby is born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

I'm still battling the occasional headaches and nightly leg cramps but thankfully the *RLS is going away for the most part! That was the most frustrating thing!!! I can fall asleep with a headache and hubby can massage the leg cramps but there's nothing you can do for RLS. At least not for me. I tried taking a bath right before bed, drinking milk, taking a Tums for extra calcium and nothing worked. Oh well, glad it's pretty much gone!

The Braxton Hicks contractions are coming on a lot longer, stronger and more frequently. Some of them are downright uncomfortable too. Occasionally I'll even feel one with a lot of pressure or back pain too so I know my body's gearing up for labor. I'm really excited about it but still a bit nervous too after the complications (and extreme PAIN w/no pain meds!) of last two births. My sweet hubby is so reassuring though. I'm so glad he's going to be there!! Jacob's just thrilled about being there too!! I'm really excited for him. He's still positive he's going to cut the cord so we'll see!! He actually wants to be the one to deliver Leah but James said we'll cross that bridge when we come to it! James delivered Jacob, Jamie and Hannah and I delivered Sarah! I'll never forget the way it felt to pull her out of me! What a gift!!! Anyway, Leah's story is yet to be written but when it is you'll all hear about it!

My bags are packed for the hospital, her carseat's in the van, we have a giant supply of newborn/size 1 diapers and we're READY for her arrival!!!

*RLS = Restless Leg Syndrome

33 Weeks Today!!!

2005-05-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

If you look at mama's blog up on the left, you'll see how big I'm getting! My big sister Hannah gave me a kiss right when daddy took the picture. I love my big sister. I wiggle around when I hear her voice. :-)

Here's what's going on with me right now...
Your baby has now hit the 4-lb mark and is over 15 inches
from head to toe. You are probably both very aware that it is getting more and more cramped in there. If your baby is going to be born with a full head of hair, it's already there!

I'm getting a bit squished but am finding out that my favorite postition to be in is head-down with my fists and feet up by my face! Mama had an ultrasound done a few days ago and she could hardly see my face past my feet and hands! She saw my cute little nose though and thought that was really sweet! My little bladder was VERY full the entire time and mama was wondering when I was going to empty it! A girl needs her privacy you know! ;-)

I measured right where I should though which made mama happy which made me happy too. I like it when my mama's happy!

I need to go take a little nap for awhile!! All this stretching and hiccupping is making me sleepy! Bye!!

31 Weeks Today!!!

2005-05-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

Here's an update on Leah!!
Your baby now weighs around 3 lbs. 6 oz. and is about 14.9 inches from head to toe, opening and closing their eyes and starting to get used to the world of light and dark. Facial muscles continue to strengthen and even in the womb your baby is making different expressions.

2005-04-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

I'm taking great delight in finding new positions to be in! I especially like being sideways! Mama prefers that one too because my feet aren't smashed up in her ribs! Yay! I've also been getting the hiccups a lot more lately. Those are so weird!! I must be really gassy or something! Just like my big brothers! *added by mama of course...sorry!* Mama puts the kitty on top of me in the evenings. She calls me her "shelf" and likes to set things on me. That way she doesn't have to get up as often for her drinks or the remote control, etc. I like to help out in any way I can!!

I get to meet my family in 12 more weeks! Oh, and grandma will be here in a few days for a visit! I can't wait!

23 Weeks Today!!!

2005-03-20T14:24:00.000-08:00

Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero, such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner, probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.

We called Auntie Julie last night (James' sister) and set up the doppler so she could hear your heartbeat. She loved it!! We're all so excited to meet you, little one!!

2005-03-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

22 Weeks Pregnant Today!!

More than halfway through, little one! You'll be here before we both know it! I wonder if you're a boy or a girl? Daddy thinks you're a girl and I think you're a boy. God knows and we will too the day you come into this world! How exciting!!!

Today you've been soooo busy! During the singing at church you were all kicks and flops! Then during our lunch of hamburgers (made by daddy!) you were kicking and flipping all over again! Big sister Hannah wanted to feel your little kicks so she put her hand on mama's tummy and *bump!* there you were!! She giggled each time!

Mabe daddy will take a picture of mama's tummy today!

2005-03-08T22:21:00.000-08:00

Whoever first thought "crown-to-rump" length was important in measuring a baby in utero was silly. I mean honestly, does anyone really care what the crown-to-rump length is?? I would like to know what the head-to-toe length is on the other hand! THAT'S what's important news to me! Anyway, at 21 weeks, baby's HEAD-TO-TOE length is about 10 1/2 inches. Yay! About half grown I'd say!! Daddy, Hannah and Jamie even felt baby kick these past few days! Baby doesn't like it too much when big sister Sarah is "hogging" mama's lap though and likes to kick her rump! Ah, sibling rivalry already!!

2005-02-27T08:58:00.000-08:00

20 Weeks Pregnant Today!

Your baby is now about 10/10 -- 10 ounces of weight and 10 inches from head to toe. The weight and size of your baby at week 20 is enough for you to tell when they are awake or asleep based on their movement and activity level.

I can tell you one thing, baby, mama can sure FEEL alot of movement now! At anytime during the day, if you're awake (when AREN'T you??) mama can feel you kicking like crazy! I just love it. It seems you, like your big brothers and sisters like mama's cervix most of all and have decided to use it and occasionally mama's bladder (only when it's REALLY full of course!) as a kicking recepticle! That's quite alright! Grow, baby grow!!!

2005-02-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

19 weeks pregnant today!!

Here are the latest 'happenings' with baby!

Your baby is now up to about 9 ounces and is about 8.5inches from head to toe. The exterior layers of skin tissue develop and form your baby's one-of-a-kind fingerprints. Amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby allows for the free movement of the arms and legs and is also sometimes swallowed to practice digestion. Don't worry about the waste that comes from this, your body replaces the amniotic fluid every four hours.

Baby is still kicking mama mainly in the evenings and those little kicks can be felt starting around half an hour past suppertime. Daddy and I listened to baby's heartbeat for a few minutes last night with our doppler. What precious moments!

Leah's Journal

39 Weeks...and counting...*sigh*

38 week update!!

33 Weeks Today!!!

31 Weeks Today!!!

23 Weeks Today!!!

39 Weeks...and counting...sigh