Baby Danae This Week

Thought it would be fun to post info on where Danae is in the growing process.

Week 25: Baby's Breath: Fetal Lung Development
Your baby is about nine inches long and more than a pound and a half in weight this week. And don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker as small blood vessels form under the skin and fill with blood. Lungs and nostrils are also growing at this stage of fetal development.
At nine inches and more than a pound and a half in weight, your baby is taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other, and almost as heavy as four of those little boxes (an analogy you'll find particularly apropos in a few years, when those juice boxes start taking over your refrigerator, your pantry, your car.…).

Don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker. No, not because he or she's getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping your baby at an always comfortable temperature), but because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But those lungs are still very much works in progress. Though they are already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs expand after the baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he or she exhales.


The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths. (Of course since there's no air in there, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?)

National Day of the American Cowboy

Saturday Michael and I spent all day in Sedona to help celebrate the National Day of the American Cowboy. Michael dressed in his 1800's western attire and thanks to a donation from the sponsors for the event, I got an 1800's western outfit that fit for my pregnant belly. (I wasn't about to spend what those duds cost for a temporary outfit, I have 1800's attire for when I am not pregnant).

We were in some "gun-fighting" skits. The one I was in, Michael and two other cowboys were in a face-off ready for a gun fight. Movie gun fighting music was playing and they were staring each other down ready to draw. I was on the outside of the "stage" area just watching. I drew my gun and held it behind my back and continued to watch and analyse the situation. When the music stopped, I stepped on the "stage" and said "you men, ya alway have to have yer hands on yer guns don't ya?!", then I shot two of the men. Then I looked at Michael and said "You, you did this to me" pointing at my belly. Michael drops his guard and laughs saying, "Yeah, well that was one good night". I give an angry look to him and look back at the crowd as I cock my pistol, look at Michael and shoot him too. Then I say "that's what he gets for leavin' me".





Joey Dillon, world champion gun slinger, and Loop Rawlins, world champion trick roper and whip expert, were there doing a show as well. They were fun to talk with and awsome to watch. It was hot, but the clouds rolled in around 2:00 and a light rain helped cool it off a bit. It was a lot of fun, but I was certainly ready for bed. Micheal's dad made it out for Friday and Saturday, it was good to have him here and I think he had a good time too.

...and Danae didn't move at all when the guns were going off.

Power...what a wonderful thing!

Last weekend, due to lightning I think, we (all of Cornville) lost power from Saturday night to Monday morning. I am just grateful Sunday was mostly overcast, it is just too hot this time of year for not even a fan! I had let the horses' water get low on Saturday night so I could dump it and scrub the tub Sunday morning...without electricity there is no water because we are on a well. This posed another stress...gotta get water to my horses! Our neighbor had "harvested" rain water from the storm the week prior, so I got several buckets from him, but that doesn't last horses very long. Thank goodness our friend Shawn came to the rescue and hauled us in some water!! I can deal with the rest of the issues, but that one was stressing me since it takes so much water for them in a hot day!


In the evening, it was cooler on the deck than in the house, so Michael and I took the opportunity to spend some non-house-working time together. We could only do so much in the house because it was hot and there was no water or electricity. We didn't want to do much outside because it was hot and we would have no place to cool off or clean up. We took out some chairs and put the chess board on a barrel and finally, Michael taught me how to play chess. I have to admit, I haven't been all to interested to learn, but I did want to learn so Michael would have someone to play with. I actually like the game, if Michael would quit winning all the time it would be that much more fun if I got to say Check-Mate once in a while. :)

All in all, I am that much more appreciative of the life power provides us!!

What will her name be?

Michael and I have decided to name our little girl Surilla Danae. Surilla is my late grandmother's name and Michael came up with the name Danaea, but we decided to just do Danae. We will be calling her by her middle name. Anna and I went to the ceramic shop in Cottonwood so I could paint a piggy bank for Danae, I had seen a ladybug one last time I was there and wanted to paint it. Of course the ladybug one was gone...so I picked the cute little hippo. We had fun painting, Anna picked a pig spoon plate. She thinks she didn't paint it so well, but I think it turned out cute. (the hippo will look a little different after it has been glazed and fired)

Its raining...its pouring

We just recieved the downpoor of the decade...(the pictures don't realy do it justice) since I have lived here almost ten years and haven't seen it rain like this at our house. It was raining so heavy at one point we couldn't see our neighbor's house. For some in other areas of the country, this was not a big deal...for me here in Cornville, it is weather we don't often see. Our landscaping has been rearranged, we had a creek going through several places in our yard and we have about two feet of water sitting under our house at the moment that we are going to have to pump out tomorrow. We recently planted the tree you see in the pictures, that is now bending almost in half... we have since braced it more than it was and hope we can save it. Here are a few pictures of the water, it is still raining, just not nearly as hard. Even though we have to do some pumping and landscaping, I am grateful for the much needed water...and that we don't live in an area where this type of downpoor and flooding is commonplace!

Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo

Michael, Lizard, and I went to the rodeo with my friends Marlayne, Tiana, & Sierra (Tiana & Sierra are Lizard's age). The rodeo was one of the better I have seen and the clown was hilarious. Lizard ventured onto the mechanical bull and fared well. (my camera battery was low and was taking slow pictures, so it was difficult to get a decent shot). Then we had BBQ chicken and played games at home after the rodeo. The team of English Shires were phenomenal!! (so, if anyone knows of an English Shire for sale for say...under 10 grand...let me know) :)

July 4th

For the 4th of July, Michael and I went to Williams to have a BBQ and spend time with my family (and pick up Lizard to bring to our house for the weekend). The blue dune buggy came out of hiding for some laps around the field. (Jodi, you need to work with Lizard on some driving). After some burgers, we went to the pool. I realized that it has been years since I have been swimming...in fact...Michael and I have never been swimming together that we can recall and we have been together almost seven years! I didn't actually swim this time, more like waded in the kid side of the pool. Rylee had fun jumping to me, at first she wouldn't jump unless she was holding on to my arms...then she got to the point she would jump while I was a foot or so away from her reach.

She had fun playin "Wonder Woman" and pretend to tie up Michael and her dad as the bad guys. Everyone had fun. Even Mom and Dad got in and Anna was there with her new beau, Fernando. My cousin Amy's dauther, Kimmie, who is almost 2 yrs, had NO fear of the water and would plunge in whenever, she kept her grandma (Aunt Kathy) on her toes as well as all of us who were around her. Then we went back to the house and played Whatzit, which was fun.