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Monday, August 29, 2011

21 wks and the end of summer

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 21 weeks

Size of Baby
: ~10.5", ~3/4 lb

Total Weight Gain: ~15 lbs

Maternity Clothes: LOVE having a closet full, but can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can wear ALL my clothes and not just shorts & short-sleeves and capris & tanks

Best Moment this week: ultrasound, of course!  I could have laid there forever watching that cutie.

Gender: BOY!  Now it's time to get busy on the nursery.  In the next couple weeks I intend to get the dresser sanded/primed/painted and set up, and maybe buy the crib or shelving system with our Target gift cards.  And we haven't made a purchase yet, but found these cuties online that may make it into the room : http://www.amazon.com/Funko-Marvel-Piece-Bobblehead-Figure/dp/B00533XKLA/ref=pd_ybh_24?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0814ZFP822RE1ETGRSPT

Movement: sometimes I'm too busy to notice, but when I sit down and get still he usually gives me at least a tickle and sometimes stronger.  He also seems more likely to move when I'm QUIET, which doesn't happen that often either ;-D  The movements are gradually getting stronger and some are sudden.  The doc said my placenta is in the back, which means I can feel his stronger kicks from the outside already too!

Food Craving: none... though I would still love a real mojito.... mmmm.

What I Miss Most: eating french fries without feeling sick.  Even with medicine before I ate it, I regretted eating the fries in my happy meal (I ordered apples, but they were making all sorts of mistakes that day).  But like I was telling a friend, not being able to eat greasy or fatty or chocolatey foods is helping me be healthier.

Sleep: I've been having VERY vivid dreams.  I had some stressful dreams Saturday morning and it took Josh stepping in to help me with my to-do list and pointing out I was over-stressed to calm me down (it really is nice to have someone do in 10-15 min what would have taken you hours to do!).  Last night I had a dream that I was driving in a car that had some sort of u/s or x-ray machine that let me see my tiny baby.  He was proportional, but only an inch or two long, and he was scurrying around my insides.  I woke up laughing at that one.  I wonder if he was moving and my brain translated that into a dream... ??

What I am looking forward to:  Dave and Shelia come on Saturday!  I can't wait to see them... it's been 1.5 yrs and we miss them.   It'll also be fun to have Josh off work and relaxed.

Belly Button: same old same old

Symptoms: the reflux as usual. Sometimes when I forget/get too busy to eat, I don't actually feel hungry, but I get lightheaded.  Trying to remember to stop and eat lots, or at least have snacks in my purse for when I'm on the go.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

It's a.... !!!

...healthy baby boy!! :o)  Placenta and cervix look good, all the anatomy is healthy, and heart rate was good (148 for those who care).  Poor guy was hopped up on caffeine from my KID SIZED dr. pepper; poor tech had quite a time getting some of those measurements.  Sorry it took me so long to post; wanted to tell our folks on the phone before we went public.  So while I waited for return calls, I scanned a few pics from today too.

Here are some pics to make it worth your wait:




What a cutie!!
Tough guy
This little piggie...
The gender shot
A horrible picture of me when I realized I'd forgotten to take my 20 wk picture again today and asked Josh to snap a quick one right after my shower.
But I found a good one and maybe my favorite pregnancy pic yet - this one was taken by Elijah on Monday (8/15 - 19 wks) when he was taking "pi-churs" at my house.  So sweet.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

HALFWAY!! :)

Melissa helped me figure out how to get my ticker at the top of the blog, so I don't have to put it in every post anymore; yay!!  Thanks, Mel! :)

So, I think it's funny that I'm celebrating the halfway point today for a number of reasons.  First, you don't even know you're preggo for a few weeks, so you actually lose a bit of the first half altogether.  Second, you don't actually know you're going to deliver at 40 wks exactly (highly unlikely actually), so what we're calling halfway may actually still be a week or so shy of the actual halfway point.  But thirdly and most importantly, I don't feel like it's already been 20 wks!!  Crazy!

I meant to get pictures yesterday when I was off and forgot, so you'll have to wait till tomorrow for a 20 wk pic.  Yesterday was a busy day with doula interviews and nephew babysitting and watching my chick flick from Netflix.  Tomorrow is a busy day with half a day of work and half a day at the dr's.  Of course I'm exaggerating; it better not be half a day at the dr's.  But I WILL be on the phone/emailing/blogging/FBing all night tomorrow night b/c there are TOO MANY people who want to know what we're having.  I REALLY hope baby cooperates.  I'm running out of time before work, so I guess I ought to just get to it:

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 20 weeks

Size of Baby
: 6.5" crown to rump / 10" head to heel, 10.5 oz

Total Weight Gain: ~14 lbs

Maternity Clothes: my big box o'Michelle's clothes showed up on Saturday.  I spent ALL DAY Saturday doing laundry (the maternity stuff plus a week's worth of regular laundry made 5 loads washed, dried and put away!!), but now I have an ENTIRE closet-full of clothes I CAN wear.  Yay!  Thanks, Michelle, for loaning; thanks, mom & dad, for shipping!

Best Moment this week: doula interviews yesterday, and knowing already I've found "the one"

Gender: TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YA, TOMORROW

Movement: I've had nothing like the spectacular fireworks (which Josh says only felt like gas bubbles from the outside), but a few tickles here and there from time to time.

Food Craving: none, really.  Starting to drink coffee/tea again, even though it's still highs in the 90's!  And I can't wait for pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks, but that has NOTHING to do with pregnancy... that's a yearly craving :)

What I Miss Most: being able to run.  I can barely walk without getting winded.  I fake-run chase Elijah around, but even that I can only do in spurts.  I see folks out running on the streets and it makes me want to put my shoes on, till I remember I can't climb the stairs without huffing and puffing

Sleep: I'm up to 2-3 full-sized pillows at night.  2 is a good night with one under my head and one between my legs.  3 is a reflux night with 2 under my head to keep the acid out of my mouth.

What I am looking forward to: ULTRASOUND! 

Belly Button: same as always

Symptoms: the reflux as usual.  Nothing new to report.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

19 weeks already??

Wasn't I just doing this?  I feel like the past couple weeks have flown by!  I guess that's what a week-long trip to FL in the middle of your two week vacation will do to ya.  And I've posted pics on FB only b/c I was having trouble uploading them here.  I've got ones from my camera and some stolen from Michelle too.


Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 19 weeks

Size of Baby
: avg size: 6 in crown to rump OR almost 10 in head to toe, which will soon become the new mode of measurement as baby can now stretch his/her body to its fullest

Total Weight Gain: steady ;)

Maternity Clothes: I spent some more time this weekend trying on and putting away some of my old clothes.  It's 100% maternity now, except a few "long and lean" stretchy tanks I bought at the beginning of summer at Target b/c I knew they'd accommodate my big ol' belly.

Best Moment this week: see "movement"

Gender: 1 more week to wait!!  I can hardly contain myself. :)

Movement: I've been feeling little flutters and tickles inside almost daily at random times (usually relaxing on the couch or lying in bed), and that has been fun.  Sunday night I was lying on my side pressed up against Josh with my belly against his arm/hand, and started to drift away to sleep.  Suddenly there were FIREWORKS in my belly.  It was almost like the craziest muscle spasm ever, only it wasn't my muscles.  It felt so strong, I asked if Josh could feel it on the outside against his arm/hand, and he said YES!  So the first time I felt really strong kicks was also the first time Josh got to feel the baby move.  What a special moment!  I wish I could somehow have recorded it and play it back when I want to... but so far baby has shown no desire to do more than tickle me since. :)

Food Craving: apples and milk and burgers... the cheeseburger happy meal at McDonald's is always good for fulfilling multiple cravings at once :)

What I Miss Most: lying flat on my back or my stomach.  Lying on the floor flat on my back is how I usually stretch out my back and relax my body, but that's a no-no unless I want to cut off blood flow.  So I can do it for a few seconds, but that's not long enough to relax.  I keep forgetting and lying down and remembering and having to roll to my side... not nearly as relaxing.  I'm also a stomach sleeper and miss being able to comfortably lie flat on my stomach.

Sleep: still waking every 2 hrs (give or take).  I wake up in the morning and eat breakfast, and if I don't have places to go or things to do (which happened a couple times this week) I like to lay back down and sleep for another couple hours.

What I am looking forward to: ULTRASOUND!  Aug 24th is 8 days away, not that anyone's counting ;-D

Belly Button: it's getting closer and closer to the flat cinnamon bun I had in high school, except stretched side-to-side a little :-)

Symptoms: the reflux as usual, and all the same old minor complaints: easily winded, easily full, feeling stretched and squished... I don't think any of this is going to change during the whole of my pregnancy.  I have yet to experience any of the skin discolorations that are common with pregnancy or some of the other side effects that my pregnancy apps say I could be having... overall, except for my big belly, you'd never know :-D


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Thursday, August 11, 2011

18 wks and more to come

I've got pictures from my trip, but haven't uploaded them to the computer yet.  I'll get them posted by next week.



Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Size of Baby
: avg size: 5.5-6 in

Total Weight Gain: undisclosed... I just got back from vacation, so more than I should have gained in one week and more than I'm telling you! ;-D

Maternity Clothes: What an exciting find... Michelle's maternity tub.  She had a HUGE tub full of her old maternity clothes and let me go through it.  I probably spent 2 hrs trying on clothes.  Caleb was born in January, so most of her clothes overlap with the fall/winter wardrobe I'm going to need, and I walked out of there with 3/4 of her clothes.  I only didn't take a few dress pants (I don't need those) and a couple pieces that didn't fit quite right.  Shipping a huge box of clothes across the country is still cheaper than buying a new wardrobe!  I doubt I'll ~need~ to buy a single thing besides what I already have and what she gave me.  LOVE hand-me-downs from friends.

Best Moment this week: HAH, it's impossible to pick only one!  Seeing friends and getting to spend one-on-one time with many of them.  Lunch with the adorable Benders.  Beach with Michelle and kids.  Beach with Jeanna.  Relaxing with mom.  Intimate Jax shower.  Fun Bton shower.  Having friends hang out longer than they intended just b/c they miss our family silliness.  Being completely myself and completely loved.  Getting TOTALLY spoiled all week long - barely paid for a thing, opened a door, helped with a chore or lifted a thing all week!! :)  Seeing my dear hubs after a long week apart.  Puppy lovin'.  The oh-my-goodness-I-missed-you excitement of Elijah when I got back and had b-fast with him and Lindsey.  It's been an incredible week FULL of memorable moments... I'm grateful for all of them.

Gender: undetermined for 2 more weeks (if baby cooperates at 20 wk u/s... Aug 24th!!).  I can't wait to see my baby again!!  Josh is excited to see something that looks human; he says our ultrasound pics so far are a grain of rice and a gerbil. :-D

Movement: maybe!  In the still of the nighttime before I fall asleep, there have been moments I was pretty sure what I was feeling wasn't gas or blood pulsing through my abdomen.  Nothing so distinct as a "kick" yet, but that stereotypical "quickening" feelings of tickles and popcorn.

Food Craving: an apple a day :)

What I Miss Most: FL loved ones and the beach, but not the heat & humidity! :)  Also, celebrating this little one did make me miss blueberry and poppyseed a little too.

Sleep: waking up every 2 hrs with hurting hip/shoulder/ear and numb/tingling arm (time to roll over), and/or the need to pee.  Sleeping with a full sized pillow to put under my leg and supporting my growing belly.  I went shopping today for a cheap pillow so I can put the one I've been using back on the guest bed since we'll be having guests almost every month from Sept till spring.

What I am looking forward to: Dave & Shelia coming in a couple weeks.  We've got plans to do the touristy stuff with them, and maybe some fishing, and a spa day for us girls (massages and pedis!).  I've missed them and can't wait to spend some quality time with them.  Plus I'm going to commission help from Shelia to paint the dresser, so I'll finally start putting things in their places in the nursery!! :-D

Belly Button: it's getting closer and closer to the flat cinnamon bun I had in high school, except stretched side-to-side a little :-)

Symptoms: the reflux as usual.  Additionally I feel sore in my abs every other day or so (and after big meals) from all the stretching that's going on.  Also, after I pee my round ligament hurts, but my mom pointed out that once your bladder is empty your uterus can descent a little further, putting strain on the ligament.  Smart mom, I think that's why!! :)  I've also been uber-emotional, tearing up at the slightest thing... which has only been compounded by the hellos and goodbyes and lack of sleep a busy week in FL brings.


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Tuesday, August 2, 2011

17 weeks and FL bound! :)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 17 weeks

Size of Baby: avg size: 5 in

Total Weight Gain: ~10 lbs

Maternity Clothes: I borrowed a bunch of cute dresses from my preggo friend (thanks, Nikki!) that will accommodate my bump through the rest of summer and look super cute too.  I'm excited to have a whole new summer wardrobe right before my FL trip!

Best Moment this week: time spent with my hubby.  Since I'm leaving Wednesday at the butt-crack of dawn, I've been appreciating all the time I get with him before I go.  I'm going to miss that guy!

Gender: undetermined for 3 more weeks (if baby cooperates at 20 wk u/s).  Three weeks?!  That sounds almost doable.  Especially since one week is my vacation, then it's only 2 weeks... ok, ok, I can do this :)

Movement: none.  yet.  I'm lying in bed trying to feel it at night. :)  Every once in a while I think I might be feeling something, but I'm not claiming anything I can't differentiate from blood pulsing in my abdomen.

Food Craving: cold water; it's been hot here, so my water bottle only stays cold for a little while, and I'm always wishing later it was cold again.

What I Miss Most: being able to eat a whole meal without feeling miserable afterwards.  Josh is always laughing at how breathless I am, especially after I eat.

Sleep: not too bad except the morning I woke at 2:15am and couldn't get back to sleep till 4:15am.  Fortunately it was on the weekend.  Otherwise, I've found a position that's comfortable for now and am making it most of the night, except potty break.

What I am looking forward to: I can't wait to be in FL with my friends and family.  I'm going to get to enjoy some of my oldest and closest friendships, plus I'll get to go to my brother John's birthday dinner, on top of having TWO baby showers with lots of FL loved ones.  And I'm also looking forward to coming back home to my husband and pups after a week of being away; I love those guys the bestest.

Belly Button: normal (in).  I read this morning that the top of my uterus is supposed to be 2" BELOW my navel at 17 wks.  Mine is at least 2" ABOVE belly button.  So when they said I'm carrying high, they're not lying!!  But I've got good pics this week to show I ~really~ am pregnant :)

Symptoms: The reflux is still a regular problem during the day, but I'm trying not to take the max allowable amt of the meds unless I REALLY need it.  Like the day I woke up feeling yucky and we were going Cajun for lunch; yeah, I took zantac morning and night that day. But otherwise I'm toughing it out during the day and just taking it for dinner/bedtime relief.  I've also been short of breath a lot.  Even though I don't look overwhelmingly pregnant, b/c I'm carrying so high I'm feeling the organ-crushing most women get a little later in their pregnancies.  My lungs and stomach just don't have their own space anymore.  Also I've had some back pain lately too, I'm assuming from growing breasts and belly, coupled with straining something during exercise or movement.  But other than those and generally tiring out quicker than "normal", I have to confess I really am enjoying the second trimester like they say you should.  I'm enjoying showing and looking forward to feeling movement without the intense discomfort of 3rd trimester.  Enjoying each day as it comes. :)





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