Wednesday, January 30, 2008

It's a BOY!!!!!!!!!!!

and unfortunately I can't upload my pictures yet... I'll get them up soon.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Past year in review and looking ahead

This past year has been highs and lows combined - parts of it made it the absolute best year I've had so far in my life, and other parts were harder than I thought they would be. Obviously the best parts include PB and our life - getting married and getting pregnant with the little one. I'm also pretty darn proud of all the other accompliments in my life as well. Getting a new job - one that occasionally drives me nuts, but I truly feel it's a step in the right direction. Applying for grad school - though with the BT on the way that train has been temporarily derailed - I may revisit it again at some point when the little one is tucked away in school - who knows.

I have not reached out to old friends like I had wanted to. I'm not really sure what has stopped me other than time. It's hard to go back and make excuses, though I know that if the friendship was really there I wouldn't have to. For now PB, my best friend, is really what I need in life. We have so much fun together and I can't imagine how my life was without him in it.

I feel like this year brings even more new beginnings - new life and new hope for a wonderful future together. It is so much fun to plan - and while I rarely make New Year's Eve resolutions, I always like to think about what I hope to accomplish each year on my birthday.

So, here's to a beautiful marriage to the man of my dreams, bringing a new life into this world and being the best momma I can possibly be, continuing with my sewing and photography and striving with each project to learn something new and grow with each experience, continue to learn and grow at my job and hopefully create an opening for upward movement within this company. I think that is a good start.

Today's the day...

Wow, I can't believe today is finally here - 3+ months of waiting has finally, finally come to an end. We are having our ultrasound this afternoon and couldn't be more excited about it. I fell asleep pretty easily last night which was nice, however when I woke up at about 3:30am to go to the bathroom I realized I couldn't go back to sleep :) Too darn excited to see the little one on the screen and find out (hopefully) what will be joining our family in 5 months! I did end up back asleep after thinking about it for over an hour, my hands resting on my belly, feeling the little one squirm away in there. Almost like it knew the excitement that was on the horizon and was excited to be a part of it - the reason for it...



PB told me last night that he felt bad that the ultrasound was "overshadowing" my birthday today - and I guess I just haven't felt that way about it at all. I am so happy that for the rest of my life I will remember this day, this feeling, on my birthday each year. I think it's an incredible gift - one that you can't buy at the store, not even one you could plan if you tried :).



I'll post tomorrow all the exciting news.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Anticipation....

In my email today...

":) that's pretty awesome to think about. girl or boy, girl or boy, girl or boy???
what will it be???
wow! can't believe it's tomorrow. "

So, will our dress code on Wednesday involve this or this?
Or, heaven forbid... this????

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Week 19


Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Still no pictures

So, I still haven't gotten the crappy memory card issue fixed with my computer, so still no pictures, but we've decided we need to continue taking some belly shots cause all of a sudden that thing is growing!!!

We've started carpooling in the morning, which I really enjoy. Not only to I get to spend more time with PB in the morning (while he drives to his work) but I then get to work earlier, which will hopefully help to make a good impression on the powers that be so I can get some flexibility when the BT gets here...

We've decided we're actually both in pretty good spots right now - isn't that a weird feeling?? You spend so long worrying about money or bills or debt, but when you actually put your mind to it, the truth of the matter is, you've got a good job with good future potential - and honestly, you've got it better than many. We're incredibly blessed and it was sort of an eye-opener to realize that :). Also puts my mind a little at ease when I think about the toe's upcoming arrival (5 months anyone?????). I still can't believe it's that close. Seems like a long time, but also something that will creep up on us quickly and the next thing you know we'll be bringing our little one home.

The next 5 days will most likely kill me - I hate waiting - probably the most impatient person around - but I guess right now with the anticipation building, it's just kinda fun ;) I can't wait for that birthday present, and PB and I decided we'll both wear the appropriate color shirt to work the following day to show our support of "Team Pink" or "Team Blue". It's so funny when people ask if we want one over the other. My general response is "as long as it's non-alien, I'll be happy". And that is the truth. I can see the benefits for a boy or a girl, and I guess I want both - so we'll see what's in store. We've tried to guesstimate based on the ridiculous chinese gender calendars (every single calendar gave a different prediction), on the heartbeat test (we've been in the 150's the whole time), or whether or not I had morning sickness (not - thank goodness!) and all we've been able to come up with is that we have no clue what this little one will be until it **hopefully** cooperates on Tuesday. I'll keep you posted...

Monday, January 21, 2008

Movement

So, Friday night into the wee hours of Saturday morning I had a very realistic dream about feeling the baby move. Not too strange as I have many dreams about the little one, and most of the dreams I remember are incredibly realistic anyway. So, I told PB about it and we figured it had to have been a dream cause I didn't feel anything at all on Saturday. Then, Saturday night rolls around and while I was making dinner I started to feel a bit naseaus, and laid down. I realized that the little one was squirming it's way around in my belly the whole time and I was just beginning to realize it! I put PB's hand on my belly and at first he couldn't feel anything but a few tries later, with me pushing his hand on my belly and moving it in the right direction, he felt it too! The kid was taking after it's momma and being a little figity thing... didn't stop all night. So, trying to sleep on Saturday night was interesting to say the least - I was totally in awe of this new feeling, but I couldn't get used to the weird flutters constantly going on in my belly. I couldn't stop grinning like an idiot because it was the coolest feeling in the world.



I am so excited to begin feeling more of the baby, and I'm so happy that PB was able to experience this part as well. I know we are both looking forward to the upcoming ultrasound - 8 days and counting!

Week 18 - we're a sweet potato :)


Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Weekender

PB and I had a great weekend. It was too short to say the least, but it felt extremely productive. We showed the house twice (cross your fingers!) and in order to do that we cleaned it from top to bottom - it's sparkling :)

He also found and fixed the weird tiny leak in the shower (only occasional drips seen in the basement - but he located the problem and presto - all was fixed). We (meaning he) cleaned out the gutters, we spent some time in Central City (didn't win) and spent some quality time together.

Still no pictures, which is sad - but my stupid sandisk 4GB memory card for my camera (only 6 months old) has been corrupted and I haven't heard back from the support desk. We'll see how that one goes.

I've also been able to continue work on the baby blanket I've been knitting. It's super soft and luxe and I love it cause it's machine washable. I've gotten into the "nesting" stage and have a laundry list of items I want to make before the little one gets here...

Quilt similar to this one here
Diaper bag for me similar to this one here but redesigned for my specifications :)
Hooded baby towels - I've already made one for my beautiful neice using the tutorial found here
Also to add to the list:
A portable changing pad (going to template these for sale on Etsy)
bibs (also for Etsy)
Burp Cloths (again, Etsy)
Lots more blankets :)

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Week 17


Baby's skeleton is hardening, changing from rubbery cartilage to bone, and fat is finally accumulating around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

16 Week appointment - Stats

We had our 16 week appointment yesterday and just a few tidbits that came out of it:

Weight Gain so far:
8 week - 12 week appointment= 2 lbs gained
12 week - 16 week appointment= 0 lbs gained
Total= 2 lbs gained - It seems this is on target - but we're both thinking now that next appointment might be a larger jump :)


Heartbeat:
8 week appointment - only saw heartbeat through internal ultrasound
12 week appointment - found heartbeat with Doppler immediately and was strong in 150's
16 week appointment - found heartbeat with Doppler immediately and was strong in 150's

We get to schedule our "big" ultrasound now - I'm waiting for the orders to be faxed to the hospital to I can set up our time. We're shooting for my birthday - as nothing could be a better present than to find out we've got a healthy little one in there - and finding out the gender will be pretty cool too :)

Monday, January 7, 2008

Too cool :)

I have become obsessed by information lately. I think I felt the baby move this weekend - even though I thought it was too early - come to find out it might not be and what I felt was actually the baby moving - it was sooooo cool...

Your pregnancy: 16 weeks


How your baby's growing:At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.


How your life's changing:Have people been telling you how wonderful you look? The "glow of pregnancy" is real, thanks to increased blood flow to the skin. You may be enjoying yourself more, too, now that your hormones have stabilized and nausea has eased up. You're also probably less anxious about something happening to your baby (the risk of miscarriage drops dramatically after the 14th week) which likely adds to your overall sense of well-being.Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, most don't until about 18 weeks or more. If this is your first baby, don't be too anxious — you may not be aware of your baby's movements until 20 weeks or so. The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll start to feel unmistakably like kicks.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Week 16...




Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Christmas, New Years etc....

The holidays were very good to PB and I - we actually waited this year till Christmas morning to open all our presents, and it was so much fun just the two of us. We thought we'd sleep in (or at least I thought I would) but we were up early and out like little kids - ready to rip into the gifts. I made coffee and cinnamon rolls and we started to dig right in. I cannot believe how generous both our families were - it was crazy to see so many gifts for just the two of us... although a lot of presents under the tree didn't have either of our names on it... hmm...

we had breakfast later and chatted on the phone with family - it was so much fun to just take it slow, watch each other and enjoy the day. Knowing this will be our last "quiet" Christmas for some time probably just made it sweeter. We had Christmas dinner with friends and played games into the night before heading home and getting some well-deserved rest. The only bad part of the day is when PB started to get sick - which lasted well into the next day so we both stayed home from work. Otherwise, it was an amazing Christmas to remember. I'd have to say, my favorite gift (if I have to pick one) has got to be one of my Christmas eve presents from PB - a huge, fluffy, super-soft and comfy robe - one that will continue to fit me as I grow. :)

That weekend saw me getting the bug that's been going around...I couldn't keep any food or liquids down from Saturday to Tuesday - not sure if it was the bug or something else, but either way I was unhappy and exhausted, and truthfully, a little afraid of food. I guess when you get that sick all the time you aren't very happy with the cause of the sickness and just want to get as far away from it as possible. New Year's Eve was PB and I tucked in at home playing board games. He brought out Monopoly for my semi-annual butt-kicking (we've only played this game together 3 times - I swear I'm out within 15 minutes maximum - that guys knows how to roll some dice. I need to take him to Vegas). We also played Sorry, which is a special game for us and was a Christmas present to me from PB - I am happy to say that I was the 2007 champion, but was quickly brought down in 2008. It was a sorry, sorry loss.

We got breakfast with friends on New Year's Day, and hung out with the same friends later that night - we tried to play their new "Friends - Scene It" game, but unfortunately something must have been wrong with the game cause the girls team lost to the boys - definitely a flaw somewhere in the game for that to have happened.

Back to work again. I'm feeling much better these days - food is staying down and I've gotten new clothes that actually fit me - Yay! What wonders it does for your self-esteem :) We go to the doc again this coming Tuesday and get to schedule the BIG ultrasound - I hate waiting cause I want another picture of the baby toe, but February isn't too far off and I guess I can handle the wait. We're just happy that everything has gone so smoothly thus far. So, for those of you who already knew our news... I'm finally putting it out there! For those of you who didn't, you know now. I'm going to try to document the whole process (well, the rest of it at least) so that I can get it all down and not forget a single moment of this incredible time in my life. I can honestly say I have never known a happiness like this.