Madame Zaritska's Prediction

Just for shits and giggles I went on this website to get my delivery prediction. I heard about it on a pregnancy chat board I frequent. Anyway--I like the prediction -- except the part about the baby weighing a mere 5 lbs!!! The red hair could definitely be right!

If your pregnant, or if your pretending to be pregnant, you should try it!

Madame Zaritska predicts your birth experience

The day you deliver, outside will be hazy. Your baby will arrive in the mid morning. After a labor lasting approximately 6 hours, your child, a girl, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 5 pounds, 2 ounces, and will be 19,19-1/2 inches long. This child will have medium violet eyes and a little patch of red hair.

My Weight

Convo with nurse at Perinatal Office last week:

Nurse: How are you feeling?

Me: Good. Puffy. But good.

Nurse: Good. How much do you weigh and how tall are you?

Me: Ummm.....at my last OBGYN appointment I weighed 190. What was your other question?

Nurse: How tall are you?

Me: Oh - I'm very VERY tall.



I started this pregnancy weighing somewhere around 175. Not my slimmest, that's for sure, but I still fit in my clothes! My last regular OBGYN appointment was March 5th and I weighed in at 190lbs. (That's 15 lbs in 17 weeks.) That is the appointment where I was warned to watch my weight gain. The doctor told me I should only be gaining 2 to 3 lbs per month. Needless to say I left very scared. Putting on the first 15lbs was EASY. Especially because I didn't really eat any differently than I normally did to get that way.

Saturday Eric took out the scale to weigh himself and jokingly I said, "Oh, how about I just pop on there and see how much I've lost - ha ha ha ha". How dumb am I?

Eric: "Ya! Get On it!"

Me: "Hell no"

Eric: "Seriously, you really should."

Me: "Um. No."

Eric: "Just get on it!"

Me: "FINE!"

wait....wait....wait....wait....

I'm so happy -- SO HAPPY -- to report that I still weigh 190. Which means as along as I don't gain too much before Thursday (April 2nd) I should have a good weight report at my appointment! Yay! Relief!!! Weight gain/loss during pregnancy feels so out of my control. Between the swollen ankles and the mad appetite -- it seems so unfair to have to weigh in every month!

Half Way! 20 WEEKS!

Wow! Today is the big day! My half way point! It's hard to believe it's finally here. I'm feeling great at 20 weeks, well, except for that whole water retention thing. I never knew how much I loved my ankle bone until it was gone. That is not so bad until the end of the day when I've been walking around a lot. Then my knees are swollen and achy and my legs are throbbing.

This morning I woke up and looked at my ankles to see if laying down for 8 hours helped. There was still no bone exposure down there but they felt better! I'm hoping at my appointment next Thursday the doctor will give me some ideas on what to do about it. Hopefully it's not "Drink more water". I hear that all the time and I'm drinking butt loads of water. I'm up over 80 oz of water a day now. I'm starting to think I'm giving birth to a gold fish or a flounder . In the end I'm sure the doctor will say, "It's your hormones. It will go away after you give birth." Ya thanks. Along with mood swings, acne, sleepiness, stupidity, heartburn, gas and chub rub.

Moving on....

From www.babycenter.com

My comments are in Orange today.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. Well, we know that the baby is bigger than that because on Monday he/she weighed about 13oz. So scratch that part! He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. Mom and I saw baby's mouth moving on Tuesday! Maybe he/she was swallowing? He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery). Meconium = fetal baby poo.


How your life's changing:

Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. Thank you Thank you. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button Yes, and my belly button ring. Mom and Eric are both ready for that to come out. Me? I'm going to let it ride. I'm going to see just how far I can stretch the life of my belly ring. =), and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. 10 lbs..Huh..... Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry I hate chicken right now!(especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals.

If you haven't already signed up for a childbirth education class, you may want to look into one, especially if you're a first-timer. We start in June! A structured class will help prepare you and your partner for the rigors of labor and delivery. Most hospitals and birth centers offer classes, either as weekly meetings or as a single intensive, one-day session. Many communities have independent instructors as well. Ask your friends, family members, or caregiver for recommendations.

CANKLES

I have them. I used to have nice normal ankles. Now they're cankles. Lovely.

Definition:
cankles - An obese or otherwise swollen ankle that blends into the calf without clear demarcation

20 Week Belly

9 Weeks



12 Weeks


15.5 Weeks


Almost 20 Weeks

3D/4D Ultrasound

So I finally signed us up for our 3D/4D ultrasound! It's June 6th and I'm SO EXCITED!

The package I picked includes:

BASIC PACKAGE
(Recommended between 25 and 35 weeks)
- 20 minute 3D/4D session
- Gender determination (if desired)
- Hear your baby's heartbeat
- At least 2 black & white 3D Images
- DVD of session set to lullaby music or music of your choice
- CD with all images taken (jpg files, for easy sharing)


Also, you can bring 6-8 family members with you!!! Of course I'm asking our parents and siblings. I'm really really really really really hoping my brother will come. I already know my sister probably will -- but my brother is difficult to catch. This is the appointment when I'll be able to see my babies face. I want to see the lips. And I want to get a better look at that elf nose. =)

Perinatal Visit

Today I had a quick visit to the Perinatal Office so that they could check my cervix to verify that it's "long and closed". It was! I go in again in another 4 weeks to give it another check. The visit called for an "OB Ultrasound" so I asked my Mom to go, thinking we'd get to see the baby. When we got there the doctor explained that it wasn't really a baby-seeing visit but since my Mom made the trip she agreed to give us a quick peek. Yay! Although it was only a quick peek -- it was still amazing! I think Mom was impressed! I'm so happy that she got to see the wee babe wiggling around in there!

While we were in the waiting room I got another bout of the Puffs. My face, hands and feet were swollen. I was seriously uncomfortable and throbbing all over. I knew I wasn't going to be able to make it through the day in the boots I'd worn so Mom took me to Target after the appointment to look for more pregnant friendly shoes. I got a cute pair of flats (picture below) and I LOVE THEM! We even bought a 2nd pair of flats to keep under my desk for future Puff Emergencies.

"Wiggle Baby"

Here is a picture of our "Wiggle Baby"! He/She was measuring 13 oz. and was perfect in every way! The tech said that all of the baby's organs were in tip top shape. We saw fingers, toes, bladder (with urine in it!), legs, arms, heart (all 4 Chambers), spine, brain, etc. It was incredible! I am a happy happy Momma.

The tech said that our baby is definitely a "Wiggle Baby". She even asked me if I'd had juice this morning to see if she could figure out why the baby was all "jazzed up". I hadn't had anything but water so I guess our baby just has a zest for life?! Or is just a hyper active child like its Dad?!

I think the elf nose is pretty amazing. Who did that come from? It doesn't matter, I'd be OK with an elf baby. =)

Gardening!

This bump is 19.5 Weeks along.

This is not the most flattering picture of me but it's me none the less! Here I am in my gardening outfit. The baby and I got out and got some Vitamin D. The weathers was in the 60s today so I couldn't help but get out there and soak up some sun. I helped Eric haul debris from the back yard in to the dumpster. If you'd like more of an update on the yard you can read our family blog: www.keeping-up-with-us.blogspot.com

Bad Baby - Emergency Room Visit

So..........


FIRST I will tell you I'm fine. The baby is fine.

NOW I can tell you what happened. Last night I went to bed around 10pm and woke up around 12:30 with MAJOR Low Blood Sugar Symptoms. Here are the Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) symptoms that I had.

1. Excessive sweating
2. Rapid Heartbeat
3. Trembling
4. Confusion, difficulty thinking
5. Weakness, lack of energy
6. Difficulty walking and talking
7. Fatigue and drowsiness

I do not know what made me wake up enough to be alerted to what was going on. I remember waking up and thinking it was odd that I was covered in sweat but then everything after that was very confusing and a blur.

Holding on to the wall I made my way to the kitchen. I wanted to grab something fast and sugary so I went for a Popsicle. Then, lacking serious concentration, tried to figure out something that I could eat to get me out of this. I was on the verge of calling 911, but right before I did that, I found some Pillsbury Biscuits that we'd had for dinner on Monday. I started inhaling them. I ate 1 or 2 buscuits with nothing on them, all the while fighting my body to stay awake. After a few minutes I started coming to and thought of the jelly. So for the next 15 minutes I sat at the kitchen table destroying these jelly covered biscuits until I was nearly sick from all the food. I think I ate 6 if not 7 biscuits by the end of it all. I had something to drink, probably water, and went back to bed once I was sure I was in the clear.

This morning I knew I had to call the doctor to let them know what happened. Low Blood Sugar during the day happens to me often enough to where I can catch it in time. Low Blood Sugar while I'm sleeping soundly has never happened to me before -- and quite frankly scared the shit out of me. Having a diabetic brother I understand low blood sugar and I've had to call 911 on my brother before because of these attacks. I know how terrible it can be to watch -- I NOW have a taste for how scary it is for the patient. Anyway -- I called the doctor, left a message for the advise nurse and just waited. Well...they called me back in 20 minutes and told me to report immediately to the emergency room!

It was a pretty standard emergency room visit -- except that they don't make you wait in the lobby for 6 hours before you're seen when you're pregnant. I got in a gown. They took my vitals. They took blood. They gave me an IV. They listened for the baby (baby was fine, heartbeat was 155 beat per minute) and then I sat and waited for 3 and a half hours for them to tell me that yes indeed I'd probably suffered from Low Blood Sugar. Nice! My discharge papers say that I'm fine but I need to eat 6 time a day instead of 3.

Ok.............I'll do that eating 6 times a day thing -- but I think that's pretty funny considering at my last appointment they told me to watch my weight gain!!

I'd write more but I have to go eat.............

Super Puff

Both yesterday and today I've been Super Puff Lady. I have water retention that is amazing and despite what some of you maybe thinkig -- I drink water like it's going out of style. Mostly because I'm actually thirsty for it -- but also because it's good for me and the baby. I have NO IDEA what has set off this water retention. The books say it could be due to hormonal changes -- what's NOT due to hormonal changes at this point? Whatever the case -- it's early in my pregnancy for crazy water retention I thought. So here I sit drinking MORE water and propping up my legs. I'm going to have to move to flip flops soon if this doesn't slow down.

Dear Baby,

Stop making me bigger than I need to be.

Love,
Mom

3D/4D Ultrasound

I'm researching places that do 3D/4D ultrasound packages. I want to have pictures and a DVD of what our baby will look like once I'm in my third trimester. The best time to get these shots done is 26-34 weeks. There are 6 places listed on thebump.com that I've compared and it looks like the best deal is up by Eric's work at a place called Baby To Be Images. It's $140 for the basic package but if you've ever seen a 3D/4D picture you'd see why it's so worth it. It will be a Mother's Day present to myself. I can't wait! I wonder if he/she will have Eric's lips?

Our "big" ultrasound of the pregnancy is on Monday. This is the ultrasound where they count all the fingers and toes. I'm also really excited about this appointment because it too will be in 3D. The baby will be much smaller and less developed so the details won't be as good as the 3rd trimester Ultrasound. Hopefully on Monday afternoon I'll have some really neat 3D pictures to share though!!!

19 Weeks = 4 and a half Months

Wow - 19 weeks. So exciting! I'm only one week away from being half way done with this pregnancy. It's amazing! Here are the details on Week 19 (http://www.babycenter.com/). My comments are in GREEN today.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch (I wonder if he/she is going to be one of the people that over analyze the taste of their food like Eric! Oh, the agony! That will be twice the eye rolling on my part. Very exhausting.) Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you (Eric: This DOES NOT MEAN you need to continue to scream at the baby. He/she can hear you just fine in your normal voice.)

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato (Normally I post the veggie of the week on these posts but I was unimpressed with the "heirloom tomato". I thought the babycenter.com picture was far better and a little funny too!). Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.(Is the "it" in this statement referring to my baby???? My baby would have pickled without the vernix caseosa? My kids going to have to have some tough vernix caseosa to keep from pickling. I'm a DIE HARD pickle eater.)


How your life's changing:

Think you're big now? You'll start growing even faster in the weeks to come. (Hmmm...) As a result, you may notice some achiness in your lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when you shift position or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain (I've had a lot of this already. Hard to believe that it just continues throughout your whole pregnancy). The ligaments that support your uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is nothing to be alarmed about, but call your practitioner if the pain continues even when you're resting or becomes severe.

You may be noticing some skin changes, too. Are the palms of your hands red? No. Nothing to worry about — it's from the extra estrogen. You may also have patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. That darkened line running from your belly button to your pubic bone is called the linea nigra, or "dark line." (None of these yet but I'll keep you posted. All I've really noticed is the acne.)

These darkened spots will probably fade shortly after delivery. In the meantime, protect yourself from the sun, which intensifies the pigment changes. Cover up, wear a brimmed hat, and use sunscreen when you're outdoors. And if you're self-conscious about your "mask," a little concealing makeup can work wonders.

Bad Dreams

I had really bad baby dreams last night. Ugh. I hate those!

Basically - I had a dream that I gave birth and didn't even know it. (I know Mom...very funny ....) Aparently, I started going in to labor and it sent me in to some sort of shock induced coma. (Ok, that part is kind of funny.) Anyway -- when I woke up it took a few days to realize that I wasn't even pregnant anymore. And when I did realize I wasn't pregnant anymore I was so so so sad!So sad! Finally, I figured out that I wasn't pregnant anymore because I'd actually given birth and at that point I was somewhat relieved but not totally.

Once all that was cleared up I spent a good portion of the dream looking for my baby. I just could not find that kid anywhere!! And of course that sent me in to a panic. Eventually I found my baby and I didn't like it. It was ugly and it had really really bad hair. When I realized I wasn't in love with my baby I was upset with Eric's Mom because she tells me all the time that I will NO DOUBT love my own baby like nothing else -- and I didn't. (I forgive you Elaine!) =)

By the way, the baby I had, looked like a Garbage Pail Kid. In hind sight I'm sure that would mean that Eric would think that was "totally bad ass" but for the record -- I would NOT.

Baby Registry

Registering for a baby is like - WOW! For the most part I have a pretty good idea on what we need. I mean, I know all the bath time essentials, diapers, onesies,etc. I ran in to a bit of a debacle when trying to decide on the car seat/stroller situation.

We are very lucky to have friends that are loaning us some stuff while they're on baby making hiatus. This is wonderful because it is a big relief on the wallet, plus, it saves me from having to make too many decisions. We are also blessed because we have SO MANY friends who have recently had babies that can tell us what items they liked vs. didn't like. Our house is small so we don't want to over load it with a bunch of baby crap that we can't use.

I must say -- I'm most excited about putting the nursery together but I know that is quite low on Eric's priority list. Knowing that our crib is going to sit in the box untouched for 2 or 3 months is killing me inside. KILLING ME.

Crib N' Changer

I'm very excited to say that I think we found our crib! In an earlier post I put up a different crib but just disregard that. I think I mentioned that I was a little stressed out trying to figure out how I was going to fit all the needed baby furniture (crib, changing table, rocker, dresser)all in the nursery. Our home -- I love it -- but it's old and the rooms are small. Anyway -- this crib answered my prayers! It's a crib and changer in one! AND it's a 4 in 1 so it will convert to a toddler bed and then eventually in to a twin. Yay!



We found it on craigslist.com and the seller didn't like the color so it's still in the box! They asked for $300 and offered $280 and bam!

Thank you Grandma Av and Grandpa Dave!

Nosebleeds

Lately I've had a bunch of blood in my nose. I know, I know -- gross! Well, the good news is that I've not actually had a full on nose bleed AND I didn't get my bloody nose from Chris Brown! Ha! No, but seriously, I don't know what I'd do if I had a real live nose bleed since I've never actually had one. But whatever -- the point is that what I am expiriencing is both gross and uncomfortable. Nobody wants to deal with bloody tissues in the bin.



It turns out that nose bleeds during pregnancy is common and here's why......



(From http://www.babycenter.com/)



Is it common to get nosebleeds during pregnancy?


Yes, nosebleeds do tend to occur more often during pregnancy. Pregnancy can cause the blood vessels in your nose to expand, and your increased blood supply puts more pressure on those delicate vessels, causing them to rupture more easily. Although it's unpleasant and inconvenient, an occasional minor nosebleed is generally harmless.You're especially likely to get a nosebleed when you have a cold, sinus infection, or allergies, or when the membranes inside your nose dry out, as they do in cold weather, air-conditioned rooms, airline cabins, and other dry environments. Trauma and certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or a clotting disorder, may cause nosebleeds as well.



To combat this issue I sleep with my humidifier on at night. Also, at work I have an over-the-counter saline solution that I squirt in my nose, if necessary. Dry office air combined with the dry heat coming from the space heater under my desk can create some of the most uncomfortable nose bleed action!

18 Weeks

Week 18 is the beginning of my 5th month of pregnancy! I feel like it's all getting really exciting now!

Details from http://www.babycenter.com/ My comments today are in.....PURPLE

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead (I'm noticing them now - but of course I want MORE MORE MORE! I usually feel the baby at work when I'm sitting at my desk or at night when we're watching TV on the couch.). His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit ("standing out from his head a bit", Like my brothers?). A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born (If you haven't done so already please donate to my MS Walk! MS is the breakdown of the Myelin that my baby is now growing. How wonderful would it be if my baby could be kept from the worry of having MS!) . If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place (Yay!). If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. (I've really never known any boys that like to hide their genitals, have you?)



How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow. (You can say that again!)

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort. (I have really grown to love my body pillow, especially now that Eric is sleeping in the other room. I wake up with fewer aches and pains and I find I can really get comfortable. It's great. I've also started prenatal massage so no more massages for me on my back or my belly!)

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon (March 23rd at 9am and I can't wait!!!). This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album! (The form I got says that our ultrasound will be 3D which is SO GREAT! The 3D ultra sounds are amazing!) I've attached an example below of a 3D Ultrasound. Isn't that crazy!!!!

Childbirth Prep Classes

Eric and I are now signed up for Childbirth Prep classes starting on June 1st. The Childbirth Prep Classes consist of 4 (1 per week) classes that start at 6:30pm and ends at 9:00pm. These classes are supposed to provide "essential information on pregnancy, labor, birth, relaxation techniques and the early post partum period. The class also includes discussions on medication, anesthesia and cesarean birth." I'm not going to kid myself and say this is going to be the most exciting class I've ever taken -- I just know that I'll feel better having taken it. I'm a planner at heart and the more information I'm given up front the better. It keeps me from going totally insane with panic from the unknown.

I also signed us up for the Maternity Tour. I'm particularly excited about this part. It's a tour of the Maternity Ward so I can become familiar with where I'll be delivering. It's only an hour long and it costs $0, which is nice.

We are delivering at Alexandria Hospital. Most of my friends have either delivered at Alexandria or Fairfax. I've heard that Alexandria is better because they have"Private rooms with hotel-like amenities" -- not to mention it's closer to our home.

I thought about taking the breast feeding classes but a few of my friends said it's not really worth the money. Eric's Aunt Patti is a delivery nurse at Alexandria and she said that you get that lesson during your stay at the hospital anyway. Plus, they have lactation specialists at Alexandria too. Whatever, I'm counting on this breast feeding process to work. You can't tell me that God gave me these enormous bazoombas for nothing!

Baby's First Trip to Atlantic City

This past weekend Eric and I decided to take a spontaneous trip to Atlantic City. Our good friends John and Claudia have a little house there and asked us to come and visit. The weather was going to be nice and I couldn't stop thinking about how after the baby comes these spontaneous trips will probably come to a screeching halt. Especially spontaneous trips that allow for Eric to stay out gambling until 7am with John! Ha!

While we were there I did ZERO gambling and drinking -- but I had lots of fun being with our good friends. Sunday Claudia and I treated ourselves to a spa treatment at Caesars Palace Resort. With any spa treatment at Caesars you get an all-access pass to the "Roman Baths" which was SO NEAT! For this though -- I had to go to Target to buy a bathing suit.

Bathing suit shopping has never been a fun experience for me. Is it for anyone? It's always such a depressing moment to see how much winter weight I put on. Then, add some neon lighting and some pasty white skin to the experience and I'm just about suicidal! For the babies sake -- I decided to just go with it and try not to cry. I mean, what's important here is that I'm getting a spa treatment. NOT what I look like doing it - right?

Anyway -- I thought I could get away with a normal girls XLarge bathing suit. But no. It didn't really work out that way. By the time the one piece bathing suit stretched over my little belly and half way up my enormous boobs the material ran out. It looked quite inappropriate. It looked topless. I think I tried on 3 or 4 normal bathing suits before I just gave in and went for a maternity suit. The one I got is pretty cute -- it's black and sassy. See?

17 Week Belly Comparison

I thought this would be something fun to do. It might turn out disastrous but I think it will be an interesting experiment even if it depresses me.

My pregnancy mirrors my good friend Jen's pregnancy. She was due on August 12th of 2008 and I'm due August 13th 2009. So it's been fun to share things about our pregnancies and to compare and contrast. Since I was the belly photographer for Jen -- and I am in possession of these pictures -- I thought it would be fun to compare her belly pics to mine.

The first belly picture I took of Jen was 17 weeks. I am now 17 weeks. **Keep in mind when you look at these pictures that Jen a.k.a. "Little Jen" is a 5' 1" at weight person. You are comparing her to a 5' 8" slightly over weight person. So there will be some differences -- but for the most part I think our bellies look to be on the same track!

**Jen is in the green and I'm in the khaki.

This picture of Jen below is her just a few weeks later. Will I look like this?

Doctor Appointment - Update

Hello All!

I'm very happy to report that today's appointment went very well! I heard the baby's heart beat and it sounded so strong and much different than last time! It measured at 142 beats per minute. The doctor told me the norm is between 120 and 170 beats per minute -- so there you go.

I was cautioned about my weight today which was a little bit of a downer but I didn't take it too hard. The doctor just reminded me that I need to try not to gain more than 3 lbs a month. Since I haven't been exercising -- I feel I very much deserved the talking to. Starting tonight I'm speed walking. (And thank you in advance to Katie who is going to walk with me!)

The doctor also told me that I can make an appointment with the dermatologist to discuss my concerns about my break-outs. I will be doing that. It's hard enough having a fat ass. Having a fat ass AND zits might just send me over the edge.

My next appointment is on March 24th where I'll have the "BIG Ultrasound". This is the ultrasound where they'd normally tell us the sex of the baby but as most of you know -- we're NOT finding out the sex of our baby. This Ultrasound is also used to look for any fetal abnormalities -- which I'm sure there are none!

I had a Quad Screen today. That's the blood test they do between 15 and 18 weeks that tests for "Down syndrome and trisomy 18, which are chromosomal abnormalities, as well as neural tube defects, such as spina bifida." We should get those results in 2 weeks. No news is good news on that test -- so lets all pray for no news.

In final news - I felt the baby move for the first time last night. I THOUGHT I did -- I even told Eric when it happened -- but being a first time Mom I wasn't sure. Then today, in the doctors office, I felt it move again and the doctor heard it on the Doppler. She said, "That noise. That's the baby moving" to which I replied, "Hey! I felt that!" And so there you go. What does it feel like? It feels like I have a gold fish living 2 inches below my belly button. It's weird, fun, and beautiful all at once.

Have I told you how much I love being pregnant??????????? LOVE IT!

17 Weeks - Turnip

I'm on week 17! So exciting! I had a doctor appointment scheduled last Monday but because of some snow here it was rescheduled for today at noon. I'm excited and anxious to check up on my little one! I will keep you posted, as always.

The details about what going on in week 17 are below. As always, this information came from http://www.babycenter.com/. My comments are in Blue today.


How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker (Boy, I guess I've really got to give up the crack cocaine now!). Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom (I went around my office measuring things that are 5" and the closest thing I came to was a pen. So our baby is about the size of a pen, not including the legs.) She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop (Eric doesn't sweat much, or like at all, and I'd say I'm a medium sweater. So I wonder whose sweat glands she's taking after???).


How your life's changing:

Starting to feel a bit off balance? No. As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts (everything between my breasts fits snugly, they're huge.)

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier (I do, but why? It doesn't help that I stare at my computer all day either.) Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

How Cute!

This week we have received two adorable gifts from friends. They are all items that make you say, "Oh, how CUTE!" out loud. Me? I get a squeaky voice when I look at them and they give me an all over warm and fuzzy feeling!



These two pair of booties came from our friend Heather D. in California. It was a really cute surprise gift and with it came a sweet letter that explained we are to pass on which ever pair does not work out.


This amazing ensemble came from my work buddy, and partner in crime, Lori. She inspired me with this little set and so I registered for the matching towel and wash clothes. Too cute!

Day Care

What are you doing for day care?

That's the question of the gestation period!

I am so happy to say that Eric and I are so very blessed. We have so much great family and most all of them live near by. And I can tell you that I'm truly happy that they live so close. I don't have those Mother-In-Law/Father-In-Law issues that you see on TV. I love Eric's family to death and I couldn't ask for a better tribe to raise my child with. My family is close too. They are scattered around the area and are always around to chat with, eat with, hang out with and sometimes they just like to drive me crazy (Rob). It's great.

To add to all that amazing family goodness -- Eric's Mom is going to be our day care provider! Such relief! She's good. She's affordable. She's clean. She's prepared!

At first I thought that we would get a fancy pack-n-play to bring to the house so that Elaine could have a bassinet, crib and changing table all-in-one. But no! This woman has the works! And it's not just that. It's all SPECIAL. How cool is it that our child will be rocked in the same craddle that Eric was rocked in! Or walked in the same baby carriage that Eric was walked in! Oh my God! We tease Eric's Mom all the time for holding on to old stuff but this is just too neat!

Sometime this summer, when we're closer to the baby's arrival, I will take pictures of the craddle and all that. As always -- stay tuned!

Snow Angel

Dear Baby,

Once upon a time when your Mommy was very little - her Mother (your Grandma Av) showed her how to make a snow angel. Since that time your Mommy has been perfecting her snow angel so that some day she can show you how to make the perfect snow angel.


Believe me -- this comes in handy! When you can't BE an angel -- and you can't -- it's not in your genes -- just make one out of snow!

Love,
Your Mother