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