4 months and a brand new year!

Happy New Year! (I actually wrote this on Jan 5 - don't know why it says Dec 10) We managed to survive the holidays although they went by in a flash. I can't believe my baby has had her first Thanksgiving, Christmas AND New Year already! Thanksgiving was a little out of the ordinary since we had to celebrate it a couple weeks early. I hope that doesnt do any long term damage to the baby! I'm sure she didn't notice anything. Bryan's cousin in Florida was married the day after Thanksgiving and Bryan and his whole family were there. Kate and I got to stay home since it was going to be a bunch of stress for us anyway. The family is dying to see her but that will have to wait until the next wedding in April.

December flew by. Usually I have my Christmas tree up and running the second Thanksgiving turns but this year I was a little preoccupied. It seems like I JUST put everything up and now I have to take it down?! I didnt notice much of anything this Christmas except that this is the first Christmas of the rest of our lives. Meaning I am no longer the child but the parent and will always be until the end of my days. That was a weird revelation...although it wasn't quite a FULL BLOWN Christmas Extravaganza being on the 'parent' side, we did get a little taste of it. Next year I'm sure will be a lot more fun...telling stories of Santa (whatever she can comprehend), leaving out cookies and having Kate unwrap her own gifts. That was sort of annoying having to unwrap a gift that I not only knew what it was but had wrapped myself. It was still a fun holiday from what I can remember. We had some family in town which included my Grandma (hi grandma!), my Nana, my cousin and my aunt/uncle all the way from Alaska. It was definitely nice to spend the holidays close to our loved ones. I know Kate liked meeting and hanging out with her Great grandma's!

Then there was the New Year...it came and went just like that...and now it's 2012. Bryan and I didn't make it past 9:30 that night...How embarrassing. Well, who really should be embarrassed is Kate who barely made it to 7:00p. Oh well, the world still revolves whether we stay up or not. And revolve it will since 2012 will definitely be an exciting year to experience. People turning the big 3-0 (myself included...ugggh), other people getting married (a much anticipated event abroad), and still many more firsts for my baby girl including her very 1st birthday! Can't wait until it's all here and yet I don't want it to go by too fast. Hopefully I can catch more than a glimpse!

UPDATE: I was so focused on the holidays that I forgot to mention anything about the evolution of my now 4 month old! Here they are:

Strength - this girl has muscles! Her thighs are like meaty drumsticks and she kicks them all around every chance she gets. Her back and neck are also becoming very sturdy. She got some new toys for Christmas that will help take her to the next stage of crawling/sitting so she's pumped I'm sure (although she doesn't know it yet!)

Vocals - we have a screamer...in a good way if there is such a thing. She's discovered her 'voice' and practices multiple times a day on the full spectrum of pitches. Her new fav is the highest she can currently go...with a smile on her face of course!

Motor skills - her hand/eye coordination is improving greatly. She has no trouble touching or picking something up with one hand but is now working on grasping things with both hands. You can tell she's really focused when she's got something in front of her, both hands have it and she almost cross eyed staring it down. She also pushes out her lips like a little duck...super cute. Shes also mastered taking out her pacifier but still cant get it back in...which is becoming a very old trick in my opinion. Her hands are still her favorite snack and I'll catch her just staring at her hand while she moves it and rotates it around ever so slightly...can we say obsess much? LOL Jk.

Height/weight - height: 25.5 inches (90%), weight: 15.5 lbs (80%), head: Idk exactly but she's about 50% which is a lot better than 20%! She als

o got shots :( and verbiage on how to introduce solid foods next month! Yay! Also wasn't sure if she was legitimately teething but now I know she has been since her little gums are swollen and I THINK I can feel teeth under there! So I'm not sure how long they will take to show but we're in the process.



UPDATE!!!! We have teeth! I noticed them around Jan 13th which would have made her about 4 months and 1 week old...such an over achiever!! :)

2 months...my little lady

Well here we are...2 months already! Thinking about the hospital experience seems more and more like a distant dream. I'm starting to forget the details of those couple of days...and I'm sure pretty soon I'll just forget it all (right!). Sort of like, 'where did this baby come from?...she seems to have fallen from the sky.'

Kate is growing like a weed, not like one of those ugly, annoying ones...but a pretty, delicate one. We went to her 2 month check up and she is 11lbs 15 oz and 25 inches. She's in the 95% for weight, 75%-90% for height and 10%-25% for head circumference...so she has a small head, so what?! Her hair is turning a brownish-auburn (in the sun) just like her mama's and she's smiling more and more everyday. Daddy makes her smile the most, but I'm a close second I'm sure. He's got those big, bushy eyebrows that I can't compete with!



Little girl trying to sleep off her ear infection.

She had her first ear infection, currently has it actually. The doc confirmed it. She had been a little stuffy and her eyes seemed a little puffy and watery this past weekend. She wasn't all that fussy but was actually pretty subdued which was probably a 'not so good' sign. She's on antibiotics now and is taking baby Tylenol when it gets bad. She's been a champ though...the worst seems to be when she needs to take the medicine. She HATES the taste and tells me so! She's also up for her 2 month vaccinations which I'm not happy about...5 total vaccines. I talked with her doc and he agreed to split them up into two sessions. So instead of getting a boat load of toxins at once, she will only get a handful of toxins at once...boy do I feel better. Yes I know its for the best and is necessary to prevent the actual sicknesses...but it still makes me cringe.

Everyday she seems to become more mature. Just becoming aware of her surroundings and of us. I can tell just by looking at her that things are starting to register. A sort of familiarity or routine is beginning to take shape...not that we are in any sort of routine or schedule...(what the heck is a schedule)...but it seems to be not so surprising anymore. Baths, for example, seem to be anticipated once the familiar motions start...as well as eating of course. There's an understanding that when mommy puts her in her bouncy chair and positions her in front of the shower, it means mommy is about to TAKE a shower which means baby will sit content until mommy is done...and that she does! She's also started to make her little noises, her 'conversation' skills are forming they say. So I try to have a conversation with her every chance I get...its usually just me saying 'yeah?, uh huh and 'tell me more baby girl'. Also her hands have become her most favorite snack. I don't know what all the hype is about but apparently they taste really good since she can't keep them out of her mouth!


Good morning!

1 month...growing baby!

It's been 1 whole month already! The days and nights have all blurred together...mainly because there is no rules in the newborn world involving what happens in the days and nights. Sleep? So overrated...not really. The whole hospital experience is still a very surreal dream according to both Bryan and I. Every time I think about it, it literally feels like some weird, chaotic dream...but makes my heart feel warm and fuzzy at the same time.

The first couple weeks were definitely rough. Not going to lie about that at all. Breast feeding was difficult and painful and I remember vaguely thinking this one night (groggy headed from severe lack of sleep) "how am I possibly going to keep this up?" The formula answer popped in my head for a millisecond but then I squashed that quick...but the pain was starting to get so bad that every time it was time for her to eat, I almost wanted to shed an "ouch it hurts so bad" tear. Top that off with only sleeping 1-2 hours at a time back to back (to back)...and you have yourself classic new mom syndrome...mopey-ness, loss of appetite, disheveled look, the exhausted "distant stare"...

BUT, then we started evolving...getting into an erratic routine (oxymoron?? jumbo shrimp?). Ok not so much routine, but just getting used to each other and what we needed each person to do. She needed to eat, sleep and get her diaper changed...and I needed to provide all of those things. I'd like to say that now at this point of my baby being 1 month old, I am getting way more sleep, interpreting her cries and occasionally doing personal things (i.e. writing a new post in my blog). Daddy has been helping out when he can. He is a hard working man, providing for his family you know..but he has definitely done his share of poppy diapers.

The breast feeding perseverance paid off. At her 1 month check up she has grown 2 inches (now 22 1/2 inches long; in the 90th percentile...maybe basketball or volleyball?) and she is now 9lbs 13 oz! That is compared to 7lbs 4 oz at birth...thicky-thick girl. She is definitely starting to fill out in a cute chubby baby way. Not Michelin Man style...yet...but rolling that way. She has done a couple 5 hr sleep sessions (YAY!) and is starting to be content laying down by herself (while still awake)...although I have noticed that she likes to be with somebody more than being on her own. It really melts my heart when I can tell that she recognizes me. I don't exactly know how to describe it, but her caressing my arm when I'm holding her as she tries to go to sleep or when she buries her face in my chest and holds on to me tight. Maybe thats just regular newborn mannerisms, but it still feels good.


"WHERE'S THE MILK MAMA?!"

We've done a few outings and she has done great for the most part. I definitely chalk it up to being prepared...so, go me. We had our first successful trip to the grocery store which I think is a major accomplishment...and I'm not talking little dinky Fresh and Easy, few item trip. I'm talking full blown Safeway $100+ big grocery, almost every isle, extravaganza! I purchased a Moby Wrap (a sling thing) that she seems to love. I just wrap her up in that, sling her on the front of me, and I go hands free grocery shopping (or whatever). Great hippy invention.

Before we know it she will be 2 months, and then 6 months...and then 18 years. Time has been flying by which everyone says happens. I'm glad we are in the technological time when I can snap a pic on my phone and download it to the internet in minutes...never to be lost or forgotten again.

39 weeks...and SHE'S HERE!!!

 So little Kate (Katherine after her mama) came very fast! I had a doc appt on Tuesday morning (Sept 6th) when he said I was a tight 3 cm dilated and about 70-80% effaced which is a BIG change from the previous week of 1 cm and zero effacement. So he stripped my membranes (just a quick sweep of the cervix to help things along) and told me to keep active the next few days and "we'll see what happens". So that day my sis-in-law and I walked the mall, went to lunch, Target...just out and about pretty much all day. I was getting periodic cramps that were a little stronger than regular Braxton Hicks but nothing too steady. I did notice that they may have gotten a little stronger as the day went on but nothing too bad. Then around 7:30 that night they started to get stronger and more rhythmic. We probably tracked them for 2 hours or so and they ended up being around a minute long and between 3-8 minutes apart. We finally thought that this may be it and we should maybe go to the hospital (Bryan was running around the house grabbing items, making last minute lists, etc) ...but there was still a little bit of doubt in me that I wouldn't be far enough along or whatever and they'd end up sending us home but we went anyway.

So we get there and get placed in triage to check in. By this time they are getting more intense and closer together although we stopped actually timing since I was hooked up to the monitors so I don't know what the rhythm was but apparently it wasn't too impressive to the nurses since it took FOREVER in triage...like 2 hours or something. So anyway, she checks me when we arrive and I'm about 4-5 cm at this point (so basically I've progressed a cm or so since my doc appt that morning) but before they can give us a straight answer (whether I'm far enough along to stay) she tells us to go walk the halls to see if I keep progressing. By this time the contractions are pretty strong. Bryan's wondering why the heck we need to walk the halls at this point (I'm clearly progressing) but I was like "no it's ok I've seen this on tv, it's normal)...so I thought. So we walk the halls and about 30 minutes later she checks me and I'm already at 6 cm! So we can stay (YAY) but by this point I'm done with the pain. I give in and request for the epi...terrible I know but I told myself I tried my best and that was that...I mean the pain was bad but if I was only 6 cm at that point, I got a little nervous of how it was going to be later on so I gave in.

So at 6 cm I request the epi...we are STILL in triage and continue to be there for, in my opinion, an unnecessary amount of time...who really knows how long, I just know that I'm In pain, Ive requested an epi and these people aren't moving fast enough! So they finally come to move us to a labor room (by this point I've had some MAJOR pain contractions and am getting to a breaking point). They tell me I should walk to the labor room (reminder getting MAJOR contractions at this point) and Bryan just looks at them and tells them to get a wheelchair. She says "but this may be your last chance to walk around"....again, enough talk-y more get-y the wheelchair lady. They finally come with the wheelchair, like 10 minutes later, after realizing that I can only take 2 steps and practically become paralyzed from pain. Once in the labor room I start severely asking what is taking so long with the epi. By this point the contractions are ridiculous but for some reason everyone is just taking their sweet time. Now I've actually gotten to the point where I am starting to push uncontrollably during my contractions and am freaking out because I swear I can feel her head coming down. Then there is a point where Bryan and I have been left alone in the room. I tell him I can feel her head and can't control this pushing through my contractions (I'm am soooo trying hard not to push but my body is taking over). So Bryan runs to grab someone, the nurse checks me again and what am I at?? 9 CM!!!! NOW people are finally starting to move! Its like my progression was in fast forward and everyone had been in slow motion. At this point the only thing I can remember thinking is the sheer terror I felt when I thought that I was going to run out of time and have to do this all natural. So epi doc comes in, AFTER they tell me I have to drain a bag of saline via IV first before he can start...at least the nurse was squeezing the bag as hard as she could. The epi doc attempts to do his thing in the teeny amount of window time I now have between intense contractions and 10 mins later THANK GOD I finally feel relief!! But no rest yet since by this point I'm 10 cm and 100% I am the real pushing stage...so here we go and bam 20 mins later she's out and WOW I'm in shock! I think Bryan's in shock too since it all happened so fast we didn't really have time to react. So a majorly fast labor of 4 1/2 hours...20 minutes of which was pushing time.

Well because of my quick progression, I did have some issues with blood loss afterwards which was scary. I was told when the uterus goes through a quick and intense labor like that, it sort of sends it into shock because its working so hard in a short window time that it will sometimes have problems with clotting properly and contracting afterwards. I ended up losing a lot of blood via clots and ended up fainting a couple times and feeling EXTREMELY weak for the remainder of the day/night and into the next day. They were having trouble getting it under control and were talking about doing a uterus scrape (?) and then a blood transfusion if that didn't work. Yikes! It was pretty scary there for a bit but luckily (and finally) I recovered and didn't need either of those.

Ahh but its all ok and all worth it now! My little girl I swear gets cuter and cuter every time I look at her! Its so crazy and surreal when I try to wrap my brain around everything. I could just stare at her forever! Baby Kate born on 9/7/11 weighing 7lb 4 oz (THANK GOD no 9+ baby for me!!!!) and measuring in at 20 1/2 inches. Wooo!

37 weeks...Effacements and Dilations

I went in for my weekly doc appointment today and I am 1 cm dilated but with no effacement (I think, or maybe very minimal)...I don't really know, he said my cervix is still long. BUT 1 cm is SOMETHING! Right? I had been having some very mild crampiness for a couple days. It felt like mild period cramps from my lower back and abdomen. Maybe that was the dilation process? Here's to continued progress!

So 37 weeks (tomorrow technically) which gives me only 3 more weeks left. It is sort of crazy how fast this last trimester has gone. When I think back on where I was back at 12 weeks or 20 weeks it seems so far away but I feel like these last few weeks are flying!

This is also my last week of work before my leave. My last day is actually on Saturday but I get Friday off for a comp day (short week!). Friday is the day of my prenatal massage (YAY!) which I am very excited about and am in desperate need of. I heard this girl is great too which is very promising.

The nursery is still looking the same (sad to say) but I haven't had my shopping partner (sister) to go out with so I havent gotten anything done. All of the necessities are there (clothes, diapers, etc) but just the room doesn't look like much so sadly no pictures yet. Who wants to look at a bare walled, no decoration room? Along with that, because I haven't seen my sister, I also haven't seen the shower pictures either to be able to proof and upload! I'm a slacker...not usually...but definitely slacking on this. Hopefully I get them up before the baby actually gets here!

35 weeks...PREPARATIONS!

I am 35 weeks today and it's coming down to crunch time. I just wish she would tell me when she was going to come out so I can put it in my calendar. All this unknowing is very unnerving to a list maker/planner. Well IF she does decide to come earlier rather than later we are SO ready! Last weekend Bryan and I were extremely productive. We finished buying all the major necessities that we still needed and put them all together. Car seat, swing, pack n' play/bassinet...I've got some last minute supplies being shipped (bedding/mattress pads, etc) and just need to do some final decorative touches with the nursery and we are all set. It would be ideal if she came sometime after Aug 23rd since I'm not too keen on her being a Leo. Nothing against Leo's and not that I really follow those astrological signs but I myself am a true Scorpio and I think they are, for the most part, a good reflection of someone's personality. Bryan's sister is a Leo and I've heard some of her baby stories...AGAIN not that there is anything wrong with Leo's but if this little girl is anything like her little (Auntie) Maria, we are in trouble!

Two weekends ago was my baby shower which was fun. My sister was a perfect hostess, decorating in the themed colors of pink and soft green. We had it down in Tucson at the Blue Willow Restaurant which was nice since I got to see some family friends I hadn't seen in awhile. We got some great gifts that will help out a lot...and of course, being in Tucson I got my Eegees. Strawberry/Pina...yummmm. No pictures right now, I'm waiting to proof them from my sister's camera...just to make sure no shots have been taken of me at a bad angle.

We are almost done with all of our baby classes. We've taken Baby Care and Childbirth Prep. Tonight is the last one which is infant CPR. So far both classes were very informative with great tips so I'm really glad we took them. Just another way to get us in the mindset. Bryan poo-poo'd the 'Just for Dads' class. I thought I almost had it in the bag but apparently it would be cutting too much into his work-time.

My next doc appt is on Monday which is the start of my weekly visits. I've been having more frequent Braxton Hicks lately which after consulting the internet and the nurse at our Childbirth Prep class, is probably due to not drinking enough water and getting farther along in the pregnancy. I'm not sure about the water part since I do try to drink a lot at work. I did an experiment today and have drank just over 66 oz and have already had 8 or so BH contractions...and its about 4:45pm. I tend to get them more later in the day usually, probably because my body is tired. We'll see what the doc says. That's all for now!

33 weeks...minus 40 equals 7

So 33 weeks - 40 weeks = 7 weeks (give or take a week) = BABY TIME. Folks, that's single digit weeks that I can almost count on one hand...almost. I'm nearing the end and have begun to get periodical feelings of dread thinking about the day of birth (well labor is where the dread is stemming from). We have three baby classes coming up. One tonight (Baby Care), then a two parter in the beginning of Aug (Birthing Prep) and then an infant CPR class. There's another class called "Just for Dads' that Bryan doesn't know he's attending yet...apparently it's just for dads.

The nursery is coming together finally. The summer time temp doesn't help the forward production at all, especially since the room is upstairs (heat rises most definitely). BUT the room is painted, the wainscot is up, the dresser is getting final touches and the crib is assembled. It's starting to look more and more like what it's intended to be and you can be sure I will post pictures when it's complete.

Little baby Auman is getting big, not only is my belly protruding more but her punches and kicks have reverted more to extended pushes like she needs to stretch out. She still bulges out sometimes and I can never tell which part of her it is...I just know it's not very comfortable for me because usually she's pushing back on my guts or something. I just give her a gentle rub and she rotates back down eventually. What I find cool is when she pushes down near the bottom of my belly AND she pushes up into my ribs at the same time. I think I actually felt her little heel last night poking out. It was protruding out like crazy and it felt like a little boney cone if that makes sense. Another lady asked me if I was having twins...my doc keeps assuring me that my measurements are normal. So there...lady.

28 weeks...in triple digit weather

Believe it or not, many things have happened since last week's post. For one, summer has officially arrived. When I leave work (at 6pm) it feels like I'm walking to my car in an oven...or if there is a breeze...it feels like an oven with a hairdryer set on hot (not warm) blowing in my face. Yesterday's high was 112, today's was 111 but tomorrow should be a cool 108. This frazzled haired girl who bagged my groceries looked me in the eye point blank (with a blank stare no less) and said "GOD it must suck being pregnant in the summer"...my awkward and hesitant response (trying to pry my eyes from her hollow expression) was..."uh, yes it does". All I gotta say is at least I get paid to sit in a cold office all day.

Speaking of strangers saying stupid things to me about about being pregnant, a women asked me when I was due and then asked "is it just one...or two?" implying that I was bigger than she thought I should be at this point. Another girl asked "when's your due date? Soon?"...yes I suppose, if you think 3 months is 'soon' in pregnancy years.

I've started with the Braxton Hicks contractions which are harmless and apparently everyone seems to get them at some point. The doc says summer brings them on even more since a lot of times dehydration is one of the triggers. So what are Braxton Hicks contractions? Well for all you lay people out there, they are mild, non painful contractions of the uterus. Just one of the ways the body gets ready for the big day. What it feels like? Pressure is what it reminds me of. Like someone is pressing down on my intestines, uterus and bladder...oh and my belly gets as hard as a rock...like really, really hard.

Frequent urination has set in again. Much like the 1st trimester I am getting up on average of 3-4 times during the night. I can tell the baby is definitely sitting lower because I can definitely feel her on my bladder. It probably isn't helping that I'm drinking fluids almost every waking minute of the day. Why am I doing this? Please refer back to paragraph one.

Another fun fact that preggo women get to experience is the softening of the ligaments that hold the pubic bone together. Which was surprising to me since I thought it was one solid bone...but apparently I missed that day in Human Biology. So what does this mean? Well when you have a medicine ball strapped to your belly and you are laying on your side and want to rotate to the other side, say in the middle of the night, the easiest way to do this is rolling on your back from one side to the other. Well for those of you who haven't had a medicine ball attached to your belly, this maneuver is harder than it seems. When you dig your heels into the mattress to get some resistence and momentum to fling your weighted belly to the opposite side, your pubic bone shifts under the weight and pressure of your rotating hips causing pain and sometimes (in my case) popping. Yes that's right...not only do I have a bad habit of cracking my knuckles and knees, now I have a new addiction...pubic bone. Just kidding, it actually scares me everytime it happens I guess since no one is expecting to hear and feel their pubic bone crack while they are half asleep trying to maneuver comfortable sleeping positions.

Which brings me to my next topic - sleep. It wouldn't be half as hard to accomplish successfully if I wasn't waking up every couple of hours to use the restroom. Also, if I had more options other than left side/right side, I could probably rid myself of the sore hips I tend to battle with in the night. So I've tried to improvise somewhat. My personal pillow count is up to four...Bryan's still in last place with two. To ease the pressure of my aching hips, I place two pillows parallel to each other long ways up and down, one pillow horizontal at the top for my head and one pillow in between my legs. I place my hip of choice into the 'canyon' of the two parallel pillows. By doing this, I have the majority of my weight distributed on both pillows and my hip is somewhat relieved. Pretty clever I must say...

Well even though this post might seem a little negative...its really not too bad. The heat is tolerable since I'm indoors all day and yes my belly is getting big but the doc says I'm measuring normal. Everything else that is happening is also normal...so I have nothing to complain about. Just thinking how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to be parents to our little girl who will be arriving in only three months! And yes, three months in a lifetime is very soon.

27 weeks...3rd Trimester here I am!

So I'm officially into my 3rd trimester! This actually may have happened last week but I still can't really tell which weeks are what exactly. I'm IN my 28th week but 27 weeks and 0 days have passed. So what does that mean? It means that I've been pregnant for awhile, that's what that means. My due date is in exactly 3 months from yesterday. Three, hopefully not TOO long and hot, months but you know I live in Arizona...and it was like 90+ degrees at 10 am today. That sounds like an exaggeration but it't not. All I have to say is thank GOD for A/C...the only other thing that would make the heat (and this pregnancy) better would be easier access to Eegees. If anyone doesn't know what Eegees is then you obviously have never been to Tucson. Eegees frozen fruit slushie drinks are an instant cure for the heat. You can get lemon, strawberry and pina colada with a rotating FOM (flavor of the month). This month - Tangerine Breeze...sounds delish.

So the latest and greatest is the nursery. I had a nursery painting party with the Aunties last weekend. My sister and sister-in-law came over and we knocked it out. It still looks under construction though because I am planning on wainscoting the walls so technically only 1/2 of the walls are painted. The bottom half will be covered with paneling so it seemed like a waste to paint all the way to the floor. Hopefully I can get the paneling done soon so that I can move on to the fun stuff. There will be pictures once it starts looking presentable so don't worry...oh and 'retro avocado' is the color. Might sound a little scary but I like it.

Physical changes - a big belly. The waddle is also in full swing although I try to correct it whenever I notice. If you ask me to move at a fast pace though, there's no use walking normal. It just can't be done. Also, my belly button has been pushed out to it's full capacity. It's so bad that you can see it poking through most of my tops. Another thing is that this baby is ACTIVE. She is a mover for sure! I get a little nervous sometimes that she's just going to kick, punch and wiggle her way out of there. She can go for like 15-30 minutes sometimes just rocking the heck out of my belly. Hopefully this doesn't mean she's going to be a hyper baby, bouncing off the walls and stuff...Bryan will have his work cut out for him if thats the case...LOL.

24 weeks...already!

Ok I know I've been slacking bad on posting. I am currently 24 weeks and since I havent posted since 20 weeks, I can safely say its been about a month! Well what has been happening to me lately?? Well for starters I look and feel like a full blown pregnant lady. There's no question about it now, I'm getting the comments from strangers like 'when are you due?... Is it a boy or girl?', etc etc...but THANK GOD I haven't experienced random stranger belly touches. I've probably just jinxed myself but I have been fortunate enough to steer clear of 'those' people. Honestly I don't even know what I would do if I found myself in that situation...knowing me I'd probably do nothing...unless of course it was a creeper old man or something.

I have been feeling A LOT of movement which doesnt just feel like little kicks and punches anymore. This little girl is apparently over a pound and around 12-14 inches in length so I'm sure she's just squished all up in there so any movment she makes I can probably feel. Even though I've been aware of her for several weeks now, this crazy feeling never seems to get old. In fact my new amazement is just watching my belly. I can actually see her poking out on various spots sometimes which is awesome!

Other news, we've started on the nursery...YAY! Over the long weekend we added a new dresser which will become half dresser, half changing table and we've also ripped out the old half done, mismatched floorboards and added brand new ones. Next project is wainscotting the walls and painting. After that, window treatments and closet organization. Hopefully I can get it all done in time...I know myself and projects (well this has been a recent discovery since we bought the house)...the projects take 10x longer than anticipated and my patience for them is 10x shorter.

My next doc appt isn't for another 3 weeks or so. It would have been sooner but he's going on vacation for a week and a half...that's right, get it all out of your system now because when September rolls around you're going nowhere...except Banner Desert Hospital. Speaking of Banner Desert, we've got three classes booked which should be interesting. Birthing prep, infant/baby CPR and first aid and then just a general baby care class. All of which I'm sure will be highly informative, especially the birthing prep class. I might have to bring a vomit bag for Bryan if they happen to show any videos. Squeamish that one...

More later (or sooner hopefully).....

20 weeks...ITS A GIRL!!!

Has it really been since week 17 that I've posted?? I can't even imagine what I've been doing. Well first things first...ITS A GIRL!!! YAY!! We found out today at our ultrasound appointment (which was a very cool experience). Bryan is pumped since he's wanted a girl since the beginning and I'm just thrilled that we finally know...you know, it didn't really matter either way, but little girls are just so darn cute! And what's better than having a mini me?! ...even though I have a feeling she's going to be a daddy's girl ; ) I am excited to take the next steps...names, clothes, nursery, etc because I just feel like we've been on hold this whole time.

So the ultrasound place was at this doc office that specializes in fetal genetics and they were raved about by my gyno and boy was he right. These people know their stuff! We were in there for a good 45 minutes looking at our baby's organs (heart, stomach, bladder, kidneys, etc), bones, brain and of course female parts to determine she was a she! What a cool and informative experience! And what a movin' and shakin' baby we have! On top of the info session and pics, the lady also recorded our entire session so we have a good 20 minutes worth of our little girl in action....SUPER COOL!




Now that she's getting bigger I can definitely feel her kicking and punching more. I now feel her every single day and multiple times throughout the day as well. I'm getting used to the feeling but it still takes me by surprise sometimes to really picture her moving around in there! Bryan has felt her once too which was very cool for him. I think it shocked him a bit how forceful it felt.

Looks like she has Bryan's feet - cute!!

GIRL!

Her little nose and mouth.

17 weeks and little pokes

Well I think it's safe to say that I've officially felt the little baby poking me from the inside. I might have felt something earlier but I don't want to say for sure because it could have easily been some other movement going on in my insides...but now FOR SURE I can say that I've felt the baby. Sadly no one else has felt it because it doesn't seem to be strong enough to feel from the outside. So what it feels like: like a little poke from the inside of my belly in the region under my belly button...and sometimes it feels like a swish like some sort of water movement. I can usually feel it when I'm sitting quietly. I haven't noticed a particular time of day or anything but I read the babies are usually most active around 9pm-11pmish...or in other words late night and past my bedtime. I do sometimes notice some movement in the very early mornings like after I get up to go to the bathroom and then lay back down trying to fall back asleep...but its definitely not forceful enough to keep me up, wake me up, etc...except for the one last night at dinner. We were out at a restaurant and I was eating my Mediterranean salad, minding my own business, when WHAM! A swift boot (or maybe it was a karate elbow punch or maybe a head butt) straight to my belly. I almost choked on my salad leaves! My eyes went wide and I let out a muffled yelp...not that it hurt at all, just that it caught me so off guard. At that moment I wished we were at home so I could grab Bryan's hand and have him grope around to try and feel another one. That was an unmistakable kick (or punch) letting me know that I'm not the only one around here who likes Mediterranean salad...or maybe it was more like "enough with the salads, give me a frickin cheeseburger!"...am I right? :)

Only a little over two weeks until we find out the sex (April 27)! It is going by a little quicker than it seemed to be before which is great. We have our predictions from friends and family and so far the girls side is winning. I have no idea anymore...I used to think definitely girl...then I thought ok it could be a boy but now I'm sort of thinking girl...? Just like last night, when I felt the kick, I said "she just kicked me super hard!"...I have no idea what made me say she but I did. I do have a preference but I don't really want to say because I would feel sort of bad if it turned out being the opposite. Not that they would know, but I don't want any hint of them thinking I prefered them to be something other than who they are. I just want a healthy baby...and I'm sure it won't make any difference when it comes right down to it!

16 weeks

I guess I should do a new post even though I don't really have any new updates. The only thing new happening is the growth of my belly. Which is starting to look pretty large at the end of the day. Also it used to look, in the morning upon rising, just a little bloated and then it took the course of the day to fully expand out...but now I am definitely waking up with a belly. I find bending over to be a new challenge where I awkwardly have to turn my knees outward and half bend my knees half bend at the waist. I'm sure I'm in a perfect plie (plee-ay? Ballerina term...for the lay person) if someone should have the pleasure in watching me pick something up.

Also the belly button thing still gets me jazzed up. I noticed something fascinating today, in a weird and tmi sort of way. If I stand and shift my weight to the right or left, my bellybutton rotates in the opposite direction like the baby is pulling on it from the inside. Strange right?! I thought so...

I'm feeling pretty good. In fact I'd say I feel as though I'm not really pregnant aside from this extra weight and bulge in my tummy area. Oh and I'm still eating every couple of hours which is annoying and nice at the same time. Annoying because I need to find something to eat constantly but nice because I get to take many, many breaks at work...and no one can say squat about it because I'm pregnant! So lay off me I'm starving!

Next doc appt is in about 3 weeks then the sonogram to find out the sex is the week after. I'm trying to gather ideas for the nursery but its a little difficult when I don't know which gender I should be leaning towards. 4 weeks can't come fast enough! I am just giddy when I tell people that April 27th is when we will find out the sex. Hopefully the baby will allow it since I've read sometimes they keep their legs crossed. I'm sure if that's the case, it will be a little lady in there that feels its improper etiquette to sit with her legs open in front of company. Jk that's a ridiculous train of thought I just got on...well that's all for now.

15 weeks...well technically 14 weeks and 6 days

We had an appointment with a new ob/gyn today. Same practice as my old doctor but different location and so much better! I finally felt good about my experience at the gyno. Not that I had a bad experience at thr other place but this doc was more engaging, patient, looked us in the eyes when he spoke (that's a big one) and they actually explained all of my testing that I had done up to this point. I really had no insight as to what was ACTUALLY happening as far as blood tests, normal levels, etc. Found out that my blood type is A+ which is pretty cool. Bryan is O- but since I'm a positive I will not have to get the RH shot...phew! A big needle NOT stuck in one of my cheeks is just one less thing I need to worry about. Also I found out that I'm technically 14 weeks even though I'm 14 weeks and 6 days...but i guess im supposed to say 14 weeks. So for the sake of not screwing up my blog I'm just going to keep rolling with it. Close enough.

I'm still trying to get over my sickness or whatever this is. I don't feel sick, just a little phlegmy (had to look up how to spell that) and a little nasally still. Speaking of mucous...brings me to my next topic.

MILK! I love milk. I liked milk growing up. Especially cold milk. But rarely would I just have a glass unless I was eating cookies or there was chocolate syrup in it but holy geeze! I now have to drink milk every day and I generally prefer it now as my drink of choice. Look out, I'm getting crazy here! I just asked this guy that I work with to please bring me back a cup of milk on his starbucks run. $2.45 later and I'm getting my fix. That's supply and demand at its finest...but I don't care. I NEEDED MY MILK!

Our next doc appt is on April 19 then we have our 20 week sonogram pic to find out the sex on April 27 woo!! I'm excited. I need to remember to bring a blank disc so they can put the pics and video on it. Hopefully the video will be better than the last one which was 3 or 4 3 second clips of the lady moving the remote thing. Couldn't even tell if the baby was moving or anything. What a gyp, anyway I heard great things about this other sonogram place so we shall see. YAY!!

14 weeks...and who's belly button is this?! (or is it 'whose'?)

First of all...isn't this just the CUTEST little thing you've ever seen?!?!?! It's my baby!! This was one of the sonogram pics we got from the last doc appt checking for Down's Syndrome and other genetic defects. Prognosis: normal. YAY Its still too early to determine the sex but we will be finding out as soon as we possibly can. I myself am a huge planner and I couldn't bear to spend another 6 months speculating. We already have a handful of people that think it's a boy so far...and only a couple who think its a girl.

So let me just explain the title...I've told you about the baby bump already happening, which I think is great. I always think pregnant ladies look cute in their little bumps...AND along with the bump, if you are not aware, the belly button of the mother starts to pop out (especially if she's got an innie) because of the location of the growing baby. Now I knew this, and me being an extreme innie, knew that this would be happening to me AT SOME POINT but I never knew it would happen so soon! Seriously my tummy and belly button look like some other woman's. My belly button is unrecognizable as my own and I've never seen the bottom of it until now. It hasn't fully popped out but its definitely out, which as you can probably tell, is freaking me out a little...but in a good way :)

Everything is going pretty well lately other than I have been sick the past few days. Nothing too serious, just some major allergies with a hint of sinus infection or cold. Not really sure. I feel 100% better than I did a couple days ago but I have been left with a nasally voice and a gnarly sounding cough. I ended up calling my gyno and they asked me to come in to check me out. I think they were worried about the flu and also she said that I looked better than I sounded on the phone..."thanks, I guess". I broke down and took some Benadryl since I couldn't stand the pressure in my sinuses anymore. That's the first medicine I have taken since my pregnancy. Call me crazy but I just would rather not have to take any of that nonsense.

No queasiness and I'm feeling pretty good, aside from the sickness. I am officially in my 2nd trimester, and have heard that it's just the best ever! Best trimester, loads of energy, feeling great, getting things done...any day now...I'm ready for it...so bring it on, I'm ready.

13 weeks...::sigh:: I'm tired...

And by tired I mean I feel run down easily. I don't think 'exhaustion' is the right word for it, well maybe it is if that means I don't feel like doing ANYTHING including standing up sometimes. I feel heavier which stinks because it takes that much more of the energy I don't have to do anything physically. I'm starting to walk for 10-15 mins a day during work. Once I get going (like a freight train) I have some momentum and it becomes a nice little power walk. I can't believe I am already starting to feel like this physically. One, because I'm only 13 weeks and two, because I live in Arizona and its only March so the heat hasn't even begun to show its nasty face...and all the AZ people can tell you that the heat just sucks the energy right out of you.

Anyhoo I had to buy my first maternity clothes (pants especially) because it was getting too tight in the waist area. I thought I was all clever coming up with my makeshift maternity pants by NOT buttoning OR zipping my pants and wearing a fitted tube top to cover the exposure....well let me tell you that maternity pants were created for a reason. The relief I felt when I put them on still amazes me. I wasn't aware that I was uncomfortable (and restricted) in my unbuttoned/unzipped pants! Never again will I underestimate the power of the stretchy waist.

Which brings me to my next topic...baby bump. So I am 13 weeks, 12 weeks when I had to buy the maternity pants, and already I have thickness that is undoubtedly a growing human. This I am also nervous about because I have 28 more weeks to go...how LARGE am I going to get?? And what does this mean?? Boy? Girl? I heard (through the grapevine of the 'Old Wives') that if I'm carrying low, then its a boy and high, carrying a girl. So the fact that I needed maternity pants at 12 weeks makes me think I'm carrying low...

Well the next appt is on Wednesday where we get the testing for Downs Syndrome and other genetic disorders. Strictly precautionary and very noninvasive. Just a sonogram and some blood tests. Even though I dislike getting poked in the arm with a hollow needle...I wouldn't call it invasive compared to some of the genetic testing procedures they do nowadays. We also know that this testing is not 100% accurate and we might get false negatives/false positives. With that said I pray that everything still looks hunky dory in there and that we get to see our little one bouncing around up on the screen...a sono pic will hopefully be on the next post!

12 weeks...is this for real??

So we've hit the 12 week mark and things are becoming more real. That sort of sounds bad since this has definitely been a real feeling for me ever since my body has become out of whack at about 7 weeks BUT what I mean is that we have slowly started to tell our family and co-workers of our news. The feeling that this is all definitely for real is setting in.

Changes that I have begun to notice: I no longer am plagued by constant nausea (YES!!!) but that's not to say that I don't feel like crap still. Oh yes I have this total body ugh-ness that comes in various waves. Can't really describe it or pinpoint it any other way. The indigestion has started since I can't go without taking 2 bites and feeling full up to my throat until I let out a few rumbling burps (which has begun to be the normal when I eat ANYTHING) to relieve the pressure in there. I've also noticed that I've started to get heartburn at night which really stinks since I've never really had that before...that really burns! I'm not really craving anything lately which I guess is good. I do feel tired but nothing over the top or out of the ordinary. I did however sleep for almost 11 hours the other night but again I probably could have done that before the pregnancy...and yes I'm aware that that's not normal for an almost 30 year old woman. (Did I say 30?! Uuugghh)

Anyhoo, my work slacks haven't been able to be buttoned for about a week now. I'm going to order one of those baby belly things that you hook onto your pants to give some extra room. What have I been doing in the meantime? Well I got super creative and have been wearing a long tube top that fits snugly on the bottom so it covers my unbuttoned pants and keeps them up while looking like a layered cami/tank. Pretty clever I must say.

I've been getting a large ice water extra ice from Starbucks for the last week and a half. One because I need ICE water (still) and two because it has to be filtered water and filtered ice and Starbucks has just that. I keep on thinking that I'm going to get nasty looks or rolled eyes when I order (because that's all I order) but I don't and they are always pleasant and happy to make it.

I've scheduled a prenatal massage on Sunday that I'm really looking forward to. Two Christmases ago my husband got me a massage package for an entire year so all of 2010 I was getting massages like every month and now I think my body is going through withdrawals. I would like to start stretching and working out on a regular basis also now that I'm starting to feel better. I definitely do not want to be a sloth these 9 months because I KNOW I will hate myself and regret it fully.

So next doc appt isn't for another 2 weeks which is for the genetic testing and Downs test...this is strictly precautionary and NON invasive...being our first child and first experiences I'd like to be as prepared as possible. Even though I've heard you can never be fully prepared for kids...

11 weeks and a heartbeat

Had my doc appointment last Wednesday and heard the heartbeat which was an awesome sound! SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH I'm assuming that it sounded at a normal rate because he didn't say anything otherwise...and I forgot to ask...but hey I'm new to all of this so I think he should have said something! Anyway husband thought it was a pretty awesome sound also. Makes me feel better that everything is moving forward like it should in there!

My nausea has let up some. I wouldn't say that its all better, just not constant anymore. I do however get feelings of just 'ugh-ness' that I can't really describe. I am still exhausted especially after a full day of work and I'm definitely starting to get thicker in the middle. I feel like my patience fuse is shorter also which I don't like. I'm usually very even keeled temper-wise so its a little unnerving to feel slightly out of control. Not that I'm going to fly off the handle at work or anything, but I have noticed that I have to take some serious deep breaths sometimes.

Still in the guest bedroom...its like my little hotel room now with my nightstand full of late night remedies. (Crackers, water glass, tissues, etc). I have been here so long now that dirty clothes have begun to accumulate on the floor. In my defense of not enjoying my time away from my husband and our bed, I DID try to sleep over there one night after my air purifier came in the mail. I think we had high hopes for that thing...that it was going to clean the air so much that it would smell like nothing in there. Not quite the case but it did make it better. So I attempted to sleep, and after zero minutes/hours of tossing and turning I resorted back to my little room...in my single bed and my cocoon of comfy blankets....then I had the most awful dream I have ever had in my life (almost-i may be exaggerating slightly but it was pretty scary)...anyhoo, in the dream I was at some girls house with a bunch of people who were my friends in the dream but have no idea who they were in real life (not important). So I get up to go to the restroom, take note that I am in my current state of pregnancy, so I go to start...well going....and all of a sudden my reproductive organs with the addition of my bladder and kidneys fall out of my women parts and are dangling above the toilet still attached to the inside of my body somehow. I saw it all...my bladder, uterus, kidneys and if that wasn't scary enough I even saw the little fetus (which happened to be outside of my uterus) in its little sack just a little tiny thing. Then if that wasn't bad enough, my kidneys all of a sudden turned into dead fish....just gross and scaly and nasty like piranhas all bony and skinny. So naturally I was freaking out there in someones bathroom so I found a plastic bag and put all of my insides inside it and ran out to find a doctor. Then I woke up.

10 weeks and growing...

We've made it to the double digits!!

So I think I've begun to show. Probably only I can notice it (and my husband) but I think its definitely getting bigger down there. I'm on to almost my last pair of work slacks which were so big about a month ago that I had never worn them before. No one has said anything or has become suspicious which is GREAT...that or I am surrounded by a bunch of people who do not pay attention to detail. Either way I don't care, I am not ready to let the word out yet. I have my next doc appt on the Wednesday coming up. That will be the start of 11 weeks and I believe the decision making appt to decide whether or not we want to do any genetic testing. I am for it (the non-invasive tests) primarily because this is our first child and I would like to be prepared. Not that either of our families are high risk for anything that we know of, but I just think it would be wise to be prepared as much as possible for whatever is to happen when this little one graces us with their presence. Hopefully then I will get another sonogram shot to post AND we haven't actually heard a heartbeat yet (just saw one flickering) so that should be good times as well.

As far as nausea, sickness and cravings go...its about the same. Still sleeping in the guest bedroom (my poor husband) I've been fine but I think my husband misses me ;). The nausea throughout the day tends to happen in waves. I'll have a good day with minimal nausea, I'll be able to eat somewhat like normal and I won't feel as tired. Then the next day I'll wake up with constant nausea, nothing helps, I'll feel like I have to eat something every 2 hours and never feel satisfied or relieved of the queasiness and I'll be exhausted...all day. I have a sleeve of saltine crackers next to my bed for when I wake up in the middle of the night paralyzed by starvation, which by the way is a great idea. I've been waking up to use the restroom about 3-4 times a night which is super annoying. Other than that fun times! :)

9 weeks...UGH THE SMELLS

So have I mentioned that the lacquer smell in my bedroom that is a combo between the new dresser and the newly stained headboard is triggering medium to severe nausea?...well I've come to the conclusion that it is just absolutely the worse smell so far (aside from the smell of my prenatal vitamins...uuggghhh) and it has gotten so bad that I actually have been sleeping in the guest bedroom for almost a week now. I still shower in our master bathroom and all of my clothes are in my closet still (in the master bathroom), so I have resorted to holding my breath while walking to and from our bathroom. Its pathetic...I know but I would rather do this than be in that bedroom honestly.

Cravings: I have been having this overpowering craving for Jack in the Box tacos for 5 straight mornings now. Just in the mornings, first thing...and also strawberry cream cheese. Not together because THAT would be gross but separate, in two separate meals. So what do I do? On my way to work I swing by Chompie's and pick up a blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese. Then I swing through the JITB drive through and pick up 2 tacos (for .99c). Then I go and pick up a Vitamin Water Zero Rise (orange) and try to down it while it is ice cold because its super gross once it starts warming up. Have I also mentioned that I am repulsed by any beverage that is not ICE COLD? Even water makes me gag if it doesn't have ice in it or is SUPER cold.

I do have to say that I am extremely fortunate to only have mild to medium (to sometimes severe only on specific occasions, see above) nausea and have only actually dry heaved once since this pregnancy thing started...and I will take partial credit for that because I might have accidentally gagged myself while brushing my teeth. But anyway I am very fortunate because there are a lot of women out there that vomit once a day, that can't seem to get out of bed, etc...so for that I am grateful.

Physical changes: Well I don't think I am showing per se but I am more solid in that area I guess? It definitely fluctuates from when I wake up to when I get home but that is normal for everyone to gain a little weight throughout the day. I have only retired two pairs of work slacks so far and they were on the brink of retirement anyway size-wise.

All in all I think its going very well. 9 weeks and I'm still chugging right along, business as usual...except for my sleeping quarters. More later.

8 weeks con't

So I just have to say that the nausea is getting worse...and worse. And I'm definitely more tired than normal. My bedtime nowadays is around 8:30-9p...and I would love to be able to lay down for naps throughout the day. I haven't thrown up yet still but I almost came ridiculously close to it one night smack in the middle of sleep. I woke up with such an intense queasy feeling and after running into the bathroom it subsided...a little. During the day the feeling of nausea is CONSTANT. Talk about annoying. The only times I feel somewhat ok is when Im eating something but then about 5-10 minutes after I stop eating it's back. Some people say this could last the entire first trimester. Others say it could last the entire pregnancy, WHAT!? Im also getting less and less productive at work. I really hope nobody notices that or I hope nobody says anything until I'm ready to tell people. I really don't like fibbing. The only good thing about all of this is that it is actually a really good sign that the baby is growing and developing as it should...meaning less and less chance of miscarriage. Oh and I also found that chewing gum helps. Not sure if it's the mint flavor or the chewing or what. Well I'm technically starting my 9th week so I really really hope that this is the worst it is going to get.

Physical changes: I haven't started to show yet but I am more conscientious of my abdomen. I don't think my boobs have gotten any bigger but they are definitely heavier.

8 weeks...ugh

So the nausea has kicked in. I haven't thrown up yet which I guess is a good thing...or maybe it's not. I don't really feel too tired which is a plus but I am not really liking this queasy thing. I haven't been sick in awhile and sick especially in the stomach area so I forgot how crappy this feeling is. An upset tummy is no fun! And I'm not sure why they call it 'morning sickness' because that's a lie. They should call it uncontrollable queasiness that lasts all day every day that really has no remedy. Thankfully it hasn't really hindered work or anything. I'm acting somewhat normal but I am eating about every 2 hours which I find helps. Just something small because the empty stomach feeling is the worst when it's upset. The thing that really is starting to upset me though is my prenatal vitamins are making me want to gag. I don't think they make me feel more sick after I've swallowed them, just the thought of taking them makes me want to vomit all over the place. I can already feel my throat tighten just thinking about it. Another thing that makes me sad is that the usual healthy meals and snack that I used to enjoy have no appeal to me whatsoever...oatmeal, veggies....ugh I'm actually craving bad stuff like tacos from Jack in the box and pizza (ooh that sounds good right NOW). I always wished that I would crave fruits and veggies as a pregnant lady but I guess that's too much to ask. Another fun thing that I've noticed is that certain smells make me sick...like every time I go into the pantry I get an overwhelming nausea feeling. I've started to hold my breath now every time I go in there. Also the new dresser in our bedroom has a lacquer smell to it that is just so gross...also probably didn't help that I just stained our headboard so that's super gross too. I have to stop writing because I have now managed to make myself queasy thinking about all of the nasty smells around me.

7 weeks

So I'm 7 weeks this week and I don't really feel anything out of the ordinary aside from some mild sensitivity coming from my uterus...I'm sure this is all in my head though. No nausea or tiredness which is great. I did go to a seminar for work that had an afterward cocktail hour. I told people I wasn't drinking because I had a headlight out...which was true in actuality but I'm sure one glass of wine would have been ok. Regardless no suspicions were raised. I should probably say that we have decided to keep this a secret until later on in this trimester. I have read that it is sometimes wise to only tell a few close people in the very unfortunate case of a miscarriage which has a relatively higher than I'd like to think probability in the first trimester (10-15%). I have already squealed to my sister 3 days after the first positive pregnancy test. But that's all for me. Of course we would love to tell both our sets of parents but we feel that the leakage factor is very high in doing so. They will find out soon enough...and hopefully will be so excited that they won't even realize how mad they are that we've kept it from them.

1st doc appt

I scheduled the doc appt for the next earliest availability. Which happened to be just 4 days after I took the pregnancy test so we didn't have to wait too long. (side note: I took 2 other pregnancy tests over the weekend JUST to make sure that this wasn't all a big fluke...results: all positive). So we get into the office and I take their pregnancy test...which is just a pee test anyway by the way. I did have a slight suspicion that just my luck, theirs would come out negative. But I was wrong thank you Jesus I'm not crazy! So we go through the usual questions and by usual I mean all the first appointment questions I had researched on the Internet. What is your view on natural birth? Where do you deliver? Will you be the one to deliver the baby or someone else? Etc etc. Then we scheduled a sonogram to determine exactly how far along I was. I could have told them this because I did an ovulation test and it was positive on December 22nd. So that would put me at six weeks...which was technically 4 weeks from when I ovulated but for some reason the docs always tack on 2 weeks?? I don't really get that but anyway...

The next day was our sonogram appt. I was SUPER excited about confirming the fact that I had a little growing cluster of cells in my uterus. Since I was so early along, they had to do the big stick thing with the egg-like shaped thing on the end...let's just say it wasn't an outside sonogram on my belly...but there it was! A little flickering something. She said the flickering was the heartbeat and that it was at a normal rate for that time period. It was so super duper tiny but it was still there! We got a due date of September 14th. My sister's birthday is September 27th, she of course said it was a perfect month to be born.

Note: In the picture, baby is the little white speck on the top...then the embryo sack is the translucent circle.

It's positive!

So I decided to take a pregnancy test last Friday after work. We were about to go to Four Peaks Brewery and I had missed my period by a day. Normally this wouldn't be too much cause for concern but I felt like my period really shouldn't be late since the last 3 months had been six week long cycles. That's right, I was in the 50s as far as days go in between periods so I didn't really think that my body should be going much longer. What was the harm in testing anyway? It could either be positive and prevent me from doing something I regretted later (like drink a whole bunch of beer that night) or it could at least give me assurance that I wasn't positive so I could drink a whole bunch of beer that night...so I tested. PLUS SIGN....almost literally as soon as my pee soaked through the little window. I think I panicked a little because I put it down out of sight right away to wait for the whole three minutes like the box said to do...three minutes later I picked it up again...YES, it was positive! I even checked the box to make sure I was reading it right. Holy cow! I think I stared at it for a solid minute before coming to. I can't even remember what I was thinking about honestly...I'm sure it was along the lines of how our lives are going to change forever, is this really happening right now, etc. Then I hear the garage door open. OMG how am I going to tell him?? I take a few deep breaths to calm my heart beating that is now in my ears. I actually had thought about this scenario a few times before. How would I break the happy news? Would I leap out of the bathroom with a giant grin and the proof in my hand? Or maybe I would take a picture of the stick and message it to him with some clever saying like "daddy's eyes only"? I couldn't keep on wasting this time in the bathroom, I'm just going to play it by ear once I get out there. I take a deep breath and reach for the doorknob. Then I hear her....my mother-in-law...NOOO!! Now what am I going to do? I quickly shove the stick in my pocket and open the door. It was all the usual pleasantries in the kitchen..."how was your day? Fine. How was yours?" etc etc. I quickly snapped back to the task at hand primarily because of the severity of the news that I was afraid was going to burst out my mouth but also because I had a pee soaked stick in my pocket...which is gross. So I made my way upstairs. That's it, he's going to need to come up to change out of his work clothes and if I go up now he'll want to know what I'm doing. So I get upstairs to our bedroom and I wait...and wait...about 5 minutes later I finally hear him come up. My heart is beating in my ears again. He's talking about something, I have no idea what because I can't hear him. I can just hear my own voice in my head saying "SHUSSHH! I need to tell you that I'm pregnant!" So I hand over the stick. He looks at it with extreme caution with a sort of WTF face. Then he looks at me and says what does it mean? In a tone implying that he knows exactly what this means. Then he looks back at the stick, then looks at me...a small grin forming. So I say" well I wouldn't be showing you a test that didn't matter"....and then we both stare at it with amazed and is this for real faces for about a minute before someone speaks. That someone is our rational side. Ok now let's not get too excited yet...let's make an appt with the doc asap...let's wait to hear what they say... I think this talk was more for him, because I was already evolving into preggo mode.