Could it be possible...

...to sneeze this baby out? Seriously... I have sneezed at least 20 times this morning. Maybe that will get things moving. Pray that I can sneeze myself into contractions!

The Final Countdown

Well... I made it to the OB appointment I was hoping to not make it to. Dr. Grouse checked me out and I am still not dilated and nothing is changing. She wasn't comfortable scheduling me for an induction this weekend, since my cervix (sorry- had to use that word) isn't ready so we had to go into next week. They couldn't get me in before the holiday, so it looks like I will be having a baby on Thanksgiving Day. I can't believe it. People have joked with me that I might be eating Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital, but I always scoffed and said, No way! I was sure- SURE!- that I'd have my baby before that. I think I fated myself for this! As we left the Dr.'s office, she said, "Now that we have that scheduled, you'll probably go into labor on your own!"

Good Lord... I hope she is right. I really hope. A lot.

Monday I go in to the hospital for a Non-Stress test (NST). They will hook me up to a fetal heart rate monitor and give me an ultrasound to make sure the baby is still happy and healthy and that my amniotic fluid levels are still normal. Assuming everything is normal, we will proceed with life as normal... if anything is wrong, I'll be induced that day.

I imagine everything will be fine (no reason to think otherwise), so that brings us to Wednesday. I'm scheduled to go in at 2:00pm to have Prostaglandin gel put in place. I'll be vague about that one... but basically it gets things prepared. Then I go home and rest up in preparation for Thursday.

Thursday: Thanksgiving Day. I'm on the schedule to be at Hoag at 6:00am. Now, I have to call ahead and see if they have room for me... if they are very busy, I could be pushed back to later in the day. Great. So at some point on Thursday, I go to Hoag, get settled in and they pump me full of Pitocin (oxytocin) to start contractions and get labor going. Inductions usually take hours... so I am guessing Kat will be born that night.

I managed to hold it together in the doctor's office yesterday, but once we were out and the elevator hit the first floor, I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. I'm so overwhelmed, tired, sore, and generally OVER being pregnant... I couldn't believe we would have to be waiting another full week. I can't sleep, my back hurts, I'm all swollen... and then... Thanksgiving Day?! Really?!! That means every plan that had been laid for the family as far as Thanksgiving goes was all messed up. I lost it... cried a lot (poor Matt)... then had a raging headache for the following 12 hours due to my stuffed up, tear and snot filled sinuses. Sweet.

Someone told me today, "Perhaps you just need to relax and not think about it. That is when it will happen." Ohhhhhhh- that is it! I will just stop thinking about it. That is super easy. Right.

So today after I get home, I am going to take a good, long walk and then maybe work on Kat's scrapbook. I've been begging God to let me go into labor this weekend, but I know his will is bigger (and better) than mine, so we will see. The thought of showing up at church on Sunday makes me even more emotional... I am haunted by the knowledge that I will be bombarded by everyone with such classic comments as:
"You're still here?!"
"When is that baby coming out, already?"
"What are you doing here?!"
And the ever popular, "Are you still pregnant?!" I don't know if I can handle it. I've been toying for hours over how I can successfully get in and out of church without being seen or noticed. I've never felt that way before. I can barely bring myself to answer my cell phone anymore, knowing it will be a baby status inquiry. Don't get me wrong- I love that people care and am blessed to have so many people thinking of us... it is just that I am asking "When will she be here?" every moment of everyday now and it is so emotionally draining to explain 6 times a day that no, she isn't here yet.

At least I know there is an end in sight... even though it is a full week away. She will be here soon and I will be tired in a whole new way. Right now I am just exhausted and discouraged, but all will be well soon.

We still don't have a baby!

I know that no one has ever been pregnant forever, but there is a first for everything, isn't there? I think it might be me. Nothing is happening. The ladies in the office say that she has definitely dropped, and I would tend to agree since I can feel her much lower now, but other than that... nothing. No contractions. No 'visible signs' that I will spare you the details of. Eh.

So November 11th, my due date, came and went without excitement. If I had a quarter for every person at church on Sunday morning that said something to the effect of, "You're still here?!" then I would have had a free lunch, for sure. Yep. Still here. Still pregnant. Ready to do this. I was able to attend the LCGS 50th anniversary party that night, which was fun. I felt some funny twinges by the time we got home, but by Monday morning they had passed. I get these 'twinges' mostly in the evening... maybe that is when she is lowest from all my happenings of the day, I don't know, but I certainly hope it means something! And now the 12th has passed. Today is the 13th and I don't feel different than any other day besides being more irritable and tired. I took a Tylenol PM last night, which was glorious, since I only slept maybe 4 hours total on Sunday night.

We have an appointment with my OB scheduled for this Thursday, the 15th. She said if nothing is happening by then that we will talk about "picking a birthday" (also known as inducing labor). I was really hoping that we wouldn't make it to that point, but it isn't looking hopeful. I really want Kathryn to be here by this weekend. Really. A lot. We're edging closer and closer to Thanksgiving and I was really looking forward to turkey, stuffing and pie... so if I am in the hospital I am going to be so crabby!

The wait continues... I hope that the next post I make is to announce that Kat is here with stats and pictures and all. Cross your fingers for us!!!!

2 days to go? Maybe...

My actual due date is only 2 days away. I have a feeling I am going to be saying Hello and Goodbye to November 11th without Kathryn making her debut. At the doctor's yesterday I was only "fingertip dilated" (meaning, pretty much nothing) and had no other signs of impending labor. I wasn't surprised... maybe a little disappointed, but not surprised.

Everyone keeps saying, "Oh, but you never know... you could go any minute! When I was pregnant... blah blah blah." So I've heard stories of women delivering early, delivering late and delivering right on their due date. What will my story be? Can't say... but my guess is late. My mom was due on October 9th and I was born the 12th, so I am taking that into consideration.

So at 39 weeks and 5 days pregnant, one's body is in a constant state of crappiness. Granted, I feel pretty good compared to some people I have talked to... I have had a lucky pregnancy. However, there are still some weird, bizarre things I am feeling that I never knew one could feel.
- Pardon the use of medical terminology here, but I've never actually been aware of my cervix until I was about 33 weeks pregnant. It has always just existed without me thinking about it. But holy moly. The first time I was bumped there by this baby, I knew it immediately. I can't compare it to anything I've ever felt, but it is startling. It stops you in your tracks... lets just say that. I was making dinner one night when it happened and let out an, "OOF!" I wasn't quite sure how to explain to Matt, with a puzzled look on his face, that I now knew precisely where my cervix was. Hmm.
- The same goes for being karate chopped from the inside on my rib cage and pelvis. Well, anatomically, I guess I'm being chopped in the pelvis and kicked in the ribs... as long as she remains vertex (the fancy word for "head down"). I've heard pregnant women talk about it. My own mother recalls very vividly- not exactly fondly- all the power kicks she received to the ribs. But I could never even imagine what it felt like until it happened. And DANG... it is bizarre. Alien-ish almost. What are you doing in there, baby?!
- As of about 36 weeks, I've been experiencing a phenomenon that makes me giggle at inappropriate times... my belly has corners! As she has started running out of room in there, there is pretty much always some kind of body part sticking out, creating a strange shape- an elbow here, a foot there... even her little butt creating an odd bulge right under my rib cage! Belly with corners... love it. Now at almost 40 weeks, the belly is never "round". To quote Mike Rowe, from Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel, "It is some kind of rhombus..."

So those are all the funny things... well, not really all of them, but I have used the word "cervix" enough times in this post that I will spare you from other strange details.

On Sunday, my due date, I will be sending Kathryn an eviction notice, so I hope she takes that to heart. Perhaps she has not received the memo that it is cool to come out any time now, so I will give her some slack. I'd rather not have to wait another full week, only to be pumped full of oxytocin to get labor started... come on out, Kat! Everyone is eager to meet you! And mommy wants bladder control back! Thanks so much!

Atta girl, Kat!

Okay... so, I guess she was just playing games with us last week. We went in for my 38 week appointment today and talked about the possibilities for a breech baby- external cephalic version (turning the baby around from the outside) was an option, but it sounds risky, painful and not necessarily effective, so we decided we would just opt for a scheduled c-section.

She then did the normal check-ups... actually, she let Matt use the doppler to listen to the baby's heartbeat- he was a pro and found it right away :) Then she did the internal and said I am not dilated or anything, but said she could feel "something". I told her that I had felt some crazy movement on Friday night and that it felt like she was back in the same position she had always been. So, she felt around my belly then decided we should get another ultrasound to see if she had flipped back to vertex (head down).

Off to the hospital... we got our ultrasound. The technician asked what we thought before she did the u/s... I said I thought she was vertex; Matt said she'd still be breech- just to make it interesting. Well... I was RIGHT! I knew she had done it! Then we got to check out her heart and her little face for a while- the tech thinks she has my lips... who knows.

So- we have 10 days until the due date. No signs of impending labor, but I guess you never know. Dr. Grouse won't let me go too far past the 11th, so hopefully she'll be here within the next 14 days. Hopefully. I can't wait!

As of now, I am excited, horrified, worried, thrilled and pretty much everything in between. It feels fairly unreal that I am going to go through labor and delivery in the next couple of weeks and will soon be a mom. Maybe it will be real when it all happens- maybe not. Who knows... all I know is that I am ready to meet this little girl and love the heck out of her! Hooray!

Kathryn is SO grounded!

Well, yesterday's OB appointment was not what I was expecting at all. I went in and everything was fine- no weight gain, good blood pressure, strong fetal heartbeat. Then she did my internal exam to see if I had dilated or made any progress. The words I didn't want to hear escaped her mouth, "Hmm... where did her head go?"

I'm sorry- what, did you just say?

She was head down just last week and the doctor knew right where she was. She said that most likely she was still head down, but they wanted to do an ultrasound just to be sure of her positioning since we're closing in on the end of this pregnancy. So I was sent to Hoag hospital, Matt in tow, to look at our little one. She started the ultrasound down low and I thought, "Oh crap... that looks like a butt." As she moved up toward my rib cage, I see a large sphere and finally said to the technician, "That is her head, isn't it?" She said, "Yeah... probably not what you wanted to hear, huh?" No. Not really.

So at 37 weeks and 4 days pregnant, we have a breech baby on our hands. Kathryn is in so much trouble. Seriously. What baby does that this close to their delivery date?! Only my stubborn daughter. So what now?

I haven't spoken with the doctor yet, and it sounds like I just sit and wait until my next appointment with her in a week. Then I guess she will check to see if Kat is still breech or if she decided to turn again... if not, I guess we could be looking at scheduling a c-section. Lame! I'm not a fan of the thought of surgery, but I guess it is what it is... whatever is best for her.

But seriously, Kat, take note- you have been warned. You'll be grounded until you're 15 if you don't bust a 180 pretty soon.

Doctor, doctor!

So I am officially seeing my doctor every week now until Kat makes her appearance into the world. I'm not a huge fan of going up to Irvine every week before work, but it is admittedly kind of an exciting time. Every week I will go in with the hope that some progress will be made and she will tell me that delivery is imminent! Not today, though. No progress, no changes and baby has only dropped a little bit... she still has some descending to do. It feels like she has dropped significantly- I can actually get air in my lungs now- but I expect to see some changes in the next couple of weeks.

So we're 24 days away from our EDD (estimated delivery date). For some reason I still feel like she might come earlier than planned, but I don't know. That is probably just wishful thinking.

The Pumpkin Patch here at church is in full force and here I am: Day 4 and I already hate pumpkins again. I'm exhausted and really don't want to look at them anymore. Someone came and smashed two of them last night... and stole a big one. Nice. Why people feel like they have to do that- especially at a church- is beyond me.

This morning I had a lovely case of pregnant woman woes... I'm just so tired, so over this pumpkin patch thing, and then driving up to find a couple of smashed pumpkins just sent me over the edge! I sat here crying and wondering why, WHY, did I agree to do this again this year?! What kind of idiot am I?! I am hoping that I will have enough help tonight that I can leave around 4:00pm. Who knows?

Well, that is all the news for now... our glider arrived and everything is ready for baby! Our bags are packed, the diaper bag is prepared and I am ready to do this! Bring it on, baby!

Just when I thought it was safe...

At almost 35 weeks pregnant, I was more than thrilled to be walking around without a stretch mark in sight. Just the other day I noticed two small, purple-ish spots right next to the scar from my appendectomy, but didn't panic. Well folks, today I see that they have indeed spread into two small stretch marks... just like two little arrows pointing and laughing at my scar. Jerks! Now, I don't mind a couple of little stretch marks, but now I am afraid that this will open the flood gates and my belly will errupt into a canvas of reddish-purplish lines... mama noooooooo!

Other than my tiny battle scars, I am feeling pretty well. Sleep continues to be a challenge. Even just relaxing on the couch watching TV is becoming impossible, as I can't quite find a comfortable way to sit/lay. I can't lay on my right side too much, because usually Kat is hanging out over there and her foot or knee or some random body part is sticking out and making it impossible to lie on that side. So it is left side only, and after about 3 hours of sleep I am awakened with a sore left hip and leg cramps... my body wants me to switch positions, but my baby is quite happy with the way I was. Ack.

Our pumpkin patch at church begins on October 14th. On one hand, this will be a great distraction through this last month... I won't be so focused on myself- I won't have time. On the other hand, it is a stressful event and I can't help but shake the feeling that this little girl might make an early appearance into the world. I know it is unlikely (maybe even wishful thinking), but it is just a feeling I keep getting. The baby is considered "full-term" (meaning, ready to come out) at 37 weeks of pregnancy. That is in 17 days from today. HOLY MOLY! Now, chances are good she would rather hang in there until 40-41 weeks (possibly even 42, but Dr. Grouse won't let me go that far past my due date at 40 weeks), but I feel like I need to be prepared for her to be here any time now.

The nesting instinct has set in for me... I cleaned the kitchen cabinet doors last week and my closet last night. I've been wiping down the kitchen counter with anti-bacterial wipes all the time and I get antsy when things are out of place (such as the paper plates being out on the counter instead of in the cabinet). I washed all newborn through 3 months clothes, all the blankets and sheets, the curtains and changing table covers from the baby's room. Now I am realizing I haven't washed the car set cover yet. We haven't tested out the car seat to make sure it fits in the car, but I have to assume that it does, since they would put Skye (Matt's niece) in there when Matt's mom still owned the car (and her seat was the same kind we have). Yesterday at work I felt the overwhelming urge to organize my office. I keep looking at the couch cover and wanting to take it home to wash... though I am afraid of the spiders that might be lurking behind the couch. Eww.

So... I am losing my mind. But I have been reassured that it is perfectly normal when you're pregnant, which makes me feel a little better... but just a little.

Well, that is it for now... not much longer before I'll be writing about the adventure of being a new mom, instead of the pregnancy craziness. How exciting!

And you think you're tired!

I am exhausted. All the time. Everyone said you get a burst of energy in your second trimester, which I thought was total crap until I made my way into the middle of my third trimester and am now SO tired! Gah! I need a nap almost everyday now just to feel functional!

I can't sleep at night either- can't get comfortable, can't get rid of the awful heartburn that is plaguing me... and some people like to say, "Oh, that is just your body getting used to being tired constantly with a new baby!" Well, folks, that just doesn't make sense. Shouldn't my body be resting up? Storing energy for the many late nights that lie ahead? Someone explain this to me!

My 33 week doctors appointment yesterday went well. For the next few weeks I will be going to see her every other week, until about 37 weeks, when I will start coming in every week to be checked (no fun). Kathryn is still hanging out, head down, as she should be... keep hoping that she stays that way! I always thought I wouldn't really care if I had to have a c-section, but as we get closer I am really praying we can do it the old fashioned way (well... old fashion, plus an epidural). She also said that Kat's growth has evened out now, so hopefully we won't have to worry about an early induction or c-section for a big baby!

We've had our childbirth class, our Baby Basics class and Baby Saver (CPR) class so far, with one more class to go. It was definitely an experience, to say the least! I'm still totally in the dark about what to expect when I go into labor and how to know if it is the real deal, but I'm sure when the time comes it will all make sense. I think. I hope.

Our shower was amazing on Sunday- so many wonderful people came and we were very blessed to receive so many things to help prepare us for Kat's arrival. We had a lot of fun, played some games, chatted and ate great food... what more could you want? Kat is going to be such a lucky little girl and have so many people who love her... it really astounds me that we are so fortunate. Her room is looking good- still have some things to hang up and put away, but it is getting there. The glider is supposed to be coming in within the next 8 weeks- ha! I could have a baby before I have a glider, but that is ok... my fault for waiting so long.

I think that is it for now... 7 more weeks to go!!!

I've Lost Control of my Body

I am 7 months pregnant and it is official- this little girl is in control of my body and everything it does and it freaks me out a little bit! As of our last OB appointment, my uterus is growing a few weeks ahead of schedule, which means we need to keep an eye on Kat's growth. Dr. Grouse said that if I am still measuring this far ahead at 35/36 weeks, we'll do an ultrasound to estimate about how big she is... if she is planning on being a biggie, they may schedule an early induction. She said, though, that chances are just as good that the growth will slow down and even out in the coming weeks, so as of right now we're not too worried. Matt was almost 10lbs. and when I mentioned this little factoid to Dr. Grouse, she assured me she would not let Kat get that big before intervening and getting her more motivated to come out... thank goodness!

Supposedly, from what the doctor can feel, Kat is already in head-down position. So that means that all this pressing against my ribcage is from feet and/or knees. Everyday she makes her presence known by stretching out those legs and making my right side- just below my ribcage- look and feel as though it might burst open... what are you doing in there, baby!?

Likewise, my lung capacity is getting smaller and smaller each week. The only relief I can get is to lift my arms over my head to create some space to take a deep breath. Other than that, this third trimester has brought some sciatica, heartburn and a return of the exhaustion I experienced in the first trimester. As I sit here, I feel like I could fall asleep on my desk at any moment... that is, if my belly weren't preventing me from slumping over and laying my face on the desk! Picking things up off the floor is starting to look quite silly... when there is a baby that stops your ribcage from flexing and bending like it normally does, it takes some gymnastics to pick stuff up off the floor. Very nice.

Well, things are going well over all... my shower is this weekend and should be lots of fun. Baby stuff is starting to collect and it is pretty crazy (everytime I see the stoller and carseat in the garage I have to think, "No way!!"). Classes at the hospital start this week... Baby Saver is on Friday and Saturday is our Childbirth class from 9am-4pm (yikes!). Should be interesting... Matt is praying for no videos of live births. He won't watch and he'll make me tell him when it's over, hehe. That is it for now... updates to come!

Kathryn Elizabeth!

So we finally nailed down a middle name and are now happily announcing our little girl's name to the world! Kathryn was my grandma's name (and yes, she did spell it that way) and we just kind of liked the flow of the middle name Elizabeth... very traditional, very Biblical... we like! It also happened to be Matt's grandmother's middle name- so there you go! Our little Kat is well on her way!

On Friday, we had a 3d ultrasound! Matt scheduled it for us as a surprise and I am so glad we did it! It was amazing! She was moving, yawning and even gave us a smile at one point! Matt thinks she looks like me in my baby pictures... I can see some resemblance, and there is definitely some Matt in there, too! It is so neat... at 29 weeks, she really looks like a baby now!

On Saturday, the students from my youth group threw us a surprise shower! It was so neat! I was shocked! Matt was in on it and had me convinced we were going to a BBQ at a co-worker's place. Then, one of the youth group moms, Velda Pagel, called and said they had some baby stuff we should stop by and look at. She just happened to be in the same area as the BBQ, so we decided to stop by and look. When all the kids jumped out and yelled "SURPRISE!" I was in complete shock! I had no clue! We played some games, ate some food and opened gifts- I can't believe how generous everyone was- Kat is going to be so spoiled :) It was such a blessing!

I had my doctor's appointment today (we're down to every three weeks right now- soon it will be every two weeks) and was told everything looks great. The only thing that raised Dr. Grouse's eyebrow was how quickly Kat is growing... the past three appointments I have been measuring ahead and this time was no exception. We could have a big baby girl on our hands! She said if it continues this way, we'll do an ultrasound in about 5-6 weeks to see if we will need to induce early/ plan a c-section. When she found out Matt was a 10lb. baby, she said "A-ha!" and agreed that we needed to keep an eye on her growth. Other than that, she is already head down and has a perfect pulse! So we shall see... will we have a monster baby? Time will tell...

We have a baby!

Ok, well, Matt and I don't yet, but Matt's sister, Amy, had her second beautiful daughter on Saturday! It was pretty incredible. I was at the hospital with her most of the day... she was being induced, so we weren't sure what time to expect Sydney's arrival. At 6:15pm, after hardly any pushing, Sydney was born! Mike was able to be on the phone from Iraq when she was born- amazing! Amy's mom and I were allowed back in to start taking pictures... I couldn't believe how incredible she was! She seemed so small (6 lbs. 5 oz. I think) and fragile, but definitely has a strong set of lungs on her! We all got to hold her and swoon over her for a while... it was too cool.

Unfortunately, I got very little sleep on Saturday night. I kept replaying the events of the day through my head and panicking a bit. The reality has finally struck me- that in 3 months, this baby is coming out of me and I am going to be responsible for her care and wellness... AHHH! I realized how scared I really am and how incapable I feel. What do I know about caring for a newborn? What do I know about being a parent?! NOTHING! I know it will be a learning process and things will be ok... but it is becoming so real.

We have 3 more months to go... 90 days from today is our due date. I'm officially in my third trimester. Holy smokes. This is going fast! We have her furniture all set up in her room, just waiting for her arrival. So crazy. Every time I walk by that room and see a crib, I have to catch my breath a bit. It is surreal.

My basketball sized belly is pretty cute and I am feeling pretty good overall. I've got to get out and run some errands, so that is it for now.

Only 3 More Months Left!

Holy smokes! I cannot believe that 6 months of this pregnancy is already over! We only have 3 months left until our little girl is here! Things are starting to get finished... the crib and dresser arrived today and are sitting in our garage just calling to me to come open them! Unfortunately, they are shrink wrapped and set on a palette, so it would be unwise for me to try to tackle it myself! Eeek! We already have her bookshelf all set up... it is coming together in there!

This morning I took my Gestational Diabetes 1-hour test. I drank my orange drink at 8:05am and drove up to Irvine to get my blood drawn- you have to have it drawn within an hour. The lab was packed! There was a 45 minute wait and I only had 10 minutes left before my hour would be up (the doctor told me to get there 15 minutes early). I told the guy behind the counter that I only had 10 minutes, so they took me in before everyone else... I could tell some people were upset that they had been waiting way longer than me, but it had to be done... otherwise I would have had to do this all over again- yuck!

We've picked out our daughter's name, but not a middle name yet. We're waiting for a while to tell... maybe we'll wait until she is born to tell... not sure yet. I want to at least wait until we know what her middle name will be.

She moves a ton now... we looked down the other night and my belly was pointy on the left side! It looked like she was poking her head up just to the left of my belly button... very strange, but very fun! I love feeling her move- it is an amazing feeling!

Well... that is it for now. 3 more months of fun pregnant lady stuff to come!

Swallowed a Soccer Ball

"Your Pregnancy Week by Week" says that this week my uterus is the size of a soccer ball. That sounds about right... my belly is pleasantly rounder these days. Last night when we went to The Simpsons movie, one side of my belly was really hard, like she was leaning up against the right side. So weird! It is cool that now we can start kind of knowing where she is and how she is positioned.

Things are going great so far... I can't believe it is already August! Only 3 more months until she is here! We ordered our furniture this past week and hopefully it will arrive in plenty of time! I am such a worry wart, though, and I keep having visions of giving birth without having anything ready for her when we bring her home! I know I am just having crazy pregnant woman fears, but nonetheless, it is still in the back of my mind.

I've been so lucky with this pregnancy and have felt pretty good the whole time. The only complaint I have is being tired pretty much all the time. Now that it is so hot outside, I definitely get tired faster. The heat is yucky, but at least by the time I am hugely pregnant, the worst of the heat will be over and we'll be heading into the cooler fall season.

Next month all the preparation begins- childbirth classes, showers, etc. It is so unreal that all those things are already coming up! These past few months have been speeding by and it feels like just yesterday I was standing in front of the bathroom mirror in complete shock at the little plus-sign on the pregnancy test.

Well, there isn't much new stuff to report, so I will leave it at that... things are going well and I am excited to see all the changes that are to come in the next weeks!!

Practicing Tae Kwon Do already?

What are you doing in there, baby?! Well, we're almost to week 24 and there is no mistaking the kicks now! Matt can feel her all the time and we often get a good laugh out of watching my belly bounce around from whatever acrobatics she is performing in there. You can even poke in certain spots and feel her push back... pretty crazy. Though it sounds gross, I couldn't help but think of the scene in Space Balls where the alien pops out of the guy's belly and dances to "Hello, My Baby" on the counter. Honestly... sounds gross, but it is a bizarre feeling to have this critter moving inside of you!

We made it through houseboats safe and sound- what a great trip! I stayed well hydrated and didn't have any of those fun Braxton Hicks that I experienced somewhere around week 21... eek! Apparently dehydration can bring on the Braxton Hicks contractions... at 3:30am it is kind of scary to wonder what the heck is going on and if everything is ok! My stomach was rock hard and crampy, but if I got up and walked around I would feel fine. I figured it was just BH, but was still nervous. But, doctor says all is well and I am measuring right on schedule.

I've finally gained some weight... I was afraid of that. All through the 1st trimester I didn't gain anything. Slowly but surely, though, the scale moves upwards each time I go in to visit my doctor. I know it is normal and nothing to panic about... I just don't want to go overboard.

I think pretty soon I get to experience the "Gestational Diabetes" test. That sounds fun. Not. They have you drink this orange-sugar drink in the morning before you eat anything else, then they give you a blood test to determine if your body is doing what it is supposed to with the sugar. That is supposed to be somewhere around 24 weeks, so I assume that at my next appointment on August 7th we will chat about that.

Time is going by so fast... I can't believe I'm less than a month away from the 3rd trimester! Where is time going? We still need to pick out furniture, bedding and all kinds of baby stuff. I don't know if I am having any showers... guess we'll see! I think I am going to go through the closet in the guest room tonight and see what I can get rid of, sell, etc.

The belly is coming along nicely... strangers have started asking me when I am due, so I guess that means I finally look pregnant and not just chubby! Woohoo! My belly button is getting shallower and my scar from my appendectomy is becoming more visible (usually hidden in the crease in my belly button). Crazy stuff!

Well, I think that is all the new stuff for now. I'll try to keep this more updated!

It's Alive!!!!!

Woo! Feeling that little girl moving around in there is a crazy, crazy thing! I'm not sure that I ever could have imagined what it would feel like. There isn't really a way to describe it. At first, around 17 weeks, it was kind of like popcorn popping in there. Very light, and not too often.

Now at 20 weeks, I can feel her everyday- mostly at night. I have been able to feel her from the outside only a few times, but it isn't common yet. Matt *might* have felt her last night, but he wasn't sure. He said he couldn't tell whether it was her or if it was his own heartbeat in his hand. Hehe. Soon enough it will be pretty obvious!

My head is constantly swimming with thoughts of how to decorate her nursery, what her name will be, what she will look like... I am so in love with her already! There is so much cute baby stuff out there- and the little girl stuff is so precious! Right now most of the clothes are summer outfits, so I have managed to keep it together... but woo! When those fall outfits start hitting stores, we're done for!

The belly is rounding out nicely... though I'm still not sure that strangers can tell I'm preggo and not just chubby. However, I am rubbing my belly or putting my hands on my belly so often that I guess one would deduce that I am with child. Who knows.

We're half-way to having our little girl! 20 weeks seemed soooooo far away when I first found out I was pregnant, but looking back it has flown by! I am enjoying it while it lasts... November is just around the corner and our little girl will be making her debut before we know it!

It's a Girl!!!

Our ultrasound yesterday was great! After a stressful week and lots of frustration and irritation, we got to sit back, relax and watch our little one on the u/s screen for a while!

The tech started off doing measurements and looking at all the growth... baby looks great! We could see the spine and all the little vertebrae... it was incredible! Baby was all stretched out, just chillin' in there, happy as could be! We saw the little hands, arms, legs and feet... it is an out of this world experience to see a little person growing inside of you!

Then Matt asked if she had any ideas on the gender yet... I could tell he was getting antsy! She said, well, I'm going to get a better look, but I'm saying you're having a GIRL! I was shocked!!! I was convinced we were going to have a boy! Matt asked how sure she was... she said she would never say 100%, but she is going with 95%! He said, "I'll take those odds!" :) She showed us "the money shot", so to speak, and she had her little legs wide open showing us the "three lines" that indicate a girl! We're going to have a daughter!! Let the shopping begin!

Everything was measuring perfectly and she is looking healthy... they gave us a CD with some pictures, which is very cool! I'm still in a bit of shock... it is just too cool knowing what we're having! I don't regret our decision to find out before birth at all! I love knowing we're having a girl and I feel closer to her somehow.

We have some ideas for names, but aren't 100% on any of them yet. We're not going to tell until we know for sure. Ahhh- so exciting!

Well, I am going to try and post some of the ultrasound pictures on this blog... but I'm not sure how to, so it could be quite an adventure :) Hopefully you'll see them on here, soon! That is all for now... more to come!

What a craptastic day I had...

Ay, ay, ay. This day couldn't possibly have been any longer. Combined with the stress of my grandpa going into the hospital yesterday for shockingly low blood sugar (40... 30 can mean a diabetic coma), some of the pressures of my job cracked me like a brittle egg shell today. Holy schmoly. Well... it must have been time for a good cry because I got one today. Yuck. My stomach is still all in knots. Though some of that I think I can attribute to heartburn.

Here's hoping tomorrow is better! It is already time for our big ultrasound!!! I can't believe how fast it has gone already! I am praying for a healthy baby, whether its a boy or a girl!

A Pat on the Back

I was proud of myself today. I went to the grocery store, after a little nap, to pick up some goods for dinner. All I planned on buying was the following:
Italian sausage
Broccoli
Paper towels
Everything else would be unnecessary purchases. Now, usually when I make a trip to the grocery store I come home with an abundance of things that are not so good for me. Yikes. Like Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream, for instance. Yum. Double yum.

But today, folks, the only extras I picked up were things that are good for me and Nacho (and Matt, too). Grapes, peaches, strawberries, salad greens. What the heck?! How did I manage that? I think I may be moving into a new "craving" phase because all I can think about at work is fresh fruit. Today I've had an orange, a banana, an apple, grapes and some raspberries in my cereal this morning. Let's be honest- I would have eaten a peach, but they're not ripe yet. Way to go me... choosing the healthy stuff! Okay, well... I might have eaten the last few bites of the aforementioned ice cream, too... but I didn't buy anymore, so ha!

We had a fun weekend. Matt was doing some work in Walnut Creek, so I tagged along for a couple of days. We arrived on Sunday and walked around downtown Walnut Creek a bit. We ate at a place called The Creamery- delicious ice cream... the mac n' cheese wasn't as good as I'd hoped, but not too bad.

Monday we took BART into the city and walked around, did some people watching (always amazing in San Francisco) and did a bit of shopping (found a cute dress in the Gap maternity section). That evening we drove into Sunnyvale and went to Matt's friend's place. He and his girlfriend made us a phenominal dinner and we got to visit for a while.

Tuesday Matt had to be a working stiff, so I met up with him and a co-worker for lunch in downtown Walnut Creek and then went off on my own to do some shopping. Don't worry- all I came back with were a book and a couple of magazines. I did look in a trendy little baby shop, and giggled as I walked out pondering why anyone would spend $900 on a stroller. $900! Nacho doesn't need any European designed fashion stroller. Good ol' Graco will suit him/her just fine. That night we drove in to Danville, visited with Doug & Cath Fry for a bit, then went to dinner at Pete's with Steph, which is always a good time!

I came home yesterday (Wednesday) and now I am all alone waiting for Matt to return from his week of work tomorrow.

We've got 12 days before the big ultrasound and I am so excited! Matt is so good to me right now and I know he is going to be a stellar dad. Father's day is a just a few days after our ultrasound, so it will be neat to know if it is a girl or a boy before that :) Here is a view of the belly right now... making progress at 17 weeks:


Anywho, I am feeling well and am ready for bed! Until next time...

15 weeks and all is well...

Our last appointment went great- the NP, Carmen, put the doppler on my belly and we could hear Nacho's little heartbeat loud and clear! She looked very pleased and said, "That is a very strong heartbeat! Perfect!" Needless to say I was quite pleased as well! After the last appointment and barely being able to hear anything, it was great to lay there and listen to that little whooshwhooshwhoosh for a few minutes.

Carmen pointed out the different sounds and what they were... we could hear a little clicking sound which she said was the actual closing of the valves (she was impressed we could hear all that- Nacho placed him/herself perfectly to hear everything)! Too cool!

We scheduled our big ultrasound for June 13th!!! So in less than 3 weeks now we should know whether Nacho is a boy or a girl! I am so excited... words cannot describe! I see the appeal in waiting until birth to hear the doctor announce "It's a _____!" However, the lack of gender neutral baby things on the market just affirms our decision to find out at our ultrasound. Plus... why wait?! We can start picking a name (which I know we will need all the time we can get... Matt and I probably talked about boy names for 30 minutes last night and came to no agreement...), picking out furniture and bedding, looking at room decor... yep. I am excited to know!

In the beginning, I was totally convinced that we were having a boy. Now... I'm not really sure. I don't know why I was so convinced... just intuition... but the past few weeks I have been wavering and I know that there are no sure bets. So we'll see in a few weeks!!! Here is my belly (from last week- 14 weeks)... see the baby bump?!!?


I'm feeling pretty well... taking a new pre-natal vitamin that makes my burps taste like I ate fish tacos for lunch (yeah, gross, I know). I'm not a big fan, but supposedly the DHA is really good for fetal brain development, and that makes it worth it to me.

That is all for now... updates soon to come!