One month!!! Can you believe it? One month of sleep deprivation (everyone tells me that gets easier), and constant eating, sleeping, pooping, and crying on Xander's part. But it is all worth it because we have a healthy, beautiful baby boy. Take a gander at his Photos (check out the Xander section in the Photos tab and the Family Photos section in the Photos tab).
This past Thursday and Saturday, I got to get away from the house for a little over an hour while Michael was Xander's sole caregiver for that time. It was nice to just get out in public and see daylight, if only for a while. So far, I have only been to a local coffee shop, Walgreen's, and McDonalds. But those places are like palaces when you can't get away from the house for very long. Michael gets to leave for work, go out for a night on the town, and see adult humans so much more than I do. But for me, I am a human vending machine to a teeny munchkin. But he is awesome. So much to do when one has a newborn!!!
On the postpartum weight loss front, I have lost about 15 pounds so far (I WILL lose more in the coming months, dog gone it) and Michael will be posting those progressive pics on this website too after my 6 week OBGYN appointment, so ya'll can cheer me on to my pre-baby weight. I have my postpartum appointment in less than two weeks, and I hope to get a clean bill of health from my OBGYN.
Xander has his 1 month appointment with the pediatrician on Tuesday. He will check Xander's weight, give us advice on future nursing/bottle feeding and sleep patterns, check Xander's circumcision, give us appointments for Xander's next vaccinations, check Xander's development, etc.
Xander can hold his head up for a few seconds, and can keep a gaze for a few seconds, and can grasp objects for a few seconds- all great milestones for a one month old. Can't wait till he masters sleeping thru the night. Wish us luck- and wish us sleep.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
2 Weeks Old Today
Our little Alexander is two weeks old today. Happy 2 weeks birthday, Xander!!! Michael will be posting more photos soon (sorry, he has had the stomach flu and is just now feeling a little better). Xander's circumcission is healing nicely, and he is getting baths more regularly now that it is healing. But he does have a little bit of a diaper rash right now. *sad baby face* The doctor says he is 7 lbs, 4 ounces, as of yesterday, and is gaining weight at a wonderful rate. After his circumciussion, he cried a lot and wanted comfort for a few days, but now is back to sleeping quite a bit (as preemies are want to do, I read). He is feeding pretty well now, and aside from occasional boob preference- don't ask me why, but he prefers the left breast)- he nurses like a champ. We love him and hope that he continues to grow strong and healthy as the weeks progress.
We are receiving our first friend-guests tomorrow: our friends Brett and Casie and their girls are stopping by tomorrow morning to say hi, see the baby, and drop off some freezable food for us. They know how hard it is to make food when you have a newborn to take care of! Thanks guys!!! We'll see you soon and are looking forward to your visit.
We are receiving our first friend-guests tomorrow: our friends Brett and Casie and their girls are stopping by tomorrow morning to say hi, see the baby, and drop off some freezable food for us. They know how hard it is to make food when you have a newborn to take care of! Thanks guys!!! We'll see you soon and are looking forward to your visit.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Xander's First Week
Xander has been home from the hospital now for a week. We are exhausted and sleep deprived and blissfully happy to have him home. Michael and I feel that being parents is already rewarding even though Xander is still so new. We were in the hospital for 3 days (2 after his birth) for observation, and baby and I were so thankful to be released with good bills of health. My local family visited while we were in the hospital and were able to see the new arrival. My Dad came by the day we were released and bought us some diapers and wipes, and we got a very sweet picture of him holding Xander in the little tyke's new nursery. Alexander Keenan Martin is such a cutey. We will be posting many pics in the Photos section of this website under various headings, so stay tuned and check back often for more updates and pics. I will even be doing a reverse play-by-play of my tummy shrinking. I lost 12 pounds in the first week after birth (I had gained about 25 pounds during pregnancy) and am determined to get back to pre-baby weight in the next few months. And then I am planning to lose even more weight by 6 months! Wish me luck.
Thanksgiving was craziness- between feedings and family feuds and exhaustion. Holidays can never pass without at least a little family drama, huh? Did you ever see that well-acted Holly Hunter/Robert Downy Jr comedy-drama movie, "Home for the Holidays?" It is about this dysfunctional family coming together for Thanksgiving and all the drama that ensues due to the different personality types in the family. If you haven't seen it, you should. It makes my family drama seem tame. You will probably feel good about your own family after watching that movie, in fact. *sigh* We were able to get some good pics of family members holding our Xander, though. And the food and fellowship in our home was amazing- I didn't have to cook anything this year, which was a blessing. My family all pitched in and made the food while Michael and I concentrated on Xander's care.
BTW: we are thankful for our newest addition to the family: our beautiful little baby boy. He has made our home the happiest home on the block.
We have another pediatric appointment tomorrow morning- for little bit's circumcision (insert creepy "duh, duh, duh" music here). We are also gonna check his weight and his breathing while we are there, to make sue our little man is on track to being a healthy newborn.
Speaking of weight, did you know that a baby loses weight in the first few days of life, then gains it back to his original birth weight by 10 days post-birth? Also, did you know that babies go thru tons and tons of teeny-tiny laundry!? Not to mention tons of diapers and baby wipes, of course. Every time I turn around, something else needs to be washed or the baby needs to be cleaned. My Mom has been here for the past week helping around the house, which has been great, b/c being a new mommy and daddy to a newborn is hard work. Time for a nap.
Thanksgiving was craziness- between feedings and family feuds and exhaustion. Holidays can never pass without at least a little family drama, huh? Did you ever see that well-acted Holly Hunter/Robert Downy Jr comedy-drama movie, "Home for the Holidays?" It is about this dysfunctional family coming together for Thanksgiving and all the drama that ensues due to the different personality types in the family. If you haven't seen it, you should. It makes my family drama seem tame. You will probably feel good about your own family after watching that movie, in fact. *sigh* We were able to get some good pics of family members holding our Xander, though. And the food and fellowship in our home was amazing- I didn't have to cook anything this year, which was a blessing. My family all pitched in and made the food while Michael and I concentrated on Xander's care.
BTW: we are thankful for our newest addition to the family: our beautiful little baby boy. He has made our home the happiest home on the block.
We have another pediatric appointment tomorrow morning- for little bit's circumcision (insert creepy "duh, duh, duh" music here). We are also gonna check his weight and his breathing while we are there, to make sue our little man is on track to being a healthy newborn.
Speaking of weight, did you know that a baby loses weight in the first few days of life, then gains it back to his original birth weight by 10 days post-birth? Also, did you know that babies go thru tons and tons of teeny-tiny laundry!? Not to mention tons of diapers and baby wipes, of course. Every time I turn around, something else needs to be washed or the baby needs to be cleaned. My Mom has been here for the past week helping around the house, which has been great, b/c being a new mommy and daddy to a newborn is hard work. Time for a nap.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Xander's Arrival
..."Alexander Keenan Martin." Isn't he the most beautiful little person ever (see pics on the Home page or Photos section)? He is so sweet. Officially, Xander is one week old today. His stats at birth: 6 lbs, 7 ounces, 19 inches long, born at 3:48am on November 20, 2009. He came into this world crying and screaming and a little over 3 weeks premature (the term used by the hospital was that he was a "late pre-term baby"). He is healthy, by the grace of God. His first pediatric appointment went well, and the pediatrician said he is only a few weeks behind full-term newborns, in terms of his sleep patterns and feeding patterns and will catch up very soon. Whew!
My labor started with my amniotic sac rupturing while I slept at 4am on Nov 19. Less than 15% of labors begin with the "water breaking". Most women have their waters broken by the doctor during labor. I had no contractions, no pain, just some light cramping and a constant leaking. We packed (we had no suitcase packed since we weren't planning on going to the hospital for at least a few more weeks, if not a month), and arrived at the hospital about an hour later. After hours, one must ring a bell outside in order to be admitted, and Michael pushed the doorbell and exclaimed: "My wife is gushing," to which the receptionist laughed and let us in. Since my water broke, the hospital admitted me immediately, and checked for signs of infection. I was only 1 cm dilated and they told me it was gonna be a long time before I even started active labor, so "get comfy." When the stores opened, Michael went to get all the items we were lacking for the nursery (again, we weren't planning on our little man coming for quite a while, so we were a little unprepared). He drove back to the house and picked up more items for the hospital stay, since the nurses told us we were gonna be there a while and that Xander may have to stay in the neo-natal nursery for 24 hours after birth for observation, due to his "preemie" status. We asked if we should contact our family to tell everyone we are in labor, and they said not to b/c I was gonna be in for a long labor, since I was not even having proper contractions. This period of early labor lasted 16 hours; I was hooked up to many machines and IV's for monitoring and given meds to help me efface (thinning out of the cervix) and to begin proper contractions (I was not in any pain at all during this early labor period). By 8pm, I was 100% effaced and 3 cm dilated and the doctor said it probably would be the next day before I would deliver. I was given pitocin to speed up contractions, and hooked up to more monitors. Michael called our family members and told them we were in the hospital and that visiting hours did not start until the next morning; the doctor and nurses had said I would be in labor throughout the night and would probably deliver late the next morning. By 9pm, I was 4cm dilated and feeling some pain (Michael had been breathing with me and massaging me and being a great coach throughout the process so far, but I was ready for pain relief), so I requested my ordered epidural. Just my luck, there were 2 C-sections ahead of me! So I labored in active labor with Michael as my coach for 2 more long hours waiting for the epidural to arrive. By midnight, the epidural was given (with me having 3 hard contractions in the middle of it), and I was hooked up to even more machines and checked for infection again. I was 5cm dilated by this point. I felt so much better immediately!!!! Epidurals are Godsends for laboring mothers- at least, it certainly was for me. Michael and I settled in for a nap. The nurse would come in to check me and by 1:30am, I was 8 cm dilated. By 3am, I was in a lot of pain again, and I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push! AHHH!!! Since, no one expected me to be ready to push that early, the doctor was not even present and in fact was home asleep! They started me pushing about 20 minutes later. The doctor and nursery nurse arrived about 3:30am and I pushed some more. With Michael holding one leg and the labor nurse Vanessa holding the other leg, I grabbed my thighs and pushed our little man into this world. It was the most amazing experience. He was placed on my tummy, kicking and screaming, while Michael cut the cord. Then he was whisked away to be cleaned/checked and for Michael to hold him, while the doctor and nurse patched me up. The nurses and staff and doctors were all wonderful- and as a side note, after not eating for over 24 hours, hospital food is soo yummy! November 20, 2009, is the BEST DAY EVER!!! More to follow regarding parenthood, as Michael and I get into a routine and somehow figure out how to get over sleep deprivation...
My labor started with my amniotic sac rupturing while I slept at 4am on Nov 19. Less than 15% of labors begin with the "water breaking". Most women have their waters broken by the doctor during labor. I had no contractions, no pain, just some light cramping and a constant leaking. We packed (we had no suitcase packed since we weren't planning on going to the hospital for at least a few more weeks, if not a month), and arrived at the hospital about an hour later. After hours, one must ring a bell outside in order to be admitted, and Michael pushed the doorbell and exclaimed: "My wife is gushing," to which the receptionist laughed and let us in. Since my water broke, the hospital admitted me immediately, and checked for signs of infection. I was only 1 cm dilated and they told me it was gonna be a long time before I even started active labor, so "get comfy." When the stores opened, Michael went to get all the items we were lacking for the nursery (again, we weren't planning on our little man coming for quite a while, so we were a little unprepared). He drove back to the house and picked up more items for the hospital stay, since the nurses told us we were gonna be there a while and that Xander may have to stay in the neo-natal nursery for 24 hours after birth for observation, due to his "preemie" status. We asked if we should contact our family to tell everyone we are in labor, and they said not to b/c I was gonna be in for a long labor, since I was not even having proper contractions. This period of early labor lasted 16 hours; I was hooked up to many machines and IV's for monitoring and given meds to help me efface (thinning out of the cervix) and to begin proper contractions (I was not in any pain at all during this early labor period). By 8pm, I was 100% effaced and 3 cm dilated and the doctor said it probably would be the next day before I would deliver. I was given pitocin to speed up contractions, and hooked up to more monitors. Michael called our family members and told them we were in the hospital and that visiting hours did not start until the next morning; the doctor and nurses had said I would be in labor throughout the night and would probably deliver late the next morning. By 9pm, I was 4cm dilated and feeling some pain (Michael had been breathing with me and massaging me and being a great coach throughout the process so far, but I was ready for pain relief), so I requested my ordered epidural. Just my luck, there were 2 C-sections ahead of me! So I labored in active labor with Michael as my coach for 2 more long hours waiting for the epidural to arrive. By midnight, the epidural was given (with me having 3 hard contractions in the middle of it), and I was hooked up to even more machines and checked for infection again. I was 5cm dilated by this point. I felt so much better immediately!!!! Epidurals are Godsends for laboring mothers- at least, it certainly was for me. Michael and I settled in for a nap. The nurse would come in to check me and by 1:30am, I was 8 cm dilated. By 3am, I was in a lot of pain again, and I was 10 cm dilated and ready to push! AHHH!!! Since, no one expected me to be ready to push that early, the doctor was not even present and in fact was home asleep! They started me pushing about 20 minutes later. The doctor and nursery nurse arrived about 3:30am and I pushed some more. With Michael holding one leg and the labor nurse Vanessa holding the other leg, I grabbed my thighs and pushed our little man into this world. It was the most amazing experience. He was placed on my tummy, kicking and screaming, while Michael cut the cord. Then he was whisked away to be cleaned/checked and for Michael to hold him, while the doctor and nurse patched me up. The nurses and staff and doctors were all wonderful- and as a side note, after not eating for over 24 hours, hospital food is soo yummy! November 20, 2009, is the BEST DAY EVER!!! More to follow regarding parenthood, as Michael and I get into a routine and somehow figure out how to get over sleep deprivation...
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Less Than 30 Days to Go?
So, our Estimated Due Date is less than 30 days away now (see our Estimated Due Date Countdown on the homepage of this website). Of course, the OBGYN repeated that there is only a 5% chance of babies actually being born on their due dates, but it is exciting to think about! I hope to go into labor naturally, barring any complications or birth plan changes enacted by my doctor, and there is never a warning when that happens. One just goes into labor. Doc says that could happen tomorrow or it could happen over a month from now. We'll see. Keep fingers crossed that he and I will be healthy when he is born- that is all that matters, of course.
We had our OBGYN appointment yesterday. Our little man is measuring perfectly. He has completely turned in the right direction for full-term status (which will happen very soon), and his heartbeat is a strong 150 beats per minute. My health appears good too- just lots of the "normal" aches, pains, insomnia, and stomach discomforts of pregnancy. I have gained 24 pounds in the pregnancy so far, which is perfect for my body type- *celebrate* And she did a swab to check for dilation of my cervix to make sure pre-term labor was not a concern right now, and I am in the clear. Because I rock.
Yay! I don't know if I told you, but we picked a pediatrician. *whew* What a load of our minds! And Michael not only installed the car seat, but we got it inspected too. Just in time! Isn't he awesome?
After our doctor appointment, we decided to grab some food at our local Chipotle. Yum. I have actually started having cravings. I like cravings. Cravings don't always like my tummy though. While we were at Chipotle, the manager stopped by and asked me questions about the baby (when I actually do venture out in public, I get that a lot since I look sooo obviously pregnant now). She then related her experience with her two pregnancies (both boys). When she asked how far along I was, I told her. She said I was so "tiny" compared to other women who are as far along as I was. I told her I love her and that she was my new best friend. *grin* She offered to buy us lunch or dinner if we came in with the baby sometime after the birth, when we were feeling up to going out. How sweet is that??? *Insert marketing plug here for Chipotle.* It was a big day for me- I was soo exhausted after going to the doctor and then having lunch in public that I stayed on the couch the rest of the day. I feel like such a wimp: can't drive, can't stand or walk for longer than 30 minutes a day without feeling dizzy, can't sleep longer than 2 hour intervals. But, by the grace of God, we will have a munchkin to show for it soon.
This weekend is a big weekend: Michael is going to a Graduation get-together for one of our friends on Saturday, and that night we have a dinner to go to with another group of friends. I am making homemade macaroni and cheese- comfort food. Is there any other kind of food, really?
My youngest brother's birthday party is this weekend! He will be 26. Wow. Our family is heading over to my other brother's house for the birthday party, which is sure to be fun! There will be bbq, and family, and fun- can't wait!!
On an apologetic note, Michael and I will get the Baby Shower and gift Thank You cards out to everyone soon, I promise! I haven't forgotten about it. And as soon as we receive the photos from my Baby Shower, Michael will have those up for everyone to see and enjoy. For now, I must get back to work or people won't be paid for this month. And that would be bad...very bad. Working from home means no "real" maternity leave. Still gotta make sure the payroll and accounting is done. No rest for the weary.
We had our OBGYN appointment yesterday. Our little man is measuring perfectly. He has completely turned in the right direction for full-term status (which will happen very soon), and his heartbeat is a strong 150 beats per minute. My health appears good too- just lots of the "normal" aches, pains, insomnia, and stomach discomforts of pregnancy. I have gained 24 pounds in the pregnancy so far, which is perfect for my body type- *celebrate* And she did a swab to check for dilation of my cervix to make sure pre-term labor was not a concern right now, and I am in the clear. Because I rock.
Yay! I don't know if I told you, but we picked a pediatrician. *whew* What a load of our minds! And Michael not only installed the car seat, but we got it inspected too. Just in time! Isn't he awesome?
After our doctor appointment, we decided to grab some food at our local Chipotle. Yum. I have actually started having cravings. I like cravings. Cravings don't always like my tummy though. While we were at Chipotle, the manager stopped by and asked me questions about the baby (when I actually do venture out in public, I get that a lot since I look sooo obviously pregnant now). She then related her experience with her two pregnancies (both boys). When she asked how far along I was, I told her. She said I was so "tiny" compared to other women who are as far along as I was. I told her I love her and that she was my new best friend. *grin* She offered to buy us lunch or dinner if we came in with the baby sometime after the birth, when we were feeling up to going out. How sweet is that??? *Insert marketing plug here for Chipotle.* It was a big day for me- I was soo exhausted after going to the doctor and then having lunch in public that I stayed on the couch the rest of the day. I feel like such a wimp: can't drive, can't stand or walk for longer than 30 minutes a day without feeling dizzy, can't sleep longer than 2 hour intervals. But, by the grace of God, we will have a munchkin to show for it soon.
This weekend is a big weekend: Michael is going to a Graduation get-together for one of our friends on Saturday, and that night we have a dinner to go to with another group of friends. I am making homemade macaroni and cheese- comfort food. Is there any other kind of food, really?
My youngest brother's birthday party is this weekend! He will be 26. Wow. Our family is heading over to my other brother's house for the birthday party, which is sure to be fun! There will be bbq, and family, and fun- can't wait!!
On an apologetic note, Michael and I will get the Baby Shower and gift Thank You cards out to everyone soon, I promise! I haven't forgotten about it. And as soon as we receive the photos from my Baby Shower, Michael will have those up for everyone to see and enjoy. For now, I must get back to work or people won't be paid for this month. And that would be bad...very bad. Working from home means no "real" maternity leave. Still gotta make sure the payroll and accounting is done. No rest for the weary.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Baby Shower
Our Baby Shower weekend was amazing!!!!! Michael and I would like to thank my Mom for cleaning the house and making the cake for the Saturday baby shower. We would also like to thank all 17 of our friends and family who attended, and we want to tell everyone how much we appreciated the gifts and fellowship. Lastly (but most importantly), we need to thank my brother Adam and his fiance Brandi for all the hard work, food, and time they invested in our Shower; Brandi organized the soiree, as well as took the rsvp's and planned the fun games! She and my brother will be sending us pictures of the baby shower gifts, decor, and attendees, and we will post them on the Photos section of this website, along with the photos we took, as soon as we receive them.
On Sunday, there was another shower planned, but it was essentially cancelled due to lack of attendance. Instead, we had a small get-together with friends for a Baby-Themed Luncheon. Meagan and Derek brought food (Michael loved Derek's homemade apple salad, btw, and Mexican cheese dip is always a hit), and they brought gifts from my theatre friends who were unable to attend. And Denise was even able to stop by from Sierra Vista for a few hours and enjoy lunch and coffee with us! We want to thank you three for coming and celebrating the upcoming birth of our little man. Also, we appreciated the gifts from those who attended this lunch, and from those who were unable to attend but sent gift cards, baby items, and well-wishes! Michael will be posting Photos on this website of the now well-appointed nursery.
Last weekend, we went out to eat at the Flying V with our friends Brett and Casie. Once monthly, we 4 get together and talk and vent and eat at a local restaurant. We all love to try new kinds of food. The Flying V was great- the food was yummy and the ambience was top-notch. I recommend the restaurant to anyone with a special occasion coming up. It would have been a little pricey, but we had dining cards (thanks to Casie's mad hunting skills for restaurant coupons), which made the meal half-price! How awesome is that? Brett and Casie also surprised us with some baby gifts from our registry and some homemade burp cloths. Now our little Tigger can spit-up in style.
Tonight we have another class- Breastfeeding. Sounds fun, huh? Michael and all the men in the class are sure to turn red. Maybe I should take a picture of his embarrassed face as we watch the highly informative, yet sure-to-be-entertaining instructional videos on nursing. *grin*
On Wednesday, we have another OBGYN appointment. I look forward to being poked and prodded and measured and weighed yet again. Not. *growl* I am 35 weeks pregnant. Getting dangerously close to full-term. Keep baking in there son; we don't want you in the world until you are fully cooked and ready for the outside world. But...while you're in there, could you tell Mommy's body NOT to hurt or sweat or become irritable or have tummy troubles or suffer from sleep deprivation all the time...please?!
On Sunday, there was another shower planned, but it was essentially cancelled due to lack of attendance. Instead, we had a small get-together with friends for a Baby-Themed Luncheon. Meagan and Derek brought food (Michael loved Derek's homemade apple salad, btw, and Mexican cheese dip is always a hit), and they brought gifts from my theatre friends who were unable to attend. And Denise was even able to stop by from Sierra Vista for a few hours and enjoy lunch and coffee with us! We want to thank you three for coming and celebrating the upcoming birth of our little man. Also, we appreciated the gifts from those who attended this lunch, and from those who were unable to attend but sent gift cards, baby items, and well-wishes! Michael will be posting Photos on this website of the now well-appointed nursery.
Last weekend, we went out to eat at the Flying V with our friends Brett and Casie. Once monthly, we 4 get together and talk and vent and eat at a local restaurant. We all love to try new kinds of food. The Flying V was great- the food was yummy and the ambience was top-notch. I recommend the restaurant to anyone with a special occasion coming up. It would have been a little pricey, but we had dining cards (thanks to Casie's mad hunting skills for restaurant coupons), which made the meal half-price! How awesome is that? Brett and Casie also surprised us with some baby gifts from our registry and some homemade burp cloths. Now our little Tigger can spit-up in style.
Tonight we have another class- Breastfeeding. Sounds fun, huh? Michael and all the men in the class are sure to turn red. Maybe I should take a picture of his embarrassed face as we watch the highly informative, yet sure-to-be-entertaining instructional videos on nursing. *grin*
On Wednesday, we have another OBGYN appointment. I look forward to being poked and prodded and measured and weighed yet again. Not. *growl* I am 35 weeks pregnant. Getting dangerously close to full-term. Keep baking in there son; we don't want you in the world until you are fully cooked and ready for the outside world. But...while you're in there, could you tell Mommy's body NOT to hurt or sweat or become irritable or have tummy troubles or suffer from sleep deprivation all the time...please?!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
An Inch Away
So, I took my last pregnancy drive yesterday. My belly is literally one inch away from the steering wheel, and doc says that once I can no longer fit behind the steering wheel comfortably, I can no longer drive. *sigh* What a trapped feeling- it is like I am 15 again, with no way of going where I need/want to go, when I want to go. Or like when I broke my ankle 7 years ago. I have to rely on the kindness of a scheduled chauffer. Silliness.
I had an OBGYN appointment yesterday. It went well. My personal OBGYN is back from maternity leave and she and I have now switched places! She is thin again and I am...well...not thin. My face is puffy and my tummy is big and hard- filled with a perfectly sized baby boy. My blood pressure is good, all my tests have come out well, my weight is on track, and (with the exception of the many little pregnancy complaints- not sleeping, leg & back cramps, daily tummy troubles, Braxton Hicks contractions, exhaustion, irritability and frustration, nesting) I am a healthy pregnant woman. The baby is great as well, from what the doc saw: he is measuring right on target, his heartbeat is strong and regular, and he moves often. *whew*
We have a new Baby Bump photo up. You can check it out in the Photos section of this website. Click on the Photos tab in the upper left, then click on Baby Bump and click on the arrows- it is like playing with one of those old-fashioned cartoon flip books you did in art class as a kid. You get to watch my belly (and face and boobs) grow as the pregnancy progresses. Hilarious. We will be posting Nursery pics after the Baby Showers my friends and family have planned, so stay tuned to that Photo tab in the next few weeks.
For this week: 1) Michael and I are having an Anniversary!!! Yay! We had our big costume weddin g on Halloween years ago and are still going strong. We have received many sweet Anniversary gifts (thank you Aunt Marty and Aunt Tracy and Mom Kathy) and well-wishes from family and friends for our Anniversary and thank everyone so much for the love and support we have received over the years in our marriage. As a bonus, my Mom volunteered to stop smoking as an Anniversary gift to us and the baby! How cool is that? I can't wait to hug my smoke-free Mommy. 2) We are attending the annual Halloween Bash thrown by our good friends Leon and Elaine. Still not sure what our costumes are gonna be! We are thinking of recycling some costumes from the past (whatever will fit over my ever-growing belly will work just fine!). 3) Michael installed the car seat. Now we have to get it inspected. 4) I had my monthly lunch and gab-fest with my friend Meagan yesterday. It is always such a treasure to be able to vent and talk and decompress with a girlfriend about everything that bugs me, as well as everything that makes me happy. It is also nice to have the company of someone who feels just as comfortable to do it back. 5) We had our on-going Birthing Class yesterday. We learned about pediatricians and a little basic baby info. 6) We have pediatrician interviews (FYI: to interview them during prenatal time is free) with some doctors who are in our insurance network. The OBGYN recommends that we interview a couple of pediatricians and make a decision as to which one would be best for us and the care of our baby. 7) Michael and I will be picking up my Mom from my brother's house on Sunday after my haircut. She is gonna help for a week with all the heavier things I can't do around the house any more and I, therefore, have been putting off for the last few weeks. It is so nice that my bro and his gal have had her in Tucson available for me during the pregnancy. Mom will also be here for about a week during Thanksgiving.
I had an OBGYN appointment yesterday. It went well. My personal OBGYN is back from maternity leave and she and I have now switched places! She is thin again and I am...well...not thin. My face is puffy and my tummy is big and hard- filled with a perfectly sized baby boy. My blood pressure is good, all my tests have come out well, my weight is on track, and (with the exception of the many little pregnancy complaints- not sleeping, leg & back cramps, daily tummy troubles, Braxton Hicks contractions, exhaustion, irritability and frustration, nesting) I am a healthy pregnant woman. The baby is great as well, from what the doc saw: he is measuring right on target, his heartbeat is strong and regular, and he moves often. *whew*
We have a new Baby Bump photo up. You can check it out in the Photos section of this website. Click on the Photos tab in the upper left, then click on Baby Bump and click on the arrows- it is like playing with one of those old-fashioned cartoon flip books you did in art class as a kid. You get to watch my belly (and face and boobs) grow as the pregnancy progresses. Hilarious. We will be posting Nursery pics after the Baby Showers my friends and family have planned, so stay tuned to that Photo tab in the next few weeks.
For this week: 1) Michael and I are having an Anniversary!!! Yay! We had our big costume weddin g on Halloween years ago and are still going strong. We have received many sweet Anniversary gifts (thank you Aunt Marty and Aunt Tracy and Mom Kathy) and well-wishes from family and friends for our Anniversary and thank everyone so much for the love and support we have received over the years in our marriage. As a bonus, my Mom volunteered to stop smoking as an Anniversary gift to us and the baby! How cool is that? I can't wait to hug my smoke-free Mommy. 2) We are attending the annual Halloween Bash thrown by our good friends Leon and Elaine. Still not sure what our costumes are gonna be! We are thinking of recycling some costumes from the past (whatever will fit over my ever-growing belly will work just fine!). 3) Michael installed the car seat. Now we have to get it inspected. 4) I had my monthly lunch and gab-fest with my friend Meagan yesterday. It is always such a treasure to be able to vent and talk and decompress with a girlfriend about everything that bugs me, as well as everything that makes me happy. It is also nice to have the company of someone who feels just as comfortable to do it back. 5) We had our on-going Birthing Class yesterday. We learned about pediatricians and a little basic baby info. 6) We have pediatrician interviews (FYI: to interview them during prenatal time is free) with some doctors who are in our insurance network. The OBGYN recommends that we interview a couple of pediatricians and make a decision as to which one would be best for us and the care of our baby. 7) Michael and I will be picking up my Mom from my brother's house on Sunday after my haircut. She is gonna help for a week with all the heavier things I can't do around the house any more and I, therefore, have been putting off for the last few weeks. It is so nice that my bro and his gal have had her in Tucson available for me during the pregnancy. Mom will also be here for about a week during Thanksgiving.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Masked Mommy
Sorry it has been a few weeks since our last blog. Here are the updates on life, liberty, and the pursuit of (pregnant) happiness in the Boyd-Martin household:
1) I got sick. Yucky, nasty, phlegmy sick. I was so lucky that I received my flu shot about a month ago, b/c the sickness could have been tons worse, according to the doc. I caught a cold, accompanied by severe tinnitus (ringing in ears) and pharyngitis (raw, sore throat/pharynx). What makes a common cold so awful when you are pregnant, you ask? You can't take the "typical" OTC and prescribed meds to get rid of the symptoms! Ahhhh!!!! Thankfully, the cold itself lasted about a week (I still am coughing up goo, though), but it was sooo not fun. Lozenges, Tylenol, fluids, rest (which is ridiculously hard to get when one is 8 months pregnant), being around as few people as possible, and force-feeding myself small, children's doses of Robitussin were all I was allowed. My fever never got above 100 degrees, which was all my doctor really worried about since a high fever (usually accompanied with the dreaded flu) is bad for both baby and mother. I feel better now, but not quite 100% yet. I wasn't even allowed to go to my Birthing Class last Wednesday, which was regretful. Michael and I will be making-up what we missed next class (sick pregnant women are not supposed to be around anyone else, let alone OTHER pregnant women, I learned). In fact, when I went to see the doctor, the office gave me a surgical mask I had to wear while in the office (hence, the title of this blog journal). Those suckers are really hard to breathe out of when one's nose is stuffed-up and congested, btw!
2) I am in my 8th month! Exciting and new. And painfully sharp. By that I mean: sharp, incessant pains in my lower calves and lower back. *ouch* Once a lady hits the 8th month (after 32 weeks gestation), she is asked not to travel further away than a 1 hour drive, and in fact to only get in a car for short drives to/from places if needed (the docs really frown upon a pregnant woman like myself finding herself too far from her hospital as full-term status approaches). For those of ya'll who aren't in the know, full-term is considered 37 weeks, but Michael and I learned that pre-term labor (labor before 37 weeks) is pretty common in our country. The scientists don't really know why.
3) We had a sick kitty for about a week, too, but our youngest cat is now better and seems to be feeling more like himself.
4) We received a Target gift card as a baby present from Denise! Thanks Denise!!! We can't wait to go pick out little baby things with your generous gift! Our little man is on his way to being the best dressed baby on the block.
5) There are new pics in the Family Photos section (thank you, Michael, for putting all the photos up on our website. I can tell you are a proud father already). Click on the Photos tab in the upper, left- hand corner, then click on Family Photos and scroll the pages until you find the newest ones.
6) Our last OBGYN appointment went well. I talked with the doctor about my highly irregular sleep patterns and my growing anxiety and irritability. She said that women often go through all this in the third trimester due to increasing hormones, increasing discomfort due to size and position of baby, and a lower immune system. Oh joy. Our mini-man seems to be good though. The baby's heart rate is 139. He is measuring 30.5 (again, back to being a little small, but he has growth spurts here and there which usually make up for it). I have gained 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks (the baby is gaining an average of 1/2 pound a week now until his birth, which is contributing to my current weight gain significantly). In fact, the baby weighs about 4+ pounds right now, and measures about 18 inches in length! Radical little man, isn't he? he astonishes us everyday.
1) I got sick. Yucky, nasty, phlegmy sick. I was so lucky that I received my flu shot about a month ago, b/c the sickness could have been tons worse, according to the doc. I caught a cold, accompanied by severe tinnitus (ringing in ears) and pharyngitis (raw, sore throat/pharynx). What makes a common cold so awful when you are pregnant, you ask? You can't take the "typical" OTC and prescribed meds to get rid of the symptoms! Ahhhh!!!! Thankfully, the cold itself lasted about a week (I still am coughing up goo, though), but it was sooo not fun. Lozenges, Tylenol, fluids, rest (which is ridiculously hard to get when one is 8 months pregnant), being around as few people as possible, and force-feeding myself small, children's doses of Robitussin were all I was allowed. My fever never got above 100 degrees, which was all my doctor really worried about since a high fever (usually accompanied with the dreaded flu) is bad for both baby and mother. I feel better now, but not quite 100% yet. I wasn't even allowed to go to my Birthing Class last Wednesday, which was regretful. Michael and I will be making-up what we missed next class (sick pregnant women are not supposed to be around anyone else, let alone OTHER pregnant women, I learned). In fact, when I went to see the doctor, the office gave me a surgical mask I had to wear while in the office (hence, the title of this blog journal). Those suckers are really hard to breathe out of when one's nose is stuffed-up and congested, btw!
2) I am in my 8th month! Exciting and new. And painfully sharp. By that I mean: sharp, incessant pains in my lower calves and lower back. *ouch* Once a lady hits the 8th month (after 32 weeks gestation), she is asked not to travel further away than a 1 hour drive, and in fact to only get in a car for short drives to/from places if needed (the docs really frown upon a pregnant woman like myself finding herself too far from her hospital as full-term status approaches). For those of ya'll who aren't in the know, full-term is considered 37 weeks, but Michael and I learned that pre-term labor (labor before 37 weeks) is pretty common in our country. The scientists don't really know why.
3) We had a sick kitty for about a week, too, but our youngest cat is now better and seems to be feeling more like himself.
4) We received a Target gift card as a baby present from Denise! Thanks Denise!!! We can't wait to go pick out little baby things with your generous gift! Our little man is on his way to being the best dressed baby on the block.
5) There are new pics in the Family Photos section (thank you, Michael, for putting all the photos up on our website. I can tell you are a proud father already). Click on the Photos tab in the upper, left- hand corner, then click on Family Photos and scroll the pages until you find the newest ones.
6) Our last OBGYN appointment went well. I talked with the doctor about my highly irregular sleep patterns and my growing anxiety and irritability. She said that women often go through all this in the third trimester due to increasing hormones, increasing discomfort due to size and position of baby, and a lower immune system. Oh joy. Our mini-man seems to be good though. The baby's heart rate is 139. He is measuring 30.5 (again, back to being a little small, but he has growth spurts here and there which usually make up for it). I have gained 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks (the baby is gaining an average of 1/2 pound a week now until his birth, which is contributing to my current weight gain significantly). In fact, the baby weighs about 4+ pounds right now, and measures about 18 inches in length! Radical little man, isn't he? he astonishes us everyday.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fun Vegas, High Hormones, and 2 Months to Go!!!
The Boys (Michael and my brothers) are happy to report that they had a fun time in Las Vegas! They saw the Cirque Du Soliel: Ka show at the MGM, went to a Circus Circus Haunted House, ate at the Bellagio buffet, and got free drinks while gambling for 3 days/2 nights. While the boys played, the girls relaxed. We (Me, my Mom, and Adam's fiance) went to museums and high tea at Tohono Chul Park while the boys were away. Mom bought the baby a cute shirt from the International Wildlife Museum that reads "Wild Thing" on it. My Mom stayed the rest of the weekend with me and she and I had a relaxing time, complete with dinner at Lookout Bar and Grill, brunch at Gold Restaurant, and a little bit of lovely pampering- something every pregnant woman and her Mom needs. Pictures will be posted very soon in the Family Photos section of our respective weekend. The only downside to the weekend was that there was mass confusion as to who would pick the boys up at the airport- which got this already weepy pregnant woman very frazzled.
OMG- we still have so much to do!!! We have to install the car seat and have it inspected. We have to wash all the baby bedding & clothes and put them away. We have to baby proof & clean the house and stock up on quick-fix foods. We have Baby Showers in a month. And Michael and I start our hospital-sanctioned Birthing Classes tonight. We are gonna learn breathing techniques for labor, when to call the doctor & go to the hospital during labor, postpartum info, what to do in case of emergency during the rest of pregnancy, coaching, pain relief and medication options, when to call family to the hospital, what to bring to the hospital, etc. AHHH!! My mind is totally full of baby info now; I don't even want to think about how much more there is to learn. *sob*
Our baby boy moves all the time- which is awesome. My heart rate is still really fast, my blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good. His heart beat is perfect, and he is measuring a little big for his gestational age (he measured 30.5 weeks at our last appt- when he was about 29 weeks along- he has always measured a little small before, but I guess that is all normal). The odd thing is that I have actually been losing weight!!! Even though I am swelling, have edema (face, hands, feet puff up), and my Baby Bump is getting bigger (see Baby Bump Photo in Photo section for proof), I have lost a few pounds. How??!! My doctor doesn't seem concerned at this point, so that is a good sign. I have been feeling: hotter, itchier, more tired, more hip and perennial pains, more intense Braxton Hicks, stronger fetal movement, and waaaay more hormonal and irritable for the past few weeks- I have been told and read that it is all "normal," but I feel very vulnerable and exhausted all the time. Emotionally, I have a lot of excitement mixed with trepidation over: money, family, the health if the baby, labor, delivery, housing, trust/will, and postpartum issues. In short: I am driving myself crazy. Any other woman out there feel this way in the last weeks/months of pregnancy?? I will be officially full-term in 6 weeks, and his official due date is in 9 weeks, and I am scared about a lot of crazy things- my mind is racing. I want my hubby. I want my mommy. I want to go back to sleep....
OMG- we still have so much to do!!! We have to install the car seat and have it inspected. We have to wash all the baby bedding & clothes and put them away. We have to baby proof & clean the house and stock up on quick-fix foods. We have Baby Showers in a month. And Michael and I start our hospital-sanctioned Birthing Classes tonight. We are gonna learn breathing techniques for labor, when to call the doctor & go to the hospital during labor, postpartum info, what to do in case of emergency during the rest of pregnancy, coaching, pain relief and medication options, when to call family to the hospital, what to bring to the hospital, etc. AHHH!! My mind is totally full of baby info now; I don't even want to think about how much more there is to learn. *sob*
Our baby boy moves all the time- which is awesome. My heart rate is still really fast, my blood pressure is good, my blood sugar is good. His heart beat is perfect, and he is measuring a little big for his gestational age (he measured 30.5 weeks at our last appt- when he was about 29 weeks along- he has always measured a little small before, but I guess that is all normal). The odd thing is that I have actually been losing weight!!! Even though I am swelling, have edema (face, hands, feet puff up), and my Baby Bump is getting bigger (see Baby Bump Photo in Photo section for proof), I have lost a few pounds. How??!! My doctor doesn't seem concerned at this point, so that is a good sign. I have been feeling: hotter, itchier, more tired, more hip and perennial pains, more intense Braxton Hicks, stronger fetal movement, and waaaay more hormonal and irritable for the past few weeks- I have been told and read that it is all "normal," but I feel very vulnerable and exhausted all the time. Emotionally, I have a lot of excitement mixed with trepidation over: money, family, the health if the baby, labor, delivery, housing, trust/will, and postpartum issues. In short: I am driving myself crazy. Any other woman out there feel this way in the last weeks/months of pregnancy?? I will be officially full-term in 6 weeks, and his official due date is in 9 weeks, and I am scared about a lot of crazy things- my mind is racing. I want my hubby. I want my mommy. I want to go back to sleep....
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Yesterday was a fun day! Mom, Adam, Brandi, Chris, Michael and I went to our local 3D/4D Ultrasound clinic and received photos, a still image cd, and a video of our little man in utero. What an amazing experience! Our little Tigger has a little bit of hair on his head (it is white right now), and he is a little less than 3 lbs at the moment. His heartbeat is strong and perfect at 147 beats per minute. To see photos of him (cute captions included) just go to our Photos tab of the home page (top left hand corner on this website), then click 29 Week 3D Photos. Click on the first photo to enlarge the photo and start the slideshow. You can click on the arrow on the right to see the next photo in the line-up. You can also access these photos by clicking on the Prenatal Photos section on the home page of the website, if that is easier for you.
Also, we will have an updated Baby Bump photo tonight (yep, it has been 4 weeks since the last one- time is flying!!! Before we know it, he will be here with either Thanksgiving or Christmas bells on). To see my Belly Baby Bump growth, click on the Photos tab on the home page of this website, then click on the Baby Bump tab. You can see how my belly has looked from 9 weeks pregnant to now (29 weeks pregnant) by clicking the arrows to the right of the photos once you enlarge them.
Non-baby news: We have been intently house hunting in the Northwest area lately, and are looking to possibly rent out our current home some time next year. With prices and interest rates being so low, we feel this may be a good time to buy our next family home (but not a good time to sell our current home, of course).
Tomorrow morning, we will be going in for another Prenatal visit to the OBGYN. The doctor will check his growth and heart beat- and my vitals, per usual. I will be seeing the OBGYN every two weeks for a little while. I look forward to the appointments- it makes me feel good to make sure he is on track, even if these visits do seem a bit routine.
My symptoms so far in the third trimester: exhaustion for days on end, followed by days of sleeplessness and "nesting." My heart rate is still pretty darn fast, even when I am not doing much, which makes it more difficult to exercise (which can be really frustrating). Indigestion and heartburn are murderous- every few days or so, I have to lay upright on the couch (yes, still) for at least half the night before I can go to bed in order to calm my squished tummy. The nausea only gets really bad now when I get too hot, or too full after eating. My nails aren't as long and strong as they were for the first 6 months of pregnancy (my fingernails are getting kinda brittle, even), but my hair and skin still look great! I am getting "Mommy face" (my face is becoming fuller due to edema- swelling caused by excess fluid in my tissues). My weight gain is about 17 lbs total so far (I still need to gain between 8-13 more lbs by the end of my pregnancy in order to meet my doctor's goal weight for me). I may have more to report tomorrow after my OBGYN appointment so stay tuned...
Also, we will have an updated Baby Bump photo tonight (yep, it has been 4 weeks since the last one- time is flying!!! Before we know it, he will be here with either Thanksgiving or Christmas bells on). To see my Belly Baby Bump growth, click on the Photos tab on the home page of this website, then click on the Baby Bump tab. You can see how my belly has looked from 9 weeks pregnant to now (29 weeks pregnant) by clicking the arrows to the right of the photos once you enlarge them.
Non-baby news: We have been intently house hunting in the Northwest area lately, and are looking to possibly rent out our current home some time next year. With prices and interest rates being so low, we feel this may be a good time to buy our next family home (but not a good time to sell our current home, of course).
Tomorrow morning, we will be going in for another Prenatal visit to the OBGYN. The doctor will check his growth and heart beat- and my vitals, per usual. I will be seeing the OBGYN every two weeks for a little while. I look forward to the appointments- it makes me feel good to make sure he is on track, even if these visits do seem a bit routine.
My symptoms so far in the third trimester: exhaustion for days on end, followed by days of sleeplessness and "nesting." My heart rate is still pretty darn fast, even when I am not doing much, which makes it more difficult to exercise (which can be really frustrating). Indigestion and heartburn are murderous- every few days or so, I have to lay upright on the couch (yes, still) for at least half the night before I can go to bed in order to calm my squished tummy. The nausea only gets really bad now when I get too hot, or too full after eating. My nails aren't as long and strong as they were for the first 6 months of pregnancy (my fingernails are getting kinda brittle, even), but my hair and skin still look great! I am getting "Mommy face" (my face is becoming fuller due to edema- swelling caused by excess fluid in my tissues). My weight gain is about 17 lbs total so far (I still need to gain between 8-13 more lbs by the end of my pregnancy in order to meet my doctor's goal weight for me). I may have more to report tomorrow after my OBGYN appointment so stay tuned...
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Bouncers and Swingers
Nope- not the kind of bouncers and swingers YOU are thinking of... 
These bouncers are the cute little bouncy seats that infants bounce around in before they can walk- and the swings in question are the cute little seat swings that babies are rocked to sleep in. Michael's Mom got us both items from our registry- and they are sooo cute (little jungle monkey-themed contraptions we will probably keep in the living room). Michael's Granny bought us precious little onesies/ body suits embroidered with little saying like "Daddy's little recruit," "I'm Nuts about Grandpa," "Grandma Loves Me," Am I cute or What?," What Santa Doesn't Bring Me, Grandma Will," Mommy Loves Me," and one with monkeys all over it. Hehehehe. Our little man is stylin' already.
I had my last Dr appt on Monday, and the OBGYN says everything looks great- he is measuring perfectly, my blood pressure is 122/73, his hb is 142, my weight gain is perfect, and all the questions we had were answered; also, we need to pick a pediatrician soon (any suggestions?), and she strongly suggested to us that all people caring for a pregnant woman or infant (even for a short time) get flu shots, since the new flu strain is circulating already. Michael and I are planning on getting ours this weekend, and we will probably take my Mom to get hers too while she is here. Anyone with medical insurance in the U.S. usually has the flu shot covered under their insurance. My next appointment is in 2 weeks (the start of the third trimester means the OBGYN visits increase from once every 4 weeks to once every 2 weeks; eventually the visits increase to once a week). I also received my glucose and anemia blood tests while I was at the appointment. I have yet to hear back from the doctor as to what the results were, but right now I am assuming no news is good news. If I don't receive a phone call from the dr office by Tuesday, I will call them for the results (I hate not hearing back when tests are done).
We started taking our hospital-sanctioned prenatal classes this past week. Our first class was a Parent CPR/Safety Class- it was informative and we received lots of literature to take home about safety/ first aid/ Heimlich maneuver/ cpr in regards to children and infants. The instructor recommended anyone who wants to learn more about those things, and who doesn't have the time or money for the classes, to google how to do and train themselves and ask someone who knows how to do it- you never know; it could save a life.
We broke down and bought independent life insurance this past week. Michael and I are now insured through Allstate and have to receive a physical. Yuck. The lady who tests such things for Allstate will be at our home on Sunday, drawing blood and samples, and checking our vitals and weight (I think it should be illegal to check a pregnant woman's weight...hmmm...I wonder if I can petition to have that stopped? *sigh*). Our next step is to write a Trust, in which our Will will reside. Oh, the fun (i.e. morbid) things you think about when there is a new life on the way....
Our camera broke a few weeks back, so we mailed it into Canon (apparently there was a recalled, defective piece in the camera that needed to be fixed). The repair was free, of course, but it was inconvenient for us (we only had Michael's camera phone available to us for picture taking- this is why our last Baby Bump pic of my growing belly was so dark). Speaking of, for those of you who want to see pictures on this website, please click on the Photos tab in the upper left-hand corner, then click on whatever photo tab interests you: family photos, baby bump, new car, or prenatal photos. Enjoy! There will be many more photos added soon, since we now have our camera back from the shop. Yippee!!!
My Mom has been staying with us for the past week in order to help this big ol' pregnant woman with the housework. My brother Adam and his fiance were cool enough to loan Mom to us (she is staying with them during my pregnancy/the first few weeks of the baby's life- see past blog journals for details). She has been such a help: cooking, cleaning, landscaping, Halloween decorating, etc. With my growing belly and sense of balance becoming quite a hindrance, and Michael working full-time, catching up on chores can be a hassle. I have a list of chores I need to do, but can't, that she has been taking care of. Very helpful.
Next weekend will bring our 3d/4d Ultrasound! We are so psyched to see our little man in live action (yes, we will be posting the video clips and pics in our Photos section as soon as they are available). How exciting! Pray that he is active and healthy and is a "ham" for the camera- just like his Mommy. *grin*
In a couple weeks, the "men" will be having a weekend in Vegas...a "Man-cation," if you will. My brothers and hubby will take a Las Vegas excursion together in early October. My Dad will be in Arkansas, visiting his mother on her birthday, but the rest of the family guys will take Vegas by storm! My youngest brother Chris will be graduating from college with his Bachelor's in Computer Science soon, and my hubby and brother Adam are taking him to Sin City for the weekend. Should be a good time for them- not to mention a stress reliever for us gals while they are away. Brandi (my brother's fiance), my Mom, and I will spend that Saturday together. We three girls plan on visiting museums and going for tea at a local Tea House- you know, girly stuff. The rest of the weekend will be for relaxation- my mom will be staying with me, while Brandi will relish having the house to herself- or spending time with her girlfriends/ family too. The boys will enjoy shows and gambling and sight-seeing, while we chics will have a blissful, restful weekend. Can you say "Ahhhhhh....?"
These bouncers are the cute little bouncy seats that infants bounce around in before they can walk- and the swings in question are the cute little seat swings that babies are rocked to sleep in. Michael's Mom got us both items from our registry- and they are sooo cute (little jungle monkey-themed contraptions we will probably keep in the living room). Michael's Granny bought us precious little onesies/ body suits embroidered with little saying like "Daddy's little recruit," "I'm Nuts about Grandpa," "Grandma Loves Me," Am I cute or What?," What Santa Doesn't Bring Me, Grandma Will," Mommy Loves Me," and one with monkeys all over it. Hehehehe. Our little man is stylin' already.I had my last Dr appt on Monday, and the OBGYN says everything looks great- he is measuring perfectly, my blood pressure is 122/73, his hb is 142, my weight gain is perfect, and all the questions we had were answered; also, we need to pick a pediatrician soon (any suggestions?), and she strongly suggested to us that all people caring for a pregnant woman or infant (even for a short time) get flu shots, since the new flu strain is circulating already. Michael and I are planning on getting ours this weekend, and we will probably take my Mom to get hers too while she is here. Anyone with medical insurance in the U.S. usually has the flu shot covered under their insurance. My next appointment is in 2 weeks (the start of the third trimester means the OBGYN visits increase from once every 4 weeks to once every 2 weeks; eventually the visits increase to once a week). I also received my glucose and anemia blood tests while I was at the appointment. I have yet to hear back from the doctor as to what the results were, but right now I am assuming no news is good news. If I don't receive a phone call from the dr office by Tuesday, I will call them for the results (I hate not hearing back when tests are done).
We started taking our hospital-sanctioned prenatal classes this past week. Our first class was a Parent CPR/Safety Class- it was informative and we received lots of literature to take home about safety/ first aid/ Heimlich maneuver/ cpr in regards to children and infants. The instructor recommended anyone who wants to learn more about those things, and who doesn't have the time or money for the classes, to google how to do and train themselves and ask someone who knows how to do it- you never know; it could save a life.
We broke down and bought independent life insurance this past week. Michael and I are now insured through Allstate and have to receive a physical. Yuck. The lady who tests such things for Allstate will be at our home on Sunday, drawing blood and samples, and checking our vitals and weight (I think it should be illegal to check a pregnant woman's weight...hmmm...I wonder if I can petition to have that stopped? *sigh*). Our next step is to write a Trust, in which our Will will reside. Oh, the fun (i.e. morbid) things you think about when there is a new life on the way....
Our camera broke a few weeks back, so we mailed it into Canon (apparently there was a recalled, defective piece in the camera that needed to be fixed). The repair was free, of course, but it was inconvenient for us (we only had Michael's camera phone available to us for picture taking- this is why our last Baby Bump pic of my growing belly was so dark). Speaking of, for those of you who want to see pictures on this website, please click on the Photos tab in the upper left-hand corner, then click on whatever photo tab interests you: family photos, baby bump, new car, or prenatal photos. Enjoy! There will be many more photos added soon, since we now have our camera back from the shop. Yippee!!!
My Mom has been staying with us for the past week in order to help this big ol' pregnant woman with the housework. My brother Adam and his fiance were cool enough to loan Mom to us (she is staying with them during my pregnancy/the first few weeks of the baby's life- see past blog journals for details). She has been such a help: cooking, cleaning, landscaping, Halloween decorating, etc. With my growing belly and sense of balance becoming quite a hindrance, and Michael working full-time, catching up on chores can be a hassle. I have a list of chores I need to do, but can't, that she has been taking care of. Very helpful.
Next weekend will bring our 3d/4d Ultrasound! We are so psyched to see our little man in live action (yes, we will be posting the video clips and pics in our Photos section as soon as they are available). How exciting! Pray that he is active and healthy and is a "ham" for the camera- just like his Mommy. *grin*
In a couple weeks, the "men" will be having a weekend in Vegas...a "Man-cation," if you will. My brothers and hubby will take a Las Vegas excursion together in early October. My Dad will be in Arkansas, visiting his mother on her birthday, but the rest of the family guys will take Vegas by storm! My youngest brother Chris will be graduating from college with his Bachelor's in Computer Science soon, and my hubby and brother Adam are taking him to Sin City for the weekend. Should be a good time for them- not to mention a stress reliever for us gals while they are away. Brandi (my brother's fiance), my Mom, and I will spend that Saturday together. We three girls plan on visiting museums and going for tea at a local Tea House- you know, girly stuff. The rest of the weekend will be for relaxation- my mom will be staying with me, while Brandi will relish having the house to herself- or spending time with her girlfriends/ family too. The boys will enjoy shows and gambling and sight-seeing, while we chics will have a blissful, restful weekend. Can you say "Ahhhhhh....?"
Friday, September 11, 2009
Nesting
My house is pretty darn close to spotless. Seriously. Between Michael, my Mom, and (mostly) me, our house looks amazingly clean. According to the books, "nesting syndrome" (laymen's terms: obsessively preparing one's home for a baby) usually occurs in the latter part of the third trimester. For me, it seems to have struck a little early. What I can't do, or don't feel well enough to do, I have had my Mom or Michael do by writing out a list of monthly chores that need to be taken care of. From painting to attending classes to dusting to cleaning to redecorating/decorating to house hunting to installing shelves- the list goes on and on...AND there is still more to do! AHHHH!
On tap for the week: I get paid tomorrow! Woopee! And we have dinner with friends scheduled Saturday night. And Michael and I start Parent CPR classes this weekend. And we are having a family dinner on Sunday night. And my Mom is staying a week with us (to help me out again). And I have another doctor appointment and blood test on Monday (wish me and the baby luck). And we have a charity event on Tuesday. Sprinkle work, nausea, back pain, indigestion, exhaustion, and more nesting to this schedule and you have a recipe for the next week of my life. I am tired just thinking about it.
Things to watch for in my pregnancy: 1) Braxton Hicks contractions: (I have been having these since about 20 weeks, but they are getting more and more frequent and a little stronger) I usually get them a few times a day, but sometimes more. For those of you unfamiliar with Braxton Hicks contractions: they occur when the uterus tightens and contorts in a practice preparation for labor. They are very common and can start as early as 17 weeks of pregnancy. They are usually painless, but can definitely cause some pain here and there when the stomach tightens in a crampy kinda way. It really sucks when I am standing upright and then immediately roll forward when my tummy clenches in pain. 2) Back Aches & leg cramps: with the belly growing larger and larger, the back takes a beating and begins to hurt- especially the lower back. Makes it kinda difficult to stand straight sometimes. 3) Navel: still an inny to report. But a shallow inny. I mean really shallow. Could pop out and become an outy any second kinda inny. 4) Balance: whooo! I turn my head too fast sometimes and then trip on my own two feet. This did not help my sprained ankle situation (see past blogs). 5) Indigestion: worse than any indigestion one could ever feel. I can't tell you how awful and nauseating pregnancy indigestion can be. Sleeping upright becomes a necessity sometimes.
Things the baby is doing: 1) Growing! He is growing so much in the next month! He is 2 lbs right now and almost 15 inches in height! 2) his eyes are wide open when he is awake (he doesn't have pigmentation in the eyes yet, so his little peepers have no color), and he can blink now. Radical. 3) Sense of hearing is growing more and more acute. He can recognize Michael and mine's voices (even tho they are muffled to him) and get really agitated when a loud noise startles him. 4) Baby kickboxing. I swear we will never have to enroll him in martial arts because he already has a black belt in kicking-the-snot-out-of-Mommy's-tummy. His movements get stronger and stronger each week it seems. I read that as he gets bigger he may not kick as much as squirm as my due date approaches. 5) Brain development: his little brain is kicking into high gear as his synapses fire and begin to respond to more stimuli. All so exciting!
On tap for the week: I get paid tomorrow! Woopee! And we have dinner with friends scheduled Saturday night. And Michael and I start Parent CPR classes this weekend. And we are having a family dinner on Sunday night. And my Mom is staying a week with us (to help me out again). And I have another doctor appointment and blood test on Monday (wish me and the baby luck). And we have a charity event on Tuesday. Sprinkle work, nausea, back pain, indigestion, exhaustion, and more nesting to this schedule and you have a recipe for the next week of my life. I am tired just thinking about it.
Things to watch for in my pregnancy: 1) Braxton Hicks contractions: (I have been having these since about 20 weeks, but they are getting more and more frequent and a little stronger) I usually get them a few times a day, but sometimes more. For those of you unfamiliar with Braxton Hicks contractions: they occur when the uterus tightens and contorts in a practice preparation for labor. They are very common and can start as early as 17 weeks of pregnancy. They are usually painless, but can definitely cause some pain here and there when the stomach tightens in a crampy kinda way. It really sucks when I am standing upright and then immediately roll forward when my tummy clenches in pain. 2) Back Aches & leg cramps: with the belly growing larger and larger, the back takes a beating and begins to hurt- especially the lower back. Makes it kinda difficult to stand straight sometimes. 3) Navel: still an inny to report. But a shallow inny. I mean really shallow. Could pop out and become an outy any second kinda inny. 4) Balance: whooo! I turn my head too fast sometimes and then trip on my own two feet. This did not help my sprained ankle situation (see past blogs). 5) Indigestion: worse than any indigestion one could ever feel. I can't tell you how awful and nauseating pregnancy indigestion can be. Sleeping upright becomes a necessity sometimes.
Things the baby is doing: 1) Growing! He is growing so much in the next month! He is 2 lbs right now and almost 15 inches in height! 2) his eyes are wide open when he is awake (he doesn't have pigmentation in the eyes yet, so his little peepers have no color), and he can blink now. Radical. 3) Sense of hearing is growing more and more acute. He can recognize Michael and mine's voices (even tho they are muffled to him) and get really agitated when a loud noise startles him. 4) Baby kickboxing. I swear we will never have to enroll him in martial arts because he already has a black belt in kicking-the-snot-out-of-Mommy's-tummy. His movements get stronger and stronger each week it seems. I read that as he gets bigger he may not kick as much as squirm as my due date approaches. 5) Brain development: his little brain is kicking into high gear as his synapses fire and begin to respond to more stimuli. All so exciting!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
99 Bottles of Milk on the Wall...
Sooo... if "Tigger" Martin, Jr. is actually born on his Estimated Due Date (a rarity for babies), he will enter the world in 99 days!!! Hence this blog's title. And the milk is what he'll be drinking. Eventually, he'll drink the milk from a bottle. *wink* I am a clever mother, no?
Within the next 99 days, we have so much planned: endless Dr appointments, a 3d/4d ultrasound scan, tests, infant First Aid/CPR classes, birthing classes, breastfeeding classes, baby care basics classes, baby showers, family visits, friends, nursery decorating, pregnancy/labor/baby book reading...and somewhere in all this Michael and I have to squeeze in work, chores, and romance! Nobody ever said having a baby was easy, huh?
We also are looking at the many housing opportunities out here in Tucson now. With this "buyer's market," we are considering buying more land/house in a few years. Our little 1200sf house is perfect for we 3 right now, but we may need more room in the future, so it is good to keep an open mind to the possibilities out here, right? So much to think about when "we" becomes 3. My head may explode right along with my stomach.
Speaking of my stomach: guess what?! Our little boy is now 2 lbs!!! Next time you are at the supermarket, pick up a 2 lb roast or ground beef- just to see what the weight and size is. THAT size baby is what I have in my belly right now. And speaking of belly: guess who has an updated belly Baby Bump picture up on this website!? Me! Go to Photos tab, then Baby Bump tab and look at the progression my tummy has made over the last 6months. Amazing. I now literally look like I have a soccer ball growing out of my lower abdomen. Total weight gain with this pregnancy so far: approximately 15 lbs. I should gain another 10-15 lbs before he is born, to make sure he has all he needs to be strong and healthy at birth. I'll be coming up on 7 months very soon and I am so excited! I am especially excited to hear his heartbeat again in less than 2 weeks at our next OBGYN appointment. That is the best sound ever. And to feel him move again in my tummy. That is the best feeling ever. And to see his cute little face at our next ultrasound. That is the best image ever. I could go on and on and on...
Special thanks goes out: to my Mom for making me embroidered baby onesies and for getting me some fabric ribbon- I am using the ribbon to make the hanging contraption for my "100 Acre Woods" decorative sign I made for the nursery; to Michael's Mom & Dad for going on our "Think Geek" online registry (listed on this website's home page) and snagging many cute baby/maternity items for our future geek-in-training; to Adam and Brandi, for flying my mom out here and volunteering their home as Mom's guest-quarters while Mom helps us every few weeks throughout the remainder of my pregnancy; to our friends Brett and Casie, for all their help keeping us current with baby trends and advice; to Elaine and Leon & our Dinner crew, for providing me with much needed friendly socialization; to my Concord girlfriends who always find time to keep me in the loop and send me jokes and well-wishes; to my Aunt Marty, who helped us purchase our nursery glider/ottoman, nursery decor, & many baby items; to my Dad, who helped us purchase our car seat and changing table; to my friend Belinda, who helped us purchase our crib; and to my girlfriend Meagan, for pampering me once a month during my second and upcoming third trimester. And a thanks to all of you I haven't mentioned who provide love and support for us. We are truly blessed.
Within the next 99 days, we have so much planned: endless Dr appointments, a 3d/4d ultrasound scan, tests, infant First Aid/CPR classes, birthing classes, breastfeeding classes, baby care basics classes, baby showers, family visits, friends, nursery decorating, pregnancy/labor/baby book reading...and somewhere in all this Michael and I have to squeeze in work, chores, and romance! Nobody ever said having a baby was easy, huh?
We also are looking at the many housing opportunities out here in Tucson now. With this "buyer's market," we are considering buying more land/house in a few years. Our little 1200sf house is perfect for we 3 right now, but we may need more room in the future, so it is good to keep an open mind to the possibilities out here, right? So much to think about when "we" becomes 3. My head may explode right along with my stomach.
Speaking of my stomach: guess what?! Our little boy is now 2 lbs!!! Next time you are at the supermarket, pick up a 2 lb roast or ground beef- just to see what the weight and size is. THAT size baby is what I have in my belly right now. And speaking of belly: guess who has an updated belly Baby Bump picture up on this website!? Me! Go to Photos tab, then Baby Bump tab and look at the progression my tummy has made over the last 6months. Amazing. I now literally look like I have a soccer ball growing out of my lower abdomen. Total weight gain with this pregnancy so far: approximately 15 lbs. I should gain another 10-15 lbs before he is born, to make sure he has all he needs to be strong and healthy at birth. I'll be coming up on 7 months very soon and I am so excited! I am especially excited to hear his heartbeat again in less than 2 weeks at our next OBGYN appointment. That is the best sound ever. And to feel him move again in my tummy. That is the best feeling ever. And to see his cute little face at our next ultrasound. That is the best image ever. I could go on and on and on...
Special thanks goes out: to my Mom for making me embroidered baby onesies and for getting me some fabric ribbon- I am using the ribbon to make the hanging contraption for my "100 Acre Woods" decorative sign I made for the nursery; to Michael's Mom & Dad for going on our "Think Geek" online registry (listed on this website's home page) and snagging many cute baby/maternity items for our future geek-in-training; to Adam and Brandi, for flying my mom out here and volunteering their home as Mom's guest-quarters while Mom helps us every few weeks throughout the remainder of my pregnancy; to our friends Brett and Casie, for all their help keeping us current with baby trends and advice; to Elaine and Leon & our Dinner crew, for providing me with much needed friendly socialization; to my Concord girlfriends who always find time to keep me in the loop and send me jokes and well-wishes; to my Aunt Marty, who helped us purchase our nursery glider/ottoman, nursery decor, & many baby items; to my Dad, who helped us purchase our car seat and changing table; to my friend Belinda, who helped us purchase our crib; and to my girlfriend Meagan, for pampering me once a month during my second and upcoming third trimester. And a thanks to all of you I haven't mentioned who provide love and support for us. We are truly blessed.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Where Did My Feet Go!?!?
I had feet. I've had feet for 30 years. Now, they are no where to be seen. I look down at the scale and I have no feet. My 6 1/2 month soccer ball-sized belly has totally obscured my feetal- view (get it? Feetal view??!! I crack me up). FYI: I weigh myself every morning when I get up, to make sure I am on track- since I started out with a high-risk pregnancy, if I lose weight, the OBGYN will check me for uterine/amniotic fluid loss; if I gain too much weight in a short time, they do a check for gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Fun.
Pre-natal massages and physical therapy have become a must. My back cramps up to where I can barely move sometimes, and the leg cramps/ankle issues are not cool. (See info from last blog regarding ankle: A Sprain By Any Other Name). Oh, how I wish I could have an "awesome" pregnancy! But for those of you who have told me about your pregnancy and labor horror stories, I feel for you. Pregnancy is so individual: some of you have told me about how amazing you felt during pregnancy, while others have told me about scary complications. The same woman can have 2 pregnancies and one is perfect, while the other pregnancy is fraught with complications. Pregnancy is definitely not for the faint of heart.
We attended that Car Seat Safety class I have mentioned in previous blogs and learned a lot about car seats and traveling with babies- and laws regarding travel with babies. Mostly, we learned that you have to read your car's owner's manual AND any car seat instructions- and always bring the car seat to your car before buying it to make sure it fits properly so you don't have to return it later. So far, it seems car seats are very complicated- there are many types and you need to get one to fit your family needs and desires.
I made the 3d/4d ultrasound scan appointment today. Our 3d/4d appointment is set for Saturday, September 26 (my 29th week of pregnancy). If the images come out okay and the baby is cooperative, we will be receiving a DVD with the 25 minute video of our little one, a CD with download-able pictures and images of him, and 2 hard-copy photos for scanning. Not to mention, a brief diagnostic to make sure all his little parts are growing properly. Michael said he will be scanning short splices of the video, as well as some of the better color photos from the pictures and CD onto this website as soon as we receive them. I am so excited! I have to stay very hydrated for 4 days prior to the appointment, and we need to bring our 19 week diagnostic ultrasound picture scan to the 3d place for verification of prenatal care.
Our week: I got a hair cut and eyebrow wax yesterday, which was very nice. We looked at some property yesterday to see what our options could be if we decided to buy land and build a home in the future (if our family expands, that may be a necessity, huh?). I worked on a cute little project in the nursery (I am making a "100 Acre Woods" wall hanging sign all on my little ol' lonesome- I love crafts and it is nice to have the time and health to do them). Michael and I are attending a friend's 40-something birthday party this weekend. It is a Rock Legends-themed Costume Birthday Party and I am attending as "Mama" Cass Elliot (from the Mamas and the Papas 60's Rock Group- ironic, no?), and Michael will be Billy Idol. We will take pics of the attendees and post them in the Family Photos section of this website this weekend. Also up for posting this weekend is our next belly Baby Bump picture! Yay! I will be 25 weeks along this weekend (4 weeks from our last belly Baby Bump photo). We take the Baby Bump photo every 4 weeks to see my belly in progression. It is always a shock to watch it grow and grow!!!
Pre-natal massages and physical therapy have become a must. My back cramps up to where I can barely move sometimes, and the leg cramps/ankle issues are not cool. (See info from last blog regarding ankle: A Sprain By Any Other Name). Oh, how I wish I could have an "awesome" pregnancy! But for those of you who have told me about your pregnancy and labor horror stories, I feel for you. Pregnancy is so individual: some of you have told me about how amazing you felt during pregnancy, while others have told me about scary complications. The same woman can have 2 pregnancies and one is perfect, while the other pregnancy is fraught with complications. Pregnancy is definitely not for the faint of heart.
We attended that Car Seat Safety class I have mentioned in previous blogs and learned a lot about car seats and traveling with babies- and laws regarding travel with babies. Mostly, we learned that you have to read your car's owner's manual AND any car seat instructions- and always bring the car seat to your car before buying it to make sure it fits properly so you don't have to return it later. So far, it seems car seats are very complicated- there are many types and you need to get one to fit your family needs and desires.
I made the 3d/4d ultrasound scan appointment today. Our 3d/4d appointment is set for Saturday, September 26 (my 29th week of pregnancy). If the images come out okay and the baby is cooperative, we will be receiving a DVD with the 25 minute video of our little one, a CD with download-able pictures and images of him, and 2 hard-copy photos for scanning. Not to mention, a brief diagnostic to make sure all his little parts are growing properly. Michael said he will be scanning short splices of the video, as well as some of the better color photos from the pictures and CD onto this website as soon as we receive them. I am so excited! I have to stay very hydrated for 4 days prior to the appointment, and we need to bring our 19 week diagnostic ultrasound picture scan to the 3d place for verification of prenatal care.
Our week: I got a hair cut and eyebrow wax yesterday, which was very nice. We looked at some property yesterday to see what our options could be if we decided to buy land and build a home in the future (if our family expands, that may be a necessity, huh?). I worked on a cute little project in the nursery (I am making a "100 Acre Woods" wall hanging sign all on my little ol' lonesome- I love crafts and it is nice to have the time and health to do them). Michael and I are attending a friend's 40-something birthday party this weekend. It is a Rock Legends-themed Costume Birthday Party and I am attending as "Mama" Cass Elliot (from the Mamas and the Papas 60's Rock Group- ironic, no?), and Michael will be Billy Idol. We will take pics of the attendees and post them in the Family Photos section of this website this weekend. Also up for posting this weekend is our next belly Baby Bump picture! Yay! I will be 25 weeks along this weekend (4 weeks from our last belly Baby Bump photo). We take the Baby Bump photo every 4 weeks to see my belly in progression. It is always a shock to watch it grow and grow!!!
Friday, August 21, 2009
A Sprain By Any Other Name
Yesterday, I sprained my ankle and damaged the soft tissue around my knee. I swear I wasn't doing anything strenuous: I was just getting up off the couch to go into the kitchen, and apparently my left leg went numb. I crumpled straight down to the floor (I did not hit my head, or hurt my hands, or land on my belly), and landed directly on my knee, then twisted my ankle a little. The ankle feels much better today (a little tender in the back), but my knee- not so much good feelings there right now. Michael immediately took me to the doctor (I am sure Michael will be posting the hilarious pic of my "I hurt myself" look as we were in the doctor's waiting room). My GP says I damaged the soft tissue all around my left ankle and my left knee, but she felt no bone fragments floating in there, which was a blessing. Her opinion of what happened: this is a phenomenon that sometimes occurs in pregnant women and overweight people where the weight of the belly area (in my case, the uterus and baby) cuts off the major blood vessels leading to the leg and the leg goes numb for an instant. Never happened to me before and I had no warning. She said from now on when I have to get up (from bed, from a seat, from the floor, etc), I have to scoot to the edge of the seat and test my legs first to make sure they are functioning before I rise. A little of a pain in the butt, but I'll get used to doing it, I am sure. Her prescription: 72 hours of staying off the leg as much as possible, Tylenol (can't take anti-inflammatory meds at this point b/c they are bad for the baby) and ice for the swelling. If after 72 hours, there is still persistent pain and swelling, I will need to go back to the doc for "reevaluation." The baby seems fine and wasn't fazed by it: he was just a kickin' away as Michael fussed and got ice packs and helped me up from the floor as we called my GP. The doctor says I was soooo lucky I didn't hit my head when I fell (I landed right next to the coffee table). Sadly, this means I will not be able to get my scheduled haircut today (I would have no one to drive me, as Michael is in the office today so I rescheduled the haircut for next week), and I will be unable to go hang out with my Mom and brother Chris while Michael has his Poker Party at our house this weekend. Maybe I'll play poker- haven't done that in a while. Hmmm...
We are planning on going to the local 3d/4d Ultrasound Business at the end of September and getting some fun prenatal photos of our baby boy. We are sooo psyched! We will post the pics on this website when they come in, of course. Our OBGYN already "ok'ed" it and we are excited to see the progress our little man has made. Right now (24 weeks gestation), he is almost 1 1/2 pounds, 12 inches long from head to toe, and his lungs are starting to mature. By the time we see him in the 3d/4d ultrasound (at app. 29 weeks gestation), he should be well over 2 1/2 lbs and be over 15 inches long from head to toe! How cool is that!!?? Michael and I continue to marvel at our little Tigger every day and we adore watching my belly move as he performs various acrobatics for our viewing pleasure. For more info on what both my body and the baby's body is doing week-by-week, you can click on any of the "Favorite Baby Sites" pregnancy links we provided on the home page of this website.
Next week, Michael and I are scheduled to go to a free Car Seat Safety Workshop. We look forward to learning more about what car seat is best for our vehicle and needs. I am still confused on whether to buy a convertible car seat (one that converts from an infant car seat to a toddler booster seat) or to get an infant car seat that does not convert, but has a strap base that we could use to move the infant carrier in and out of the car easier. Ohhh, the plethora of things to consider when having a baby! Any suggestions?
We are planning on going to the local 3d/4d Ultrasound Business at the end of September and getting some fun prenatal photos of our baby boy. We are sooo psyched! We will post the pics on this website when they come in, of course. Our OBGYN already "ok'ed" it and we are excited to see the progress our little man has made. Right now (24 weeks gestation), he is almost 1 1/2 pounds, 12 inches long from head to toe, and his lungs are starting to mature. By the time we see him in the 3d/4d ultrasound (at app. 29 weeks gestation), he should be well over 2 1/2 lbs and be over 15 inches long from head to toe! How cool is that!!?? Michael and I continue to marvel at our little Tigger every day and we adore watching my belly move as he performs various acrobatics for our viewing pleasure. For more info on what both my body and the baby's body is doing week-by-week, you can click on any of the "Favorite Baby Sites" pregnancy links we provided on the home page of this website.
Next week, Michael and I are scheduled to go to a free Car Seat Safety Workshop. We look forward to learning more about what car seat is best for our vehicle and needs. I am still confused on whether to buy a convertible car seat (one that converts from an infant car seat to a toddler booster seat) or to get an infant car seat that does not convert, but has a strap base that we could use to move the infant carrier in and out of the car easier. Ohhh, the plethora of things to consider when having a baby! Any suggestions?
Saturday, August 15, 2009
6 months of drama and goofiness
Today begins my 23rd week (in gestational terms, the beginning of my 6th month) of pregnancy. I read that the baby will double in size this month (hopefully, I will not double in size this month- hehehehe). If you would like any info on the last 6 months of our pregnancy experience, or you think you missed some older blog entries, you can check out our archived Blogs by going to Blogs (click Blogs tab on upper-left hand side), then go down to the bottom on all the blogs on that page and click on Older Entries. Continue to follow this process until you get to our very first Blog on this website, "Happy Mother's Day," or until you find the blogs you have missed. Enjoy! If you would like to see any pictures, go to the Photos tab in the upper- left hand corner and find the category you are looking for and click on it (the Photo categories, as of right now, are New Car, Family Photos, Prenatal Photos, and Belly Pics).
I had an OBGYN appointment yesterday for a check up on Baby Martin, Jr. His heartbeat is strong at 143 beats per minute and he seems to be doing well. My weight is up 12.6 lbs since pregnancy began 23 weeks ago and the doctor is happy about my weight gain- woo hoo. I done good. My nausea is still present, but appears to get better every week. The indigestion is not fun, but what do you expect? There is a baby pressing against all my gastrointestinal parts, so I can't be too shocked that I have indigestion, huh? My pulse rate is still pretty high, resting between 96-120 beats per minute, but the doctor didn't seem too worried for the time-being. My next appointment will mark my glucose tolerance test: like most pregnant women in the US today, I will have to drink a sugary sweet liquid at the beginning of my third trimester and then have my blood drawn 1 hour later to test my glucose levels (make sure I have not developed gestational diabetes). I was told by my Doc that it will probably make me nauseous- yay. I am sooo excited. *dripping with sarcasm*
We had a fun week, though. Last Saturday, Michael and I attended a free Breastfeeding workshop, and learned a lot about babies and breastfeeding (and got some freebies too). We also received a generous coupon for the Medela breast pump we have had our eyes on, so I went ahead and bought one at Babies R Us. Wednesday, I had my monthly lunch and pedicure with my girlfriend Meagan. We ate at Sweet Tomatoes this time, and it was yummy- I love salad with all the fixins.' Then she and I went to have our nails done- I had my toes painted a sparkly red and she had beautiful acrylics applied to her fingers. It was a lovely day. On Thursday morning I pulled a goofy prank: I woke up early and decided to take a shower. I turned the shower on in order to begin heating the water, and promptly began cleaning the house and doing the dishes and working on the computer. Over two hours later, Michael woke up and asked me if I was ever going to take that shower. AHHHHH! "Shower??!!" I ran into the bathroom and the whole room was steamy and hot, and our bath mats and towels were all soaked. Amazingly, the water was still hot! I felt so embarrassed and promptly began to wash all the now-dirty linens. *sigh*
Today was a rough day for the Boyd family: Michael, my brother, and my brother's fiance all went tubing together (I couldn't go because...well, ya know). They decided to take my brother Chris' car last minute in order to leave me a vehicle with a working AC. My mom and I decided to take the day to do a little baby shopping. I got hot and felt sick around 3pm so we came home and I took a nap. I woke up at 5pm a little worried because I had yet to talk to everyone who went tubing. I called and left several messages on my brother Adam's cell phone, wondering where everyone was. About an hour later, I finally received a call from Michael saying that they were fine, but that they had lost a bag of stuff when they hit some rapids (and almost lost their lives, from what I understand), and one of the things lost was the key to my brother Christian's car. I thought, well they are safe and that is all that matters- they are just inconvenienced- and I am sure Chris' and Dad's car insurance covers road side assistance so they can get reimbursed for the key by the insurance. Little did I know this would turn into a family drama. It was a huge misunderstanding on all parts- my Dad, my brothers, me, my hubby- filled with hurt feelings and harsh words, but I hope it is cleared up now- b/c this pregnant woman would really like her family to get along and try to have some cohesion and understanding- especially before the baby is born. Wish us luck.
I had an OBGYN appointment yesterday for a check up on Baby Martin, Jr. His heartbeat is strong at 143 beats per minute and he seems to be doing well. My weight is up 12.6 lbs since pregnancy began 23 weeks ago and the doctor is happy about my weight gain- woo hoo. I done good. My nausea is still present, but appears to get better every week. The indigestion is not fun, but what do you expect? There is a baby pressing against all my gastrointestinal parts, so I can't be too shocked that I have indigestion, huh? My pulse rate is still pretty high, resting between 96-120 beats per minute, but the doctor didn't seem too worried for the time-being. My next appointment will mark my glucose tolerance test: like most pregnant women in the US today, I will have to drink a sugary sweet liquid at the beginning of my third trimester and then have my blood drawn 1 hour later to test my glucose levels (make sure I have not developed gestational diabetes). I was told by my Doc that it will probably make me nauseous- yay. I am sooo excited. *dripping with sarcasm*
We had a fun week, though. Last Saturday, Michael and I attended a free Breastfeeding workshop, and learned a lot about babies and breastfeeding (and got some freebies too). We also received a generous coupon for the Medela breast pump we have had our eyes on, so I went ahead and bought one at Babies R Us. Wednesday, I had my monthly lunch and pedicure with my girlfriend Meagan. We ate at Sweet Tomatoes this time, and it was yummy- I love salad with all the fixins.' Then she and I went to have our nails done- I had my toes painted a sparkly red and she had beautiful acrylics applied to her fingers. It was a lovely day. On Thursday morning I pulled a goofy prank: I woke up early and decided to take a shower. I turned the shower on in order to begin heating the water, and promptly began cleaning the house and doing the dishes and working on the computer. Over two hours later, Michael woke up and asked me if I was ever going to take that shower. AHHHHH! "Shower??!!" I ran into the bathroom and the whole room was steamy and hot, and our bath mats and towels were all soaked. Amazingly, the water was still hot! I felt so embarrassed and promptly began to wash all the now-dirty linens. *sigh*
Today was a rough day for the Boyd family: Michael, my brother, and my brother's fiance all went tubing together (I couldn't go because...well, ya know). They decided to take my brother Chris' car last minute in order to leave me a vehicle with a working AC. My mom and I decided to take the day to do a little baby shopping. I got hot and felt sick around 3pm so we came home and I took a nap. I woke up at 5pm a little worried because I had yet to talk to everyone who went tubing. I called and left several messages on my brother Adam's cell phone, wondering where everyone was. About an hour later, I finally received a call from Michael saying that they were fine, but that they had lost a bag of stuff when they hit some rapids (and almost lost their lives, from what I understand), and one of the things lost was the key to my brother Christian's car. I thought, well they are safe and that is all that matters- they are just inconvenienced- and I am sure Chris' and Dad's car insurance covers road side assistance so they can get reimbursed for the key by the insurance. Little did I know this would turn into a family drama. It was a huge misunderstanding on all parts- my Dad, my brothers, me, my hubby- filled with hurt feelings and harsh words, but I hope it is cleared up now- b/c this pregnant woman would really like her family to get along and try to have some cohesion and understanding- especially before the baby is born. Wish us luck.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Weight Gain Breakdown
Since I am half way through the 22nd week of pregnancy, I thought I would research how I have gained a little over 11 lbs in this pregnancy. In a woman of healthy weight, the American Pregnancy Association recommends gaining between 25-35 lbs during gestation (less if the woman started out obese, more if the woman started out under weight). Ideally, doctors recommend putting on approximately 5 lbs in the first trimester and a little over 1 lb a week in the second and third trimesters. My doctor would like me to put on 30 lbs by my 40th week (estimated due date for our son). So far, I have put on a little over 11 lbs and have about 19 more to go. I looked up the breakdown of my 22 week maternal weight gain and here it is:
Baby: 1+ lb
Placenta: 1 lb
Amniotic fluid: 1 lb.
Uterine enlargement: 1 lb.
Extra maternal Breast tissue: 1 lb.
Extra maternal Blood volume: 2 lbs. (yikes! no wonder my veins are so big)
Extra fluids in maternal tissue: 2 lbs.
Extra maternal fat storage for the baby: 2 lbs.
Wow!!! I never knew the baby needed all this extra maternal body weight to live on. Blows this first-time mother's mind. By the end of my pregnancy, we hope that the numbers up top will double, except for the Baby and maternal fat storage, which the doctors hope will be at around 7 lbs by the time I give birth. Making my total weight gain approximately 30 lbs. Of course, these numbers reflect a perfect pregnancy and may be a little higher or lower, depending on: the size of the baby, if the baby is delivered close to his due date, if there are no complications affecting the baby's or the mother's weight gain, etc.
Baby: 1+ lb
Placenta: 1 lb
Amniotic fluid: 1 lb.
Uterine enlargement: 1 lb.
Extra maternal Breast tissue: 1 lb.
Extra maternal Blood volume: 2 lbs. (yikes! no wonder my veins are so big)
Extra fluids in maternal tissue: 2 lbs.
Extra maternal fat storage for the baby: 2 lbs.
Wow!!! I never knew the baby needed all this extra maternal body weight to live on. Blows this first-time mother's mind. By the end of my pregnancy, we hope that the numbers up top will double, except for the Baby and maternal fat storage, which the doctors hope will be at around 7 lbs by the time I give birth. Making my total weight gain approximately 30 lbs. Of course, these numbers reflect a perfect pregnancy and may be a little higher or lower, depending on: the size of the baby, if the baby is delivered close to his due date, if there are no complications affecting the baby's or the mother's weight gain, etc.
The 22 Week Adventure
So far, the 22nd week has been quite a roller coaster ride!!! A lot of fetal movement and baby hiccups and Braxton Hicks contractions (the uterus hardens for a few seconds then retracts to normal as a "practice" movement for future labor; so far, these contractions have not been painful for me, just weird). The baby hiccups have only happened once that I know of and the Braxton Hicks happen about twice a day. My weight gain has stayed steady at 11 lbs and 4 ounces. My sleep patterns have been very erratic (sometimes I can sleep all through the night, sometimes I only get a few hours sleep and wake up wide awake to baby movement in my tummy or to painful indigestion and nausea (which is a belly movement I can live without, let me tell you). People also keep asking me if my belly button has popped out yet and the answer is nope; it has definitely become a shallower "inny" at this point, but no "outy" to report yet. And so far, no stretch marks anywhere. I am hoping it stays that way for the next 4 months. Oh yeah! And even though I haven't hiccuped in months (my diaphragm is totally squished by my uterus right now), I can still sneeze like a pro- and sneezing hurts like the dickens!!
On a scary front, I haven't been feeling "quite right" since last weekend, so I have been in contact with my doctor's office quite a bit. On Saturday night, at Michael's urging, I spoke with one of the doctors who is taking over while my OBGYN is on maternity leave and she doesn't feel anything is out of the ordinary aside from unexplainable "normal" pregnancy issues, but she told me if I keep feeling odd/nervous about certain symptoms then to call and get an appointment some time this week. On Monday, I called and was able to get an appointment to see a doctor on Friday (they are very busy right now delivering babies and taking over shifts for my doctor, and that was the earliest appointment they had available). Of course, I could always go to the Emergency Room and get checked out if I get really nervous, but the fact that I have been feeling so much fetal movement lately has prompted me to feel optimistic. Michael says the fetal movement is our little Tiger (let's call him "Tigger" for now since we have a Tigger/Pooh themed nursery and we have no name picked out for him yet) letting us know he is okay and that Mommy is just experiencing yet another weird pregnancy symptom that no one can explain- in fact, I still get quizzical looks when I tell people and doctors that I have continued to get "morning sickness," even though I am almost 6 months pregnant. (Side note: our friend Elaine nicknamed him our little Tiger, as stated in an earlier blog from June).
On a nice front, Mom spent this past weekend with us and helped out around the house. She put up the nursery window treatments that Dad gave us a gift card toward and helped put on the nursery bedding that Aunt Marty gave us a gift card toward. The nursery is slowly-but-surely becoming a full-fledged nursery and we love to look at it every day! It is so exciting!! Mom had to sleep on the couch for the 2 days she was here and she probably has a crick in her neck the size of Texas, but she didn't complain. On Sunday, we all went down to Dad's BBQ lunch. He made homemade ribs and brisket and baked beans and deviled eggs and had veggies to snack on. Yum! He also surprised us with a gift card to Babies R US and money toward nursery items for the baby! Yay! There is still so much to get for our little Tigger- babies need so much stuff and we don't even have half of it yet! And the time is starting to pass quickly for us now as we head into the 6th month of pregnancy (did you know that a healthy first, full-term pregnancy can actually last almost 10 months, not 9? Provided all is well, of course. Craziness.). We continue to pray that all will be well and our little man will come into the world happy and healthy and kicking and screaming!
On a scary front, I haven't been feeling "quite right" since last weekend, so I have been in contact with my doctor's office quite a bit. On Saturday night, at Michael's urging, I spoke with one of the doctors who is taking over while my OBGYN is on maternity leave and she doesn't feel anything is out of the ordinary aside from unexplainable "normal" pregnancy issues, but she told me if I keep feeling odd/nervous about certain symptoms then to call and get an appointment some time this week. On Monday, I called and was able to get an appointment to see a doctor on Friday (they are very busy right now delivering babies and taking over shifts for my doctor, and that was the earliest appointment they had available). Of course, I could always go to the Emergency Room and get checked out if I get really nervous, but the fact that I have been feeling so much fetal movement lately has prompted me to feel optimistic. Michael says the fetal movement is our little Tiger (let's call him "Tigger" for now since we have a Tigger/Pooh themed nursery and we have no name picked out for him yet) letting us know he is okay and that Mommy is just experiencing yet another weird pregnancy symptom that no one can explain- in fact, I still get quizzical looks when I tell people and doctors that I have continued to get "morning sickness," even though I am almost 6 months pregnant. (Side note: our friend Elaine nicknamed him our little Tiger, as stated in an earlier blog from June).
On a nice front, Mom spent this past weekend with us and helped out around the house. She put up the nursery window treatments that Dad gave us a gift card toward and helped put on the nursery bedding that Aunt Marty gave us a gift card toward. The nursery is slowly-but-surely becoming a full-fledged nursery and we love to look at it every day! It is so exciting!! Mom had to sleep on the couch for the 2 days she was here and she probably has a crick in her neck the size of Texas, but she didn't complain. On Sunday, we all went down to Dad's BBQ lunch. He made homemade ribs and brisket and baked beans and deviled eggs and had veggies to snack on. Yum! He also surprised us with a gift card to Babies R US and money toward nursery items for the baby! Yay! There is still so much to get for our little Tigger- babies need so much stuff and we don't even have half of it yet! And the time is starting to pass quickly for us now as we head into the 6th month of pregnancy (did you know that a healthy first, full-term pregnancy can actually last almost 10 months, not 9? Provided all is well, of course. Craziness.). We continue to pray that all will be well and our little man will come into the world happy and healthy and kicking and screaming!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Family Visits Scheduled
Michael's family is set to fly out here from Louisiana on December 26, in celebration of both Michael's birthday and of our baby boy's birthday. They are set to be here till Dec. 31 and will be staying at a local hotel close to our house. We are gonna have a family "Welcome To The World" Party on Dec 27 in celebration of our little one's arrival, and hope that my family will be able to make it by that day too. I hope my aunts and other family will be able to join us in this celebration of our little boy's arrival to the world. Michael and I hope to have some time to adjust to his schedule in his first few weeks of life, and will relish the time we will have alone with him to bond when we bring him home (even if he is born a little late, he will still be home by Dec 27, God-willing, so we figured that would be a good time to have his birthday party and get together with our family). I have also heard terrible things about postpartum "Baby Blues" caused by the drop in hormones a new mother experiences within a few weeks after birth, and I hope to be in good spirits when our out-of-town families meet our little guy.
My Aunt Marty gave us a gift card to Home Depot and some money toward a new glider & ottoman in the baby's room. We picked up the glider yesterday and picked out some shelves for the baby's room with the Home Depot gift card. Thanks Aunt Marty!! Also, my Dad and Aunt Dino gave us gift cards to Walmart for my birthday. I was able to buy curtains and curtain rods for the baby's room with those gift cards, as well as a few thin maternity sweaters for me. Thanks Aunt Dino and Daddy! Both the baby and I will be stylin.'
On Monday night, Adam, Brandi, and my Mom stopped by to pick up our exercise bike from us. We will no longer have room for it, with our little arrival coming, so we figured we would give it to someone who could use it. While they were here, my Mom cleaned my kitchen (thanks, Mom), and we had decaf coffee and polished off my leftover birthday cake.
My brother and his fiance are celebrating their anniversary this weekend, so my Mom is gonna come over to stay with us in order to give the lovebirds some privacy.
While Mom is over, I figure she could tackle some painting projects Michael won't let me do. 
And I will hang the new curtains I got for the baby's room.
Today, I am set to have coffee with my theatre director Anna (I will be having decaf, of course). We are meeting to catch up for 30 minutes before she teaches an acting class. Tonight, my friend Marcia will be stopping by to see me and to pick up some Mary Kay facial cream she ordered.
FYI on the pregnancy front: I have gained 11 pounds in this pregnancy so far (I am almost 22 weeks pregnant now). Yes, I am still experiencing morning sickness every day (some days are worse than others- yesterday was terrrrrible). I am irritable at least a few times a day and get annoyed pretty easily (my poor cats and hubby have to suffer the wrath of my tantrums the most). But the best part is that I am also having quite a bit of fetal movement! Hehehe. He is poking and kicking and dancing up a storm at least twice a day for about 10 minutes at a time. Michael has even been able to feel him thrust his tiny legs out to kick a couple times. It is just awesome! Tell him to keep it up! It is a source of endless entertainment for his mommy and daddy.
My Aunt Marty gave us a gift card to Home Depot and some money toward a new glider & ottoman in the baby's room. We picked up the glider yesterday and picked out some shelves for the baby's room with the Home Depot gift card. Thanks Aunt Marty!! Also, my Dad and Aunt Dino gave us gift cards to Walmart for my birthday. I was able to buy curtains and curtain rods for the baby's room with those gift cards, as well as a few thin maternity sweaters for me. Thanks Aunt Dino and Daddy! Both the baby and I will be stylin.'
On Monday night, Adam, Brandi, and my Mom stopped by to pick up our exercise bike from us. We will no longer have room for it, with our little arrival coming, so we figured we would give it to someone who could use it. While they were here, my Mom cleaned my kitchen (thanks, Mom), and we had decaf coffee and polished off my leftover birthday cake.
My brother and his fiance are celebrating their anniversary this weekend, so my Mom is gonna come over to stay with us in order to give the lovebirds some privacy.
While Mom is over, I figure she could tackle some painting projects Michael won't let me do. And I will hang the new curtains I got for the baby's room.Today, I am set to have coffee with my theatre director Anna (I will be having decaf, of course). We are meeting to catch up for 30 minutes before she teaches an acting class. Tonight, my friend Marcia will be stopping by to see me and to pick up some Mary Kay facial cream she ordered.
FYI on the pregnancy front: I have gained 11 pounds in this pregnancy so far (I am almost 22 weeks pregnant now). Yes, I am still experiencing morning sickness every day (some days are worse than others- yesterday was terrrrrible). I am irritable at least a few times a day and get annoyed pretty easily (my poor cats and hubby have to suffer the wrath of my tantrums the most). But the best part is that I am also having quite a bit of fetal movement! Hehehe. He is poking and kicking and dancing up a storm at least twice a day for about 10 minutes at a time. Michael has even been able to feel him thrust his tiny legs out to kick a couple times. It is just awesome! Tell him to keep it up! It is a source of endless entertainment for his mommy and daddy.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
14 Fun Fetal Facts
Did you know:
1) During 9+ months pregnancy, a woman produces as many hormones as she would in 150 years of not being pregnant?
2) Only 20% of women who experience "morning sickness" actually experience it in the mornings? The other 80% exhibit symptoms throughout the day. *yuck*
3) Only 5% of babies are actually born on their "Estimated Due Dates?" (My due date is Dec 12, but he has a 95% chance of being born on any day other than that day). The majority of babies are born between 37-42 weeks gestation (this is a huge 5 week range). A pregnancy is considered "full-term" after 37 weeks, but the baby can be born from natural full-term labor ANY TIME after 37 weeks. Most doctors today will not let a woman go past 41 weeks due to health concerns for the mother and/or baby. Also, scheduled inductions and c-sections happen too.
4) 30% of women in America today have C-sections? This comprises both scheduled and emergency c-sections. 70% of women go through vaginal delivery.
5) Of the women who choose to have a vaginal birth, 70% of them today will choose to have an epidural for pain relief during contractions?
6) At approximately 18 weeks, the baby's heart rate is regulated to between 140-160 beats per minute? The baby's heart beats so fast because he/she is growing so rapidly.
7) Vernix (a white, sticky substance that coats a baby after 13 weeks in the womb) is thought to protect the baby from the amniotic fluid so that the fluid does not cause the baby's skin to dry out and get too wrinkly at birth? It can be easily wiped off of the baby after delivery if he is born full-term.
8) An ultrasound after 18 weeks has a 98% chance of accurately determining gender? Other tests (fetal dna tests such as amniocentesis and cvs) have almost a 100% accuracy sex determination rating and can usually be done any time during a pregnancy, although they carry a slight miscarriage possibility.
9) After 22 weeks of pregnancy, the baby begins to react to most loud noises? Most especially he reacts to his parents' voices. If you startle the mother after this stage, it can take hours for the baby to "get over it." So don't scare the pregnant woman please.
10) A fetus spends up to 90% of his time in the womb asleep?
11) In swallowing and inhaling amniotic fluid, a baby tastes the same thing the mother tastes b/c his taste buds have fully developed? (So pass the salad, mom)
12) Only 15% of women actually start labor by their "waters breaking?" Even though this is how labor always begins in the movies and on tv, most women in the US have their water broken (the amniotic sac ruptured) by their doctor in a hospital after contractions and other labor symptoms have already begun.
13) Most hospitals in America will not let you take the baby home after check out unless the hospital staff has inspected the parents' car seat in their car? It is a good idea to have this checked by a police officer or car seat safety specialist in the beginning of the third trimester (just in case of pre-term labor).
14) In order to reduce the risks of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), the American Pregnancy Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development issued these recommendations as of 1999: no blankets or toys be allowed in the crib of an infant less than 1 year old, a baby should lay on his back while sleeping, a baby should be swaddled in a swaddler or put into a sleeper/sleep sack instead of being wrapped in a blanket while asleep.
1) During 9+ months pregnancy, a woman produces as many hormones as she would in 150 years of not being pregnant?
2) Only 20% of women who experience "morning sickness" actually experience it in the mornings? The other 80% exhibit symptoms throughout the day. *yuck*
3) Only 5% of babies are actually born on their "Estimated Due Dates?" (My due date is Dec 12, but he has a 95% chance of being born on any day other than that day). The majority of babies are born between 37-42 weeks gestation (this is a huge 5 week range). A pregnancy is considered "full-term" after 37 weeks, but the baby can be born from natural full-term labor ANY TIME after 37 weeks. Most doctors today will not let a woman go past 41 weeks due to health concerns for the mother and/or baby. Also, scheduled inductions and c-sections happen too.
4) 30% of women in America today have C-sections? This comprises both scheduled and emergency c-sections. 70% of women go through vaginal delivery.
5) Of the women who choose to have a vaginal birth, 70% of them today will choose to have an epidural for pain relief during contractions?
6) At approximately 18 weeks, the baby's heart rate is regulated to between 140-160 beats per minute? The baby's heart beats so fast because he/she is growing so rapidly.
7) Vernix (a white, sticky substance that coats a baby after 13 weeks in the womb) is thought to protect the baby from the amniotic fluid so that the fluid does not cause the baby's skin to dry out and get too wrinkly at birth? It can be easily wiped off of the baby after delivery if he is born full-term.
8) An ultrasound after 18 weeks has a 98% chance of accurately determining gender? Other tests (fetal dna tests such as amniocentesis and cvs) have almost a 100% accuracy sex determination rating and can usually be done any time during a pregnancy, although they carry a slight miscarriage possibility.
9) After 22 weeks of pregnancy, the baby begins to react to most loud noises? Most especially he reacts to his parents' voices. If you startle the mother after this stage, it can take hours for the baby to "get over it." So don't scare the pregnant woman please.
10) A fetus spends up to 90% of his time in the womb asleep?
11) In swallowing and inhaling amniotic fluid, a baby tastes the same thing the mother tastes b/c his taste buds have fully developed? (So pass the salad, mom)
12) Only 15% of women actually start labor by their "waters breaking?" Even though this is how labor always begins in the movies and on tv, most women in the US have their water broken (the amniotic sac ruptured) by their doctor in a hospital after contractions and other labor symptoms have already begun.
13) Most hospitals in America will not let you take the baby home after check out unless the hospital staff has inspected the parents' car seat in their car? It is a good idea to have this checked by a police officer or car seat safety specialist in the beginning of the third trimester (just in case of pre-term labor).
14) In order to reduce the risks of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), the American Pregnancy Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development issued these recommendations as of 1999: no blankets or toys be allowed in the crib of an infant less than 1 year old, a baby should lay on his back while sleeping, a baby should be swaddled in a swaddler or put into a sleeper/sleep sack instead of being wrapped in a blanket while asleep.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Birthdays and Belly Pics
Our 21 weeks Baby Bump belly pic will be up today. Click on the Photos tab in the left- hand top corner, then click on Baby Bump. You can click on the photos to see the evolution of Bree's belly as her little Tigger roars inside her. This will be our 4th Baby Bump pic to date.
Yesterday was a busy day! Bree woke up at 5:30am, unable to sleep, and did a little work around the house and gazed at the nursery occasionally. Then at 8:30am, Bree and Michael went to the 20th Annual Baby Fair at the TCC. Loads of fun and freebies! The booths had many reps from companies and hospitals and the Tucson Police Department to discuss pregnancy and child safety issues. Very informative. We received lots of cute little diapers, literature, breast feeding tools, BPA-free bottles and coupons- all for free.
In the afternoon, Michael and I attended my 29th-again Birthday Party at my brother's house. It was also celebrated in conjunction with my Dad's 29-again-for-the-25th-time Birthday party. We don't age in this family. My birthday present from my brother and his fiance was a visit from my Mom! Wow!! Thank you guys so much for volunteering your home for Mom while she stays here in Tucson to help plan for the baby's birth. My brother Chris gave me tons of great Disney movies I love. My Mom and Aunts Marty and Tracy bought me a ton of Pooh/Tigger-themed baby stuff (bibs, teethers & rattlers, wash cloths and sponge, sleep sacs, baby brush and comb set), an Andrew Lloyd Weber cd, strawberry cake (my favorite), and gift cards (always good to have when you are working on a nursery, btw). My Dad got me a sweet card and gift card as well. Michael got me satellite radio for our new car Geordie, cleaned the house, took me to Phoenix last weekend, and bought tickets to see Margaret Cho when she comes to AZ in October! He made sure to tell me that the seats were located near an aisle so my pregnant body will be able to access a bathroom. Michael's mom sent me some awesome Disney movies and baby stuff (clothes, bottle warmer, etc). My Aunt Donna sent me a card and gift card. And my Nanaw sent me a precious birthday card. I also received a lot of love from friends and family in the way of phone calls and e-mails/e-cards wishing me a Happy Birthday: thank you Belinda, Emmy, Wendy and Brad, Anna, Grandpa and Honey, and all the people listed above who made my birthday special. My Dad also received lots of great gifts and gift cards and candy- and my Mom made him an egg custard pie for dessert (his favorite). We ate grilled burgers and veggies and chips (yum) that my brother, his fiance, and Michael supplied. A fun time was had by all at the party.
After the family party, my bro had a Poker Party scheduled at his house that evening (attended by my hubby and our poker-playing friends) while my Mom and brother Chris and I did a little shopping and went out to eat at Sauce and Frost. Awesome dinner combination of pasta and gelato. Needless to say, yesterday was the most exciting/exhausting day I have had in months! Michael will have pictures of the birthday up today in the Family Photos section of this website (click on Photos in the upper-left hand corner, then click on Family Photos and scroll until you find the pictures and captions of the birthday(s) party).
This will be our 4th Baby Bump pic to date. Yesterday was a busy day! Bree woke up at 5:30am, unable to sleep, and did a little work around the house and gazed at the nursery occasionally. Then at 8:30am, Bree and Michael went to the 20th Annual Baby Fair at the TCC. Loads of fun and freebies! The booths had many reps from companies and hospitals and the Tucson Police Department to discuss pregnancy and child safety issues. Very informative. We received lots of cute little diapers, literature, breast feeding tools, BPA-free bottles and coupons- all for free.
In the afternoon, Michael and I attended my 29th-again Birthday Party at my brother's house. It was also celebrated in conjunction with my Dad's 29-again-for-the-25th-time Birthday party. We don't age in this family. My birthday present from my brother and his fiance was a visit from my Mom! Wow!! Thank you guys so much for volunteering your home for Mom while she stays here in Tucson to help plan for the baby's birth. My brother Chris gave me tons of great Disney movies I love. My Mom and Aunts Marty and Tracy bought me a ton of Pooh/Tigger-themed baby stuff (bibs, teethers & rattlers, wash cloths and sponge, sleep sacs, baby brush and comb set), an Andrew Lloyd Weber cd, strawberry cake (my favorite), and gift cards (always good to have when you are working on a nursery, btw). My Dad got me a sweet card and gift card as well. Michael got me satellite radio for our new car Geordie, cleaned the house, took me to Phoenix last weekend, and bought tickets to see Margaret Cho when she comes to AZ in October! He made sure to tell me that the seats were located near an aisle so my pregnant body will be able to access a bathroom. Michael's mom sent me some awesome Disney movies and baby stuff (clothes, bottle warmer, etc). My Aunt Donna sent me a card and gift card. And my Nanaw sent me a precious birthday card. I also received a lot of love from friends and family in the way of phone calls and e-mails/e-cards wishing me a Happy Birthday: thank you Belinda, Emmy, Wendy and Brad, Anna, Grandpa and Honey, and all the people listed above who made my birthday special. My Dad also received lots of great gifts and gift cards and candy- and my Mom made him an egg custard pie for dessert (his favorite). We ate grilled burgers and veggies and chips (yum) that my brother, his fiance, and Michael supplied. A fun time was had by all at the party.
After the family party, my bro had a Poker Party scheduled at his house that evening (attended by my hubby and our poker-playing friends) while my Mom and brother Chris and I did a little shopping and went out to eat at Sauce and Frost. Awesome dinner combination of pasta and gelato. Needless to say, yesterday was the most exciting/exhausting day I have had in months! Michael will have pictures of the birthday up today in the Family Photos section of this website (click on Photos in the upper-left hand corner, then click on Family Photos and scroll until you find the pictures and captions of the birthday(s) party).
Thursday, July 30, 2009
20+ Week Appt- PLUS Star Trek Convention...
Michael and I attended our 20 weeks prenatal appointment yesterday (I am 20 weeks, 4 days pregnant). We are happy to report that all is well with our little tiger- and he gets very annoyed by doctors. When our OBGYN was listening to his 140-beat-per-minute heartbeat on the tummy doppler, he decided to kick at the doppler machine while she was holding it. The funniest noise interrupted his steady heart beat with a loud "thud" as he tried to pop the device out of her hand. Very funny. Up until yesterday, I had only felt small, fluttery, twingy movements here and there (similar to a gassy feeling in my lower tummy), but yesterday he was very active and his movements felt more like a small electrical current punching my tummy every so often. So far, it seems to not be painful, just a little jolting. I only felt it for about 10 minutes, but it was an awesome experience!
My mood swings started about a week ago- weepiness every few days for no reason whatsoever, and irritability about once a day; both of these last only a few minutes at a time. OBGYN says that is actually pretty good, considering how high my hormone levels have been. I still have daily bouts of nausea and constant "vurping," for which the doctor wrote me out another prescription for Zofran, just in case the "morning" sickness continues after this week (actual morning sickness after the completion of the 20th week is supposedly rare- although most women still experience occassional scent-induced nausea or stomach upset throughout their entire pregnancy, which is a different thing). My weight is up about 3 lbs from last month, making my total weight gain during this pregnancy a little more than 10 lbs. Right on track. My heart rate is a little high, even for a pregnant woman (a "normal" pregnant woman's heart rate tends to be about 100 beats per minute), but nothing to be concerned about (yet) according to the doctor. And my blood pressure and vitals are all normal. So, I am officially out of the "high-risk pregnancy" status for now. From now on, at our monthly appointments, they will continue to run the normal tests, to make sure all is progressing properly, but no more bi-weekly blood tests and constant ultrasounds. *whew* Although, I have to admit, Michael and I will kinda miss the continous ultrasounds- it was fascinating to see the development of new life every few weeks.
Michael's mom told me she was shipping us some more fun stuff for the baby today: we will be receiving ALL of Brayden's (Michael's sister's son) past baby/toddler clothes that are still in great shape, along with safety outlet covers, and a car charging bottle-warmer. Yay- our mini-man is gonna be decked out, let me tell you. And Michael put the crib together yesterday! Woo hoo! Aaaand the replacement changing table/dresser arrived yesterday too! (See last blog for more details on that little drama). His room is now full of baby furniture, so we have no more guest room- it is now the beginnings of a true nursery. Today, I am set to put the "Tigger-and-Pooh" wall border up around the nursery, and maybe some of the wall hangings and other decor, if I feel like it.
On a disappointing note, Michael and I will be unable to attend the Star Trek Convention this year. *sad face* For those of you who know us, we are trekkies ("trekkers," if you are politically correct). I love Star Trek and sci-fi, in general, and Michael likes it almost as much as I do. We have had the fortune of attending the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention every year for the past 4 years, and have autographs and celebrity photos and stories to prove it. I have to admit, I am way bummed about not being able to feel like the coolest geek in the room for 4 glorious days, but I will work thru the pain. Patrick Stewart will not be attending this year, and he is the only celebrity we have yet to get a picture with, so we've rationalized the heartache. To be honest, the trip would just be too miserable and uncomfortable for me this year; riding in a car is still not my tummy's favorite past time- and I have a sneaky suspicion being in a plane would have an even worse gastrointestinal effect.
I had an awkward neighbor moment a few days ago while I was retrieving our mail: an older man, who lives down the road with his wife, asked me how the twins were doing. I felt embarrassed to tell him that we unfortunately lost one of the twins a few months back. He apologized for our devestating loss, but then wished us happy luck on our little survivor and throughout the rest of my pregnancy, which was very nice. I think it was a bitter-sweet moment for both of us.
My mood swings started about a week ago- weepiness every few days for no reason whatsoever, and irritability about once a day; both of these last only a few minutes at a time. OBGYN says that is actually pretty good, considering how high my hormone levels have been. I still have daily bouts of nausea and constant "vurping," for which the doctor wrote me out another prescription for Zofran, just in case the "morning" sickness continues after this week (actual morning sickness after the completion of the 20th week is supposedly rare- although most women still experience occassional scent-induced nausea or stomach upset throughout their entire pregnancy, which is a different thing). My weight is up about 3 lbs from last month, making my total weight gain during this pregnancy a little more than 10 lbs. Right on track. My heart rate is a little high, even for a pregnant woman (a "normal" pregnant woman's heart rate tends to be about 100 beats per minute), but nothing to be concerned about (yet) according to the doctor. And my blood pressure and vitals are all normal. So, I am officially out of the "high-risk pregnancy" status for now. From now on, at our monthly appointments, they will continue to run the normal tests, to make sure all is progressing properly, but no more bi-weekly blood tests and constant ultrasounds. *whew* Although, I have to admit, Michael and I will kinda miss the continous ultrasounds- it was fascinating to see the development of new life every few weeks.
Michael's mom told me she was shipping us some more fun stuff for the baby today: we will be receiving ALL of Brayden's (Michael's sister's son) past baby/toddler clothes that are still in great shape, along with safety outlet covers, and a car charging bottle-warmer. Yay- our mini-man is gonna be decked out, let me tell you. And Michael put the crib together yesterday! Woo hoo! Aaaand the replacement changing table/dresser arrived yesterday too! (See last blog for more details on that little drama). His room is now full of baby furniture, so we have no more guest room- it is now the beginnings of a true nursery. Today, I am set to put the "Tigger-and-Pooh" wall border up around the nursery, and maybe some of the wall hangings and other decor, if I feel like it.
On a disappointing note, Michael and I will be unable to attend the Star Trek Convention this year. *sad face*
For those of you who know us, we are trekkies ("trekkers," if you are politically correct). I love Star Trek and sci-fi, in general, and Michael likes it almost as much as I do. We have had the fortune of attending the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention every year for the past 4 years, and have autographs and celebrity photos and stories to prove it. I have to admit, I am way bummed about not being able to feel like the coolest geek in the room for 4 glorious days, but I will work thru the pain. Patrick Stewart will not be attending this year, and he is the only celebrity we have yet to get a picture with, so we've rationalized the heartache. To be honest, the trip would just be too miserable and uncomfortable for me this year; riding in a car is still not my tummy's favorite past time- and I have a sneaky suspicion being in a plane would have an even worse gastrointestinal effect. I had an awkward neighbor moment a few days ago while I was retrieving our mail: an older man, who lives down the road with his wife, asked me how the twins were doing. I felt embarrassed to tell him that we unfortunately lost one of the twins a few months back. He apologized for our devestating loss, but then wished us happy luck on our little survivor and throughout the rest of my pregnancy, which was very nice. I think it was a bitter-sweet moment for both of us.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Weekend from H-E-Double Hockey Sticks!
Let me start out by saying that my hubby is a saint. Spending time with him this weekend was the highlight of these last few days and he is a very take-charge person when things go wrong. Because of this, problems are resolved quickly and usually do not have to be worried about again at a later date. Thank Goodness for him! Aside from that, the weekend was very frustrating and unpredictable, mainly due to incompetent vendors.
Saturday, Michael decided that we would kick off my birthday by shopping for baby furniture at IKEA in Phoenix. We left home around 9am and drove up there. I took meds, but still had nausea and muscle fatigue off-and-on all weekend long. Michael said I was a trooper though. We found some items we liked at IKEA, but not any furniture that totally suited our fancies. We decided to check out the Phoenix Babies R' Us, Target, and USA Baby. Babies R Us furniture was expensive, compared to IKEA and other online prices we had researched, and their local USA Baby had closed down!!! Ahhh! So we drove around Phoenix, in 110+ degree, monsoon-season, weather for nothing. Did I mention I am pregnant and hot and nauseous all the time? *sigh* We went back to IKEA and decided that maybe we should pick the crib & changing table combo that we liked earlier- but we just didn't LOVE the choice (on second look, Michael felt the wood was too dark for our nursery room). After spending 7 hours in Phoenix, looking for elusive baby furniture, we decided to call it a day and grab some food. We ate at Ra Japanese Restaurant (very good food and service, but a little pricey, btw) and drove the 1.5 hours home, sans furniture. Our bodies were aching and bruised from walking around Phoenix all day so a bath was in order before bed.
Sunday, Michael researched some more local baby stores and decided to try the Babies R Us on the other side of town and a locally owned store call "Aldrich Baby News." We found some great nursery items at Babies R Us, but still no furniture that appealed to us. Then we went to Baby News. They had some great looking furniture! We were so psyched. We ended up picking out 3 pieces we adored (a crib, a changing table/dress combo, and the hutch that sits on top of the changing table/dresser combo). We couldn't believe our luck! The price was higher than IKEA's assembly-required furniture, but lower than Babies R Us furniture, so we decided to purchase the items. Since the pieces were very heavy and bulky, we had to contact my brother Adam and beg him to help Michael move the furniture to our house b/c 1) Adam is a non-pregnant dude and 2) Adam has a truck. After much finagling, Michael and Adam were able to get the furniture in our house. As soon as we unwrapped the box with the changing table/dresser combo, I noticed a problem with the drawers. After inspection, Michael and Adam noticed the drawers had cracks in the wood and would not close properly due to the defect! This was right out of the package! After closer inspection, Adam and Michael noticed the top of the dresser was warped (probably due to being stored in a non-AC warehouse for months). The rest of our furniture appeared to be in good shape. Bree called the Baby News place and left a message on their voice mail (they were closed for the day) and explained the problem- they should get back to us soon. This was unacceptable, and the item will need to be replaced- by THEM coming to our house and replacing it. If the replacement is also damaged, we will need our money back for all the furniture b/c they were all bought to match each other, of course. *grunt*
We still had to go to Target to register, so at 7pm we drove over to Target (which closes at 9pm). We registered for our items until closing time and headed out. Sounds simple, right? Upon returning home, we accessed our registry as a guest. Our guests (friends and family) can access our registry just fine, but we can't! We tried to manage our registry (change any items or add items) and our password was not working! *anger* Not only that, we saw online that we were supposed to receive a gift bag when we did our baby registry at Target, and we did not. Bree printed out the page and decided to call Target's customer service (which she did and they took care of the password issue- yay Target!). Today, Bree will also be heading back to Target to get the gift bag we were meant to get. The good news for all of you who have been asking: we are officially registered at Target under either Bree Martin or Michael Martin from Arizona ( I would recommend putting in my name in the registry- much easier to find our registry list since my name is less common). You can order registry items online at www.target.com or go to Target itself and print out the registry and shop at the store. Remember: when you buy something, please remember to take it off the registry (if you find the same item cheaper at a different store, that is great- just remember to take it off the registry). We will also be registering at Babies R Us soon.
To top off the weekend, right before we went to sleep, the AC started making this loud, high-pitched whistling noise! What the heck!? Could this weekend have been any more complicated!? *crying* We decided to put in ear plugs and deal with it later. Sleep is the only thing that will wash away the pain.
Saturday, Michael decided that we would kick off my birthday by shopping for baby furniture at IKEA in Phoenix. We left home around 9am and drove up there. I took meds, but still had nausea and muscle fatigue off-and-on all weekend long. Michael said I was a trooper though.
We found some items we liked at IKEA, but not any furniture that totally suited our fancies. We decided to check out the Phoenix Babies R' Us, Target, and USA Baby. Babies R Us furniture was expensive, compared to IKEA and other online prices we had researched, and their local USA Baby had closed down!!! Ahhh! So we drove around Phoenix, in 110+ degree, monsoon-season, weather for nothing. Did I mention I am pregnant and hot and nauseous all the time? *sigh* We went back to IKEA and decided that maybe we should pick the crib & changing table combo that we liked earlier- but we just didn't LOVE the choice (on second look, Michael felt the wood was too dark for our nursery room). After spending 7 hours in Phoenix, looking for elusive baby furniture, we decided to call it a day and grab some food. We ate at Ra Japanese Restaurant (very good food and service, but a little pricey, btw) and drove the 1.5 hours home, sans furniture. Our bodies were aching and bruised from walking around Phoenix all day so a bath was in order before bed.Sunday, Michael researched some more local baby stores and decided to try the Babies R Us on the other side of town and a locally owned store call "Aldrich Baby News." We found some great nursery items at Babies R Us, but still no furniture that appealed to us. Then we went to Baby News. They had some great looking furniture! We were so psyched. We ended up picking out 3 pieces we adored (a crib, a changing table/dress combo, and the hutch that sits on top of the changing table/dresser combo). We couldn't believe our luck! The price was higher than IKEA's assembly-required furniture, but lower than Babies R Us furniture, so we decided to purchase the items. Since the pieces were very heavy and bulky, we had to contact my brother Adam and beg him to help Michael move the furniture to our house b/c 1) Adam is a non-pregnant dude and 2) Adam has a truck. After much finagling, Michael and Adam were able to get the furniture in our house. As soon as we unwrapped the box with the changing table/dresser combo, I noticed a problem with the drawers. After inspection, Michael and Adam noticed the drawers had cracks in the wood and would not close properly due to the defect! This was right out of the package! After closer inspection, Adam and Michael noticed the top of the dresser was warped (probably due to being stored in a non-AC warehouse for months). The rest of our furniture appeared to be in good shape. Bree called the Baby News place and left a message on their voice mail (they were closed for the day) and explained the problem- they should get back to us soon. This was unacceptable, and the item will need to be replaced- by THEM coming to our house and replacing it. If the replacement is also damaged, we will need our money back for all the furniture b/c they were all bought to match each other, of course. *grunt*
We still had to go to Target to register, so at 7pm we drove over to Target (which closes at 9pm). We registered for our items until closing time and headed out. Sounds simple, right? Upon returning home, we accessed our registry as a guest. Our guests (friends and family) can access our registry just fine, but we can't! We tried to manage our registry (change any items or add items) and our password was not working! *anger* Not only that, we saw online that we were supposed to receive a gift bag when we did our baby registry at Target, and we did not. Bree printed out the page and decided to call Target's customer service (which she did and they took care of the password issue- yay Target!). Today, Bree will also be heading back to Target to get the gift bag we were meant to get. The good news for all of you who have been asking: we are officially registered at Target under either Bree Martin or Michael Martin from Arizona ( I would recommend putting in my name in the registry- much easier to find our registry list since my name is less common). You can order registry items online at www.target.com or go to Target itself and print out the registry and shop at the store. Remember: when you buy something, please remember to take it off the registry (if you find the same item cheaper at a different store, that is great- just remember to take it off the registry). We will also be registering at Babies R Us soon.
To top off the weekend, right before we went to sleep, the AC started making this loud, high-pitched whistling noise! What the heck!? Could this weekend have been any more complicated!? *crying* We decided to put in ear plugs and deal with it later. Sleep is the only thing that will wash away the pain.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Nursery shopping begins today
We are off to IKEA in Phoenix and I am soooo psyched! I hope we are able to find furniture for our baby boy today. I am kinda sad that we will no longer have a guest room, but it is for a really good cause! As the nursery progresses from a guest room/storage room, Michael and I will be taking pictures and posting them here on our website. We are gonna have fun transforming the big purple guest quarters into a Tigger and Winnie the Pooh Playland! I am considering painting the bottom of the chair rail (under the "100 Acre Woods" border we will be puttin' up) a light green- what do you think? Haven't decided yet. That will make the top 3/4 of the room purple, then the border at the crib-line, then the bottom 4 feet a light grass-green color. I am still debating and would love some input.
Michael is hesitent to let me paint. I do touch-ups a little here and there while he is at work (shhh- don't tell him or I'll get in trouble). Since I have been pregnant, I have painted baseboards in our house and done touch-ups in the future-nursery and touch-ups in our newly- remodeled bathroom (btw: Michael remodeled the bathroom himself- I have a Renaissance Man; but I did all the decorating in there and helped him pick out the new vanity and countertop, so I contributed. A little.). There is still so much to do in the house tho: we have to put up child safety latches on the cabinets (we have them, we have just not installed them yet), get those little socket stoppers so the baby won't put his finger in a light socket (I smell a registry item maybe...), and generally buy furniture and baby essentials! We also need to either get a living room toy box (for items the baby plays with or uses in the living room) or maybe I can paint out the hope chest my Dad gave me; not sure which to do on that one. I am so overwhelmed now. I need to breathe. Somebody hand me a paper sack, quick! This baby should be born in early December and there is too much that needs to be accomplished. A little over 4 months to go! AHHH!
PS On a weird side-note: I think I had a pregnancy-induced hallucination. I woke up around 1am to see (what I thought was) a biiig spider. I am not afraid of spiders, but I don't want one crawling on me while I am asleep. Yuck. The light was on in our bedroom (I guess Michael woke up and turned it on for some reason) and I woke up, looked down at the belly support pillow I keep near my growing belly, and yelped "Michael! There is a spider on my pillow." He immediately dashed into action, grabbing the pillow and pulling the covers off the bed to kill, or at least move, the spider. Major heroics for the middle of the night, huh? After several minutes of us looking for the spider and smashing our covers to bits, we finally deduced that I could have been having one of those vivid dreams I told you about in my "21 Shocking Facts" blog. Or there could have really been a spider. We aren't sure. We just had the house sprayed for pests (using "green" pesticides, of course), and I haven't seen any other creepy-crawlies since then, but you never know...
Michael is hesitent to let me paint. I do touch-ups a little here and there while he is at work (shhh- don't tell him or I'll get in trouble). Since I have been pregnant, I have painted baseboards in our house and done touch-ups in the future-nursery and touch-ups in our newly- remodeled bathroom (btw: Michael remodeled the bathroom himself- I have a Renaissance Man; but I did all the decorating in there and helped him pick out the new vanity and countertop, so I contributed. A little.). There is still so much to do in the house tho: we have to put up child safety latches on the cabinets (we have them, we have just not installed them yet), get those little socket stoppers so the baby won't put his finger in a light socket (I smell a registry item maybe...), and generally buy furniture and baby essentials! We also need to either get a living room toy box (for items the baby plays with or uses in the living room) or maybe I can paint out the hope chest my Dad gave me; not sure which to do on that one. I am so overwhelmed now. I need to breathe. Somebody hand me a paper sack, quick! This baby should be born in early December and there is too much that needs to be accomplished. A little over 4 months to go! AHHH!
PS On a weird side-note: I think I had a pregnancy-induced hallucination. I woke up around 1am to see (what I thought was) a biiig spider. I am not afraid of spiders, but I don't want one crawling on me while I am asleep. Yuck. The light was on in our bedroom (I guess Michael woke up and turned it on for some reason) and I woke up, looked down at the belly support pillow I keep near my growing belly, and yelped "Michael! There is a spider on my pillow." He immediately dashed into action, grabbing the pillow and pulling the covers off the bed to kill, or at least move, the spider. Major heroics for the middle of the night, huh? After several minutes of us looking for the spider and smashing our covers to bits, we finally deduced that I could have been having one of those vivid dreams I told you about in my "21 Shocking Facts" blog. Or there could have really been a spider. We aren't sure. We just had the house sprayed for pests (using "green" pesticides, of course), and I haven't seen any other creepy-crawlies since then, but you never know...
Dinner Parties and Car Seats
Forgot to mention! Last weekend, we went to a Dinner Party with friends (every two months, we get together with a group of 5 couple-friends who also love to cook; we take turns having it at each house and each couple picks a theme). The first theme was Italian. So good with the homemade pasta and sauces. Next was Greek food. Loooove Greek food. Last week's theme was Indian Food. Everything was so good- there was rice, shrimp, Chicken Tikka Masala, Saffron salad, dipped strawberries, Naan bread, Indian beer & wine (which I wasn't able to drink, of course). Everything was yummy. And I was introduced to this pregnant woman's best friend- Chai Tea. My best friend Emmy has always loved Chai Tea, and I hadn't really had much of it before, but I knew she always adored it. But the hostess at this dinner party, Rahbn, made some for the party for us non-drinkers. It was delish. I see why my bff always had to have it.
Tonight, my brother and his fiance are stopping over after dinner to chat and have dessert- and of course Adam will be picking up his gift card he won from our Gender Guessing Contest. I am making apple cinnamon muffins, half-caf coffee, and, you guessed it, chai tea. *grin*
Next week, Michael and I are heading to a Car Seat Safety seminar (free seminar to show us the legal way a car seat must be installed in Arizona). Afterward, we are gonna buy a car seat for our little boy, since we will be schooled in the proper safety guidelines. FYI: We will have to have it approved by the hospital before we will be allowed to take the baby home, so this is obviously an important class. Who knew there were so many rules and regulations and laws concerning infant travel, huh? It is a good thing, but every time we think we got all the info we need, there is something else to learn. Part of being a parent, I guess.
We can't wait for our shopping spree at IKEA this weekend, and to hear our little boy's heartbeat again next week at our next OBGYN appt. It is such an amazing experience to know Michael and I made a new human life, and that life is growing and thriving inside me. This little boy is such a blessing. After being together 9 years, being married 7 years, trying to get pregnant for 2 years, and having 2 miscarriages, Michael and I are certain this little one will be sooo spoiled. And we are okay with that.
Tonight, my brother and his fiance are stopping over after dinner to chat and have dessert- and of course Adam will be picking up his gift card he won from our Gender Guessing Contest.
I am making apple cinnamon muffins, half-caf coffee, and, you guessed it, chai tea. *grin*Next week, Michael and I are heading to a Car Seat Safety seminar (free seminar to show us the legal way a car seat must be installed in Arizona). Afterward, we are gonna buy a car seat for our little boy, since we will be schooled in the proper safety guidelines. FYI: We will have to have it approved by the hospital before we will be allowed to take the baby home, so this is obviously an important class. Who knew there were so many rules and regulations and laws concerning infant travel, huh? It is a good thing, but every time we think we got all the info we need, there is something else to learn. Part of being a parent, I guess.
We can't wait for our shopping spree at IKEA this weekend, and to hear our little boy's heartbeat again next week at our next OBGYN appt. It is such an amazing experience to know Michael and I made a new human life, and that life is growing and thriving inside me. This little boy is such a blessing. After being together 9 years, being married 7 years, trying to get pregnant for 2 years, and having 2 miscarriages, Michael and I are certain this little one will be sooo spoiled. And we are okay with that.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Future Plans for the Future Mommy and Daddy
So, now that we know we are having a boy, all these things are flooding at us! We are so thrilled to find out that I am pregnant with a boy, and even more thrilled that so far he is perfectly healthy and happy playing in my womb. Now it is time for Mommy and Daddy to get serious about planning for our son. Yikes!
Friday, Michael and I are going out to eat with our friends Casie and Brett (btw: thanks for participating in the Gender Guessing Game yesterday, you two). They have two young munchkins and we pump them for info constantly about the latest pregnancy and baby info.
This Saturday, Michael and I are going to Phoenix to do some baby boy furniture shopping. We are hoping to find a crib and changing table at IKEA, and then have lunch and drive back home to Tucson. For those of you who have been asking, we will probably begin our registry at Target this week too. We are planning on registering at Babies R' Us in early August.
Next week is my next OBGYN appointment. It will be my last time to see my OBGYN for about 2 months because she is gonna be on maternity leave. Ironic, huh? She is pregnant with a boy too, and he is due in August. One of her OBGYN colleagues will be taking over our prenatal care for August and September.
Next weekend is the Tucson Baby Fair. It sounds like a lot of fun! After the Baby Fair, there is gonna be a family dual- Birthday Party for my Dad and me at my brother's house. I don't know anything else about the particulars of the family b-day party, but I am excited. I will be 29- again. And so will my Dad. *grin* After our family get-together, my brother's house is set to be transformed into a Poker tournament by nightfall. I will probably be too tired from the festivities of the day to participate in the tournament, but I am sure my hubby and all the Poker tourney- lovers will have a good time.
Today, I did something wild! I registered for Prenatal classes at our hospital. Took forever. Our hospital offers 7 different classes, but we found 4 of them interesting. Michael and I are gonna learn how to birth babies, diaper babies, breastfeed & bottle babies, and administer first aid to babies. Wow. One of these classes is 5 weeks long. We are set to begin a series of different classes in mid-September. The last class is November 19 (3 weeks before my projected due date). FYI: If I go into labor before I can take any one of the classes, they will refund our money, which is good to know. The classes are not very expensive, so we thought this would be a good investment- seeing as how we don't know nothin' about babies. There are also community classes we are looking at taking next month that are free too. And I am all about "free." Who isn't these days, huh?
Friday, Michael and I are going out to eat with our friends Casie and Brett (btw: thanks for participating in the Gender Guessing Game yesterday, you two). They have two young munchkins and we pump them for info constantly about the latest pregnancy and baby info.
This Saturday, Michael and I are going to Phoenix to do some baby boy furniture shopping. We are hoping to find a crib and changing table at IKEA, and then have lunch and drive back home to Tucson. For those of you who have been asking, we will probably begin our registry at Target this week too. We are planning on registering at Babies R' Us in early August.
Next week is my next OBGYN appointment. It will be my last time to see my OBGYN for about 2 months because she is gonna be on maternity leave. Ironic, huh? She is pregnant with a boy too, and he is due in August. One of her OBGYN colleagues will be taking over our prenatal care for August and September.
Next weekend is the Tucson Baby Fair. It sounds like a lot of fun! After the Baby Fair, there is gonna be a family dual- Birthday Party for my Dad and me at my brother's house. I don't know anything else about the particulars of the family b-day party, but I am excited. I will be 29- again. And so will my Dad. *grin* After our family get-together, my brother's house is set to be transformed into a Poker tournament by nightfall. I will probably be too tired from the festivities of the day to participate in the tournament, but I am sure my hubby and all the Poker tourney- lovers will have a good time.
Today, I did something wild! I registered for Prenatal classes at our hospital. Took forever. Our hospital offers 7 different classes, but we found 4 of them interesting. Michael and I are gonna learn how to birth babies, diaper babies, breastfeed & bottle babies, and administer first aid to babies. Wow. One of these classes is 5 weeks long. We are set to begin a series of different classes in mid-September. The last class is November 19 (3 weeks before my projected due date). FYI: If I go into labor before I can take any one of the classes, they will refund our money, which is good to know. The classes are not very expensive, so we thought this would be a good investment- seeing as how we don't know nothin' about babies. There are also community classes we are looking at taking next month that are free too. And I am all about "free." Who isn't these days, huh?
Old Wives' Tales- Your Baby's Sex Revealed!
Gender Prediction- Based on Old Wives' Tales:
1) If you carry all the weight out in front, you are having a boy. If you carry the extra weight in hips and thighs, you are having a girl. All my weight is out in front. Boy
2) If the hair on your legs is growing faster than before you were pregnant, you are having a boy. Mine is not. Girl.
3) Girls are carried high, boys low. As of right now, I am carrying high. Girl
4) Sleeping in your bed, if your pillow is facing South, you are having a girl. My pillow faces South. Girl
5) If you prefer to eat the heel of bread while pregnant, vs the middle, you are having a boy. I eat both, but prefer the middle. Girl
6) If the Dad-to-Be gains weight along with you while pregnant, you are having a boy. Michael has lost weight. Girl.
7) If you have morning sickness during pregnancy, you are having a girl. I STILL have morning sickness, so I must be having a Girl, right? The biggest, baddest Girl you ever met. My Grandma Honey, who birthed two boys, had severe morning sickness with both of them.
8) If the maternal Grandmother has all gray hair when the baby is conceived, you are having a boy. My Mom does not have all gray hair, so I am having a Girl.
9) If your skin, hair, and nails are all growing better than before and you "glow" during pregnancy, you are having a boy (b/c girls steal their mother's looks). My skin, hair, and nails have never looked better, therefore I am having a Boy.
10) If breast development has been quite dramatic since you found out you were pregnant, you are having a Girl. Hmmm...I am starting to see a pattern here- are you?
11) If the sum of the mother's age and the month of conception add up to be an even number, you are having a Boy. I am 29 and I conceived in March (3), so that equals 32. I am having a boy.
12) If your urine is a dull yellow during pregnancy, instead of a bright yellow, you are having a Girl. Mine is a dull yellow. Girl.
13) If you are craving sweets, you are having a girl; craving salty things, a boy. I am not "craving" anything, per se, due to morning sickness, but I have an easier time keeping sweet stuff down than salty, so I am gonna say I am having a Girl on this one, right?
14) If your nose gets wider during pregnancy, you are having a boy. My nose has remained the same, so Girl.
15) If you are craving meat and cheese, you are having a boy. If you are craving fruits, you are having a girl. Again, cravings are not my thing yet, but I can eat grilled cheese sandwiches a lot, but also a lot of fruit. Hmmm... it is a toss up on this one.
16) If your baby's heart rate is over 140 beats per minute, you are having a girl. If it is 140 beats per minute or lower, it is a boy. See, the baby's heart rate has been all over the charts since conception- sometimes 120, sometimes 160. After his heartbeat stabalized, it was a little over 140. So he must be a Girl, right?
17) If you drink a lot of orange juice during pregnancy, then you are having a Girl. I drink orange juice. So he is a Girl.
18) If you are having headaches while pregnant, it is a Boy. I do have headaches occasionally, but not as bad as some women I know. But I do have headaches about once a week so far, so I am gonna say Boy to this one.
19) If your belly looks like a watermelon, you are having a Girl. If it looks like a basketball, you are having a Boy. This one is kinda hard to determine at this point, but after looking in the mirror, I would have to go with watermelon. So, I am having a Girl.
20) If someone asks you to show them your hands, and you show your hands to them palm up, you are having a Girl. If you show them to you palm down, you are having a Boy. Not really sure why this one is an Old Wives' Tale for gender prediction during pregnancy, but I show people my hands palm up, so I am having a Girl.
21) If you pick up a mug (of coffee, tea, milk), and you involutarilly hold the mug by the handle, you are having a Boy. If you hold the body of the mug, you are having a Girl. When I reach for a mug, I hold the body initially, then switch to the handle. So I am having a Girl.
22) If your feet are colder than before you were pregnant, you are having a Boy. If they are the same or warmer than before, you are having a girl. My feet are actually hotter since I became pregnant (as is the rest of me), so I am having a Girl.
23) If you have a hearty appetite during pregnancy, and are possibly putting on a little more weight than you should, then you are having a Boy, b/c boys have heartier appetites. As you know, I have to make myself eat on most days, so this would have to be Girl.
PS: As you all know, according to modern technology, I am having a BOY (you can see his little bottom and winky and soles of his feet on our 19 week ultrasound II pics- an ultrasound II has a 98% accuracy rating after 18 weeks gestation). These Old Wives' Tales read that I am having a Girl (78% of them indicate Girl, 22% indicate Boy). At last count, 13 of my friends and family were leaning toward the feeling that I was having a Girl, based on myths and/or gender prediction indicators; 8 of my friends and family said Boy, based on the same. Also, the Chinese Gender Prediction Calendar stated that was having a Girl, based on my age and month of conception. I checked the stats on the accuracy rating of the Chinese Gender Predictions, and it is right 65% of the time, according to one poll I read. These are a fun and exciting way to build anticipation about the gender of your baby, but not always accurate.
1) If you carry all the weight out in front, you are having a boy. If you carry the extra weight in hips and thighs, you are having a girl. All my weight is out in front. Boy
2) If the hair on your legs is growing faster than before you were pregnant, you are having a boy. Mine is not. Girl.
3) Girls are carried high, boys low. As of right now, I am carrying high. Girl
4) Sleeping in your bed, if your pillow is facing South, you are having a girl. My pillow faces South. Girl
5) If you prefer to eat the heel of bread while pregnant, vs the middle, you are having a boy. I eat both, but prefer the middle. Girl
6) If the Dad-to-Be gains weight along with you while pregnant, you are having a boy. Michael has lost weight. Girl.
7) If you have morning sickness during pregnancy, you are having a girl. I STILL have morning sickness, so I must be having a Girl, right? The biggest, baddest Girl you ever met. My Grandma Honey, who birthed two boys, had severe morning sickness with both of them.
8) If the maternal Grandmother has all gray hair when the baby is conceived, you are having a boy. My Mom does not have all gray hair, so I am having a Girl.
9) If your skin, hair, and nails are all growing better than before and you "glow" during pregnancy, you are having a boy (b/c girls steal their mother's looks). My skin, hair, and nails have never looked better, therefore I am having a Boy.
10) If breast development has been quite dramatic since you found out you were pregnant, you are having a Girl. Hmmm...I am starting to see a pattern here- are you?
11) If the sum of the mother's age and the month of conception add up to be an even number, you are having a Boy. I am 29 and I conceived in March (3), so that equals 32. I am having a boy.
12) If your urine is a dull yellow during pregnancy, instead of a bright yellow, you are having a Girl. Mine is a dull yellow. Girl.
13) If you are craving sweets, you are having a girl; craving salty things, a boy. I am not "craving" anything, per se, due to morning sickness, but I have an easier time keeping sweet stuff down than salty, so I am gonna say I am having a Girl on this one, right?
14) If your nose gets wider during pregnancy, you are having a boy. My nose has remained the same, so Girl.
15) If you are craving meat and cheese, you are having a boy. If you are craving fruits, you are having a girl. Again, cravings are not my thing yet, but I can eat grilled cheese sandwiches a lot, but also a lot of fruit. Hmmm... it is a toss up on this one.
16) If your baby's heart rate is over 140 beats per minute, you are having a girl. If it is 140 beats per minute or lower, it is a boy. See, the baby's heart rate has been all over the charts since conception- sometimes 120, sometimes 160. After his heartbeat stabalized, it was a little over 140. So he must be a Girl, right?
17) If you drink a lot of orange juice during pregnancy, then you are having a Girl. I drink orange juice. So he is a Girl.
18) If you are having headaches while pregnant, it is a Boy. I do have headaches occasionally, but not as bad as some women I know. But I do have headaches about once a week so far, so I am gonna say Boy to this one.
19) If your belly looks like a watermelon, you are having a Girl. If it looks like a basketball, you are having a Boy. This one is kinda hard to determine at this point, but after looking in the mirror, I would have to go with watermelon. So, I am having a Girl.
20) If someone asks you to show them your hands, and you show your hands to them palm up, you are having a Girl. If you show them to you palm down, you are having a Boy. Not really sure why this one is an Old Wives' Tale for gender prediction during pregnancy, but I show people my hands palm up, so I am having a Girl.
21) If you pick up a mug (of coffee, tea, milk), and you involutarilly hold the mug by the handle, you are having a Boy. If you hold the body of the mug, you are having a Girl. When I reach for a mug, I hold the body initially, then switch to the handle. So I am having a Girl.
22) If your feet are colder than before you were pregnant, you are having a Boy. If they are the same or warmer than before, you are having a girl. My feet are actually hotter since I became pregnant (as is the rest of me), so I am having a Girl.
23) If you have a hearty appetite during pregnancy, and are possibly putting on a little more weight than you should, then you are having a Boy, b/c boys have heartier appetites. As you know, I have to make myself eat on most days, so this would have to be Girl.
PS: As you all know, according to modern technology, I am having a BOY (you can see his little bottom and winky and soles of his feet on our 19 week ultrasound II pics- an ultrasound II has a 98% accuracy rating after 18 weeks gestation). These Old Wives' Tales read that I am having a Girl (78% of them indicate Girl, 22% indicate Boy). At last count, 13 of my friends and family were leaning toward the feeling that I was having a Girl, based on myths and/or gender prediction indicators; 8 of my friends and family said Boy, based on the same. Also, the Chinese Gender Prediction Calendar stated that was having a Girl, based on my age and month of conception. I checked the stats on the accuracy rating of the Chinese Gender Predictions, and it is right 65% of the time, according to one poll I read. These are a fun and exciting way to build anticipation about the gender of your baby, but not always accurate.
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