2 down 1 more to go!

I've been having the hardest time appreciating pregnancy for what it is. Instead I've been concentrating on the negative, the not-so-pretty things that happen or could happen, throughout these amazing months. So I've decided to make it a point to stay focused on the positive. I know I'll look back and either not remember or laugh at all the things I've been so worried about. Pregnancy is wonderful, but it's funny how it's soooo not what I thought it would be.

Baby is doing fine and growing well from what I can tell. Still no progress on the name, I swear we'll never find something we both like. I've started an online registry, but when I went to babies r us the other night to check out infant car seats it made me want to scratch the online registry all together. There is everything at that store!! I feel like there is no sense in registering both places, so I think Ted and I will be going this weekend.

Sleep is rough.. I have to get up a couple times a night to go to the bathroom and any time I want to roll over I wake up. I look forward to being able to sleep on my tummy again, but for now a body pillow seems to help. My dreams are nuts too. I have really bizarre and vivid dreams. The other night I gave birth to a litter of kittens and I remember being totally heartbroken that I went through all that work and I couldn't keep them because of my allergies!

My next doctors appointment is Tuesday, I have to do a glucose test. Hopefully all goes well, I have no reason to think it won't. Our classes still don't start until the following Tuesday, but I'm really looking forward to them. I've been doing all kinds of reading and googling ways to deal with labor so I can stick to the natural birth plan. I may look into having a midwife deliver me. I still won't get to pick the actual midwife delivering because with Kaiser it's whoever is on call when I'm ready to go.. I'm totally facinated with labor right now. I want to prepare myself as best possible, especially because I don't want to use any medications. I'm scared silly, but know I can do it. Our bodies were made for this!! :) xoxo

Nesting

Baby is going to be one well taken care of kid!! His wardrobe is already beginning to be established and his great aunties are giving him all kinds of great hand me downs- things mom is probably more excited about than he ever will be.

Last weekend I finally got the fabric to make the bumper pads, which also allowed me to make my final decision on which baskets to keep for the changing table. I'm anxious to start on my new project, my goal is to start this weekend- fingers crossed! There are all kinds of crafty projects on my list of to-do's.. it's just a matter of finding the time these days. I have kept our schedule busy as ever, which is probably best while I can be so busy. Once I get huge I won't want to be doing anything, and after baby gets here I know life will have to make a drastic transition to the slow lane.

I booked some of the preparing for baby classes I wanted to take through the hospital. The evening classes: infant care, breastfeeding, and late pregnancy/hospital tour only last a couple of hours, but the major one is over a 5 week span for a couple of hours one night a week. That's the one I'm most excited for! I'm in baby prep mode and totally obsessed.

Baby gets stronger by the day! Feeling the flutters, rolls, kicks, and punches makes me more and more anxious to meet and hold him. I love his movements during the day, it makes me feel like it's just the two of us and there's nothing in this world that can disturb those bonding moments. My updates tell me he's about two pounds now!! I constantly wonder if he's on my baby weight scale or Ted's and what he'll look like.
More updates soon to come. xoxo

Baby goes rollover rollover..

7 to 25 weeks!

I can't believe I'm already 6 months pregnant! 25 weeks just doesn't have the same sound effect as 6 MONTHS! My little prince is about the size of an ear of corn, or 12 inches, and weighs just a little over a pound. He's still slim but my newsletters say he'll start packing on the baby chub in the coming weeks. If he takes after me he'll be a hefty little guy, ouch!, but if he takes after Ted's side he'll be little. Ted and Doug were early and each weighed only 3.5 lbs, Savannah was full term but still only weighed 5.6 lbs- yes please! ;)

His brain is developing rapidly and taste buds may even be working by now. I've gained a total of 13.5 lbs as of my doctors appointment last Thursday, and I'm told I should be gaining a pound a week for the remaining weeks. Doctor says I'm right on track as far as my weight and size goes but I have to admit I feel huge. It's exciting to see a real baby belly, but a little challenging to see my wardrobe selection dwindling. I feel how tight my tummy is and realize how big he's getting, his movements are only getting more intense and more frequent throughout the day (and night). The soft little nudges and rolls are making all the challenges of pregnancy thus far totally worth it!

Ted and I decided no doula... Part of me still likes the idea and would like to have one, but with so much support and family close by I can't justify the cost. I'm planning on having my mom and Ted with me throughout the entire labor and think they will be great advocates for my birth plan. After talking to some friends that have recently gone through labor, I realize how "high maintenance" my requests are but feel that they are feasible so long as there aren't any serious complications. Everything about birth and labor is fascinating to me and I can't seem to get enough of it these days, but I'm absolutely terrified of personally going through the whole experience. There are no guarantees with child birth and I don't think I will ever be prepared.. but to do my best in attempting to get prepared, I've signed up for several classes through the hospital.

Holiday Recovery

Ted and I are still undecided on a name.. He likes one I like another so I guess baby 'two' it will have to be! lol I feel a little unsettled that we don't have even one name that would make us both happy but I guess there's still time..

I'm beginning to get the nesting bug BIG TIME. This last weekend we picked up the crib and changing table, assembled them, and have rearranged the kids room. I've been collecting my JoAnn's coupons so that I can get all the measurements and go get the fabric to start on the crib set. We have the bassinet at my parents so I'm sure that will be moving in soon as well.

This years annual family trip to San Francisco was a hit. Savannah had so much fun on the cable car going to the aquarium, playing with all the kids, and enjoying our English high tea. When we were going over the bridge, on our way home, she said "mommy I wanna do san cisco again!" lol The only downfall to the weekend was on the last day we had Cheesecake Factory for brunch and I got food poisoning. It hit around 4 that afternoon and was bad enough that it landed me in the hospital hooked up to an IV for a few hours Monday night. I'm fully recovered now and baby is doing great.

Movements are intense these days! It crazy how much I can feel him all throughout the day. It seems like all of a sudden, out of the blue, I'm able to feel all the action and I love it! Just the other day I actually saw the movement from the outside. It was the craziest thing!! Savannah doesn't have the patience to sit and wait for him to kick, but Ted usually falls asleep holding my tummy. :) My new year's resolution is to start doing my prenatal yoga regularly. Ted got me a DVD and we got a wii for Christmas so there's no excuses! It's time to buckle down and get some exercise!

Burn Baby Burn

People kept asking if I was getting any heartburn and I kept thinking I never would since I've never had problems with that before, but boy was I wrong! I had it really bad last Sunday from eating greasy food, and then again in the middle of the night Thursday from eating jalapenos. I guess I really have to be careful about what I'm eating these days.. Thank goodness the sickness is gone! I just have to stear clear of foods or smells that gross me out, but I'm not nearly as sensative as I was.

I had a customer this week ask me when I was due, I told her May 1st, her reply was, "Aren't you a little big?" I couldn't believe it! It wasn't just what she said, but the way she said it too! Just last week I had someone else ask if I was ever going to get a baby bump! lol I've popped a lot more and it's much easier to notice, even in some of my prego shirts, but I don't think I'm too big!

My doctors appointment today went great. Baby is growing as he should and the heartbeat is nice and strong. I really like my doctor but the problem with Kaiser is there's a slim chance he'll be the one delivering. It's whoever's on call that day which gives me a 1 in 7 chance, so I've started looking into a Doula. I've also started putting together my birth plan and talked to the doctor about some of my wishes, he seems to think it won't be a problem with or without a doula but does recommend one if possible. I'm also going to be signing up for our classes this next week. They won't be until I'm in my 3rd trimester but at least I'll get them on the calendar and get our spot reserved. The next sonogram is Monday since the last was a flop, can't wait to see him squirm all over the place.

I'm truely starting to enjoy this baby in womb bonding experience. The more I can feel him the more real it becomes, and I keep going back to his first pictures in awe. Women's bodies are truely amazing, such intricate design.. :)

Baby "Brodder"

Although Savannah LOVES her baby brodder "two", I'm realizing how much she doesn't really get what's truely going on. After seeing mama take belly pictures she decided she needed her's taken too... to show me the baby in her tummy. lol Then a few nights ago she was laying on "two" and she told me that she's the baby brothers mommy. I said nooo I'm the baby's mommy, and oh boy did that make her upset! It took a little bit of explaining that I'm her mommy AND the baby's mommy, and daddy is her daddy AND the baby's daddy, but that she gets to be the big sister. I'm not sure if she gets the big sister thing, but we haven't had another fit... I've still heard her try and tell people she has a baby in her tummy or she'll aslo try and tell them that her baby brodder hit her. lol It's amazing how such perfect little angels already have that lying nature buit into them.

As far as any updates on my end, I've definitely felt a few good nudges. Last night was a good strong kick that I'm pretty sure would have been felt on the outside. I felt a few more this morning, but still only when I've been laying down flat.

Squirmy!!

Monday's appointment was a flop but we got some fun pictures. The nurse that scheduled it made it too early, they need him to be between 19 and 21 weeks to get the measurements they need and I'm only a few days over 18. Plus he's measuring to be on the smaller side, but if he stays that way I'll be fine with that... the thought of labor is starting to terrify me when I really begin to think about it! My baby was too squirmy to get a good profile picture. His legs and arms were going crazy! He looked like he was swimming, it made my heart flutter with excitement. I also had an "oh crap.." moment. I haven't really had a chance to let being a wife set in, not to mention already having a toddler and then to be throwing a baby in the mix in just a few short months... Yikes!!

These past few days have been sooooo much better as far as sickness goes. I've been feeling great and back to normal, I'm just hoping it stays this way with the holidays just around the corner. I'm also feeling very crafty. I've decided I'm going to make the baby's crib set and I'm anxious to go pick out my fabrics.

Love to all and happy late thanksgiving!!