Week 19

Oh ~ You are Rockin' and Rollin now Baby!!

I have been feeling you wiggle around almost everyday this past week, a few times a day. Then the last two or three days ~ it seems like you are moving all day! And the coolest, craziest, strangest, most awesome thing happened last night ~ I felt you move from THE OUTSIDE of my belly. I put my hand on my lower belly when you were boppin' around and sure enough you rolled right under my hand. It was CrAZy! Your Pops is fishing this weekend (I'm really happy - he deserves a little trip) - but I can-not-wait for him to get home and feel you too!

He went to a place called Duck Valley Indian Reservation. There are three small reservoirs there ~ no motors allowed. It is a really neat place ~ very serene ~ some of the best bird watching I have ever experienced.  Lots of birds are migrating through the area and they like to make a little pit stop at these  bodies of water, so you can see birds that are not normally around. It was a BOYS trip this time around though ~ Your Dad, your Grandpa Joe, Steve and Josh Tyree. I'm sure they had a great time - and I hope they caught lots of fish.  :)

Some other fun things that happened this week: We picked out a birthing class to take...your dad thinks we've got this 'in the bag' and we don't need to take a class ~ but I kind of freaked out and said tough luck! He came around though ~ once he realized how important it really was AND since so many of our friends said it was a good idea. 

On Friday I met up with my best-girl Katie and we went to a Community Education class (we like to do this a lot) and learned how to blow glass! It was REALLY HOT inside the studio ~ but it was a very cool experience. We made these beautiful glass ornaments. They had to keep them overnight to cool down from like 1000 degrees (no joke) to room temperature. I'm lucky to have a friend like her - and trust me - she is SO PUMPED to meet you! Here are few pics I took during the lesson:

We have two Doc apt's this coming week. This post from the Pregnant Chicken talks about that upcoming visit ~ and clearly we already know you are a GIRL ~ but I think the post is interesting anyways:

 

WEEK 19

You may have already had your mid-pregnancy ultrasound (often called a Level II Ultrasound, Fetal Anatomy Survey or a Fetal Anomaly Screen) because you generally have it between 18 - 22 weeks.

They are checking out the size of your baby, the development of your baby’s stomach, urinary tract, kidneys, spine and brain. They will also measure the baby’s heart rate and look for defects in the ventricles and other heart anomalies.

The size and placement of your placenta is also on tap to make sure your placenta isn’t blocking your cervix (called placenta previa) although, even if this does turn up, 90% - 95% of the cases resolve themselves before you deliver so don’t panic. It just means it’s blocking the exit and it can get a little complicated if it doesn’t smarten up and move.

This is also the scan that may be able to tell you if you’re having a girl or a boy if the weeble cooperates. Some technicians won’t tell you but will note it in your file if your doctor wants to spill the beans. Others will blurt it out so let them know if you’re keeping it a surprise. Personally, I think there are benefits to both:

Pros of Finding Out:

• Finding out the gender of your baby is always a surprise whether it’s at 20 weeks or when you deliver
• Gender neutral stuff can get tiresome if you really want to go nuts
• You have just eliminated 50% of the naming arguments
• You can start grooving on the hand-me-down hoarding
• It sometimes feels nice to say “he” or “she” instead of “he or she” (make sense?)
• I was convinced I was having a boy and couldn’t picture having a girl so I wanted time to wrap my head around it that if that was going to be the case. I don’t think I would have reacted weird if they had shouted “it’s a girl” when I delivered, but I would have felt like a complete douche if I’d even hesitated for a second at her awesomeness.

Pros of Not Finding Out:

• Ultrasounds have been wrong.
• It will drive people nuts and that shit is fun.
• It gives you something to keep guessing about. I wonder if it’s a boy because I’m craving lemons. I wonder if I’m having a girl because of how everyone’s been kind enough to tell me how tired I look?
• It puts off the gender stereotyping for a while
• Gender neutral stuff is gorgeous and you can use it for subsequent babies
• It’s the ultimate reveal after going through labour, after all, movies NEVER find out.

 

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

 

You're awesome baby ~ Love, me

Happy Mother's Day - TO MEEEEEEE!!!!

Today we went out to Sawtooth Winery for a big wine tasting event. We were lucky enough to have been invited to go with the whole Tyree clan. They reserved a tent, so we had a nice place to sit and visit and nibble on all sorts of lovely snacks that Allison and I made. Honestly, I did taste a couple wines. It was really nice because all they give you is a sip or two ~ so after tasting about three ~ I had had my fill of risky behavior :) The weather was HOT, freakishly hot for early May, so after a few hours I reached my maximum heat capacity and we rolled home to spend the evening relaxing. Your Dad gave me a Mother's Day card too ~ which truly was the highlight of my day.

How we fight (usually laughing).

How we love (always laughing).

WEEK 18

“Arrrgh, son-of-a-bitch leg cramp!” is something you may have uttered recently. Most likely it was when you were in bed after finally getting to sleep once your heartburn subsided and your nose cleared.

No one knows what causes them - The possible culprits are compressed blood vessels or just the pressure of carrying around more weight. Either way they are painful and wrench you out of a glorious sleep like an air horn. Quickest trick to relieve them is to flex your foot upwards and straighten your leg like you’re going to touch your shin with your big toe.

As for your baby, they are yawning and hiccupping now. Awwww. Don’t the leg cramps seem less awful now? No, you’re right they’re still terrible.

Your baby is moving around quite a bit now and you can see all its blood vessels through its transparent skin. So cool.

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. Her ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from her head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place.

How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.
Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy. From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.




Love you baby, me

So, without further delay........YOU'RE A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Your Dad came with me to an appointment with Dr. Bobroski (the fancy baby picture doctor) and the technician asked us if we wanted to know 'the sex' and of course we said YES! Then she said, "Well it's confirmed - you're having a girl!" I burst into tears (of joy of course) and your Dad teared up a little too. We are absolutely thrilled to have a healthy growing baby - boy or girl - but just hearing the news was very emotional. The idea of YOU as an additional into our lives is becoming more and more real.

Now comes the BIG job of picking a name for you......it's THE question everyone is asking me these days. We have a list of a few names, but your dad and I take this task very seriously. We will need to to mull things over for sometime.....

We had dinner with our good friends Micah and Kara on Friday night ~ they are having a bebe too ~ it is really fun to have a friend to be pregnant with. They are wonderful, funny, happy people who will raise a super kid and I know you and their baby will be great friends one day.

Ok ~ Here is some other AMAZING NEWS - I am pretty sure I felt you FLIP over for the first time today. I was laying on my back on the floor doing some stretches and I felt this very very weird sensation in my lower belly......it startled me so much that I wasn't sure at first what it was, but I'm pretty certain it was not gas ;) 'They' say I should start feeling you move around now, so chances are pretty good it was you. Awesome.

Last shot of the old counter top......

RIIIIIPPPP!

AND ~ We now have our new granite counter tops. They are FANTASTIC. New sink too - which I imagine we will give you many baths in when you are itty bitty. Ha! Here are some pics:

Bye Bye old counter. We will not miss you.

New pretty granite ~ and new AMAZING sink! Yea!!!

The Island.

The guest bath was a bonus (new sink and back splash too)

And finally the laundry room counter was a double bonus. Score!

OK OK ~ That's boring ~ But hey, it been a big week in our world! Here is some more interesting info about you baby girl:

WEEK 17

Way to pork up, kid! No, not you, your baby, well, if you’re like me, then you too (high five). Your baby is about 5 inches long (from head to rump – I have no idea why they don’t count legs. Legs count in my book but whatev) and weighs about 5oz. So it’s the length and weight of an iPhone. Your awesome little minion is also starting to suck and swallow and is moving joints in preparation for doing the running man at weddings. Yes!

You are probably showing now.

If you are like me you laughed at that because you started showing when the pee stick showed two lines, or you wondered what the hell I am talking about because you’re wearing the same pants you did a year ago. Both are normal so don’t panic and ignore anyone that comments on your size. I have no idea why people feel compelled to point out a woman’s weight gain (or lack there of) while they are gestating a person when, at any other point in her life it would be considered rude. Keep in mind that very few of these people have much reference for how big you should or shouldn’t be so try to chalk it up to making conversation and go about your business.

Also work on your ninja moves because people are going to start touching you too. It doesn’t bother some women, but to others it’s like reaching out to stroke their tongue – awkward and gross. When my friend was pregnant and someone would touch her belly, she would just gently reach over and touch theirs in the same way. It was hysterical and stopped people dead in their tracks.

As with commenting on your weight, I don’t think people are trying to be rude, I think they’re just locked in baby mode and forget that the baby container is an actual person.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip - who eats turnips???), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

How your life's changing:

Soon you'll experience one of the most wonderful moments of pregnancy — feeling your baby move. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more. The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks they'll grow stronger and you'll be able to feel them much more frequently.


Love you little lady :) - me

Week 15 & 16

Hey Baby!

I missed writing last weekend - but I have been thinking about you ALL THE TIME :). In fact, when I woke up this morning I was soooo happy because I had the most vivid dream about you. Your Dad and I were sitting on the couch together (rare) and you were playing on floor in front of us ~ you seemed about one year old, maybe a little younger ~ I reached down and held your little hand and asked you if you wanted to come up and sit with us. You said yes, so I scooped you up and sat you between your Dad and I and then the three of us snuggled a bit. I woke up so happy I almost cried! I can not WAIT to squeeze you and smother you with love.

I'm pretty sure we are going to need this book.

How is Mom feeling about being preggo?

Well my clothes really don't fit now. I am certainly 'showing', so the cats out of the bag at work. (Everyone is of course thrilled) I have slowly been buying a few staple things to get through the last month of work. Only 24 days of school left and then I can wear nothin' but a sundress for the next three months. Heaven. The one really awkward part about everybody at work knowing now is that BEING preggo is all they want to talk about. Not that I am not excited to talk about YOU - but it gets exhausting being the center of attention and having everyone looking and pointing out my changing body.

A few crazy busy things have kept us runnin' over the last two weeks/weekend: 1. Your Aunt Allison moved in with us. She is awesome and just needed a little 'pick-me-up' for awhile. We are glad to be able to help and happy to have her around. It took a little quick readjusting of our STUFF (we all have to much) ~ but it was actually a good excuse to go through some old boxes and purge. To make room in our shed I went through some really old stuff from when I was a little nugget. My Mom saved some neat things like: old school projects and writing assignments, crafty things I made, some of her favorite baby clothes of mine, some special toys and books, notes my teachers had written, certificates I earned, report cards, cards from friends and family, post cards from family, etc. It was a nice little stroll down memory lane. I would say 80-90% of it ended up in the recycle bin. But it was fun to look at and the few things that I kept are pretty hilarious and special.

The second thing that is happening in our world is a bit of home improvement.....we have done some really nice things to the house over the last year - like new carpet, wood floors, and tile - but now its time to tackle the kitchen......Your Dad has wanted new counter tops for a long time. It has taken us a while to price shop and pick out exactly what we want but I think we have figured it out ~ So now we prep! He re-stained all of the cupboards a few weeks ago, installed handles and knobs, changed out our dining room light fixture (awesome) and changed out the ugly brass door knobs throughout the house. Next comes tearing out the back splash in preparation for the new counter tops......yikes.

Here are our two new light fixtures ~ trust me the other ones were hideous.

Basically, we are trying to make our 'house' into more of 'nest' - in preparation for YOU! But enough about our lives right now - here are some updates about your progress:

WEEK 15

Your baby’s ears have migrated to the side of their head for many, many years of ignoring you down the road. The little weeble is also working on the pipes for a respiratory system and it moves away from light if you beam a flashlight on your belly (I like to think it makes a hissing noise while doing it).  You have probably packed on few pounds by now. Good. You’re supposed to. Depending on where you’re starting from, you’re supposed to put on between 15 – 40 pounds if you’re carrying a single baby.

Check out the weight gain post if you want some more detail. Generally speaking, you only need an extra 400 calories a day (like a muffin) to gain the proper amount of weight so keep that in mind when you sidle up to the buffet and they have chicken wings and those little shoe string fries. MMMmmmm, shoestrings! That said, cravings are powerful and beckon you like an enchanting Huldra luring a Scandinavian farmer into the forest, so don’t sweat the pig-outs too much and eat a salad once in a while.
 
Share the news. Your baby's ears have migrated to the side of their head.  

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

 

This Week's Activity:

Talk to your baby. It's a great way to start the bonding process. If having an actual conversation seems odd to you, narrate your activities; read a book, magazine, or newspaper; or share your secret wishes for your child. This is great practice for after your baby's born. Talking to babies is one of the best ways to help them develop language skills.

WEEK 16

“Hi kiddo, that’s the world you hear because your ears work!” Cue the cool tunes because your baby can hear them now. It’s also about 4 ½  inches long and about the size of a grenade (avocados are lame). There’s a lot of movement going on but seriously don’t worry about it if you can’t feel it yet. Some women don’t feel anything until the hit around 20 weeks so don’t freak yourself out – you’ll have a foot under your rib and a fist on your bladder before you know it. I found it felt like a little percolation at first like a little buzzing in one spot, but other sites compare it to butterfly wings fluttering, a “quickening”, gas bubbles or popcorn popping. Personally, I found I wasn’t really sure if I felt it the first few times because it’s so subtle.

As for you, how’s your nose? Some women suffer from nasal congestion during their pregnancy and it can be a royal pain in the ass. Once again, estrogen causes the mucous membranes in your nose to swell along with everything else, so it can cause congestion and even nosebleeds. So pretty.

 

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.


WOW! Nice job baby! 

I love you so much (I'm saying it out loud right now),  me

Week 14

Hey Babycakes!

Today is a really special day.........#1 We have made it into the 2nd trimester!!!! WHAAHOO!! #2 it's my birthday today! I am 33 years young today. I have received lots of birthday wishes through cards in the mail, texts, emails, Facebook, and of course in person from friends and co-workers. It's days like today that really make a girl feel loved! It was a really nice weekend with friends and family and of course your Dad.

Here are a couple pictures from our family dinner. We had homemade lasagna and garlic bread and your Auntie Allison made an AMAZING cake for me.

  

This is the lady who should be there on YOUR birthday:

Dr. Janowiak!

We had an appointment today (yes, on my birthday) - but it was just a quick and easy check-in. I heard your heartbeat for the first time ~ strong and healthy. You were wiggling around a lot (but I can't feel it yet) and she sent me home with a few new pictures. Doc said I could have a half a glass of wine to celebrate my birthday ~ so I did ~ almost. I poured it, tasted it and promptly spit it back out. Apparently wine doesn't taste good to me right now ~ good thing. 

Oh ~ and her prediction is that you are a girl :) Here you are:

I think you are waving at me ~ 'Happy Birthday Mom!'

Here is the Pregnant Chicken Blog Post for the week ~ it gave me a good laugh ;)

Second trimester! Can I get a woot woot? Have these been the longest weeks of your life, or what? By the time you have this kid people will say “My that was fast!” and you’re gong to wonder what parallel universe they’ve been living in. Personally, I found all those weeks to be the longest of my life. Now I’m impatient and I worry which is never a good pregnancy combo because pregnancy is slow and it gives you a lot of time to read about scary stuff and hear horror stories from oblivious idiots (my band name if I ever start one).

If my calculations are correct, you’ve made 8,000 googled inquiries because you’ve, panicked that you’ve eaten something you weren’t supposed to, freaked out because your body did something weird, and/or had someone tell you that you should be doing something that you haven’t been doing so you’re scared that your baby is going to have gills.

Sites like to lay folic acid guilt and listeria panic on you, but I’m going to tell you this: stuff happens, but most of the things you do or don’t during a pregnancy are screw turners and not game changers. Now, wait, wait, don’t write me angry letters, all I’m saying is that if you go about your business and lead a healthy, reasonable life then there’s no reason you won’t have a perfectly healthy baby.

As for that little weeble causing all the anxiety, he or she is a looking more and more like a little person everyday with facial expressions and working plumbing. Your baby is about the size of a lemon but that’s lame so I’m going to say a cupcake. Your baby is the size of a delicious cupcake with sprinkles on top.

 

mmmmmm ~ Love ya Baby, me