The Reveal!

So we had our ultrasound yesterday afternoon around 4 p.m. I was so anxious all day and couldn't concentrate on one bit of work. By the time we got to the clinic, my heart was pounding so hard I thought it would come through my chest. I was also wiggling back and forth in my chair trying not to think about how bad I had to use the restroom. For those of you who don't know, before an ultrasound the patient is instructed to drink 24 to 32 oz. of liquid (not soda) an hour before the appointment...and not use the restroom until after the first part of the exam.

To add to my anxiety, it had just started storming when we arrived and the power was flickering on and off. Awesome. All I could think is that I've waited this long and now we'll have to reschedule! I didn't want to! I wanted to know so bad that everything was ok with the baby...and it would be nice to finally know the gender.

So we get back to the exam room and the technician tells us that her computer is really sensitive and has gone off three times during the past hour because of the storm. She asked us if we wanted to chance it or reschedule for another time. Reschedule?! Of course we decided to chance it. Even if we didn't get through the whole exam, I thought I'd still be able to see that the baby was still in there and doing ok. (I'm a worrier, if it wasn't obvious). Who else would think their baby suddenly disappeared somewhere in their womb?

Anyway, the screen was turned away from me during the exam, so I didn't get to see the first 45 minutes of the baby!! Sheldon was lucky and was facing the screen at the foot of the bed I was on, so he got a really good show. He said the baby was moving all over the place. Apparently that's what took the technician longer than usual because she had to catch the baby at certain angles and snap the picture before "it" moved again.

Forty-five minutes later, I got see my little one in action. The sonographer went over all the body parts...including the genital area! She confirmed that BabyA is a...



GIRL!!

We're so excited! We would have been excited either way, but it's so exciting to know what we're having. I can't wait to get started on the nursery now that I know I'm expecting a wee little baby girl.



We shared the gender with everyone through little baggies full of Jelly Bellies. What we did was hide the little tag that said the gender (pictured above) in each of the little baggies tied with ribbon. Everyone had to open their baggie to find out the gender. The baby pictures on the outside of the baggies were colored in blue and pink so it wasn't given away at first sight.

It was so much fun to watch everyone open their little bag. Those are memories we'll have forever. Thanks to everyone that has shared in our joy and excitement. It's great when we can share our experiences with our awesome bunch of friends!

It’s almost ultrasound time!

As I sit writing this, I only have two hours until I find out the gender of our baby! I’m so anxious I can’t stand it! I’m hoping everything medically is good and that our little one is not modest…at least not today.

I’m also 18 weeks today. I can’t believe it’s already been 18 weeks. In two weeks, I’ll be half-way to the finish line. It’s crazy to think that Sheldon and I will be parents. Not that I’m scared to be a parent, it’s just weird to think that we’ll have a little one that’s all ours in a few short months. And I haven’t even begun shopping/researching for baby stuff!

We were supposed to clean out the baby room this weekend to get it ready for new baby furniture, but we decided to have fun instead. Going to the lake sounded like a better idea. It feels like we have all the time in the world, but I know fall will be here before we know it.

My belly has already changed a lot in eight weeks. The pictures below show me at 10 weeks and 18 weeks respectively. I recently read that the baby grows from 5 oz. (18 weeks) to 1 lb. (23 weeks) in five short weeks! That’s amazing. I better start working on my maternity wardrobe!

Oh yeah...I'm 17 weeks!

I know, a little late. My 17-week mark was actually on Tuesday, but I don't seem to be on my normal schedule these days anyway.

What has happened this week? Well, I feel like my belly has definitely gotten noticeably bigger this week. I wonder if that’s what they mean by “popped”. I suddenly can’t even fit into my old underwear without them rolling down. Even my stretchy pants are stretched to the max. I didn’t think I’d have to buy maternity workout clothes, but I guess that time is soon approaching.

I also have more energy, which is exciting. I went to the grocery store, cleaned out my fridge, and did laundry this week! (Note – I wouldn’t even clean out my fridge when I wasn’t pregnant. It was strictly Sheldon’s job for fear I would gag and eventually throw up because of the smells of rotten food.) I’m not sure what was different this time.

Speaking of throwing up, I did that one day this week too. It was a random morning sickness day. Those have pretty much gone away except for when something – a smell, food, whatever – doesn’t sit right with me. Gross.

And my oven/stove is back in use! I can actually cook again without losing it. I thought that would never come back. Goodbye fast food dinners, hello home-cooked meals…ok, semi home-cooked meals, whatever works.

So what’s up with the baby? Here’s what BabyCenter says, “Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.”

Oh, and we get to find out the gender of our little one Tuesday afternoon! Any predictions?

What triggers your thoughts about someone?

Sheldon has been out of town working for three weeks straight, excluding weekends. However, since I’m one part of a couple and not yet a family, it gets a little lonely when I’m at home or running errands that I normally would do with him.

Certain things pop out that remind me of him – things I normally wouldn’t notice if he’d been around. Yesterday I was at the grocery store (yes, by myself…scary!), and I saw a hot roll mix that Sheldon uses to make fresh cinnamon rolls. My mind went back to all the times Sheldon has been standing in the kitchen early on Saturday mornings wearing his pj pants and slippers rolling dough on the counter top with flour everywhere.

Rounding the corner of the aisle, there stood the fresh meat counter. Sheldon turns up his nose at pre-packaged steaks and heads straight for that counter every time he’s in the mood for a good steak. Proud that he has picked the perfect steak with the perfect seasoning, rub or marinade and we’re off to fire up the grill.

So what triggers memories/thoughts of your loved ones? Mine seem to be food-related, but in my defense I was at the grocery store and I’m pregnant. There’s always the rumbling muscle car or motorcycle that flies by and takes me back to when Sheldon and I were dating.

Tidbits & Thoughts at 16 Weeks

I admit I’m a little late in posting my sixteen-week blog post - but only by two days. Life has been hectic lately.

Last week I had another rough day of “morning sickness.” Friends at work were sympathetic and gave me crackers with a cute note attached, flowers, and a Pregnancy for Dummies book. Does this stuff every go away?! I’m getting tired of it, but on the flip side I do have a lot more energy now than I had during my first trimester. It also reminds me that there’s a healthy little one growing inside me. And the presents made me feel better.





It’s fun to be at the point in my pregnancy that family is starting to get excited. It seemed like everyone was holding their breath during the first trimester hoping everything would go well. So far everything has been moving along according to schedule. Hearing the heartbeat at 13 weeks was definitely a milestone.

Our next milestone is being able to see the baby again, but this time in a more human-like form! Our ultrasound appointment is scheduled for May 27. I can’t wait. I want an updated picture of our little guy or gal. And…we’ll get to find out the gender of the babe! I’m not completely sure what our little one is, but I’m leaning toward girl for some reason. We’ll see if I’m right. Sheldon thinks it’s a boy, but that’s just because he wants a boy to be able to play in the dirt with.

BabyCenter says, “At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.”

15 weeks down, 25 to go. Whoa! Was that a kick?

Today marks 15 full weeks in my pregnancy. Woohoo! I’m feeling a lot better, I have more energy, and I’m ready to move on in the second trimester. It hasn’t all happened over night though. I’ve slowly been gaining energy back over the past two weeks or so and morning sickness strikes every now and then, but not every day as in weeks six through 11. Ugh. I’m glad those days are over.

In other big news, I’m pretty sure I felt an actual kick today! Obviously, I’m not quite sure what a baby kick feels like from the inside since this is the first time I’ve been 15 weeks pregnant, but it seemed like an obvious baby movement. I was sitting quietly in my chair at work snuggled in a blanket (because the air conditioning is freezing!) and I felt a very distinct “bop” from my lower belly region. It surprised me so much I jumped in my chair! What a neat feeling. I know I’ll probably not enjoy it so much when it’s keeping me up all night in my third trimester, but for now it’s still really cool.

According to the BabyCenter.com baby size slide show, Baby Anderson is the size of an apple this week – hence the apple picture. Here’s what the Web site says about Baby A’s growth.



“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. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. 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.’”)

Fun at the Grocery Store

Friday evening Sheldon and I decided that we wanted to grill out for dinner. However, we didn’t have any food at the house. Problem – this would require a trip to the grocery store. I knew that each time I would go into the grocery store, I'd get deathly ill. Ok, maybe not deathly ill, but pretty close. I can’t stand all the smells mixed together. Yack.

We were already in town because we had just finished watching “Baby Mama” at the theatre – it’s hilarious by the way. We decided that Sheldon would run into the store and grab dinner while I waited in the car.

Six minutes later, my bladder felt like it would explode. I couldn’t hold it any longer! I’d have to go in to the store to use the restroom. Kicking myself for not going to the bathroom at the theatre, I got out of the car and headed in the store.

Once in and feeling much relieved, I decided I’d just stay. It would be more exciting than sitting in the car for the next 20 minutes or so. Bad idea.

By the time I found Sheldon, he had picked up organic chicken breasts, corn on the cob, stuff for cornbread, and was looking for low-fat sausage because I wanted biscuits and gravy in the morning. Yum! While walking down the aisle to get biscuits, I noticed chocolate and vanilla Jell-O pudding snacks that looked delicious. I had to have them. This is out of the ordinary for me because 1. I never eat pudding, and 2. especially not pre-packaged pudding.

Ok, not so bad, I’m pregnant, right? Then, moving through the frozen food I discovered that Pepperidge Farm makes the BEST coconut cake. That purchase was a must. And then, there was a lovely coupon that gave a free quart of ice cream if you bought a frozen pizza. Who can live without frozen pizza and ice cream? Not me!

Just before Sheldon corralled me to the checkout line, I grabbed some Drumsticks (a.k.a. heaven in a cone, more commonly known as sundae in a cone). How could I resist them? They’re the perfect combination of chocolate, ice cream, peanuts, and cone. On the way to the checkout, I discovered Pomegranate Italian soda. I had tried it at a friend’s house before and suddenly had to have that sweet, tart, carbonated taste once again.

Short of taping my hands to the grocery cart, Sheldon was able to contain me long enough to get through the checkout line and into the car. Drumstick in hand and on the road, we both decided it’s probably still not a good idea for me to go to the grocery store!

Blog Poll

Having two blogs seems to be a difficult task for me. It’s hard enough to find time to write on one blog, let alone two. So, I thought I’d ask my blog audience what you think about combining my two blogs (baby blog and regular blog) into one simple blog about my life.

Thoughts about combining the blogs:
-It’s hard to separate what’s baby-related and what’s not baby-related these days, so it may be simpler to have just one blog to talk about my current life experiences…baby included.
-I don’t have the patience currently to learn how to use a new blog site to its fullest potential. I get frustrated when I have to downsize my pictures on my own program before posting them on the site. Blogger.com does this for me. It’s also easy for me to post HTML coded items on my Blogger site.
-I like the design of my regular blog and it’s easy to change if I choose to.

Thoughts about keeping the blogs separated:
-It’s nice to have a blog specific to baby stuff, but it seems that recently I’ve been posting about baby development info from BabyCenter.com.
-I like that I can put my own picture in the header, but that’s about the only feature I understand.
-Um, I have nothing else to support this decision.

So, tell me what you think! I might humor your suggestions. :)