Nursery

The nursery is still full of crap at the moment. It was the guest room and has a full size bed and dresser, nightstand and bookcase in it at the moment. I have managed to get the closet somewhat cleaned out and the drawers cleaned out. Just have to find a place to move it now.

We've decided against a particular theme for the nursery. When we first learned about the baby I obviously automatically thought about doing turtles. Everything I found was in green and yellow and I really didn't want to go with that. It's not that I don't like those colors, it just wasn't what I envisioned as the end result. After much thought, we've decided on chocolate brown and pink. I have the bestest aunt in the whole wide world who has offered to make the crib bedding for us. We are going shopping some time soon to pick out a fabric. I really can't wait to get started on painting and decorating and buying stuff. This picture shows an idea of the colors. I think it's very pretty.


My mom is also crocheting something for the munchkin. I can't wait to see that either. I should actually get over there and learn how to do that while she's making it. I've been wanting to learn to crochet for a while now. And I've been working on a cross-stitch for the nursery called Sleepy Bears or something. It has a lot of browns in it but also has a lot of blues. I think it will still look good with the rest, though.

It's a......

GIRL!!!!!



All of her little chambers are there for her heart and just pumping away. Her heart rate was 183. Her little brain and spine are perfectly normal. She was quite the little wiggle worm the whole time. We got a profile one time that C said made her look like Alfred Hitchcock. My first thought was, "Aww, look at little Alfie." LOL!





I don't think she cares much for being poked at. I think she just wanted to snuggle up and have a nap and we wouldn't let her! We are still on track for a July 28th due date. I think it would be neat if she came on August 1 which is one of her cousin's birthday.

I'm really getting excited now thinking about painting the nursery and getting it all decorated in girly stuff. It's really going to be fun buying for a little girl. Now, if we could just come up with a name for the little munchkin.

The Big Day plus a new belly pic!

This is my newest belly pic. It wasn't taken until yesterday so it's technically an 18-week 2-day pic. C also took a front view too which shows how wide my hips have gotten and how round my belly looks. :) For the next belly picture I am going to try to wear different pjs. LOL!

Today is the big day! We (hopefully) get to find out what we are having and whether or not we need to paint the nursery blue or pink. We are both amazed at how many people think we are having a girl. Our appointment is at 2:15 today and it can't get here soon enough for either one of us. We are SO excited.

We finally went shopping and decided on some nursery furniture this past weekend. I think it will look very nice. In addition to putting the furniture on a registry we also started adding some other items we would need. There are SO many things that a baby needs. My goodness. Babies 'R Us gave us a list to use as a guide and I couldn't believe all the items listed on there. I just knew we would be in there ALL day. It got a little hard to pick certain items because we didn't know whether to get a blue one or a pink one. So, there are a lot of things we have to go back and change or add. I also had no idea how many different strollers and car seats and play yards and travel bassinets and crap there are to choose from. It can be very overwhelming. I almost wished we'd had someone with us that has been through that before.

I just got to work a little while ago so I should probably go do some work before they fire me. Have a nice day. :)

Week 18

Woohoo, it's Friday! That much closer to Monday which is the big day for the "revealing" ultrasound. At least we hope it's revealing. I even changed the time to make it an hour earlier because I am having such a hard time containing my excitment and just don't think I can wait another minute. I really hope the baby cooperates and shows us what it's got. :)

I still haven't felt anymore movement. I really wish I would too. I want to really know what that feels like. We pulled out the heart doppler last night and listened to the baby. It was after dinner and the baby was doing lots of moving around and it sure would have been nice to be able to feel it. It actually gave me the giggles to think of my little munchkin rolling around in there.

I got to work this morning to find out that a co-worker is infected with pink eye and was going to try to get away with working and not getting "caught" with it. I think not. That is not something I want to have at all, but I certainly don't want it when I'm pregnant. I have no idea what affect that would have on me or what type of treatment would be involved. This hospital takes conjunctivitis so seriously there is actually a written policy on it. I had to bring this to the attention of my director in order to get infected co-worker sent home. It's nice of him to think that staying in his office is going to cut down on spreading it but that's highly contagious. Go home! I have been washing my hands like crazy all day. I'm going to be very peeved if I end up with that mess.

On to more pleasant things. Here's some of the baby's progress for the week:

Your Baby's Development This Week

Age of Fetus—16 weeks

The baby continues to grow bigger. You should be able to feel your uterus below your belly button. It is near this time that myelinization begins. This involves a coating of the nerves with a fatty substance called myelin to speed up nerve cell transmission.

Other changes that are happening:

• Pads are forming on the baby's fingers and toes that will develop into characteristics of fingerprints and footprints.
• Fine hair is growing and covering your baby's head and body.
• The baby's legs are now longer than the arms.

Baby's Size (head to rump) this week: About 5 to 5.5 inches.

Weight: Approximately 5.5 ounces

Right now your baby is about the size of a can of soda.

Week 17

I began the 17th week of pregnancy this past Friday. Unfortunately, that is also the same day I developed a nasty stomach virus. It had me down all weekend. I never thought I would say this but I am sick of my couch. I just spent more time than I would have liked on it this weekend. I am feeling better today, though. I'm actually able to eat some real food and my insides seem to be handling it okay so far. I'm sure the baby is pleased, too. Not sure it was up for anymore chicken soup or Jell-O.

I was going to take a new belly picture to mark this new week but wasn't feeling up to it. We'll probably try to get one done this weekend. This Friday will be the start of Week 18 which is also the start of the 5th month. My, how time flies! Here's an update on the baby's progress so far:

Age of Fetus—15 weeks

The baby is growing quite rapidly this week. A full supply of blood is traveling through the umbilical cord, causing tension (like a water-filled hose). This, combined with the baby's movements, keeps the cord from knotting. Your baby has its own circulation of blood and a heart that is beating strongly. The baby's heart is circulating about 25 quarts of blood a day.
Other changes that are happening:
• The baby's bones are hardening. If you were to take an x-ray, the skeleton would be visible.
• By this week, your baby may suck its thumb.
• You might detect the earliest movements of your baby now. It may feel like a butterfly flittering around inside your stomach, but most women don't detect this movement for another 3 weeks or more.

Baby's Size (head to rump) this week: About 4.5 to 4.75 inches

Weight: Approximately 3.5 ounces

Right now your baby is about the size of a stick of butter.

Happy Valentine's Day

My wonderful husband sent these beautiful flowers to me at work. I almost cried. :)



He also gave me this fairey, from Sugar Cookies, which was specially made just for me. :)

I'm feeling sorta icky today. I have a headache and I'm so sleepy. I'm leaving work early today. I think it's best for everyone involved. Even the people I like are getting on my nerves. I should be saving all my PTO that I possibly can since the hospital does not have maternity leave and I have to use my PTO to be out. This place really burns me up sometimes. So I'm a little bummed about the recent policy change here, too.

It is also lunchtime and I'm hungry. I seem to be going through this phase where I never know what I want. If I do know it's usually about 10 different things at once! Yesterday, I woke up wanting biscuits. C was so sweet and drove to Bojangles and got me a sausage gravy biscuit and cherry bo-berry biscuits. They were so yummy. I've been thinking about what I want for lunch today and since I'm leaving work early I thought I'd get something on the way home. So far I've come up with a burger, onion rings, a Greek salad, veggie plate from Lizard's Thicket, you name it, I want it! The sad thing is no matter what I pick it won't make me happy. Heck, I even have 4 boxes of Girl Scout cookies sitting on my desk, that have been staring me in the face all morning, and I haven't once thought twice about them. I'll be glad when this passes.

I need a good night's sleep, that's for sure!!!

Week 16

We are now 3 months and 2 weeks. Went to the monthly doctor's appointment this morning. My uterus has moved up a little bit. The baby's heart rate was 157. Everything is just fine and normal. The next appointment is on the 27th and that is for an ultrasound. Hopefully, we will be able to find out the sex. We are both looking forward to that appointment. :)

Age of Fetus—14 weeks

This week the baby's muscles are continuing their development. The baby is going through motions to prepare for life outside the womb. Now the baby can kick with its legs, turn its feet in and outward at the ankles and even curl its toes. The baby's head has experienced significant growth, but during this month the body will now begin to grow faster than the head.

Other changes that are happening:
• The baby's head and neck will straighten more this week as back muscles get stronger and more bone is formed.
• Toenails are now forming from the nail bed.
• Rapid growth of the baby may result in you showing and the need to switch to looser fitting maternity clothes.

Baby's Size (head to rump) this week: About 4.3 to 4.7 inches

Weight: Approximately 2.75 ounces

Right now your baby would fill the size of your open palm and fingers.

This has been the longest, dullest day for me. I'm feeling sorta blah today for some reason. It could be because I am so incredibly bored at work today and still have hours left to go. Ugh!!!!!

Cravings

Some of my cravings so far have been peanut butter, preferrably all melted over something toasted, chocolate, feta cheese, and green apples. I have to have at least one green apple EVERY day. Sometimes, I eat more. Last night, I had a dream that I walked into Eckerds and every aisle was filled with chocolate. The pharmacy was even filled with chocolate. Now, that's my kinda store! :)

Rollin', rollin', rollin'.....

I felt the baby move!!! It made me smile. It happened during the night. I was changing sleeping positions from my right side to my left side and in the midst of it I felt this rolling feeling in my lower abdomen. It was a very distinct feeling. I just rubbed my belly and we went back to sleep. :)

I had another dream last night that I'm having a boy. I really wish I'd kept count of all the times I had this dream. I don't think I've had one single dream about having a girl. My mom thinks if I keep dreaming about a boy then I must be having one. She said the same thing happened to her when she was pregnant with my brother.

During the dream, I also was able to hold him. It was sorta the weird part of the dream. He wasn't fully developed and still had the umbilical cord attached but I could hold him whenever I wanted. He was the sweetest, most cuddliest thing ever. :)

Week 15

Well, I'm now 3 months and 1 week pregnant. I still really don't "feel" like it yet. I have a little pudge in my lower abdomen but it still mostly just looks fat. I have been having A LOT of headaches this week. I think it's something that a couple of trips to the chiropractor will probably fix.

C and I have been able to listen to the munchkin's heartbeat at home. Uncle H loaned us something called Baby Beats. It looks like a kid's toy radio or something but it's great. We've used it twice and it still amazes me when we hear that rapid sound. The baby still seems to be sitting low.

My enthusiasm for the gym has been short-lived. I only went twice last week. I think once this week. I could be wrong about that. Honestly, my brain just doesn't function properly at all anymore. I cannot tell you how many "blonde moments" I have had this week. Things that were simply tasks to me before actually tire me out now. It's weird. I guess it feels a little like what getting old feels like. I sure don't like that limited feeling at all.

The next doctor's appointment is February 10th. I already have a list of things to talk to the doctor about. The first thing on the list is to discuss talking to a dietician or something. Somedays, I just feel like I eat too much. I feel that I'm making pretty good choices most of the time but it can be discouraging when I look at my total calories for some days and it's well over 2000.

Here's the update on the munchkin's growth this week:

Age of Fetus—13 weeks

The baby's muscles are developing well. By this point they have become less jerky and operate with a smoother motion like an infant. The baby's face is becoming more human-like as the eyes, which started near the sides of the head, have moved inward and the ears have come to their natural place.

Other changes that are happening:

The baby's neck is well defined and the head now rests on the neck and not the shoulders.
The baby's scalp hair pattern will be determined this week.
Your baby now has considerable hand movement and can make a fist and move at the wrist.
Baby's Size (head to rump) this week: 4 to 4.5 inches.

Weight : 1.75 ounces

Right now your baby is about the size of a large grapefruit.