Family Time

Today we are 19 weeks, 4 days pregnant!

Hi all!  Shawn and I are in San Diego for the holidays, and I just wanted to catch up a little...  We got to visit with Shawn's brother and wife, Brian and Kim, and their two beautiful babies.  We spent a lot of time hanging out with them on a plush carpet and just taking in all the cute baby sounds!  I got to practice a little with Andrew (my nephew) and got a full demonstration from little Mackenzie with the clothes her and her mommy are donating to our baby girl!  Here is me goofing with Andrew:

Also, if anyone is interested, here is my latest bump picture, sorry for the bare belly, but here it is in all its glory!  This was right at 19 weeks:

We can't believe we're already almost half way through this pregnancy!  This Saturday, we're 20 weeks!  Well that's it for now, I hope everyone has the happiest of all holidays!

Pictures of Our Little Girl!

Today we are 18 weeks, 6 days pregnant!

Here are the snapshots of our little girl!  Here's her beautiful face, and look, she's got Shawn's nose!!!

And here's picture number 2, the "It's a Girl" shot...  Both the tech and the Doctor said 90% girl, but I don't see anything!  But yes, you are looking at her legs and her, uh, well, you know...  :)

And last but not least, we thought we'd give you a close up of what will probably be doing Riverdance inside mommy soon...  That's right, her little footsie!  We thought this was so cute...

So we don't know whether that's it or not as far as ultrasounds go, but hopefully there will be more to come!  We're trying to decide whether or not to do an elective 3d/4d ultrasound, somewhere around 32 weeks, so I'll keep you updated on that decision.  All I know is we can't wait to meet her!!!

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!

Today we are 18 weeks, 5 days pregnant, with a GIRL!

That's right, we're having a little girl!  Shawn and I couldn't be more excited!  It is so surreal that now we can call the baby a she, and it almost feels as if I am about to wake up from a dream.  Thank God, the doctor said everything is looking great and we are right on schedule to deliver on May 15th still.  I can't express how lucky and blessed I feel, and though I am not a very religious person, I pray every day and night that we will have a healthy pregnancy and delivery.  I will post the pics as soon as they're uploaded but I wanted to share the news!!!  :)

Just a Check-in

Today we are 17 weeks, 2 days pregnant!

Hi there!  Just wanted to continue on with my weekly check-in.  We're still monitoring my belly growth, which is coming along slowly but smoothly.  So here goes the check-in...

How far along?  17 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain/loss:  A little less than 4 lbs gain

Stretch marks?  Still none, but the belly is a-growin!

Sleep:  Still not so great, but thank God for Shawn, I have relaxed days.  :)

Best moment this week:  Shawn got to hear the heartbeat for the first time!!!

Movement:  You know, I think I'm feeling some little jabs here and there.  Very gentle, but just somehow different than gas.  

Food cravings:  Ben & Jerry's Napolean Dynamite ice cream (choco brownie on one side, Cherry Garcia on the other), still the wedge salad, chili dogs

Gender:  Less than two weeks until we find out!

Labor Signs:  Too early for these...

Belly Button in or out?  Out.  Shawn did notice that it has become a little more flat and weird looking, though!  

What I miss:    Restful sleep and dirty martinis

What I am looking forward to:  Gender gender gender!

Weekly Wisdom:  I've realized I shouldn't rush this pregnancy.  Things take time for a reason!

Milestones: Walking the stage at school and really showing in my dress

University of Texas Liberal Arts Fall 2009 Commencement

Hi all!  I just wanted to post a quick picture of my commencement night.  It was a great night, but soooo cold!  The picture is in front of a huge fountain which lines up with our tower, which as you can see, is lit up burnt orange with 09 lit in the windows.  It was awesome!!!  Hook'em Horns!

Today's Visit

Today we are 16 weeks, 5 days pregnant!

We had an OB visit today and Shawn got to hear the heartbeat for the first time!!!  The heart rate was 148 bpm, still above the Old Wives Tale of 140...  We also got another screening test, the Quad Screen, which is done for women between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy.  It tests for certain substances that can indicate Spina Bifida, Downs, and some other abnormalities.  It is a blood test, so no amniotic fluid needed.  For more information, you can look here at the Quad Screen info page if you like.  Hopefully we shall get the great results soon!

So for the past four weeks, I have been fearing my OB/GYN, Dr. Chris Hart (info here) would yell at me if I didn't reach her target weight gain of 2 lbs per week, for a total of 8 lbs.  Aaaand I didn't reach it.  But she told me that since we shot for 2/week and got about 1/week, she'll take it.  So I'm up to 105.4 lbs!  Anywho, we're in the two week stretch for the big ultrasound, so I'm counting down!!!

Our next visit to Dr. Hart (gender scan done at different office 12/17) will be January 19, 2010 at 3:50pm central time.

Just Checking In!

Today we are 16 weeks, 3 days pregnant!

Hi All!  Just wanted to say a quick hello.  Some big non-baby news is this weekend I'm participating in the University of Texas Liberal Arts Commencement.  It's this Saturday, December 5th.  I bought my robe, cap, tassel, and sash today, so I'm really excited!  Since I've been in baby mode the last couple months, I totally forgot about commencement, and just decided a few days ago to walk the stage.  Though honestly I feel a little silly to do it at 30 and pregnant, I feel I deserve it, and that I would be missing out if I didn't have this memory.  So Shawn and I are completing my school process as we went in; married, together, and happy.  I will post a picture after Saturday!  Wish me luck!!!

For some baby related news, I got in my first shipment of maternity clothes today.  There was a huge sale online at Old Navy, so I got to get some new digs!  Today I got some basic shirts and in a few days will be receiving some pants that I had ordered, both jeans and some comfy but wearable-in-public pants.  I'm pretty excited about this step, as my waistbands have been a little tight as of late and difficult to sit in!  Also, we have an appointment with the OB on Thursday, December 3rd.  I can't wait to hear the heartbeat again!  So stay tuned for the heart rate!  In two weeks from Thursday, we will have the big gender ultrasound, so start your guesses now!  I'll outline the heart rates, my cravings and beauty problems in a later post so as to see if Old Wives Tales are correct...

Last but not least, I ran across a small list of questions some women include in their baby blogs, so I thought I'd give them a try:

How far along?  16 weeks, 3 days

Total weight gain/loss:  As of my last appointment, no gain.  I am supposed to have gained 8 pounds by Thursday, so we'll see...

Stretch marks?  None yet, thank goodness!

Sleep:  Terrible.  And as I understand, it's only going to get worse

Best moment this week:  Getting my graduation robe and my maternity clothes the same day

Movement:  Ugh, none yet as far as I know...  Still trying to figure out the difference between "flutters" and gas bubbles.  Yay.

Food cravings:  Brownie sundaes, Whataburger, potatoes au gratin, wedge salad with bleu cheese...  Most seem to be salty

Gender:  To be determined...  Come on December 17th!!!

Labor Signs:  Too early for these...

Belly Button in or out?  Out.  But it's always been an outtie.  

What I miss:  Honestly?  My Malbecs and Zinfandels.  How I love red red wine...  

What I am looking forward to:  Feeling the baby and finding out the gender

Weekly Wisdom:  If I've left something upstairs, better make sure I really need it before I walk up there and lose my breath

Milestones: Finally getting to see the belly!!!