We're Confirmed!

Today we are 7 weeks, 4 days pregnant!

And we are officially confirmed by the powers that be that we're pregnant!  Today was my first appointment and we got to see our little bean for the first time.  It was fairly different than the first time because we knew exactly what to look for and we saw it immediately!  It's little heart was beating strong at 128 bpm and we couldn't have been happier.  Here's the little guy/gal:

On the right hand side (where it has the date) is the head and the line down the middle is the neural tube.  So there we go!

This time around, we are pretty sure we are scheduling a c-section to avoid further injury that I had the first time, but I have already been preparing myself for this and have made peace with it.  Bottom line is this:  We're going to be just fine!  My little family of 4!

I have felt horribly sick the last week and a half, even more sick than last time, but I guess that's that.  I can't stand the sight of chicken, and the only chicken I could even think about eating is Chili's Chicken Crispers.  Uh oh.  This is going to be one looooong pregnancy!

Anywho, just wanted to chronicle this great day and post the first picture of Sophia's little brother or sister.  Enjoy!

Shhhh!

Today we are 5 weeks, 5 days pregnant!

Yes, you read right!  But I'm not announcing it on the big scale yet, so mum's the word.  I really wanted to try to start chronicling our second pregnancy, so for you readers who still peruse our little blog, you're being let in on the secret early!

Anywho, here's the story so far:

We found out early last week (Tuesday, February 7, 2012) and I couldn't wait to tell Shawn.  The previous night, I had asked if we could stop by the grocery store to buy some bread for Sophia, and I bought a pregnancy test in secret.  So the next morning, when I saw those two tiny pink lines begin to form and get darker, I couldn't believe it.  So I rushed to Carter's to buy Sophia a "Big Sister" tshirt to have her wear when Shawn got home from work.  Unfortunately, he came home a bit early and caught me off guard, and when he saw my six pack of O'Douls on the counter, I was BUSTED!

Our first appointment is scheduled for February 28th in the afternoon, which is when I plan on making a more widespread announcement.  So far, I'm feeling okay, pretty tired, which is not as easy as last time since now I have a toddler to keep up with.  Admittedly, I am a little moody, but I think that's acceptable.  I'm starting to feel a little nauseous from time to time, but I'm hoping that I will not feel as sick as I did last time, because that was completely miserable.  This pregnancy seems so different already, as I realize that I will be fully big and bad during the heat of the summer, as we are due mid-October.  So the hot days will make for a grumpy mommy.  Oh well.  However, the fact that we are due the same year we conceived, it almost seems like it will seem like a shorter pregnancy.  It's weird to know that by this Halloween, we will have another baby in the house!  But at least I don't have to skip wine during the holiday season.  Is it sad that that is one caveat for me?  Don't judge...  ;)

Anywho, until next entry, I hope you have a great day, and I'll try to do so as well as my hormones have made me pretty grumpy today.  Ho hum.  See y'all soon!

Whoops...

Sophia is one day shy of 15 months old!

So I realize that I have been awful about blogging lately.  But I'm on today, so I'll blog.  Sophia is happily playing away with one of her five thousand toys that have amassed in our living room, so I have the time.

For a quick update, Sophia has four teeth up top, two full teeth on the bottom, and one that just broke through on the bottom a week ago.  She's eating grown-up food now, like pasta (she loves pasta, mainly wagon wheel pasta), mac-n-cheese, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, peas and carrots, cookies, Goldfish, etc.   She's still really petite, she fits into a lot of 6-9 month clothing still, but that is exactly how I was as a child, so she's gearing up to be just like mommy!  Sophia started crawling around 10 1/2 months, standing at 11 months, and walking at 12 1/2 months.  She was a bit of a late crawler, but she just motored on to walking so quickly!  And now there's just no stopping her.  Don't know if that's a good thing or not...  ;)

One of her favorite things to do is dance.  We watch Nick Jr. here at home, and every time music comes on (which is often), she bounces up and down and laughs.  There's a show called The Fresh Beat Band that has a music video that comes on, and it's her favorite!  She gets so excited, calls out to us, and then dances like she's never danced before!  It's pretty funny to watch.  :)

Sophia's first birthday went great, we had a little party here at our pool.  It was Hello Kitty themed, and Sophia even wore a little Hello Kitty onesie with a Mommy-made tutu.  Here are a few pics from that day:

Let's see, what else...  well actually I don't have time for more for now, but hopefully I will return soon to add more.  I promise I will!  I've got more to add, more pictures and everything, so stay tuned!

"Breaking" News! We've Got...

A TOOTH COMING IN!!!

Sophia is 8 months, 1 week, and 5 days old!

Yes, you heard (read) me right, we've got a tooth just barely peeking in.  It is just poking through the gum, just to where, if you know what to look for, you see it.  Just a tiny white line, but it's there!  And boy, does it feel sharp!  Anywho, I will get a picture of it as soon as you can see it!  By the way, it is her left bottom center tooth.

I Resolve to Post More!

Sophia is 7 months, 3 weeks, and 6 days old!

Which means, in just 4 short days, she will be 8 months old.  I cannot even begin to express how fast time flies, but I am guessing that most of you already know this.  When I think back to where we began just 8 short months ago, I feel so proud about how far she has come.  True, it is just normal human development, but it is nothing short of a miracle when I see it in my own sweet baby!

Let me also say Happy New Year to everyone!  I promise to update this blog more, if you promise to read it!  We start this year off all healthy (with the exception of some passing colds), happy, and wise.  Shawn is beginning his final semester of his Baylor Executive MBA program, so he'll be done in April, yay!  He's still doing extremely well, as he is basically a walking encyclopedia.

Sophia is excelling and haven't had any problems except for her colic and her acid reflux.  We have stopped the Omeprazole (basically generic version of Prilosec) and she does not seem to have any symptoms anymore.  We've started solids as of two months ago, and we've tried a variety of foods.  So far she likes:
Butternut Squash
Pears
Sweet Potatoes
Peas
Mango
Blueberry
Prune
Pumpkin

And she tolerates:
Carrots
Apples

I have been purchasing organic baby foods to start with, and to experiment with what she likes and doesn't like, but as soon as I have all her preferences somewhat down, I will begin preparing her food from home.  I have a brand new Kitchenaid stand mixer from my parents, two baby food grinders, and two really neat books from Mary that I am excited to dig into!

We spent Christmas in San Diego and Sophia got to meet not only her cousins, but her Auntie Suzie, Aunt Kim, and Uncle Brian as well!  In addition to seeing them, she also got to see Auntie Jeanine, Oma, and Grampa again.  Everyone loved her!  Seeing the three cousins together was part surreal and part adorable.  Nothing like adding a generation to the family to make you feel your age, huh?

Anywho, here are a few tidbits to get you caught up with Sophia, and then I will begin to post as we go:

Sophia is sitting up and can do so on her own!  This helps Mommy gain a little independence as Sophia is happier to sit and play on her own.  We still have no teeth, but I am expecting one to drop by any day now.  I mean, we don't have any bumps or anything, but it's about time, right?  My favorite thing that she does is now she dances.  She bops up and down when a fun song comes on and I think it's so cute.  She's also babbling, kind of a cross between "Ba", "Ma", and "Da".  Kind of a "bmda bmda bmda" if you will.  Hopefully she will add to her vocabulary soon!  Still no crawling over here, but you can tell her wheels are cranking in that noggin of hers!  She kinda moves her little rump up and down as if she knows that her legs need to come next, but we're just not there yet.  All in time!

I will post a few pictures soon, but it's about naptime, so Mommy duty calls!

Love you all and will update soon!

Three Months Already?

Sophia is 3 months old today!

Happy three month birthday, little Sopapilla!  I only have a few stolen moments while she naps, so I'll update as quick as possible...

*Sophia's appointment with the pediatric gastroenterologist went very well, and it is confirmed that she has bad acid reflux.  It is not due to anything in my diet, it is entirely her immature lower esophageal sphincter. Click on the link for further info.  Her previous dosage of 2mL of Prilosec twice a day has been doubled, to 4mL twice a day.  The specialist told us this is something he would not hesitate to put his own children on, and there is no bad effects.  She's been doing pretty well on this new dosage, and seems to have really dampened her pain, which is GREAT!!!  She's still spitting up, but I would have to say no where near as much as she did before.  We have a follow up at the end of the month, so I will update then.

*Her sleeping has been doing relatively well, most nights, she sleeps from appx. 11pm to 7am without waking, but will occasionally throw us for a loop and wake up often.  She hates to fall asleep and fights it with all her might, as she is afraid she'll miss some fun.  In order for her to nap, I have to walk, bounce, and pat her rhythmically until she goes limp and passes out on my shoulder.  Then, and only then, can Mommy sit down!

*Mommy and Sophia took their first girls only trip away this past weekend!  We accompanied Auntie Meagan to Auntie Carissa's house in Dallas to visit the Clayton family, including little Caroline!  Caroline, who is fourteen months old, loved Sophia, and the feeling was mutual.  Caroline took no time at all to hug baby Sophia and to show her all the love in the world!  We got some hilarious pictures and video, and I will post it shortly.

Uh oh, the little booger is waking up, so I have to go, but pictures will come shortly...  Here's one just because I could squeeze it in...

Two Months Already!

Sophia is 9 weeks, 6 days old!

Greetings!  I just have time for a quick update and a few pictures, so here goes:

* Sophia's reflux is still at war with us.  We've switched her meds from Zantac to Prilosec, 2mL twice a day.  Her gastroenterologist appointment is August 3rd, so hopefully we'll be closer to a solution.  She's doing better on the Prilosec, hopefully we get it licked soon!

* She's sleeping okay during the night, normally from 11pm to 4-6am, then up again around 7-9am.  This is great for us!

* Sophia had her 2 month shots last week, and it was pretty tough.  She did better than I did!  But all her labwork says that she's still perfectly healthy and well!

* As of last Thursday, Sophia is weighing in at 9 lbs, 14.5 oz (25th percentile), she is 23 inches long (75th percentile).  Both Shawn and I were small children, so her weight doesn't concern us or her doctor, as she is gaining on the correct curve.

* Sophia currently enjoys her vibrating seat, a ladybug that lights up and plays music (courtesy of Kim & Brian), being bounced on a giant yoga ball (thanks Meagan!), and being worn in the Moby Wrap around the house while I talk to her.  She still loves her naps on Mommy (thank goodness!) and sleeping in with Daddy on the weekends.

* Nursing is still going very well, for which I am thankful.  It really seems to bond Sophia and I, and late at night, or after a long day, it really calms Sophia down and relaxes her.  She doesn't really like bottles, but it's necessary for when Mommy wants to get out of the house.

All in all, she's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen, and to be honest, we get stopped and told so very often.  I feel so blessed every day (corny, I know) and Shawn and I still stop every day to marvel over our creation.  Time for pictures!

Daddy working from home with Sophia on his shoulder

Mommy and Sophia

Giving a little half smile... I can't seem to get a full one on film!

And doing what she does best...  making a cute and crazy face!

Whoops!

Sophia is 8 weeks, 1 day old!

Holy cannoli, I haven't updated in forever!  I guess I should get used to being so busy, I barely get a chance to get on my computer these days!  I'll try my best to catch you up on everything, so here goes:

1.  We've found out that Sophia has acid reflux all the way up to her mouth, with aspiration.  A couple of weeks ago, we had a normal pediatrician appointment, which turned into an all-day affair complete with an upper GI and a trip to a hippy pharmacy to get compounded meds.  The upper GI was absolute hell.  I had to dress Sophia in a tiny hospital gown, forcefeed her a bottle of a barium solution, then they had to velcro her onto a little table.  Oh my God I can't even begin to explain how hard that was for her and I.  It absolutely broke my heart.  She's now on a special form of Zantac (0.7 mL three times a day) so we're standing by to see how it works.  If the Zantac isn't effective enough, we go to Prevacid next, I believe.  Our pediatrician, Dr. William Caldwell, who is excellent, has a full line of treatment planned for Sophia, step by step.  Next month, Sophia has an appointment with a pediatric GI specialist to tackle this further.

2.  Sophia is social smiling now!  It's the cutest thing I've ever seen.  She mainly does it in the morning, during diaper changes, and when she's full and content.  She's surprised our neighbor, Auntie Meagan, with a few smiles, too!  Every time I try to capture a smile on camera, I fail miserably, but as soon as I do, I'll be sending it out.

3.  As of our last appointment, Sophia is 9lbs, 10oz.  So she's getting bigger!  And more beautiful!  She's sleeping in her bassinet (instead of in bed with us) and she's sleeping fairly consistently.  At night, she'll fall asleep on us while watching TV downstairs, and after her last dose of Zantac, we'll retire up to bed, change her diaper, then give her her final nighttime feeding.  She'll then sleep approximately 4-6 hours without waking, and then Shawn does the middle of the night diaper change, I will feed again, and she'll go down for another 2-3 hours, and so begins the cycle of the day.  It's not too bad for now, but I can't wait until she sleeps even longer during the night!

I should probably cut this short for now, as she's stirring from her nap right now.  I will post again soon and I'll try to put up some pictures.  But for now, here's a couple...

Here's her pretty face, close up!

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Sophia's very first nap in her crib.  She napped for three hours!  I couldn't stop watching the baby monitor, though, go figure!

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And here's an attempt at a nice picture, but as you can see, Sophia wasn't having it.  She was pretty fussy that night because it was sooo hot outside and she was pretty tired!

Pretend Photographer for a Day

Sophia is 3 weeks, 1 day old!

Today we messed around with a furry rug, the Boppy, and a half naked baby.  I got some really cute pictures to use for a birth announcement, but Shawn didn't like the half naked part.  So I will try again.  But I wanted to share a pic with you that I used to mess around with while editing.  It wasn't the cutest picture I took, but I'll share those with you all later!  So here goes...

A Day at the Park

Sophia is 2 weeks, 1 day old!

Hi all!  Just wanted to update you all quickly before she starts fussing again...  Over the weekend, we took Sophia for her first walk around Town Lake.  It wasn't too hot outside, so we piled in the car with the diaper bag and stroller and picked up a yummy decaf Americana with a pump of vanilla from Starbucks and a Very Berry Non-fat coffee cake and off we went!  It went well, though walking around made me pretty uncomfortable as I'm still healing.  So we made it somewhat short but very sweet.

Here's proud Daddy!

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And happy Mommy!

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And here's our beautiful Sophia in her stroller!

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Also, on Tuesday we had our 2-week checkup.  Everything looks great with our little girl, she's weighing in at 7lbs, 8oz.  We have another checkup next week to weigh her again to make sure she's still gaining well, as she is already.  We may have a little problem with Reflux, so we're keeping an eye on it.  Her belly button is in the process of coming off, on Tuesday the outer stump came off and left a clam-looking goo in the little hole, but that, too has come out.  Now it's a little red and moist, but is slowly but surely drying out.  I'm looking forward to it being completely healed, because to tell the truth, it grosses me out a little!  :(

Other than that, we will be moving this weekend and we finally get to set up her nursery, so we're excited!  I'll update again soon!

Introducing Sophia Nicole Maurer

She loves to nap with her hand by her face - if she's able to get it out of the swaddle!

*****

Daddy does the "football hold" to burp me and calm my gassy moments.

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I'm adorable, but I'm not without my fussypants times!  Here's me exhibiting said moments...

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And here's one of Mommy's favorites.  Such a peaceful little angel!

Oh How the Time Flies!

Sophia is 1 week, 3 days old!

First I'd like to apologize for not updating until now.  We've been a little busy...  ;)  Anywho, things are great here in the Maurer house; a little loud, but great!  Needless to say, we've been trying out all sorts of new things, routines, practices, etc., in order to get our little one in some sort of pattern.  The dogs are adapting well, but I think they're as tired as we are!

Yes, our sleep has suffered.  A lot.  I think I was up with Sophia until past 4:30 last night and then Shawn held her the rest of the morning.  She has her nights where she really does not want to sleep in her bassinet, but then she has nights where she sleeps in it just fine.  Those are the good nights.  Today we are watching "The Happiest Baby On the Block" in order to hopefully gain some insight on how to switch a newborn's day and night.  I can't wait until she sleeps through the night.

These days, I feel like Sophia is constantly attached to my boob.  This girl eats a lot!  It's going well, though, thankfully.  I was very worried about breast feeding and my ability to do so, but no problems as of yet!  She gets a little sleepy sometimes, so I have to stimulate her every minute or so (her least favorite is when I blow in her face - she scrunches up and bears down into my chest).  Thankfully, we've mastered the position where she can feed while I'm laying down, so that's how we do the middle of the night feedings.  I am looking forward to starting to pump a little so Shawn can feed her, and so I can get a little break.  Although for a while, I will still need to pump or feed every 2-3 hours.

We're trying to take as many pictures as we can, and I'm uploading them to my snapfish account.  If you aren't getting emails to view them and you would like to, email me and I'll add you.  I will start to research photographer prices today, so hopefully we can get some pro pics done soon.

So our move is coming up, and we're trying to put together a game plan.  I am excited to finally set up her room in the new place!  I also can't wait to make a fresh start with all the storage room that we'll have.  I love the unit we are in now, but it just seems a little cramped now that we are a family.  Wow - we're a family.  Such a weird concept still!  We can't wait to take her out and show her all the neat things Austin has to offer.  My parents will be visiting in mid July / August, and I can't wait for them to meet their first grandchild!  I also can't wait for Mary to come, I have a feeling she's going to make a beeline for Sophia the second she gets off the plane!  :)

Well, I have to sign off for now, God knows I've got a million things to do and a baby who needs to be fed again, but I will try to get back on here within a few days.  I will add a couple pics on here as well!

Our Big Day

Today, Sophia Nicole is 1 day old!

Here's how it happened:

On Monday, May 10th, I had retired up to my bedroom for an afternoon nap as I was feeling very tired and having "cramps."  No more than ten minutes after Shawn left did my water break.  Thank goodness I had a basket full of clean towels nearby!  So I called Shawn and he raced home, sweat already on his brow.  He made sure I was okay, and he raced to pack some clothes for himself in a bag, along with some last minute electronics (iPod, computers, camera).  I got dressed and we left for the hospital!

We had to check into the ER and I was wheeled up to the Labor and Delivery unit of my hospital.  I first was sent to a triage room, but then soon afterwards made my way to our room, Room 18.  This was the room that I was to labor and deliver and recover in.

At my first checkup, I was only about 3 cm dilated.  A little later, I believe I made my way to 4.5 cm and we decided to walk around the L&D unit a few times to see if that could get things going.  I then sat on the labor ball (just a yoga ball) for a little to help, too.  I wasn't progressing very quickly.  So at that point, we settled in for the night.  During the night, my contractions had become 4-6 minutes apart and had started to really hurt.  I was given Fentanyl and Phenergan which made me very sleepy and took away some of my pain in two hour spurts.  So I would be comfortable and sleep for two hours, then wake up and labor for an hour.  This cycle continued into the morning.

Around 6am on Tuesday, May 11th, my doctor came to give my her first exam.  I believe I had progressed to 6cm dilated.  I was tired and in pain, so around 9am I was administered my epidural.  It worked pretty well, at first...  I was also given a bag of Pitocin to increase my contractions and to hopefully help me to dilate more.  Later that afternoon, with not much further dilation, my doctor had examined me again and found that my water had not fully broken and that I had a forebag.  Evidently what happened was my bag had ruptured on the top and had continuously leaked out and since there was still a bag of water at the bottom, where her head touched my cervix, I was not progressing very quickly.  So she ruptured my bag and she guessed somewhere between 3pm and 6pm would be my magic hour.  Sometime after that, my nurse told me we were at 9.5 cm dilated and we would begin soon.   Around 5pm I had progressed to 10 cm, fully dilated, and we could start.

I started pushing around 5:30, but unfortunately, my epidural had run out at that time.  I was told that it would still have it's effects on me for another couple of hours, but I quickly found that to be untrue.  I had regained some movement and feeling in my legs around 6pm, and even more soon after that.  So I pushed for about an hour and a half while feeling everything.  And it didn't feel good.  But I had my eye on the prize.  I don't know what time the doctor came in to deliver, but with a team, Sophia came into this world at 7:25pm on May 11th.  She weighed 7 lbs and 10.8 oz and was 21 inches long.  She was a big girl!

The bad part was, other than laboring for 28 hours and feeling most of the delivery, was that (sorry if this is TMI) I had 4th degree tears, which is pretty much as bad as it can get.  Some of the nurses here call it a vaginal C section.  When I was walked to the bathroom to see if I could go, I passed out twice only to wake up on the bathroom floor, which freaked Shawn out.  So my recovery is and has so far been a little painful, but Shawn has been a wonderful miracle, he is the best daddy.  He is having to tend to Sophia as it has been hard for me to move around.  I still have not been able to pick her up while I was standing.  :(  Shawn is handling this all like a pro and while I have the most admiration for him, he keeps telling me what a good job I am doing.  I hope he knows how grateful I am for him.  It is beautiful to see him be a daddy.  He is in love, let me tell you!

So today she is a day old, and we couldn't be happier.  Breastfeeding is going well so far, thank goodness!  We will be going home tomorrow and we're both anxious to see how things will go, but for now, we're enjoying it one minute at a time.  I'm not looking forward to my recovery as it will be tough, but we'll take it!

Thank you for all the well wishes and we will update with pics very soon.

Today!

I'm in labor!

Nevermind...

So I didn't end up getting my membranes stripped.  Oh well.  But I had only progressed to almost 2cm dilated with 70% effacement, so we really didn't think that the process would actually increase my chances.  So we've got an appointment scheduled still for next week, and it looks like there will be no need to cancel as I am sure we'll still be pregnant by then.  Ugh.  But the good news is, Dr. Hart switched her on call status with another doctor at the practice, and instead of being on call this weekend, she's on call next weekend, so it looks like we might get lucky!  Anywho, just wanted to update y'all.  Little progression but progression nonetheless.

I'm a little grumpy because I was really selfishly hoping for some relief SOON, so sorry for the shortness.  Maybe soon it won't take me twenty minutes to put on a pair of pants...

Really Not Looking Forward to Today

Today we are 38 weeks, 6 days pregnant!

Today at approximately 11:30am our time, I am getting my membranes stripped.  So if you hear a weird cry that seems to come from the central United States, that will be me.  Some sources state that doing so increases your chance of going into labor within 48 hours.  We'll see!  But I'll probably still be here next week, just as pregnant, just as waddley, and just as stretched past my limit, as I am now.  Anywho, I'm off to attempt to shave my legs in the shower, we'll see how successful I am at this adventure...  If you hear a loud thump and an expletive with the faint sound of a shower in the background, that will be me.

:D

Another Progress Report

Today we are 37 weeks, 6 days pregnant!

So I realize I skipped out on my 37 week checkin.  I'm getting lazy.  Sorry.  Pretty much all I can say is I'm uncomfortable (to put it nicely) and sometimes a little grumpy.  I'm weighing in at 132, so a total of 30 lbs gained, however last night I was at 135 but peed out 3 lbs over the course of trying to sleep.  That was very fun, struggling to get out of bed a thousand times.  Anywho.

Today at our appointment, I am still one centimeter dilated but I am 60% effaced.  Dr. Hart offered to strip my membranes today, but since I wasn't mentally prepared for it (control freak) and Shawn has two finals to turn in next week, we decided to wait until our next appointment, Friday the 7th at 11:20am.  So we'll see if this gets things going!

I totally feel as if this little girl has definitely run out of room.  Her movements just feel different and I can feel everything.  I'm still hoping my belly doesn't split wide open at any moment.

We've gotten some things accomplished, we set up her bassinet, I set up a temporary changing and dressing station in our room (temporary since we are moving May 28th), and I've purchased mostly everything we need.  All her clothing is laundered and folded, ready to go.  Still to do is install the carseat and set up the stroller, pick up our glider, breast pump, and monitor (all has been ordered), and we need to pack our hospital bags.  Then I just need to do one last clean sweep of the place to make sure we've got as much room as we possibly can have for when we get home and we're good to go!  Oh, and then I just need to push a watermelon out of my body, that's all.  ;)

Anywho, I'll put in a few pics for your enjoyment.  :)  If things change, I'll update here if I can!

Heeeere's me!  One day short of 38 weeks...

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Side view of the bassinet, given to us by Grandma Mary!

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Front view, with our sleep positioner in the bassinet

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Bird's eye view of Sophia's temporary changing station!  Her temporary drawers are on the right hand side of the pic.  We only needed enough space to keep a few weeks worth of clothing, so we made it work!  But we've got diapers, wipes, lotions, burp cloths, wash cloths, etc all set up!

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Now all we need is a baby to change...  Check back for more updates!  xoxo

My Progress Report

Today we are 36 weeks, 6 days pregnant!

Hello!  Just got back from my 37 week appointment and I thought I'd share my progress with y'all.  I am a centimeter dilated and her head is nice and low.  When I told Dr. Hart that Shawn's guess was the 7th thru the 10th, her reply was "that sounds good!"  I thought she'd say, "Oh no, you'll go past your due date..." but she didn't!  Her guess is that Saturday the 8th around 3am.  Yipes!  So we'll see, start your guesses now!  She (Dr. Hart) said anytime after next weekend is good with her...

Less Than a Month To Go, Wow!

Today we are 36 weeks, 4 days pregnant!

Hi all!  Thank goodness this week is almost over!  I say this because Shawn has been in DC since Sunday and I cannot wait for him to come home.  The dogs miss him terribly, too, and have become very clingy to mommy as of late.  I am purchasing my glider tomorrow from Babies R Us and I got to try them all out today.  I went with the complete opposite of what I thought I wanted, which is turning out to be somewhat typical for me!  But I have to purchase it by tomorrow or my 20% coupon expires, and me and saving money go hand-in-hand.  It retails for $200 but I will be getting it for $160, so that helps!  It is really small, so it fits me to a T, and it suits my extremely freakishly short calves to where I can actually touch the floor when I sit in it.  So yay!  :)

As of our last OB appointment, last Friday, we've had a little tiny bit of progress, so I will post that in my check-in.  This was the first of our weekly appointments and we have the following scheduled appointments:

Friday, 4/23 @ 11am

Friday, 4/30 @ 11am

Friday, 5/7 @ 11:20am

So here is my check-in, where you can read about how uncomfortable I am.  This may be a grumpy one...

How far along?  36 weeks, 4 days.  24 days to go!

Total weight gain/loss:  As of last night, 129.8.  Yes, I said 129.8 instead of 130.  I am not a fan of rounding up.

Stretch marks?  Still none, thank God, but I'm still looking...

Sleep:  It's been terrible, especially since Shawn has been gone.  I don't sleep when he's not here!

Best moment this week:  I think we're pretty close to being done for our initial baby purchases...

Movement:  I feel like she gets lower and lower.  She may be really running out of room because she's not as hyperactive as she used to be, but we've still got the minimum 10 movements in 2 hours.  I just wish she'd stay off of the nerve that runs right through my cervix.  Seriously.  Talk about shocking pain!

Food cravings:  Really at this point, just rotating between salty and sweet and salty again.  I love food.

Gender:  It's a bambina!

Labor Signs:  Soooo Dr. Hart said I am a little less than a pinky tip dilated.  Sounds tiny, but it freaks me out!  I've had minimal cramping / contractions, but nothing timeable or constant or steady.  Just once in a while.

Belly Button in or out?  Out.  Very out.

What I miss:    Being mobile.

What I am looking forward to:  Shawn coming home!!!

Weekly Wisdom:  That it is okay to be paranoid.  This is my little baby girl and I just want the best for her.  And that no concern or question is stupid.  (Thanks, Jamie <3 ) 

Milestones: We're less than a month away from meeting our little girl!  And I'm beginning to dilate!

Check back after Friday to see what our new progression will be.  I wonder if we'll end up going early or past my due date!!!

And here's a pic for you!  Taken just now, please excuse how crappy I look, I had to take my own picture and after a few attempts, I figured this was good enough.  :)

This Just In: We're Crazy

Today we are 35 weeks, 3 days pregnant!

So yeah, we're crazy.  Let's look at our history first...

In the second week of October 2007, we:
     a) Threw a wedding completely planned by yours truly
     b) Got married
     c) Changed professions / educational status
     d) Moved from California to Texas
All in one week.  All.  In.  One.  Week.


So what are we doing now?  Oh, nothing.  Just moving residences two weeks after our estimated due date. Yup, you read me correctly!  Thank goodness it's only a few doors down, same gated neighborhood.  Why are we moving?  The unit we are moving to is larger, with a larger kitchen, two car garage, more storage, and an all over better layout.  It's right next to the pool, which will be nice in the warmer months.  I love that there are more windows which equals much better natural lighting, so overall we're pretty excited.  Will it be a lot of work?  Yes.  Will Shawn and I grumble at eachother during those stressful days of moving?  Probably.  But I choose to look on the bright side and realize that we're getting a better place.  So I'm happy!

Here are a couple of pictures, courtesy of the listing...

This is the kitchen.  We have more counter space and more cabinets!

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This is the living / dining room looking at it from the entryway.  This is not our furniture.

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This is the master bath.  The closet is HUGE and as you can see, has a separate tub from the shower.  I can't wait for that.

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Here is our, and I must sing this part because I am sooo happy, Two-car garage!!!!!  And do you see all the storage shelves lining the walls?  And the closet all the way to the right, next to the water heater, is another huge closet.  Aaaaah.

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Last but not least, the back yard.  Smaller than ours now, but cute and level.  Which will be nice for Sophia when she starts toddling around!  :)

So there you have it!  We're crazy, but sane at the same time.  If that's possible.  We move May 28th and our new address will be:

4620 W. William Cannon Dr. #12

Austin, TX  78749

35 Weeks Down...

Today we are 35 weeks, 1 day pregnant!  34 days to go!

Hi all!  So last night, Shawn and I went to see none other than Sir Elton John.  It was an honor for me, to say the least.  So there I was, walking my 35 week pregnant behind up and down the stairs to our seats and managed to only use the potty once, which was pretty surprising.  I had a little talk with Sophia, and made her promise not to be spunky and arrive early, and she thankfully obliged.  So Elton John was a success!  Although finding something to wear was another story.  I needed something cute that I could wear with flip flops, since my feet and toes have started to swell off and on, so I settled on a dress I already had.  Thank goodness for empire waists and cotton!  So here's me before the concert and also your 35 week belly pic:

Here's from the front :)

And from the side!  Hi belly!

Anywho, since it's been a while, I'll catch you up a little...  About a week ago, the baby has begun to drop.  This is good for progress, but bad for my hips and back.  Um, ouch.  Having a head in your pelvic region really does not feel very good.  And I think she may be sticking something pointy in my cervix from time to time, which, from what others have equated it to, feels like lightning in your nether regions. Sounds fun, right?  Riiiiight.  So I have technically gotten to the point where I am very uncomfortable, in pain at times, and now I'm officially allowed to complain.  We're in the homestretch, which is exciting, but scary as well.  The nursery is emptied out, ready for the furniture, so we just have to pick it up and set those suckers up!  Here's the room almost emptied out:

This picture is taken from where the closet is, and the door is on the right hand wall, closest to the wall with the window.  I'll post more pictures later when we're setting it up!

So now time for my weekly check-in...  Here goes!

How far along?  35 weeks, 1 day

Total weight gain/loss:  Weighed in yesterday at 128, total of 26 lbs gained.

Stretch marks?  Still none, thank God, but I'm still looking...

Sleep:  Gone way downhill again.  Between the pain, discomfort, and the thoughts I can't quiet, I'm not sleeping much these days...

Best moment this week:  Seeing Elton John perform

Movement:  She's dropped, so movement is a little lower than before, but her feet still find comfort in my ribs.  She is jabbing me right this minute, and it hurts!

Food cravings:  I get thirsty these days, as it has gotten warmer and more important for me to stay hydrated so I swell the least amount possible.  I had the best lemon slushy from Sonic yesterday and I would like another one today...  This and the bag of Dove chocolates next to me.

Gender:  It's a bambina!

Labor Signs:  I have tightening and some Braxton Hicks, but nothing a little breathing doesn't manage

Belly Button in or out?  Out.  Very out.

What I miss:    Walking without severe pain

What I am looking forward to:  A drink.  Is that bad?

Weekly Wisdom:  I'm going to be a Mommy.  Seriously.  This is going to be huge.  

Milestones: Our room is ready to set up, and yesterday we were 35 weeks pregnant with 35 days to go.  

Time For a Shower!

Today we are 33 weeks, 6 days pregnant!

Sorry this is so late!  So here's how my shower went:

First, the weather was perfect!  I was able to wear a sundress that I was completely comfortable in but still was able to look put together in (hopefully!).  I had a short walk, three doors down, to get to my event and was already giddy.  I had the best group of friends and it was really fun!  We played a few games, guests had to guess the circumference of my belly and my neighbor Marisa won, she was accurate to almost a quarter of an inch!  Shawn got to guess when he came by at the end, and he was waaaaaay off.  And not in the good way...  I think he used half the spool of ribbon!  Shawn!  We also decorated onesies, and they really got into it!  They were so cute (pics to come) and Meghan Meehan's onesie, which said "My mom is prettier than your's" won!  My vanity loved that one!  The final game was "who knows the baby the best," which consisted of a list of about ten questions that I came up with in regards to Sophia and the pregnancy. Angela won!  All winners got the "Nickie's pregnancy survival kit" which was a back massager thing from Bath & Body Works, yummy hand sanitizer from B&B as well, which I use all the time, and lotion.  Speaking of gifts, man did I get some!  I am amazed and honored by the generosity of all our family and friends!!!  I feel, for the first time, that we are this close to having everything we need, and it's so exciting!  Shawn and I will be emptying the guest room this weekend so we can set everything up, and I can't wait to post pictures on here for you all to see.  Speaking of pictures, here are a few from the shower!

I made favors for everyone to thank my guests.  They are homemade white chocolate baby bottle lollipops with handmade tags.  I loved them!

You can get a small view of the diaper cake that Meagan and her sister made for me, sooo cute!

Even little Aidan wanted to be part of the picture!  Starting with me, clockwise, there is Marisa, Michele, Meghan Meehan, Ashley, and Seth.  Not pictured:  Angela, Meagan Martin, Alicia, Laura, and Shawn

Aaah, the pregnant lady.  And my faux mimosa.  Mmmm!

Here you can see some of the onesies that were created.  Meagan cheated by playing on Shawn's heartstrings since he got to vote.  Hers said "Daddy's Little Gator."  ;)

Sooo much baby stuff!!!

Counterclockwise:  Me, Meagan (hostess #1), Alicia, Michele, Marisa, Angela (hostess #2), Ashley, and Meghan.  Not pictured:  Laura, Seth, and Shawn

The happy parents to be!  

Mmmm cupcakes!  The ones that Sophie (Meagan's doggie) didn't get, that is!  I think I have personally eaten five of them myself, oops!

*****

I should have more pics soon, but these show the beauty and happiness that were my shower.  I loved it, and I couldn't have asked for anything better.  I hope that everyone in my life knows how blessed I feel and how blessed I know I am.  I love my family, and I love my friends.  I only hope that I can bring the same joy in your lives that you have brought to mine.  xoxo

Quick Check-In...

Today we are 33 weeks, 2 days pregnant!

Hi All!  I wanted to do a quick weekly check-in so I can get to posting my shower pictures.  Shawn and I are really realizing that our time is dwindling and we need to get moving to get stuff done, so we've been cleaning and organizing.  Sometimes I really wish I were one of the Disney princesses so I can have magical brooms, three fairy Godmothers with magic wands, and a team of forest creatures to storm my house and clean everything top to bottom.  If that were to happen, I promise I would whistle while they worked!  Anywho, time for the check-in and I'll post the shower stuff tomorrow!  :)

How far along?  33 weeks, 2 days.  47 days to go!  YIKES!!!

Total weight gain/loss:  Still at 124.4, total of 22.4 lbs gained

Stretch marks?  None yet :D

Sleep:  Decent to eh

Best moment this week:  I had a wonderful shower, more to come tomorrow!

Movement:  I can't even hide it anymore from the outside!  

Food cravings:  The cravings are still at bay, it's just now I'm on the See Diet.  Everything I see, I want to eat.

Gender:  It's a bambina!

Labor Signs:  None this week

Belly Button in or out?  Out.  Very out.

What I miss:    My nice, clean, organized guest room.

What I am looking forward to:  Our baby care class on Wednesday

Weekly Wisdom:  I should probably stop freaking out, because no matter what, Shawn and I will figure everything out.  

Milestones: We've got lots of baby stuff!!!

I don't really have a belly pic this week, but I will post pics tomorrow from the shower.  Till then!

The Picture Says It All

Today we are 32 weeks and 6 days pregnant!

And we've got....................

days to go!

I realized that a few minutes ago and I've got two reactions:  OMG Yay!  and OMG We've got so much to do!  So with my impending shower, I am hoping that it will give Shawn and I the gusto to clean / clear / set up everything so we can begin the baby cuteness of pink and frills everywhere.  Wish us luck!  

Anywho, I will update after the weekend for my shower update and my 33 week check-in, so stop by after the weekend!

32 Weeks And We're Educated!

Today we are 32 weeks, 3 days pregnant!

Hi All!  It's a sunny and warm day here in Austin, TX, which means spring is here!  Over the past few days, we've reached 32 weeks, my parents have been married for 40 years, and we have begun our baby education.  Shawn and I attended a six-hour childbirth class on Sunday, and it was entertaining, to say the least.  We learned a moderate amount, practiced different breathing techniques, and I saw a 10 centimeter circle.  I wish I hadn't seen that.  Oh well!  We also toured the Labor and Delivery unit where we are delivering.  Would you like to know how I felt during and after that tour?  Scared as hell!  It made it so real!  I've been hiding my uneasiness since then because I feel a little silly about it, but what can I say?  The thought of having a baby, from my body, hoping that everything cooperates for a healthy, safe delivery is a little overwhelming for me.  I know it will pass, or at least ease up a little, but I also think it's somewhat natural and normal to be a little scared.  Ugh!  During the tour, Shawn and I held tight to each other, and it was very reassuring.  Breathe in, breathe out!

We're beginning to get very busy around here, cleaning out the garage, emptying and then filling Sophia's room, organizing, and trying not to freak out.  My shower is this weekend as well, and I'm really excited!  I wish all my family and friends could be here, but I am blessed enough to have them all over the country.  The weather should be nice on Sunday, so hopefully I can wear a cute dress and show off my pregnant glow.  Haha!  Anywho, time for my 32 week check-in, here goes!

How far along?  32 weeks, 3 days.  53 days to go!

Total weight gain/loss:  Just weighed in at 124.4, total of 22.4 lbs gained

Stretch marks?  None yet :D

Sleep:  I think it's the calm before the storm...  As I've said, my pillow configuration has done me well!

Best moment this week:  Probably the class.  It was fun to do it together.

Movement:  The elbows poking through my sides and the feet in the ribs are sweet, but after about 15 minutes can get pretty tender!

Food cravings:  The cravings per se have slowed, it just depends on what food item I have seen or heard about last.

Gender:  It's a bambina!

Labor Signs:  None this week

Belly Button in or out?  Out.  Very out.

What I miss:    Sleeping on my belly

What I am looking forward to:  My shower on Sunday!!!

Weekly Wisdom:  This too, shall pass.  Not so much pregnancy related, but still relevant.

Milestones: We've seen where we're giving birth!!!

Now for my latest picture, taken on the 17th.  Here I am 31 weeks, 4 days pregnant: