Week 17

(When I see this picture, all I can hear is Shrek saying, "Onions have layers!")

I can’t believe how quickly this week has gone by! My boss returned to the office after being gone for three weeks, and I have been swamped at work. It seems that the busier I am, the faster the days go. My nights have also flown by, as my nose has been stuck in a great book called “The Shack,” which was a recommendation by Aunt Carol. (Mom was supposed to read it first, but because she is in the middle of another book, I got first dibs!) I was almost shocked when I realized it was Thursday, and I’m into a new week already!

This past week has truly been exciting. First, I finally broke the news to my boss. He didn’t seem too excited, but he also didn’t seem too upset. I’m just glad it’s finally out there. Second, Mom and Kristen gave me my first sets of maternity clothes. They are technically my birthday presents, but because I was having trouble breathing when I buttoned up my regular pants, they thought I needed an earlier intervention. My belly and I are thrilled! Third, Damian started flag football. Although I was at church during his first game, I was able to come to the opening ceremonies. He looks so cute in his uniform! Fourth, Harry’s tennis team won their first match yesterday. He didn’t think the team would get a win all season, so it was exciting to see one. And for the most thrilling event of all….we bought a house!!!

I have been wanting to write a blog about it all week, but never seemed to find the time. On Sunday, with Damian in tow, Harry and I signed a contract and put a down payment on a villa in Miramar Landing in Middle River. We chose the Rehoboth model. If you want to get a sneak peek of what it may look like, here is the link: http://www.ryland.com/find-your-new-home/26-baltimore/1305-miramar-landing-villas/12994-rehoboth.html. If you click on the Elevations tab, ours will look similar to the house on the left. We are going to the Design Center on Monday to pick out our options. The construction should be completed by November. We had wanted to be settled before the baby got here, but it didn’t quite work out that way. Still, we are so excited to finally have a home where we can plant our roots and watch our family grow!

Speaking of growing, this is what is happening to our Little Miracle this week: his/her skeleton is hardening, changing from cartilage to bone, and fat is starting to accumulate around it. The umbilical cord is getting thicker and stronger, and those little fingers and toes are now topped by one-of-a-kind prints.

I have no sickness to report this week, and no real physical changes. I don’t look like I’m pregnant yet; I just look like I’m putting on more weight. I still haven’t felt any movement yet, either.

The Things We've Handed Down

Happy Spring! I just wanted to share the very touching words to the new song I added to my blog playlist today. They made me cry. (Of course, it doesn't take much with me!)

The Things We've Handed Down
-Marc Cohn

Don't know much about you
Don't know who you are
We've been doing fine without you
But we could only go so far

Don't know why you chose us
Were you watching from above
Is there someone there that knows us
Said we'd give you all our love

Will you laugh just like your mother
Will you sigh like your old man
Some things skip a generation
Like I've heard they often can

Are you a poet or a dancer
A devil or a clown
Or a strange new combination of
The things we've handed down

I wonder who you'll look like
Will your hair fall down in curls
Will you be a mama's boy
Or daddy's little girl

Will you be a sad reminder
Of what's been lost along the way
Maybe you can help me find her
In the things you do and say

And these things that we have given you
They are not so easily found
But you can thank us later
For the things we've handed down

You may not always be so grateful
For the way that you were made
Some feature of your father's
That you'd gladly sell or trade

And one day you may look at us
And say that you were cursed
But over time that line has been
Extremely well rehearsed

By our fathers, and their fathers
In some old and distant town
From places no one here remembers
Come the things we've handed down

Week 16

Week 16 is an exciting week! Tiny bones are forming in our Little Miracle’s ears, and he/she can finally hear our voices! It’s nice to know that I can finally be heard when I have conversations with and sing to my belly. Additionally, eyebrows, eye lashes, and hair are staring to fill in and taste buds are starting to form. The gender may also be determined. (Of course, we still have to wait for our Big Ultrasound for that knowledge!)

The highlight of this past week was hearing our baby’s heartbeat. Other than that milestone, there isn’t much to report. I’m still not showing (although I’m not sure how much longer I can continue to squeeze into my current pants!), and I only had one bad afternoon with heartburn. I don’t want to jinx myself, but this pregnancy has been surprisingly easy. Other than feeling more tired than usual, I honestly feel great.

I wrote a blog on MySpace announcing our joyous news, and I’ve started to tell more of my friends. The more I spread the news, the more excited I get. I will admit, though, that I am still nervous about telling my boss. He is returning to the office on Monday after being gone for several weeks. I’m not quite sure how he is going to handle the news.

One of the coolest reactions I got from the announcement was an “I knew it!” from my high school best friend. She said she had a dream on December 30th where I told her the news. She wrote about it in her journal on New Year’s Eve. I just think it is pretty amazing that we still have a strong connection after all these years. Like she said….some friendships just never go away.

I have a tendency to stalk the internet for information on pregnancy…and then run to my sister or mom to verify crazy facts. This week I found out that it is very common for women to “empty their bowels” on the delivery table. I used to think that my biggest fear surrounding delivery was the pain. Now I think I am more scared of excrementing in front of strangers and my husband! (Sorry if that was TMI!)

I am looking forward to the arrival of Spring this week, and I hope the weather will start to get nice soon. Last night, Harry and I took a long walk to Mars and back. It will be really great to do that or go bike riding on a regular basis again.

Friday's Appointment

My appointment on Friday was actually very quick. After my blood pressure was taken, I got weighed. I gained four pounds since my last appointment, but since I had lost three at the previous one, I am technically only up one pound so far. I was then taken to the examination room. I met with the midwife this time. She pressed on my belly, asked me if I had any questions, then left the room to retrieve the doppler. She came back and tried to find the baby's heartbeat.

At first, I heard all this noise (that turned out to be my stomach) and then it just went quiet. After a few seconds of the unbearable silence, I started to worry that my worst fear had come true. All I could think was, "Please Lord..." and then the midwife said, "There he is!" We briefly listened to the swooshing sound of our Miracle's heart, and she stated that the heart rate was measuring about 150, which is good. She told me that all my measurements looked great, and my appointment was over.

My next O.B. appointment is scheduled for April 6th. Prior to then, I have to go get some more bloodwork done. So far, so good. Which means the time has come to officially start spreading our joyous news!

Week 15

Another week has come and gone. I will admit that I feel much better this week than I did last week. My energy is starting to come back, as well. So much so that I started taking the stairs again at work instead of the elevator and I broke open my prenatal exercise DVD. I really need to make both a habit in the coming weeks, as well as focus on my nutrition. After all, a healthy mom equals a healthy baby. (Or at least we hope!)

In other news, Bonnie announced this week that she is pregnant and due in November. That means our Little Miracle will have a cousin very close in age. It will be like Danny and me, who are four months apart.

Speaking of Danny, I just realized that our Little Miracle is going to be my Grandmom Ruth's fourth great-grandchild. I think it is pretty neat considering I am Grandma's fourth grandchild! We're in the same birth order!

1 = Kim & Damian

2 = Ruthie & Katie

3 = Danny & Lucy

4 = Me & Little Miracle

5 = Kris & ...

As for what is happening to our baby this week: His/her little elbows and knees are bending more freely and his/her little legs are finally growing longer than his/her arms. Many of his/her major organ systems are increasing in capacity—particularly that amazing tiny heart and complex circulation system, which is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood per day, and will increase to a very impressive 200 quarts per day by the end of the pregnancy. Some new scalp patterns are beginning to develop on his/her head, although actual head hair is not yet present.

I wish I had an actual update to share from the doctor's office, but we'll just have to wait until tomorrow for that!

New Appointment Scheduled!

One of the ladies at the Belair office just called me to reschedule my appointment. I will be seeing the doctor this Friday the 13th at 8:30 AM. Only three more days to go!

Bummer

My O.B.'s office just called. They had to cancel my appointment for tonight because they had an electrical fire and they have no power. They also could not reschedule me for another appointment because of the lack of electricity. I am supposed to call back tomorrow to attempt to reschedule; however, they said to be prepared for the electric to still be out. I am so disappointed. I was looking forward to this appointment. I was going to start spreading our good news as long as everything still looked ok. Guess I'm supposed to wait a little longer...

Week 14

I finally made it to the Second Trimester! It's a bit crazy to think that I am already 1/3 of the way through this pregnancy. Like I've said over and over, most days I don't really feel pregnant.

I have been blessed with a very easy pregnancy so far, but Week 13 was pretty awful. I seemed to have heartburn almost every day (Mom says that means the baby is going to have a lot of hair), I was more nauseated than ever, I had a few pretty bad headaches, I was constantly tired, and my stomach just wasn't feeling that well. Rumor has it that the Second Trimester brings relief and energy with it....though this morning, I truly did not want to get out of bed, I am already dragging at work, and it feels like I could lose my breakfast at any moment. I hope that since I've had an easy First Trimester, the Second One isn't bringing torture with it!

My next doctor's appointment is 5 days away. I really can't wait. I'm hoping that they will try to hear the heartbeat. I just want to make sure that everything is still ok. If all is well, I think I will feel more comfortable spreading the news. Though nothing is guaranteed, the chance of miscarriage goes way down in the Second Trimester.

I didn't really like what The Bump had to say about what is happening to our Little Miracle this week (it talked about creating urine and breathing amniotic fluid), so I will tell you what Baby Gaga has to say. Our baby's whole body is moving right now (even though I can't yet feel it). He/she is also starting to develop the ability to move his/her eyes this week, although the eyelids still remain fused shut. He/she can make all sorts of fun facial expressions as he/she practices squinting, frowning, and grimacing. His/her little hands can grasp at things and he/she may already be sucking his/her thumb! Thin, downy hair is growing all over his/her body for warmth.

Harry's basketball season ended last night as Patterson was defeated by Milford Mill. But there is no time to rest...Tennis season begins today!

My First Book!

My friend at work brought me a present today: The 4th Edition of "What to Expect When You're Expecting." Apparently, her mom sent her a copy, but she had already purchased one. Not needing two, she passed the lovely treasure onto me. I can't wait to start reading it! Honestly, I want to break into it now, but I haven't spread the news widely at work yet. I am waiting until my boss returns. Once he knows, I will then feel more comfortable sharing with everyone else.