Birds, Bees and Pumpkin Seeds

32 Week Baby Bump

2011-09-30T17:30:00.000-05:00

31 Week Baby Bump

2011-09-29T17:30:00.000-05:00

30 Week Baby Bump

2011-09-28T17:30:00.000-05:00

29 Week Baby Bump

2011-09-10T17:30:00.000-05:00

28 Week Baby Bump

2011-09-09T18:00:00.000-05:00

27 Week Baby Bump

2011-08-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

28 Weeks

2011-08-26T17:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

We made it! 28 weeks is such a big milestone, baby, and your Daddy and I are so happy and feel so blessed that you're still inside your Momma's belly. We're hoping and praying that you'll stay in there for many, many more weeks to come.

At the same time, we also can't wait to finally hold you and meet you, baby! Since you're at such a high risk for coming early, though, instead of saying that we wish we could hold you, now we say that we wish it was November and you were with us.

Your Momma went to the doctor's and saw you again in 3D - you are just so cute! You had your hand up by your face and your nose looked kinda funny because you had it smashed up against your Momma's belly!

The doctor said you weighed 2 pounds and 5 ounces - you sure are getting big, baby!

Love you,
Mommy

Time.

2011-08-19T18:00:00.000-05:00

28 weeks. It seemed so far away when I was dilated and had the emergency surgery at 21 weeks, just 2 months ago. I thought it'd be a miracle if we made it to 24 weeks, much less 28 weeks. This morning I woke up - happy and ecstatic that my cervix had been doing well - and that we'd made it to this huge milestone. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, a sack of worry that had been slung across me that I bore without ever noticing how heavy it actually was until it had been lifted.

I went for my regular checkup at the doctor's office today. And, again, was surprised at how much things can change in just a week. You'd think I'd have gotten used to being surprised by my cervix by now. I guess I don't learn very quickly that things could be going along just fine and all of a sudden there's a change - one tiny little thing is different, and your whole perspective on life shifts. One second I'm worried about if the doctor will let me begin exercising, and the next I'm left wondering if I'll go into labor tomorrow.

Today we saw that the only thing keeping our son from arriving now are the stitches. That's it. Just a couple tiny strings stand in the way of a preterm birth and months of visiting our son in the NICU unit. Nobody knows what will happen. The doctor tells me I am a unique patient - that pregnant women usually have signs of labor if they have an incompetent cervix like mine. Luckily, I've had no signs of labor thus far, and pray that this will continue to be the case for many more weeks. And I pray that the stitches will hold.

The doctor is giving me medicine that may or may not help my cervix to lengthen again, which would put less pressure on the stitches and hopefully buy us more time. The studies done on the medicine have inconclusive results, but it's our only option, and we have nothing to lose.

Time is a funny thing. It flies, so fast that you might be left dizzy or confused. But when you really want it to fly, when you want nothing more in the world than be 36 weeks along with all this worry and stress and confusion behind you, time stops and slows to a crawl. Everyday I'm thankful that our son is still with me, but I always find myself wanting more - more time with him in my belly, more time for him to develop, more time feeling his punches and kicks and rolls. I feel as if we're already running on borrowed time, and find myself reflecting on the completely different path our lives would've taken if our son was born at 21 weeks or if the surgery had failed. I savor each day of this borrowed time we've been given to let our son mature and develop - would it be so wrong to ask for just a little more?

For now, I have faith and I pray that the medicine buys us just a little more of this precious time.

26 Week Baby Bump

2011-08-19T17:30:00.001-05:00

27 Weeks

2011-08-18T17:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Baby,

You're getting so big! This week your Momma noticed that you were getting so big you were making her belly button really shallow - it won't be long before you're so big you push it out!

You are also developing a regular sleep cycle, baby. So far you seem to be very much a morning person - you like to wake up at about 2AM and don't go to sleep until 2PM. One morning while your Momma was still sleeping, your Daddy put his hand on your Momma's belly and felt you kicking and squirming around like crazy. Your Daddy thought it was the neatest thing ever.

This week you weigh about 2 pounds - roughly the weight of a head of cauliflower.

Love you,
Mommy

25 Week Baby Bump

2011-08-11T17:30:00.001-05:00

24 Week Baby Bump

2011-08-10T17:30:00.001-05:00

Thoughts on Pregnancy

2011-08-07T10:30:00.001-05:00

Since I'm officially over halfway now, I thought it would be fun to share some of my thoughts on pregnancy thus far.

I really like not having to suck in my gut. In fact, I admit to sometimes pushing it out just to make a point that no, I'm not fat (although I've certainly gained in that department), I'm pregnant. Duh.
Getting up 123,845,908 times a night to pee has it's advantages: it makes the night feel longer and thus I can trick myself into believing that I'm actually getting more sleep than I think I am. Plus I can rest assured that the toilet, infact, is in perfectly good working order.
Babies are really flexible in the womb. Apparently being folded in half like an Auntie Anne's pretzel for several weeks doesn't faze them at all.
In the first trimester I hated sweet things. Fact: I once wouldn't eat baked beans because they were too "sweet". Now, however, anything with a killer dose of sugar or high-fructose corn syrup is fair game.
I am officially too tired to cook anymore. Many women eat healthier when they're pregnant - apparently I'm just the opposite.
Never piss off a pregnant lady. You'd have a better outcome pissing off a pimply and hormonal teenager with anger issues.
It's true: common sense flies out the window when a baby is coming to town.
Never ask a pregnant woman if she wants doughnuts while she's driving a vehicle. The following scenario might ensue - Tom: "Hey, do you want to get some doughnuts?" Me (slamming on the brakes and looking around wildly for the doughnut store): "DOUGHNUTS!!!"
This is the only time in my life I've ever been chided for actually losing weight and having to actually convince a nurse that yes, I really am eating food.
When you're pregnant people find it acceptable to make all sorts of comments about your body. "Awww, you're waddling!" is apparently a compliment to a pregnant woman. However if I said it right back to that person I bet it wouldn't be taken as a compliment. (and I was tempted)
Tom likes me when I'm pregnant because I'm more like him: I eat alot, I like the house cold, and I sleep all the time.
I now know what a drug addict probably feels like.
I'm thankful for awesome neighbors who told me that Busch NA existed. I've wondered more than once if it would be weird/illegal to bring my own beverage out to dinner with me.
It should be a law that every store has a "Expectant Mothers" parking spot alongside the handicapped ones. Because really, we're sort of handicapped, too.
We are buried in ultrasound photos. Our baby is going to have a full photo album before he's even born.
I now have absolute master control over the thermostat at home, and am prepared at work incase disaster strikes with both a fan and a space heater at my desk.
"Pregnancy Brain" really exists. And even if it doesn't, this is the only time it's acceptable to blame my stupid mistakes on my hormones. Which I've done countless times already.
When shopping, sometimes Tom has to put his hands on either side of my face like horse blinders so we can actually leave the store without getting sidetracked.
We should really invest in some Breyers Ice Cream shares, because I'm pretty sure I've kept their profits in the green for the past 6 months.
Never before have I specifically been ordered to "be a couch potato" by a Doctor.

And that's it for now. Do you have any of your own thoughts on pregnancy to add?

25 Weeks

2011-08-05T17:30:00.004-05:00

Dear Baby,

Apparently you're a gymnast! We saw you again in 3D, baby, and you were all folded up like a little pretzel in there. You were folded in half and your feet and legs were up by your head. We were all laughing as we watched you wriggle your little foot at us and wave at us with your hand at the same time - all while we were just trying to take a look at your sweet face. Your Momma and Daddy don't quite know where you get your flexible abilities from - it's sure not from us!

Your Momma also got some steroid shots this week, which was no fun (and I'm sure you'll agree with me in time when you have to get your own shots). The shots will help your little lungs develop faster in case you decide to come really early. Of course while we want to see you, we don't quite want to see you until you're good and ready to come out - preferably not for another few months (plus we'd have nowhere to put you yet, as your nursery isn't anywhere near done). Nobody knows when you're going to make an appearance, though, not even the doctors, so everyone's playing it safe by giving your Momma the shots - at least for the next 7-10 days, anyways.

Your Mom has also really been nesting like crazy lately, and while it's probably mostly due to the shots, part of it is also because nobody knows when you're going to come, baby! The thought of you arriving soon and having no place to call your own has your Momma all up in a tizzy. She's been on a cleaning spree lately - organizing and cleaning out closets to make room for your arrival. Even though the doctor said to take it easy, your Momma just couldn't help herself (and was driving your Daddy crazy), but thankfully things are settling down again. At least now you've got plenty of closet space throughout the house all ready for you!

This week you're the size of a rutabaga, and you're starting to fill out and put on some baby fat:

Love,
Mommy

24 Weeks

2011-08-04T05:30:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby,

You move all the time now! Well, not constantly, but you certainly move a little more each day. So far only Daddy has been able to feel you moving, although I'm sure it won't be long before other people feel you move, too.

We're getting really excited about meeting you, baby, and your Grandmas and Grandpas can't wait, either. They're already spoiling you with lots of clothes and gifts and books - and you're not even here yet!

This week you weighed 1.5 pounds, and you're about the length of an ear of corn:

Love,
Mommy

23 Week Baby Bump

2011-07-28T17:30:00.001-05:00

22 Week Baby Bump

2011-07-27T18:30:00.001-05:00

23 Weeks

2011-07-27T17:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Baby,

We saw our first 3D photo of you, baby!

Your Mommy and Daddy were so excited. As we watched, you moved around and put your hand slowly up to your face. At first we thought you were going to suck your thumb, but no -- instead you picked your nose! Yep, your little hand just kept moving on right up past your mouth, and your little thumb went straight into your nostril instead. Your Mommy and Daddy (and even the ultrasound lady) got a pretty good laugh from that, baby. You're not even out of the womb and you're already picking your nose!

This week you've developed feeling in your face (which might explain the nose-picking), and you have a sense of movement. You can also hear noises around you. Right now you're the size of a large mango:

Love,
Mommy

22 Weeks

2011-07-25T17:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Baby,

You move everyday now, baby, and it never ceases to make me smile. Your Daddy has been able to feel you punch and kick several times this week, and his whole face lights up and he has this huge grin whenever he feels you moving.

Your Mommy and Daddy like to play games with your movements, and have even started noticing a few patterns. Every time your Mommy eats Chinese food or ice cream, you have a little kicking session and just go crazy! We've already decided that those are your favorite foods, baby. Curiously, Mexican food doesn't seem to have much effect on you, though.

This week you're the size of a spaghetti squash, and developing tiny tooth buds under your gums:

Love,
Mommy

21 Weeks

2011-07-20T20:12:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

This week has been one wild ride!

First your Daddy and I were flying high and were so ecstatic because he finally felt you kick for the first time! Your Momma was lying in bed and reading when you went on a little kicking-spree, and I called your Daddy over to see if he could feel you. He put his hand on my belly and we waited with bated breath for you to do something... and you did! I knew your Daddy felt you because he got this big grin on his face and he asked if that was me or you he felt, baby! I told him it was all you, and he was so happy and excited, baby - he's been waiting and waiting for you to get big and strong enough so that he could finally feel you, baby.

The very next day we went to the doctor for a checkup and found out that apparently you were very eager to come out to see us! Your Momma had to have surgery so you could stay in there a little longer, baby. Even though I know you want to meet your Mommy and Daddy, you're just not ready yet, baby (and neither are we!). So you be good and just stay in there and keep growing and being healthy, okay?

This week you're the length of a carrot, baby, and you move and kick all the time! Sometimes I can even see my tummy moving as you wiggle around in there.

Love,
Mommy

21 Week Baby Bump

2011-07-15T17:30:00.004-05:00

20 Weeks

2011-07-14T17:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Baby,

We found out that you're a BOY!

And we're so excited, baby. Your Daddy was surprised because he was so sure you were a girl, and I really wasn't all that surprised - I had a feeling you were a boy all along. But either way, we're both so happy to find out and ecstatic that you're healthy - that's really all that matters to us!

To reveal you to the families we threw a little Gender Party, and your Grandma and Grandpa on your Daddy's side came, along with your Uncle Jon. Your Mommy's parents couldn't come because they live far away (and were in North Carolina at the time), but we made sure they felt included by sending them photos as the event unfolded.

We ordered a special cake with "It's a...?" written on it and blue frosting inside and whipped up some yummy dinner and had a fantastic time!

We let your Grandma M. cut the cake (because we knew she'd love to have that honor!), and as soon as the knife went in she started screaming, "Ahhhh! I see blue! I see blue!" and then it was pandemomium as everyone was laughing and yelling and crowding around the cake to see!

Then we called Mommy's Grandparents (and relatives) as we were sending them the photos, and couldn't help laughing as we heard yells and screams over the phone. I think at one point your Great-Uncle was yelling "I see green!!" and your Grandpa C. was repeating "It's Cleatis! Cleatis!" (that was the second thing out of his mouth when we announced the pregnancy to him, too - "You should name him Cleetus if he's a boy!", the he's been pulling for that name ever since, hahaha! Your Grandpa's such a joker.)

You even received some unexpected gifts, too, which just made the party even more fun. Your Grandma M. even had the cutest idea to bring two different colored gifts - one blue, one pink, and told us we only got to open one of them after we cut the cake! (we think she was also trying to devise a way to figure out your gender before the cake cutting part, too!) And she also showed up with two adorable knitted booties - one blue and one pink, of course!

There was lots of laughing, joking, and excitement, and we all had a great time. Before the party, your Daddy and I weren't sure how the whole Gender Party thing would work out, but we are so glad we did it! It was so much fun and such a memorable way to announce you to the family, baby, and is something we'll never forget.

This week you're the size of a banana, and you're halfway there, baby!

Love,
Mommy

A Scare

2011-07-12T09:00:00.002-05:00

Last week we had a pretty big scare -and it involved emergency surgery.

A few weeks ago at our big gender ultrasound, the Dr. noticed that my cervix was a little short. It wasn't a big deal at the time, it was just a little shorter than they would ideally like to see it. So they decided to keep an eye on it.

We're so thankful they did.

They had me scheduled for weekly appointments to make sure my cervix wasn't getting any shorter. There was no change in my cervix length the week following the big gender ultrasound, and the Dr. mentioned that I might just have an odd cervix and it could be just fine the rest of the pregnancy. To speak in numbers, my cervix was measuring at about 23 when it should be at 35. So not great, but not horrible. It stayed at about a 23 for those 2 weeks in a row, so I fully expected that there would be no change again at my appointment last Wednesday.

Boy, was I wrong.

I went in and was talking and joking with the nurses and ultrasound tech, and had the "just another checkup appointment" mindset. The Dr. was taking too long coming into my room, and I kept repeatedly checking the time on my watch and worrying that I'd be late back to work. I also wondered about the Dr. I was seeing that day, as my usual Dr. was out of the office that week and I'd never seen this new Dr. before.

Finally the Dr. came in and introduced himself, and asked me what my usual Dr. had told me about what's going on with my cervix.

"Well, he told me I have 'special' cervix, hahaha." I smiled and joked.

The Dr. smiled and asked what else the other Dr. had talked to me about, in terms of surgery.

"He said that we would talk about surgery if I was less than 15, and would probably do surgery if I was less than 10."

The Dr. nodded and said that that was what he thought, too.

When he didn't really say much else after that I finally started getting worried. I got this horrible feeling in my gut as I reflected on what the Dr. had, but most importantly, hadn't said.

And so I asked the million-dollar jackpot question:

"Why? What am I at right now?"

He looked at me and said, "Well, right now you're at a zero."

And that's when all my happy feelings left me and I realized that this was very, very bad.

It got even worse when the Dr. informed me that I was a few centimeters dilated.

Dilated! I was dilated at 21 weeks along! How could this happen? And how could I go from a 23 to a zero in cervix length in less than a week?! I felt just fine - I had had no cramping, no contractions, no pushing or clenching feeling in my belly - nothing at all. I felt perfectly normal. How could this be happening?

While I was in shock and lost in my own thoughts, the Dr. started talking more in detail about the surgery I'd have to have, and it was just too much for this over-emotional feeling-perfectly-healthy pregnant lady. I completely lost my composure and just broke down right there, in the middle of the nice Dr.'s optimistic talk about another similar patient who had to go through the same thing. He handed me a box of tissues (I guess breakdowns are normal at the high-risk OB offices?) and left me alone for a few minutes, where I promptly called Tom and somehow managed to choke out what was going on. Talking to him really helped me calm down, and I was able to actually listen when the Dr. came in again.

He informed me I would need to have a surgery called a cerclage that day. Simply put, they would go in and put some stitches in my cervix, which would close up the opening and keep the baby in there until he was healthy and ready to come out.

Now, surgery terrified me - the only surgery I'd ever had done was getting my wisdom teeth out in High School, and thanks to me developing dry socket (and my family not believing me) that was not a very good first-and-only surgery experience to draw on.

So the prospect of having surgery in a few hours that day - when I had been expecting to head back to work and then maybe stop and get groceries - completely unnerved me.

"If I didn't have the surgery, how long until I would go into labor?"

"If you didn't have the surgery, you would go into labor in 3 or 4 days, and probably deliver the baby within a week."

And that sentence right there scared me more than any prospect of surgery ever could.At 21 or 22 weeks, usually the baby isn't developed enough to live outside the womb, even with all of modern-day technology.

Simply put - if I didn't have the surgery, our baby boy would most likely die.

Now, let me say that at no time did I ever not consider having the surgery done - I just like to ask questions and be well-informed when it comes to something like this. If the Dr. had taken one glimpse at my cervix and said "We need to do surgery NOW!" before rushing me into the OR, I would've been ok with that (thank goodness my situation wasn't quite that dire, though). Thanks to having a hubby whose a medical student, I put alot of trust into Dr.'s and value their advice and opinions, and while I usually follow their advice I just like to know why they are making a particular suggestion and the reasons behind it. Once I hear that, I'm almost always all-for-it because then their decision usually makes perfect sense to me, too.

And of course, this decision made sense and I completely agreed with it. I had to have surgery if I wanted to give our baby the best chance at a healthy life that I could.

So I was walked over to the hospital and checked in, and I had a few hours to relax/fret before surgery. It was nice to have a little time to come-to-terms and get over the shock of it all, but at the same time I was filled with nervous energy and counting down the minutes until it was Go-Time. I dreaded the surgery start-time, but at the same time I wanted it to come already, just so I wouldn't have to anxiously wait any longer. The feeling of dread and anticipation was pretty familiar to me, though - it was the same feeling I would get before every single race I rowed for 8 years.

Finally it was time. I kissed Tom and said goodbye to his parents as the nurse wheeled me down the corridor and through those famous OR swinging doors. I was nervous, so naturally I was cracking jokes and commenting on random things to keep my mind off what was going to happen to me very shortly. One minute I was saying "Whoa, those lights are intense" and then the next I was flying high as everything got very swirly and I was feeling loopy. Just as I was about to say something really stupid, they put the mask over my mouth and told me to breathe - and just like that I was out.

Thank goodness for general anaesthesia.

I woke up from a very nice dream in the post-op recovery room (Tom was surprised when I told him I had a dream during the surgery), and was told the surgery went perfectly and that baby was fine. That made me happy, but all I wanted was just to go back to sleep. Until I noticed a horrible pain in my belly. And another, even stronger. I (drowsily) told the nurse I was cramping, and she snapped back that they weren't cramps, they were contractions. Geez, lady, I was coming out of anaesthesia - you think I really care about technical terms? I asked if that was normal, and she said it wasn't uncommon. Fantastic. You'd think they could have warned me beforehand!

I spent the next 8 hours in a semi-conscious state of pain. Never having been through childbirth before, contractions seem to be exactly like menstrual cramps - just more painful and much more frequent, as I learned to my dismay. Apparently mine were pretty bad, as the nurses pumped me full of pain-relieving meds and narcotics through my IV and also gave me pills to take, and seemed surprised that I was still in pain.

That was a long and horrible night as I drifted through pain and in-and-out of a drug-induced state of semi-sleep. The only bright part of the whole night was when, around 3am, the baby really started kicking me, as if to say "I'm ok in here, Mom! I made it". I smiled and put my hand on my belly, content and happy to know that I would still be feeling those kicks for many weeks to come.

I told him, "It's all for you, baby. It's all for you."

In the morning I was starting to feel better as the contractions had subsided considerably, thank goodness. I was starving, and after getting the Dr's approval I ordered a serious feast for breakfast - pancakes, eggs, sausage, hashbrowns and orange juice. And let me say this - that food was delicious! I thought hospital food was supposed to be nasty, but that food rivaled the best breakfast places around town! I'm totally looking forward to that food again when it's time for this baby to make his arrival - hopefully somewhere around the 40 week mark, of course.

The Dr. came to check on me and showed me what my cervix looked like after the surgery - and it was astounding. The difference was huge! I was amazed and overjoyed, and was told that my cervix is now the strongest part of my uterus - earning it the nickname "the steel fortress" from me.

And the best news? My cervix length is now at a 35, right where it should be.

So that was our "little" scare last week. I am so happy with how things turned out, but also with how my doctors recognized a potential problem and took the appropriate steps to monitor and correct it, before it was too late or could become a serious problem. I've heard that not every doctor routinely screens for cervix length when there's no symptoms, in fact around 80% of doctors don't, as there haven't been studies that show that screening actually does any good (I think those people really need to read my story, then). I'm blessed and so thankful that my OB does check for cervix length (and in my case, sent me back for a second ultrasound to double-check and get better shots of my cervix), and I'm so impressed that all my doctors have been so professional and taken the appropriate steps to monitor me, even when Tom and I thought they were overreacting (boy, were we wrong!).

My doctors probably saved our sons life, and for that we are so grateful and thankful, and we won't ever forget it.

20 Week Baby Bump

2011-07-11T17:30:00.001-05:00

19 Week Baby Bump

2011-06-29T17:30:00.001-05:00

You're A...?

2011-06-28T09:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Baby,

On Friday we found out that you're a BOY!

And we're so excited, baby. Your Daddy was surprised because he was so sure you were a girl, and I really wasn't all that surprised - I had a feeling you were a boy all along. But either way, we're both so happy to find out and ecstatic that you're healthy - that's really all that matters to us!

To reveal you to the families we threw a little Gender Party on Saturday, and your Grandma and Grandpa on your Daddy's side came, along with your Uncle. Your Mommy's parents couldn't come because they live far away (and were visiting relatives at the time), but we made sure they felt included by sending them photos as the event unfolded.

We ordered a special cake with "It's a...?" written on it and blue frosting inside and whipped up some yummy dinner and had a fantastic time!

Then we called Mommy's Grandparents (and relatives) as we were sending them the photos, and couldn't help laughing as we heard yells and screams over the phone. I think at one point your Great-Uncle was yelling "I see green!!" and your Grandpa C. was repeating "It's Cletus T.! Cletus T.!" (that was the second thing out of his mouth when we announced the pregnancy to him, too - "You should name him Cletus T. if he's a boy!", the he's been pulling for that name ever since, hahaha! Your Grandpa's such a joker.)

You even received some unexpected gifts, too, which just made the party even more fun. Your Grandma M. even had the cutest idea to bring two different colored gifts - one blue, one pink, and told us we only got to open one of them after we cut the cake! (we think she was also trying to devise a way to figure out your gender before the cake cutting part, too!) And she also showed up with two adorable knitted booties - one blue and one pink, of course!

19 Weeks

2011-06-22T17:30:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby,

You move every day now, and those little tickles and flutters make my day. It is like a secret between us - nobody else in the whole world knows when you're moving except for me, and it never ceases to make me smile. Last night your Daddy put his hand on my belly to see if he could feel you, but it's too early yet. He will have to be patient until you get a little stronger. Until then, it's just our little secret, baby.

This week has been difficult for both your Daddy and I, as time is passing much too slowly for both of us. It seems that Friday will never arrive and we will always be anxiously waiting to find out if you're a boy or a girl. We both try to busy ourselves with other tasks to make the time go faster, but it doesn't work. I know that all too soon we'll be looking back with bittersweet feelings on these days and moments and wishing we had slowed down to savor and enjoy them more, but right now we are too excited and caught in the moment. But that's okay, because this is the stuff life is made of - life is for truly living and breathing every moment, and we are doing just that.

This week you're the size of a large heirloom tomato, about 6 inches long. But even more exciting is that you can hear sounds now, baby! We haven't really talked to you yet, but I'm sure we will start talking to you more in the weeks to come.

Love,
Mommy

18 Week Baby Bump

2011-06-21T17:30:00.002-05:00

17 Week Baby Bump

2011-06-16T17:30:00.003-05:00

18 Weeks

2011-06-15T17:30:00.004-05:00

Dear Baby,

This week you've been so active! These past couple months I'd rarely feel you move or poke me, although it was always special when it happened. But this week you're really squirming around in there! The other day I felt you roll over, and I knew it was you because my stomach physically moved when you rolled. And later that day I guess you decided to try out those stronger legs of yours, because all of a sudden I felt a strong poke, which surprised me! It was much stronger than the little taps and tickles I'd felt from you before.

I've also found out this week that you're a sugar-fiend, just like your Momma! Whenever I eat something sugary (Teddy Grahams and Ice Cream seem to your favorites so far) you must go on a sugar high because you'll move so much I can't help but imagine that you're in there just dancing around! It's pretty entertaining, and when I tell your Daddy that I can feel you moving he gets this big grin on his face and it makes his day. We're both anxiously awaiting the day he can actually feel you move, too!

You're also continuing to get bigger, and this week you're the size of a bell pepper (your Daddy loves bell peppers!).

I love you,
Mommy

Boy or Girl?

2011-06-11T10:30:00.014-05:00

What do YOU think we're having?

Cast your vote in the poll on the right! And if you guess right, your prize will be satisfaction and a cookie specially from me (a virtual one, of course!).

Also, feel free to ask any questions that might influence what you think we're having... baby's heartrate, carrying high vs. low, etc!

It'll be interesting to see whose right in a couple of weeks!

~Chelsea

17 Weeks

2011-06-10T17:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Baby,

Everyone is asking: are you a boy or a girl?

We can't seem to help ourselves, either. Will we have a daughter or a son? Will you be wearing pink and playing with horses or sporting blue and impersonating superheroes? Your Daddy thinks your a girl, but I think your a boy. In just a couple weeks we'll know for sure whose right!

Although everybody thinks we both have a preference to whether we'd like a daughter or son, we really don't. We're just happy to have you on the way, baby, and that's all that really matters.

This week you're 5 inches long, from head to bottom! And you also weigh 5 ounces, as much as a turnip:

{via}

Your skeleton is turning from soft cartiledge to bone, and you can now move your joints. You're also developing sweat glands, which I find pretty amusing, haha!

Love,
Mommy

16 Week Baby Bump

2011-06-09T17:30:00.001-05:00

16 Weeks

2011-06-03T17:30:00.007-05:00

Dear Baby,

Time seems to be flying by! You're growing fast now, and as the ever-increasing size of my belly proves. We have no trouble finding your little heartbeat with our monitor whenever the urge strikes us now, where before it was a bit of a feat. You're still active as ever, and only stay put in one place for a few seconds before you're off again, and to hear you we have to go searching across my belly again.

Now you're 4.5 inches long, and roughly the size of an avocado:

Your legs are getting longer, baby, and you are even getting some hair pattern on your head. Your toenails have even started growing, and I just can't wait until I can actually play with those little toes of yours. You're growing fast, baby, and in the next few weeks you'll be going through a big growth spurt.

Your Mommy and Daddy celebrated 3 years of marriage this week, baby, and while it was a sweet occasion, knowing that it was our last as a couple only made the occasion all that much sweeter. We are so excited to start a family with you, baby.

I love you,

Mommy

15 Week Baby Bump

2011-06-02T17:30:00.001-05:00

15 Weeks

2011-05-26T17:30:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby,

This week you've grown so much - you're now the size of an apple, and 4 inches long! It's hard to believe that just a couple months ago you were only the size of a tiny little lentil bean.

{via}

Right now you're forming taste buds, and you can sense light! If we shined a flashlight on my belly, you'd move away from it. It's so exciting how big you've gotten, baby, and we feel so lucky and blessed that you're in there and growing.

We'll be finding out if you're a boy or a girl in just a month, and we're so excited, baby. Will we have a daughter or a son? Will we be watching fashion shows or playing superheros with you? You already bring us so much excitement and joy, baby, and we can't wait for the future.

But while we know that you're in there, baby, sometimes it just doesn't seem real yet. We've seen photos of you (when you were even tinier than a lentil bean!), and we listen to your heartbeat every week, and I've even felt you move already - but yet you still seem so surreal to us. I imagine that as more time goes by and we really start to feel you moving around (both of us!), you will become very real to us. But sometimes, now, it's still hard to wrap our minds around the idea that you are growing inside of my belly, and oh-too-soon you'll be growing up and endlessly making us laugh and cry as the roller coaster of life unfolds.

We can't wait.

Love,
Mommy

14 Week Baby Bump

2011-05-25T17:30:00.001-05:00

Trying Out Our New Baby Sling

2011-05-24T17:30:00.000-05:00

The first thing we bought was a baby sling. We haven't really bought anything else, either (besides one hilariously funny onesie from Gap that says "I'd rather be naked") because we didn't want to "jinx" the pregnancy early on. But we couldn't pass up this sling from Seven Slings that we got for free - we just had to pay shipping.

It arrived, and like many other reviews, the fabric was a bit stiff (but it softens up a bit after a washing). It seemed pretty sturdy, but we decided to give it a test run with our toddler-sized dog.

And then the following madness ensued.

Caution: shirtless man alert!

Let's just say that Tom was REALLY ready to take that sling (and dog) off!

And his ear was soaked with puppy saliva.

Ew.

(The sling passed the test. If that sling can handle a wild and crazy thrashing 30 pound dog, I think we're good to go on the child-safety front.)

14 Weeks

2011-05-20T17:30:00.003-05:00

Dear Baby -

You just keep growing! We call you our little bean, and so far you've certainly been growing like a weed. This week you're the size of a lemon:

{via}

This week you're able to frown, squint, smile and grimace, and we can't wait to see your little facial expressions up close. For now, I wonder if you would be making a face if we looked at you through an ultrasound? I'd like to think you'd be in there making all sorts of cute and funny faces.

You can also stretch and move around - and boy, are you fast and active! We can only hear your heartbeat for a few seconds before you're off and on the move, baby. You're definitely going to be an active little one!

Love,
Mommy

13 Week Baby Bump

2011-05-17T19:30:00.000-05:00

13 Weeks

2011-05-16T20:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby -

It's still hard to me to believe you're really there inside of me, baby. I'm growing a baby! It still seems so surreal to me, although my slowly growing belly proves that yes, this is really happening. YOU are really happening.

A week or so ago I felt you move, baby! Your Mommy and Daddy were in bed reading and all of a sudden I felt these little flutters down in my belly. It felt like you were busy popping some popcorn in there, baby! I've never felt anything like that before, and so I just knew it was you, baby. I told your Daddy that I felt you move, and he got the biggest grin on his face as he asked "Really? You did?". I have a feeling that you're going to be a very active little bean in there, baby, although with your parent's athletic history you never really stood a chance of being otherwise!

This week you're about the size of a large shrimp - is that why I've been craving shrimp so much this week?

You're now able to flex your toes and fingers, baby, and you now have fingerprints! It absolutely amazes me that while you're still so so so tiny you already have fingerprints, baby.

We sure get tons of use out of our Doppler, baby - we use it every week! We LOVE to hear your little heartbeat just thrumming away in there - the sound of it fills us with joy and reassures us that you're doing okay in there. Every time we hear it - no matter how many times - we can't help but smile. It's the most beautiful sound in the world, baby.

The other day we were even able to let your Grandma hear your heartbeat! She was so excited, baby, and couldn't believe that she was able to hear your little heart over the phone when she lives half the country away. It was so special, baby.

Everyone loves you already, baby.

Love,
Mommy

12 Week Baby Bump

2011-05-16T19:30:00.000-05:00

11 Week Baby Bump

2011-05-10T19:30:00.000-05:00

12 Weeks

2011-05-05T19:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

This week you've gotten so much bigger - you're now the size of a lime.

{via}

You have reflexes now, baby - you can curl your toes and fingers! And you can also make sucking motions with your mouth. I bet if we looked inside my belly at you we'd find you trying out all your new reflexes, and even sucking your thumb.

We have a Doppler at home to listen to you, baby, but so far have been unlucky - until last night! We squirted a big fat glob of jelly on my belly and moved that Doppler probe around until we heard a fast little heartbeat - that was you, baby! We were so excited to finally hear you in there! Your heart was going so fast baby, it sounded like a train just moving right along. Your heart rate was so high - 153! You must've been really working out hard in there baby - probably twisting and turning around and doing flips and spirals to get your heart rate that high.

When we first heard your heart on the Doppler, both your Daddy and Mommy got all teary eyed just listening to your heart beat away. We love you baby, and can't wait to hold you in our arms.

Love,
Mommy

10 Week Baby Bump

2011-04-29T19:30:00.000-05:00

11 Weeks

2011-04-29T13:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

This week you're really starting to grow - you're about 1.5 inches long, about the size of a fig.

{via}

You're kicking and stretching in there, and your beginning to get your teeth buds! You might even be hiccuping already.

In fact, just the other night I felt you move, baby! I was about to fall asleep when I felt this fluttering sensation in my belly that I've never felt before. That was you! Kicking and squirming around in there. I told your Daddy that I felt you move, and he got this sweet smile on his face. I can't wait until you're really kicking and moving around in there so your Daddy can feel you, too, baby.

29 weeks left until we meet you, baby. We can't wait.

Love,
Mommy

Nursery Inspiration

2011-04-21T19:30:00.000-05:00

Even though we're still months away from finding out our little one's gender, I can't help but envision what the nursery might look like.

So far I'm thinking light gray walls with lots of white trim, accented by splashes of bright fun color in the decor.

{via}

10 Weeks

2011-04-20T12:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

We're in the double-digits! And a 1/4 of the way to meeting you, baby. We tried to put your Daddy's doctor-skills to the test the other day and attempted to hear your little heartbeat with Daddy's stethoscope. We think we heard it, but everyone tells us we're crazy! Either way, we know you're doing well in there and your little heart is just beating away, whether we can hear it or not.

This weekend is Easter, and baby, we just can't wait to celebrate this fun holiday with you when you're older! Coloring eggs, doing the Easter egg hunt, and of course filling up your basket with fun toys and goodies. We can't wait to shower you with gifts and love, baby.

This week you're the size of a kumquat.

{via}

Now you can do flips and move your arms and legs, baby! Sometimes I imagine you in there, already doing fancy moves like somersaults to entertain yourself. Now all your organs are in place, and your little body is concentrating on growing and maturing them.

Your Mommy and Daddy can't help but daydream about who you'll be. Will you be an athlete like your parents? A movie lover? Will you be a bookworm like your Momma? Will you be fascinated by science and the human body like your Daddy? We can't wait to find out, baby. But no matter who you'll be, we'll love you.

No matter what.

Love,
Mommy

9 Week Baby Bump

2011-04-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

8 Week Baby Bump

2011-04-14T19:30:00.000-05:00

9 Weeks

2011-04-12T19:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

You keep growing and growing! This week you're the size of a grape. A grape, baby!

{via}

I've been pregnant with you for over two whole months now, baby. And roughly 7 months from today you'll be making your big appearance into the world! We can hardly wait.

All the grandparents know so far - and they're all so excited! Apparently they've been waiting awhile for you, too, baby!

This week your tiny teeth are forming, baby, along with your little fingernails. I try to imagine them, but they're so tiny it makes it hard. By now you're pretty much done developing baby, and from here on out you'll just concentrate on getting bigger and bigger in there.

Love,
Mommy

8 Weeks

2011-04-07T19:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

You're already at 8 weeks! While it seems that sometimes time flies by, and that it was only yesterday we found out about you, other times old grandfather time creeps by slower than the steady ticking of a clock. I suppose it's just because we're so excited to hold you and feel you and meet you, baby, that time seems to be crawling by.

Your Daddy and I were able to see you again today, baby! And boy, have you grown - you're so much bigger than you were just two short weeks ago! The Doctor smiled and laughed when she pointed out that you were really busy in there, baby, because you were turning and flipping around and doing all sorts of acrobatics! It doesn't surprise me - both your father and I were serious athletes during school, and I have no doubt that you'll have the same high energy drive as we did. I wonder if you'll play your Daddy's sport of football, or if you'll end up a rower like your Mommy.

And just like a true athlete, all that exercise and work has given you a big appetite - there was hardly any yolk sac left in there for you to munch on! Just don't eat too much in there, baby, or you'll give your momma a hard time!

It was also the most amazing thing, baby - we heard your little heartbeat! Your Daddy smiled real big when he heard your tiny heat beating in there, and your Mommy, well, your Momma just gave up and cried. I had seen your little heart beating before, but hearing it beat for the first time just made you all that much more real to me, baby. You're really there! You're alive! Right here inside me! You are nothing short of our little miracle, baby, and we are so blessed and ecstatic about you.

{via}

Now you're the size of a kidney bean, and your little fingers and toes that we'll play with and you'll use in the years to come are growing. I can't wait to count your toes and teach you how to use your little fingers to be creative, baby. I wonder if you'll be more scientific like your Daddy or more artsy like your Mommy. I can't wait to find out, baby.

We love you already, baby.

Love,
Mommy

Mommy's Parents

2011-04-04T20:00:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

Last week your Daddy and I took a vacation to go visit my parents who live very far away. We wanted to tell them about you in person - and boy, are we glad we did!

The night we arrived we all went out to dinner at a fancy steakhouse, and we waited until there was a lull in the conversation to tell them. I looked over at your Daddy and squeezed his hand and smiled at him, letting him know that this was it. My parents were intent on their salad plates at the time, so your Mommy had to get their attention somehow.

"Sooooo......"

They all looked up at me, and I had the stage.

"We're having a baby!"

Your Grandma got this surprised look on her face, and said "Uhhh!" really funny. It was like I had punched her in the gut and knocked all the air outta her! Then she started saying "Oh, oh my, oh" over and over again. It was pretty funny, baby!

Your Grandpa raised his eyebrows until they almost melted into his hairline and then started chuckling and shaking his head.

They were surprised and very excited about you, baby. We showed them the picture of little you, and they couldn't believe their eyes! They can't wait to meet you, baby.

And your Mommy and Daddy can't wait, either.

Love,
Mommy

7 Week Baby Bump

2011-04-04T19:30:00.000-05:00

7 Weeks

2011-03-25T19:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

We saw you for the first time, baby! We were so worried that you wouldn't be there, but we went in and as soon as we saw you on that ultrasound screen we couldn't stop smiling! You were so tiny, baby, just a little itty bitty speck, but you were there. And your heart was beating! We could see it beating, baby, and it filled us with so much joy! Your daddy even got all teary-eyed as he gazed at your living little body, baby.

See where that little arrow is pointing? That's you baby, and your little heart was just fluttering away at 112 beats per minute!

We are so excited and happy that you're doing well, baby, and we pray everyday that you'll be strong and healthy.

Today you're the size of a blueberry.

{via}

This week your hands and feet are growing from your arms and legs.

I can't wait to hold those little hands of yours and count your little toes. One day, baby, one day.

We love you already, baby.

Love,

Mommy

6 Weeks

2011-03-18T19:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby,

Today I'm 6 weeks along with you, and we're so excited. 6 weeks already! It feels like only yesterday we found out about you, baby.

Yesterday we went and had an ultrasound - and we think we saw you, baby! The very, very, very beginning of the start of you, anyways. The technician wasn't sure you were there at all - but we knew it was you, baby. You were just a tiny little line on the screen, but we were positive it was you.

We were so happy and excited to see you, baby! This whole time we've known that you were in there, but it was more like a dream for us, and didn't seem like reality. Until we saw you, baby. You were just a tiny little bean on the screen, except so tiny you looked more like a little line than a bean.

We get to see you again next week, baby, and hopefully you'll be bigger and your heart will be beating! We just can't wait to see that little flicker that means that you're there and alive, baby.

This week your nose, mouth, and ears are developing. Your daddy hopes that you'll have my ears, and I hope that you'll have his mouth. Today you're the size of a lentil bean, baby. Still so tiny!

{via}

Stay healthy and grow strong, baby - we're waiting on you.

Love,
Mommy

Blood Types

2011-03-11T19:30:00.000-06:00

Dear Baby,

Yesterday we learned what my blood type is. Who would've known that I'm O negative? Apparently only 8% of the Caucasian population (even less for other ethnic types) is type O negative.

The good news is that O negative is the only blood type that anybody in the world can accept, meaning that apparently all these years I should've been donating blood to help save peoples lives. I'll have to write that one down on my list to do after you arrive, baby, because I think it's something I'd really like to (and should), do. Saving lives is a big deal, baby, and one day I hope you'll feel the same way towards those in need and lend a helping hand also.

The bad news is that since my blood is "negative" type blood, it might hurt you, baby. And obviously nobody wants that to happen. If your blood comes into contact with mine, mine might attack your innocent little body! Of course we don't want this to happen, so your momma is being extra-safe about it and doing everything the Doctor says to prevent it.

Because your Daddy and I love you already, baby. And we're still so excited that you're our little secret... for now.

Love,
Mommy

5 Weeks

2011-03-10T19:30:00.000-06:00

Dear Baby,

It's still starting to sink in for your mommy and daddy. The reality that you are really there, growing in my belly. We've had a few scares over the past few days, but we're hoping against hope that everything turns out just fine.

You are now the size of a sesame seed, baby - still so, so small! Thinking of sesame seeds sure makes me crave my most favorite Chinese food dish - sesame chicken. Mmmm. I wonder if you'll grow up to love sesame chicken as much as your daddy and I do?

{via}

This week your brain is also starting to develop, baby, and boy - how exciting! It makes me want to go out and buy all sorts of super healthy foods to help feed your little growing brain and make sure it grows right and smart and strong.

Right now you closely resemble a tiny human tadpole. That thought makes me giggle. You're my little tadpole baby, swimming around inside my belly. I wonder if you'll find this as amusing as I do when you get older, baby? I remember being mesmerized when my own mommy and daddy told me that I started out "no bigger'n a pea" inside my mommy's belly. Imagining myself as a little tiny green pea never ceased to amuse me, baby, and I think you'll be the same way.

Love,
Mommy

Daddy's Parents

2011-03-07T19:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Baby,

We had dinner with your Grandpa and Grandma the other night. You wouldn't believe their reactions!

Your Dad made the big announcement, since they're his parents. And he was sly as an ole' fox about it. During a lull in the conversation about their most recent vacation to Jamaica, he looked over at me, squeezed my hand and smiled conspiratorially at me, and then turned to them and said,

"Sooo.... we're having a baby!".

Their reactions were priceless.

Your Grandpa just sat there and got the biggest, goofiest grin I've ever seen on his face! He was smiling so big and so long it's a wonder his mouth muscles didn't start aching!

And your Grandma, well, your Grandma did the complete opposite of what we were expecting - she was shocked into utter silence! See, she's been expecting you for awhile, baby, and so were sure that as soon as the words were out of our mouth she'd be a hollerin' and hootin' and jumping up and down like there was nobody else even in the restaurant! As it was, she was silent as the wind, and she got this completely shocked look on her face, her eyes got all big and she covered her mouth with both hands, she was so shocked! She's usually a very chatty lady and to see her completely at a loss for words was, we figure, an even bigger reaction that what we'd been expecting from her.

I guess it's safe to say that they're really excited to meet you, baby.

Love,
Mommy

The Word is Getting Out

2011-03-04T19:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Baby,

Tonight we're having dinner with your soon-to-be Grandparents, your Daddy's parents. They are going to be so excited! They've been dreaming about you even longer than we have, I think.

I bet they already have tons of baby stuff just sitting around waiting for you to arrive.

I'm excited and nervous about how they'll react to the big news!

Love,
Mommy

4 Weeks

2011-03-03T16:44:00.000-06:00

Dear Baby,

You're a big secret that nobody really knows about yet. Only 5 people in the whole wide world have even a faint idea that you exist right here inside of me. Soon that will change, but for now you're our big secret.

Today you're 2 weeks old, and you're the size of a poppy seed.

It makes me want a lemon poppyseed muffin just so I can imagine that you're one of those itty bitty black dots, all tiny and so small it's hard to even grasp the idea that this is the beginning of life. The start of you, baby.

8 days ago I knew that you were on your way. I could tell that the smallest molecule of you had been created. It didn't matter that the tests said you weren't there - I knew in my heart, I could tell.

Oh baby, I can't wait to meet you, to hold you, to see you, to love you. We just found out that you're really truly there - inside me! - only 3 days ago, and already my head is full of hopes and dreams about you.

Your daddy is rooting for you to be a boy, and I am hoping for you to be a girl. But either way we'll be happy. Honest. Your daddy and I have been waiting for you for a long time, baby, and this is almost like a dream for us. It's still hard to believe that you're really there, growing inside of my belly.

You're our little miracle.

Love,
Mommy