Big Ultrasound and Baby Pictures!

What a busy day!!  Late last night I learned that my current health insurance is ending the day following my last day at work, which is tomorrow.  Aaaaaand the health insurance at my new job doesn't start until February 1.  YUCK!  Too bad about that appointment I had scheduled  on January 10.  So I called the birth center and they were gracious enough to fit me in today for a quick visit.  We heard the heart beat and they checked my weight.  

Speaking of weight, I was very nervous about my weight gain because of a few too many Christmas cookies...and I weighed myself on our home scale.  The number at home vs the number 3 weeks ago at the birth center was about 10 pounds more - 10!  Pretty darn depressing.  But, it turns out I actually lost about a pound and a half.  Now we had the chat about eating more.  Go figure!  Same midwife as last time!  She was a lot more friendly today.  I'm low on iron and vitamin D so I need a supplement and some iron packed foods.  Jessica keeps trying to push pork liver but I'm not buying it.  I told her that we're in this together - I eat it, she eats.  We're going to try something other than liver.  

Also, already scheduled, was our first trimester screening.  This testing looks for several different kinds of trisomies - extra chromosomes.  To add to our busy afternoon, we had this bad boy today.  Everything is healthy and right on track, based on ultrasounds - blood work still pending.  Here are some gems from the ultrasound.

In this first one, you can see a side view of the baby with a little hand up by his face...or her face.  His/her skinny little legs are sticking straight out.  This one makes me laugh because, if you know Jessica, you've heard her famous "Have you seen my biceps?!" statement complete with 

an arm flex - similar to the baby's pose!  

This one is about the same but with the hand a little bit away from it's face. 

Oh!  So, even though this little itty bitty pumpkin is only 2 inches big, we can already see so much details.  The ultrasound tech did take a peek in the undercarriage.  We (ok, I...just me) is thinking that we (I) do not want to find out the gender of the baby ahead of time.  The ultrasound tech said that sometimes he can predict or guess based on the direction of some kind of flap or something.  If it points this way it's probably this gender...and if it points that way it's probably that gender.  It apparently pointed in the BOY direction!  He said about 60/40 boy...so we'll see!!  Come on July!!

12 Weeks - Adios First Trimester!!

Holy smokes!!!  Are we already this far already!?  Now it's about to get serious!  

It's pretty crazy to think that I'm about a third of the way through the pregnancy.  It has gone by both ridiculously fast and painfully slow.  I feel pretty darn good still - getting some energy back, which is always welcome!  I still have my wonderful first trimester belly bloat and I'm trying to not get too hung up about that.  I've read it's normal but I'm still feeling like a fatty.  I do have itty bitty baby bump going on!  I can feel it a little more than I can see it - but it's fun! 

I am in a super fun stage where I feel like a completely, fluffy mess.  I'm not showing enough to be obviously pregnant but I am getting fluffy...ok, I look fat.  One of my peeps at work said "Yup, you're definitely pregnant now!  Just wait until after that baby comes out and you have pizza dough belly!"  Oh, the fun continues!

Christmas was awesome.  Our families are so wonderful and so generous - it's amazing that they're all so physically close that we can seen them often.  It's stressful to schedule everyone and make sure you have even time with everyone.  We got an amazing new camera and have been practicing with all it's bells and whistles - have to be ready to take millions of pictures in July!  Poor family, they're going to get so sick of us shoving baby pictures in their faces...naaaaah!  We also got a kick ass coffee maker.  Jess has been saying how the old coffee maker is pooping out and she's not liking the coffee anymore.  And, yes and!, a giant tool box!!  Praise the heavens - the garage will be organized!  We currently have 5...yes 5...small tool boxes that have a hodge podge of tools in them.  And then, half the tools aren't even in the dang small tool boxes.  I can't wait to organize...and drink cocoa...and take pictures of the world's cutest baby.  Oh!!  We also got some super stylin' John Deer tractor bibs - courtesy of GG Betty.

AND  I had a dream last night.  We were at our big 18 week ultrasound and had decided to not find out the gender of the baby.  They were be-bopping through the scan and then I saw it...a winkey.  I had a very vivid dream the baby is a boy.  I have been convinced from the get go that it's a boy.  Jessica had a boy dream too.  So that seals it.  Grammy Walter is completely convinced it's a girl.  We shall see!!

How far along:  12 weeks - wahooooo!!

Total weight gain:  I'm scared to find out.  

Maternity clothes: I'm entertaining the idea of maternity jeans but I haven't caved yet.

Symptoms: Feelin' good 

Stretch marks: None

Sleep:  I'd like a little more of it - thanks Christmas

Best moment of this week: Um, have I mentioned that Christmas was awesome?!

What's new this week: 2 inches and the size of a lime!  The liver is about 10% of it's weight - busy making blood cells.  It's also working on practicing those cute reflexes and stretching it's muscles.  And it's starting to tinkle!  As am I!  I swear, definitely pregnant now - to the bathroom every 5 minutes!

Miss anything: Not really

Movement: None yet - but I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Food cravings: Nothing in particular - I wish I would start craving more fruits, veggies, and healthy crap

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Every once in a while I get a little pukey wave but it's not terrible

Have you started to show yet: The bump is a-comin'!

Gender: Yeah, I know that little lime is growing a pee-pee...I just know it

Labor signs: None

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Meh, 50/50

Looking forward to: A big ultrasound tomorrow with a fancy ultrasound machine!  Not the ole dinosaur I've been sneaking peeks on 

11 Weeks

Eleven weeks - crazy!  I know it's hard to imagine, but I still haven't wrapped my head around it!  I need to get busy!

Since the midwife put the due date back to 7/10, I'm a little off on my posts this week.  Technically 11 weeks and 1 day today, I think.  Having access to ultrasound machines at work, I may have the urge to peek at the baby from time to time.  So today we did!!  Jess came to work with me nice and early and we snuck a peek.  That little munchkin is bebopping around in there!  Totally has it's momma's dance moves.  We're having an official legit ultrasound next week so I'm so excited to see the baby on a nice ultrasound machine.

We've had a little bit of some health concerns with one our doggies.  Sutton, the golden retriever, has something called megaesophagus.  It's where his esophagus is enlarged, for really no good reason.  He had trouble swallowing his food and has had a lot of complications since getting diagnosed in August/September.  Yesterday he got really sick and I was so scared that we were going to lose him.  He's such a sweet boy and will be such a good big brother to the baby.  I can envision him laying at the foot of the crib protecting the baby.  There's going to be some adjustment period because he is a little spoiled.  I know it's silly because he's "just a dog" but I really want him to meet the baby.  And I want the baby to meet him.  He's family.  He had a solid night and made some good improvements at the vet today and is home resting with his moms...spoiled and on the bed, of course.  Grizzly snuggled up to him all on her own - I think she knows he feels yucky.

Now to the happy stuff - let's get to the usual weekly update!

How far along:  11 weeks and 1 day

Total weight gain:  I guessed 2 lbs at the midwife's office and haven't weighed since

Maternity clothes:  The elastic band to hold up my jeans is amazing - and sweats are awesome

Symptoms:  Getting a little more energy every day!  Randomly, I do have bouts of nausea swinging in here and there 

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep:  I don't think I'll ever get tired of sleep, nor will I ever get enough of it

Best moment of this week: Watching Jessica's face as she watched the baby dancing around on the ultrasound

What's new this week:  The baby is the size of the fig and is at the beginning of a major growth spurt!  It will double in length in the next three weeks.  The baby's organs are fully formed and it's starting to really look less like a alien and more like a human

Miss anything:  I miss being comfortable in jeans

Movement: Dancing like it's at a rave but I feel nothing

Food cravings: Still all about the milk

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Sometimes the milk!

Have you started to show yet: I do have a little bump coming along that you can feel a little more than you can see.  Jess claims she can see it but she might be entertaining me

Gender: Most people are convinced boy, myself included, but time will tell

Labor signs: No - give me another 28 weeks baby!

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Monday and Tuesday = GRUMPY, Wednesday and Thursday = happy!  It's rough being me!

Looking forward to: Showing family the video of our little peanut dancing around in there and CHRISTMAS!!!

Curious Questions

Ever since we've announced the pregnancy, there have been some interesting questions.  I chalk it up to people's curiosity - rarely do they get a glimpse into a world unknown to them.  I appreciate the questions because it allows for less "creativity" in people's version of the answers.  And they're truly just curious!  It always begins the same way - "...sooooooo, can I ask a question?"  Of course!  Ask away!  None the less, it's made for some interesting conversations in the last few months!  Here are some of my favorites:

Q: Soooooo......winky face, winky face...can I ask a question?? Who does the sperm belong to?
A:  It technically belongs to me - I bought it!

Q: So did you pick an astronaut or a doctor?
A:  We picked the guy who was most like Jess - who's going to be a doctor - so he's an oral surgeon.

Q: Did you get to see pictures of him?  Like adult ones?
A: No, just one grainy preschool age photo, of the side of his face.  But Mickey Mouse looks great!

Q: How'd you pick?  Don't you just flip through a catalogue and pick one?

A: Basically yes, but everything is online.  I'm married to Jess - it wasn't that easy!

Q: No seriously, how'd you chose the spermer?  Did you have to put in an application?
A: Seriously, we picked the guy who was most like Jess...and who she thought she might tolerate the most.

Q: What'd you want the donor to be like?  Just perfect?
A: Well everyone has flaws but they don't advertise that he has a massive cowlick or a stutter.  We picked a guy with blue eyes and brown hair.  His BMI is even same as Jess'...yup, she went there.

Q: How long did it take for you to get pregnant?
A: Well how long did it take you to get pregnant?

Q: How exactly are you guys having a baby?
A: I'm pregnant and then one day, it'll come out.

Q: How is your bundle of joy coming to you beautiful ladies?  Through one of you?
A: Well, when two people love each other, they buy some magic seeds and do a lot of hard work and ta-da!  Eventually they get a baby!

Q: To Jess - Wait...you??  Noooo...?
A: Jess answer - Definitely no!


I think that's the highlights for now.  I'm sure there will be many more questions in the future - bring them on!  It's entertaining and educational!

First Prenatal Appointment

Guess what we had today!?

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?  No!

A trip to Kmart?  Nooo!  (Seriously, who goes to Kmart anymore...?

Our first prenatal appointment?  Yes!!  How'd you ever guess!?

We've chosen to be patients of the Women's Birth and Wellness Center in Chapel Hill.  It's a free standing birth center about 25 minutes away from our house.  It's staffed entirely by an amazing group of midwives (and a few nurses and NP's).  They have a pretty cozy, home-like environment.  I am excited to hopefully be able to bring our baby into the world into their loving hands.  In the event of an emergency, we'll get transferred to the hospital - about 4 minutes away.  The midwives have privileges at the hospital so they can continue to care for me and the baby if we do need to head to the big house.  And yes, birth center = no epidural.

It was an interesting first visit.  I didn't get the warm and fuzzies I was hoping for.  I have a friend who works there as a midwife who I met many moons ago my sophmore year of college - the ripe ole age of 19.  She since has gotten married, had 3 beautiful children, and has recently reestablished residence in NC.  I am so excited she's working at the birth center.  Anywhoo, I sent her a message asking if the midwife who did our visit attended births.  To my relief, she does not.  Whew, there will be lots of warm and fuzzies from the other midwives.

She commented on how I was borderline obese (yeah, I know I could lose a little weight but I'm not super fluffy), how "one more tick on the BMI scale and you'll earn yourself an early diabetes screen", asked Jessica three separate times if she had a flu shot (and each time the answer was yes), and how she lectured me about self breast exams and how I was not doing them.  Little did she know that I learned just last year, whilst taking midwifery classes of my own, that self breast exams aren't exactly recommended anymore (create more fear, create more unnecessary invasive testing).

And she changed my due date back to the LMP date.  Boo.  So now the due date is back to the 10th of July, not the 7th.  Oh well - just a little matter of three days.  And, truth be told, the baby will come when it darn well wants to, not on a certain date.  I wanted to be almost 11 weeks - not barely 10.

BUT!  The best part of the visit - we got to hear the heart beat!!  She piled the gel on and smooshed around the doppler...and all we got was a whole lot of my heart beat.  Sounded pretty healthy...for a fatty ;-) It was taking a little while to actually find it.  I was playing it cool, trying to remind myself that the baby is itty bitty and is hard to catch on the doppler.  But inside, I was starting to get a little nervous.  What if my fears were true?  What if the baby was gone?  And then, there it was.  The best noise in the world.  Cranky midwife kept it there for as long as she could but, just like that, the munchkin swam away.  A brief moment of bliss :D  'Til the next appointment!

And then I completely forgot that I had a haircut appointment and stood my gal up...oops!

Baby Names

So.  How do you pick a name for a baby?  How do you find something appropriate for this little creature who you'll spend the next 9 months getting to know, having dreams about their future, and making sure it's unique enough, has enough personality, and is "adult" enough that they can get a respectable career?

Let's face it - the kid's probably going to hate it anyway.

I stumbled upon this today in my usual round of baby crap googling...Top 100 Boy and 100 Girl Names of 2012.

I think we've done a pretty good job to avoid the uber popular names so far in our quest.  Our lead girl name is actually not on the list - so score!  Our boy name, my grandpa's name, is on the list but that's ok - this one's for you Gramps!

Boys names we like: Benjamin (Grandpa's name), Emmett, Lucas, Carter, Wyatt, and Oliver.  I also like Owen as a middle name but Jess has vetoed that.

Girls names we like: Abigail, Amelia, Clara or Claire, Alice (but we had a foster dog we named Alice so that's out), Lydia, Gwen, Mabel, and some other ones but I can't remember right now.  I like more funky names like Piper or Evelyn - I guess Evelyn is not technically funky.  Jess is pushing for Eileen.  She thinks it'll make the baby sound like a congress woman - Eileen Briley.  Yes, it does...but really?  Eileen??  "Come on Eileen...at this moment, you mean everything".  Yeah, no.

I don't want to find out the sex of the baby (Jess DESPERATELY does) so I supposed we'll just have to have a front runner of each!  Easier said than done.

How'd you pick your kiddo's names?

Mamacita guest blog!

:::sigh::: Finally! A moment to breathe and guest blog about our little poppy and our new life as expectant parents. Unfortunately, being a veterinary student doesn’t exactly offer ample free time. Nonetheless, here I am!

So, Kim is in her 10^th week now, which you would think is enough time for us to wrap our heads around this whole thing – and if that’s not enough, we’ve had an ultrasound and even heard the heart beat! Somehow, I think we still find ourselves looking at each other and saying, “holy moly, we’re having a baby!” We might be in public somewhere and see preggos galore and I feel Kim thinking, “aww, I want a … wait! I AM pregnant!”

Now, I have a little break from school until January, 

and my new task will be working on the nursery. 

I think once that is a little more put together, it will start to 

feel more “real”. Bring on the painting and crafting! 

Needless to say, we’ve been pinning like crazy for ideas 

(we love the new private board feature). Here’s one piece 

of the décor that I’m excited about: 

Notice that “G is for Golden Retriever” and “W is for West Highland Terrier” J

We’ve already had a trip to Ikea and Lowes to start rounding out paint supplies and a rug – I’ll be sure to document the before and after to share!

We’ve also sent out Christmas cards that doubled as baby announcements, thanks to Tiny Prints. (That means everyone knows and the news can FINALLY be spread all across the world wide web via Facebook – we thought we would burst before that actually happened)

In other baby news this week: we’ll have our first appointment at the Birth Center, we’ll visit our first daycare (I know, talk about having to plan ahead) and we’ll meet with a lawyer this week to talk about parenting agreements and such (thanks to one vengeful lesbian there’s no longer second parent adoption in NC). So – busy week, but very exciting!

-Jessica