26 week update!

First, I'd like to send Explorer Bud a BIG congratulations!!!  I'm so happy for you, sweets!  XOXO

I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update.  I'm exhausted when I get home every evening, and house/nursery projects have consumed our lives on the weekends.  I took my glucose test this past week and everything came back fine.  I'll return in 2 weeks for a growth scan, and my mom will be joining me.  I'm so excited that she'll be able to see her next grandchild on the big screen. :) 

How far along: 26 weeks and 5 days!

Total weight change: Between 10-13 pounds.  I'm still unsure due to my IVF medication causing me to gain some weight.

Maternity clothes: I mostly wear maternity clothes, but I can still fit into some pre-pregnancy pants with my bella band.  My stomach is starting to look like a nice round ball, and Mr. Bossy Bud told me that other night that my belly button is looking a little shallow.

Stretch Marks: I haven't noticed any.  Now, that's not to say I didn't already have some from before!

Movement: Baby Bossy Bud moves around a lot; especially while I'm trying to go to sleep!  He's more active in the evenings.

Sleep: Sleeping well!  I'm usually in bed by 9:00 pm every night.  I thought I was suppose to have more energy in the 2nd trimester!!??

Best Moment This Past Week: Working on his nursery!  Mr. Bossy Bud, my mom, and several friends have all had their part in helping with his room.  Stripes have been painted on the wall and the furniture is being refinished as we speak.  I'm so ready to see the finished product!

Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: My stomach was hurting quite a bit yesterday at work.  We had a teacher planning day, so the entire day was spent with my team.  Gas has been a constant for me lately, and I was holding it in while we planned.  I felt fine while I sat, but there was a painful pressure when I stood.  It hurt to even walk.  I told myself it was just stretching and tried not to worry.  Well-  after we finished, I returned to my room and started to "relieve" some of the pressure.  I felt so much better!  I never knew I could hurt so much from being so gassy!  :)

Belly Button In or Out: In!  I can't see it anymore, but it's still an innie.

Cravings/Aversions: No cravings.  I'm started to not want chicken.  I'm weird.  I know.

Symptoms: Indigestion.  It comes and goes, and I never know what is going to cause it.  It's NOT fun.

Until next time!

Bossy Bud

Where did my summer go?

Aaah!  I only have one more week until I must return to work.  I plan to work in my classroom on Monday since we're allowed to pick up our key a week early.  We always have meetings & trainings the first week back, so I'll be able to get a head start.  Plus-  my girlfriend has agreed to help me take all of my boxes down from the top of my cabinets.  I would normally do this, but I'm just not comfortable with it given my current situation. :)

Sprout is doing great.  I had another appointment this past Tuesday.  They weighed me (only gained 1 pound!), measured my stomach (18 cm), and we listened for the heart beat (140 bpm).  Everything looked great.  I was sent down to the lab for some bloodwork.  We're doing the testing for downs, spina bifida, etc.  My OB told me that it usually takes 3 days for them to receive the results, and she won't call me if everything looks good.  Mr. Bossy has been holding his breath, and I get a little nervous each time I come home to find a message on the answering machine. 

Only one more week and we'll know which color to paint the nursery!  I've been, step-by-step, cleaning out our spare bedroom this summer to help up prepare for the decorating that will soon begin. :)

Next time you hear from me, I'll be revealing our sweet baby's gender and name!!!!

XOXO

Bossy Bud

Second Trimester Recap

Well, I have one more day in my second trimester, so what better time than the present to give everyone a recap?

My second trimester started out uneventful (besides the pukes that seemed to linger longer than they should have), but has proven to be quite the spectacle.

But I'm going to start things off on a positive note. Here are the things I loved about my second trimester:

1. Being able to eat like a normal human again
2. Actually looking pregnant and not just like I gained some more fluff
3. Not wanting to choke someone because they burnt something in the toaster in our break room
4. I'll be honest here - the attention I got from everyone when I "came out"
5. Finding out I'm having a boy!
6. Feeling the little Dude's kicks for the first time
7. My doctor
8. Hearing the baby's heartbeat on the doppler for the first time


But second tri did not come without problems. Listed below are my issues:

1. High blood pressure. I'm pretty sure this started even before I went to a regular OB. Ever since 12 weeks, I have been about 140/70. Won't go up, won't go down. Minor swelling and no protein in the pee, but now I have to start taking my blood pressure from home two times a day and reporting back to my doctors office. I'm also scheduled for sonograms every six weeks to make sure he is growing correctly. Funny thing? I was always a 120/80 kind of gal. Everything about this pregnancy is stressing me out. Oh, the best part? The 24 urine test I had to do at 16 weeks. It was like pissing in a gasoline container all day.
2. Stretch marks. Seriously? I'm a frickin road map.
3. Fat legs and arms. Hi - why didn't anyone ever tell me that you gain weight EVERYWHERE not just your belly??? On the positive side - I do like my bigger ass.
4. Failing my one hour glucose test. Going back on Wednesday for the 3 hour. Hopefully I pass.


I'll keep everyone update on the blood pressure and glucose issues - cross your fingers and toes for me. See you in the third trimester!

25 Weeks

Only 101 days left until Baby Girls due date! Our baby is now 1 1/2 lbs, 13.5 inches, and growing fast! She is moving around plenty and I can often feel her kicks from the outside with my hand.

Overall I am feeling great except I have very mild heartburn in the day at times, and the past few nights I am having a hard time sleeping. I am not huge and uncomfortable yet, but it is just a combination of a lot of small things, like I keep getting hungry, have to pee so often, have a stuffy nose, cramping in my feet and non stop kicking from the Baby Girl. None of it is that bad, but all together I just can't sleep the past few nights. I was sooo tiered today and went to bed at 8pm, and here it is 1am and I still can't sleep. At least it is the weekend so Mr. Lucky Bud can watch the kids while I take a nap tomorrow.

I am having fun getting a lot of projects done and the house better organized before the baby is born. Knowing that the midwifes are going to be in my house is an extra motivator to get things a bit tidier and in order. I finished a little quilt last week that I made for the baby. I will have to post that picture and a belly picture this weekend since I didn't get around to that this week.

21 Weeks

Not too much is new this week. I didn't have any bad pregnancy symptoms and feel great. I can feel the baby moving a lot at night usually. I gained another pound this week which puts me at 11 lbs over my pre pregnancy weight. I worked really hard to eat more this week since not eating enough for a couple of days the last week left me sick for the rest of that week.


Mr. Lucky Bud bought me a Doppler Fetal Monitor online today, so I should have it in a few days. It will be comforting to be able to hear our baby when ever we want to instead of waiting for my appointments with my midwife.


 Our donors canceled our meeting last weekend due to snow, and we have rescheduled for Feb. 11th.

21 Weeks

20 Weeks

Yesterday we had our 20 week ultrasound. Mr Lucky Bud came with me and we dropped off the kids at his sisters house. I was pretty anxious, nervous and excited to be able to have the ultrasound. It was a bummer that the technician would not turn the screen until all of her measurements were done. I had to wait for about a half hour of Mr Lucky Bud saying, "oh, that is so awesome!" before I got to see what was going on too. She was moving around like crazy. I could even see her mouth opening and closing, and it looked like she was swallowing. The technical said that it looks like our baby is 11 ounces. We should get the results of the ultrasound tomorrow, so hopefully there will be nothing to report.

I can't believe I am halfway through my pregnancy all ready! Before 20 weeks, the baby is measured from head to rump, but after 20 weeks it is head to heel..so at 20 weeks it is 10 inches long, head to heel. I was holding up a ruler to show Mr. Lucky Bud today, and I can't believe how big she is!

 I had been doing great week 19 symptom wise, but was also very careful that week about eating enough and getting lots of protein. I got kind of caught up with some projects early on in the week and did not take as much care and did not get enough protein, and I went back to feeling awful. I have been working hard to focus again on my diet, but it is still taking some time to feel good again. I am showing a little more than I was a couple weeks ago, and have gained more weight, so I am a total of 10 lbs over what I normally am and that is great!

 I can feel the baby moving all the time now. Especially because during the ultrasound I was able to see when she was moving and to associate it to how it felt, so now I can tell the difference a lot better between kicks and my stomach growling, or air bubbles. She moves so much now, but it is not uncomfortable because there is plenty of space in their. If she keeps up all the action though, it is going to be hard to sleep at night as she gets bigger and there is less space!

Over all, this is a very fun and exciting time. I am feeling pretty good, I am not big and uncomfortable yet, I have had the great reassurance of getting to see my baby on the ultrasound, we know that it is a girl, we are meeting the donors this weekend, so things are great right now!

...still hoping to have an ultrasound pic up soon. I need to have it scanned at Mr Lucky Buds work.

20 Weeks

BTW, Just an interesting fact: My mom did not realize that she was pregnant with her 6th and final child until she was 20 weeks and could feel that baby moving. That is crazy! She is lucky though. It must have been a fast pregnancy!

It's a......

GIRL!!! I will try to post an ultrasound picture soon!

19 Weeks

It is incredible how fast time is starting to fly by. In the beginning time seemed to move so slow as there were so many small landmarks I was waiting for such as my first beta, second beta, 6 week ultrasound, 9 week ultrasound, and getting off my terrible progesterone shots. I was also nauseated and puking most days and in pain from my shots.

Now I am feeling much better and am not so stressed and concerned as I was in the beginning so the time is starting to fly by. I felt so great this last week, and did not have any pregnancy symptoms at all.

This week our baby should be around 8.5 ounces and 6 inches from head to rump and it's brain is developing specialized areas for smell taste, hearing, vision and touch.

I have my 20 week ultrasound one week from today!

18 Weeks

This last week flew by! Mr Lucky Bud took off Thursday to Monday New Years weekend, so it was great to be all together for a long weekend. I normally post on Thursdays, but was waiting to post until I had a photo, and I finally took one today.

I finally have not only gained back the lbs that I lost with always being sick in my first trimester, but also gained 3 lbs. Yeah! I worry about getting enough nutritian  and also gaining weight for the baby so I am happy to see a change in my weight. I am starting to show little by little, but not that much.

Our embryo donors contacted our social worker to see if we could meet in two weeks! This is great news for us as we know very little about them and was hoping that they would be open to a semi open situation. I am a little nervous but excited at the same time. I set up my ultrasound for Wednesday, January 18th and am looking forward to that.

Mr Lucky Bud finished doing all of the work to install a washer and dryer on the upstairs floor of our townhouse, and they arrived yesterday! I did my first load upstairs today. This is going to make life so much easier! Yeah!

Our baby is now about 5.5 inches crown to rump, and 7 ounces. I am still VERY hungry lately. That is basically all there is to report this week. 

18 weeks, 4 days

Little Lucky Bud colored Lucky Tummy Baby

17 weeks

I am laying here in bed and can feel the baby moving around a lot right now. I have started noticing it moving around at night when everything has calmed down and I am lying still. I am still not really showing. I will have to take a pic next week. My good friend is also pregnant and exactly a month behind me and is showing much more than I am. I am very exited to see a baby bump as well.

This week I have just been thinking about things to prepare for another baby around the house:
     Mr. Lucky Bud has been working on installing a washer and dryer in the upstairs of our townhouse. Hurray! He is almost done converting our linen closet into an awesome laundry for me and the washer and dryer will arrive next Saturday!

     Baby Lucky Bud, now 1 is an official walker now! He started a little at 10 months, but really started walking over crawling just a week ago, and finally is starting to get it down and is doing a great job! This is exciting because he is a heavy boy, weighing the same as Little Lucky Bud, and I was hoping he would be steady on his feet before I am big.
     This week I started thinking about how unorganized the storage room and the closets in the bedrooms were, so I went through EVERYTHING and made a HUGE mess. Now I just need to get it all back into order in the basement and I will be all ready to decorate a room for baby #3.

The biggest change for me this week is that I have been starving! I can't seem to eat often enough, and am too hungry to fall back asleep without a snack anytime I wake up in the night. I have noticed that I need more protein and am making that my big goal for next week.

Until then... Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

17 weeks pregnant.... credit

14 weeks

We are officially in the second trimester! Our baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee and maybe even suck it's thumb! That is amazing! I am feeling great this week. My nausea isn't all the way gone, but it is not bad. I don't really have anything else to report for the week. I am just happy to have passed another week with everything fine. Going off my progesterone after 11 weeks was scary, but it was all fine too. I am so grateful to be pregnant!

Lucky Bud

23 week Update!

Today Baby Cherry Bud is officially 23w1d. I am amazed at having gotten to this point. Before I dive into updates on the pregnancy, I am going to share some thoughts I've been having over the past few weeks.

I've been a part of the online TTC community for awhile. Not as long as many woman have, but long enough to see the heartbreak that comes with longterm IF. For whatever reason, surrogacy has been on my mind. Not using a surrogate, but being one. My issues getting pregnant seem to have stemmed from weight and timing for the most part, rather than from an actual problem with my reproductive system, and I seem to be able to stay pregnant and handle pregnancy beautifully. The past few weeks I've been wondering if that would be an option for me, to be able to be a carrier for a couple who cannot conceive or carry a child. I've been asking myself if I think I would be able to separate myself emotionally from the child, and, in all honestly, I think I could. The little one would never be mine, I would only be a carrier, and I think that would make the difference. I am certainly undecided at this point, and Mr. CB is a bit unsure of the whole thing, but it is certainly something to think about.

Now, Baby CB updates, in survey form because I'm feeling a bit lazy today:

How far along: 23 weeks, 1 day

Total weight change: +15 (eeekkkk). Let me say this about my weight gain: I have never in my life worried about my weight. I've always been small, and while I had self-consciousness about how skinny I was when I was young, I was able to be very comfortable in my own skin when I hit my twenties. It really became something that never crossed my mind. We don't even own a scale. So it took me by complete surprise when my pregnancy weight started to bother me. Those 15 lbs, and the sight of my S and XS clothes that may never again fit me have really been taking a toll on my emotions. Which brings us to...

Maternity clothes: pretty much full time. I was only a size 2 when I got pregnant, and my newly expanded belly, thighs and butt simply will not accommodate normal clothes anymore. I threw a bunch of my pre-pregnancy clothes into bins this weekend, and very nearly had a meltdown when I saw how small some of it was. I just can't imagine ever getting into some of it again.

Stretch Marks: Not yet, thank goodness

Movement: Not during the day, but at night and right when I wake up in the morning, she's all over the place.

Sleep: If I roll onto my back, Mr. CB has a tendency to push me back up onto my side, and that always wakes me. Other than that, I wake a few times a night to change positions, but I seem to be getting enough sleep.

Best Moment This Past Week: Painting Baby CB's room. It seems a lot more real to me that there is going to be a little person sleeping in there in only a few months.

Mr. CB has an inability to be serious in a picture, but this is right before we started to paint. Also, I know he is sideways. I can't get it to rotate because I'm a super awesome blogger technologically challenged

My only "after" shot. The green is actually a very pretty springtime-y green, a little less lime than it seems. I will have it known that what I am doing in the picture is the ONLY job I was allowed while painting Baby CB's room. Apparently I am just an accident waiting to happen and, if allowed a paintbrush, might go crazy and drink it or something.

Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: It's actually been a very good week, although my emotions have been out of control. I have cried more this week than I did during the entire duration of The Notebook (read: like woah). Baby CB has also been sitting just as low as she possibly can, which means that my hips and what I think might be my cervix have been aching pretty badly.

Belly Button In or Out: Keeps threatening to pop. Mr. CB thinks it's amusing to see if he can grab it and get it to come the rest of the way out. Not amusing, Mr. CB.

Cravings/Aversions: Chocolate, big time, and now that my first tri meat aversion is long gone, I am craving steak like nobody's business. No real aversions, except that my prepregnancy hatreds (barbecue sauce, for example, which MR. CB puts on everything) are magnified.

Symptoms: Just feeling large and rotund. I tire pretty easily, and when I am hungry, I am HUNGRY.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Childbirth class. We're two weeks into Bradley classes, and they are really good. Also our second anniversary next month. Mr. CB wants to go to the Wonderful World of Harry Potter. I won't be able to ride anything, but we're both huge Harry Potter fans, and I would really like to go. Plus, our anniversary is on a Monday this year, so the park might be slower than normal.

Much love,

Cherry Bud

16 - 19 week update OR Reintroducing Cherry Bud!

Getting ready for our little one has really put me off my blogging. There just seems to be so much else to do. I've said, every day, for the past three weeks, "I have to blog! Don't forget!". And then what do I do? I forget. Pregnancy Brain, I tell you.

Second Trimester is so much easier than first. Nausea is gone, energy is back. Life is good. I am missing my feet when I stand up, and I am beginning to show signs of the infamous "Pregnant Waddle", but I'm embracing it.

Updates:

- Our Anatomy Scan revealed that Baby Cherry Bud is a little GIRL! I was completely expecting her to be a boy, so when the tech said girl, I was shocked. She turned so we could see her full face, and I'm sorry to say that the first words out of my mouth were "She looks like a little alien!". The ultrasound tech was scandalized, but seriously, that's what she looked like. She's measuring right on schedule and even consented to giving us a little stretch, even though she slept through most of the ultrasound.

- We're refusing to tell anyone her name, which is offending quite a few people. My parents, in particular, are not pleased, but are being accepting of our decision.

- We picked a crib and bedding
My mom and I are actually going to make a quilt inspired by this one, which is from Target. I'm cheap and the thought of spending almost $200 on a set that I will only use the sheet and maybe the crib dust ruffle from just doesn't go well with my penny-pinching sensibilities. I'm still torn on paint color. I wanted to do it a nice spring green, but I'm second guessing.

- We got a few cloth diapers in the mail and I'm fighting to hold off prepping them until we get more. They are just so stinkin' cute! On a side note, telling people I'm using cloth diapers always, always, always get me the side-eye. It's hilarious.

- Our Bradley class starts in two weeks! I can't believe we're to that point!

- I've been feeling our little girl kicking and moving around like crazy. She is always active the minute I sit or lay down, especially when I first wake up in the morning. Mr. CB can't feel her yet, which I think bothers him, but he is being patient.

- This is my 19-week-old belly. Yes, I'm wearing the same shirt I was in my last belly shot. I'm ok with you judging me. I totally do.
Lots of Love,

25-26 weeks & double digits!!!

O.M.G. I can't believe how quickly time is flying! I'm sure I have said this before, but for realz - it's flying. I remember how excruciatingly slow the 1st tri seemed to go by & now I feel like the second has FLOWN by - a few more days & I'll be officially in the 3rd tri (I am going by the 26.6 weeks = 3rd tri, but accoring to some sources, I already am in the 3rd tri!!). I looked at my little ticker today & I only have 97 days left until Baby Worry Bud's EDD - double digits baby!!! Ahhhhh. She's still busy as ever moving away in there...still the size of an eggplant according to The Bump. Another little token of knowledge The Bump gave me today when I opened my email - I may start feeling Braxton Hicks contractions, which I'm sure will freak me out. It may sound crazy, but I still worry about this little girl - I'm sure that'll never change - but anytime I feel a weird twinge or something I haven't felt before, then I get worried about her. Not as worried as I was in the 1st tri or before I could feel her kicking & wiggling around in there, but still. I guess that's part of being a mom...which is AWESOME since I'm already a worry wart (again, hence my name)! Sigh.

The Bump also says that I need to:

1. Schedule a tour of the maternity ward {where I'll deliver} - DONE!
2. Pre-register with my hospital - ummmm, no one mentioned this to me?! I guess I'll ask my Dr. about this one @ the next appointment.

Oh & I'm overdue (again, according to The Bump) on these tasks:

1. Start interviewing pediatricians - guess I should get on that, huh?! I got a referral, I just need to make sure they take our insurance & set up an appt.
2. Research private & public cord banking.
3. Schedule a Glucose Tolerance Test - plan to complete this Wednesday...wish me luck!

And on my own list:

1. Discuss maternity pics, select a date & find inspiration photos for my little sis (she agreed to do my maternity pictures - she's a pretty awesome amateur photog).
2. Finish up DIY nursery projects (as of now, that's about 3 more left, but knowing me, I'm sure I'll add more).
3. Type up proposed maternity leave schedule & discuss with both my boss{es} (we have briefly discussed it, but I wanna give them something in writing).
4. Work on comprehensive Baby WB to do list.

So I guess I need to get on the ball on a few things. I have also tasked Mr. WB with researching College Savings Plans & bringing what he finds to me, so we can make a decision on what'll work best for our family & budget. Whew. Thankfully that list does not include figuring out daycare - my older sister has generously offered to be our nanny. She's a SAHM, so she says she doesn't mind & she'll be able to bond with her first & only niece! LOVE her. :) It's gonna be soooooo much easier for me to go back to work knowing our baby girl is being cared for by someone we know, love & trust and someone that we know will not harm her in any way. My sister is a very natural nurturer, must come from being oldest? IDK...but she's awesome with kids & I know she'll take great care of Baby WB.

Baby Center says the baby's network of nerves in her ears are better developed and more sensitive than before & that she can almost definitely hear outside voices in addition to mine. I definitely think she knows her daddy's voice, because anytime he puts his head down near my belly & talks to hear, she kicks for him. A daddy's girl already! They are totally forming an alliance against me, but it's cool because I know my sweet doggie will remain on his mama's side...he better if he knows what's good for him! Or maybe, he'll join the Baby/Mr. WB alliance (b/c I'm sure he & the baby will be BFFs), then I'll have no one on my side. Sigh. Outnumbered. Already. By way of symptoms, I am definitely feeling more achy towards the end of the day & I have been getting a lot more frequent heartburn. Last night it kept me up for a bit. It's not horribly unbearable, but it still hurts! I have also been having a lot more (tmi) gas - my poor hubby. And my ankles are swelling again - I assume from humidity & salt intake like last time, so I'm laying down with my feet up resting now.

Also, my baby buying obsession is still in full effect. My newest purchase - that Mr. WB denied, but I just HAD to have so I bought it with my credit card. : ) We have a joint, but also separate checking accounts & one separate c/c each that we pay from our separate accounts...works very well for us. But I digress, I bought my little girl the most frivilous, but also the absolute cutest thing ever:

Photo Credit

::giggle snort:: A-freakin'-dorable, right?! I love that it's 0-12 months, so she can wear it for her newborn pics, her monthly ones too possibly & for her first birthday!!! And the best part - I got it on babysteals for $35 & it's regularly $70, although on sale for $55 right now!! So now I want to try & make her a cute hair bow to go with it!

I also made the last of the really major purchases for her nursery! I got her bedding, toy storage tote & throw pillow/cover for her glider all from PBK (I had a 10% off your entire purchase coupon too, woot):

PBK Coco Dot Bedding

 PBK Brooke Decorative Sham (I also bought the pillow insert for $10 from PBK)

PBK Girls' Canvas Buckets (I got the large one in pink dot)

And finally, my 26 week bump pic + a comparison for every 5 weeks starting @ 5 weeks & ending with 25 weeks (click to enlarge) - I definitely think I look pregnant, but still don't think I've "popped" so to speak. Or maybe I have & it's all in my mind that I haven't?! Regardless, I'm fully in maternity or my Mr. WB's clothes, lol. Keep growing big & strong in there Baby WB!!

26 weeks:

5-25 week comparison (every 5 weeks):

PS - don't forget to enter the buti-bag company giveaway that ends tonight. And you can get 40% off your entire order for any purchase you make during the giveaway too. Their stuff is really great!

23-24 weeks - we've reached viability baby!

Today I'm 24 weeks & 2 days pregnant, which means our precious little Baby Worry Bud has reached the point of viability!!! That means that she would have a chance of surviving outside of the womb if she were born today. Of course, we absolutely DO NOT want her to come any time soon - November or late October sounds best to her mama & daddy, so she just needs to stay in there & keep growing big & strong! Baby WB is pretty much fully developed at this point, but she still has some stuff going on - her taste buds are developing & her lungs are continuing to mature. She's now putting on weight more rapidly & should be about 1.5 lbs. this week & 12.5 inches long! She also kicks away more & more every day. This past week, I registered for breastfeeding & childbirth classes, as well as our hospital tour! The BF class is in mid-August & I'm actually really excited to go to the class! Every milestone that gets me closer to my baby girl is a good thing. :)

Much to Mr. WB's dismay, my baby-buying obsession has persisted, but I have been limiting myself to only 1-2 things per pay period. I tell ya, it's so addicting buying cute stuff for your 1st little one! Mr. WB says I'm spoiling her already, but I say, she has no clue what spoiling even is yet, so it'll be fine! I am not buying any of the items on my registry - I have decided to restrict myself from that until after we have our showers (Mr. WB's family lives several hours away & is generously hosting a smaller one in their area for us as well) & see what goodies we get for her. I did, however, take advantage of that awesome deal buti-bag company was offering to Bloomin' Babies readers last week & purchased this adorable giraffe print blanket:

::dies from cuteness overload::

I can't wait to get it, I bet it's gonna be super soft & cuddly! And I defintiel'y can't wait until I get to put it to use with our precious little Baby WB!

I have been feeling pretty good overall - just sore here & there by the end of the day. And I've also noticed that I am starting to get a little stuffy, which I hear is common during pregnancy. I had a OB appointment this past Friday & I gained like 6 lbs since my 20 week appointment! The Nurse Practitioner, who I saw this time, said that I should try to just keep an eye on my weight & stay active, but that she's not extremely worried about such a fast jump over the 4-week period...she said it happens sometimes, but that I should only be gaining about 1 lb. per week during this part of my pregnancy. Eh well. I'm still well within the normal weight range, so I'm trying not to worry too much about it. But I am gonna get more strict on myself about walking on the treadmill @ the gym a couple times a week & about finding a pre-natal yoga class. We got to hear Baby WB's heartbeat at the appt., which was right around the 150 beats per minute range - very normal & I got a lab slip to do my 1 hour glucose tolerance test. It's supposed to be done during week 26, so I'll handle that in a couple weeks - wish me luck! Oh & the NP also checked out the swollen area under my right arm & she says it's just a swollen lymph node & warned that it may even get more swollen as my milk comes in. I asked when I would need to start counting the baby's kicks & she said not until around 30-32 weeks, but as long as she's moving daily then it's normal for now. And she definitely does that, hahaha! I also contacted my "life photographer" (as I've dubbed her), who shot our engagement & wedding photos & am working now with her to schedule a maternity photo shoot & also a newborn photo shoot when the babe arrives. The tentative plan is to do the maternity shots in mid-September, so I'll be a little over 30 weeks. And that's about it for the past two weeks of my pregnancy - just truckin' right along & waiting to meet our little girl in a little under 16 weeks! I can't believe how quickly time has been flying by!

And I definitely feel like I look pregnant nowadays - here are my week 23 & 24 bump shots. Still no stretch marks that i didn't have pre-pregnancy - hopefully it stays that way. :) I'm always either in maternity clothes or stretchy pants & fewer & fewer of my pre-pregnancy shirts fit now:

 23 Weeks:

24 Weeks:

So that's about all going on with me for now...wish me luck on the 1 hour glucose test I'll be taking in about two weeks! I wanna send a special prayer up for Chef Bud who is in the 2ww for IVF #1 - I hope you get your long awaited BFP & that you have a safe trip back home. 

My baby buying obsession pays off for all of you!!

So I know I have written a lot lately about my ridiculous baby buying obsession...and it really is ridiculous. I have literally had to keep myself away from all my favorite baby discount sites. I even put myself on a mandatory no baby buying restriction until the next pay period, which started TODAY!! Holler. Baby buying restriction lifted & just in time.... :)

Because consequently, today I got an email from Nicole, owner/designer of the buti-bag company. I featured her cute bundle bag/carry all that I was lusting over on Zulily in my last post, remember?!

Photo Credit

Well it's long gone from Zulily - their sales only last a couple days so you gotta jump on stuff that you see & love! So back to my story - Nicole wrote me a very very nice email thanking me & the Bloomin' Babies readers for visiting her site as a result of my post & she offered an invitation-only promotion to ALL Bloomin' Babies readers as well - 40% off all orders now thru Friday, July 16, 2010 at midnight!!! Just use the online code of “ilovebuti” at checkout and the 40% will come off the total (before tax and shipping). I heart sales - especially awesome ones like this!

And the buti-bag company has lots more ad.ore.able stuff, like...

These cute binkmeister pacifier clips:

And these equally cute & very useful Bi-o-Pads, which can be used as shopping cart/restaurant high chair covers, or public changing station covers:

And there's SO much more drool-worthy stuff on their website!! I just thought I'd share since she's offering this promotion to invited customers only (including Bloomin' Babies readers)...so hurry over!! Baby Worry Bud will definitely be sporting some of Nicole's cute stuff!! And you may just see the buti-bag company's stuff again here on Bloomin' Babies if I can talk Nicole into a giveaway ::wink::. Happy Shopping! :o)

Almost to 15 weeks and time is flying!

I've finally emerged from the hellish first trimester, and I feel like I have my brain and sensibility back. Even though I got off pretty easy with little to no morning sickness, my worry-wart self was agonizing over every what-if every minute of the day. But with a couple good ultrasounds under my belt, and a nice strong heartbeat hearing this past Monday, I'm finally breathing a giant sigh of relief.

And my belly is breathing deeper, too! Just this week I've started to notice a little bump forming. It's tiny still, but it's there even when I wake up in the morning, and reminds me that my little Baby Bean is growing every day. Check it out:

My appetite is growing, too, which is probably the most enjoyable thing about being pregnant so far. Last night I had 2 ice cream desserts, 2 hours apart! At my 14w checkup I had already gained 11 lbs., which alarmed me, so I'm trying to put the brakes on a little bit. Right now, that includes swapping full-fat Ben & Jerry's for coconut whole fruit Popsicles. Hey, every little bit counts, right?

3 weeks from tomorrow we find out the sex! Eeek I can't wait!

12 weeks and ALREADY? This is ridiculous!

Show of hands... at 12 weeks pregnant, the very 1st day of your second trimester, how many of you know women who were already out on disability?

Oh, just me? Shocker.

So, let's take a show of hands then on who is surprised that if anyone was going to be out on disability at 12 weeks pregnant, it would be me?

Ah, yes, that's what I thought.

So, once diagnosed with the subchorionic hematoma, my OB said I could go back to work with a lifting restriction. Work said, "oh, if you can't lift, you can't work". It's ridiculous. 99% of my job involves things OTHER than lifting patients. They'd rather cover all of my shifts than let me do the overwhelming majority of my job.

Insanity.

Well, i'm not going to complain. It's going to make things REALLY financially tight. As soon as I know how much my disability will be, we'll have to revamp the budget a little. I was hoping to have some of our savings account intact for when the baby gets here... that might wind up being an issue now. But we'll deal with it as it happens. My job was HIGHLY stressful, and scared me every day. At least now I know Smudge is safe. That's really the bottom line, and all that matters.

In other news, we had our NT scan yesterday. The MFM (Maternal-Fetal Medicine) doctor said things couldn't look more perfect. The saw the nasal bone (which apparently is really important), the nuchal fold was 1.3mm (needs to be less than 3.3mm), they visualized the stomach, the bladder, 2 hands and 2 feet and the heartbeat was perfect at 163.

So, now we just wait for the blood work to come back, which will tell us with 95% accuracy of our risk for Downs Syndrome and 97% accuracy our risk for Trisomy 13 or 18.

Smudge is officially exactly like my husband: bald, stubborn, sleeping during the day and cranky when you wake him up. The baby didn't want to cooperate at all during the scan, so the sonographer had to resort to creative tactics to get him to move. Once Smudge finally started moving, little arms and legs were flying all around... he was VERY annoyed. But once things settled down, Smudge actually grabbed onto the feet. It was really cute.

Next OB appointment with Dr L is on June 9th. Until then, i'm hoping this spotting stops at some point - for now it seems that I'm down to spotting at least 1x a day.