Halfway Done! (20wks)

Today marks the halfway point in my pregnancy! I am excited that I have made it this far with relatively few problems (both my husband and I continually note and comment on how blessed we have been with this pregnancy). It is amazing how much I seem to already be falling in love with our baby, even though he or she is not even 1 pound and is still forming inside of me. I can't even begin to imagine the amazing love that Nick and I are going to have for this child when they come into the world. I am excited and nervous for the birth all at the same time...especially now that it is about 5 months away. I took a halfway picture today to mark the 20 week occasion and can definitely see that I have my "bump" now. I wonder what people think when they see me strolling on campus or in the store. I am young (only 21) so part of me thinks they are judging me so I try and flash my wedding ring as much as possible hehe. In reality though, I don't care what they are thinking because I am very excited to have this baby and know that Nano is going to be loved SO much by all of his/her family when he/she gets here.

I don't remember if I put this is my previous post so I will mention it again. I am going for the "big" ultrasound with Nick and my mom this Thursday and am really excited! I will definitely be posting new pictures of Nano on here after that appointment.

I'm going to get back to homework now. I am done on Friday and can't wait one bit! Only some journals, a meeting with my student teaching instructor, a CHDV graduation party/ceremony, two 2 page papers for an online nutrition class, and a final for my infant/toddler curriculum class and I am DONE! I don't know what I am going to do with all my free time LOL. Actually, I do know I am going to get better at cleaning the house, planning meals, and hanging out with friends more. I am also planning on reading...for pleasure...! :)

Til next time (probably Thursday night),

Heather

Emotionalllllllllllllllll

The last week and a half, almost 2 weeks I have been really emotional. I am chalking it up to stress from the end of school, being pregnant, family issues, and a big decision that is STILL hanging in the air. I just want everything to be done and resolved. Luckily, school is done next friday (the 21st) and I can count the amount of assignments I have left on one hand! WOOT! The family issues are resolved (thank you Lord) and we are celebrating our Mother's Day with our families this Sunday. Being pregnant...well...I'm half way done on Saturday (and will post the 1/2way mark picture). I get the "big" ultrasound next Thursday afternoon which measures the baby and his/her organs, bones, etc. Usually you find out the sex at this one but we already had them put a note on the account that says we don't want to know. Lastly, that big decision, hopefully next week it will be decided and we can move on from there. So, I guess my "emotional" causes will be eliminated completely in the near future. Pray for my husband that I don't drive him ABSOLUTELY NUTS. Now, I need to stop procrastinating and get ready for work. Good thing I have an understanding boss who is extremely flexible with my hours. :)

Back to my oatmeal and then a shower!
~Heather

FINALLY an OB check-up update! (18w3d)

I was supposed to have an OB check up last Thursday, but the OB's nurse called me and postponed it until today. At first I was bummed, but now that I had the appointment I am super happy again! I love getting to find out more about baby. The results of this check-up were just as positive as last time

First, I got weighed. Now, lemme tell you... I've been worried about this weigh in for about 3 weeks. I was SURE I had gained at least 5 pounds because my belly is starting to pop out much much more. Also, I hadn't gone proper grocery shopping in literally a month and as a result didn't have totally healthy food for a week or two (but I ate as well as I could and gulped down TONS of water). So, I got on the scale and was very pleasantly surprised when the nurse told me that I had stayed at the same weight as my last appointment, and am currently 2 pounds less than when I got pregnant! WOOHOO NO WEIGHT GAIN! Hopefully from here on out I will gain slowly and healthily so I have a good birth/recovery. I want to stay in the 10-15lb goal that the doctor recommends for someone my size and am doing well so far at the 4.5 month mark.

Secondly, I got my blood pressure taken. Now, every time they take my blood pressure at the office it reads high the first time (and they ask me if I have a history of high blood pressure) and PERFECT the second time. Today way no different. The second time, they had me lay on my left side for 5 minutes and took it with the bigger cuff instead of the normal one. It came out at 108/66 which I guess is great.

Then, Dr. Lasting came in and measured my fundal height. He said "wow...baby is definitely growing!" as soon as he touched my stomach and determined the height to be about 24cm (usually fundal height=your weeks along in pregnancy). He said that the baby is measuring big but not to worry. When I go for my detailed anatomy scan at the specialist's office in 3 or so weeks I will get a more accurate reading on baby's size (which I am suuuper excited about...more pics and Nick/my mom will get to see baby too!)

The best part yet again was getting to hear my baby Nanobyte's heartbeat on the doppler. Last time I only got to hear if for about 5 seconds because s/he was moving around so much. This time it still took a while to find the heartbeat but once Dr. Lasting did it was nice and strong and I got to hear it for over a minute. The heart rate is 135 which he said is perfect! Yay! Since Nicholas couldn't be with me at the appointment today he had asked if I could record the heartbeat for him. I asked the Dr. if it was ok and he was totally supportive of it. :o) So, I got out my phone and used a little voice recorder app to record Nano's heartbeat. Dr. Lasting even put the doppler speaker right up to the phone so it sounded the best and held it there for a long time to make sure I got the heartbeat recorded. He is such a caring and cool doctor.

With that said and done I got to go on my way, scheduling another appointment for a month from now with him and getting a referral to that specialist who does the detailed anatomy ultrasound. In 4-5 days I will get a call from them to set up that appointment. Rest assured I will be posting pics when I get them from that ultrasound! :o).

I will leave you with the recording of Nano's heartbeat, which Nick magically converted into an acceptable format for blogger/email for me. The picture is one he snapped real quickly of me this evening as I was getting up to make dinner. Excuse me for wearing the same shirt in both my pregnancy photos so far...I haven't gotten a chance to go shopping yet (school's out in 17 days).



Til Next time!
~Heather

Posting First Belly Pic (17w4d)

Hola!

I figured since I posted a picture on Facebook I should post it here as well.  I took this picture at 17w3d (so yesterday) and finally feel like I am getting a baby bump! :o) That is encouraging to me! 

I am definitely feeling baby move.  I feel flutters when I am sitting on the couch and sometimes popcorn pops if Nano is really getting fiesty!  On Monday night I even felt flutters 2 times when I was up in front of the class presenting activities! Boy was that weird.  I don't know if I will ever get used to feeling a little body moving inside of me. :o)

My OB appointment that was scheduled for tomorrow got rescheduled to Tuesday morning.  Its ok tho, cause that means when I got for my NEXT appointment (when I am about 22.5 weeks)  baby will be bigger and easier to see on the ultrasound.

Nick and I have been blessed the past 2 days with some baby gear!  Yesterday, we picked up our crib, which the mom  of one of our Sunday school children generously gave us.  IT IS GORGEOUS! The style is sleigh style convertible crib, which means it goes from a bassinet height, to a normal crib height, to a toddler bed, to a day bed, to a full sized bed.  Basically Nano has his/her bed for their whole life now! :)  Also, today one of the ladies who works at the shop of one of my mom's clients just gave me 3 items just because!  She gave me a mobile for the crib which she only used for 2 months (with fishies and a projector that puts a starry sky on the ceiling).  She also gave me an Eddie Bauer infant travel bed that she used 1 time and a diaper/wipe/cream plastic holder for a changing table.  We are so blessed already!

Nick told me last night that he is pretty sure we are having a girl.  This is a big deal because before yesterday Nick had no idea or inkling of what we might be having.  Then, last night while we were laying in bed he said, "I think we are going to have a little girl...I decided today." :o) It's cool that he is getting into the baby guessing game and is so involved in this process.  I love my husband.

Lastly,  I confirmed the dates for our Bradley Childbirth Classes today!  It was supposed to start in July but the instructor had some family events to go to and since no one had signed up for her April session and we were the only ones signed up for the July session she called me asking if we could make a custom schedule that worked for both of us that involved the first 10 Sundays that were available. So, we made a custom date list and basically are starting near the end of may (right after school is done) and will finish mid September.  There are 10 classes, 2.5 hours each.  It's just going to be us and the instructors as far as we both know right now....how AWESOME is that!?  We get 1 on 1 instruction for the "group of 6 couples" rate and will really get to know our stuff! I'm so stoked. :)  Plus, the Bradley method has over a 90% success rate for a natural childbirth for those people who go through the course with that method in mind! That is so encouraging to me since I want this (or as close to possible) for my birth.

Okie dokey, back to the giant to-do list of homework that must be completed before May 21st.  I can do it.... only 23 more days til I graduate! :)

~Heather

Pregnant Friends and Movement??? (16w1d)

It's been two weeks since my last blog...not the best but still not the worst it could be lol!

Since I last blogged I have found out that 2 of my good friends are pregnant as well.  Heather W., one of my besties, is due 3 weeks after my (in the same month and everything).  It will be so cool to go through this with her (especially since our hubbies are best friends too and we are constantly hanging out together) and for our children to grow up together.  Also, my old time friend (like since babyhood) Bree is pregnant as well!!!! She found out on Easter and is due the beginning of Dec. I believe.  It's really neat to be able to talk baby stuff with her and to chat about anything and everything.  Our hubbies have a lot in common even though they have never met. I just wish that she didn't live so far away and that we could see each other in person rather than being stuck only IMing and texting being states away.  Anyway, I am very very excited that I have 2 close friends to go through pregnancy with and share in this exciting time.

In terms of my pregnancy, I finally hit the 16 week mark yesterday!  I am excited that I am at this point for 2 reasons:

1. My baby has now formed the small bones in his/her ears necessary to make the ears function.  In other words, my baby can now hear!!!! That means I can start talking to baby (not that I wasn't already) and so can Nick!  I am planning on talking every day to Nano so s/he can get used to our voices and we can soothe the baby better when they are born.  I know my sisters/mom are really excited to talk to baby too!

2. Also, 16 weeks is the beginning of the normal period to start feeling baby.  Everything I've read says to expect feeling movement between 16-20 weeks (farther along if it's your first or you are heavier-which I am both).  I swear though, I think I am feeling little movements already in my lower stomach.  I can't be sure, which is why I am not telling everyone I am...but I'd like to think that I am! :P  There is apparently an experiment to see if you can get your baby to move here which I think I may just try tonight.  I sure would like to know what's baby and what's gas bubbles! :)

Nothing else too exciting is happening.  One month left of school and I think I can do it!   I also am sitting on another potentially exciting piece of news but don't want to jump the gun on it.  Can't wait til May 21st when I am done with school and can look forward to Hawaii and baby after that!

Until next time friends,
Heather