Week 33-34 Belly Shots

Week 33:
At the surprise lunch-shower thrown by Taylor's coworkers.



Week 34:
At Ellie's 3rd birthday party at Brookfield Zoo.

Ellie Jelly Belly!

Happy 3rd birthday to my cutie pie niece!
YOU DID IT! You made it to three! Hooray!

We love you very much!

Love -
Uncle Boo and Emoh

Baby Shower Photos! (2 Weeks Late!)

Here is a brief selection of photos from the fantastic baby shower! Thank you to everyone who came and especially to the organizers! Wany, your food was beyond amazing!

Let's Play!

Last night I asked Alex a question: "Am I still pretty to you now?"

His response: "I'm not playing that game with you, Taylor."

I wish he would have played that game. I'm not feeling particularly pretty these days (which is why/when women ask this question) and I don't think it would have killed him to just reply with a "yes" along with some other kind words.

Men are thick. Sigh, shaking of head, sigh.

Footprints

We felt Jack's foot last night.

I'd just gotten into bed for the night, and as is his routine during this time of night, Jack started moving and stretching.
But on this particular night, the stretching felt stronger, so I put my hand on the spot where I felt his movement. Viola!

I felt the tiny outlines of a foot! Alex felt it too. It was a way cool experience.

So far, we've identified his butt and one foot. :-)

Behold! The Voice of......Dad?

We have attempted playing music for Jack. Headset on the stomach, playing CDs of various kinds. We tried The Beatles, Mozart, some jazz, etc. It is hard to tell if Jack is reacting to it or not. It also is not the most comfortable setup for Taylor, either.

Yesterday, I (jokingly) put my lips on Taylor's stomach and began talking in a deep voice to Jack. Mostly, I was repeating his name and making very deep sounds. After half a minute, he began moving. The more I spoke, the more he moved! It was amazing!

And, these were not the same old movements from months ago, either. Before, the movements felt like the tip of his fists pushing straight out. Now, the movements feel like arms and legs kicking around and sliding in the tight, confined space. It is still hard to fathom the fact a real person is in there.

Crazy.

The Lift

I have started using the elevator at work.

I can no longer climb the stairs to get to the 2nd floor of our office building.

I no longer sleep through the night with trips to the bathroom sprinkled here and there. Once I'm up, I'm up....I cannot fall back to sleep. Every position is getting uncomfortable whether I am sitting on the couch, or getting ready for bed or driving in the car, or sitting at the office like now.

It feels like I am sitting on a bowling ball or incubating a huge egg the size of a bowling ball...not comfortable. Walking is a tricky thing now as my legs won't go as fast as I want it to. I remember being in a lot of pain after a good jog, or work out, but that is nothing compared to the all day long achiness I feel now.

My right butt cheek is sore. Jack's head has moved down (which I am happy about as he's been in the breech position before) but his head has moved down towards my right butt cheek and is pinching my nerve.

At night when I sleep on my right side, he tickles me when he moves (goofy kid). When I stand or sit up, his head presses on my bladder and I immediately have to use the restroom....not a good sensation when you can only 'walk' at 0.05 miles per hour.

I'm getting sleepy now too. I nap after dinner for about an hour, then get up, watch some TV, then back to bed at 10pm. Remember the good ol' days of the 1st trimester? Yeah, the fatigue is coming back.

Poor Alex....he does so much already and now he's just gotta keep doing more around the house. And I wish I could say he only has to do them for a little while longer, but I know that won't be true. I'll need even more help once Jack arrives. I don't know how single parents do this thing.

Ultrasound - Week 32

Our baby boy is 4.6lbs, head down, and growing perfectly. He also has hair! Enough hair to be seen on an ultrasound...wow. Alex and I were both surprised as we were both bald when we were born. In fact, my mother told me I didn't have hair to pin back till I was 2 years old. But with Jack, it looks like he'll follow suit with this older cousin, Ellie as far as hair goes. Pretty exciting and wonderous to see. He's beautiful!



He was sleeping at the time of the ultrasound...sucking his thumb (I think he's going to love his pacifiers), heart beating 133 bpm, a perfectly healthy and normal rate. We took advantage of the stillness by getting some more profile shots. He looks just like Alex as a baby!



Only about 8 weeks till birthday. The doctor told me to have the infant seat intalled in the car at this point and have it checked out by local fire dept. or police dept. I also need to start putting the hospital bag together. Besides the massage ball which I've been using every night to relieve some achiness, I have no idea what else I need to bring. I need to pick out music apparently, as well as a focal point object/picture. In our birthing class, we were told by the instructor that most first time parents use a picture of the family pet. Sigh. Will Newt make it to the delivery room? We shall have to wait and see. To me it seems pretty funny to have a picture of a cat, our Newt no less, as the focal point.



By the way, the baby shower went wonderfully! We'll be posting pictures soon from that day. We had great food provided by my sister, Wany, and Jack got a lot of good stuff from family and friends who were so kind enough to join me Saturday. I can't wait to use all the items received for Jack.

Sleepy Time

Sleep is becoming a valuable commodity for me as of late. I think I average about 4 hours a night now. Here's how a usual night passes for me:

10pm - get into bed and start winding down. Alex comes to bed with me, but turns on the TV - his way of winding down.

10:30pm - I'm getting tired. I start yawning, cradling my body pillow and start dozing off. Alex is dozing off, but the TV is still on.

11pm - I'm totally ready to fall into deep sleep, but the TV is still on. Alex is asleep. I have to shake him and wake him up to turn the TV off (he clutches the remote even while he's sleeping - TV is his friend).

11:15pm - I am still tired, but cannot sleep....because Alex is snoring. I have to push him onto his side.

11:30pm - I cannot fall back to sleep. I am no longer tired. I lay there, awake, alone in the warm glow of the bedroom night light (yes, I have a night light - make fun all you want), wondering when I will fall asleep again.

12am - my butt hurts.

12:30am - body pillow is making me hot. I move the pillow away.

1:30am - I have to pee

1:45am - Ow! My sciatica!

2am - I grab the body pillow again, I think it will help with the butt nerves if I use it and lay on my left side.

2:30am - about to doze off....but then Alex starts snoring again.

3am - I have to pee

3:15am - I finally go to sleep

7:02am - Alex wakes me up for work.

Sciatic Nerves - Butt Nerves

Yes, I have it. I have nerves in my butt and it is being pinched, punished, and pounded on by Jack and my uterus.
Oh the radiating pain starting from my lower back, through my buttocks, and down the back of my thighs. I have never felt annoyance and discomfort like this before.

It's not pain the way you'd think of it. It's a dull, lingering, throbbing achiness that travels the length of your legs and butt.

I googled my new pregnancy symptom, and unfortunately, there isn't much I can do. I just have to wait it out. It said I could take Tylenol to relieve inflamation (don't know if I will), or use a heating pad on the area, or massage, but for it to completely go away, I'd have to wait as long as 6 weeks.

6 weeks from now I'll be 37 weeks pregnant - considered full term, so it looks like I'll be suffering from this condition at least till the birth of Jack.

I knew there was going to be discomfort, but I guess I just didn't know how much, and how many different kinds there would be in pregnancy.

Am I really this far along?

I cannot believe I am only a couple of months away from seeing Jack.

Alex mentioned that the first trimester seemed to last a life time, and that the second trimester only seemed like weeks. Now we are getting down to the wire and there's about 10 weeks left.

It's becoming more real. I mean, Jack's been real to me for quite some time now with all his moving around, making me sick, making me tired, making me forgetful, seeing him in ultrasounds, etc. but reality will take the next step, and soon I'll finally get to see him and hold him, and most importantly plant many kisses on him.

But still, it seems strange that I'll be that woman writhing in pain in the hospital, and eventually with that needle in my spine, outwardly trying to stay calm and focused, but deep down inside dreading the sound and sight of the stirrups on which my feet will be placed come THAT time of truth....will my body be able to pull itself together and do what it's supposed to do?

Will Jack cooperate? Will the nurses be nice to me? Will I end up needing a C-section? Will I have remmbered to pack socks in my hospital bag? How many hours will it be for me? My mother claimes I took 3 days...she also claims she was sick the entire 9 months of pregnancy.

I am scared, anxious and hopeful...but overall, more excited than anything. I can't wait for Jack's arrival...so you know what that means.....the last 10 weeks of pregnancy, the last stretch, will seem like an eternity.

Foot Fun

Just back from my ultrasound appointment at the doctor's office.

The U/S tech I got this time was named Sharon or Sheryl (not sure - wasn't listening). She was adequately cordial, but not as fun or chatty as Marianne, our last U/S technician.

Sharon (let's just call her that) had the monitor facing only her while she took measurements of Jack's head, tummy, legs and arms. Marianne on the other hand, had the monitor facing us the whole time, making sure we were able to see as she did her scanning.

Sharon squeezed out very cold gel on my stomach without so much as a warning! Chilly! Marianne apologized for not having warmed up the gel before she put the gel on my stomach.

Sharon didn't talk as much. Marianne told us about the house she and her husband were in the middle of selling (even gave us a card with a picture of the house in case we knew someone who'd be interested), chimed in about how she had a Jack in her family when we told her what the baby's name was going to be, how many kids she had and how college was running them dry of funds...small talk, chit-chat.

Marianne was good about constantly pointing out what she was looking at as far as Jack was concerned, and how much he weighed. I had to ask Sharon at the end how much Jack weighed.

Anyhoo - here are Jack's stats:
Heart rate = 138 bpm
General growth = on target, normal
Weight = 2lbs. 13oz. (he gained a whole pound since the last U/S)
Position = breech, on my left side, face towards my spine
Activity level = very active, just like last time. Sharon had to wait a bit for Jack to face/turn the right way so she could measure his head. I don't think Jack liked Sharon.

Excitement of the day: Towards the end, Sharon turned the monitor towards me and pointed out the usual baby parts - head, back, legs, feet...he's folded or doubled over now as it's getting crammed inside my tummy....but where were the hands? Sharon scanned back and forth, but couldn't find them.

Then, just as she began to say, "oh, I think that's an arm ri...." Jack's arm reaches out and he grabs his foot. His hand lingers there for a while playing with his toes! It was amazing! Jack always manages to give us something good during U/S. Sharon and I were both impressed (it was the only time Sharon showed any emotion/inflection in her voice).

Profile - Week 28

Baby Registry

We have completed our registries! Below are the links to the two registries.

Babies 'R Us - Registry #95221372

Target Baby

Both registries can be looked up by Taylor's name or just Maidy as last name.

The bedding set we wanted is not sold in stores anymore. If you want to get this for us, the link is below.

Snoopy Sports Crib Bedding

Nickname Poll Results

Nickname for Jackson Poll

Which nickname do you like best for Jack?

Happy Jack (1) 6%
Jack Attack (2) 12%
Big Jack (1) 6%
Jack Jack (7) 41%
Jackie (1) 6%
Just Jack (1) 6%
J.A.M. (1) 6%
None of the Above (3) 18%

Total Votes: 17

Because of the overwhelming majority, you will notice this site is now known by the favored nickname. Long live King Jack Jack!

How Come?

Wany's baby is already head down....over achievers in that family.

Jack's been breech since day one....sigh.

I've been told not to worry, that most babies move head down closer to the due date...."please cooperate, Jack...please!"

Depth Perception - or lack thereof

Today at the office, my phone rang (a return call from my doctor's office), but my arms did not reach the receiver as it usually does from it's normal distance. Without thinking, I grabbed onto the edge of my desk and pulled myself closer to the phone...

My infalted belly bounced off the edge of the desk (don't worry, not too hard)and I was back to square one...the same distance that kept me from reaching the phone.

I moved the phone closer to me.

Invasion

It was bound to happen....I caught a cold...

I'd been so careful about the bathroom at work, well, public bathrooms in general (I've got the art of not touching bathroom door handles to get in and out), careful not to touch the handle on the microwave oven at work, co-workers' desk items (such as their computer mouse, keyboards and telephones), even my own husband if he was sick! So how in the world could this happen?

I'd heard and witnessed the horror of pregnant women who caught colds and couldn't take anything to relieve their symptoms. I've read in the numerous pregnancy books I have that cold medicines don't help cure you anyway, that they only lessen the symptoms, and so to stay away from them (also my nurse told me not to take the usual meds).

I tell you what...I could live with less cold symptoms, I don't care if it only gives the illusion of being cured of a cold. I would have slept better last night had my nose/airway not been blocked like the Kennedy during rush hour AND construction. However, during the day, my nose leaked like there was no tomorrow. Where did all that stuff come from if my nasal airway was blocked?! Jeesh!

I sound like a frog too...this is because I've been forced to breathe through my mouth, so my throat has become raw, and irritated. I sound like an 88 year old smoker trying to sing 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'. God bless it.

Then my mother called about something unrelated to my cold. As soon as she heard my voice, she freaked out...."what are you taking for your cold? You should call your doctor for cold medicine just for pregnant people! You sound awful!"

Explaining to her that I cannot take part in the usual pill party for a cold/sickness didn't register with her at all....not even when I explained to her that in my condition, taking the usual medications would present more risk of harm to Jack...twice! Finally, silence fell over the phone...then softly her voice came again over the phone..."are you not supposed to take cold medicine when you're pregnant?" Bingo!

I hope to be able to sleep better tonight and not wake up coughing due to a dry throat.

Things I Miss

Sushi
Coffee
Shopping at J.Crew
Sitting indian-style
Not being out of breath after 5 steps
Fish (yes, it's true)
Cute bras
My old clothes
My cute shoes!
Sleeping through the night
Being able to reach down to pick something off the floor without trouble
Being selfish

Biiiiiiiiiiig

"I can't get any bigger....can I?" This was the thought running through my head last night at the mall.

I've been growing out of my maternity clothes fast! Pants bought three weeks ago which were on the big side are no longer on the big side, but rather, fit me kind of snug now. I bought these pants to wear to Church on Mother's Day but decided not to and left them in the closet to be worn another time. Bad move.

I've learned I've got to wear items as I buy them. I've also learned to buy them big and not go by what size I am now. Thank God maternity clothes only come in small, medium, large and XLarge at Motherhood Maternity. If there were actual sizes attached to every article of clothing, I'm sure I'd suffer from depression.

As I was walking through the mall, the only people I noticed were the women who were NOT pregnant, but in their normal state. I began to wonder if I'd ever get back to my normal state or....better (yes, I'm being greedy here). I sighed and mentioned to Alex how nice it would be to be back to my old self again to which Alex argued, "this from a woman who said she couldn't wait to be pregnant!"

How did I get so big? Will I ever get back to normal? Will I ever be able to walk into J.Crew and buy items like I used to? Will I ever get back into a 6 1/2 shoe?

Much is left to be seen.

Jack's Room Complete!

We have finished decorating Jack's room! All the pieces are in place, furniture-wise, and we finished hanging the majority of the decorations. A couple minor pieces are left, but they are in our registry and will not arrive until closer to the due date. But, to see how the room transformed from my "guy's room" to our "little guy's room," see the photos below.


March 21: This is how the room started: messy, crammed with crap, books, dvds, games. Just the way I liked it. Notice the bookcase is empty.





May 21: Not much difference, but notice an entire bookcase is gone and there is more baby stuff piled around the room.






June 3: The crib arrived! Assembled and placed. Ready to go for baby Jack!






June 3 (10 minutes later): Taylor liked the bookcase better over here, so I moved it. Um, now? Ok...Yay, Ready for baby Jack!





June 9: This is Norman. Taylor's company got one of these for each of the employees expecting this year. I wanted to get a rocking horse for Jack, but this is just the coolest one I could imagine.





June 14: Arrival of the dresser/changing table. We did not have to assemble it at all (phew!). We are going to get a changing pad and strap it to the top so only one piece of furniture is necessary. We also removed the vertical blinds and hung curtains. We also found Blackout Curtains, which are designed to make it pitch black in the middle of the day. They also serve as insulation for cold or hot. Almost done with the room!

June 14: Well, all of the furniture is in place, we hung a set of hooks and picture frames and removed all the junk on the floor. The room is raring to go! Now, we just get to sit and wait for Jack to pop out!

Deal of the Century!

Well, we went a little overboard. Taylor and I went to Babies R Us to complete our registry. While there, we decided we would need a gliding ottoman to go with our Dutalier glider. Taylor tried it and felt it would be nice to have. But, with almost all the ottomans (even the generic brands) costing over $90 we decided to register for one as well.

Lo and behold, Taylor spots the ottoman with the red CLEARANCE sticker on the side. The normally $89.99 ottoman was marked at $9.98. We could not believe it. It had to be a typo. We grabbed it in the cart, finished scanning our registry, and brought the ottoman to the register. The employees could not believe it either and it rang right up at the under ten dollar price. We got it!

Between the glider and the ottoman, we have already saved almost $400! Which we promptly spent on clothing and things for Jack. We stopped at Gymboree and Target (where we also registered) and came back with several outfits.

Like Taylor says, Jack will have a nice room and great toys but no clothes. Oh well, such is the life of soon to be parents.

25 Weeks / Ultrasound 3

Today we had our third ultrasound. This was a regular one that the doctor suggested we have every 4-6 weeks just to make sure everything looks ok with the single umbilical artery. The technician said everything looks right on track and he is developing well. Kidneys, stomach, brain, spine: all look a-ok. This appointment coincided with the beginning of the 25th week of pregnancy. Little Jack weighs in at just under 2 pounds right now.

The technician, Mary Anne, was very nice and helpful and put us at ease. Today was my first exposure to the staff at Alexian Brothers and I have to say they are ten times nicer and more attentive than the staff at Condell. She even gave us some fun pictures, besides the profile shots above, that really made our day. Take a look!


It may be hard to make out, but the thing next to the arrow is Jack's scrotum. Confirmation (3rd time!) that we are having a little boy!






While Mary Anne was trying to get Jack to give us one of the profile shots (he was very stubborn and kept moving around), we got to see him lift his little hand next to his face and we could make out the fingers and thumb. And then, he went right ahead and stuck his thumb in his mouth. It was amazing!

And this was the final shot. Seemingly tired from all that posing, Jack yawned! He yawned! It is so weird how these normal little things are amazing when it is your baby. If you look at the photo, you can make out the nostrils above his mouth and get a pretty great view of our little boy!

Well, that was all for this visit. Pretty great stuff! Now, back to decorating his room!

Doctors, foot in mouth, and possibly an elbow

I like my new doctor. I did not feel rushed, and I actually had a conversation with my new doctor which was refreshing. I felt the experience was educational, which I like. Just by the questions she asked and the answers she gave to my questions for her, I could tell right away we were going to get along just fine. They have an on site lab, as well as an ultrasound machine. The other office did not, and I'd have to go else where for it.

The medical office building is brand new....clean, and staffed by very friendly people.

On another note, a co-worker today said I was "big!" after our lunch. Sigh. I've known this person for years, and know she didn't mean anything awful by it, but rather it was her inclination towards 'foot in mouth' syndrome acting up again. Wait till we're in August....I'll be huge then!

I felt Jack stretch inside me today. It could have been a leg, heel, or an elbow, but I definitely felt it. So weird. He' been especially active today. Maybe he knows it's Friday and the weekend is coming.....more nursery room changes.

Have you seen me?

I need beauty back....like pedicures, hair color, hair cut, facials, make-up....oh how I miss them!

For the past 5 months, my hair has been bothering me. You see, before Jack, before crib obessions, before concerns about breastbeeding, I used to be me....someone who took care of her hair...not only the condition of the hair, but the color as well.

Right around the time I found out I was pregnant with Jack was when I should have been scheduled for another round of highlights. But being the 1st trimester, and having been so sick and out of sorts, I could have cared less about my hair color or the roots that were beginning to show and made me look like I was wearing some sort of messed up hair weave.

By the time 2nd trimester started, I'd gotten used to my black roots next to my honey colored highlights. I figured if I had gone that long without a touch up, it would not kill me to grow out the highlights altogether...I mean, hair does grow faster during pregnancy, does it not? It wouldn't takke that long to grow out the highlights, right? WRONG. I can't stand my roots!

My face has been bothering me too. Another thing that happened with pregnancy...I stopped wearing make-up. Again, during the 1st trimester I could have cared less. I was more interested in getting over the darn phase. Other than powder, I wear no eye shadow, no eye liner, no mascara, not even a scant/hint of Bonnie Bell lip gloss in Mocha.

See a pattern here? I think 1st trimesters are designed to help you let go of 'yourself' as you know it, and prepare to be a mom who's priority not only becomes the health of her child, but her comfort, even it means going over to what my sister calls the 'dark side' - comfort and ease at all costs.

Well, for my birthday, Alex gave me a reason/opportunity to feel a bit more like me again. He gave me a gift certificate to a salon! Woo hoo! I'm going in for a massage and hair color....to feel a bit more like me again. I'm totally looking forward to caring about the way I look. Maybe the experience will make me want to wear eye shadow again....hmmm....why do I have this feeling the 3rd trimester is laughing at me and that notion of eye shadow?!

Where the babes are

We (Alex, Wany, Jae and Ellie) toured the maternity ward at St. Alexius last night.
It's no Condell 'New Life Center', but I wasn't expecting anything so new like that.

At Alexius:
Anything to do with mother and baby happen on the 2nd floor, they even have 2 OR's just for C-sections.
But there was the scary part about having only 8 labor and delivery rooms. After delivery, mother and baby get moved to the recovery room - which we may be forced to share with another person if the maternity ward is busy/full. However, even if sharing were to happen, in the event of a natural, no complications vaginal birth, mother and baby only stay at the hosptial for 24 hours. For C-sections the stay is extended to 3 days.

I need to be close to the hospital from home - I need to be able to get to the hospital as soon as labor begins. Also, Alex can get to St. Alexius faster than he could Condell from work. I haven't been spoiled by Condell like my sister, so I have no specific attachments to a previous experience other than having been a visiter there to see Ellie when she was born.

I do not want to switch doctors or hospitals again (having changed from Condell). We'll be looking into some birthing classes offered at St. Alexius and signed up.

I was surprised at how many couples who were further along in pregnancy than we were! This one lady looked like she was ready to pop! And another lady looked like she was 7-8 months along already. I could not believe they'd waited so long to visit, tour, and decide on a hospital.

Ellie was a hit as usual - she even got a 'Super Big Sister' pink T-shirt, which she hugged tightly as soon as it was given her as she said, "Thank you!" to our tour guide. Nerd.

Jack's New Crib (or, Goodbye Alex's Junk!)

The crib arrived today! After 2.5 hours of assembly, it now sits fully safe and ready for Jack! We went ahead and purchased the Cubs mobile that plays "Take Me Out To the Ballgame." This kid will be a Cubs fan!

We are going to keep the bookcase that I had used. It matches the crib pretty well already. As you can see, the glider is already getting used! Two more weeks for the dresser/changer to arrive and then the minor decoration begins. The room is near complete and all it needs is a tenant.

3 more months!

Profile - Week 24

Third Trimester? What do you mean Third Trimester?!

I cannot believe that next week Taylor will be entering her Third Trimester. In my mind, I always associate that with being the time to give birth. How could it have arrived so quickly?

It goes back to the morning sickness. The First Trimester felt like it lasted for a year, and the Second Trimester has just flown by. Now, we are just 3 months away from meeting Jack! It is surreal that it is June already.

This weekend, a lot of changes are happening. The nursery will be cleared out and the crib will be assembled. Then, on 6/6 we take a tour of our new hospital, St Alexius. It is closer to the house and hopefully will as nice as Condell.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Regular posting resumes right now!

Movement

I felt Jack move!

Taylor has been feeling it for several weeks now, but last night, I felt him move for the first time! Taylor was getting ready for bed and said she could see her stomach moving where Jack was. So, I put my hand on her stomach to feel it.

Nothing.

We tried a couple of places and every time I moved my hand away, he moved. I couldn't see it or feel it, so I assumed it was still too early to feel him.

Then, the most amazing thing. I kept my hand for a few seconds longer and felt what can only be described as the feeling of touching the outside of your cheek and gently pushing with your tongue. It was so slight and so gentle, it was awesome! I felt it a couple more times and then we hit the sack.

Only 4.5 months to go. I cannot wait to feel him more and more!

On the next episode of Cribs...

So, we bought the crib! Yes, we purchased it from The Land of Nod. Man, this kid is going to be trendy. But, the prices! There is no small fee for safety and quality. So, next we have the ever expanding list of furniture and supplies to start buying. Thank god for baby showers, or we would never be able to afford all this stuff! But, I gotta say, I am having a blast getting ready for Jack.

Ultrasound 2

So, here we have the results of our second Level 2 ultrasound. Due to the inconclusive nature of the first ultrasound, they wanted us to have another one this week. The Quad Screen Test Taylor took came back with a positive result that obviously put us on edge. Turns out that was due to a miscalculated conception date: Jack is 21 weeks now rather than the initial estimate that would put him at 24 weeks today.

This time, the doctor put our fears to rest. No Spina Bifida, No brain or heart malformations, no cleft lip. Everything looks perfectly normal for a baby at 21 weeks. Of course, we did get confirmation that there is a single umbilical artery, but all of the books and the doctors say it is the most common defect in pregnancy and is only a concern if the baby does not develop normally. But, since everything looks great, the doctor suggested we get normal ultrasounds every 4-6 weeks until the due date just to keep an eye on everything. Also, as soon as labor begins, we are supposed to go right to the hospital so they can monitor Jack to make sure everything is ok. SUA can cause acceleration and deceleration of the heart rate, so they would want to put a monitor on him at that time.

We are so relieved that we can just enjoy everything now and not have to worry that something is wrong. Let the fun begin!

20 Weeks

Ok...so is it just me or does my face match my red shirt in the week 18 profile shot? Jeez.

Anyway, it is week 20. Half way through the pregnancy. It doesn't 'feel' half way though. It still feels like the last leg of the 1st trimester. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I'm not totally huge yet (even though co-workers and Alex have commented that I've popped and am getting bigger every day). Maybe it's because I can still move around quite normally and quickly considering my condition. Maybe it's because I can still sit on the couch Indian style and be relatively comfortable. I try to imagine what the next 20 weeks will be like....hmmmm.

I'm still amazed every time I feel Jack move around. The other day, he gave me a swift kick/punch in the stomach. My favorite is when he kicks me in the bladder of all places. Sigh.

I heard on the radio this morning that it is now trendy to be pregnant. I'm not sure who did the research on this, but I wouldn't be surprised if an industry related to babies and pregnancies were involved. Let's think about this for a moment. Will it also be trendy to have middle of the night feedings? Bags under the eyes from lack of sleep? Or how about being stinky from hanging out in the same outfit for 3 days straight because you just didn't have it in you to shower, fix your hair and act like Katie Couric ( I hate peppy people)? Pregnancy as a trend? Obsurd!

Profile - Week 18

CNN: "Being a mom could be a six-figure job!"

Click here to read an article that shows how much being a mother pays if we actually gave them paychecks! So, any person who claims being a housewife or stay-at-home parent is easy, think again!

Tai Chi

It ususally happens after a meal. I'm sitting on the couch, relaxing and watching TV, letting my dinner digest and then it happens.

I wouldn't describe it as a flutter, or butterfly wings (what sap made up 'butterfly wings'? Probably the same guy that sings about butterfly kisses and what not...sigh). It's more like a muscle spasm or a slow 'wake up from bed in the morning' type of roll. Jack's moving.

I started feeling these sensations about two weeks ago, but of course had no idea what they were. I thought it was either gas or my stomach muscles spazing out due to my ever expanding middle. My sister who's been preggers before asked me if I'd felt anything. When I said no, and then began to describe these 'other' sensations I'd been having, first she laughed, then told me that was the baby moving. Wow.

Jack's active. Maybe he can't get comfortable. Maybe the energy from the foods I eat give him a boost to squirm around inside and do cartwheels.

But sometimes, when the sensation is slow and strong, I picture Jack inside me doing Tai Chi, with the look of a peaceful and wise older Chinaman who'd just had the most delicious bowl of noodles on his face.

You Can Tell!

I guess not everyone at work heard that I was pregnant.
Someone at the office stopped me in the hallway and said, "Ok, so you're obviously pregnant! How far along are you?"

Cool! I no longer just look like I'm letting myself go, packing on the pounds. Phew!

This also means it's time to go shopping, one of my favorite past times, albeit it's shopping for fatter, maternity clothes, it's shopping and hitting the mall which I've not done since late January. I've been at the mercy of one maternity jean since late February which is getting smaller on me as the days go by.

Welcome To 2nd Trimester

I've read in books that the 2nd trimester is supposed to be the honey-moon phase?

To that I say a big, sarcastic, HA!

Let's take morning sickness. In my case, it did not fade, get better, go away, lessen (or any other phrase you want to use) at 12 weeks/first 3 months. B.S. mine lasted four months, and played tricks on me. On week 16, I felt 'better' enough to eat some sloppy joes Alex made. Bad idea. I don't think I'll eat sloppy joes ever again.

One book said I should see a decrease in frequency of bathroom trips. I saw an increase.

Headaches - oh my gosh! Every day for one week I had one every day. I had to stop wearing my glasses, start taking my prenantal vitamins again (was on Flintstones instead till I threw that up in week 14).

Fatigue - the books said I would feel a surge of energy during the 2nd tirmester. Nope. Having a meal was always followed by drowsiness. As for the evening, I can stay awak 30 minutes longer now, so my bed time changed from 9:30pm to 10:00pm. Whoopie for small miracles, right?

Swelling - I read I'm not supposed to experience this till later in the trimester. Phooey! Any days above 70 degrees, my ankles swell up. Can't wait for August in Chicago, baby! Hoo Ha! Bring it on.

Varicose veins - also something I read I wasn't supposed to get till later in the trimester or not till the 3rd trimester altogether. Can someone tell the area behind my left knee this information? My vein is not a putrid green. My vein is what I like to call 'wife beater purple'. :-)

Flatulence - I can fart anyone into oblivion. 'Nuff said.

Weight gain - books say you should gain 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound per week. I put on 2.5 pounds this weekend.

So.....when I look at all of this....I think 3rd trimester is going to be as fun as WWII. Wish this soldier luck.

Baby Cubs Fan

Went to the Cubs game tonight and picked up the first item since learning our baby will be a boy. Never to early to start the Cubs fan momentum!

There is a dangerous amount of things out there to buy for little Jack. I need to show restraint! I need to remember he will grow out of this stuff so quickly. The big money will be saved for when he is a toddler and the outfits can really be worn more than a few times.

Ultrasound Pictures: It's A Boy!

Profile - Week 16

So, starting this week, we are going to post a photo taken each week to show how the baby is growing. A little late in the game, but it will be something cool to show Peanut when he is all grown up.

4 Month Check-Up

We got to hear the hearbeat again today. 158 bpm, which the doctor said is still very good. We got our ultrasound form and need to schedule the appointment for 3 weeks from today. So, by the first week in May, we will know what we are having! It is so exciting!

We also had the test to see if the baby has Down's Syndrome. I am less excited about that news. It is scary, but it is something we need to know. That we will find out the results of in the next two days. The anticipation begins.

Week 17

The Mom:

Having trouble finding a comfortable way to sleep? It's a common complaint in pregnancy as they progress. It's recommended that pregnant women not sleep on their backs. As your uterus grows, when you lie on your back, it puts pressure on several important blood vessels. This can decrease circulation to your baby, and yourself.


You may find it more comfortable to sleep on your side, with a pillow between your knees. This helps keep your hips in alignment. Some women find comfort with placing a pillow under their growing abdomen, or in using body pillows.

Experiment with what works best for you.

You may also have already felt your baby's first movements by now. This is called quickening. It feels like a butterfly fluttering in your stomach. It's also been describes as "bubbles". It will be a few more weeks before you start feeling kicks and punches.

Your uterus is about 1 1/2 to 2 inches below your navel at this point.

SYMPTOMS YOU MAY EXPERIENCE

* Breast Changes, tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
* Frequent Urination
* Constipation
* Indigestion or heartburn
* Occasional headaches
* Stretch Marks (cocoa butter can help with these)
* Itching

The Baby:
This week, your baby is starting to develop fat layers. Did you know that by the time your baby is born, fat layers will be about 3/4 of his total weight? Speaking of weight, your little one now weighs on the average 3.5 ounces and is almost 5 inches long.

Potato Baby

They (meaning I heard it from somewhere but I don't know where) always say that what a women eats predominantly during her pregnancy has something to say about the child inside.

Well, if that is true, our baby is a potato.

Yeah, I know, I like the nickname Peanut, too. But, Taylor has eaten more potato products than anything else so far in this pregnancy.

McDonald's hashbrowns, tater tots, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, french fries. I am afraid to buy a Mr. Potato Head toy for fears she might gnaw on it.

I don't know if there is anything I can do about this. I cannot force her to eat anything different and I learned my lesson in suggesting other foods (another blog entirely). So, I am going to sit back and watch her eat starches and turn our baby into one of Idaho's Best.

Glider

Based on a head's up from our friend Yea, Taylor and I are checking out a used glider a woman is selling through a classified ad. It is a Dutailier brand glider and she is selling it for less than $200. According to Amazon, this brand sells for around $149 to $400, depending on the model. We are going to check it out this Saturday. Hopefully, if it is one of the higher end models and it is in good condition, we will get it. It would end up being the first piece of furniture we buy for Peanut. We shall see this weekend!

Pregnancy Make-Over!

My battle with morning sickness has been one of utter despair, weight loss, and losing the ability to enjoy foods I used to love as well as any usefulness I felt I was around the house, at work, and the general public.

Nausea stopped me in my tracks, cold! I could no longer do household chores that used to make me feel good. I could no longer pump gas (the smell), I could no longer open the pantry without gagging or wretching - yes, the sight, thought and smell of food disgusted me, I could no longer take hot showers without feeling dehydrated, having to take sips of seltzer water inbetween shampoo and conditioner. I felt as useful as the brail found on ATM machines.

Here are some precautions/wisdom/changes I picked up from my experience:

Do not reheat food in microwave in plastic containers - you can taste plastic - it's true!!!

Do not let tea cool in a plastic pitcher - again, taste plastic! Use glass instead.

Do not eat canned fruit (peaches) - you can taste the can.

I read you should find those things you like and stick with them throughout the 1 trimester - it's BS. Do not eat one kind of anything for more than 4 days (like yogurt) - it will make you sick

Carry around a Nausea Emergency Bag - Tums, sour candy, barf bag, small towel, saltines (although they didn't work for me), B6 tablets, and any and all anti-nausea suggestions/perscriptions your doctor's office suggest.

Do not lick stamps under ANY circumstances!

Always have your husband inspect the cats before you hug/kiss them for traces of 'the box' smell.

Seltzer water only stays 'seltzery' for 5 minutes after opening - 3 if left sitting on the bathroom counter while showering.

Decision

Well, we decided to find out what the baby is going to be. It just made more sense for us to find out. I mean, I think the suprise would be nice, but practicality and planning necesitates that we know. So, we will learn what the gender is in just about a month.

Taylor began to feel sick again today. She has pretty much slept the entire time. I left for a few hours to run some errands, she stayed home and mostly slept. We looked through a few baby books this afternoon and talked about the pregnancy a bit, she even made a pound cake using our new oven, but then she took another nap, which she is in the middle of as I type this update.

Not much else to report on the baby front. But, depending on whether it is a boy or a girl, look for a change in this page layout and title to reflect what Lil Peanut really will be!