April 29

I think I overdid it this weekend. Friday was a long day, with little sleep and I was on my feet a lot. Then Saturday, I went to my parents house for lunch, while Michael rested. However, the weather got bad and I ended up staying there longer than I expected. That was okay though, because Grammy gave PB some new clothes. She assured Michael that she would hold on to the boy clothes...until the gender was 100% confirmed! I went home and made spaghetti and meatballs. I thought it was delicious, but Michael could barely taste a thing. :( Later that night Michael went to the store and asked if I needed anything. I was wanting ice cream, he knows my favorites - cookies n cream, mint chocolate, chocolate chip cookie dough - any of those would work. Well, he comes home with Cookies n Cream Collision - chocolate ice cream with cookies and cream and chocolate chunks. I thought it sounded liked too much chocolate, but I guess he knows me better than I do. I ate half the pint! :) He got himself a chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich...and one for me too, just in case I was jealous! Boy knows me too good!!! Then, he turned on The Vow while we ate our desserts to wind down for the night.

Sunday, I woke up early and started laundry and made brunch once Michael was up. I rested for a bit and then decided to run some errands that were postponed from Saturday's rainy weather. I stopped by my parents house to give them a thank you card for the party and say hi to Grandmere! She remembered the baby was a girl! :) I ran to HEB, Sam's and Kohl's. I was on my feet too long, they were throbbing when I got home. I had to make lots of trips up and down the stairs, since I can't carry too much weight at one time. Michael was still sleeping off his sickness. I know how he feels when he has to bring everything upstairs - it is not fun! I couldn't resist doing a little shopping for our baby girl (assuming it is)... Plus I had a coupon!

Although I'm not the only one spoiling her already. Her closet is starting to fill up. I have not yet taken back the one boy outfit Michael and I bought together. I'll wait until we are sure the baby is all "she"!!!

We had a rotisserie chicken, macaroni and cheese (new recipe), asparagus and spinach salad. Michael was going to watch a movie and I was off to bed, since once again my feet were throbbing! I hope Michael gets well soon. I feel like my other half has been "gone" all weekend. I don't like seeing him like this and I'm praying I "get him back" soon!!! At least he has this week to get 100% well before starting his new job next Monday! :)

April 26 - Anatomy Ultrasound & Gender Reveal Party

Michael and I both slept awful. He was coming down with what we think was a sinus infection, so neither of us got much sleep. I had an event early Friday morning and he had a job interview. So that was the beginning of our long day ahead.

My event went well and I was back in the office trying to concentrate until noon, when I planned on leaving to get ready for our doctor's appointment and the party. Michael's interview went great...he was hired on the spot! He starts in a week. We are both so happy!!!

We ate a quick lunch at home and then it was off to the hospital for the anatomy ultrasound. I was told to drink 32 ounces of water prior to the appointment, so since we had to get there 30 minutes early, I used that time to drink my two bottles of water. I was finishing up the bottle of Kiwi Strawberry flavored water, when they called my name. I told Michael I thought I may pee on the exam table, either from all the water or the excitement - I wasn't sure! Michael was not feeling well, but he assured me he was just as anxious as I was. The setup of the room was not like the one at our doctor's office. She told Michael to sit on the opposite wall from me! I asked if he could come closer and she said he could stand at the end of the bed... On top of that, the screen was perpendicular to me, so I had to uncomfortably turn my entire head to the side to even get a glimpse of the screen. She was not very informative about what we were seeing on the screen, until I started to ask a hundred questions. I hated that Michael was so far away from me and we couldn't even hold hands during this special moment that was coming.

Then, she begins looking around to "discover" the gender. As for us, we can't make out a thing on the screen. Michael described it perfectly - it looked like a lava lamp! She says after a few moments, "I think it's a girl." I had imagined this moment being so beautiful; perhaps I put too much thought and hype into it. She was only "fairly confident" that it was a girl. We told her we were having a gender reveal party that night, so she tried looking again. She informed us that usually if it were a boy, you should be able to see the boy parts by this point (20 weeks). So since she didn't see them, she assumes it's a girl. She said she was 80% sure, but I didn't hear that number so I asked her what "fairly confident" meant - if she was 90% sure and she said she could say that! So I guess that's pretty good odds, but it's still not certain. Although, it may always be like that for a girl. She said you can usually see 3 lines for a girl, but she was not able to clearly see that either. I am hoping that our 21 week appointment with our OB, she will do an ultrasound and be able to let us know for sure. The only picture we got was of "her" feet. She kicked me at the exact moment the lady took the picture. There were a couple pictures of the face, but they look scary since you can only see the eye sockets; it looks like "ghost rider" (according to Michael).

So leaving the hospital, we were both not nearly as excited as we thought we would be. Not that we were upset it was a girl, we just felt like we didn't know for sure. And we had a Gender Reveal Party to throw! We went home and filled the balloons for the Reveal box and packed up the car and headed out. We arrived at Bear Creek Park, where my parents and Mallory were already setting up. Jen and Mike arrived shortly thereafter. We had the tables covered, food prepared and ready, decorations out and ready for our guests at 6 pm. Michael's parents ended up sick, so they were unable to be there, which is another reason our minds just weren't in it. The attendees included: my parents, Jen, Mike, Amy, Ga, Pa, Bill, Milly, Elyse, Philip, Carrie, Mallory, Josh, Ashley, Nathan, Brie, Chelsea, Jeff and Grayson.

Mallory had her camera set up and we were ready for the reveal right at 7 pm. We brought the box of balloons out to the grassy area and everyone was gathered around. My mom was chanting "girl, girl, girl" and my dad was trying to peak through the cracks. On 3, we opened the box. 1, 2, 3....and out went the pink balloons! My mom was overwhelmed that her first grandchild would a baby girl and my dad started making his rounds to tell everyone that he KNEW it was going to be a girl! Ashley flew into the air, as she was ecstatic that her daughter Brie would have a girl friend, and Chelsea came up to me covered in goosebumps - she said she had chills she was so happy for us! We then let everyone know that they were only 80% sure at this point, and hope to find out soon! The rest of the family hugged us and congratulated us, telling us if they were right or wrong in their predictions. It was so sweet to be surrounded by all the love!!!

At this point, people could dig into the cupcakes, since they were filled with pink icing...and off limits until we had revealed the gender! They were Cookies and Cream flavored - my favorite! Thanks to my friend Robin Garcia with Cupcake Central for making these gems. I can never have enough!!

Michael and I called his parents and his Mamaw to let them know the news. Michael told them to hold off on the shopping until we knew for sure. My family is the opposite - I know it's going to be hard to resist shopping for a little girl, regardless of that 20% margin. We did not expect any gifts, but I guess people could not resist. We got a beautiful silver frame from Amy, wipes from my parents, diapers from my grandparents, assorted baby items from the Fullers, "lips" pacifier from Mal and Josh, adorable duck outfit from the Bayer's and 2 outfits and the cutest shoes from my sister and brother-in-law.

Everyone got a Hershey's bar (or a handful) on the way out.

We cleaned up and headed to Los Cucos for a late dinner. All of us had aching feet. This mama had not sat down since the doctor's office! Michael felt miserable and we were both ready for bed! First, we had to go tell Grandmere the news though... My parents, Jen, Mike, the Bayer's and us all gathered around and I gave Grandmere a cupcake. She already had a clothespin with a mustache in her hand, showing she predicted a boy! I reminded her that if the inside was pink it was a girl and blue for a boy. She opened up big and took a bite. I asked her what color was inside and she said "yellow" (because of the cake). She went in for another bite, but still couldn't see the pink clearly because of all the frosting, so I took the toothpick and wiped away the white icing. I told her it was pink for a girl! She said "I guess we'll accept her!" Everyone laughed. I said "She'll be sweet like me" and she said "She couldn't be." I know she will love her great-grandchild no matter what, she had just been calling my belly John for months now! And I can't blame her...someone as sweet me - that's going to be tough! :)

After thanking all of our family for everything, we headed home and went straight to bed. Well, I did...poor (and ever so sweet) Michael offered to sleep on the couch. He didn't want to get mama sick!

Thanks again to everyone for all the support, love and gifts. We appreciate it all! For those who were not able to attend the party, you were there in spirit and we have plenty of time to celebrate the coming of our little girl (...or boy)!

April 23 - 20 weeks

Congratulations to me! I've hit the halfway mark in my pregnancy. So I'm thinking I deserve something special for making it to this point! What do you think???

The top of my uterus is about level with my belly button, and per our last appointment I had only gained 3 pounds (pretty sure in the past month I've gained a couple more though). My doctor said that was okay, since I had a "little extra" weight to start with. :)

PB weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He/she is also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against their torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, they're measured from head to toe).

Our baby is swallowing more these days, which is good practice for their digestive system. He/she is also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in their bowels, and apparently we'll see it in their first soiled diaper (although some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery)...

At this point it's important for me to get lots of iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, my body needs more iron to keep up with my expanding blood volume, as well as for our growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. However, I feel like I have been eating less of it, since it should be cooked well-done - who likes a well-done steak? Not me! Poultry, especially the dark meat, also contains iron (go figure I always go for the white meat). Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals. I also heard that a lack of iron could also be the reason for my headaches. I plan on discussing this with my OB next Thursday at our appointment.

At the hospital on Friday, I plan on asking about classes they offer for expecting parents. It's about that time, especially since we're first-timers! I get lots of advice and questions answered from other mommies too. Although I'm not sure if you are ever actually "ready"...not until the baby is here and then the rest just falls into place!

April 23

So I had my third dream last night that our baby is a boy! He was very tan, with blue eyes and brown hair and probably weighed 12 pounds! He was BIG!!! Jen had another dream last night too about the gender reveal. She has had two previous dreams that it was a boy, but last night we revealed it was a girl! She seems to think all of these last minute dreams showing it is a boy will prove to be wrong. Either way, boy or  girl, I just hope they arrive before they weigh 12 pounds! :)

When I was born I had brown eyes, brown hair and tan skin. As I grew older my hair faded into blonde and then back to brown again. Michael had fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. He was considered a "tow-head" for years, as his hair was more white than blonde! So, boy or girl, I cannot wait to see how our child turns out. They will be beautiful...no doubt there!

I received an email yesterday from my good friend Ashley. She is a mother of a soon-to-be 3 year old. It contains a list of 8 products that you think you need, but don't really use! Very interesting article - feel free to check it out!

I have also recently read the Top Ten Best Foods During Pregnancy:

• Eggs - I have been eating a LOT more since I've been pregnant; we go through 18 packs every 1-2 weeks!
• Salmon - allergic to seafood :(
• Beans - I could eat more black beans and chickpeas; the extra fiber could surely help!!
• Sweet potatoes - unfortunately, I'm not a fan
• Popcorn and other whole grains - don't care for popcorn, but I enjoy oatmeal, cereal and whole grain bread
• Walnuts - love nuts in my salad, and they're full of Omega-3s.
• Greek yogurt - I eat at least 1 Activia yogurt daily...and I'm about to try to the new Activia Greek yogurt! Jamie Lee Curtis swears by it. :)
• Dark green, leafy vegetables - we have been getting the big things of fresh spinach every 2-3 weeks! Full of vitamins A, C & K!
• Lean meats - staying away from deli meats and hotdogs, as their packed with sodium and could pass on bacteria; our freezer is stocked with chicken and deer meat!
• Colorful fruits and veggies - different minerals and vitamins across the spectrum; plus the baby is more likely to recognize and accept those foods later, if they try it first in the womb.

We picked up some Bio-Oil at Costco a couple weeks ago, per the recommendations of two mothers. I have been applying that on my belly, chest, rump, lower back and upper thighs to prevent stretch marks. They say they're mostly genetic, but my mother seems to have repressed most of her pregnancy memories and is not sure if she had them or not.

I have read that I will start growing even faster in the weeks to come. As a result, I may notice some achiness in my lower abdomen or even an occasional brief, stabbing pain on one or both sides — especially when shifting positions or at the end of an active day. Most likely, this is round ligament pain. The ligaments that support my uterus are stretching to accommodate its increasing weight. This is completely normal.

I may also get patches of darkened skin caused by a temporary increase in pigment. When these darker patches appear on your upper lip, cheeks, and forehead, they're called chloasma, or the "mask of pregnancy." You may also notice some darkening of your nipples, freckles, scars, underarms, inner thighs, and vulva. I have noticed a red patch on the bottom of my right foot and just recently some patchiness above my lip...assuming that is all part of this process! There's an Old Wives Tale that says if your skin doesn't change it's a boy, and if it does, you're having a girl....because she is "borrowing your beauty"! Perhaps that is the case...

Lastly, here is a picture of me last night...and my growing belly!

April 22

Saturday, there was an "Expo" at Babies R Us. So Michael and I got up and headed to BRU. It was a pretty lame Expo, if you ask me. There was an unattended table at the entrance with a few items, brochures, coupons and note cards. Finally an employee approached us and I asked if I could enter the giveaway. I wrote my name down and threw it in the bag. She told us there were tables throughout the store with product info and coupons. We grabbed a free Graco onesie at the next table and a coupon for 20% off Graco Strollers. Then we started roaming the aisles...comparing products. My mom arrived to check out the Expo too! We looked at strollers and that was interesting seeing the mommy-to-be test out the snap-and-go strollers! Let's just say it's a good thing PB wasn't in there!!! I could only maneuver 1 out of the 3 we tried. So after analyzing the design, structure, price...and mommy's capabilities, I think we decided on which stroller we are going to go for. :)

We also looked at Pack-and-Plays, which seem like they will be a good alternative to a crib for the first few months, especially if we decide to stay in the one-bedroom apartment. We headed over to apparel and at that point Michael had to step outside, as we had been there over an hour by now! We looked at clothes, and ended up buying a boy outfit and girl outfit - couldn't resist! My mom and Michael ended up sneaking over to the door prize table and filling out their entry as well. We bought the last of the Huggies Natural Care wipes (the kind we are hoping PB likes - as we have already begun stocking up on them)...they were a great deal! Cheapest around, plus an additional sale! I was surprised, since I always thought BRU had pretty high prices, but it turns out they have good sales too. They also will match competitors prices - just saying! :)

Two hours later, we finally made it to the checkout. Right after swiping my card, I hear "Jaime Hassig". They drew my name and we won a door prize. That made us all feel like the extended shopping time was well worth it! After BRU, I had to run an errand for work and we ended up strolling around some stores in Katy - it was good walking for both of us! We were starving and decided to stop at Landry's on the way home for lunch. It was a long day, but we had fun!!

Now it's Monday...and I can't seem to stop yawning. Michael is away this week in Austin. He left for a job early yesterday morning and won't be back until Thursday night. I didn't sleep well with him gone... surprisingly considering how much I complain about his snoring when he is there! And on top of that, the cable box in the bedroom has to be replaced. Saturday night, I was not happy with at&t, but they didn't care. I'm just one more customer to them. I spent 2-3 hours on the website and phone with technical support trying to resolve the issue, but no luck. So they said they'd send a new one in 3 days...ugh! And I am responsible for setting it all up and returning the old box via UPS. Bottom line, no Michael and no tv. It's going to be a quiet week! :(

On the bright side, only 4 more days until we find out what gender our first born child will be. I am so excited. I keep going back and forth about not finding out in the room, but waiting for the surprise reveal with my family. I really am unsure what I want to do. As much as I would like it to be a surprise for all of us, I can't imagine not finding out with Michael! We'll see...

The gender reveal party is set for Friday, for our families and a couple of very close friends. We wanted to keep it small and intimate, since this is such an important milestone along this journey. Yesterday, I went and bought stuff for the party and then headed to my parents to do some of the extras - design signs, print cards, etc. I must say I am quite pleased with the design - the invitations, ideas, artwork, etc. If I didn't love my job so much, I may go into a side business. lol



April 17 - 19 Weeks

Our baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. The hair on their scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: PB's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he/she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you....I know Michael may not think that's a good idea (he thinks may singing is...not quite up there with Mariah Carey to say the least).

Last weekend, Mamaw Frances gave us Michael's grandfather's silver baby cup. She was so excited to give that to Michael, as he was very close to his "Caca" before he passed. We have it displayed in the curio cabinet at home. :)



Plans are well underway for the big gender reveal...next Friday! One week from today, we will know if we are having a little man or little miss! Can't hardly wait. I am still undecided if I am going to find out in the room or at the reveal party. Michael looks forward to seeing the baby on the ultrasound screen every chance we get, so he will for sure see it in the room. I do not know if I could stand not seeing the screen. Perhaps I may not know what I am going to do until I am in the room, God will help me decide what I should do. So until then, what do you think...



Boy???



Or girl???



April 15

I am feeling baby flutters more and more. It's such a cool feeling to know that is your little one inside...and not gas! He/she is getting stronger too. Occasionally I feel it more than others and it starts to scare me when I don't feel the thumps for a long period of time. I guess that's motherly instinct kicking in! Michael thinks it may be a boy in there rough-housing...or it could be a girl practicing her pirouettes and kicks! Daddy says if it's a little girl, she will learn to hunt and fish with him. However, she is going to give dance a try (or two)! Apparently I was in dance as a little girl and didn't like it. Once I got to junior high, I asked my mom why I wasn't in dance and she told me that, but sure enough my interest had changed and for the next decade of my life I was in dance classes!

Most of you know I am counting down the days until we know the gender....11 more to go! I get more and more excited everyday. We went to Costco yesterday and Michael and I strolled through the clothing section. All of the clothes were so stinking cute - boys and girls both! I am worried I'm going to want to buy them all as soon as we leave the doctor's office!

Speaking of, I also cleaned out the hall closet yesterday. It has a small toolbox, vacuum and my bag of gift bags in it - that's all! I cleaned out all of my jackets (thinking the cold weather was gone for the season) and moved them to the back of the bedroom closet. The racks are at max capacity, so I'm not sure when any additional maternity clothes are going to go. However, Michael has one whole side of the closet all to himself! And PB gets the hall closet, which we will add an additional rod to for extra clothes. Because you know any child of mine is going to be well-dressed and accessorized!

We did make a big purchase today - our rocking recliner. We decided a recliner would be more suiting than a glider or rocking chair, because it will go in the living room, until we move out of the one-bedroom apartment. Also it is more appropriate to have around the house before AND after a baby. We will get lots of use out of it and it actually cost us less than the glider/ottoman that I liked at Babies R Us. Daddy brought it up the stairs and set it up all by himself! I love him. Just had to make him promise not to enjoy it too much before the baby comes. I don't want it worn before then, since that is why we bought it in the first place! :)



Our new rocking recliner...instead of a nursery glider. Sooo comfy!!


I think I've been sleeping better at night. It could be the result of a number of things - 2nd trimester, the new ear plugs I'm wearing at night (to block out Daddy's sleeping), or the preggie pillow. The pillow takes up a lot of room in our queen-sized bed, but if it helps Mommy get her beauty sleep, it's worth it! I think Daddy has been sleeping okay, considering the lack of room he gets, because I "hit" him less during the night when I am actually sleeping!

Can you tell which side is mine?

April 10 - 18 Weeks

Head to rump, our baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weighs almost 7 ounces. PB is busy flexing his/her arms and legs — movements that I'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. If our baby is a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If our baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, although he may hide them during an ultrasound! lol



So since the due date changed at last week's doctor's
appointment, our baby is actually 18 weeks today!



Our baby's ears now stand out from their head. So in just a few weeks, I'm thinking we should start reading to the little one. And if I haven't said it enough, in just two more weeks we will know the gender! Not sure if this means anything, but in the midst of all my crazy dreams, I had one last night that I gave birth to a little girl. :) While that sounds beautiful (which she was)...the dream was rather vivid! I actually cut the umbilical cord myself. I am hopeful that is not the actual case in 6 months (I don't think that will happen - someone will make sure of that)!! I have had a handful of strange dreams, but I think this one is up there. Some people wonder why pregnant women have such crazy dreams... Well, hormone levels are all over the map and we're about to undergo one of the biggest life events imaginable — which is enough to give anyone the occasional nightmare. In fact, vivid, bizarre or even terrifying dreams during pregnancy are probably the mind's natural way of dealing with the anxiety, excitement and fear that accompany childbirth.



Another change that I'm having to deal with is the lack of sleep and comfort at night. I have heard that pregnant women should lie on their side, preferably their left, and not on their stomach (obviously) or back. Wondering why? Well, when a women lies flat on her back, her uterus can partially compress a major vein (called the inferior vena cava) that returns blood from the lower half of her body to the heart. Lying on her side (or even tilted just a bit to the side), particularly the left side, prevents this compression and improves her blood flow. Now I'm starting to think that it's time to upgrade the mattress, since I toss and turn from left to right all night long. My hips have been bothering me more lately, even during the day. My cousin, Kelly, let me borrow her Leachco Back 'n Belly Contoured Body pillow and my mom just finished making me a new pillow case for it. So I may try that out tonight. Although the bed is a queen size, so it's going to be a tight fit! If it means mommy sleeping better at night, it's well worth it! Right Daddy??

April 8 - 17 weeks

Our baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — their lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. He/she weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and is around 5 inches long from head to bottom. The baby can move their joints, and their sweat glands are starting to develop.




PB is about the size of a turnip.


At this point, I'm sometimes feel a bit off balance. As my belly grows, my center of gravity changes, so I have begun to occasionally feel a little unsteady on my feet. People have been telling me for weeks, that they didn't wear heels when they were pregnant. Well, I have been determined to still look cute while pregnant. However, flats seems to be more and more common lately... I also get nervous walking down the stairs; I am always sure to hold on to the rail and go very slow. I have missed a step a few times, almost causing an accident, but I stopped myself prior to tripping. I recently read that my eyes may dry out faster, which seems to be a constant problem of mine. I used to use eye drops daily, but about a year ago, I stopped doing that as they seemed to have gotten better. I may need to see my eye doctor soon to see if I need to get that Rx filled again. I was thinking it was just my allergies...again!

I received a call from the doctor this morning, with the results from last week's lab work. They did a screening for down syndrome for the baby and tested my thyroid. The down syndrome screening came back negative. This was the second test for this, but they said it was completely separate than the first one. Nonetheless, both were negative!! However, the thyroid test came back borderline. Hyperthyroidism refers to the signs and symptoms which are due to the production of too much thyroid hormone. My doctor wants to put me on a low-dose medication to see if that helps. Since thyroid medications are essentially identical to the thyroid hormone made by the normal thyroid gland, a woman with an under active thyroid gland can feel confident that it is perfectly safe to take thyroid hormone medication during pregnancy. She is going to keep a close eye on this, giving me a Rx for 2 months, and will test me again in June. At that time, she will decide if I no longer need it or if we need to change the dosage or Rx type. I have done some reading on thyroid problems during pregnancy, but trying not to do too much research and get more worried than necessary. I will go pick up my Rx today after work and we'll take it from there. I already have questions to ask my doctor at next month's visit in regards to hyperthyroidism, Graves' Disease, etc. I am praying that everything gets under control with this medication, so not to put me at high-risk...

Wednesday, I go to see a Pulmonary Specialist to make sure our baby is getting enough oxygen. Our doctor expressed concern about my asthma reacting this way at 17 weeks, as it is only going to get worse the further into the pregnancy we get. I am getting short of breath very easily. I also have experienced some dizziness, which I'm thinking could be related to the lack of oxygen. She ensured me that using an inhaler more frequently or daily is okay, especially if the alternative is my baby and me not getting enough oxygen! The risks always outweighed with the harms.

Last night, Michael and I decided how we would find out the gender of the baby. We are still working out details to decide how we will notify all of the family. I am thinking we will have some sort of get-together the weekend after we get the news, April 26-28. So if you're family, save the date! And hopefully today, I will get around to calling the hospital to book the appointment.

Lastly, this past weekend was very special for our little family. After 4 1/2 years of dating, my parents and Michael's parents FINALLY met! He is from Deer Park and I am from west Houston, so there was always the distance...and never really an urgent need to get together. Now that we have an extra special reason, it was even more of a reason to happen. Michael's parents drove out to Katy on Saturday afternoon, they got to see the apartment and catch up with us. Then my parents arrived and everyone met and mingled over crackers and cheese. I had picked Lomonte's Italian Restaurant for dinner. It is one of Michael and my favorites, plus my family has been going there for years! It was a really special night and everyone got along great! I feel so blessed for our family, and hope that these get-togethers will happen much more often now.

Papaw, Mamaw, Grammy & Grumpy

April 4 - "16 Week" Doctor's Appointment

Our third doctor's appointment was this morning at 8 am. So glad that our doctor is only half a mile from the apartment. I must say I did a good job finding her!! She is a great doctor, and I love that her office is that close to home! No ultrasound this week, but we did get to hear the heartbeat. It took awhile - she wasn't finding it at first and I was getting worried. My face must have said it all; she told me it's like finding a needle in a haystack. However, she ended up finding PB off to the left side of my tummy. That was cool, because the other night I thought the left side of me was where he/she was hanging out. Now I don't know if they move that much from left to right at this point and it was just coincidence, or perhaps it was that motherly instinct already kicking in and me knowing where my child was!

I had a whole list of questions for her and I fired away, right after listening to the heartbeat. She had lots of good answers for us. She said it was too early to be thinking about some things like breastfeeding (which I have been thinking about a LOT) and a birth plan (it's nice to know your options, but having a long list of "musts" may result in disappointment). She said we could go to some classes to get educated if we want, but it is still pretty early. I asked about going to a chiropractor who specializes in pregnancy, she said at this point she did not think that was necessary. I expressed my concern of getting gestational diabetes from eating too much fruit. She said she didn't think that would be a problem, but suggested I get the "What to Eat When You're Expecting" book for more information. She also was not too concerned with the fact that I had not gained an ounce since my 12 week appointment! Considering I had a few extra pounds to start with, I am still providing plenty of nourishment for me and the baby! I feel (and look) like I'm gaining weight; I honestly thought the scale was going to be plus 10 today! However, she said it's probably due to the changes in my diet and said it is nothing to worry about. So that easily justified our trip to the donut shop after the appointment, because I had some weight to gain and kolaches to consume!

I asked her about the due date, since at our last appointment they said the due date looked like September 6 based on the baby's size. She thinks that since we did not have an accurate date of my last cycle, that it was could have been off to start with. So she picked a date in the middle of September 6 and September 16 (our original due date) and decided on September 11 as our EDD (estimated date of delivery), which means I'm now 17 weeks pregnant! It's like I jumped a week. :) This also means that is one less week we have to wait to find out the gender of our first born! We got our doctor's orders for the anatomy ultrasound and are supposed to go in 3 1/2 weeks. Michael and I have talked more about how we will find out the gender. I don't want to find out in the exam room of a hospital - I want it to be something fun and pretty. I also would like it documented (someone taking pictures) so we can have those reactions/facial expressions captured and able to look back on years from now. :) Maybe even have our parents there with us... Again, we are still discussing our options. I just can't believe that we'll know the gender in less than a month!!!!

I once again had to give blood, which I am starting to get used to. I have given more blood since January than I have in the past 20+ years of life! Additionally, I really do not care for that laboratory - it grosses me out and the employees don't seem to like their job too much. I was tested today for my thyroid and another form of down syndrome. There was a girl in the waiting room named "Ashley Ashley" - she said she married a guy who just happened to have the same last name as her first name. You can't help who you fall in love with, but that's definitely a conversation starter that has got to get old!

Speaking of names, I have been thinking more and more about baby names and I thought I had my favorite four. After discussing them with Daddy last night, it turns out he doesn't like one of them...and I can live with that, there are plenty of other names for us to choose from. :) So I revisited my list...and I think it grew more!

One of my other coworkers just returned from maternity leave. She had her baby at the end of January. She stopped by my office and we talked for awhile about babies. She was full of good stuff too! She told me to be sure and take as many receiving blankets, diapers, wipes and pads from the hospital as possible! You're paying for it all - might as well! She also told me some of the ugly facts that no one told her about - I will refrain from mentioning that stuff here, for those of you who still want to have children one day! :) She stressed on the quantity of diapers and wipes you will go through, even suggested the possibility of having a diaper/wipe shower! She also gave me a heads up about our insurance, the company's maternity leave and how much I can expect to pay out of pocket once the baby is here and all bills come in - about $4000! That ain't no joke.

I would be lying if I said I was not scared. That being a mother in less 6 months didn't have me thinking non-stop about how my life is going to be forever changed. I always heard that there is never a "perfect time" to have children, that if you wait for the time to be "right", you could be waiting "forever". And the fact of the matter is, that people all over the world have been having children for centuries. We are so much more knowledgeable these days with more educated doctors, medical advances and testing. I consider myself blessed! On a closing note, we both ended up agreeing that if there are 16 year olds out there popping them out, then the two of us grown, responsible, hard-working adults are more than capable of bringing a child into this world without a problem (But really, I'm not sure how some people do it...I'll probably never understand)! God bless all parents...including those of us "to-be"!

April 1 - 16 weeks

Getting ready for a growth spurt... In the next few weeks, our baby will double in weight and add inches to length. Right now, PB is about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. Legs are much more developed, head is more erect than it has been, and eyes have moved closer to the front of the head. Ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of the scalp has begun, though their locks aren't recognizable yet. He/she has even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, the heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as oour baby continues to develop.

They say I will be able to feel the baby move anytime between 16-20 weeks. While some women notice "quickening" as early as 16 weeks, many don't feel their baby move until about 18 weeks or more (and since this is my first baby, I might not be aware of the baby's movements until 20 weeks or so). The earliest movements may feel like little flutters, gas bubbles, or even like popcorn popping. Over the following weeks the baby will grow stronger and I'll be able to feel them much more frequently. I think I may have felt one of these "flutters" on Saturday. I was laying on the couch, and I felt something in my lower abdomen. It's so hard to tell if that was the baby moving or not, but I'm thinking it probably was. Once the little one gets a little bigger and stronger, I am sure I will have no doubt that it is he/she that is beating me up from the inside! I had Michael put his hand on my little belly last night and we tried to figure out if we could feel anything. Michael said he felt a heartbeat - but we weren't sure if it was his, mine or the baby's. I'm pretty sure it was mine...that or the pulse from his fingers! I can't wait until we can both feel the baby moving together! What an exciting experience. :)

Michael and I agreed the mood swings have been less frequent lately, although I was pretty emotional on Sunday. I don't know what it is, but once I start crying, it is REALLY hard to stop the tears at that point!

Ordered a 3 month supply of my prenatal vitamins via mail order today, and a couple pairs or maternity pants. Sitting at my desk today, I was tempted to unbutton my pants. They fit, but after sitting for awhile they become more uncomfortable and am thinking they are only going to get more snug! They say the baby will double in size over the next few weeks. So amazing that just a couple months ago, PB was the size of a sesame seed and in about a month, he/she will measure about 10 inches from head to heel!! Wow...what a miracle?!