Snow Day

Snow days are the best surprises! One down - two to go!

Week 15

Baby is the size of a navel orange (not a clementine, people!)

Due to the late time of our re-arrival in Pennsylvania today, the picture for this week is inside...and on cold day it may be in the future as well. Baby had a great trip to DC to visit Aunt Sheila and see Rose's show. Baby is still playing peek a boo, popping out and then hiding behind a (semi) flat stomach the next morning. Mind you, I'm not complaining, but it can make getting dressed in the morning a bit difficult. If I try to wear "normal" pants, I just always pack the Bella Band just in case. For any pregnant people who are unaware of this product, I highly recommend it.

Maternity Wear Madness

I went on a shopping spree on Old Navy Online last night. Fortunately a gift card took the hit and if anything doesn't fit it can be returned to the store. Will keep you all posted!

Registry Review

Jeff and I took the big step of registering today at both Babies R Us and Target. I feel we were pretty thorough in our selections, but I am putting this out there to solicit feedback. Anything you see that seems totally nuts or excessive or any blatant oversights that are missing? Any feedback on products that you have experience with? With all that in mind, please don't be insulted if we either keep something on that we still feel strongly about or don't add something you may have suggested. Also, if you presently own something that is on the list and don't have a child of an age to utilize it, we will be happy to take it off your hands and off the registry. Some notable items that you might find us lacking in:
* Breast Pump - I'm planning to get the Medela Backpack Pump, but am also looking into the option of renting and looking at hand pumps as well since a friend suggested this.
* Diapers - we're planning to go with cloth, but likely from a website recommended by a friend.
* Baby Wipes - same as above.
* Swing/Bouncer Seat - a friend has the infant seat swing frame and we love the idea that it takes up less space and accomplishes the same goal. Baby does not know if he/she is three inches off the ground or a foot. The pack and play has a vibrating function and often this is the cited reason for the bouncer seat.
* Jumper/Activity Center - to be honest, we had planned to get one and then didn't like it in person. Will cross that bridge when we get there.
*More clothes - We are waiting to find out the gender of baby before registering for more layette items since most of the available garb is gender specific and we did put some gender neutral items on there.
* Storkcraft Recall - there was recently a recall on a specific model of Storkcraft cribs. It is not the one for which we registered, and (at least online) there weren't many other brand options. I like the Storkcraft b/c of the trundle drawer storage. I couldn't find any other brands with the under bed drawer.
* You may notice that the Baby Bjorn made the list after all. While I still prefer the Ergo carrier, Jeff would like the Bjorn for himself and since he'll also be wearing baby, I'm happy to comply :)
* If you don't see it on one of the registries, check on the other. The items on the Target registry which are also available at Babies R Us were either less expensive at Target or the same price. We compared prices whenever possible.

Please post comments below the post so that others can offer feedback upon feedback as well. Keep in mind that this feedback is not just from parents, if you have experience with an item or think something is a stroke of genius, let us know. Please note that I'm not putting this out there at this time to get "stuff"...that will come later :) I genuinely appreciate feedback and notes about missed items. Thanks!!!!

Babies R Us Registry

Target Registry

Figures

We have a snow storm on a day that we already have off school. I realize I'm 27 years old, but I'm still a sucker for a good snow day. One day...one day...

Week 14

Baby is the size of a lemon.

Well, I've been feeling good and looking forward to a day off of school tomorrow - Happy Birthday MLK! This week my mom and sister are in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration of our next president, Barack Obama and I can't wait to hear all about it. Next weekend, Jeff and I (and Faith, Chris, Jeff, and Steph) get to go down to D.C. too, both to visit Sheila and to see Rose's show The Flight Of The Lawnchair Man. I have no idea what it's about, but the title is quite intriguing!!

Crashing into the New Year (or, This Car is Cursed)

Well, after two flat tires in less than a week, I can add to my repertoire of tricks in my "new" car. Evidently, this car really, really misses having Jeff as its primary driver. I was involved in a bit of a car crash on Saturday, which left me shaken for multiple reasons, one of which being the presence of a small child in my stomach and its health and well-being. Another reason being that I was planning to trade this car in within the month and I was awfully concerned about the effect of depreciation on a car following a fender bender of this sort. Good news is I'm fine (a little whiplash sore) and baby's fine. The doctor assured us that the pelvic bones protect the uterus in such a way that a minor accident such as this should not warrant alarm. In other news, whether the car is reparable or totaled, we're trading it in just as soon as possible as it really doesn't seem to like me too much. Yes, I realize that this is not the car's fault, but three such occurrences in less than a month seem like too good of an omen to me.

Our Baby's First Picture

We went on Thursday for our appointment for both a nuchal translucency screening (ultrasound), appointment and blood work. Here are baby's first pictures.




This experience left us, quite simply, speechless. We could see baby moving around and its heart beating. Following the ultrasound, we had an appointment with one of our group practice's doctors. Now, in hindsight, I could have asked some questions about what to expect prior to the doctor placing the heart monitor (audio) on my belly, but long story short, we could not hear the baby's heart beat yet. Well, Jeff and the doctor heard it for a split second, but I missed it. This left me a smidge traumatized to be honest as the doctor searched for close to ten minutes and then stated, "Well, we're not going to hear that today." To which I replied, "Well is this normal? Is everything OK?" Evidently, it is completely normal not to hear the baby's heartbeat at this point (information which would have been nice to know prior to the exam). Hopefully, we'll be able to hear the baby's strong (158 bpm) heart beat next time. We'll keep you posted!

Bad Dreams :(

So, I had a bad dream last night on the eve of our sequential screening appointment that I left school thinking it was 11:30 and got to my car only to realize it was 2:00...and I hadn't drunk my requisite 32 oz of water yet. In my dream state, I'm frantically calling the doctor's office but also explaining that I may need to push back in order to fill my bladder appropriately.

In order to head this problem off, I decided that we'll be going to the hospital super early so that we're just there already. We can walk around and get the lay of the land, get to know where the cafeteria and the gift shops are, you know...totally normal.

Week 13

Baby is the size of a peach this week.

The Eagles won today when they played the Giants in Playoff Game # 2. In this picture, I'm sporting one of Tarra's pairs of maternity jeans (very comfy). As you can see in the background, there is a smidge of snow on the ground. An intense snowstorm was predicted yesterday, but it was quite a disappointment. Hopefully we'll enjoy some more snow this season in the background as the weeks progress. And hopefully, I'll be sporting Eagles green on Superbowl Sunday (week 16 - stay tuned). This week we'll have our sequential screening on Thursday, so (fingers crossed) pictures of our little Peach will be posted here soon enough.

Ergo

After soliciting advice about baby carriers, potties, and cloth diapering from my friend, Hillary, I think I'm in love. I originally planned to register for a Baby Bjorn Carrier but after checking out the Ergo Baby Carriers website I'll be whistling a different tune. It looks equally comfortable, if not more, and with a testimonial from Hillary (a chica who enjoys being comfortable), I feel confident that it is. The carrier also comes with pouches to carry other items and a hood for the baby to be covered up on top. Hillary offered to lend me the infant insert which will also be helpful. Overall, I'm also impressed with the story behind the product created by Karin Frost in Hawaii, and the availability of organic materials for both the carriers and other accessories. I've come to terms with the fact that not everything for baby can/will be organic, but in those areas where we'll be spending lots of time, I think it is important, and hopefully the carrier will be one of those areas. Now - the tricky part is that I can't register for the item as it's available at a select few stores (one of which is local to Huntingdon Valley) and online, so I'll have to sort that out, but overall I'm very impressed with this product and suggest you all check out the site.

My Own Worst Enemy

Well, after the exciting purchase of a new car, I began driving my husband's old car (note - it was still newer than my old car). On the first day (New Year's Eve), I got a flat tire (woh, woh, woh). I got it repaired on Friday. I didn't drive it much in the meantime over the weekend. I drove to work on Monday, home to eat dinner, and then to Babies R Us to purchase a shower gift (and do some research, who am I kidding?). While driving home, I came to realize that I had a flat tire AGAIN in the same tire. I immediately blamed the repair work in my mind. Today, my wonderful husband took the tire to be checked out and as it turns out, someone does not like me! My tire was slashed...and I think it was at Babies R Us! Who would have thought Babies R Us could be such a dangerous parking lot?

Shopping Spree

I went on the best kind of shopping spree. The kind where I get to visit a friend and I don't have to spend any money at all! My friend Tarra was willing to share many of her maternity clothes, given the provision that I give them back (of course). Among the new finds are two pairs of jeans (very comfy) and some really cute t-shirts including one that looks like a football jersey and says "kicking 24/7". I can't wait until it's true! If anyone else out there is willing to part with some maternity clothes, I am more than willing to be a charity case :) I am planning to shop for some dress pants for work some time soon. I may see how long the Bella Band lasts as an in between solution.

Week 12

Baby is the size of a plum.

Go Eagles! Today, the Eagles play the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs.
It is miraculous that they are in the playoffs at all. E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

Back to Reality

Ugh - after close to two weeks off (I know...poor me), it's time to return to work tomorrow. I definitely need to go to bed very early because I've gotten into a very bad habit of sleeping in...really late. I love my job, I love my job, I love my job. And I really do - hopefully I'll still love it tomorrow.

I'm Me Again!

Well - in the eating department anyway. I spent a good majority of today preparing food for school for next week. Salads, fruits, sandwiches, carrots, celery, yogurt, yum! For the past month or so I haven't been able to stomach/look at/enjoy my usual menu and I'm really looking forward to its return. I'm also enjoying a fruit smoothie right now, mmmm. That's the other thing - energy is back and I'm definitely going to take advantage of the next three months because according to the literature, I can expect to return to slug-like speed during the final three months of this adventure. But, today, I definitely accomplished more than I have in many a Saturday of late. I'm also back to yoga, but I'm trying out different pre-natal yoga dvd's from the library. The one I'm working on right now is quite effective, but the instructor may be a bit too eccentric. Yesterday, I felt a little silly doing some of the "moves" but today it seemed more natural - maybe I'm just getting more eccentric as well. Tomorrow will mark the finish of my 11th week. We're almost into the second trimester. Wow - time flies!

Crampy Mc Cramps

Something no one told me in advance was about the cramps. Now, every woman is at least mildly familiar with cramps on a monthly basis. Well, when you're pregnant (or at least early on to my early knowledge) that becomes more like a weekly basis - surprise! Explanation - your uterus is growing and evidently that hurts. The first cramps I experienced were prior to confirmation of the presence of a child in my womb, so I expected the worst...and was pleasantly surprised to find out he/she was holding on anyway and more room was being made in there. So - for anyone else who will be a first timer - get ready for a different kind of fun. And remember - it's a good thing :)

Happy New Year

The news is out - I'm pregnant!!! 2009 may be our happiest new year yet. Baby is due to arrive on or around (I'm no fool) July 19th and Jeff and I have been preparing ourselves as best we can. Last night we had friends over for a New Years PJ party and we played a game called "Imagniff...". My question read something like this, "Imagine if Ellen were a home" and so I interrupted...I am, tehe. The other day, Jeff and I took a different big step - we bought a new car! Though many may doubt my honesty here, it had nothing to do with baby coming. The new car, though it will make a good daddy-mobile serves its purpose mostly for transporting goods for Jeff's job. The next step will now be trading in the two door civic for a more suitable option. We were planning on getting a Honda Fit, but now I'm thinking about trunk space for a large stroller...hmm. I'll have to take some measurements. "I hope you have a big trunk, 'cause I'm putting my bike in it."