Mama of baby O

Baby Abigail Hope

2010-02-05T04:16:00.000-08:00

I have decided to start blogging again now that I am getting a bit more time on my hands.. Baby Abby is growing so fast and so beautiful. Who knew it was possible to love another human being so strongly and ferociously!!!! The last 5 months have been an amazing journey into motherhood.. She has changed our life and we thank our lucky stars everyday for her.. I will start writing our journey and her growth along with my birth story.. It will be the first time I have sat down and documented the 48 hours worth of labor.. Scary yet exciting to put it on paper (or computer)

40 weeks 5 days..

2009-08-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

Everything is still great here.. baby is super comfortable but after my appt. yesterday Kelli says she has dropped about two inches.. so we are moving in the right direction to meeting this little pumpkin. I am going to the chiropractor again today and she is going to use websters on me then send me out for a walk then bring me back in for another adjustment.. Hopefully this is helping speed up the process and make it easier for baby to get through the canal. I have developed a rash on my belly called puppp.. It is no danger to me or the baby just itchy!!!! So I am drinking dandelion leaf tea and using hydrocortizone cream on my belly all the time! Going in on Friday for a biophysical profile which is just a longer sonogram to make sure everything with the baby is cool and that her movements, respiration, heartbeats etc.. are doing great. they like to do they every week after your 40th week, just to insure no fetal distress etc..

She is still moving like crazy and reminding me that she is excited to soon meet us!!!!!

Your dad and I cant wait to meet you angel!!!!!!!!!

waiting...today is my third day past my 40 week due date

2009-08-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

I am still feeling pretty good.. No signs of labor have started to note.. Even with all the coaxing John and I and everyone else are doing in begging her to come on out.. She seems to be just relaxing and taking her time. No new changes here.. Just walking, squatting, and talking to her and telling her to come out......

waiting..

2009-08-13T04:53:00.000-07:00

So I am loving waiting for spontaneous labor.... I love the mystery of it. The whole unknown, when will it happen... sooooo exciting.. To prevent coming down to total crunch time I am trying to be proactive.. I walked quite a bit on Tuesday afternoon and then went yesterday for a chiropractic adjustment to engage the baby into my pelvis... This is recommended and is something called the websters technique. The lady I saw has about 80 percent of her practice being expecting moms and babies. She has a very high success rate and I have plans to go back on Monday if I havent gotten any results yet. This weekend I have lots of mall walking plans and Im going to work on squats and anything else that will open up my pelvis to welcome this baby to the world. I am waiting for some signs that things are getting started but so far nothing to really report.

40 weeks

2009-08-10T04:58:00.000-07:00

Well this week is finally the week I have been waiting for... I am 40 weeks pregnant and now we are just waiting for baby... This weekend we put the car seat in the car to prepare for her arrival. We had a pool party and I loved being weightless floating in the pool... Saturday night was dinner at Texas de Brazil and it was yummy.... Sunday we tried to relax.. We ran to Michaels for some frames for the babies room and Johns work. Then I really focused on napping and resting.. Started practicing my crochetting.... I have an appt today and we will see how things have progressed.

39 weeks and counting..

2009-08-07T04:47:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was awesome.. Johns sweet co-workers through him a baby shower and I was a surprise guest. He had no idea about it and I kept it a secret for two weeks.. His boss contacted me and told me her plans and asked if I would be able to show up.. I requested the time off and was approved so then we kicked our plan into action. I met his boss at the 7-11 by the campus and she hopped in my car and went to our secret parking location.. John was nowhere to be seen as the party was under the premise of an important "laundry meeting" to start at 3pm.. We gathered in the faculty club where everyone had contributed and decorated beatifully. The room quickly filled up with a ton of people who apparently like John.. Who knew there were so many!!!!!!!! Just kidding!!!!!!! Everyone seemed truly delighted to see me, some I knew some I had only heard about. At 3:05 I was sure John would be stressing due to being late for the "meeting". Upon arriving he came in the door and just looked around still thinking he was at a meeting and not even noticing me sitting there.. He took his seat and realized everyone was still staring directly at HIM!!!!!!!!! The co-workers told him to scoot down to an open seat near me.. He glanced over and still didnt realize it is me his wife next to him.... By this point it is getting really funny and he is looking at the sign on the wall that said Congratulations John and Danielle and it still hadnt registered... Everyone starts pointing at me then he looks over and says "Holy crap what are you doing here?" Then it begins to sink in that this is a surprise for him.. One of his co-workers had made a slide show of John's life size cardboard Joe Paterno cutouts all over campus and showed it on the big screen during the shower. We had cake, fruit, cookies, sodas, and brownies all thanks to the amazing people John works with... They teamed together and got us some surprises.. A beautiful card that everyone signed along with a much too generous gift card for babies r us.. I got a beautiful mom's memory book for the baby. There were beautiful hand crochetted treats, and an adorable onesie that says "Im a tax exemption"

What a great afternoon.. I am grateful John has so many people in his life that love him!!!

39 weeks

2009-08-04T04:51:00.000-07:00

Had a check-up last evening and as usual all went beautifully.. Blood pressure was 114/78 which is still great and urine was nice and boring.. The babies heart beat was nice and variable at about 152-156. She was doing tons of moving and stretching while we were there and im still measuring right on target. We are going to do the next "check" next Monday at that appt.. Kelli is very hands off and I do love that about her. I am excited to see if there has been any progression at the next appt. Abigails original expected date is August 14 which is 10 day from now but she could obviously come anytime from now until the end of the month! Now we are just doing the waiting game.. I think John is more anxious than I am!!! I cant wait to meet her and am excited but he is telling her to hurry up and come out already! No pressure here! I wonder if it is possibly to ever get everything done? I have my wish list of things I would love to do to better prepare myself but I dont know that I will ever see them all through!

I am ready to meet this beautiful baby girl and snuggle with her!!!!

38 weeks 2 days

2009-07-29T04:52:00.000-07:00

I am back from my 2nd long weekend.. I had soooo much fun in my pre-baby playing.. the past weekend I spent with all my best friends from high school.. How blessed I am to have them in my life still.. We really just got to enjoy each others company and have a good time. I was sad to see Mandy leave but she is happy on her little island of St. John and im not sure we will get her back anytime soon...

In babyland I had a check-in on Monday and things are looking really great.. My group B strep came back negative so no need for antibiotics during labor. Kelli thinks that the baby has started to drop a bit as I have more room to breath around the top of my baby house! I haven't really noticed it too much but find it exciting.

The baby is considered full term at this point but I would like her to stay about another two weeks just to be sure her lungs are fully ready to face this world. Although im not a fan of her staying in there too long and getting too big..

This morning John held my belly and invited her to come on out that he was ready to meet her! I told him I had a few more things to do on my list, THEN she can come... Ha.. I think this is the part where I need to learn that she is now going to be my boss!

37 weeks 2 days

2009-07-22T05:10:00.000-07:00

Had my check-up yesterday and was quite surprised to find that i was about 80% effaced and 1 cm dialated.. the reality is I may walk around like this for a month but just very surprising to find out that my body had been doing its magic in preparing me for birth this whole time and I hadnt even known it... My iron test came back great again, and now im just waiting for my group b strep screening to be sure I dont need antibiotics during labor.. hubby was just as amazed to witness and hear the reality about the babies preperation.. we are ever so grateful things are still moving along without a hiccup!!!!! Cant wait to meet our sweet little girl.

37 weeks 1 day.

2009-07-21T05:11:00.000-07:00

Well we have just celebrated our 2nd year of marriage.. Today actually is our anniversary but we spent the weekend enjoying each others company at the Gaylord Palms here in town so that we were not too far away... We spent the time enjoying each others company, floating in the pool, and eating yummy food. Then the rest of the weekend was spent down in Vero visiting with some of my favorite girls....... Mandy is home visiting and just loving seeing Nik and I with our baby bellies.. Her first reaction was tears!!!!! I have an appt. today and will have my iron checked along with my GBS test and to see if there is any progress down in the cervix area!! I am not putting alot into this check as I feel strongly that she is quite comfortable in there and in no hurry to come out!!! Now my check ups will be every week from here to delivery. I have started to feel the "nesting" instinct and am glad that I will be somewhat busy to fight those urges because they saying that falling into that makes you very tired for labor..

So now the baby is considered full term so she will just continue to pack on about 1/2 an ounce a day from here to delivery... Looking forward to meeting her soon.. hopefully she has all my hair.

36 weeks 2 days

2009-07-14T05:31:00.000-07:00

Nursery.. the nursery is almost done.. Im sooooo proud of how it has come together. the only things we need to add are a curtain and a little lamp.

36 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-13T06:20:00.001-07:00

We are in total baby preparation mode.. To think it will be about a month before we get to hold our little angel!!!!!! I was finally able to finish my thank you notes this weekend.. I like to send them in unison as I don't want anyone to not get one and feel slighted even if theirs is in the mail! On Saturday with the help of one of my favorite people, I was able to organize and wrap my mind about how to group things together and where to put things away in the babies room.. Now I'm getting lessons from one of my other favorite people this week for the cloth diapers (finding out what I'm missing, and figuring out how to use all the essentials that I have)... These friends are truly lifesavers and are helping me on this endeavor. We are now collecting all of the necessities we need for the birth and looking forward to our visit this week from our midwife. My sleep has started to get a little strange in the last two days as I am finding it harder to flip from side to side. No other major changes except I am starting to just be a little slower in things that I used to be fast at!

This weekend hubby and I will CELEBRATE our second blissful year of marriage... Time has flown and I know we are stronger now than we knew possible as we have already experienced some trials.. We are spending a few days away together at the Gaylord Palms here in town.. Just a chance to get out of the house and away from our to-do lists..

I am going to be off on a few days vacation here and there between my anniversary and spending time with my Mandy who is coming from the islands for 2 weeks... Yippeee.... I am going to bask in the time with my girls before the baby comes and try to spend some time together.

The baby is continuing on her journey to pack on the pounds before her arrival at a rate of about 1/2 lb a week. Her gums are firm with ridges that will soon hold her teeth. She has definite sleep and awake patterns. They are typically about 6lbs by now and about 18 inches.

So now we wait!!!!!!!!

35 weeks 1 day!

2009-07-07T04:54:00.000-07:00

Working on final touches in the babies room.. It is coming along beautifully. Now we really just have to hang stuff on her walls, I need to get a roman curtain for her window, and a lamp, John needs to paint the little table I picked up then it will be almost complete, Ready for her arrival.

By now babies are typically over 5 pounds and 18 inches long. Kidneys and liver are fully developed and most physical developement is complete. Now it is just time to put a littel meat on the bones. I am finding it very tough to breathe these days, they attribute it to the baby still being high into my ribcage and pushing on my diagphram and lungs. Still getting a pretty good nights rest however I do find myself flipping back and forth from side to side quite frequently. No midwife appt this week but next week she will be here for our home visit. So this week we really need to focus on gathering supplies and making sure we are ready!

I have been busy in the evenings with thank you notes and I am in the process of trying to get those out! Prefer to check things off my "to-do list" rather than add things to it. We have our 2 year anniversary booked for the Gaylord Palms here in Orlando so that we are not too far from home. Two Years on July 21, AMAZING!!! I am more in love today than I thought possible and Im willing to bet that just grows year after year. It helps that I have an amazing partner and someone who always puts me first! For this I am totally Grateful!!!!!!!!! Soon Abigail will know what it is like to have someone like him in her life, he has so much love to share with both of us, and I know he will be a model to what she looks for in a man!

34 weeks 1 day

2009-06-30T05:49:00.000-07:00

34 weeks.. the baby is busy developing her own immune system and preparing for her arrival into the world. by this week they are typically around 17 inches long and weigh close to 5 pounds. I am still carrying the baby realitively high.. I am having a hard time breathing this week since she is pushing against my lungs.

Onto exciting things.. We had our baby shower on Saturday!!!!!! It was beautiful and all I could have dreamed of! There was great food, games, friends, family and presents! I felt like a princess for the day. My husband started off my morning by bringing me a beautiful diamond star necklace for a shower day present!!!! too sweet to me. My sister from Illinois had flown in for the shower so that was so fun. The baby got some beautiful handmade with love blankets from family. My friend hosted just a gorgeous day! I think im still glowing from the whole event. I will post pictures as soon as I have a chance to upload them into an album and on here..

Now we just are waiting for our sweet arrival. The next midwife appt. we have is our 36 week home appointment and Im looking forward to that and the last minute details!

33 weeks!!!!!!!!! 7ish left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-22T04:54:00.001-07:00

Can't wait to meet my pumpkin, getting excited feeling her rolling around in there each day! Last week was hectic as this week will be also!!!! Friday night we finished our last childbirth class, it was sad to know that Im not going to see the girls for a while but we are planning a reunion class after we have the baby as we are the last ones in the class to go!!! Our baby will be the princess of the party since all the others have boys! Saturday was a busy but fun day, we spent the morning with my in-laws on a hunt for the babies bedroom furniture... We finally found something that John and I are in love with. We are blessed to have so many people in our lives that are able to help us. Her crib is a crib for life that will convert to a toddler bed and then a double bed, it is from the generation next collection.

then her dresser also in cinnamon color is the crib to college dresser.

Saturday night we had wings with our friends at the wing shack and rented a movie. Sunday was a busy day preparing our house for guests later this week for the shower, and I treated myself to a pedicure and an eyebrow wax!

at thirty-three weeks the babies respritory system is almost mature. She will be gaining about 1/2 lb a week from here on out. She can sense light and tell the times of day! AMAZING!!!

I have attached at the top more photos by my friend Erin Stork.. she does awesome work and her page is http://estork.homestead.com/index.html

32 weeks

2009-06-15T04:41:00.000-07:00

Super busy last week!!!!!!!!! Holy cow time flies.. I have been going non-stop for days now!
Friday I took a vaca day from work and played! Yes Played!!!! First thing was to change my social security card since I have been married two years and am still yet to do it! Then we stopped by my aunts office and she took a peak in at the baby for us to see how she was doing on the ultrasound machine! To my surprise she weighed in at 4lbs 2 ounces on the machine, I know they are not always accurate but it is good to know that she is not being malnutritioned!!! She has big feet like her mom, long legs like me, and chubby cheeks.... She was looking straight at us and moving her mouth. It appeared also that she had been practicing her breathing, her chest was flexing in and out! This is all music to a nervous moms ears! The rest of the day was filled with fun as well.. One of my best friends was with me and we stopped and had our favorite Mexican lunch! Then it was off to the pool at my moms house for the rest of the day! We lounged around with two of my other best friends and their daughters, along with my sisters and mom. Then we went to the sandbar for dinner on the river and relaxed for an evening there with live music and good conversation.. The end to a perfect day was then the girls all having a slumber party and watching a movie! Everyone at my moms house took turns trying to have their chance at feeling little Abigail frolicing around.. they all held touched my belly with their eyes wide open as she rolled around in her space that is becoming quite snug!!

Saturday was no slower, we were up and headed back home early in the morning. When I got home it was time to go again, John and I had plans to celebrate a friends birthday party at their pool. So we spent the day in the 90 degree heat hanging in the pool. We were home by 6:30 so that I could squeeze in an hour nap before we were to meet my dad who made it into town and we got to spend some time with him.. We met him at his hotel at about 8pm and went to dinner.. He was so excited to see me and my belly as soon as I got out of the car he was wanting to take a peak at my growing belly since the last time he had seen me was in February. We had a nice evening then plans for a breakfast before he headed to see my sisters..

Sunday morning we got up and joined my dad for breakfast then he came back to the house to look at our upgrades and spend some time with us. We then had one of my best friends do maternity pics and they are beautiful!!!!! I have only seen a couple but those that I have seen are gorgeous!!

31 weeks... 9ish left!!! single digits, WOW!!!!!

2009-06-08T04:40:00.000-07:00

Well we have emerged from another busy weekend. Saturday John and I had childbirth class and we had done an extended class all day Saturday instead of breaking it up over the two weekend days. This included a potluck with the fellow soon to be mamas and papas... In this class we talked about breastfeeding, newborn testing, pain medicines there side effects and info about what is in them. It was very comprehensive but we had a great time as our group is a really fun bunch of people, so we dont stop laughing!! I did have two breakdowns in the midst of class.. How embaressing crying in front of 8 people I dont know all that well.. The first time we were doing our subconcious fears by writing with our dominate hand something that scared us, then with our other hand write words that relate to that fear. I wrote "something happening to me or the baby" in my dominate hand then when I started writing my other surrounding words I wrote "death" then wrote "my husband being alone." At this point I told the teacher I didnt want to do it anymore and started crying my eyes out.. She got up and came and hugged me along with my husband and of course told me reassuring words that made me feel much better down to my soul... My husband reminding me how great our pregnancy has been and how much we trust our midwife to watch over us!!!!! Then at the end of the class we always close with a nice birth story, this of course led to tears again when the mom was describing the look in her husbands eyes as their new little life was born.... Im a sissy girl and I cant help it!

Sunday we went to the movies and lunch with friends of ours, then ended a perfect day with a long nap on a rainy afternoon... Then last night John, his dad, and his dads friend came over to work on the flooring in the babies room... It is coming along beautifully!!!!!!! I cannot wait to see how gorgeous it ends up...

Typically babies at 31 weeks weigh about 3 and 1/2 lbs and are about 16 inches.. Amazing to think that is what is inside me.. They have all their senses now so she can hear our voices and know when we are talking to her!!!

ode to me from a best friend...

2009-06-05T13:08:00.001-07:00

Dear D,
You my love, are an amazing creature. You come from a long line of amazing women who have been strong, intuitive, and centered. There may be moments where you might not actively feel these attributes, but believe me, you are all of that and more all the way down to the depths of your soul. There may be moments where our society's whacked-out perception of the EMERGENCY! birth is tries to permeate your being, but remember this: your body knows what to do, your baby knows what her job is, and best of all you have a midwife to guide your way who loves you and knows that birth is no more of an emergency than cooking dinner can be. Sure, fires occur sometimes, but when they are dealt with responsibly and quickly by a responsible person who is attending, their effects are not nearly as devastating as when a hot pan of oil is left to boil on its own.
I love you more than I can possibly express and I wish you wisdom, trust, and health in your upcoming birthmonth. Your labor and your baby girl's birth is going to be the single most empowering day of your life. You will learn just how strong your body is, how strong your mind is, and how strong your bond is with those around you. You will be cared for and watched over carefully, and when you feel like you might not be able to go on any longer, you will be encouraged because you will already be doing it, even if you don't realize it. And when you are done with it all, ready to throw in the towel, you will know that there will not be much longer until you get to meet your little girl for the first time face-to-face.
You will be holding your little girl in your arms, all slimy and wet, while your husband looks on through tears in absolute awe. Your midwife will be buzzing quietly about, taking care of the details while you are given the time and space to fall in love with your little girl and learn every little detail of her face.
You will put her to your breast and feed her with the best that nature has to offer, just like you have been doing for these past 30 weeks. Again, your husband will watch in awe as you meet the needs of this new little stranger, and will help you to learn what she needs to stay content and how she prefers those things to be done.
This is going to be such a transformative, powerful, and loving birth---and nothing less.
I love you.
MM

30 weeks 1 day!

2009-06-02T04:21:00.000-07:00

Had my prenatal appt yesterday and all was well as usual. Blood pressure was 102/72 so came up great, my pee stick was nice and boring as usual. Baby girls heartbeat was 148 which is excellent and she was all over the place with hiccups while Kelli was trying to find her. We discussed some labor info and discussed placental delivery etc.. I had started getting weird numbness in my left arm and it was making my left side itch sometimes but turns out this is super common and is due to the baby laying on new nerves and a vitamin D deficiency so that being said I'm making an appt with a chiropractor to be adjusted and getting some vitamin D!
The baby should be about 3 lbs now and about 14-17 inches.

we had a pretty uneventful weekend. Ripped up the carpeting in the babies room so that we can start putting down the flooring. Had our 3rd birthing class on Sunday and worked on pushing positions and Cesarean myths and truths. We each are reading some back issues of mothering so we can discuss with the class our alternative topics. John and I chose cloth diapering since we are planning this! Other topics are vaccines, circumcision, baby-wearing, and co-sleeping.
I also picked up the book from Dr. Sears this weekend called the vaccine book so I can do all my research and make an informed decision on the immunization schedule we are choosing and which vaccines we are giving.

29 weeks

2009-05-26T04:35:00.000-07:00

What a busy weekend. Friday we had our 2nd birthing class and it went great, we practiced different labor positions and learns the stages of labor and what to expect and what was expected of our birth partners. Saturday we scored some awesome deals for our princess at the outlet mall, Carters and The Childrens Place had some Memorial day sales and we were happy to partake! Saturday night we went to a comedy show where our neighbor Jason perf0rmed and it was great! Prego mom was burning the midnight oil and didnt get to bed till midnight, GO ME! Sunday was a lazy day around the house doing a whole lot of nothing. I did get in some reading of a book called "The Birth Partner" which is one of the easiest reads explaining what to expect in labor.

I was blessed enough to have Memorial day off so I went to the beach with some of my best friends and had a great day! Now back to another busy week at work.

I have a super sweet client that surprised me with a treat for our baby.... Molly Waddell from New York does the most amazing beautiful quilt work and sent us a quilt and pillow. I cried when I opened it.

28 weeks 4 days..

2009-05-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

Hi, its a mid-week update.. Just circling back to fill you in on my Monday appt. as usual my blood pressure was beautiful, nice and low just the way we like it! My hemoglobin from my amenia test came back perfect at 12. My diabetes test was great at a 72. the babies heartrate
was its usual 152 which is right where it belongs, and I had gained another pound!

Had my first natural childbirth class and everyone was awesome, I was a little worried that John would be frightened if all the couples were hippies but actually the three other couples are like our exact same ages and they are just like us.... The teacher is sweet as can be and we are enjoying diving into this learning experience. We talked about nutrition, pregnancy excercises, massage techniques for the dads to use on us in labor, and debunking labor myths and our fears.

My little miss is in my belly partying away.. she was like a rockstar last night banging all around when it was bedtime.

Looking forward to my first three day weekend since New Years.. can we say about time!!!!!!!!!

28 weeks

2009-05-18T04:15:00.000-07:00

I am 28 weeks today! So happy that things are still going so well... the final countdown is truly on, I cant believe it. Time has been flying. We start our natural childbirth classes this week. The first two are at our house then the rest will be at 2 other couples houses. There are 8 in total and I have not met the teacher yet but over the phone she has been really sweet.

Had a get together at our house on Friday night and that was a lot of fun, it was a hangout and a pampered chef party in one! I was beat by the end but I think that is par for the course at this point in pregnancy!

I have an appt this morning with the midwife Kelli.. The appt updates are going to be more frequent now as we are in the third and final trimester so now I will see her every other week until closer to the end when we will kick it up to every week.

Her eyes have color to them now and she can actually blink and open them now. The baby is probably about 15 inches now weighing between two and three pounds.

27 weeks...

2009-05-11T04:22:00.000-07:00

Well we spent the weekend working on things around the house. Saturday went to Ikea and got some things for around here like a bookshelf for my office, a mirror for the formal living room and some things for the babies room, including some ideas! We also got the chair rail for the nursery and John worked hard all weekend to finish his painting and her chair rail.. The room is coming along beautifully.

Sunday my first pre-mothers day was awesome, between lots of calls from my friends and family, a card from my grandparents, and my mother-in-law got me the cutest new willow tree called the guardian... I will post pics in the bottom of the blog of all this weekend held.. Even the Publix manager gave me a beautiful red carnation!

We are signed up for natural childbirth classes that will start around May 20th and we are really looking forward to those.

typically babies in there 27th week weigh over two pounds and are over 14 inches long. So now she will start to put on weight and really start gaining more girth and mass!

26 weels 2 days.

2009-05-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

Its official, we have started the transformation of the princess's room! I called to check on my gestational diabetes test and I passed with flying colors.. my levels are at 72 which is on the low end of normal, seems that all that worrying i did was for nil!

It has been a hectic work week and I find my poor posture starting to bother my upper back throughout the day so i have started to sit on the exercise ball while working.

This weekend is mothers day and I'm going to celebrate this year since technically I'm a mom!!!!!!!

here is a pic of the beginning of the nursery and all of the daddies hard work.

26 weeks

2009-05-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Well I am starting my third trimester... Can you believe how time flies.. we are in the final countdown now! 14 weeks ish!!!! Had my appt. this morning and this included my gestational diabetes screening. Im measuring great, right where im supposed to be for 26 weeks. Her heart beat is 152 per minute which is great. Now our appointments will begin every 2 weeks... She is starting to really move around like crazy and im loving her every little flutter... We have started to pick out her crib and should be ordering it within the next two weeks... John is starting the nursery painting tonight.

Her lungs are developing right now, her air sacks (alveoli) should be formed towards the end of this week. Her retina has finished so her eyes are now fully developed. Her audio and visual systems are starting to send messages to the brain. she is about 1 and 2/3 lbs. and about 14 inches long.

John and I have signed up for some natural childbirth classes that will begin in the next 3 weeks and we are looking forward to our next adventure..

25 weeks

2009-04-27T04:59:00.001-07:00

Another busy weekend gone, It wasnt busy in that way you imagine with plans and people to see.. Friday I was pooped, didnt even make it out with a friend for some plans we had. Instead went to bed early and just rested.

Saturday was an errand filled morning starting with getting the Princess' bedding set we had picked out and then going to match the paint for her room. Mission accomplished.

Im planning on doing ivory above the chair rail and a pinkish/fuschia below then having some artist friends paint matching flowers of the bedding onto the ivory like they are growing out of the chair railing..

the set is pink and chocolate brown.

So after this John and I were busy working around the house including planting our flower boxes around the gazebo on the patio.. It is coming along so nice, it reminds me of a little italian cafe on a street in Venice! So relaxing.....

The baby has stayed busy moving around lots this weekend and making me giggle with her every move. The dog is getting really jealous, John laid his head on my stomach and was talking to her when Tucker decided to growl until John moved then he jumped in my lap instead and stared at John! Ha I have a feeling this baby is going to be his to guard!

24 weeks.

2009-04-20T06:29:00.001-07:00

We have made it to 24 weeks and Im feeling like a million bucks.. I often need to pinch myself to be reminded that it is real because I do feel so great and so blessed.. This past Saturday the baby got to experience her first crawfish festival in utero! I took it easy on the crawfish as I didnt want the spices to get to her and bother her. I had already checked in advance to be sure that eating something with a nickname "mudbugs" wasnt going to be harmful to her!

Yesterday during my bath she must have loved the warm water as she was all over the place swimming and banging around... Of course when John came to feel her she got performance anxiety and stopped her party until he left.. sooooo crazy!

Our big focus right now is needing to get her nursery going and get registered.. Her big arrival will be here before we know what hit us! John won a gift certificate last week from a vendor for $150 and he could use it for anywhere and being so thoughtful he picked Babies R Us so we can get some baby goodies.. He is such an amazing man and Im so grateful to have him as my partner!

Its amazing to think we are ending the second trimester right now and about to start the 3rd trimester. WOW.... time flies when you are having fun! The baby should now be about 1.25 lbs to 1.5 lbs on average. Her lungs and tastebuds are developing

Lets see what other new surprises this week brings us!

23 weeks 1 day

2009-04-14T05:06:00.000-07:00

I have been ultra busy growing a baby! Had a great midwife appt. last week, everything is in great shape. I am still not quite back to pre-pregnancy weight. 1/2 lb away! Strange how everything mis-proportions everything. The baby got excited when K used the doppler to find her little heart beat! It went all the way up to 158 then back down to a calm 144. Im measuring just right for my progress and as all the previous visits have shown I have a super low blood pressure.. Im consistantly at about 104 over 70.

I am in the late part of my 2nd trimester. Can you believe it? Time has been flying by! At 23 weeks the baby should be more than a pound and about 11 inches! Next visit in May I am doing my gestational diabetes blood draw, so cross your fingers that we have no sugar issues, even though it is my most guilty pleasure!

Here is me Easter weekend..

22 weeks.

2009-04-06T05:38:00.000-07:00

Ok here I am at 22 weeks respectively. She really seems to have just popped this week. we are loving all over her.. Starting to get lots of belly love from friends and family too.. Had appt scheduled for this morning but it was postponed until Thursday now due to my midwife welcoming a baby! Looking forward to this upcoming Easter weekend. Going to be out of town lying by the pool all weekend and vegetating!

21 weeks 5 days

2009-04-04T04:53:00.000-07:00

Baby is moving constantly and I LOVE IT! She makes it hard to concentrate when I know she is in there hanging out. Im going out today to look for some things I will need for her arrival. I cant wait until John gets to feel her moving around more, he had is first shot the other night when we were eating dinner and his eyes lit up! He loves talking to her and putting his hands on my belly when we are cuddling to sleep in hopes that she is in there. Brings tears to my eyes thinking what an awesome dad he will be and how much we love her.

these lyrics from a staind song are on the ringtone he wants to get for her.

i want to hold you protect you from all of the things I've already endured I want to show you Show you all the things that this life has in store for you I'll always love you the way that a father should love his daughter.

21 weeks 4 days

2009-04-02T04:53:00.000-07:00

I feel like a million bucks. I have been feeling baby girl move around all the time, I usually notice it the most when im sitting still working and being quite. It is like she has a romper room in there! Standing in front of the mirror this morning I noticed my belly button is not a huge crater anymore, it has turned into just a small slit. John claims it is lible to pop out soon, even though we swore it would never happen since mine was a deep black hole! ha!

I have been eating tons of fruit and veggies this week, not by choice but out of the guilt of knowing that it is best for little miss! Got some great hand-me-downs from some of my girls this weekend and im looking forward to playing with all them, and daydreaming about when she arrives.

Is it possible to be this in love with someone that isnt even here yet?

20 weeks and 2 days.

2009-03-25T04:41:00.000-07:00

Our baby is 10 ounces and we are soooooooo excited and blessed to learn that she is a girl. We are both about to burst with excitement and are just glowing..

After our sonogram yesterday we were relieved to see our little angel being so active. She was swimming everywhere, the ultrasound tech could barely keep track of her. she has all the major organs and parts she is supposed to have so we are super grateful for this. We are both so in love with her already. I cant keep my eyes off of her and my hands off my belly!

keep growing baby, we are looking forward to your arrival but are in no rush!

20 weeks.

2009-03-23T04:46:00.000-07:00

Well we are half way there. I have started having vivid crazy dreams trying to picture the baby. In one dream the baby came out looking like a 2 year old SCARY!!!! Tomorrow is the big day, going in for my "official" ultrasound and I can hardly wait.. We will know for sure what little surprise is waiting on the inside! Then we can get down to business with the nursery.

I went to babies r us on Saturday morning and oogled over all the potential things we will want and need. I have great friends with lots of babies that are planning on sharing all their great things with us, but I really need to start researching my strollers, carseats, and big ticket items that we are going to need. John and I went back later so we could both awe over my findings earlier in the day, It is sooooo amazing to have someone as supportive as my husband. I could not have dreamt of a more amazing man to be my husband and father of my babies. It makes me think of when we first started dating and he begged me to give him my total trust.. I was so jaded that I couldnt imagine just giving away trust without it being earned. Over the last 4 years he has come to prove that my heart is safe with him, and he wouldnt dream of doing anything to hurt me, this man actually lives for me!

I felt my first flutters on Friday afternoon while working and started to cry, what an amazing reality. Then on Saturday when I laid down for a nap I felt some moving around again and actually felt something on the outside for one second, but as soon as I called John over i guess the baby got performance anxiety.

I got a cute new swimsuit over the weekend that I should be able to use throughout my pregnancy, so im ready for some beach days now!

Well there will be an update tomorrow once we finish with our ultrasound.. until then, ciao!

19 weeks..

2009-03-16T04:57:00.000-07:00

I am moving along in the pregnancy world. All seems to be going well.. Scheduling my next ultra sound for this next week today! Had a pretty restful weekend. Relaxed with friends on Saturday evening which is always a good time. Hung out with the hubby around our house for the rest of the time. Im starting to have a real baby pooch on my belly, when im standing I really am starting to look pregnant and invested in some maternity shorts this weekend and I feel the summer heat coming on!

Missing my Mandy down in the Virgin Islands but talked to her via text yesterday and she said she was keeping up with the blog.. I hope she makes it back soon to love on the belly!

The baby is supposed to start growing hair this week so keep your fingers crossed that the baby has thick hair like myself and not thin balding hair like daddy! The baby is supposed to be about 7 and 1/2 inches long.. They are also recognizing sounds, so we have started talking to the baby all the time. Since it is always present im sure it will recognize my voice as much talking as I do all day long!

Will get some more pics taken this week.

18 weeks 3 days

2009-03-12T04:22:00.000-07:00

Well we have been nothing but busy this week... When we have not been working on painting and moving things around the house we have been out to dinner with friends and family or off on other adventures.
I got my hair cut and a shine treatment added yesterday and I'm feeling like a pretty prego, if it weren't for my sunburned lip! My lips are soooo sensitive to the sun and it never fails that they burn. I have to use SPF 1000 on them... ugh..
Baby and I are doing fabulous. Every time someone asks how I'm feeling I just glow that I'm doing fabulous. I'm so grateful to have a healthy baby in my belly and for my pregnancy to be moving so great! I will continue to pray for this little angel and I cant wait to meet this new addition!

Will post pics of the new hair do once this lip blister subsides!

18 Weeks..

2009-03-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well I have wrapped up another great weekend and now im rolling up my sleeves to get ready for working on the house and nursery!

I had a Kelly appt today and she seems to think everything is great.. A nice boring pee so im healthy there.. I actually have started to gain weight versus lose weight. I am up 4 pounds since my last visit so I think im doing great.. still not back to where I was before pregnancy so im still about 2 lbs lighter now than pre-pregnancy! Daddy of baby O was with me and we looked at all the transistions in mama and babies bodies on numerous charts she had to show us. Baby's heart rate is great at abotu 152 beats per minute.

Had a great weekend hanging out with my sisters and Lola (this is the name my stepmom is thinking she is going to want to be called from the baby.) It means grandmother in Filipino.. Not that we are Filipino but she wanted something different especially since baby is going to have lots of different grandparents!
I got a bad sunburn sitting at my older sisters Saturday morning lacross game but that is ok because the belly kisses and hugs i got from my sisters and their friends were totally worth it.

We are scheduling another ultrasound for around 20 weeks.. we did sneak away this morning for an ultrasound from my aunt and this little baby O is beautiful... We were able to sneak a peak at the gender but I will wait until my next ultrasound before i reveal the findings as this one was not 100% but maybe like 95%...... What we did see is that the baby has its moms big feet!

17 weeks.

2009-03-02T05:04:00.000-08:00

Well I had a semi-busy weekend. Friday got to go see my family at my sister Leah's lacrosse game. This was fun as I had not seen some of them since before I was pregnant, so they were all excited about my changing body! Got the sweetest belly kiss from my sister Leah, I asked her if she liked my baby belly and she did the sweetest kiss right on my belly and said, "I love it!"
this brought tears to my eyes.. too sweet!

Saturday we spent the day starting on the babies nursery. we merged our office into the guest bedroom to make way for the babies nursery and all the projects we have planned in there! It came out better than anyone was expecting for such a tight space. We managed to get the office in without sacrificing our guest bed!

Sunday I was scheduled to have my first prenatal massage, I had been having trouble with a nerve in my neck and it was causing afternoon headaches and UN-needed tension! The massage was with a pretty inexperienced girl so it was not all that I had hoped it would be... Then the rest of my Sunday was simply a lazy day!!!

Now here we are in week 17 and I'm getting really anxious abut finding out this little munchkins gender... I'm trying to hold off on ultrasounds as long as possible but the mystery is becoming unbearable!

16 weeks 5 days.

2009-02-27T04:59:00.000-08:00

Nothing new to report.. Looking forward to the weekend. I am constantly concentrating on feeling my munchkin and looking for any changes in my belly!!!

Planning on doing my 16 week pictures tonight!

16 weeks 2 days!

2009-02-24T05:05:00.000-08:00

I am starting to get a little bit of a baby bump, instead of looking just plain bloated I actually have a little belly sprouting! I am sooo grateful for all the maternity clothes my girls have given me, they are helping me find stuff that I feel comfortable in.

I think I am feeling flutters but I cant be sure since I have never experienced them before I dont know what im looking for.

This week I feel good, still havent had any really strange cravings yet. This weeks focus is going to be more vegetables, Im starting with a big salad for lunch that hubby made. Im also going to start taking a magnesium supplement called calm. It is believed to help in many aspects of life.

Last week was the first time I actually craved a cocktail, I think it is because we were at Chilis on a date and it seemed like everyone around was having two for 1 margaritas.. but that passed right away!

this week the baby starts developing fat under its skin, and now the genitilia is fully developed so within a few weeks we will know the mystery of baby O!

15 weeks 5 days..

2009-02-20T06:14:00.000-08:00

Well once again it is Friday and Im grateful. Grandma and Grandpa Rahn ended up having to leave a little early due to some illness my grandma was having so our visit was cut a bit short. I am sad to see them go and will miss them.

I think I am beginning to feel a baby O... i am having wierd little sensations in my belly and the only think I can attribute it to is a litttle baby moving... we are ready for a weekend of rest and baby movements.

15 weeks!!!!!!!

2009-02-16T05:15:00.000-08:00

Well we have made it to 15 weeks. I feel like a million bucks. I even think I may have felt a flutter this morning in my belly.. I am ecstatic at the thought of feeling my sweet baby "O".

Had an event filled weekend. Saw my dad Friday night for dinner and he got to gloat over my little belly and seems to be overjoyed with the new chapter in all of our lives.. He is excited to be a grandpa and as I am a little sad that he doesnt live closer.

Saturday went to the home show at the convention center then to a yummy lunch at Bahama Breeze.. Baby O and I enjoyed the fireroasted shrimp.
This was a nice Valentines day, got a beautiful 24k gold dipped real rose from the hubby and a beautiful card sending his love to me and baby O. I am so grateful for this man, he never ceases to amaze me.

Sunday was my usual errand day as Grandma and grandpa Rahn were not feeling well but then
we had a nice steak dinner and relaxed at home.

Got in lots of baby reading material that Kelly sent me home with called the pink kit which has lots of info on getting familiar with your body for labor. read lots of chapters in my manuel from Kelly also.

14 weeks 4 days

2009-02-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

Feeling like death today.. another night with not too much sleep between this bladder that is sharing space with baby O and this horrendous cold... ugh....

My dad will be in town today so im looking forward to dinner with he and John.

Right now Im just focused on getting healthy for baby O and I...

Kelly (midwife) suggested something special to do for the baby book and scrapbook is to be collecting things that are going on right now in current times, like newspaper clippings with popular songs, or other major current events.. I imagine this would be fun for the baby to look back on in 15 years and see what was happening when they were in utero..

Heading to the home and garden show over the weekend with grandma and grandma and soon to be nanny joe and grammy O...

Until Monday... cheers.... oh and p.s. Monday is 15 weeks... hip hip hooray.

14 weeks 3 days..

2009-02-12T06:04:00.001-08:00

I have the funk... picked up some yucky chest cold and it is just beating up on me.. Hard to talk on the phone all day with a sore raspy throat.
I probably had poor baby O awake all night coughing. Having lunch today with my girlfriends for Grace's birthday.. Should be fun to get together.

Nothing else new to report with Baby O.. stay tuned.

14 weeks and 2 days

2009-02-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

Had my most recent appt. this morning with Kelly (my midwife). She gives me such a sense of zen and at peace. Everything was perfect, a healthy urine, perfect blood work, blood pressure 108/78, and babies heart rate was beating nice and rapid. Kelly was getting booted by the baby on her doppler every time she was hunting for the heart beat..
Her hugs are like no other and always set us right at ease. She gave me a book to borrow and a dvd she thinks ill find intersting and showed us lots of charts of baby and mamas progress.
Everything seems to be moving along healthy.

I have come down with a little something in my chest and Kelly gave me some immune fighters.

Hubby went to the appt with me this morning and was supportive as always. He still stands his ground that he doesnt want to see the baby coming out that he will stay up by my head just being supportive but is not a fan of the blood and fluid... HA!! 6 months to go we will see if that changes at all.

14 weeks... yippeee...

2009-02-09T04:48:00.000-08:00

So I am officially in my second trimester... yee ha. everything seems to feel well with baby so far. Im not showing as much as i had expected by now. I guess that is a good thing except with two prior miscarriages I constantly fell like there is a need for alarm..

Went and absorbed some beautiful art this weekend for baby and me. Bought a beautiful new piece from my fav gal Chrissie Grace http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=21802 .. it brought tears to my eyes.. It is a picture of an artsy girl with a big belly and it says "As the baby grew in her belly, she knew she would never be the same again."

The baby should be about 85mm and way about 110 g. The baby can now suck its thumb and make facial expressions. The liver is producing bile and the spleen red blood cells.

2009-02-06T05:07:00.000-08:00

13 weeks 4 days

Well today is Friday, I am so in need of the weekend.

Most of my energy has really started to return, so i do feel like a renewed person... I started reading "chicken soup for the expectant mothers soul last night and was again reminded of why i cannot wait to be a mom...

I plan on mixing in a lot of cleaning this weekend, and some good art shows. I should have some pictures up for my next weeks blogs, I plan on getting dolled up and doing my hair and makeup this weekend and intend to take some belly shots then when im not all ragged out in my typical work week uniform (sweat pants, and a t-shirt)

Plan on working in my baby journal this weekend also.

13 weeks and 3 days...

2009-02-05T05:05:00.000-08:00

Told Anthony last night about baby O, he is sooooo excited to welcome another family member. He almost has enough brothers and sisters to start a baseball team between all the people in his life that love him..

Baby O and I are really looking forward to the weekend and some warmer weather. Im already fantacizing about the beach this spring and summer.

Starting to feel a bit more energized.. Find myself getting up in the middle of the night to use the restroom more than I think I have ever done in my life.

This weekend I will be getting ready for grandma and grandpa Rahns visit. I also plan on hitting the Mt. Dora art fest on Sunday with Grace and the girls.

13 weeks 2 days

2009-02-04T06:36:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, February 04, 2009
13 weeks 2 days..

Oh this week has been soooo great. Just knowing im finishing up my first trimester and we have made it through with no hiccups so far is so refreshing.

I have slept quite a bit this week and feel that no matter how much I sleep I could still relish in more.

This weeks craving has been blue raspberry blow pops. Very strange. Im focusing myself on eating fruit as much as possible, even though I really crave carbs. (especially my favorite everything bagel toasted with veggie cream cheese).

My face is quite broke out this week. Oh the fun of pregnancy. Luckily my clothes still fit for the most part. I do feel myself thickening around the middle but any sign of a healthy baby is a welcome sign!

I wish I had an at home personal ultrasound machine or some sort of magnifying class that I could peer in and see what baby O is doing.

Looking forward to feeling some movements in there so that I can constantly monitor babies progress..

John has been a champ at dealing with extra housework and a tired prego mom… He just finished telling me how proud he is of me making it through so far.