Day 199 (67 to go...): Where's the beef?

I've been told that I haven't been posting enough pictures of the belly - so this blog will have some more - enjoy!

The past couple weeks have been really busy, I'm really not sure where to even start. As the title of this blog suggests my cravings have changed quite a bit over the last weeks. My need and longing for fruit has now been replaced with my want for that satisfying hamburger or steak! Yum - yum! I went in for the glucose screening test and luckily all results came back fine. We have one more monthly doctors appointment and then we're down to the every two weeks and so on to our weekly visits. Beyond those visits we have the classes that start this June, rooms to finish (we're almost there... kinda) and just trying to get everything figured out. I have three more weeks of work before I call it quits, which brings me to a lot of mixed emotions. On one hand I cannot wait to get away from this place that causes me so much frustration, but on the other I'm really gonna miss those kids and not to mention feeling like I'm making a monitary contribution to our household.
Which is especially hard to adjust to when you are constantly spending money on things that are needed.

OH! That reminds me I've decided to write a list of things that should never be said to a pregnant woman (as I have recieved through my dismay) - I'm sure as I go through these last 9 weeks I'll have more to add. First I will tell you why I am doing this. For whatever reason people feel the need to tell you the most unnecssary things when you are pregnant. For example, today we went to Babies-R-Us, at the register the sales woman and I got into a discussion about how far along I was. It turned into a schpeel about how my feet and hands have been swollen, in which she told me and David about how her daughter had that too and she got pre eclampsia, to which the mother had to go to the hospital in case she needed to make a life altering decision. That is why this list is necessary not because any one of you have said anything to hurt my feelings - I'm just venting!:
1. Never tell any horror story of someone you knew who was pregnant and went through things such as preterm labor, pre eclampsia or any other life threatening predicament - it does NOT make the pregnant woman feel good or reassured in any way.
2. Try to avoid saying things like, "Are you sure you're not furthur along?" or any other comments about the weight and/or size of the pregnant lady - that is of her concern and her doctors and all it tells the woman is that you think she's fatter than she should be. This also goes for comments relating to the possiblity that she might be having twins - which always leads to the discussion about someone's friend who's neice thought she was only having one baby but had two - until you have a medical degree in gynocology leave the speculations to the doctors. Okay I'm done venting for now! =0)

David has been particularly wonderful throughout this whole thing. Yesterday he sat through our second estimate for an air conditioner and though we thought we could hold off, he made that huge purchase so that I won't be to miserable as I wade through the summer exhausted and too overheated. He's also been wonderful to my poor swollen feet, as he offers to set up my pedicure spa machine he got me for my birthday and rub them when they just become unbearable. Really he is so wonderful!
And as you can see here Stitch is being wonderful as well - he has lovingly learned that he is not allowed to bounce around and jump around me. He has also adjusted to the fact that I do not have the energy to play with him as much as before. Though our nap times together changed from non-existant to almost daily now, which he seems to really enjoy. It is especially funny to watch him when he places his head on my tummy and the baby starts kicking - I wonder how much he knows about what's going on.

In our little mans world things are becoming more and more cramped. Which means his movements are all the much stronger - which I LOVE! I actually got to feel him hiccuping yesterday which was so neat. Most of the developemental aspects of his life focus on his survival out of the womb. His brain is becoming stronger and stronger so that he may process things correctly when he arrives. And while his weight is begining to slow down from now until birth he is still gaining the weight that he needs. =0)

Well this has been a long blog entry so now I must go - please keep us all in your prayers and thoughts. We miss you so much!

Day 186 (80 to go...): Mom to the rescue!

Last night David and I found ourselves staring in amazement at just how strong our little man has become. With every kick our buglet delivered, was a rise in my stomach and a feeling of pure excitement. Perhaps one of the best parts was when I felt the nub of what I thought to be a foot, move slowly across my stomach, with my hand. Then better yet, watching David as his hands got to feel the same thing and the look in his eyes while he felt him move - it was priceless.

With the excitement of all that goes on daily, everything is starting to become more and more real. We picked up our crib and dresser/changing table this weekend and I can't wait to move it into the room and start the nursery. Though before any of that can happen, other rooms are being taken care of. We are finishing up our downstairs office (and by we I actually mean David with the little bit of Teresa help), as that old wall paper had to go and a basil colored paint went up! Next will be my office, as it will transform it's red walls into blue for our guest bedroom. Then of course our current guest room will become our little man's nursery - I can't wait! Of course, David has been fantastic with all of it, letting me change my mind countless times and never even giving the apperance of any annoyance - I'm lucky! He's even taken on the task of giving some of the rooms new trim and re-doing the nursery window! Besides the rooms there are the classes we are taking for the little guy's arrival coming up and the doctor's visits. After my return home from ABQ I had some intense leg pain that they ended up ultrasounding to check for blood clots - their test results came back normal and I'm trying to rest my feet more. Then during my routine blood draw they found increased glucose levels and low iron levels. While it's pretty common it means I'm taking an iron supplement now and have to go in for a 3 hour glucose test to rule out gestational diabetes - please keep us in your prayers! =0)

With all that is going on I have to say I feel so blessed to have my mom's comforting voice at the other end of that phone line to reassure me. It's especially helpful as things are getting closer and closer. There are those days (as I'm sure every new mom experiences) where I find that we really still have sooo many things we need to get and as my mind focuses on that it becomes very overwhelming. What happens if I forget to buy bottles, or those other necessities? How many crib sheets do we need? What am I forgetting- I know there's a whole list of things!? Is it normal that I can't picture him in my mind? I don't know how she does it, but with every question asked, she has an answer that makes it okay. Really with anything I bring to her she manages to make it doable - perhaps it's the power of the mom - whatever it is, I hope I develop it! I feel truly blessed to have her and can't wait for that time I'll get to spend with her this summer, where I'm sure she'll work to silence more of my fears. =0)

Each day that passes on our little guy continues to get stronger and stronger. His skin is still becoming smoother as more fat is deposited underneath it's surface. His brain can direct rhythmic breathing and control body temperature. His eyes are completely formed and eyelashes are present on his eyelids. It's neat to know that every day he spends inside this growing stomach of mine he is working to become a strong baby that can thrive in the outside world. Knowing this makes me more and more anxious to find out what he looks like as we eagerly await his arrival.

Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts! =0)

Day 173- (93 to go...): My tummy the punching bag

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Picture has Christina, Natalie, Mom and Me (please ignore the swollen ankles and feet)
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You know it hit us this morning as we were lying in bed talking. David found a concert that he really wanted to go to in October and I told him to go ahead and jump on it before tickets sale out. What was funny is what came next. "Do you want to come too," he asked. "No not really, plus if I went then we'd need to get a babysitter on a Thursday night and I'm not a huge fan of this guy," I replied. The priceless look of shock on his face was what was so hilarious. "Oh my gosh," he said, "We're going to need a babysitter!?!" So needless to say, things are starting to sink in.

Besides the shock of what is becoming closer and closer is the fun we are getting to have. I got to go home for a little vacation with my friend Natalie. Thank you to all of those who helped us have such a great time! During that visit my mom threw me a lovely baby shower and it was so nice to see all those friendly faces that I miss so much! Thank you all for the great gifts - we are bound to have one stylish baby! It was especially wonderful to get that one on one mommy time and get to share this experience with her. It makes me even more anxious knowing that we get both mom and dad when they come out for a whole month in August- can't wait! =0)

A lot has changed in his little world in the past few weeks. He now has a strong grip, one that actually is more powerful than it will be after birth. His fingernails, toenails, eyelashes and eyebrows have all begun to form. Even more amazing, his nostrils have begun to open up, his lung sacs are developing and his lungs are now capable of breathing air! It's all so amazing! While we can read about all the changes in his world, it is even more exciting feeling them. His movements are much strong and much more all over the place - it's fun because now it is possible for others to feel his great little kicks! Night time has become even more interesting. The lapses of insomnia have now been accompanied by our little one drumming inside my tummy at two in the morning. Oh how he loves practicing his boxing skills at two in the morning...! But perhaps the greatest part is when I roll over I can feel him so softly snuggling into whatever side I am lying on. Like he too is taking a rest and cuddling up inside me, I love it!

Thank you again for following us on our journey, please keep us all in your prayers and thoughts! =0)

Day 155: Let the nesting begin!

Well it's happend, I had wondered if it would seeing as how I'm already compulsive enough, though both David and I are finding this really funny. It started the other day when I was getting cans for a canned food drive for my kids at work. I open up that bottom cabinet and see that it needed to be cleaned out, oh if only that was enough. All the sudden I'm disquested by the fact that the pasta sauce cans are next to the rice and the cereal boxes are next to the taco shells and that was enough! The next thing I knew I had scrubbed the shelves, put down liner and neatly organized the shelves so that the pasta sauce was next to the pasta, the rice furthur down and the bottom shelf is now exclusively the breakfast shelf. I'd like to say that the craziness has stopped there, but no longer had I finished that project than I had found a new one. Those baby clothes that I have been collecting (and been given), that are in their nice little box had to be organized by size, not that they even been washed yet, but the thought of not knowing how many I had of each size started to slowly eat at me. Then two days ago it was the refridgerator, every shelf and drawer was taken out, scrubbed down and cleaned out. Then today I found myself at work looking for the things that I can compulsively fix - this morning alone it was our activity log books, I ordered them by date (not just by theme), then the small group files needed to be cleaned and finally I even found myself color coding the lunch table charts, according to table. So I think it is safe to say that the nesting has begun and while it finds me in a bit of a frenzy, I do really love the significance of it.

The craziness doesn't stop there either. I find myself feeling less like me, I feel like I don't always know/understand my body, I feel akward in my clothes, can't seem to manage my hair in a way that I like and my brain has turned to mush. And while I know it's for the most amazing thing life can give you, it's hard not to feel a little sad at the loss of one's self. I know I'll find me again, I'm in there somewhere, but for now I'm more than happy being me and him. Like David told me, "Right now you may not feel like you, but it's because your more now than ever before and that's pretty amazing," - pretty smart that husband of mine. And everytime I start to miss how normal I once was (if you can call it normal) I just remind myself that sharing myself to help this little guy get strong is worth everything in the world, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love being pregnant.

As I can feel our little guy getting stronger and stronger I've also found some of my energy again - better late than never and we'll see how long this lasts! But his kicks and movements become more and more defined/noticable. Not to mention higher, the other day I felt him move above my belly button, it was a much welcomed first - I love feeling him move. I swear everytime I feel a movement I can't help but hold my tummy and think about how amazing it is, even when it means he's tap dancing on my bladder and yes to me it really feels like he's dancing on it! Besides his amazing dancing abilities, he is experiencing a big growth spirt. This week alone he is supposed to gain about 6 oz. - amazing! He can now hear things like my heart beating, voices resonating and the growling noises in my tummy ( I hope they don't scare him!). His skin has started to take on some color and as he gains more and more weight he will become more smooth than wrinkly.

As I bring this entry to an end today, I feel him moving about, so I think I'll go take sometime to lie down and feel him a little better. Hope all is well, can't wait to see some of you soon, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers! Much love! =0)

Day 148: More lemons please!

Well as it keeps being requested here is another pregnancy photo - I'll try to remember that while my growing belly finds me feeling somewhat ackward at times, it is something that for whatever reason people wanna see. =0)

Besides that swelling belly of mine, I've got the feet and ankles to match! It amazes me now that my work day leaves those feet of mine in so much discomfort, thank goodness it's almost time for the flip flops! Luckily though I have a great family who looks after me and my poor feet! Rob and Jade were lovely in giving me a prenatal massage gift certificate for my birthday, which was amazing! And my amazing husband spends his nights rubbing that cocoa butter stuff on my belly and then rubbing my feet. Not to mention his amazing ability to understand and suggest often that maybe another pedicure would make my aching feet feel good. I'm a lucky girl! =0)

Not much has changed in the way of food cravings, I still cannot get enough fruit - I honestly think it's impossible! It seems that lemons and tomatoes lead the way to a happy baby! I know it's sounds awful but I just can't help but wanting to munch on at least one of those every day with some salt - bad for the teeth - yes - and don't get me started on the unfair ramifications of heart burn. Though I swear I could eat a single peanut and have heartburn afterwards, lol oh this baby is a tricky one!

These weeks ahead of us are really big growth weeks for our little guy as he will almost double in weight this month. He's becoming more proportioned and his ears bones are begining to harden so that sound conduction is possible. His hands can now grip things with more force and his movements are becoming more noticable. In fact the other day I was just lying down feeling him move and kick when I glanced down at my stomach and saw it moving. With every little kick I felt, up my tummy would go, this son of mine is ready for an audience! =0)

Thank you again for following along with us on our great adventure, we hope that you all are doing well! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers! =0)

Day 139: Hey Elusive we found your drummer!

In case I haven't said it enough, it truly amazes me how much can change in just a couple of short weeks when your pregnant. Take for instance those pants that finally fit right - only now they are becoming a little snug and visions of belly pannels haunt your thoughts. Then there is the favorite part of your day - bed time! Thoughts of relaxing and putting those tired feet and eyes to rest is all to appealing as you contemplate how wonderful it will feel all day. That is until night time comes and all the sudden with no reason or forewarning insomnia hits and you know your exhausted, your body knows its exhausted but for some reason, something in you believes you only need two hours of sleep to get by.

Though scarey and somewhat unpleasant some of these things become I am happy to report that something bigger and more wonderful can usually balance it out, maybe even top it (knock on wood!). We've noticed in the past couple weeks those little butterfly movements in my tummy have become more defined and stronger, and yes I said we. =0) Last friday David unexpectedly got what he has been waiting for, the chance to feel his son move. There was no denying that he felt a kick and a pretty strong one at that and to us it just feels so amazing to know that he has the ability to put our mind at ease and let us know that he's okay inside his snug home. Some days it's as though he is the best soccer player/drummer this world will get to know, while others his small, subtle movements still just make me take a moment to really revel in how much I already love him.

Besides my sappy view on what is going on there is all the fun developmental stuff we get to read about. He is roughly the size of a Barbie/Ken Doll and weighs about a pound. His heart and brain are continually getting stronger and if you were to look in at him, he looks like a miniature newborn baby. If you held a pound package of butter in your hand that's about how heavy he would feel! He can move in any way the brain directs like spinning, turning, sumersaulting - perhaps that's why I could feel him kicking at my belly button today! When you think about it, it really is quite amazing how much he is going through.

Other than that things are going well, busy but well. We hope all of you are doing well, as we miss you very much! Please keep us in your thoughts in prayers! =0)

Day 125: It's so good to see you!

Well here it is, the belly shot that I have been asked to post, and while it may not look to big right now, I swear it goes through random nightly growth spirts! =0)

Let's start with talking about our busy couple of weeks! My parents came to town and were able to come with me to a OB appointment and hear the heart beat of our baby! I also got to meet my new doctor, whom I find to be quite lovely and comforting. Then there was finals to deal with, work as usual and some friends from out of town (Sarah and Henry), and I have learned that yes, I do have limits! It's actually kind of funny how tired I become when there is so much to do and take care of, just remember Teresa - naps!
Well so much has been going on in our little babies world it's hard to believe how much it experiences daily. Right now our babies skin has a protective covering while its glands and sensory cells are devolping. In addition to that it has hair, eyebrows, wakes and sleeps much like a newborn. Today was an especially exciting day - we had our ultrasound! It was amazing to watch our baby as it fanned out it's toes, put it's arms in a boxing position and strummed it's fingers around - which David exclaimed "all it needs is a guitar!" - oh my. Like father, like son, I suppose! Yeup that's right, our little one, is a little man as our ultrasound technician was happy to point out his little area. =0) David is of course thrilled as he didn't want to be "owned"by his first child and well all thoughts of anyone else inside me, quickly faded as I watched my amazing little man move around inside me - it truly is an amazing experience. So to let you all be apart of this even more, down below are some pictures from the ultrasound! =0)

His amazing little feets and toes =0)


His head and spine! =0)


Our little boxer - how cute is that!

Awwwe our little dinosaurs face! =0)

Well hope you all can make out the images (I know it can sometimes be kind of hard), but here is our wonderful blessing. Please keep us all in your prayers, we miss you all, take care! =0)

Day 110: Was that a gas bubble in my belly button?

Today we reached a very exciting point in the pregnancy, one that the baby books I've been reading have told me could happen at anytime. Though I have to admit when I read it my skepticism came about as I wondered, "You can't really feel your baby move when it's still this little, can you?" Well today that naive little question was answered as I stood in my classroom talking to my work associates about a matter at hand. When to my dismay the weirdest sensation came over me and I thought, well that was either a gas bubble in my belly button or I just felt my baby move... "I just felt my baby move!!!" I know it's silly, but emotional me couldn't help but start tearing up and become even more excited about the precious, mobile, little person inside. Through all of the neat things we've gotten to experience, finding out we were pregnant, hearing the heartbeat, this - this tiny gas bubble feeling in a place no bubble has been before, was really something really indescribable.

Day 101: Did David do the laundry???

Let me first start by apologizing - it has been brought to my attention that I haven't updated this as frequently as I should be. I didn't realize that in the midst of all this excitement that David and I experience daily, others would really like to know what all is going on! So I will make my best efforts to keep you all more up to date.

These past couple of weeks have been quite interesting. For Valentine's Day I went to my closet of hundreds of shirts that I love and picked out one of my favorites to wear. While buttoning it up I realized that the bottom seems to be flaring out, something I have been noticing more often. Then there was school the next day when I wore my favorite tank top under a shirt, only it kept popping up exposing the ugly waistband of my jeans - very frustrating. However, it wasn't until my favorite, nice, black, going out jacket didn't quite fit when I realized ... either David did the laundry or I can't fit normal shirts anymore! They are tight and restrictive which just makes me feel well uncomfortable! So now onto a new frontier of clothes, clothes that go over the small, now kinda noticable, hump that is there and NO I did not say maternity shirts yet... just ones that go over - lol. Goodbye to American Eagle, the Gap and Express, I will visit you again one day after this summer!

Ok cheesyness put aside, there are other things going on than the loss of my wardrobe. I went to my former hell the other day (aka the grocery store) and I realized what a dangerous place it now is. Now instead of wanting to run to the restroom at the sight of all that food, hungry Teresa has come out and I wish to fill my basket with all that there is to see! Seriously, I went in the other day for a head of lettuce and ended up spending $30 on food that just looked so darn good. The cravings have been pretty consistant thoughout the pregnancy thus far. Give me fruits any time of day (except banana's), I'm usually in the mood for something dairy and goodness please do not by any means deny me tomato's - Costco we thank you for your abilities to make sure we do not run out of these products.

As far as the baby goes it continues to go through a world of changes. It is practicing it's reflexes like sucking, swallowing, blinking and can even move its feet and fan out its toes. It's hair pattern has been determined and its sex has been decided. It seems so amazing how much is going on in its little world and we are getting more and more excited by the day, after all we only have about 165 days to go...

We miss you all, please keep us in your prayers and we hope that you all are doing well! =0)

Day 83: And the beat goes on....

It's surprising how so many little things can make such a difference when it comes to this pregnancy. For instance, the first day our baby had a heartbeat (according to the baby books), I couldn't stop the tears everytime I thought about it. Or when it was the size of a peanut and we could visualize just how incredible something that small truly is. But yesterday topped it all at our GYN visit, when we actually got to hear that precious beat of our baby. For David it meant the first opportunity to really be part of it's existance. While I can feel that my pants don't really fit anymore and we both can make out that little nubbin on my tummy, it was chance to get to really recognize its existance. Who'd a thought we'd both look forward to doctor's visits? ;) Beyond that they told me that all my aches and pains are appearing normal and yea!

Other than that things are seemingly well (knock on wood!) - I had a bit of a hard time once I realized that the lovely hair tie pants trick I learned, only works for so long. So thanks to the company of my sister in law, Jade, I have new pants - though I tried hard to avoid it, I am very glad to have pants that actually don't hurt to wear! Food is also coming on the upside now, my nausea seems to have calmed a bit and food is starting to again be my friend. Seems that the biggest problem with food now is when that sudden starvation comes on with no warning, and I need food NOW! LOL - I'm lucky David puts up with me!!!

We love you all and miss you all. Thank you for being a part of this special time with us and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Day 71: Food shouldn't be this confusing!

Welcome everyone to day 71, or as some like to call it, the last day of the first trimester! Hopefully from this point on my appetite will start to become less confusing, I might even start cooking as often as I used to. Before now breakfast was a battle, lunch was the best meal ever and dinner was never quite the same. I feel like my tastebuds and stomach are in this opperation to get me! The not liking things I normally love ( I miss vegetables!!!) and the random "Oh my gosh I'm starving" points make snacks and meals all the harder to determine what I want and when I want it. So now, with the end of this trimester, I hope food can be my friend once again.

Other than that fatigue has definately set in and I, get this... have learned to nap. No that doesn't mean I like it - if it were up to me I'd keep going all day, but I've accepted it and even appreciated it's refreshing abilities! When my naps are not possible - which so often they aren't (between school and work it's hard to get them in) - bed time is so early that David laughs at the night owl I used to be. We'll see how much he's laughing when the baby is here and crying late at night - for it will have the last laugh!

By now our little one weighs about an ounce and is over 2 and 1/2 inches long. It responds to touch, it's intestines have moved into it's abdomen and it has a heartbeat. We had an appointment with an OBGYN already who did my blood work up and discussed which new OBGYN would take us on as their patients (Dr. Heffron no longer delivers babies and we felt this was a necessary requirement for our ob - lol). We will meet with this new doctor on the 31st for our next checkup as he comes highly reccomended.

Well this is where I leave you all, on my way to a nap (yea for no class on Fridays!), we'll keep you all updated and please keep us all in your prayers! Much love! =0)

Day 20: Starting to feel real

Today was an interesting day, besides the incredible urge to take a nap, nausea set in and every little ache and pain makes me so nervous I didn't know what to do besides call my mom and tell her my worries. Lucky for me, I have her to tell me that all of my fears are normal and that whatever will be will be. That's when I realized it has become a real fear today that I am in charge of someone other than myself and the things that I chose to do, eat or stress out about all affect my body and the small little dot inside myself.

Hello Everybody!

Hello and welcome to the first ever David, Teresa and little one blog posting. We'll be your hosts through the next nine months, hopefully we will be somewhat entertaining to the viewers of the blog as we try to handle this adventure together!