I am getting REALLY excited about cloth diapering... not only will it save us lots and lots of money, it is healthier for the baby (natural fibers and less diaper rash) and OH SO CUTE! They have lots of colors and designs, and it was recommended that in the summer you don't even have to put a bottom or onesie on the baby because the diaper is cute enough to just wear with a t-shirt.
I think what I am going to do is get prefold diapers with snappis and covers for our newborn until they grow into the Bum Genius one size diapers that we can use from then on to potty training (which means we need about 24 diapers to cover us from birth to potty training, plus a couple prefolds and diaper covers! Amazing!!). I will probably have a few disposables around for the first week and if we travel long distance, but overall I am hoping to cloth diaper most of the time to save money.
I found this video on You Tube that explains the basics of prefolds and covers in case anyone is curious:
Once the baby is big enough, they will go into the Bum Genius 3.0 One Size diapers. Here is a tutorial video of these ones:
(I will be buying new ones that already come with inserts)
Anyway, I just wanted to share my excitement with you all. I've done a lot of research on how to wash them, and it really isn't that big of a deal, especially if you get enough that you can wash diapers every other day or every three days (and have a day off!). If anyone would like to donate to our cloth diaper collection feel free. :-)
My mom is also sewing us cloth wipes from old receiving blankets so that we don't have to buy wipes either. I plan on keeping a thermos of warm water in the nursery or a spray bottle nearby (or in the diaper bag) to dampen the wipes before wiping the baby. From what I read, plain filtered water is actually preferred over harsh chemicals put in store-bought wipes.
Of course I know there are people out there who prefer the convenience of disposable diapers and wipes and this is not meant to put you down, every one is entitled to their opinion. I'm just excited about my cute diapers that will work for not only this kiddo but our future ones as well!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
16 week bump tracker
Here is the bump progression so far!
4 weeks, 3 days
8 weeks, 2 days
12 weeks, 2 days
16 weeks, 2 days
16 week bump!!
4 weeks, 3 days
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| From Baby stuff! |
8 weeks, 2 days
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| From Baby stuff! |
12 weeks, 2 days
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| From Baby stuff! |
16 weeks, 2 days
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| From Baby stuff! |
16 week bump!!
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| From Baby stuff! |
Saturday, December 26, 2009
It's official!
I definitely felt the baby kick last night! I was reading in bed around 3am and I felt a feeling like popcorn popping or a bubble bursting multiple times in my lower abdomen... it happened about 5 or 6 times and then it stopped and never happened again. But it was amazing, especially because I've been wondering if the baby is ok in there, and God provided the confirmation I need for peace of mind.
Today I got our changing table mattress and dug out a cover to put over it from a bunch of stuff Lindy and Nathan gave me from the boys. After I get a few baskets from Ross and our cloth diapers, I will be completely done with the changing station!
I would like to get a bulk of the nursery done while I am in my second trimester and can still move around comfortably, and I think we are well on our way to do just that!
Today I got our changing table mattress and dug out a cover to put over it from a bunch of stuff Lindy and Nathan gave me from the boys. After I get a few baskets from Ross and our cloth diapers, I will be completely done with the changing station!
I would like to get a bulk of the nursery done while I am in my second trimester and can still move around comfortably, and I think we are well on our way to do just that!
16 weeks! Hola little avocado!!
Merry (belated) Christmas everyone!! I am officially 16 weeks today... Christmas was a rough day for me health wise... if I get up even an hour earlier than my normal schedule I get very ill and am nauseous for the rest of the day. It's quite awful and I spent Christmas morning losing my Christmas breakfast, which Eliot so lovingly prepared for me.
:-)
My dad came down for Christmas morning and we had a great time hanging out and opening presents before heading out to Jake and Jodi's for a delicious dinner. Dad thankfully took the time to install a dimmer switch in the nursery, and Diane generously gave us this lovely stroller which has a place for our car seat (from Nathan and Lindy) to clip on the top! It is super cute and we had fun putting it together.
Eliot also gave me the carpet cleaner I wanted (yay Eliot!), we are getting a beautiful glider and ottoman set from Eliot's parents, and my mom gave us this Mozart Magic Cube that we are already playing for the baby (he/she can hear already!). We also ordered this crib this week with our Christmas money, to arrive the first week of January. Things are coming together!!
Here is what is happening with Baby Grasso this week:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.
And now, for your viewing pleasure, some Christmas pics!
Merry Christmas one and all!
:-)
My dad came down for Christmas morning and we had a great time hanging out and opening presents before heading out to Jake and Jodi's for a delicious dinner. Dad thankfully took the time to install a dimmer switch in the nursery, and Diane generously gave us this lovely stroller which has a place for our car seat (from Nathan and Lindy) to clip on the top! It is super cute and we had fun putting it together.
Eliot also gave me the carpet cleaner I wanted (yay Eliot!), we are getting a beautiful glider and ottoman set from Eliot's parents, and my mom gave us this Mozart Magic Cube that we are already playing for the baby (he/she can hear already!). We also ordered this crib this week with our Christmas money, to arrive the first week of January. Things are coming together!!
Here is what is happening with Baby Grasso this week:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.
And now, for your viewing pleasure, some Christmas pics!
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| From Winter 2009/2010 |
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| From Winter 2009/2010 |
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| From Winter 2009/2010 |
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| From Winter 2009/2010 |
Merry Christmas one and all!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Popcorn, anyone?
Every once in awhile, when I'm curled up, I feel the slightest weird feeling in my abdomen, kind of like popcorn popping. I am pretty sure it is our little one since I've never felt anything like it before, and it feels different than the pulling/stretching sensation I've had for weeks. It doesn't happen all the time or even every day, but I am relatively sure our little one is kicking me!
Also, I am thinking about ordering our crib in the next week or so and starting to get the nursery in order while I am in my second trimester and have a lot of energy (and while Eliot is between semesters). We also have our 16 week doctor's appt on the 8th of January, and at that we will probably schedule our big ultrasound for 20 weeks when we get to see our baby and know the gender! Woohoo!
For now we are enjoying relaxing at home for Christmas and I am trying not to be frustrated with having to make a trip to the bathroom every 10-20min (not exaggerating).
Also, I am thinking about ordering our crib in the next week or so and starting to get the nursery in order while I am in my second trimester and have a lot of energy (and while Eliot is between semesters). We also have our 16 week doctor's appt on the 8th of January, and at that we will probably schedule our big ultrasound for 20 weeks when we get to see our baby and know the gender! Woohoo!
For now we are enjoying relaxing at home for Christmas and I am trying not to be frustrated with having to make a trip to the bathroom every 10-20min (not exaggerating).
Saturday, December 19, 2009
15 weeks! Little apple!!
I am 15 weeks today!! I have felt some flutters once in awhile that I think MAY be the baby, but I'm not sure. I can't wait to feel kicks for real! I am also having a lot of round ligament pain and this morning lots of hip pain from sleeping funny last night. Anyway, here is what is going on with our little one this week:
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")
Sadly, we probably won't find out the sex till the end of January/beginning of February since that is when we get our BIG ultrasound (20 weeks). I am so anxious to know what we are having so we can start to narrow down names decorate the nursery, etc. I am definitely having the "nesting" vibe and have been cleaning, organizing, and scrubbing every inch of the house (when I am not collapsed on the couch from fatigue). Oh well, the wait continues!
P.S. I included a link to our baby registry on the right of the blog just in case anyone needs it! :-)
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")
Sadly, we probably won't find out the sex till the end of January/beginning of February since that is when we get our BIG ultrasound (20 weeks). I am so anxious to know what we are having so we can start to narrow down names decorate the nursery, etc. I am definitely having the "nesting" vibe and have been cleaning, organizing, and scrubbing every inch of the house (when I am not collapsed on the couch from fatigue). Oh well, the wait continues!
P.S. I included a link to our baby registry on the right of the blog just in case anyone needs it! :-)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Weekly Survey- Week 14
How far along? 14 weeks and 5 days!
Total weight gain/loss: Gained about 2 lbs in the last 2 weeks, right on schedule.
Sleep: INSOMNIA is taking over my life! When I try to go to bed early, I toss and turn, even if I am tired. I think I have been pretty stressed out recently too and that hasn't helped my sleep schedule at all.
Best moment this week: Our Gingerbread house party we had tonight... we had a great time making houses and chatting with our friends!
Symptoms: Headaches, nausea if I don't get enough sleep, irritability, fatigue, mood swings
Symptoms I DON'T have: Nothing has changed in this arena from last week.
Gender: Thinking pink but I keep second-guessing myself!
What I miss: Lazy days around the house... but I think I will get a few this weekend, so it's not that bad.
What I am looking forward to: Really looking like I am showing instead of just looking fat.
Weekly Wisdom: Appreciate your spouse!
Milestones: Officially in my second trimester!!!!
Total weight gain/loss: Gained about 2 lbs in the last 2 weeks, right on schedule.
Sleep: INSOMNIA is taking over my life! When I try to go to bed early, I toss and turn, even if I am tired. I think I have been pretty stressed out recently too and that hasn't helped my sleep schedule at all.
Best moment this week: Our Gingerbread house party we had tonight... we had a great time making houses and chatting with our friends!
Symptoms: Headaches, nausea if I don't get enough sleep, irritability, fatigue, mood swings
Symptoms I DON'T have: Nothing has changed in this arena from last week.
Gender: Thinking pink but I keep second-guessing myself!
What I miss: Lazy days around the house... but I think I will get a few this weekend, so it's not that bad.
What I am looking forward to: Really looking like I am showing instead of just looking fat.
Weekly Wisdom: Appreciate your spouse!
Milestones: Officially in my second trimester!!!!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thankful
Tonight I am so very thankful for my husband and wonderful marriage. What an amazing blessing God has bestowed on me to grant me such a beautiful life. I couldn't ask for more.
I can't wait to introduce our little one to a life as full of adventure as the last 5 1/2 years have been for us.
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| From Disney Land and Sea 2009!! |
I can't wait to introduce our little one to a life as full of adventure as the last 5 1/2 years have been for us.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
14 weeks! Our little lemon!
I am 14 weeks today, totally and completely 100% for sure in my SECOND TRIMESTER!!! WOOHOO!!
Since today is Eliot's birthday and we have many plans, I will make this short. Here is what is happening with our little bean this week:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.
Since today is Eliot's birthday and we have many plans, I will make this short. Here is what is happening with our little bean this week:
This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.
In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Why it is all worth it
I was driving along the other day listening to some music on my iPod when this song came on, one of my favorites by Bebo Norman called "Nothing without You." It is always an emotional song for me, reminding me of my purpose on this earth, but when I reached this verse I just started to cry:
"Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love."
That's exactly what is going on right now with me. God is building up my body to be a place of strength and growth for this little one, breaking it in so many ways in the process (morning sickness, joint pain, headaches, fatigue, etc). But it is for love that I am going through this, not only for my child and my husband, but to glorify my Creator in the process by sacrificing myself for His plan for us. Being broken has never felt so amazing, so right. What an incredible realization that this pregnancy isn't for me (since I felt the call for a long time to be a mom), but for love... to love God, Eliot, and, of course, this little one with the full extent of my being.
Ok, Lord, I understand now why I must be broken in the process of creation... so that You would be glorified in this sacrifice, that I will learn to lean on You for what I need instead of myself like I have been doing for so long.
"Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love."
That's exactly what is going on right now with me. God is building up my body to be a place of strength and growth for this little one, breaking it in so many ways in the process (morning sickness, joint pain, headaches, fatigue, etc). But it is for love that I am going through this, not only for my child and my husband, but to glorify my Creator in the process by sacrificing myself for His plan for us. Being broken has never felt so amazing, so right. What an incredible realization that this pregnancy isn't for me (since I felt the call for a long time to be a mom), but for love... to love God, Eliot, and, of course, this little one with the full extent of my being.
Ok, Lord, I understand now why I must be broken in the process of creation... so that You would be glorified in this sacrifice, that I will learn to lean on You for what I need instead of myself like I have been doing for so long.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Week 13! Little shrimp!
Since my due date got bumped up to June 12, I now get to change over my weeks on Saturdays instead of Sundays! So here we are, 13 weeks. Many people say that 13 weeks is the beginning of the second trimester, others say it is 14 weeks... I will wait till next week to do my celebrating since today was filled with nausea and fatigue. However, I am now relatively out of the danger zone for miscarriage, and the risk drops to less than 3% after you hear the heartbeat (163 bpm and going strong!). Since our doctor said everything looks absolutely normal and great, I am feeling less scared about losing the baby and more just excited about parenthood.
Here is what is going on this week with our little one:
Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.
Here is what is going on this week with our little one:
Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.
Weekly Survey- Week 12
How far along? 13 weeks today since my due date got moved yesterday
Total weight gain/loss: Gained 4 lbs since 8 week weigh-in
Sleep: I sleep in the daytime and am awake all night. Go figure.
Best moment this week: Hearing our baby's heartbeat, 163 bpm!
Symptoms: Alternately nauseous and extremely hungry. Have "pregnancy brain" and I can't remember anything! Lots of abdominal soreness, some headaches and dizziness.
Symptoms I DON'T have: I overcame my aversion to pumpkins (NOT squash though yet) this week and was able to harvest a whole bunch of seeds from ours before I tossed the rinds.
Gender: Thinking pink this week! We walked through Macys and looked at all the baby clothes... I was drawn to the pink ones!
What I miss: Time with my husband.
What I am looking forward to: Christmas! It's right around the corner, and BOY am I glad we will be laying around the house this year instead of traveling like last year. I have zero energy for anything these days!
Weekly Wisdom: Always get a full night's rest and eat at least one good meal before attempting to stand and hold music for an extended period of time.
Milestones: End of my first trimester! WOOhoo!!!
Total weight gain/loss: Gained 4 lbs since 8 week weigh-in
Sleep: I sleep in the daytime and am awake all night. Go figure.
Best moment this week: Hearing our baby's heartbeat, 163 bpm!
Symptoms: Alternately nauseous and extremely hungry. Have "pregnancy brain" and I can't remember anything! Lots of abdominal soreness, some headaches and dizziness.
Symptoms I DON'T have: I overcame my aversion to pumpkins (NOT squash though yet) this week and was able to harvest a whole bunch of seeds from ours before I tossed the rinds.
Gender: Thinking pink this week! We walked through Macys and looked at all the baby clothes... I was drawn to the pink ones!
What I miss: Time with my husband.
What I am looking forward to: Christmas! It's right around the corner, and BOY am I glad we will be laying around the house this year instead of traveling like last year. I have zero energy for anything these days!
Weekly Wisdom: Always get a full night's rest and eat at least one good meal before attempting to stand and hold music for an extended period of time.
Milestones: End of my first trimester! WOOhoo!!!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Doctor's appt #2!
We went to our doctor's appt today and got to hear our little one's heartbeat! At first the nurse had a hard time finding the heartbeat because the baby was waaay back towards my spine, but she finally found it. The heart rate was 163, and everything is measuring perfectly normal for the pregnancy!! The doctor also looked at my eating chart (I tracked my food for 3 days) and said everything looks really good. I also asked about my lab tests, which all came back as normal.
We asked about the due date since the baby was measuring small at my last appt, and the doctor said June 12th is the official date! :-)
Eliot and I celebrated with a 2 for $20 meal at Chilis and a walk around the mall looking at cute baby clothes and Christmas-y items. Then Jodi and Jake called about some formal Yule Ball the graduate students are having in the music department, but I (both sadly and gratefully) don't have ANY formal clothes I fit into at this point. Even though I've only gained 4lbs so far, I still have this bump to contend with in the front!
The doctor also said in the next week is when I will probably "pop," that is, start showing more like a pregnancy and less like Santa Claus after too many cookies and nog.
So things are going VERY well, and we couldn't be more excited. I am so happy most of all to be able to put on my PJs and watch Night at the Museum 2 with Eliot with the glow of the Christmas tree to keep all THREE of us warm. :-)
We asked about the due date since the baby was measuring small at my last appt, and the doctor said June 12th is the official date! :-)
Eliot and I celebrated with a 2 for $20 meal at Chilis and a walk around the mall looking at cute baby clothes and Christmas-y items. Then Jodi and Jake called about some formal Yule Ball the graduate students are having in the music department, but I (both sadly and gratefully) don't have ANY formal clothes I fit into at this point. Even though I've only gained 4lbs so far, I still have this bump to contend with in the front!
The doctor also said in the next week is when I will probably "pop," that is, start showing more like a pregnancy and less like Santa Claus after too many cookies and nog.
So things are going VERY well, and we couldn't be more excited. I am so happy most of all to be able to put on my PJs and watch Night at the Museum 2 with Eliot with the glow of the Christmas tree to keep all THREE of us warm. :-)
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
12 week bump pic!
Here is a the progression so far from 4 weeks to 12:
4 weeks
8 weeks
12 weeks!
4 weeks
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| From Baby stuff! |
8 weeks
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| From Baby stuff! |
12 weeks!
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| From Baby stuff! |
Monday, November 30, 2009
12 weeks! Little lime!!
The size of our baby this week is the size of a lime... which just makes me want to sing island-inspired songs and sip a (virgin) pina colada for some reason. :-) Here is what is happening this week:
The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.
Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.
In other news, I am feeling much better with more energy. Eliot has noticed my extreme mood-swings though, and I feel bad for him. Sometimes I don't know if I am laughing or crying and he just thinks it is funny that I can't decide. :-) I can't WAIT till our doctor's appt on Friday, I am hoping we get to hear the heartbeat!
The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.
Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.
In other news, I am feeling much better with more energy. Eliot has noticed my extreme mood-swings though, and I feel bad for him. Sometimes I don't know if I am laughing or crying and he just thinks it is funny that I can't decide. :-) I can't WAIT till our doctor's appt on Friday, I am hoping we get to hear the heartbeat!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Weekly survey- Week 11
How far along? 11 weeks, 6 days
Total weight gain/loss: I'll let you know next week when I get weighed!
Sleep: Takes about a billion trips to the bathroom before I can get to sleep around 4am (after lots of high-protein snacks). Sucks to be up so late still.
Best moment this week: Seeing the cat and Eliot curled up together asleep.
Symptoms: Skin breaking out, HUNGRY, get tired and dizzy easily, mood swings, food cravings (particularly salty foods), light cramping on and off, vivid dreams/nightmares
Symptoms I DON'T have: Morning sickness since I sleep till noon to avoid it!
Gender: Hm... Girl? Boy? I go back and forth. Leaning more towards girl this week.
What I miss: A great big Lemon Drop cocktail. Do they make virgin lemon drops?
What I am looking forward to: Our next appt on the 4th when we may get to hear the heartbeat and CHRISTMAS TIME! What a great time of year!
Weekly Wisdom: Don't be like Scarlett O'Hara.
Milestones: Symptoms starting to decrease and I feel a bit better as we head towards the second trimester!!
Total weight gain/loss: I'll let you know next week when I get weighed!
Sleep: Takes about a billion trips to the bathroom before I can get to sleep around 4am (after lots of high-protein snacks). Sucks to be up so late still.
Best moment this week: Seeing the cat and Eliot curled up together asleep.
Symptoms: Skin breaking out, HUNGRY, get tired and dizzy easily, mood swings, food cravings (particularly salty foods), light cramping on and off, vivid dreams/nightmares
Symptoms I DON'T have: Morning sickness since I sleep till noon to avoid it!
Gender: Hm... Girl? Boy? I go back and forth. Leaning more towards girl this week.
What I miss: A great big Lemon Drop cocktail. Do they make virgin lemon drops?
What I am looking forward to: Our next appt on the 4th when we may get to hear the heartbeat and CHRISTMAS TIME! What a great time of year!
Weekly Wisdom: Don't be like Scarlett O'Hara.
Milestones: Symptoms starting to decrease and I feel a bit better as we head towards the second trimester!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Maybe it's me...
Everything seems to irritate the heck out of me these days. I've had to resort to telling myself to calm down and breath before I retaliate against something... I mean, people don't know that they are being irritating, right? And it's probably just the pregnancy hormones, right?
*SIGH*
Little things set me off, like insensitive comments, flaky people, my dropping something 3 times in a row, etc. I can't even explain WHY some things irritate me, they just DO. I mean, it's just really, REALLY irritating. Ugh!
On the other side of things, I cried at what I think was a Lowes commercial the other day when it showed a family member coming home for Christmas and surprising her family because they thought she couldn't come. I also tear up every time I see Disneyland ads with the whole family together having fun and making memories. Those people really know their audience! I can't wait till it is our little family going to those places. :-)
I would also like to point out that I am still having my food aversion to butternut squash (ugh, makes my stomach turn just to write it) so please please please nobody mention it to me this Thanksgiving. Thanks!
*SIGH*
Little things set me off, like insensitive comments, flaky people, my dropping something 3 times in a row, etc. I can't even explain WHY some things irritate me, they just DO. I mean, it's just really, REALLY irritating. Ugh!
On the other side of things, I cried at what I think was a Lowes commercial the other day when it showed a family member coming home for Christmas and surprising her family because they thought she couldn't come. I also tear up every time I see Disneyland ads with the whole family together having fun and making memories. Those people really know their audience! I can't wait till it is our little family going to those places. :-)
I would also like to point out that I am still having my food aversion to butternut squash (ugh, makes my stomach turn just to write it) so please please please nobody mention it to me this Thanksgiving. Thanks!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
11 weeks! Little fig!
Our little one is 11 weeks today! I overdid it yesterday with am 8-hour choir rehearsal and a long drive back to Springfield, so I am completely exhausted today to the point of not wanting to get off the couch. It's ok, though, since I don't have anything planned for today besides relaxing!
I have been feeling lots of what I think is round ligament pain from the uterus stretching... when I move too suddenly or stretch my legs out while lying down I get an uncomfortable pulling sensation and I have to curl back up. It's not crippling and from what I read it's completely normal, so I am not worried. I'll mention it to my OB doc on the 4th of December when I have my next appt.
Here is what will be happening this week:
Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.
She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.
I have been feeling lots of what I think is round ligament pain from the uterus stretching... when I move too suddenly or stretch my legs out while lying down I get an uncomfortable pulling sensation and I have to curl back up. It's not crippling and from what I read it's completely normal, so I am not worried. I'll mention it to my OB doc on the 4th of December when I have my next appt.
Here is what will be happening this week:
Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.
She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Boy or Girl?
Eliot and I have been discussing whether we think it is a boy or girl in there... we are both undecided. I was thinking girl, but all the "old wives tales" signs I've heard point to boy (liking salty foods instead of sweet, not having really bad morning sickness, etc). We will be happy no matter what, but it still is making us wonder...
I've redone the poll to the right for everyone to guess what we are having since we know now we won't have twins! What do you think we will be having? Vote! :-)
I've redone the poll to the right for everyone to guess what we are having since we know now we won't have twins! What do you think we will be having? Vote! :-)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
10 weeks!
Our baby is 10 weeks this week! WOOHOO! We've finally entered the fetal stage and left the embryonic stage in the dust! Here is some more info on our little one's development:
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Waiting
I know everyone says this pregnancy will fly by and I will miss this special experience, I am having a hard time being patient... I want to see our little one in our arms, safe and sound. I know that God is in control of all of this, and He will hold our child in His arms until he hands them to us (and then of course He holds us all).
This song I heard on the radio this morning has been going through my head all day... how fitting for me in this time of life when I am anxious for the next step but so very thankful for the current blessing I've been given today. I am SERVE and WORSHIP in this time of waiting, not be obsessed about baby gear, finances or the million things that can go wrong. My job is to simply SERVE and WORSHIP. How succinctly put.
"I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord"
~John Waller
"I am waiting for the Lord, my soul is waiting for Him, and my hope is in His Word." Psalms 130:5
This song I heard on the radio this morning has been going through my head all day... how fitting for me in this time of life when I am anxious for the next step but so very thankful for the current blessing I've been given today. I am SERVE and WORSHIP in this time of waiting, not be obsessed about baby gear, finances or the million things that can go wrong. My job is to simply SERVE and WORSHIP. How succinctly put.
"I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord"
~John Waller
"I am waiting for the Lord, my soul is waiting for Him, and my hope is in His Word." Psalms 130:5
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Time to vote!
Eliot and I have been brainstorming baby names and here is a list of some possible choices we are considering (some more than others). This isn't a complete list, and we have by no means limited ourselves to only these names. I know there are a lot on the list, but it is early after all! Click on the link below to vote!
Our baby's first hometown
Springfield, Oregon is celebrating 125 years in 2010, so I thought I would pay a little tribute to our fine little town with some fun facts. After all, this is the first place our little peanut will live... Springfield Pride!!
Springfield began with Elias and Mary Briggs taking up a land claim and building a cabin on the east bank of the Willamette River in 1859 for 640 acres.
The Briggs' claim included a spring in a field. The town of Springfield was named for that spring that still exists on the corner of 2nd and B streets. It is now capped and covered to protect it.
Many of the early settlers of the area included members of the ill-fated Lost Wagon Train of 1853.
In 1892, George and Lulu Dorris planted filbert (hazelnut) trees from Spain, sold their crops and shipped trees throughout the US, initiating the nation's filbert industry.
Weyerhaeuser (paper company) opened its Springfield mill complex in 1949, granting Lane County the title of Timber Capital of the World," and Springfield was dubbed "Lunch Bucket City."
Clint Eastwood lived and worked in Springfield at Weyerhaeuser for about one year when he was 19 years old.
Author Ken Kesey (of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) grew up in Springfield.
Matt Groening was inspired by our little town to create the Simpsons (the town has a plaque signed by the man himself with a sketch of Bart saying, "Yo to Springfield, Oregon... the REAL Springfield! Your Pal Matt Groening, Proud Oregonian 2007).
In other news besides my hometown pride, not much new to report except I am alone this weekend with Eliot in Ireland for the William Kennedy Piping Festival. I am hoping he makes it there and back ok... and brings me some of those delicious roast chicken flavored chips! Yum! Luckily, lots of people are coming over to keep me company... Mom, Grandma and Pappy, Jodi and Jake, and I'll go see Nathan and Lindy on Sunday. Yay for company!
I feel pretty sick in the mornings right now, especially if my stomach is empty. I try to eat all throughout the day to keep the "morning" sickness at bay, but sometimes it gets the better of me. It's not too bad usually, but it can get worse if I don't eat/sleep/drink well.
I am just happy that everything seems to be going well with this pregnancy so far... what a blessing this little one is to our family! :-)
Springfield began with Elias and Mary Briggs taking up a land claim and building a cabin on the east bank of the Willamette River in 1859 for 640 acres.
The Briggs' claim included a spring in a field. The town of Springfield was named for that spring that still exists on the corner of 2nd and B streets. It is now capped and covered to protect it.
Many of the early settlers of the area included members of the ill-fated Lost Wagon Train of 1853.
In 1892, George and Lulu Dorris planted filbert (hazelnut) trees from Spain, sold their crops and shipped trees throughout the US, initiating the nation's filbert industry.
Weyerhaeuser (paper company) opened its Springfield mill complex in 1949, granting Lane County the title of Timber Capital of the World," and Springfield was dubbed "Lunch Bucket City."
Clint Eastwood lived and worked in Springfield at Weyerhaeuser for about one year when he was 19 years old.
Author Ken Kesey (of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) grew up in Springfield.
Matt Groening was inspired by our little town to create the Simpsons (the town has a plaque signed by the man himself with a sketch of Bart saying, "Yo to Springfield, Oregon... the REAL Springfield! Your Pal Matt Groening, Proud Oregonian 2007).
In other news besides my hometown pride, not much new to report except I am alone this weekend with Eliot in Ireland for the William Kennedy Piping Festival. I am hoping he makes it there and back ok... and brings me some of those delicious roast chicken flavored chips! Yum! Luckily, lots of people are coming over to keep me company... Mom, Grandma and Pappy, Jodi and Jake, and I'll go see Nathan and Lindy on Sunday. Yay for company!
I feel pretty sick in the mornings right now, especially if my stomach is empty. I try to eat all throughout the day to keep the "morning" sickness at bay, but sometimes it gets the better of me. It's not too bad usually, but it can get worse if I don't eat/sleep/drink well.
I am just happy that everything seems to be going well with this pregnancy so far... what a blessing this little one is to our family! :-)
Sunday, November 8, 2009
9 weeks! Little grape!
I am 9 weeks pregnant today... and I feel it! Here is what is going on with little baby Grasso this week:
How your baby's growing:
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.Friday, November 6, 2009
1st Doctor's appt!
We had our first appt. today... Eliot was a HUGE help because I was up half the night nauseous and didn't feel like doing anything let alone going to the appt to be poked and prodded. He filled out all my paperwork and did a great job being supportive, even when I got sick (luckily in the bathroom) halfway through the appt. It seems my morning sickness had come about in full force here in the 8th week of pregnancy!
They took a urine sample, weighed me (astonishingly I only gained like 3 or 4 lbs so far), and then I met our doctor, Dr. Betterton. She was very nice and was patient with me even in my illness. She checked out all the normal things to check and then discovered (as I had already known) that I have a retroverted uterus (tilts to the back). So, to do an ultrasound to make sure everything is a-ok with the baby, she had to do a transvaginal ultrasound instead of the traditional "stomach" kind (yes, it is as fun as it sounds!). Here is what she found:
I am pretty sure the plus sign is at the head... and you can see little arms and legs! There is only ONE baby in there (yay!) and it's little heart was beating away!! The doctor said everything looks great, but the baby is measuring small (which I had suspected because I know I ovulated late).
Here are a few more pics, though you can't see much. Our little gummy bear is still growing!
Other than that, I got my H1N1 shot (the last one in the office!) and they drew a LOT of blood for the pregnancy blood panel. But it's official... healthy little baby gummy bear living inside me!
We are going back in 4 weeks, and I am hoping by that time I won't feel so sick. The only reason I am even able to type this now is due to my Seabands and some ginger I took to help the nausea. I plan on curling up in a little ball and sleeping for the rest of the day. The cat has joined me purring in the bed and we THREE are enjoying a lazy afternoon hearing the rain on the roof. If only Eliot could be here then it would be perfect. :-)
They took a urine sample, weighed me (astonishingly I only gained like 3 or 4 lbs so far), and then I met our doctor, Dr. Betterton. She was very nice and was patient with me even in my illness. She checked out all the normal things to check and then discovered (as I had already known) that I have a retroverted uterus (tilts to the back). So, to do an ultrasound to make sure everything is a-ok with the baby, she had to do a transvaginal ultrasound instead of the traditional "stomach" kind (yes, it is as fun as it sounds!). Here is what she found:
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| From Baby stuff! |
I am pretty sure the plus sign is at the head... and you can see little arms and legs! There is only ONE baby in there (yay!) and it's little heart was beating away!! The doctor said everything looks great, but the baby is measuring small (which I had suspected because I know I ovulated late).
Here are a few more pics, though you can't see much. Our little gummy bear is still growing!
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| From Baby stuff! |
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| From Baby stuff! |
Other than that, I got my H1N1 shot (the last one in the office!) and they drew a LOT of blood for the pregnancy blood panel. But it's official... healthy little baby gummy bear living inside me!
We are going back in 4 weeks, and I am hoping by that time I won't feel so sick. The only reason I am even able to type this now is due to my Seabands and some ginger I took to help the nausea. I plan on curling up in a little ball and sleeping for the rest of the day. The cat has joined me purring in the bed and we THREE are enjoying a lazy afternoon hearing the rain on the roof. If only Eliot could be here then it would be perfect. :-)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
7 is the New Midnight
It seems that everyone in the Grasso household have taken to falling asleep on the couch around 7pm every night... me from fatigue and Eliot from just plain exhaustion from his busy day. Luckily we find our way back off the couch for our evening activities. For example, to night Eliot teaches a lesson, I'm working on Christmas gifts and we both meet back at 9pm for The Office. It works.
Tomorrow is our first doctor's appt! YAY! I can't wait! I am so nervous I wonder if I will sleep much tonight. I have also been short of breath (another symptom of the rising progesterone in my body), which makes it uncomfortable to lay down and try to sleep. I hope that gets better in the next trimester.
I can't wait for tomorrow... I hope we get an ultrasound so we can see our little one!!
Update to follow after our appt!
Tomorrow is our first doctor's appt! YAY! I can't wait! I am so nervous I wonder if I will sleep much tonight. I have also been short of breath (another symptom of the rising progesterone in my body), which makes it uncomfortable to lay down and try to sleep. I hope that gets better in the next trimester.
I can't wait for tomorrow... I hope we get an ultrasound so we can see our little one!!
Update to follow after our appt!
Monday, November 2, 2009
8 weeks, 2 days baby bump!
I took a few new pics today of the bump... I like the first pic more, but then I realized it was backwards from the first pic taken at 4 weeks, 3 days, so I included the second one for comparison purposes. :-)
Here is the one from 4 weeks ago...
I think I see a difference! Either I am pregnant or just getting fat from eating too many Halloween goodies. :-)
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| From Baby stuff! |
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| From Baby stuff! |
Here is the one from 4 weeks ago...
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| From Baby stuff! |
I think I see a difference! Either I am pregnant or just getting fat from eating too many Halloween goodies. :-)
For those who are curious...
Some people have inquired about a baby registry for us since Christmas is right around the corner... I started one at Amazon with a universal button so I added items from many different stores, including Walmart, Target, Babies-R-Us, etc. This also means that the bulk of items on the registry are under the general "universal registry" category and not separated into their own sections, so keep scrolling down to see everything! I also registered for mostly gender neutral stuff at the moment without a theme since we don't know what we are having!
Here is the link: Our Baby Registry
I will probably add and alter things later as our little one grows, but for now I've done a fair amount of research about the items I put on the registry and everything we have on there will be useful.
To be quite honest, the things we need the most are the All-in-one cloth diapers and the bigger ticket items on the registry, but anything and everything helps! We will end up needing just about everything on the list, and any gift is of course welcome and much appreciated. Thanks everyone for putting up with my shameless promotion of our registry!
Here is the link: Our Baby Registry
I will probably add and alter things later as our little one grows, but for now I've done a fair amount of research about the items I put on the registry and everything we have on there will be useful.
To be quite honest, the things we need the most are the All-in-one cloth diapers and the bigger ticket items on the registry, but anything and everything helps! We will end up needing just about everything on the list, and any gift is of course welcome and much appreciated. Thanks everyone for putting up with my shameless promotion of our registry!
8 weeks! A little kidney bean!!
I am 8 weeks today... here are some developments happening this week:
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.
I am feeling better this week... some fatigue still, and cramping on and off as things are growing, but overall pretty good. I am also HUNGRY all the time, always looking for something to eat! :-)
I will try to take a belly pic this week as well and post it when I find a moment.
Also, FRIDAY is our FIRST APPT! YAY!!! I can't wait! It will be so nice to have some reassurance that things are progressing as they should, and hopefully, see our little bean! Or at least hear a heartbeat! :-D
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.
I am feeling better this week... some fatigue still, and cramping on and off as things are growing, but overall pretty good. I am also HUNGRY all the time, always looking for something to eat! :-)
I will try to take a belly pic this week as well and post it when I find a moment.
Also, FRIDAY is our FIRST APPT! YAY!!! I can't wait! It will be so nice to have some reassurance that things are progressing as they should, and hopefully, see our little bean! Or at least hear a heartbeat! :-D
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thinking positively
There is so much bad news out there, stories of women who have miscarriages, stillborn births, complications, etc that I finally decided that I needed to stop listening to all the negative and start thinking positively about the wonderful blessing we have been given and let myself be excited about it instead of scared.
So, we are starting to tell a few more people (for prayer support and encouragement) and have started taking walks together around stores with baby departments so we can think about the future together. It's wonderful to have the time together, get exercise, and also be prepared about the cost of baby items so we can budget for them. I am also beginning to think about themes for the nursery since I love decorating so much. Here are a few I'm thinking of:
Boy:
Pirates of the Caribbean (the GOOD pirates!)
Critter country (squirrels, raccoons, bears, etc)
Robin Hood (my favorite Disney cartoon)
Girl:
Garden/flowers (with pink, green, and light yellow)
Peter Rabbit garden
Some sort of Disney female character/design, not sure what exactly
If it is a boy, we probably will leave the room the blue color it already is, but we'll paint it with a light green color if it is a girl (since we already have a full can of paint left over from painting our bedroom). If anyone has any ideas they would like to throw in the hat, please let me know! I am not particularly set on anything, and I actually have more boy themes that I like at the moment than girl themes. Eliot and I both agreed we didn't want any overwhelming pink if it is a girl, just subtle pink... and Eliot is opposed to the idea of "little princess" for a number of reasons, so that is out.
Whatever we end up doing, it will be on a budget... but I have been able to decorate many rooms in the house on a budget, so I am not too worried! :-)
So, we are starting to tell a few more people (for prayer support and encouragement) and have started taking walks together around stores with baby departments so we can think about the future together. It's wonderful to have the time together, get exercise, and also be prepared about the cost of baby items so we can budget for them. I am also beginning to think about themes for the nursery since I love decorating so much. Here are a few I'm thinking of:
Boy:
Pirates of the Caribbean (the GOOD pirates!)
Critter country (squirrels, raccoons, bears, etc)
Robin Hood (my favorite Disney cartoon)
Girl:
Garden/flowers (with pink, green, and light yellow)
Peter Rabbit garden
Some sort of Disney female character/design, not sure what exactly
If it is a boy, we probably will leave the room the blue color it already is, but we'll paint it with a light green color if it is a girl (since we already have a full can of paint left over from painting our bedroom). If anyone has any ideas they would like to throw in the hat, please let me know! I am not particularly set on anything, and I actually have more boy themes that I like at the moment than girl themes. Eliot and I both agreed we didn't want any overwhelming pink if it is a girl, just subtle pink... and Eliot is opposed to the idea of "little princess" for a number of reasons, so that is out.
Whatever we end up doing, it will be on a budget... but I have been able to decorate many rooms in the house on a budget, so I am not too worried! :-)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
I hate butternut squash.
The very sight of butternut squash makes my stomach turn and causes me to gag uncontrollably. The smell of it is even worse. I used to love it, and now anything that resembles it makes me nauseous, including a cartoon character on Veggie Tales that was designed as a squash. Seriously.
Unfortunately, anything that remotely looks like it can be related to the squash in question is included in this category. So far, sweet potatoes and, unfortunately, pumpkins fall into this category. I am ok with the sight of pumpkins, but we are supposed to carve them on Friday and I am freaking out that I won't be able to stand the sight of them. And yet I am so excited about those baked pumpkin seeds.... I am so torn!
Also, just for the record, I did get my seasonal flu shot yesterday, but not the H1N1 because they are all out in the area. As a result, my arm has hurt for the last 24 hrs (my LEFT arm, which sucks because I am supposed to sleep on my LEFT side), and I had a low grade fever last night which didn't help my attempts to sleep. Not that I'm complaining or anything. :-)
Unfortunately, anything that remotely looks like it can be related to the squash in question is included in this category. So far, sweet potatoes and, unfortunately, pumpkins fall into this category. I am ok with the sight of pumpkins, but we are supposed to carve them on Friday and I am freaking out that I won't be able to stand the sight of them. And yet I am so excited about those baked pumpkin seeds.... I am so torn!
Also, just for the record, I did get my seasonal flu shot yesterday, but not the H1N1 because they are all out in the area. As a result, my arm has hurt for the last 24 hrs (my LEFT arm, which sucks because I am supposed to sleep on my LEFT side), and I had a low grade fever last night which didn't help my attempts to sleep. Not that I'm complaining or anything. :-)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Precordial Catch Syndrome
Tonight while struggling to fall asleep (yet again), I was laying down reading when suddenly I felt this intense, sharp pain in my left lung when I breathed in too deeply or moved at all. I started to panic, as I thought I'd have to wake up Eliot and head to the ER. I thought maybe a heart attack or something awful... I grabbed my laptop, and a few minutes later I felt this "pop" in my chest and the pain was completely gone. Still curious if this was serious, I looked around and discovered this which sounds exactly like what happened:
Precordial Catch Syndrome
(PCS), also known as Texidor's twinge, is a common cause of chest pain complaints in children and adolescents. It also occurs, though less frequently, in adults. PCS manifests itself as a very intense, sharp pain typically at the left side of the chest which is worse when taking breaths. Patients often think that they are having a heart attack which causes them to panic. This typically lasts 30 seconds to 3 minutes, though some episodes last only a few breaths and in rare cases can last up to 30 minutes. In all cases the pain is resolved quickly and completely.
CS has consistent characteristics. Its symptoms begin with a sudden onset of anterior chest pain on the left side of the chest. The pain is localized and does not radiate like heart attack pain typically does. Breathing in, and sometimes breathing out, often intensifies the pain. Typically this causes the patient to freeze in place and breathe shallowly until the episode passes. Episodes typically last a couple of seconds to three minutes. The frequency of episodes varies by patient, sometimes occurring daily, multiple episodes each day, or years between episodes. This is believed to be localized cramping of certain muscles groups.
Precordial Catch Syndrome
(PCS), also known as Texidor's twinge, is a common cause of chest pain complaints in children and adolescents. It also occurs, though less frequently, in adults. PCS manifests itself as a very intense, sharp pain typically at the left side of the chest which is worse when taking breaths. Patients often think that they are having a heart attack which causes them to panic. This typically lasts 30 seconds to 3 minutes, though some episodes last only a few breaths and in rare cases can last up to 30 minutes. In all cases the pain is resolved quickly and completely.
CS has consistent characteristics. Its symptoms begin with a sudden onset of anterior chest pain on the left side of the chest. The pain is localized and does not radiate like heart attack pain typically does. Breathing in, and sometimes breathing out, often intensifies the pain. Typically this causes the patient to freeze in place and breathe shallowly until the episode passes. Episodes typically last a couple of seconds to three minutes. The frequency of episodes varies by patient, sometimes occurring daily, multiple episodes each day, or years between episodes. This is believed to be localized cramping of certain muscles groups.
Although deep inhalation during a PCS attack will likely cause an increase in pain, many have found that forcing themselves to breathe as deeply as possible will result in a "popping" or "ripping" sensation which quickly and completely resolves the PCS episode.
PCS episodes happen most often while sitting or lying down, and being inactive.
So there you have it. I will mention this to my doctor when I see her on the 6th, but it doesn't sound too serious (I feel fine now). Everything I experienced was exactly like what is described above. I had never even heard of this before. Crazy!
I am going to go get my seasonal flu shot tomorrow, but the H1N1 is completely unavailable in the area. So I guess I will have to be super careful about not getting sick and avoid crowds as much as possible. :-( In any case, I am glad I can breathe deep again and will hopefully get to sleep soon!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
7 weeks!
I am 7 weeks today! Here are some of the highlights of what will be happening to little Baby Grasso this week:
The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.
If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.
The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.
If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Let the morning sickness begin!
I've found that if I don't eat anything for awhile or my stomach is getting empty I get reeeeeeallly nauseous. Fortunately, believe it or not, eating something makes it all better. It seemed so counterintuitive tonight to say to Eliot, "I'm feeling sick, we need to go eat." :-)
We had a nice date night tonight thanks to the 2 for $20 special at Chilis (we get one night per month to eat out and this was it!). I had baby back ribs which I have been craving for a few weeks since I saw one of those commercials with the catchy tunes. I've been walking around the house singing , "I want my baby back baby back baby back I want my baby back baby back baby back... Chiliiiiiiiiis Baby back ribs, Chilis baby back ribs BARBEQUE SAUCE!" Eliot just laughs.
Other than that, Eliot went to see his doctor and at the same time asked about me getting a flu shot, and his doctor made a big deal about how important it is for pregnant women to get the shot immediately, freaking Eliot out completely. Then Eliot came home and freaked me out by saying I should have got it weeks ago, making me feel like I am going to die if I walk out of the house. After a LONG talk about how he's not allowed to scare me like that, we decided we would trust God to keep us healthy, use good hand washing and go out to eat because, let's face it, I only leave the house maybe twice per week anyway. Yes, I will get the flu shots, but I am not going to live my life in fear of this "swine flu" plague.
I've also found that I do get nauseous in the mornings, but since I've been sleeping from 4am-2pm, I sleep through a lot of it. I've been trying not to feel guilty about sleeping the day away, since I know I need my rest, but it is such a bummer to see the sun go down after only 3 hours. I would like normal hours of sleep, but my brain just won't shut off! Grr.
Speaking of which, I am going to head to bed to read at least. I've decided to read some of the classics since I am up most of the night... this week is Little Women, last was Pride and Prejudice, and when I am finished with LW I will start Gone with the Wind. At least I can become more versed in the classics while sleep evades me!
We had a nice date night tonight thanks to the 2 for $20 special at Chilis (we get one night per month to eat out and this was it!). I had baby back ribs which I have been craving for a few weeks since I saw one of those commercials with the catchy tunes. I've been walking around the house singing , "I want my baby back baby back baby back I want my baby back baby back baby back... Chiliiiiiiiiis Baby back ribs, Chilis baby back ribs BARBEQUE SAUCE!" Eliot just laughs.
Other than that, Eliot went to see his doctor and at the same time asked about me getting a flu shot, and his doctor made a big deal about how important it is for pregnant women to get the shot immediately, freaking Eliot out completely. Then Eliot came home and freaked me out by saying I should have got it weeks ago, making me feel like I am going to die if I walk out of the house. After a LONG talk about how he's not allowed to scare me like that, we decided we would trust God to keep us healthy, use good hand washing and go out to eat because, let's face it, I only leave the house maybe twice per week anyway. Yes, I will get the flu shots, but I am not going to live my life in fear of this "swine flu" plague.
I've also found that I do get nauseous in the mornings, but since I've been sleeping from 4am-2pm, I sleep through a lot of it. I've been trying not to feel guilty about sleeping the day away, since I know I need my rest, but it is such a bummer to see the sun go down after only 3 hours. I would like normal hours of sleep, but my brain just won't shut off! Grr.
Speaking of which, I am going to head to bed to read at least. I've decided to read some of the classics since I am up most of the night... this week is Little Women, last was Pride and Prejudice, and when I am finished with LW I will start Gone with the Wind. At least I can become more versed in the classics while sleep evades me!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
H1N1- Piggy flu decision
Well, I think I will probably get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available, though I hear today it will be delayed in some places till November or December, so we'll see if my doctor has it yet. I've decided that I'd rather get a shot considered safe than risk getting the flu when I'm out and about or have to live a hermit-ish life for the next 8 months.
I will still talk to my doctor about it, but unless she tells me I really don't need it, I think it's better to be safe than sorry.
Today I am making biscotti and preparing the meat filling for homemade ravioli I am making tomorrow. That's about all I can handle for the day, besides maybe some watering of plants... I just get tired too easily. Oh well, it will be worth it! :-)
I will still talk to my doctor about it, but unless she tells me I really don't need it, I think it's better to be safe than sorry.
Today I am making biscotti and preparing the meat filling for homemade ravioli I am making tomorrow. That's about all I can handle for the day, besides maybe some watering of plants... I just get tired too easily. Oh well, it will be worth it! :-)
Lentil!
Our baby is the size of a lentil this week! :-)
In other news, I am exhausted, but can't sleep, hungry, but nothing sounds good to eat... oy.
In other news, I am exhausted, but can't sleep, hungry, but nothing sounds good to eat... oy.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
6 weeks!
I am six weeks today... and starting to feel like it! Amid many, MANY trips to the bathroom and my body forgetting how to digest food properly, it's been a heck of a pregnancy week. I am exhausted, elated, stressed, overwhelmed, and hopeful. Only a few more weeks till my doctor's appt...
I am focusing on doing two tasks this week to keep myself active and getting stuff done... making something for dad's 60th b-day dinner every night, and going to go get new At&t cell phones with Eliot (while keeping our old number) since my screen died on my phone today and we both need new ones. If we can switch carriers for a cheaper plan and free phones, why not??
I will also be trying to finish some of my Christmas shopping/projects so I can be stress-free for the holidays!
I found this video from NOVA online that is kind of what is happening in these few weeks of my pregnancy.... a miracle to be sure!
I also get updates from baby center about what is going on week per week, and this is what it said this week:
This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute -- almost twice as fast as yours -- and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.
I can't believe there is another life inside me with a beating heart, it just doesn't seem possible. I hope our little bean is healthy!!
I am focusing on doing two tasks this week to keep myself active and getting stuff done... making something for dad's 60th b-day dinner every night, and going to go get new At&t cell phones with Eliot (while keeping our old number) since my screen died on my phone today and we both need new ones. If we can switch carriers for a cheaper plan and free phones, why not??
I will also be trying to finish some of my Christmas shopping/projects so I can be stress-free for the holidays!
I found this video from NOVA online that is kind of what is happening in these few weeks of my pregnancy.... a miracle to be sure!
I also get updates from baby center about what is going on week per week, and this is what it said this week:
This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute -- almost twice as fast as yours -- and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.
I can't believe there is another life inside me with a beating heart, it just doesn't seem possible. I hope our little bean is healthy!!
How he loves our family, how we are blessed...
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all.
~David Crowder
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all.
~David Crowder
Friday, October 16, 2009
Sesame Seed!
Our baby is the size of a sesame seed this week! It's heart is also dividing into four chambers and beginning to pump blood this week. How amazing is that??
Here is a pic of the size of the baby represented next to a quarter in case you can't remember how big a sesame seed is: Just a little seed...
Here is a pic of the size of the baby represented next to a quarter in case you can't remember how big a sesame seed is: Just a little seed...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
5 weeks, 3 days and counting... when can I tell??
So now I am just bursting to tell everyone. Even people that wouldn't care. I want to tell the person at the checkout at Walmart that I am expecting. I dream about announcing to everyone in the Chrorale that I won't be able to sing in the 3rd concert this year because I'll be due around the time of the performance. I even let it slip to one person who is also pregnant in the chorale and asked her to pray for us (she is only singing one small thing with us this fall hence less of a chance of her telling others, although I figure she can keep a secret).
It's weird to have something you want to share with the whole world, something that is going to change your whole life forever, and not be able to say a word. Now, I know this is our own choice because we don't want to have to tell all those same people should the worst happen, but at the same time it is so HARD to wait! It is killing me that I can't write what I am really feeling/doing/thinking in my facebook updates, and it is even worse when I have to talk to people in Chorale and NOT blurt it out that I am pregnant!
Today is 5 weeks and 3 days, still really early. I had hardly any symptoms today and it makes me nervous (I should have increasing symptoms, right?). But then I tell myself I am just being silly, that yes, I am still pregnant. It will be so great to get to that first doctor's appt just to know everything is ok. Till then, I will trust that the Lord has everything under control. Maybe I should just be happy that I am not throwing up all the time! :-)
It's weird to have something you want to share with the whole world, something that is going to change your whole life forever, and not be able to say a word. Now, I know this is our own choice because we don't want to have to tell all those same people should the worst happen, but at the same time it is so HARD to wait! It is killing me that I can't write what I am really feeling/doing/thinking in my facebook updates, and it is even worse when I have to talk to people in Chorale and NOT blurt it out that I am pregnant!
Today is 5 weeks and 3 days, still really early. I had hardly any symptoms today and it makes me nervous (I should have increasing symptoms, right?). But then I tell myself I am just being silly, that yes, I am still pregnant. It will be so great to get to that first doctor's appt just to know everything is ok. Till then, I will trust that the Lord has everything under control. Maybe I should just be happy that I am not throwing up all the time! :-)
Friday, October 9, 2009
And the waiting begins....
I am just starting to realize how LONG nine months is going to be, and how fast it will fly by without me realizing it at the same time. I have to wait almost a whole month before I can see a doctor, and possibly see this little bean. Sigh. I know I should cherish each moment, but I just keep thinking about all the things that can go wrong and how we could lose the baby, and since some friends of ours just lost their little girl at 27 weeks, all this stuff is at the forefront of my mind. I know that God is taking care of our family and I just need to trust him... that helps me to sleep at night. But it's hard to not know if everything is ok with this pregnancy or if something will go wrong, and I won't even have an inkling about what is going on inside me for another month!
Patience. I'm glad to have nine months to prepare for everything, and at the same time I wish I could know if everything is going to be ok.... Prayers, please!
Patience. I'm glad to have nine months to prepare for everything, and at the same time I wish I could know if everything is going to be ok.... Prayers, please!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
4 weeks, 3 days
4 weeks and 3 days pregnant!
I have been feeling more tired recently and I can't do as much as I used to without needing to rest. Other than that, things are pretty good. Mom bought me a book called "Your pregnancy week by week" that I was reading from the library (thanks Mom!) and it has been very helpful. Eliot got one from mom too for dads that he has been reading and enjoying, although the financial aspect stresses us both out a bit. The Lord will provide, though, right? Have to keep reminding myself that....
The car is in the shop since it almost broke down again last night when I was driving home by myself in the dark. Dad thinks it might bethe alternator not recharging the battery, and that is why all the lights dim and the stereo shuts off after driving for awhile. We'll find out tomorrow since I dropped the car off today. Gotta get the car working if we will be driving a kiddo around in it in 9 months! :-D
Other than that, not much going on. I am eating more, which is good, but my "normal" symptoms some time freak me out (cramping, etc) since I don't really know what is normal and what is not. I think I will feel better after the doctor's appt when I know everything is a-ok.... the only thing I am going on to know I am pregnant and everything is ok is a stick with a few lines on it! :-) Oh well, I will have to be patient...
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| From Baby stuff! |
I have been feeling more tired recently and I can't do as much as I used to without needing to rest. Other than that, things are pretty good. Mom bought me a book called "Your pregnancy week by week" that I was reading from the library (thanks Mom!) and it has been very helpful. Eliot got one from mom too for dads that he has been reading and enjoying, although the financial aspect stresses us both out a bit. The Lord will provide, though, right? Have to keep reminding myself that....
The car is in the shop since it almost broke down again last night when I was driving home by myself in the dark. Dad thinks it might bethe alternator not recharging the battery, and that is why all the lights dim and the stereo shuts off after driving for awhile. We'll find out tomorrow since I dropped the car off today. Gotta get the car working if we will be driving a kiddo around in it in 9 months! :-D
Other than that, not much going on. I am eating more, which is good, but my "normal" symptoms some time freak me out (cramping, etc) since I don't really know what is normal and what is not. I think I will feel better after the doctor's appt when I know everything is a-ok.... the only thing I am going on to know I am pregnant and everything is ok is a stick with a few lines on it! :-) Oh well, I will have to be patient...
Monday, October 5, 2009
I have a doctor!
I called and made my first appointment with the OB doctor today... the woman scheduling me and was nice and very helpful. The appt. is on Nov. 6th, which is when I will be 8 1/2 weeks along (I think) and will probably be able to at least see the heartbeat (!!!). I can't believe how amazing this all is, it's just so strange to think that there is another person inside me. What a miracle.
I also asked the office about flu shots, she didn't seem too worried about it and said I can get one when I come to my appt. We will probably send Eliot out for one at Walgreens (they don't have them at our regular office yet) since he is at the university and picks up all kinds of bugs there.
As for me, I am trying to get some sleep, but I have a lot of restless nights tossing and turning, and I feel queasy multiple times in the day if I don't eat when I should. Yuck. Oh well... comes with the territory!
And on the cravings side... I've had enormous cravings for Cream of Wheat like dad used to make it, with salt and margarine (not butter, lets not get carried away!). I haven't had cream of wheat for years, and now I want it for every meal! I make sure that I eat a considerably balanced diet, though, as I did before pregnancy anyway.
Gotta go eat before trekking up to Portland to sing with the Chorale! I guess I won't get to sing in their last concert this season (the 25th anniversary one) with them... boo... Well, I guess a baby is a good reason not to get to sing! :-)
I also asked the office about flu shots, she didn't seem too worried about it and said I can get one when I come to my appt. We will probably send Eliot out for one at Walgreens (they don't have them at our regular office yet) since he is at the university and picks up all kinds of bugs there.
As for me, I am trying to get some sleep, but I have a lot of restless nights tossing and turning, and I feel queasy multiple times in the day if I don't eat when I should. Yuck. Oh well... comes with the territory!
And on the cravings side... I've had enormous cravings for Cream of Wheat like dad used to make it, with salt and margarine (not butter, lets not get carried away!). I haven't had cream of wheat for years, and now I want it for every meal! I make sure that I eat a considerably balanced diet, though, as I did before pregnancy anyway.
Gotta go eat before trekking up to Portland to sing with the Chorale! I guess I won't get to sing in their last concert this season (the 25th anniversary one) with them... boo... Well, I guess a baby is a good reason not to get to sing! :-)
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Celebrate good times, COME ON!
Tonight To-be Aunt Lindy and Uncle Nathan brought Levi and Asher over for a visit to celebrate, bringing brats (the hot dogs, not the kids!), chips, and beer (root, for me too!). We also had the pleasure of going out last night with our wonderful friends Jake and Jodi for dinner at the Olive Garden... we feel so blessed to have so many people be so happy for us and want to celebrate!! Here are some pics from our visit from Nathan and Lindy:
I am feeling pretty fatigued and a little nauseous in the evenings, but other than that I'm pretty good. I had some nightmares last night about a zombie attack, and it was so vivid it woke me up. I am hoping that is a trend that doesn't continue....
Monday I will call around and (hopefully!) make a doctor's appt, not to mention figure out how to get a flu shot. I can't believe how expecting has made us so busy already!
Thanks to everyone for being so supportive in prayer and otherwise. We really, truly appreciate it all!
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| From Baby stuff! |
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| From Baby stuff! |
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| From Baby stuff! |
I am feeling pretty fatigued and a little nauseous in the evenings, but other than that I'm pretty good. I had some nightmares last night about a zombie attack, and it was so vivid it woke me up. I am hoping that is a trend that doesn't continue....
Monday I will call around and (hopefully!) make a doctor's appt, not to mention figure out how to get a flu shot. I can't believe how expecting has made us so busy already!
Thanks to everyone for being so supportive in prayer and otherwise. We really, truly appreciate it all!
Friday, October 2, 2009
We're expecting!
I decided to start a new blog to share with everyone our adventures in parenting... while my old blog was useful for many years, I feel I am starting a new chapter of my life that deserves it's own space. So... here we go!
First on the agenda, the name is from our last name, combined with clippings from our life, and soon we will have a little one that will have clippings to share of their own!
Second up, the story of my BFP (Big Fat Positive!):
Eliot and I have been debating, praying, and discussing for months (if not years) when we should become parents. It's not a decision we take lightly, especially financially with Eliot still in school, but around the past few months we have both been feeling a strong pull to be parents. So, trusting God in His faithfulness that we would be parents in His perfect timing, we decided to stop my birth control pills. That was about a month ago.
Fast forward to this morning... I had been charting my temps to see if I was even ovulating yet, and since my temp dropped this morning (usually symbolizing Aunt Flo is in town), I was pretty discouraged. But, since I had joined a group of supportive trying-to-conceive women on Baby Center in a "pee-on-a-stick" party, I decided to go for it and test. With a First Response Early Result test in hand, I completed the test and set it to wait on the counter. What I saw next I couldn't believe (I actually put in my contacts to make sure I was seeing it correctly!):
I was so excited I was shaking. I couldn't call anyone because Eliot was at school and I of course had to tell him first! So there I was, sitting around all day, waiting for him to come home. SO, I went out to Old Navy and found a (3-6mo, it's all they had) gender-neutral baby outfit that said "I love daddy" on it and put it in the bag with the test. When Eliot walked in the door, I tried to pretend I was excited about the shark steam mop that I had just gotten to not give away the secret (well, I am excited about the mop, but not quite as excited!). Then, after he excruciatingly slowly took his shoes off, etc (he had a long week), I handed him a non-descript gift bag and said I had gotten him something. Here's what was inside:
Well, that plus the positive pregnancy test. Eliot looked at the shirt and said, "It's a little small for me." Then he looked at my huge grin and said, "You're pregnant?!" He was all smiles and hugs and we were both quite happy! :-)
Then, while Eliot taught a lesson, I decided to go out and get a different test, one of those digital ones that say "pregnant" or "not pregnant" to make sure it wasn't a fluke. When I got back, we tested again, and...
We decided to call a few family members and close friends and share the news, telling some on Skype and some over the phone. I used the tests as evidence:
So it's official. I haven't seen a doc because I have to find an OB in the area first, but I may go see my regular doctor and get a flu shot this next week anyway. I am taking all the prenatal vitamins and meds for my thyroid as appropriate, so hopefully everything will go well and we can tell everyone else soon!
I feel personally like God was guiding our decision from the start... people don't often conceive so quickly, and we both knew we were being called to parenthood. What an amazing thing it is to see God's work so clearly in our lives!
There you have it. The Grassos are expecting!
First on the agenda, the name is from our last name, combined with clippings from our life, and soon we will have a little one that will have clippings to share of their own!
Second up, the story of my BFP (Big Fat Positive!):
Eliot and I have been debating, praying, and discussing for months (if not years) when we should become parents. It's not a decision we take lightly, especially financially with Eliot still in school, but around the past few months we have both been feeling a strong pull to be parents. So, trusting God in His faithfulness that we would be parents in His perfect timing, we decided to stop my birth control pills. That was about a month ago.
Fast forward to this morning... I had been charting my temps to see if I was even ovulating yet, and since my temp dropped this morning (usually symbolizing Aunt Flo is in town), I was pretty discouraged. But, since I had joined a group of supportive trying-to-conceive women on Baby Center in a "pee-on-a-stick" party, I decided to go for it and test. With a First Response Early Result test in hand, I completed the test and set it to wait on the counter. What I saw next I couldn't believe (I actually put in my contacts to make sure I was seeing it correctly!):
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| From Baby stuff! |
I was so excited I was shaking. I couldn't call anyone because Eliot was at school and I of course had to tell him first! So there I was, sitting around all day, waiting for him to come home. SO, I went out to Old Navy and found a (3-6mo, it's all they had) gender-neutral baby outfit that said "I love daddy" on it and put it in the bag with the test. When Eliot walked in the door, I tried to pretend I was excited about the shark steam mop that I had just gotten to not give away the secret (well, I am excited about the mop, but not quite as excited!). Then, after he excruciatingly slowly took his shoes off, etc (he had a long week), I handed him a non-descript gift bag and said I had gotten him something. Here's what was inside:
 |
| From Baby stuff! |
 |
| From Baby stuff! |
Well, that plus the positive pregnancy test. Eliot looked at the shirt and said, "It's a little small for me." Then he looked at my huge grin and said, "You're pregnant?!" He was all smiles and hugs and we were both quite happy! :-)
Then, while Eliot taught a lesson, I decided to go out and get a different test, one of those digital ones that say "pregnant" or "not pregnant" to make sure it wasn't a fluke. When I got back, we tested again, and...
 |
| From Baby stuff! |
We decided to call a few family members and close friends and share the news, telling some on Skype and some over the phone. I used the tests as evidence:
 |
| From Baby stuff! |
So it's official. I haven't seen a doc because I have to find an OB in the area first, but I may go see my regular doctor and get a flu shot this next week anyway. I am taking all the prenatal vitamins and meds for my thyroid as appropriate, so hopefully everything will go well and we can tell everyone else soon!
I feel personally like God was guiding our decision from the start... people don't often conceive so quickly, and we both knew we were being called to parenthood. What an amazing thing it is to see God's work so clearly in our lives!
There you have it. The Grassos are expecting!
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