Baby is kicking up a storm!

I started feeling Baby movements about 2 weeks ago. The past few days these movements have really started to get stronger and more defined. I am pretty certain that by the end of the weekend K will get to feel the baby move too! We have our midwife appointment tomorrow and, as usual, I am excited about it! I don't have a long list of questions like I have the past few months though. I think there are only 2 or 3 so far...might have to work on that one! Oh and K and I borrowed a dvd of various natural births to watch too. We have to be sure to watch that tonite so we can return it tomorrow. I am sure I will spend half the time watching K to see his reactions to all of this...good thing he's strong and not squeamish!

a ripple in the water

Some people in our lives are in and out quickly, yet they make such alasting, positive impression. They are like the tiny pebble dropped in still water and the rippley circles just continue to radiate quietly outward, growing larger and larger. I met this kind of a person through work. Dr. Ed had a small fire in his home. Meeting him, being able to help him through the confusing maze of an insurance claim and get his personal property cleaned, restored and back to him quickly was actually an honor for me. He is the kind of person whose voice you hear on the phone and even though you aren't close, you immediately feel tension drain from you and you are in a better mood. Dr. Ed is the most caring gentleman that just exudes peace! I am so bummed because he is a pediatrician and his practice is on the opposite side of the world from me. I would love to have him as the pediatrician for our child. And we all know how I feel about doctors! (For those of you who don't know, it's not favorable.) At work I pride myself on taking care of my customers, but it was different for Dr. Ed. I wanted to make sure that this fire would be less than a blip on the radar for him. His gentle demeanor and the peace he spreads is a gift and the children who have been his patients are so blessed! Thank you Dr. Ed for being that ripple in my life. I will always remember you fondly!

speaking of magnetic belly...

Here is a pic of my 20 week baby bump...


...I took the first picture when I was 13 weeks pregnant wearing these (pre-preggo) jeans and pre-preggo tee shirt. I plan on doing periodical shots wearing the same outfit. So far the jeans still button and zip, though they are so NOT comfortable. And lucky for me, they are my "fat" jeans, the jeans I had been wearing most of first tri are no where near fitting!

What would your super Heroine/Hero power be?

My dear friend Val sent me a the link to the tee above. I love it and am sure it will find it's way to my closet before baby is born! I grew up with a family that took road trips and I still love them. One of the questions I would ask, and still do, when stuck in the car is "If you could have any power, like super hero power, what would it be?" It is entertaining to ask this in a large group of people and insightful at the same time. The last few years, my own answer was to be able to be healthy and function normally without needing to sleep...imagine how short my TO DO list would be in less than a week! Imagine the amazing things I could learn as I read all nite! Imagine the quilting that would be getting done and the scrapbooking! And the gym, it'd be easy to get a workout in every day if sleep didn't have to interfere! Sigh, but since that's just not happening, I will settle for the super power on the tee shirt!

How 'bout you? What's your dream super power?

Magnetic attraction?

It's strange, I have never really understood the whole touching a pregnant belly thing. Then a few years ago I realized that I felt "drawn" to reach out and touch the large preggo bellies. I didn't know why! Before I got pregnant I thought I would be outraged if someone tried to touch my belly. I mean really, where does someone get off just touching my stomach uninvited? (insert indignant foot stomp here)

Fast-forward to now...I can't keep my hand off my swelling belly. I fall asleep with one hand on my lower belly, the other above it as if I am cradling the baby already. I touch my stomach more than a few times a day. My niece, sister, mom and a co-worker are touching my belly whenever they see me. (Naturally, K is touching the belly lots and saying Hi to baby so he is the understood exception to this whole discussion.) And ya know what, I am surprised that I actually like it. I feel that excitement, the shared wonder and love coming thru these gentle hands, curious hands. It's like a magnet inside me that just draws out the loving touch of so many people. When someone touches the belly I just smile and realize how loved this child is already. We are blessed!

One more baby update from ultrasound yesterday

I was a little distracted last nite when I wrote the entry so here are a few more details I forgot to put in. Our Baby weighs in at 11.07 ounces right now and is approximately 10 inches long from head to toe. It was hard to get that measurement since the peanut was moving around so much and then when it did hold still it was all curled up. I know some of you are using old wives tales to try to figure out if it's a blue or pink...the heart rate ws 139. (according to my sister, that means BOY) The placenta is in a great place so no concerns about placents previa.

We also got to see the eyes move yesterday! It was soo cool! The eyelids are still shut, but because the skin is still so thin it was easy to see the lens of the eye and to watch it move around as Baby appeared to be practicing looking around. Also, the umbilical cord is looking great with the 3 vessels and it's pumping superbly. We got to hear the pulse in the umbilical cord and see the blood imaging. It was nice to see that part being healthy as that is how all nutrition and oxygen is getting to Baby. We are officially at 20 weeks, 1/2 way to meeting our child!

And I WAS WRONG ABOUT the fibroid, it is a little SMALLER than the last ultrasound!!! At 15 weeks it was 2.25" x 1.53" x 1.8" yesterday it was 1.5" x 1.3" x 1.5"! I am ecstatic!! It's still on the outside of the uterus and is not encroaching on Baby. Truly a miracle!!! Please pray that I continue to have the strength to eat properly for Baby and me. It's hard sometimes to change such old habits, but ooohhh soooooo worth it! And thank you for all your prayers and encouragement!

We have an average baby.

Above, our Baby lying on it's side, yawning!

At least that's what the ultrasound says. :-) Baby measured in the 50% for head and chest and leg length and all other sizes so we are right in the middle as far as growth and development. We also got to see the brain and it's hemispheres and cortexes, the 4 chambers and 2 ventricles of the heart, the kidneys, liver, and all the bones! I was amazed at how clearly the bones were developed; it was obvious at first glance when we saw the radius and the ulna (the 2 bones in your lower arm). The spine looks great, tapers where it should in the sacrum and curves at the top in the c-spine. It was just fun to see baby moving all over the place too. The ultrasound tech was fabulous and shared all the details she was seeing and measuring. One thing that was funny, at our last ultrasound the legs were a few days behind in length compared to the rest of the body, and they still are...so the poor baby has my proportions...my torso is longer in proportion than my legs. Poor baby will have my short legs! Oh, and the other good news is that the fibroid tumor has remained at about the same size as our last ultrasound which is approximately 1/2 the size it was at 9 weeks. The diet and supplements and prayer are obviously still working because normally, the fibroid would be growing throughout pregnancy. So, here is what you've been waiting for...some pics of baby!

Below, Baby on it's side. You can see the lens in its eye, it's the circle in the "top" eye. The arm is tucked under the head like you would if you were lying on your side. Cuuute!!!!

Below, Baby face down, with it's arm under their head, resting...

You're never too old to be yelled at by Mom!

Apparently I have gone overboard in my bargain deal baby geat quest. I got yelled at by my Mom for having all the fun stuff for Baby already. I just can't help it. We have received some amazing stuff for free from friends who are done having babies or who are in between having babies. I've also hit a few garage sales and Craigslist too. I am proud of the fact that I was a good bargain hunter and thrilled that we have such generous friends! We have a crib, changing table, porta-crib, Amby Baby (it's a cool baby hammock thingy), 1 car seat, swing, bouncy seat, baby carrier (wearable kind), diaper bag, an exersaucer, some books (for baby and for us), and lots of clothes! And for all of that I paid a total of $145!!! Bargain queen!

Of course, the baby room looks like a disaster because I painted it last weekend and still have to put the trim back up. Oh, Mom, don't worry, there will still be things to buy for the munchkin!

One last look at Baby

On Wednesday K and I have our 20 week ultrasound appointment. I am excited to see Baby, but I feel guilty about it too. See, we have a 50 gallon ultrasound tank at work, I have had to stick my hand in to grab some small things that fall to the bottom of it sometimes. That is the most *uncomfortable* feeling!!! The ultrasonic waves penetrate the skin, vibrate up the arm and into my ears making it feel like my ear bones are rattling. It's so unnerving and icky!!! I feel terrible putting our Baby thru this experience. It's no wonder that babies move around so much during ultrasound exams. Poor things must hate that sensation!

Anyway, we see Baby tomorrow and it likely the last time we see the little peanut until we meet it in February.

Sooooo Cuuuute!

Our friends, M & C spent the weekend on the North Shore. I miss my Lake (Lake Superior) so I may have to get up there yet this fall. M called me and left me a voice mail of my lake; the waves crashing along the shore and the wind. It was awesome! When they got back, they dropped off the cuutest little baby booties/socks for the Baby! I love 100% wool. If you get merino wool it's sooo soft and comfy! If your wool is itchy, it came from a sheep that should be eaten, not worn. Not all wool is equal. Anyway, C & M brought back these tiny little booties. They are for 3-6 months babies and are just adorable! They are super soft merino wool by SmartWool. I can't wait to get them on the Little One! Thanks so much M & C!!!!!