Monday, February 26, 2007
Ruby and Avery have something in common . . .
. . . they both seem to love pizza! I ate pizza for dinner and now Avery is doing jumping jacks or something. He was actually kicking so hard that C was able to feel the movements by pressing her hand on my belly!!! which, by the way, is getting very big. Some of my maternity shirts are actually getting too short already. And my belly button is making its way from an innie to an outie, which is weird!
We're tired. C, especially, is extremely busy and working all the time, with various meetings almost every evening during the week. We did go swimming tonight for a little while, which was lovely.
It is soon spring break season; because I teach at 3 different schools and am technically a student at 2 different schools, I have to keep track of when I have time off in March and April. I'm hoping to take advantage of the time off to "nest" as much as possible and prepare for Avery's arrival.
Good night.
We're tired. C, especially, is extremely busy and working all the time, with various meetings almost every evening during the week. We did go swimming tonight for a little while, which was lovely.
It is soon spring break season; because I teach at 3 different schools and am technically a student at 2 different schools, I have to keep track of when I have time off in March and April. I'm hoping to take advantage of the time off to "nest" as much as possible and prepare for Avery's arrival.
Good night.
Monday, February 19, 2007
What's up doc?
We went in for our 20-week check up (although technically, we're at 21 weeks today). Since our old OB quit, we met our new one. She was SO nice that I immediately felt very comfortable with her, so that was a relief. All is well:
weight gain: 8 pounds (I thought it'd be more by now, but I am definitely not complaining -- the doc said it was a healthy gain so far)
blood pressure: was high at first, cuz I was nervous about meeting the new doctor, but we re-did it after meeting with the doctor and it was low, so it was definitely high because of nerves. It has been consistently low so I'm happy about that.
baby: healthy size, healthy heart beat, looked fine (the ultrasound machine didn't show very clear images, so we couldn't see him that well, but the doctor assured us all is well).
blood tests: Got the results back for the genetics testing. Our risk for Down's is extremely small (1/1000 -- for some of the other tests, it was as low as 1/5000). So that's very nice to know.
I'll go back in 3 weeks for the glucose test to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes, and I'm going to make an appointment to get my cervix measured soon to make sure all is normal.
C and I are going to start looking into birthing classes at the hospital soon.
So that's that! We're also going to meet with our lawyer soon to start the 2nd parent adoption. Lots of work.
I went swimming tonight by myself (usually C and I go together) and it felt SO good to swim. And there was only one other person in the whole pool besides me. I love love love swimming. Avery loves it too, I think.
weight gain: 8 pounds (I thought it'd be more by now, but I am definitely not complaining -- the doc said it was a healthy gain so far)
blood pressure: was high at first, cuz I was nervous about meeting the new doctor, but we re-did it after meeting with the doctor and it was low, so it was definitely high because of nerves. It has been consistently low so I'm happy about that.
baby: healthy size, healthy heart beat, looked fine (the ultrasound machine didn't show very clear images, so we couldn't see him that well, but the doctor assured us all is well).
blood tests: Got the results back for the genetics testing. Our risk for Down's is extremely small (1/1000 -- for some of the other tests, it was as low as 1/5000). So that's very nice to know.
I'll go back in 3 weeks for the glucose test to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes, and I'm going to make an appointment to get my cervix measured soon to make sure all is normal.
C and I are going to start looking into birthing classes at the hospital soon.
So that's that! We're also going to meet with our lawyer soon to start the 2nd parent adoption. Lots of work.
I went swimming tonight by myself (usually C and I go together) and it felt SO good to swim. And there was only one other person in the whole pool besides me. I love love love swimming. Avery loves it too, I think.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
kickin' it
Avery has been kicking and moving a lot during the past few days. He seems to kick a lot after swimming and during Latin class (I suppose he gets restless and bored, as do I) but mostly in the evenings after dinner.
Since we've reached the halfway point (20 weeks) in the pregnancy, C and I keep singing Bon Jovi: "Oh, we're halfway there, Oh- oh livin' on a prayer, take my hand we'll make it I swear, Oh livin' on a prayer (livin' on a prayeerrrrr) . . ." but soft and lullaby-esque to my belly.
Since we've reached the halfway point (20 weeks) in the pregnancy, C and I keep singing Bon Jovi: "Oh, we're halfway there, Oh- oh livin' on a prayer, take my hand we'll make it I swear, Oh livin' on a prayer (livin' on a prayeerrrrr) . . ." but soft and lullaby-esque to my belly.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
bottles and diapers and toys, oh my!
a relaxing weekend . . . swimming, netflix, cooking . . .
We finally trekked down to Babys R Us to set up a registry. It was really fun, we got to go around the store and zap everything we want/need. We already have and are getting a lot of big stuff (stroller, crib, pump, glider and ottoman set), but it's easy to forget all the little stuff that comes with having a baby. We LOVE our "Barnyard" theme. Everything is so cute!
Avery has been kicking a little bit this weekend (I think -- it's hard to tell). A woman from church told C that when she was pregnant with her daughter, her daughter would kick a lot after she ate chocolate. And now that her daughter is 4 or 5 years old, she LOVES chocolate. So she said I should pay attention to when the baby kicks because it might be an indicator of what foods he likes!
We finally trekked down to Babys R Us to set up a registry. It was really fun, we got to go around the store and zap everything we want/need. We already have and are getting a lot of big stuff (stroller, crib, pump, glider and ottoman set), but it's easy to forget all the little stuff that comes with having a baby. We LOVE our "Barnyard" theme. Everything is so cute!
Avery has been kicking a little bit this weekend (I think -- it's hard to tell). A woman from church told C that when she was pregnant with her daughter, her daughter would kick a lot after she ate chocolate. And now that her daughter is 4 or 5 years old, she LOVES chocolate. So she said I should pay attention to when the baby kicks because it might be an indicator of what foods he likes!
Friday, February 09, 2007
The quiz was right . . .
. . . it's a boy!!!!! We're so excited and happy. We'd really been thinking it's a boy the whole time, so it wasn't a surprise. But I started crying anyway when the sonographer told us. Then when I asked "are you sure it's a boy?" (because sometimes they're wrong and you hear stories about how when the baby is born, it's the opposite sex from what the parents had been told) and she said "Honey, if they hand you a baby girl in the hospital, you give it back and say 'that ain't my baby!'"
It's definitely a boy, so we can call him Avery now.
It's about now when you should start to feel movements and kicking, so I've been concentrating and trying to feel anything without success, until this morning.
C was listening to my belly, trying to hear a heartbeat or anything, but she only heard my stomach gurgling. Then I focused on my belly and I felt a weird bubble feeling! It only lasted a second but it was weird. It has to have been the kick, which I've heard other women describe as "bubbles" or "popcorn popping." Then I felt it again! I said "Good boy Avery, keep kicking your mama!" but I think all that kicking made him sleepy because I haven't felt anything since then. But it was really cool.
C thinks we'll have a second baby pretty soon because I'm a twin and it's too sad for a baby to be all alone. We're not sure if she or I will carry the second baby. Frankly, I can't really think about that yet.
Monday will be 20 weeks -- halfway there (40 weeks is full term).
It's definitely a boy, so we can call him Avery now.
It's about now when you should start to feel movements and kicking, so I've been concentrating and trying to feel anything without success, until this morning.
C was listening to my belly, trying to hear a heartbeat or anything, but she only heard my stomach gurgling. Then I focused on my belly and I felt a weird bubble feeling! It only lasted a second but it was weird. It has to have been the kick, which I've heard other women describe as "bubbles" or "popcorn popping." Then I felt it again! I said "Good boy Avery, keep kicking your mama!" but I think all that kicking made him sleepy because I haven't felt anything since then. But it was really cool.
C thinks we'll have a second baby pretty soon because I'm a twin and it's too sad for a baby to be all alone. We're not sure if she or I will carry the second baby. Frankly, I can't really think about that yet.
Monday will be 20 weeks -- halfway there (40 weeks is full term).
Friday, February 02, 2007
Quiz: Is it a Boy or a Girl?
From Childbirth.org:
1. I am carrying the extra weight
a. Out front.
b. Around the hips and bottom.
my answer: A
2. The hair on my legs is growing
a. more quickly than before I got pregnant.
b. the same as before I got pregnant.
my answer: b
3. I am carrying my baby
a. high.
b. low.
my answer: I don't know yet, I can't tell. it doesn't seem particularly high or low, just regular. So I'll skip this one.
4. I sleep in my bed with my pillow to the
a. north.
b. south.
my answer: yikes! Gah . . . (after several minutes of thinking and consulting C about this . . .) my head faces East when I sleep, but I guess it's south side of the bed, C is north . . . so I guess, south???
5. My feet are
a. colder than before pregnancy.
b. the same as before.
my answer: b
6. I :
a. refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread.
b. prefer the heel.
my answer: Well, I would never REFUSE the butt of the loaf, but I don't prefer it either. So A.
7. The Dad-to-be is
a. gaining weight right along with me.
b. is not gaining weight.
my answer: the mom-to-be in this case is gaining weight too. A.
8. My mother's hair color is
a. gray.
b. not gray (natural or dyed).
my answer: A
9. I had morning sickness early in my pregnancy:
a. Yes.
b. No
my answer: B
10 I am
a: looking particularly good during pregnancy
b. looking not-so-good.
my answer: I don't mean to boast, but A for sure.
11. During pregnancy, my chest development has been:
a. Dramatic
b. not too dramatic
my answer: B
12. Conception took place in the month of:
my answer: October
13. hang a thread with a needle over your belly. The thread moves:
a. in circles
b. from side to side
my answer: give me a few minutes . . . A, definitely in circles.
14. I have been craving mostly:
a. sweets
b. salty or sour foods
my answer: B, esp. citrus fruits (salty) and fries (salty)
15. my baby's heartrate is:
a. 141 beats per minute or more
b. less than 140
my answer: crap, I don't know yet. I guess we'll find out at our next appointment.
16. mom's feelings towards OJ?
a. I can't drink OJ
b. I have orange juice every day
my answer: B, and fresh oranges and grapefruit, etc.
17. I am having headaches
a. Yes.
b. No.
my answer: B, although I was getting headaches a lot early in the pregnancy.
18. my abdomen looks like a:
a. Watermelon.
b. Basketball.
my answer: I don't know, neither yet really. C thinks watermelon, so A.
19. someone asks you to show them your hands, you:
a. Show them palm up.
b. Show them palm down.
my answer: b. I am quite conceited about my hands.
20. do you pick up a mug?
a. handle
b. body of the mug
my answer: A, duh, I don't want to burn myself.
21. how old were you when the baby was conceived:
my answer: 27
22. have you been craving:
a. fruits
b. meats and cheese
my answer: I've been craving meat and cheese (cheeseburgers) AND fruit. But my cravings for fruit have definitely been stronger, so A.
And the results are: You have a 54% chance of having a boy. And you have a 45% chance of having a girl
hmm, those odds are pretty closely matched. I guess we'll have to wait until the doctor tells us for sure.
1. I am carrying the extra weight
a. Out front.
b. Around the hips and bottom.
my answer: A
2. The hair on my legs is growing
a. more quickly than before I got pregnant.
b. the same as before I got pregnant.
my answer: b
3. I am carrying my baby
a. high.
b. low.
my answer: I don't know yet, I can't tell. it doesn't seem particularly high or low, just regular. So I'll skip this one.
4. I sleep in my bed with my pillow to the
a. north.
b. south.
my answer: yikes! Gah . . . (after several minutes of thinking and consulting C about this . . .) my head faces East when I sleep, but I guess it's south side of the bed, C is north . . . so I guess, south???
5. My feet are
a. colder than before pregnancy.
b. the same as before.
my answer: b
6. I :
a. refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread.
b. prefer the heel.
my answer: Well, I would never REFUSE the butt of the loaf, but I don't prefer it either. So A.
7. The Dad-to-be is
a. gaining weight right along with me.
b. is not gaining weight.
my answer: the mom-to-be in this case is gaining weight too. A.
8. My mother's hair color is
a. gray.
b. not gray (natural or dyed).
my answer: A
9. I had morning sickness early in my pregnancy:
a. Yes.
b. No
my answer: B
10 I am
a: looking particularly good during pregnancy
b. looking not-so-good.
my answer: I don't mean to boast, but A for sure.
11. During pregnancy, my chest development has been:
a. Dramatic
b. not too dramatic
my answer: B
12. Conception took place in the month of:
my answer: October
13. hang a thread with a needle over your belly. The thread moves:
a. in circles
b. from side to side
my answer: give me a few minutes . . . A, definitely in circles.
14. I have been craving mostly:
a. sweets
b. salty or sour foods
my answer: B, esp. citrus fruits (salty) and fries (salty)
15. my baby's heartrate is:
a. 141 beats per minute or more
b. less than 140
my answer: crap, I don't know yet. I guess we'll find out at our next appointment.
16. mom's feelings towards OJ?
a. I can't drink OJ
b. I have orange juice every day
my answer: B, and fresh oranges and grapefruit, etc.
17. I am having headaches
a. Yes.
b. No.
my answer: B, although I was getting headaches a lot early in the pregnancy.
18. my abdomen looks like a:
a. Watermelon.
b. Basketball.
my answer: I don't know, neither yet really. C thinks watermelon, so A.
19. someone asks you to show them your hands, you:
a. Show them palm up.
b. Show them palm down.
my answer: b. I am quite conceited about my hands.
20. do you pick up a mug?
a. handle
b. body of the mug
my answer: A, duh, I don't want to burn myself.
21. how old were you when the baby was conceived:
my answer: 27
22. have you been craving:
a. fruits
b. meats and cheese
my answer: I've been craving meat and cheese (cheeseburgers) AND fruit. But my cravings for fruit have definitely been stronger, so A.
And the results are: You have a 54% chance of having a boy. And you have a 45% chance of having a girl
hmm, those odds are pretty closely matched. I guess we'll have to wait until the doctor tells us for sure.
