"Baby Out!"

It is normal to educate the first child on the upcoming addition of the new one...so we have started this with Greyson. He knows there is a baby in Mommy's belly. Cute things he has said since this education began are:

• Upon going with me to a monthly appointment and me telling him he will "hear" the baby (i.e. heartbeat):

"I hear baby cry"

• This weekend he insisted he had a baby in his belly too. He talks to Mommy's belly and tries to tickle the baby thru my belly button:

"Hi, baby."

• Last night, after kissing Mommy's belly and feeding, swaddling, and putting the baby doll to "night night":

"Baby out!" Are you ready for baby to come? "Yeah"

So Greyson's education on becoming a big brother continues....

Pumpkin....you better know how much mommy loves you

Monday, normally a crappy day, but today, there is light at the end of the tunnel of darkness (that does not make my congested head throb) to this illness. I have been suffering, and I do mean suffering, with a nasty virus since Tuesday of last week. The suffering is more severe when pregnant, not jsut because it is normal to feel lousy anyway, but also because you cannot take anything that might make you feel better as it may hurt the baby.

So my newest pregnancy craving...nyquil! Yes, something I want desperately, but like a good mommy, DID NOT take. Yep, that is love pumpkin!

Week 18 Update

www.baby2see.com says:


Week Eighteen: Baby begins to hear

You are 18 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 16 weeks)

• The fetus is now 6 inches long and weighs 7 ounces.
• The fetus measures about 15cm and weighs almost 200 grams.
• They can hear sounds and may be startled by loud noises.
• Recognizable active and rest periods.

The skin is building a protective wax layer (vernix).Vernix (a white cheese like protective material) forms on baby's skin with the lanugo, a soft lightly pigmented hair covering the body and limbs, both help to protect your baby's skin during the months in water. Your baby may hear your heart beating, your stomach rumbling or blood moving through the umbilical cord. He or she may even be startled by loud noises.

Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs and the vocal chords are formed. Baby goes through the motions of crying but without air doesn't make a sound; yet.

Your baby may have the same awake and sleep patterns of a newborn. Baby will have a favorite position for sleep and recognizable active and rest periods.

Your baby measures about 6 inches (15cm) crown to rump and weighs about 7 ounces (200gm).

Appointment Update

Ok, so Dr. J really named Peanut for us. Today, she called the baby "pumpkin"....I like it. I know that I said we may try out sweet potato, but it is kinda a mouthful...So it may very well be pumpkin the rest of the pregnancy.

Let's try it....

So I had my third appointment today and everything looks great.

• I only gained 2 pounds, which is exactly what I am supposed to gain, which I celebrated by eating a delicious tuna sub from Jimmy Johns!!
• My blood pressure is perfect, 122/66.
• I am measuring just right for where I am in the pregnancy...baby is growing just right.
• Pumpkin's heartbeat was good and strong at 150 bpm

So the next time I go, I will be seeing pumpkin, not just hearing him/her. How exciting!

I have pics to post, I just need to find my usb hookup cable...so you can decide looking pregnant or not!

"Don't look Pregnant"

So funny, I have been told several times within the last two days, "you don't even look pregnant" I also had a student guess me at 2 1/2 months, when I am almost five. I think it is because in forethought I decided to camoflauge the pregnancy by gaining extra weight everywhere, thus effectively hiding it... :)

Five months? Can you believe that? Crazy! That is 1/2 way done....we are trying out the affectionate term of "sweet potato" to see if it sticks...

In hindsight....

It WAS the stomach flu, not morning sickness. Yep, Brian and I were blessed with that junk for 2 days....all the while, thank goodness Greyson remained healthy...but very energetic.

So what was the first thing after 2 days of nothing but chicken noodle soup and crackers that prego ate? Chinese. I figure if I am going down, it might as well taste good. Oh, and it did.

I choose some sort of sweet and spicy chicken (General Tso's) that the baby just adored. I had class late that night, so all the while I am lecturing on infancy and childhood, I am experiencing the beauty of prenatal development. Yep, getting tickled and taunted by little one inside. It was a great night, espeically because the chinese stayed down.

Valentine's Day...

We don't traditionally celebrate Valentine's Day....it's a hallmark holiday. Instead we try to show love every day and not go crazy on the one day that other's who know nothing about your life say to.

But, I am feeling quite lovey this day, and I am up making my boys a Valentine's breakfast. If you are familiar with the Battle Creek area, it's like Homespun (yum, prego wants an omlette!) in my kitchen, complete with sausage, fried taters, and eggs. I still want an omlette... It is a little more special than the normal Saturday or Sunday breakfast because as we were peeling potatoes, Greyson noticed two of them were shaped like hearts...and they really were. I would feel silly taking a pic of potatoes, but I considered it.

I love that Brian, despite being sick, will still go out of his way to give me some me time today, which means handling little G on his own while I just relax (wait, do I know how to do that?)

I love that Greyson is becoming such a smart little boy...at 2 1/2 he know all his colors, most his shapes and can count to 10...genius I say.

And I love feeling this sweet babe grow and move inside me. Still have not decided on an affectionate name for it...which will remain "baby" not he or she for another 4 months!