Last Pregnany Post

Here's my last pregnancy post. Luckily we thought Allison was going to come early so we took a 39 week photo just in case we didn't make it until 40 weeks.

Madelyn's been excited about the upcoming arrival. We've been reading lots of books. Her favorites have been Darcy and Gran Don't like Babies, Here Come the Babies, and Waiting for Baby. Brian and I are excited that the books are due back soon as we are getting tired of reading them OVER AND OVER! We also pulled out some baby stuff and Madelyn's been breaking it in with her babies.  She also likes taking her own belly shots.

39 weeks

Madelyn with Baby Stella, Scarlet and Hope in the swing

Belly Shot

Another belly shot

Madelyn with Leia

Here's the whole compilation of my belly shots with Baby Number 2.

Baby #2 Update

Madelyn seems excited about the baby but I am still not sure if she really knows what's coming.  She knows that only girls can have babies grow in their tummies not boys.  The other day she told me her tummy was getting big and then said that she had a baby growing in it. Too cute!

As for me, I am starting to get uncomfortable but both baby and mom are healthy so I can't complain too much. I've been meeting with the doctor for a few weeks now and so far things are going well. I am measuring just right so we'll see how everything works out.  She doesn't want me to go too much past my due date so hopefully the baby makes an appearance early so we can try for a VBAC.

The bad news is the blood bank tested my blood and it was Rh- so even though the two previous tests said it was Rh+, I will still get rhogam shots this pregnancy since it's better to error on the side of caution.

Madelyn takes great care of all her dolls!

Big Sister!

Madelyn wanted a baby in her tummy too so we put baby Hope in her shirt!

Madelyn and Mommy with babies in their tummies

Madelyn's belly shot :)

Baby Girl #2

We are so excited to announce that Madelyn will have a little sister due January 22, 2014. So far this pregnancy has been good and both mom and baby are healthy. I was happy to learn that I passed my hour glucose test so I don't have to do the three hour one like I did with Madelyn!  Overall, I have just been more tired this pregnancy but I sure that has something to do with coming home to a vibrant two-year-old who wants to play with me.

Another positive thing is that my blood work is saying I am in fact Rh+.  My midwives suspect that I have a weak "Du" variant which gave a false negative.  What is a "Du" variant?  It is actually an Rh Positive antigen, which would make a woman "Rh Positive," but since it is very weakly expressed in tests, it's possible to be mistakenly read as Rh Negative. So this time around, I don't need to get rhogam shots! Too bad last time, I didn't get tested further for the Du variant.

We had to go a level two ultrasound because the level one saw kidneys enlarged by 2 ml (pyelectasis). Even my midwives didn't really understand why they wanted to look further at the kidneys but thought it was good to follow the advice of the radiologist just to be sure (even though there is NOTHING that can be done for the baby until they are born!).  We went to the level 2 ultrasound and again that radiologist questioned why we were even there but did the exam anyways.  Everything was completely normal and good.  The only good thing was the radiologist was very supportive of me trying for a VBAC so that was encouraging to hear from a doctor.

I saw my midwife for the last time this pregnancy because starting at 28 weeks, I have to start seeing the OBs in hopes of having a successful VBAC. I am not looking forward to meeting with OBs since I love my midwives but we'll see how it goes in a few weeks.

Madelyn seems to be understanding that a baby is in mommy's tummy. She came with us to the 20 week ultrasound and saw the baby on the screen. She was very good during the exam but seemed more concerned with making sure mommy was okay than looking at the baby. She liked holding onto my feet during the exam.

20 weeks

She likes her big sister shirt and LOVES her "When Madelyn was a Baby" book we made which talks all about what we did when Madelyn was a baby. She wants to read it every day and laughs hysterically at a photo of her and her daddy crying!

We've been taking photos from 14 weeks to document this little one growing.  I've been wearing a white shirt this time around.  I meant to start at 12 weeks but that was actually Madelyn's 2nd birthday week and time just got away. We plan on taking photos every 4 weeks like last time.



Here are the photos from when Madelyn was in my tummy!

40 weeks

Here's my 40 week photo. I have gotten uncomfortable this week and eager to meet our little one. Hopefully she arrives soon.  Sorry no pumpkins this time of year!

40 weeks: Baby is the size of a small pumpkin. The average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long.

I wanted to get a photo of the two of us. Leia just likes pictures I guess.

Photo of the whole family although Leia didn't get the whole turn around thing until after the flash went off.

Don't Forget!

Click here to post your guess on what the baby will weigh, it's length, the baby's birthday and the time it will be born.

There is no need to register. Just click on enter a guess and fill in your name and guesses.

38 Week Picture

We decided to take a shot of me at 38 weeks.  So here's what I looked like at 38 weeks.

I am getting more and more uncomfortable and having a harder time sleeping.  Guessing the baby will be here within two weeks! I am still working and plan to work until the baby comes. Hopefully my water won't break at work!

38 weeks

36 week bump

I am a little late in posting this but we did take this back when I was 36 weeks.

So far everything is going well. I am feeling good and only uncomfortable every once in awhile. My only complaint is that I am not sleeping well but if that's the only thing I can complain about, I have it pretty good.

It's funny how some people say I look so big and other say I look so small.  I think it all has to do with my body size. Yes, my bump looks big on my little frame but I was actually measuring small my last couple appointments.  But of course to taller people, their pregnant belly's probably do not stick out as much as mine :)

The honeydew melon was actually pretty heavy and hard to hold in one hand. Guess I am getting big!  Honeydew melon was for 35 weeks but since I was measuring 34 weeks at my 36 week appointment and I'd much rather eat honeydew than crenshaw,  I chose to go with that.

36 weeks: Baby is the size of a crenshaw melon 6 pounds (Length: more than 18 1/2 inches, head to heel.)

Leia has always been interested when we take these photos and it's been hard to keep her out of the frame so here's a photo of me and Leia.

Post Your Baby Weight, Length, Date & Time Guesses

Click here to post your guess on what the baby will weigh, it's length, the baby's birthday and the time it will be born.

There is no need to register. Just click on enter a guess and fill in your name and guesses.

When the baby comes, I'll fill in the actual data and it will calculate who is closest in all categories!  I'll update everyone on the blog with the results.

Baby Shower

I had a wonderful Baby Shower on May 14th.  I got a lot of much needed stuff but my favorite part of it was catching up with old friends.  I just wish there had been more time to catch up.  Here are some photos.

Here's the awesome cake that Beth made. She came over and took all my cake decorating supplies. I was really impressed with what a good job she did.  And the cake was delicious!!  It was white cake with white chocolate raspberry mousse filling.  I wish I had more leftovers!

My sister, Beth and me

Neighborhood Friends: Maria, Katie & Rosie

Katie, Becca & Delaney

One of my best friends from junior high and high school and bridesmaid, Annie, is also pregnant. It's been so much fun sharing the journey together! And I was so happy that despite her condition she drove down from North of Milwaukee 2.5 hours each way to be there for me on my special day. I was truly touched and wished there was more time to catch up.

Annie and Me :)

Our belly bumps: Annie 22 weeks, Katie 32 weeks

Carolyn's homemade blanket! It's so soft. I LOVE it!

Corsage that some ladies at work made for me

The beautiful diaper cake that Mili made. I didn't want to take it apart because it was so pretty!!!

Cravings

I lot of people have been asking if I've been having any cravings. I wouldn't say I've had a lot but I've had a couple random ones. I had to have Brian help me remember:

• Around 10-12 weeks, I was really craving cheese dip.  We were out skiing in Utah and all I wanted was some queso dip which is strange because I hardly eat the stuff. It's so bad for you!!  I finally got some supplies at Trader Joe's to make it and after I ate it over the course of a week, I have had no desire to make and eat it again!  We were just in Trader Joe's and Brian jokingly said, you want some queso dip and the thought made me sick to my stomach!
• Then there was the time I was craving chocolate covered bananas.  I woke up from a dream with this craving and it continued for a few days until Brian surprised me with with coming home from the grocery store with bananas and Hersey's chocolate.  He had looked up a recipe for how to make them.  Oh they were SO GOOD!!!!  He cut up the banana into slices and dipped each one. Delicious! I ate a few each day and they probably last a week.  I even put them in the freezer for a nice cold treat.  The good news is that we still have one large Hersey's bar left so we can make more!  YUM!
•  I also had a random craving for eggs so I made myself some scrambled eggs.  The funny thing about this is that I NEVER want eggs. I'll eat them when served but I'll never ask for eggs or an omelet.
• Other things I've been loving are skim milk, cottage cheese & string cheese so I hopefully the baby is getting lots of protein.

I haven't had any cravings that have been so strong that required us to go out and get them right away like they show in the movies.

32 week bump

Somehow I am still growing even though I am not that hungry. I am starting to feel some pressure on my pelvis now that the baby is getting bigger. Luckily, I've still been exercising and doing my pregnancy stretches so that's been helping.  I have been enjoying a game of "wack a mole" with the baby.  She noticeably will push out a body part of her's say a foot and then I push it back in.  Then she'll push out at a different spot and I'll continue to push it back in.  I always win. I think she get's tired.  But it is really funny to see & feel these bulges on my stomach and to have some interaction with her.

 

 32 weeks: Baby weighs as much as a jicama about 3 3/4 pounds. (Length: about 16 3/4 inches, head to heel.)

Why do you ask am I holding a pineapple and not a jicama??  Well first, I don't know what a jicama is and second 33 weeks says the baby weighs as much as a pineapple so it's close enough.  Lastly, pineapple sounds SO GOOD! :)  Brian and I love eating pineapple so we figured why not get something we will enjoy eating.

Nursery

 Here are photos of the finished Nursery.  Brian and I are really happy with how it turned out.  I've always liked the colors of pink and green hence our wedding colors and now our baby room colors. Plus if the baby turns out to be a boy, we don't have to repaint :)

The baby mattress currently has scotch tape all over it in hopes to to teach Preta, our cat, to stay out of the crib which had become he's new favorite safe spot.  So far the tape is working. Now he just walks around the edges.

28 week bump

The start of the third trimester!  Look at how much I've grown. I keep getting comments that either I am so small or so big so who really knows.  I do know that I am getting full at meals faster than before because the baby is squishing my stomach.  Just means I eat smaller meals more often.

28 weeks: Baby's weight is equal to a Chinese cabbage -- about 2 1/4 pounds

Anyone need some Chinese cabbage???? Neither of us are big fans of cabbage. We'll see how much longer I can keep up the photos. Some of the fruits and vegetables to come are pretty unique!

24 week bump

Boy oh boy did I sure pop. I feel HUGE!  Crazy to think what I'll be like in another few months!  I've been feeling great though and keeping busy with prenatal water aerobics on Monday nights and yoga/pilates on Saturday. I think both are really helping me stay fit so I can carry around all this weight.  At 24 weeks the baby is the length of an ear of corn which is extremely hard to find in MARCH! so Brian estimated that the length of an ear of corn is approximately equal to a head of romaine.

24 weeks: Baby the length of an ear of corn / head of romaine

Note to self: I should stop taking these pictures after I come home from a long day at work. I look exhausted but I probably was. It was way past my bed time of 9:30!

It's a girl!

We had our 20 week ultrasound and are happy to announce that we are expecting a little girl! :)  Here are some photos!

Baby Waving

Baby's Leg

Halfway there!!!!

Well I am over halfway through my pregnancy.  Here's a photo at 20 weeks. I started wearing maternity clothes although they are pretty big on me. I am at that awful stage where my regular clothes don't fit but I am still too small for maternity clothes. I felt the baby kick at 3 am on Feb 17. It was very cool although I couldn't get back to sleep!

20 weeks: Baby the length of a Banana

18 week bump

Starting to show a little bit.

I should be holding a bell pepper to mark 18 weeks but when I got it out of the drawer, I noticed it was an extremely small bell pepper. Smaller than an avocado so I didn't want to throw people off. More fruit/vegetable photos at 20 weeks. Maybe then I'll have something to show!!!

Baby Bump Photos--Sort of :)

Well I decided to take photos of my belly every 4 weeks starting at 12 weeks.  I wore the same outfit in hopes that it would show some difference.  So here are the photos!

12 weeks: Baby the size of a Lime

16 weeks: Baby the size of a Avocado

So as you can tell I am not really showing. I am still in regular clothes and pants although things are starting to feel snug.

Now to celebrate I am going to make guacamole with my avocado props.

What I've learned about Pregnancy

I am allergic to it!!

The two biggest things that stand out for me so far is that (1) I am sneezing & congested and have been since before we found out and (2) my face looks like I am a teenager with so many breakouts.

I've read that the sneezing and congestion are caused by rhinitis of pregnancy. Apparently "higher amounts of estrogen during pregnancy can contribute to swelling in the mucous membranes lining the nose and even cause you to make more mucus. What's more, the amount of blood in your body increases and your blood vessels expand during pregnancy, which can lead to swollen nasal membranes as well." Ref

It's so annoying but better than morning sickness!! I am betting the hormones have something to do with the breakouts too.  I am sure there will be more but so far these are my two biggest grips.

We are expecting!

Since it appears to be the "thing" to do, I have started a blog. Brian and I are excited to announce that we are expecting our first baby due July 5, 2011.  The pregnancy is going well.  I can't say I haven't noticed it but I haven't had bad morning sickness so I am grateful!

Here's a video of our little one (13 weeks) kicking me.